Sailor Moon Eternal

by SetsunaKou

This is a full length novel over 1000 pages long of the 6th season of Sailor Moon, our 'Eternal'. The Wedding of Serena & Darien is attended by some familiar shooting stars cutting across the night sky, finding loves of their own in the Outer-most unlikely places. Romances blossom for the Inners, as a dangerous new enemy's threat could destroy Earth & the Sailor Guardians of it...

25. Chapter 25 - Love's Gathering Stars

The songs and background music placed at pivotal scenes are based on "Sailor Moon in Paris" album, setting the ambiance to transport you to the 'City of (Three) Lights' and the romantic mood playing throughout the 3-part chapters of this special "Sailor Moon Eternal Movie".

We do not own "Sailor Moon" nor any of the characters.

"SAILOR MOON ETERNAL"

The 6th Season of the Sailor Moon Saga

Chapter 25

"Sailor Moon Eternal in Paris Movie: "La Destiny"

Part 3

"Love's Gathering Stars"

Feeling the cool winds himself on the other side of town, Terry pulls Susan closer to him as they two stroll through the city. Still self-justified of what he did at the party to that vulgar politician, the civilized man in Terry suddenly felt as if he may have humiliated the respectable woman on his arm.

"Susan, did I…cause you embarrassment in front of all those people?" He asks abruptly, the first words passing between them since they had stormed out of Michelle's parent's château.

"Embarrass me?" Susan looks up from Terry's chest into his wisteria eyes. "You rescued me, my darling. I never was so…intimidated...before. And then you came and I was safe again. Safe." She whispers in that timeless voice before returning her adoring head to his warm, vanilla and tonka aromatic chest as they made their way through the quiet park at night.

"I will protect you, my lady. I will always keep you safe—in my heart, as well as in my arms." Terry kisses the top of her head, buried in his mature cologne-inviting embrace, wondering if, after all this trauma tonight, now would be the right time to…

He looks up to the un-shrouded cosmos, and the distant stars twinkle their assent to him.

"My Precious Jewel beyond compare." The tall, handsome man whispers close to his elegant lady's bejeweled ear. "A crystal shining brightly in the heavens, a deer leaping gracefully through a field, a perfect white rose in full bloom—there is only one thing more splendid, more beautiful, more dazzling which surpasses them all—and that is you, my lady." Terry, out of the blue, leaves Susan's side, bowing down on one knee before her like an classical knight of antiquity old.

"Terry…" Susan breathes in a gasp, as he takes her slender hand in his. She was in disbelief that this was happening to her, as the winds of time stop in his eyes, the hourglass skipping a beat in her heart. Susan feels her breath catch in her throat, palpitations quickening in her chest.

Oh my darling, are you going to…? Susan dares not even think it, her other hand clutching at her collarbone as she hears his every word as if in a dream.

"I am not good enough for you, my own Princess. Nor will I ever will be. But please, allow me the honor of proposing to you—Susan, my lady, my love." Terry pauses dramatically, pulling out a large dark purple amethyst ring. It was delicately encrusted in glistening jewels of diamonds with four crystal teardrops surrounding the amethyst in the shape of a polar star. It was pointing north, south, east, and west, set on a beautiful gold band which shimmered in the moonlight as he holds it out to her. "I am so bold as to—I am asking for your hand in marriage." Terry's eyes gaze up at Susan adoringly, filled with hope beyond hope that he would be so blessed as for her to accept his proposal of marriage.

"Terry..." She whispers in awe of what Providence had bestowed upon her. Tears spring to her magenta eyes as Susan bites her bottom lip until it was far past rouge colored, for she could find no words good enough to express her overwhelming joy, and she finds herself completely mute, unable to speak.

"I realize I am not worthy of you…but I—" A little uncharacteristically nervous for the first time in his confident life, fully aware he led a rather complex life, Terry Star Maker takes her silence as reluctance. Although, in fact, it truly was the opposite.

"Oh no! No! It is I who am not worthy of your love!" She desperately flings her arms around his neck, going down to his level, burying her face in his warm neck and shoulder.

"Then…is that a 'yes?' Will you be mine?" He smiles hopefully, stroking her long, silken dark emerald hair as he closes his eyes, the fragrance of her roses, chamomile and cedar so close, she was intoxicating his senses.

"I've always been yours—I'll be yours forever—your wife throughout eternity…" The Guardian of the Doorway of Time smiles timidly a beautiful, joyful smile down at him, nodding her acceptance of his offered hand in marriage.

"My wife…my own Lady…" Terry smiles lovingly at Susan as if in an idyllic dream, his wrists and hers bonded in Time aglow in lavender mists as he slides the gorgeous ring on her delicate left hand. Then closing his starry eyes, the cosmic soldier kisses the ring finger which now symbolized their love for each other, and the promise to come—their engagement.

Susan looks down upon her new fiancé adoringly, hand at her chest, her heart overwhelming her from within as she gazes at Terry. His mahogany hair gleams in the moonlight as his lips tenderly press to her trembling hand like the true gentleman he was.

"Are you chilly, my beloved one?" Terry rises, his purple eyes sparkling brighter than the stars while he gently lifts Susan to her feet. He takes off his jacket and drapes it around her bare shoulders to fend off the cold. But it was not the exclusive cool wind from without making the delicate woman tremble. It was the sheer warmth of inclusive joy from within.

"I love you." The once forgotten woman whispers, as her lover's arms, embracing her in his pervasive scent, wrap around her slender form. Susan de Venici felt she would burst if she did not utter those three small, but oh-so-meaningful words the time-lost soldier never believed her endless duty would permit.

"And I will always love you, my Susan, my angel, my own princess, my true heart's queen. I can't imagine myself without you any longer. You are my polar star, fate irresistibly leading me to your brilliant eyes of magenta I have been in search of all my life." The specially designed engagement ring's elegantly bejeweled setting symbolized their destined eyes to meet and embrace one another's hearts for this glorious day, as Terry replies in his poetic manner.

Happiness and joy were not sufficient enough to express the feelings in his heart, in his soul, as he leans his head down to hers. Her kiss tasted even sweeter somehow, knowing that she was his forever now, his and his alone eternally, that they belonged to one another, as their new promise together—and so many stolen kisses—last long into the Paris night.

An evening filled with moonlit romance, of soft caressing kisses, of warm and tender embraces along the star lined walk back to the hotel, Terry holds Susan close to him all the while. Both of them were in a trance called 'love,' clinging to each other tightly, their wrists invisibly intertwined in that elusive quantity of Time they now freely shared.

Glancing every once in awhile through dream clouded eyes, Susan sees the ring on her finger, its beautiful, flawless gems glittering in the moonlight. She closes her eyes and opens them again quickly, just to make sure this was real and not only an illusion. For what it symbolized—of the promise Terry made to her this night—for all nights—was this once lonely woman's every wish, her every dream, her every waking desire, her eternal song—to be loved, to be accepted, to belong to him and he to her.

"I will move Heaven and Earth if need be to give you everything you wish from this day forward, Susan de Venici. I will do all I can to make you happy, my Precious Jewel. Anything you desire, just ask and I will find a way to secure it for you." For countless times that night, the star-swept poetic genius who was Terry Starr whispers sweet promises in her adoring ears, caressing them with his words as a sweetheart would, and caressing them with his lips as only a lover could.

"You've already done everything to make me happy—so, so happy is the melody now playing in my heart! And there is nothing else I could ever wish for—only you. Only you…" Susan breathes her new song, no longer full of eternal longing, but now of eternity's fulfillment she glimpses looking into Terry's heavy-lidded eyes. And the affianced couple exchanges yet one more passionate kiss in the hotel hallway where Terry had somehow, on the intangible ethers of love, led his ethereal angel up to.

---

"I'm gonna go look for them." Alex decides, getting up from her seat on the settee in the Three Lights' room. She had quickly changed into something more her 'style' upon entering her hotel suite when they arrived back. That consisted of a pair of loose slacks and a button up shirt which was a far cry from the racy red sparkle slink dress she had shimmied out of minutes before. Going to the door, Alex turns the handle, knowing just where to look for a missing Susan and Terry, not so concerned about their whereabouts as much as Susan's—ahem—well being.

The agitated Outer Sailor leader was about to head towards Susan's room, which she had tried to keep a close eye on, but they could have slipped by between her quick costume change and Sayer's constant, nervous blabbering.

We'll see, Alex turns the French styled, gold handle just to find the 'missing' couple osculating on their front step, so to speak.

"You two can't keep your hands off each other, can you?" Sayer calls out to them from his comfortable lazing across the fancy hotel room couch. Alex steps back with raised eyebrows watching Terry and Susan enter the room quietly.

"No, we can't." Almost defiant of her team leader's accusing glare, Susan boldly admits with a wistful expression up at a complacently smiling proudly Terry. She could still hear his words from a few minutes before whispered on her lips, echoing again in her mind that had her melting in his strong arms:

'Time itself has blessed our union by permitting this unworthy man into your realm beyond eternity. I thank God for the precious gift of you in my life.'

Noting…something…different about the pair, Alex's suspicious mind immediately jumps to conclusions (that wouldn't be so, so very far off if they don't take care, this night especially) and looks the flushed, hair slightly askew Susan up and down. Her observant eyes suddenly catch upon the glint of a purplish glow in the hotel room's dim lighting.

The golden haired racer swiftly grabs up her friend's left hand, pulling it closer to the overhead light, raising it high in the air for her eyes to see it clearly.

"Susan..." Alex breathes, not knowing what to feel exactly about the weighty, forbidden subject for Sailor Soldiers sworn to a mission as all-encompassing as theirs.

Susan innocently holds her elegant left hand out, displaying it in quite a graceful manner before them all.

Any woman—especially a woman with a career like ours—should consider the consequences very carefully before she just gives her life away to a man. Especially one as complicated as this… this…piece of alien Starlight. That was always independent Alex's strict belief on the matter, and now it was presenting itself in one of her closest circle of friends, a fellow Sailor Soldier.

But this one is a Soldier, too... Alex glances quickly to Terry's still proud smile, back to Susan's glowing face, and in disbelief at Sayer's obliviousness behind her.

"Are you serious—?" Alex inquires in shock at one of the fastest engagements she's ever heard of. They only just started this all just about a week ago! Her independent mind shouts. Susan nods up and down, trying in vain to hold back her overwhelming happiness, from the bursting smile on her face.

"'Are you serious' about what?" Sayer sits up on the couch, curious to the inner workings of this planet's inscrutable females who often annoyingly omitted crucial words, requiring clarification.

But both of these particular ladies ignore him, as Susan grips Alex's firm hands, beginning to giggle ecstatically, wanting to share her joy of joys with one of her dearest friends. Perhaps after all was said and done, Alex was her closest friend, despite a stark contrast between them, with Alex's tough, take charge, extroverted exterior, and Susan more quiet and deferentially introverted.

And yet, Susan recognized that Alex was someone who truly, deeply cared for her.

"What, already?!" Sayer twists his lip, women still a mystery beyond him, that was quite humorous, under the starlit circumstances.

"Engaged, Sayer." Terry wraps a strong arm around his lady, proud to call her his own. "Susan has done me the utmost honor of consenting to be my bride." His wistful wisteria eyes were incandescently aglow into his promised lady's magenta mists.

"Oh, that's right." Just recalling that Terry had explained his intentions a few days' back, Sayer's eyes widen at his brother's courage. Sayer then jumps up, the very first to shake Terry's hand.

"You are the man, Ter!" He jokes with a pleased wink, glad to see at least one brother happy this night. "Congratulations!" His dark navy ponytail bobbing along, Sayer vigorously pumps Terry's hand up and down.

"Thank you, Sayer." Terry smiles warmly at his exuberant brother, knowing he could always count on Sayer to seize the moment's intensity of emotion.

"Yes. Congratulations..." Alex, with the first shock over, takes her less effusive cue and shakes Terry's hand uneasily in her powerful grip, her cautious, deep green eyes slitting over at him.

"Thank you." Terry's eyes lock with her challenging ones for a moment, understanding all the tough Outer Soldier leader wanted him to know.

"You'd better be good to her, Starlight." Alex quietly threatens with a cutting stare as sharp as her well honed Space Sword.

"I will, Uranus." He answers, addressing the tall golden blonde in her planetary Sailor name more than the familiar civilian moniker. At the same time he pulls Susan, who was trembling again at the unexpected confrontation, close to him, protectively stroking her hair.

"Guess you decided Terry's a more sleek and sophisticated choice than that fat guy, eh, Susie? Heh he heh! Did he put a fire under ya, Ter, to scoop your gorgeous gal up before any other guys cut into your dance?" Sayer laughs at the actually pretty impressive show when his brother creamed the inebriated politician at the party earlier.

Guess Ally wasn't as impressed with my decking that pompous footballer twit to the dance floor as Susie was with Terry's 'damsel in distress' rescue…But mine gal's not exactly a distressed damsel…

The pair listens to Sayer's inane teasing and explain how it happened for a few minutes before Terry remembered, in all his deserved excitement, he had another brother to share the good news with.

"Robin? Did you hear? Susan has agreed to become my—" Terry starts over towards Robin, who was seated in a chair facing the balcony, unnoticed, silently staring in a dazed out at the distant stars in the dark night sky.

"—wife." Terry's exuberance turns into concern as he suddenly notices his brother's strange mood. Unchanged as yet from his fancy evening wear, Robin's usually neat clothing was loosened and askew, his tie dangling unfettered around his neck, and his well-cared for hair a mess (and that was being kind). Robin looked more like he had just been through World War III than at a high society ball.

"About before, Robin, I truly am sorry for disrupting the soiree. But I simply couldn't just stand by and—" Terry begins to apologize, but soon stops, seeing from the blank distant look on Robin's face that he was not even registering his presence, never mind his words.

"No use talking to him, Ter—he's been like that all night." Sayer says with a sigh, plunking down on the settee again. Although Robin was not always on Sayer's 'good side,' the dark-haired boy still cared for his brother immensely and was feeling bad that he was in a state like this.

"All night?" Terry asks, feeling responsible somehow (but still not regretting his necessary actions earlier).

"Since we left the party." Alex plops down next to Sayer, pulling a long leg up on the couch and leaning her head on her raised knee in surprising, empathetic concern.

"Were her parents angered after what I had done to one of the guests…?" Terry asks delicately, trying to gather what had happened after he and Susan had left so abruptly.

"Well, we didn't help matters either after you left, and Michelle's parents walked out of the party—but that wasn't what did it." Giving Sayer a smirking nod as to his preceding, unseemly actions as well, Alex explains quietly to Terry and Susan the situation. "I don't know exactly what was said, but… we figure something drastic happened between him and Michelle." Alex whispers as the four of them huddle close so Robin could not hear.

"Oh, no." Susan tries to bring herself from her blissful reverie to feel concern and she easily succeeds. Just gazing across the room at the despondent look on poor Robin's face, Susan was saddened that anyone could be unhappy on this, her special night.

Thinking of what state her emotional Michelle was in if Robin was like this, Alex wonders—as she has all evening—what her best friend was doing right now.

Crying herself an ocean, probably, Alex smiles sadly, and all because of that little shrimp. Gazing across the room at Robin's transfixed-out-the-window stare, Alex couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

I warned you both about this—how love can hurt—how it can break you. Why didn't either of you listen, Susan...Michelle? Alex reaches out to Michelle through her own link, but feels nothing in return, save for an immense overwhelming wretchedness.

I guess it's the same reason I couldn't stop myself either, Alex glances at Sayer, a confused expression on her face, then she turns back to studying Robin. But you know what, Michelle? I do sincerely think this star of Healer really loves you. It almost pains Alex to see the lost look in Robin Starr's now dull pale grey-green eyes—almost. That's how I would feel if I lost you, too. Alex can't imagine herself without Michelle in her life. And just thinking of the other half of her soul—confused, sad, depressed, lonely—was almost too much for Alex to bear. But I have to let you do this on your own! You have enough interference right now without me butting in, too.

Damn! That domineering mother of yours strikes again! Alex vividly recalls a restrained childhood's attempt to be forced upon her own wild days of sowing oats, as well. You do deserve to choose your own way in this, though. Maybe after you cool off, you'll see your way straight—whatever that means. But through it all, Michelle, I'm here for you, as I always have been, as I always will be, no matter what. Alex opens her mind wide to her troubled friend, distance meaning nothing to two hearts that were one.

And Michelle's opens the floodgates finally with a waterfall of tears of uncertain regrets spilled out to Alex's caring soul.

"I think I'll turn in early. Good night." With a nod to the others, Alex excuses herself early, feeling the invited in weight of Michelle's woes on her, as she wished to focus on consoling her dearest friend of a cousin. Sayer watches her go with beseeching, yet understanding eyes that knew Michelle came first in his blossoming relationship with Alex.

And he was fine with that.

Terry finds his bit of happiness in this crazy world once again in Susan's loving arms as they embrace goodnight, a promise yet to come on their lips. Though concerned for his brother, hoping the best for Robin, Terry was still overwhelmed by the feelings of elation in his own heart to have won the heart of this singularly magnificent and precious jewel which has no equal, named 'Susan.'

"I hauled him off to bed." Sayer announces as comes out of Robin's bedroom, the despondent man's tuxedo pants and jacket on his arm, which the lead singer promptly dumps on the couch.

"Did he say anything?" Terry asks, instinctively, by rote, picking up after both messy brothers automatically as he neatly folds Robin's silk shirt and tuxedo trousers from the couch Sayer had just deposited there. The 'older' brother smiles at Sayer's unusual and sudden concern and considerate attention to his oft argued with sibling to put a distressed Robin to bed.

"Nah. I just heard him say her name when I shut the door. Ter—?" Sayer says thoughtfully as he follows his other brother into his hotel room.

"Yes, Sayer?" Terry begins to neatly undress, Susan's sweet scent of roses and chamomile on his shirt as he unbuttons it, blissfully breathing in her scent.

"Is being in love supposed to be so hard?" Sayer asks, wondering what was in store for him in this chosen path with Alex.

"Yes, sometimes, if it's real and true." Terry answers contemplatively, reflecting on his own naturally blossomed romance. "But then, in the end, it's more than rewarding for the trials endured." The sage poet in him smiles softly as Sayer leaves to reflect on this most difficult night and the outermost guardians of this special Moon their wandering stars had come to revolve around.

"After all, 'Love is patient, love is kind…it keeps no record of past wrongs…Love endures all things…Love never ends." As the door shuts behind him, the wise young genius recites to his mirror reflection verses from the greatest instruction Book ever written. A crystal clear picture of Susan's adoring eyes gaze back to Terry her compelling, everlasting jewels full of Heaven-sent love into his contented soul, now fulfilled when his timeless Susan had accepted his troth and promised him her eternity.

---

Eager to see his new fiancée, Terry rises early, dressing in a casual suit and appearing fresh and clean-shaven at Susan's door in the hallway. Just as excited to see him as soon as possible, too, Susan was already dressed, looking lovely in a perfectly suited to their French surroundings floral lilac mini-dress. Susan just finishes making her bed when her heart leaps at a knock at the door, for she knew by now from the soft gentle rapping that it was him.

Susan almost trips on her own feet as she races to the door like the giddy schoolgirl she never was in her millennia long life. "Terry..." She whispers, her breath catching upon opening the door to see her stunningly-handsome-in-the-morning young man in a simple white t-shirt and maroon jogging pants. A dark towel was draped over his neck as if he had been running—which the busily romantic new fiancé had for his intended.

"The most beautiful flowers in France for the most beautiful blossom in Paris—or anywhere else in the cosmos, for that matter." Terry smiles behind where he was holding out an assortment of lilies, roses, and other delicate blooms. They were all white and lavender, wrapped in gold traced tissue and tied with a lace ribbon for Susan when she opened the door.

"Oh, darling! How do you always know just what to say?" Susan beams in admiration at his lyrical poetry, as well as the compliment, she receiving the flowers tenderly in her arms as Terry closes the door behind them.

"I'm delighted you approve." Terry leans down kissing her fresh bright cheek. "Good morning, my sweet."

"I approve of everything about you. Good morning, my darling." Susan turns her head just at the right angle as the gentleman was pulling back, and she kisses his willing mouth fully on the lips while Terry's arms wrap quickly around her.

This was more than just a simple morning kiss, for it was truly a good morning for Terry and Susan—their first as an affianced couple in what she once thought an impossible dream.

The scrunching sound of the squished flower bouquet and tissue paper calling him back to reality, Terry pulls back, gazing down lovingly at the deliriously happy look on Susan's beautiful face, feeling the joy inside himself exquisitely to call this splendid beauty his own.

"I'll put them in water for you." Terry caresses her hands, playing with the ring on her left-hand finger as he takes the flowers back from her. Susan opens her eyes slowly, nodding at whatever he was saying—his kiss was always enough to send her into ecstasy's trance.

Seeing this, Terry chuckles softly at her sweetness, running his hand over her soft neck.

"After this, would Mademoiselle care to join me for some petit déjeuner (breakfast)?" The quick learner of the language asks playfully while arranging the flora in a hotel supplied vase on the desk.

"Merci, Monsieur, mon chere." Susan answers him in kind, her eyes turning serious as she utters yet another fond new title for her beloved Terry.

"Mon cherie." Terry repeats softly, meeting her gaze as he offers his arm, Susan attaching herself to it was almost second nature by now as they leave the room. In the hotel's sparsely populated dining room, Terry gentlemanly seats his lady.

The two of them soon find themselves well-cared for by the overly polite French waiter, whose eyes (much to Terry's chagrin) assess Susan's long legs showing from her lilac dress' mini-skirt. The waiter was even so bold as to take a quick peek under the table at her lower appendages. Susan finds Terry uncommonly almost rude when ordering the breakfast in the French language he had expertly learned on the plane ride here, making her giggle after the very French waiter disappears meekly away to fetch their meal.

After making a justified 'hmph' sound at the scamp, Terry looks to Susan's laughing eyes questioningly.

"Were you jealous of him?" Susan, for some reason, loved to see her Terry this way especially—it brought out his already excessive masculinity even more.

"It may be a common practice in France, but I believe it is quite ungentlemanly, and belittles a…" He trails off at Susan's soft squeals of delighted laughter.

"You were jealous." Susan teases, grinning from ear to ear as she covers her chuckling mouth girlishly.

"Yes, I was. With good reason, for you are extremely alluring morning fare." Terry admits honestly, a very amorous tone in his voice. Both of them lean across the table, their lips joining in the middle for a sweet kiss that only newly engaged couples could share.

Soon breakfast arrives, and one banishing look from Terry at the aforementioned waiter was enough to send the poor man scurrying back to the kitchen, almost tripping on the umbrella stand as he went.

"How is your Crepe Suzette, my sweet Susan?" Terry stresses the names, imaging his scrumptious lover to the sweet delight, this being the first time Susan would be trying the French breakfast entrée. He himself had opted for more manly fare of eggs and sausages.

"Very good." She carefully forks at the wafer thin French version of the pancake, finding the taste rather pleasant, even if she wasn't all that hungry.

"Here, you must try some, too." Susan cuts off a piece of the crepe with her fork, holding it out across the table to Terry, who, though not much interested in sweet things (save for Susan!), takes a bite. As soon as it was in his mouth, Susan suddenly remembers something.

"I almost forgot—it tastes much better when you eat it with the strawberry at the same time." Taking one of the prepared red fruits from an overflowing bowl into her other hand, Susan holds it across the table gingerly between her fingers and pops the strawberry into Terry's mouth.

"Does he have you feeding him already, Susan?" Alex's low voice drones sarcastically when she and Sayer, tagging along behind her, just then enter the hotel's dining area.

"Good morning, Alex, Sayer." Susan greets with a smile and a small hidden sigh as Terry quickly pulls back, guiltily swallowing the crepe and strawberry in his mouth almost whole.

"Mmmmhh! These look de-li-cious!" Sayer simply grabs a chair, swinging it around in one hand and straddles it easily. Alex pulls her own seat up to join them as she watches Sayer stuff several strawberries into his mouth with mild amusement.

"Want some?" Sayer catches her watching him and offers, his mouth full and red of the sweet berries his borrowed cologne's last note, which lingered on her through the night, reminded Alex of.

"Nah. Let's save some for your brother—in case he wants his new slave's attention again." Alex's raised look at Terry and Susan makes the meaning obvious behind her teasing words.

"Did you see Rob this morning?" Sayer asks his brother over a plate loaded over with scrambled eggs and French toast. The impetuous young man had insisted on ordering 'French toast' though he was perplexed how he had to explain to the waiter of the French establishment what exactly French toast was. Then, after all the kerfuffle, Sayer ended up shoving them over to Alex because he really didn't want the powder sugar coated things, it was just because they were in France that French toast must be ordered.

"I checked on him early this morning. He was still there in bed when I left." Terry answers as Susan daintily dabs some frosting from his lips, to Alex's disdainful glare.

"Not just now when I got up. He's flown the coop." Sayer says nonchalantly, re-passing those pesky French toast slices onto Alex's plate after she dumped them back on his, not wanting the powdered sugar and syrup drenched things herself.

"Where do you suppose he went? Do you think he's all right to be out on his own at such a time?" Responsible Terry asks in concern, thinking about the state Robin was in when last he saw him.

"Yeah, you know Rob. He's the loner type. He'll be fine. It'll all work out for him…I hope." Sayer could not imagine what could've happened between his brother and Michelle.

They seemed all lovey-dovey yesterday. Ah well. Love is a rocky road, isn't it? He glances over at Alex, thinking at how hard a struggle it was just to get the two of them to this point in their relationship. It is worth it, though. Sayer smiles as Alex rolls her eyes at him. Her exotic eyes look at him in that combative way only she could, to both annoy and excite him, almost throwing the toast at him now, as he slides them once again on her fruit salad plate.

"Yes. I wouldn't want him to be this way at the wedding." Terry comments so naturally, but the word "wedding" pricks up everyone else's ears.

"Wedding?! Cough! Cough!" Sayer chokes a bit on his orange juice. "Didn't you just get engaged last night? Why rush things?" He looks at his currently happy bachelor brother and for the life of him can't figure why he'd want to jump right into that frightening thing called "marriage" so suddenly.

C'mon! Engagements are supposed to last for a very long time! Meatball's did, over two years, so…

Sayer was eager to gain Susie for a sister-in-law, sure, but not so much to lose Terry yet in this final way. Amused, Alex chuckles at this no-commitment male's innate fear of the mystery called 'marriage,' she always having more than a few doubts about its necessity and independence stealing demands herself.

"So, when do you plan to tie the knot?" Alex asks, trying to be the level-headed leader—and moreover, friend—on this questionable point. Her gaze was assessing the weak way Susan seemed so subservient to Terry, from the way the once sedate, calm woman was hanging on the tall man's chest with her eyes closed in bliss already.

"As soon as we get back to Tokyo, my love?" Terry both states and asks hopefully as he turns back to Susan. These deep feelings, which had been stirred within him since they had found each other as partners to last throughout all time, caused him to push for their relationship to soon be consummated. And a perfect marriage to this beautiful creature was his highest dream he was eager to obtain.

"Oh! No!" But to Terry Starr's shock, his bride to be recoils back with a start and gasped utterance which had his high spirits practically drop to the floor.

"I mean…not yet, Terry darling." Susan then speaks more softly, leaving her comfortable resting place against his chest to look the perplexed genius in the eye. "There's so much to be done first—the church, the arrangements, my dress. I'd like to make my wedding gown myself, so it will be everything I've always fantasized. Not that ever in my wildest imaginings did I think it could actually happen! If—if that's all right, my love." Susan finishes her abrupt contradiction meekly after becoming a little quixotic at the implausibility of it all for her once forbidden-to-be-free, solitary sentenced, sheltered life.

"Oh, I see." Terry says, a bit disappointed.

Susan was feeling the same way herself, but—I want this to be the perfect wedding. Everything I've ever only dreamed. And it will be, because it's you, Terry my darling. Though if we're engaged already…I don't know why we couldn't enjoy one another…Susan still was not giving up on her merry chase.

"Of course. How much time do you think you'll need?" Terry concludes with a manful smile, immediately trying to cover up his gauche blunder. I would wait a thousand years for you, my Susan. A true gentlelady's timing must never be questioned. I WILL be patient, and simply be content to count the hours in that days until you and I will be one…. He smiles wistfully to himself and his fellow Time guardian who had lived many years more than he, as Terry strokes Susan's long, raven green hair.

"A month, perhaps, no longer. The first of September we'll start our new lives together. Is that…all right?" Susan smiles up at him, but if he protested even a little bit, she would of course, change immediately.

"Your wish is my command, my beloved Susan." But acquiescing to her whims as he always would, Terry leans over, kissing her sweetly to seal their new agreement. He pulls her close with that stylish Three Lights souvenir towel which he flirtatiously removes from his nape to hook around her slender neck to possessively bring his lilac lady in for a sugary smooth smooch.

Sayer and Alex exchange a sideways smirk at each other, as the two lovebirds continue to coo and whisper sweet nothings and languorously kiss in the crowding restaurant, drawing more than a few glances from the public.

Terry wished to round off the rest of this last free day of their vacation by taking Susan to the most romantic sights in all of Paris, wanting their first day as a affianced couple to be spent together in bliss, planning their future together. And at the same time, he could keep an eye out for his missing brother along the roadways traveled. Though pleased beyond measure since last night that Susan had agreed to be his for a lifetime and more, Terry still held a little sadness inside this morning, blaming himself regretfully that he may have had a hand in Robin and Michelle's current discontent.

"Let's get out of here." Alex gets up from her seat, not embarrassed as much as bored with the seemingly endless kisses passing between Terry and Susan. For the spirit of the wind understood that the excitement she craved was out there somewhere.

"Coming?" She throws over her shoulder at Sayer, who was scooping the last bit of the French toast—that wasn't half-bad once he scraped the powdered sugar and syrup off—into his mouth.

"Yeah!" He jumps up, scampering after her and out the doors of the hotel.

Somewhere out there—with you. Alex looks back at this ray of starlight who had found his way into her closed heart somehow, smiling at Sayer as they leave the hotel. Maybe the fresh air in the streets will take my mind off Michelle's problems...

How are you holding up, my beloved angel?

The confident golden blonde could not help but extend her heart out to Michelle, as Sayer glances at her stunning profile facing upwards to the wind while the two approach the motorcycle Alex had rented for their entire stay in Paris.

A lucky shooting star sure picked us some dazzling partners here on earth to get to know better...Sayer muses with a proud smile as he hops onto the back of Alex's bike, until he recalls the fact that though Terry and he were having a relatively good time here in Paris, someone was hurting.

Poor Rob…I sure hope his star can keep his good fortune soaring high, too, even as sea waves roll...

Sayer's more serious side contemplates as he gazes over the Seine to the distant stars above the ocean beyond France as Alex revs the motorcycle's engine down the Parisian highways. The melancholy mood overtaking one of their stellar brotherly trio definitely was putting a damper on Terry and Sayer's otherwise deliriously happy hearts in love.

---

A wild motorcyclist was speeding around all afternoon (and was lucky the local gendarme were out monitoring a passing parade in the city's center) a little more recklessly than usual, Sayer holds on tightly to Alex's slim waist for dear life, as their flaming red motorcycle streaks through the streets of Paris. Sayer knew the source for Alex's sullen silence as well as her living dangerously behavior zipping around Paris like a madwoman, was because of Michelle's torment on her mind, eating into her shared soul.

I think I know what you're feeling, Ally. Rob and I haven't always been very close—nothing at all like what you and 'Chelle have—but still, Healer's my brother. And I'd do anything to have everything turn out okay for him and 'Chelle both. Sayer's thoughts go spinning in his head as the speeding motorcycle comes to an abrupt, screeching halt, sending his helmetless head (he ditched it miles back, way too hot for a "helmet oven" on such a blazing July day) smashing against Alex's stiffened back.

Stiff and hard. Ow. Sayer rubs his smarting forehead. I sure hope 'Chelle and Rob get back together soon! 'Cause I want to live a little longer, Ally! Sayer's mind whines at the small lump forming at his temple. Looking up, he follows Alex's gaze, and finds them both looking at a long pier at the edge of the sea. "Huh? Is Paris on the ocean? How far have we—?" Sayer begins to ask, when Alex holds up her hand for silence, and takes her helmet off, shaking her damp gold hair loose.

And just then, Sayer's unobservant eyes pick up the figure of a man with silvery hair standing at the end of the dock, looking out over the rippling waves, as if he just might…

"Robin!" Sayer was off the bike in a flash, suddenly realizing as he dashed to his depressed brother, that this was the reason for racer Alex's crazy, well over 160 km per hour speeding. Somehow, she knew EXACTLY where Robin was—and that maybe he needed them to be here at this exact moment…

In a starlit wink, Sayer had bounded to Robin's side, looking at his lost expression in knitted brow worry.

"Have you ever been to the bottom of the ocean?" Not meeting Sayer's gaze in a lost expression that barely acknowledged him, Robin asks vaguely. His voice was eerily calm, as his paler than usual, pale green eyes were still transfixed upon the rushing, incoming waters below, entranced in the coming storm's greyness.

"It's not that bad, Rob!" Sayer cries out, panic stricken, trying to comfort his brother, hoping a warm arm around Robin's shoulder might stop him from any suicidal tendencies. But coming up from behind to the two men, Alex more understood that was not what he was intending at all.

Alex interpreted how Robin was comparing the ocean to Michelle and how much she was like it.

How it was like her.

And how he was drowning in her swirling emotions.

As if on cue, the clouds break, lightning flashes and thunderclaps deafen with a torrential rain suddenly pouring down upon the three lone figures. Everyone else in the vicinity had long run for cover at the threat of the sudden downpour.

"Maybe I'm not right for her. Maybe she does deserve more. Someone whose emotions will never run cold in her warm ocean…" The wet rain dripping from his upturned, attractive face, Robin was grateful for its disguising his flowing tears.

Sayer could not believe he was hearing his snobbish, egotistical, self-absorbed brother say that there was something inadequate in him—that there was someone who was more deserving above him. That he, of all people who always looked down upon unworthy others, may not be good enough for. Knowing self-assured Star Healer all his life practically, Star Fighter was sure he must be hurting inside badly to admit this in his state of morose depression.

"Rob…I'm sure Michelle didn't mean whatever she said—" Sayer starts to say, lifting his arm to shield Robin's face a little from getting so wet, though he himself was getting drenched, having no idea what words could make things better for his lifelong Starlight partner and brotherly friend suffering in such emotional misery. But everything was way out of his control, as Robin shakes Sayer's caring hand away to lift his own despondent arms up to the incoming raindrops, reaching to draw the wet, cold, soaking clamminess in.

"Tomorrow I'll see her again. Before I go, I need to see her again." Amid the pouring rain, Robin's voice was small and smoky and faint. Sayer nor Alex could barely make out what he was saying in the raucous storm around them as they exchange a confounded glance.

"I need to see you again, Michelle—if only for a moment. I have to know…"

And then I'll let you go... His broken soul speaks to the inexorable void, as Robin's large emotive green eyes close as the shadowy skies above continue to pour down the murky rain over him. Ostensibly angry forces of nature howl with foretelling thunder and sizzle with portending lightning, as the whole sky threatens to swallow the entire world up in its gloomy darkness.

And this lost, wandering star in its overwhelming emptiness, as well as its intense healing light vulnerably flickers, alone without an anchor in the roaring sea's tide...

---

After Sayer and Alex finally hauled him onto to the motorcycle sandwiched between them and brought a dissipated Robin back to the hotel, Terry and Susan tuck him warm and dry in bed, back at the hotel, safely seeing to Robin's involuntarily shivering in wet clothes condition. Then the two of them, seeing nothing more they could do for Robin, go off determined to enjoy their last night in Paris.

Sayer and Alex volunteer (surprisingly) to stay home and keep a close eye on Robin. But not too close, both keeping a respectful distance to the silent man who opted to be silently introverted, alone in his own world of pain which he had withdrawn into. The night was still young and Robin was left quiet in his room, supposedly sleeping, though such peace would not claim him on this tormented night.

For far across town in a stately Parisian mansion, another broken soul found sleep an impossible commodity for her as well, the rain for this broken hearted French beauty a well of bottomless tears.

But the romance that was Paris was not wasted upon Terry and Susan. After seeing what heartache could mean, they both were determined that each moment spent together this night would make the city of lights shine brighter, if just for them. Tiring out Paris' nightlife before they themselves were, well after midnight, the happy couple return, finding Sayer and Ally both dressed and ready in striking evening wear. They had been impatiently waiting up for the two of them while they finished playing a game of cards.

"Did you know your brother cheats at poker?" Alex asks with a smirk, as Terry unwraps Susan from her shawl dotingly, reveling in her timelessly soft, pervasive scent of cedar and roses as he does.

"Is that what you two have been up to while monitoring Robin and waiting for us?" Terry inquires with raised eyebrows and a teasing smile at Alex's shiny black vest and dressy black slacks. Sayer was in his half unbuttoned, open collar red shirt and tight black pants.

"Weeeell…" Sayer starts, with a wicked grin, Paris was not wasted on them either, as he recalls his spots of flirting with Alex throughout the evening.

"The shrimp's been quiet the whole time. But I don't think he's sleeping." With the vigilantly dutiful report, Alex cuts off Sayer, looking at Robin's bedroom door with a hint of concern. All eyes follow her gaze.

"So, that means—" Turning around to face Terry and Susan now, she begins to instruct, trying to forget the problems that were part of her as well. "You two had better keep your FULL attention on him." Alex sends Terry a warning glance, sensing that his eagerness earlier could certainly lead to indiscretions, if Susan had any say in the matter.

"Let's beat it, Starr." Satisfied with the restraint in Terry's responsible eyes, she grabs the motorcycle's keys from the coffee table and heads for the door. Paris' seamier side past midnight was someplace Alex Sokova knew well from bygone days, and was just itching to show its bright lights off to this star.

Or did she want to show his dazzling sparkle off to Paris?

"Yeah. Gotta collect my winnings." Sayer winks at his brother mischievously before he jogs to Alex, who was waiting for him with the door open.

"You didn't win, you cheated." Alex retorts, never wanting to lose to her finest competitor in anything.

"Cheated?! YOU just won't admit you lost to me!" Sayer treads dangerously as he gets right in Alex's face when he walks right up to her.

"I LET you win, so you didn't cause too much noise for your brother. Don't think I didn't see that card up your sleeve." Alex argues, her eyes flashing.

"What card? What sleeve?" Sayer argues right back, looking indignant to be so accused.

"This one." Alex grabs his forearm forcefully as they continue verbally fighting, going into the hallway.

Terry and Susan watch in amusement as Alex slides her long fingers up into Sayer's shirt arm, triumphantly producing a handful of aces and kings.

"Now, how did those get there?" Sayer says toothily, with a fake, innocent grin.

"As if you didn't—"

Sayer closes the door behind them, with Terry and Susan both swearing they saw his swift, card-cheating arms wrapping around Alex as it does.

"Those two." Terry chuckles, at his brother and Alex's…most interesting…courtship.

"Perhaps I should slip into something…more comfortable?" Susan lays those eyes of hers on Terry, her voice low and sultry. "Would you like to…?" She stops in the doorway, tugging playfully at the straps on her mini-dress. Terry stops breathing for a moment, the scale of what was right and what was wrong tipping more favorably this night in Susan's tempting direction…

"I think I'll go check on Robin—see if he's all settled." Terry's good morals win out (just), as he makes a quick retreat into the connected hotel bedroom.

"All right," Susan giggles, opening her bedroom door to go get changed. "I'll be back," she whispers in an extremely feminine way out into the hall towards her room. His eyes watch her, and Terry smiles to himself as he goes to Robin's bedroom and sighs.

"Please give me strength to be right, for the sake of my angel, just for one month more." He sighs, his whole being filled with the thoughts of a fortuitous night promised not too long from now.

Then, Susan, my beloved, then, at last, all of me will be yours—and all of you will be mine completely. Terry sighs once more blissfully as he peeks in the darkness at Robin's still motionless form.

---

Church bells ring from somewhere in Paris. Terry Starr rises early, rubbing his tired eyes, for he and Susan had stayed up talking—really just that—until 2 or 3 AM, as he shuts off the alarm clock. Hoping Sayer wouldn't be too difficult to wake up today (at least not anymore than usual anyway) due to his assuredly late night on the town, for their flight home was scheduled for less than a hour from now.

Going to Sayer's adjoining room for their daily wake-up tussle, upon opening the door, Terry was surprised to find Sayer's bed unslept in, and his brother nowhere in the hotel room, or adjoining bathroom, to be found.

Haven't you returned back yet, little brother? Terry thinks worriedly as he looks out the window, the sun already rising high into the sky. Or should I be looking in another bed for you? Terry muses to himself, a little shocked at how easily his own thoughts could think that the unlikely pair of his brother and Miss Sokova could perhaps be the first ones to cross the Rubicon of propriety he himself so desperately was clinging to the edges of with Susan.

Then shaking his head at the very idea, and chalking it down to too much wine at dinner last night with his new fiancée, Terry goes to awaken Robin. All the responsible brother could do was just hope that Sayer would remember what time they all had to be at the airport.

Yes...well, maybe Alex will...well, no matter. I'm sure that she would still have her wits about her even if they…Stop those thoughts, man! Terry chides himself. They may not even be…together. Alex may have already come back to the hotel by herself and Sayer might simply have slipped in and out, under my nose.

Terry begins more farfetched imaginings when upon opening Robin's door, he finds yet another brother's bed empty, as well. Usually a light sleeper, he didn't hear Robin leave so early that morning. I wonder where he's…?! In the midst of his anxious musings over Robin's whereabouts, Terry hears raised voices at the front door and then a loud slam.

"Hey, Ter!" Sayer greets him with a short wave, looking a bit more worn than when he left late last night. But he was still bright-eyed, winking at Terry while running a hand through his more-than-usually askew hair. He starts to pull off his red shirt. "Long night? You look tired." He smirks, his eyes making certain insinuations at his more "adult" brother.

"Sayer, Robin's not in his room." Terry says, rather worried, ignoring his comments.

"Gave you the slip, huh? I guess you and Susie must've been too busy to really keep a close eye…" Sayer continues his teasing.

"Sayer." Terry reprimands authoritatively, cutting him off. "He must have been awake early. His bags are all packed and prepared in his room already."

"Yeah. He said he was going to see 'Chelle before we left. I sure hope they make up. Rob's such a downer like this. Way worse than usual." Sayer peels out of his pants, and throws them across the room as he disappears into the bathroom for a quick shower.

"Yes, I hope so, too." Terry says to no one in particular, going into his own room to shower, dress and pack his (and then Sayer's, too) bags. With heavy spirits, the two brothers prepare for their flight back to Japan, soon to leave the unforgettable memory that was Paris behind them, with the prayer that their third Light wasn't leaving his heart in its rear view mirror forever.

---

Play Sailor Moon in Paris: "Love's Gathering Stars":

(Beneath the moon again
Beneath la lune once more
The way my eyes search for
La Destiny…)

---

Like floating on an indeterminate wave, a young woman rises from her French tudor style bed, though her tear-stained eyes had never closed in sleep a moment this tortured night.

Michelle Moreau walks out in her silken wraps onto the balcony she had spent so many long hours dreaming to the stars in her youth. If only one of those stars would shine back on me now…

However, the dreary daybreak had long overtook whatever starlight may have been concealed behind the storm clouds this beleaguered night.

Now on these days, something is wrong
Tentative words you speak
My spinning head wonders just what is happening

Michelle sighs, dully gazing out over the lush green lawn of the ancestral estate spreading before her. Perhaps there is no such thing as love. Not the kind I thought we had. That was only an illusion. Only a dream. A sweet, ephemeral dream…

Through the eyes of a breaking heart, the green world was nothing more than already decaying, dead matter. The beautiful sunrise that the earth revolved around millions of light years away, just a painful reminder of the shine he would no longer bring to her.

Are you really gone from my life? She asks her tormented soul, and finds only a mute, empty void in that part of her Robin Starr once freely shared. After all the cruel things I said, you really mustn't want to be with me anymore. If you loved me, wouldn't you have fought to keep me? Wouldn't you have come back for me already? The spoiled little girl who had become an extraordinary, yet emotional, young woman still retained a tiny bit of her secret fear of being disregarded and wounded by love for a third and final time.

Final, for after the intimacy of knowing Robin Starr's incomparable healing soul, Michelle was certain she would never love another again.

Love, now finally
I've realized it's my fault
For both of us becoming so empty inside

But how can I blame you for not coming back here, when I was so horrible to tell you never to come back? I am so very ashamed…and sorry beyond words…

I blamed it all upon you
Those stinging words I said
I was wrong, I know
Because of those
Things I believed!

Distraught, disturbed and dismayed at her rash emotions which perhaps had diverted the course of her true destiny, with her eyes dried out, Michelle could cry no longer. She could only feel inside, her heart sinking, melting into dust, as the seconds tick by mercilessly. For every gaining moment counted down to when the exact time the plane would leave for Tokyo, leave Paris behind forever, in an instant she knew would be written on her soul for all the rest of her days.

When the sky takes you away from me…This daughter of the water's eyes, that had no moisture nor tears left in them after last night's deluge, gaze out as a taxi pulls up to the Moreau château. When it stops, a singular, sleek figure in navy blue appears from it slowly, hesitantly—yet purposefully—walking up the long driveway. The sight of who makes Michelle's aching heart stop beating for several eternal moments.

"Robin... Robin!" Her frantic whispers barely escape her lips as Michelle throws propriety to the wind. Dashing like a child down the staircase without her slippers, she runs past the dining room—where her surprised parents were having breakfast—past the shocked staff in simply her thin summer nightdress, out of the monstrous front doors, down the cold, cement steps and out into the lawn.

Of you, of you
Please heal what I've done!
Fall in love, fall in love
La moon once more
I fantasize of you often
All of this is my fault!

Racing through the dewy grass in her bare feet, Michelle cares of nothing—nothing but seeing him again. Of hearing his soft words of forgiveness, of telling him how she truly loved him and that this had all been a terrible misunderstanding—that she didn't care what anyone else thought about their relationship, as long as his soul was near to hers forever.

As Michelle runs to a wind tossed Robin, she could see the pain in his eyes. Suddenly she realized that she had hurt not only his pride as a man, and feelings as the sensitive Sailor Soldier as well, but she had horribly hurt his vulnerable, tender spirit—that unbelievably wanted to trust hers to embrace him so willingly—with those stinging words, all the terrible things she had said on that night.

It's all my fault! My fault! You did nothing! I'm so sorry. But how do I tell you all I feel? How could you possibly ever forgive me for what I've done to you? How I've doubted our bond, how I pushed you out of my mind, how I didn't trust you to be yourself and not who I thought you should be? How I could turn on you so easily?! It wasn't that at all! I was just so upset and afraid...I took it out on you. Robin, my dearest, my love! Because…I thought our chances to be together were ruined—that our future was over before it had begun, and I could do nothing about it. Oh, Robin, dearest one! Open up to me! Just for a moment, I need to tell you how much I…I need to love you in that way only you and I can love, please, God, once again…

Righted again in this tempting moonlight
I need for my dreams to come true!
Waiting when you will return to me
And I will, I still love you!
Oh, love me!

Michelle's heavy breathing from her dash catches in her throat as Robin deftly meets her halfway across the dewy lawn. As he approaches, the handsome young man breaks his long, silent gaze into her trembling blue eyes and begins to speak.

"I came back…" Robin's stifled voice was as yielding as it was uncertain when his soulful eyes search Michelle's for any sign that nothing adverse had occurred between them two nights ago. But there was still that bitter uncertainty, that indefinite fear of the unknown, plain to his sensitive soul, yet present there in her quivering eyes.

And this incisive peripatetic star, who had thought he had at last found his true home, was cast on the sea of the loneliness that gripped his soul once again, now that her maelstrom of emotions had set him adrift.

The deeply empathic child of the star Healer's powerful mind and vulnerable intuitive heart would not allow him to even try share an intimate communication, lest she destroy utterly whatever remnant remained of the dream he dared hope.

"I came back to say 'good-bye...'" After several searching seconds, Robin concludes simply in words which were so tentative, so distant, that both he and Michelle were shocked at how quickly this unbelievably beautiful dream they had discovered in one another had unraveled.

Goodbye? Goodbye?! No! Michelle's eyes open wide, her soul screaming in protest. But, as if by some inexplicable force of mysterious nature holding her back, she could not speak, her voice was gone. The aqua hued young woman's head begins to spin, as the dizziness overtakes her.

I cannot sleep
My eyes won't close
Knowing my soul's on fire
Our very existence seems to be at an end

What's happening? Robin, don't—don't say this! Make everything all right again...please, forgive me! I'm a pitiful person, contemptible for the way I struck out at you, when all you were doing was trying to please me! Her emotions were so intense that Michelle loses all sense of things around her. Her heart felt like it had stopped in her chest as she clutches at where it had all but ceased after it so wildly pounded and raced when she caught sight of her distant prince returned to her like in a dream.

But that dream had come to a sorrowful end.

Pausing a moment, Robin waits for Michelle to say something—anything. But the response never comes. Swallowing hard, he fights back the sensitive tears within himself.

I guess I'm not your destiny, after all. If she had only given him a word, just one single little thing he could believe that it wasn't over, that they could find each other again through this emotional mess somehow. Things would've been different, things might've been…

Ahh, distant future
Hangs in the balance now
If you're an illusion
Not part of my life's dream

"You'd better get back…inside…before…you catch pneumonia…Michelle…" Robin watches her entire body begin to violently tremble, though the chilly morning air through her thin, lacy nightgown was not the reason for her tremors.

His hand involuntarily begins to reach out to touch her, to warm her, to stop the woman he so madly loved from quivering. However, instead, he forces himself to pull back, turning from her, so she could not see the tears welled in his pale mint eyes.

"Goodbye." Robin's hoarse voice chokes out as he turns and leaves quickly down the path, his sleek, slender form disappearing into the taxi still waiting for him at the end of the château's long drive.

"No…" Michelle whispers in a small voice, and her knees begin to buckle beneath her as gravity itself and all the forces that nature controlled seemed to be working against her.

I saw that pain in your eyes
I hurt what's important
As the sky takes you
Away from me
I feel now, I'll die!

"NOOOOOOO! ROBINNN!" Too late, she screeches at the top of her lungs as the taxi speeds away, and Michelle collapses to the cold, wet earth. The tears finally come, like a crushing ocean wave, and she sobs uncontrollably in a curled up ball on the increasingly sodden ground that responded to Neptune's heart-wrenched cries.

"Michelle! My darling!" Madame Moreau herself rushes out to her daughter crumpled on the bare ground in a pile, after watching the heartbreaking scene from the window. Her husband was close at her heels, helping Josephine scoop up Michelle, wrapping motherly arms around her protectively, uncharacteristically kneeling down to the damp grass in this outside grounds the cultured matriarch rarely visited.

"Mamère …I want to die…please, just let me die…" Michelle sobs out her pleas, in desperation, as the world turns into a river of tears, a dark empty place she could no longer exist in without him—without the other half of her soul...

But she had destroyed whatever whole they had so marvelously become, with her pride and her frivolous, selfish ways, her broken mind now grieving his love's loss.

"Robin..." His sweet name on her trembling blue lips, Michelle's father carries her into the deathly quiet mansion in his strong, sorrowful arms. Distraught beyond conciliation, Michelle loses all consciousness then of the tragic world around her shattered heart, sinking into in a dead faint of a beautiful destiny lost.

---

Minutes before the plane scheduled for Tokyo was to take off, a taxi cab pulls up to the Paris airport. Its only occupant was a lone, silver-haired young man, who steps out onto the cold pavement, looking even more disheveled than before.

Robin pauses, his tie loosed and whipping in his face, before slowly moving towards to the correct terminal where Terry, Susan, Sayer and Alex were all anxiously waiting.

"He's come alone." Alex's keen senses were the first to spot him (or did the wind speak to her already before he arrived?) as Robin dejectedly lets the escalator carry him to where they were seated.

"Oh, no." Susan whispers sadly, clutching Terry's strong arm for support as Robin lethargically trudges up to them, sullenly not meeting a single one of their eyes.

"Rob…" Sayer emotes, wanting to reach out to his dejected brother, but could find nothing good enough to say to express his empathy. He turns to Terry and finds that his usually wordy sibling also had the same unsure look in his eye at Robin's obvious heartache. Then Sayer looks to Alex, whose eyes go down, a distant, painful look on her strong features as she acutely felt his pain herself more than anyone, through her own deep bond with Michelle.

His gaze still dully affixed to the ground, Robin plunks down hard in an empty seat next to Terry, silence overtaking the usually noisy group. Every one of them was aware that one of their intimate group—who had seen and done and fought and suffered side by side—was being left behind, a star's broken heart traveling with them, alone and retreating into himself again as the irrevocable result.

This journey had brought unspeakable joy to some returning to Japan today, but immeasurable pain to another pair equally. No one had the right words that could comfort Robin, as long, pregnant minutes pass by until the call comes over the loudspeaker:

"ALL FLIGHTS TO TOKYO, JAPAN, LEAVING IN 2 MINUTES. ALL PASSENGERS MUST NOW BOARD THEIR PLANES." A computerized voice with a thick French accent drones mechanically.

Exchanging hesitant looks, Alex stands first, picking up her bag and slinging it over her shoulder. With heavy hearts, Sayer, Terry, and Susan soon follow, gathering themselves up as Robin takes his own bag from Terry, who had his brother's luggage already prepared, as usual.

Meeting his sorrowful mint green eyes for a split second, Terry could see the utter pain and heartbreak within them. Oh, Robin, how can it be that you can be sad at the same time I am so joyous? Is life so cruel, my brother? Terry squeezes Susan all the tighter, carrying her bags, too, in his strong arms, as they pass through the metal detectors and into the final stages before the five—not six who originally came—would go out to the tarmac to board the plane.

Having lingered a few steps to analyze Robin, Alex glances back at the slender, slow-of-step man trailing behind her and Sayer at her side. Alex follows Susan and Terry through the machines, casually flicking out her passport, a pro at this after having traveled outside of her adopted country of Japan numerous times for international auto races and various track and field sporting events. But in all those times, it was with her companion Michelle always at her side.

Michelle, what happened? Why weren't you able to tell him how you really feel? Alex was privy to her soul mate's deepest, innermost thoughts and knew Michelle's true feelings for this shrimp. I have come to an understanding of my emotions for my own—at times maddening—shooting star on this trip, and I think I'm ready for our relationship to move forward. The cropped golden haired athletic female gives her just as fit and dynamic counterpart Starlight a considering glance.

Sayer's good-looking face was devoid of all the devilry and teasing he had displayed on the flight to France, now conversely serious and concerned in sympathy for his fellow star traveler on the return ride back. And that stark shift of the young man's demeanor was admirable in Alex's eyes, giving her more reason to approve of this most unpredictable love affair with this wandering rock star.

But yours seems to have soured, Michelle, your bond scattered to the wind like sea foam, thanks to that daunting mother of yours...But if he can be intimidated…Well, maybe it's all for the best anyway. After this all cools off, I'll come back and get you, Michelle.

And we'll see where the wind takes us. Under the stars…or not…I will be there for you…

Alex sadly shakes her head with a sigh at her cousin's heartbreak, feeling the depression seeping into her own soul as well. That's when she feels a warm hand on her shoulder and turns to see Sayer's supportive smile. His deep blue eyes were trying to comfort, knowing the link between Alex and Michelle was that strong—that important to her.

Alex's troubled orbs give the smallest of smiles back as she steps out onto the runway tunnel ahead of him, following Terry and Susan's lead.

Behind Sayer, Robin walks out towards the waiting plane in a dazed trance, looking at the cold vessel's vastness, at the all-encompassing sky beyond that would soon carry him away from all this, from Paris…from Michelle.

Forever.

Michelle. If only it were different. If only I…

He closes his eyes tightly in pain, blindly following behind Sayer and Alex, not watching where he was going and not really caring, either. Replaying their last moments together, Robin remembers the short, clipped words he had said, her deafening silence, the way she had trembled and that scared look in her mournful eyes that had confused his sensitive feelings which longed to touch her soul, if just one more time...

'Michelle…'

His spirit soars with hope to whisper her angelic name through their link, whether she acknowledged him or not. Suddenly, Robin no longer cared if he was declared unacceptable and unworthy by her family. He no longer remembered the sting of her hurtful words that night, nor the morning's silence in the moment he needed her to reaffirm this emotion they had come to amazingly share.

Of you, of you
Forgive what I've done!
Fall in love, fall in love
La moon, once more!
It's only been you all of the while
All of this is my fault!

All at once, the Sailor of the Star Healer could no longer could see, hear or know anything, save the one thought searing through his very consciousness—

Michelle, I love you!

You are the reason why I was born! What I've discovered in you, I never thought possible in this universe, or any other! What am I doing!? There's nothing out there for me without you. I have no life, no future, no destiny…And whether you open the door to me or not, I will wait until you see reason and do! I refuse to leave you anywhere alone! I can't live without you, my Michelle! Robin Starr's determined mind, his resolute heart, his indomitable soul screams as he stops still in his tracks, halfway up the steps leading onto the waiting airplane.

"Go on without me!" Out of nowhere. Robin suddenly shouts up, loud enough for Terry and Susan, Sayer and Alex to all hear clearly on the bustling stairwell of the noisy aircraft.

My soul is filled with that shining of yours!
I need to love you now again!
I'll hold on until uncertainty fades away
I still love you!
Oh, love me!

"I can't leave here without her!" Just like that, he takes off down the steps—two, three at a time, deftly maneuvering through the hoards of oncoming passengers like a sleek silver cat, leaving the astonished quartet behind, as the crowd forces them up into the plane. The two couples could only watch their companion race down the runway, through the airport, towards an uncertain fate like a silver mint streak of pure starlight.

The only thing he was sure of was his love, his undying devotion—an inextinguishable force for that soulful creature who once belonged to him, whom he would break down all the doors of Heaven and Earth, and even march into Hell itself if he had to fight the devil to reclaim his special mermaid as his own soulmate once more.

Of you, of you
Please heal what I've done
Fall in love, fall in love
La moon once more
I fantasize of you often
All of this is my fault

Robin's fervent thoughts steel himself against any obstacles that lie in the path between them. His soul was on inferno fire as he races, skipping three, four, eight steps at a time, flying down the escalator at full steam, on sleek falcon's wings.

Robin races out of the airport, his nimble feet running, running, pounding pavement as he never had before, to the goal of redeeming the one truest part of his life.

A life—and intense love—driven Guardian Sailor Soldier Star Healer never believed himself capable of having, sustaining, nor wanting. But the dazzling Sailor of Neptune had embraced his being in such a stunning way, capturing him, enthralled, in her mirror's reflection, that Robin Starr could never look away from ever again.

The restless young man encourages the driver to speed across town, Robin's heart resounding in his ears deafeningly until he passes again through the gates of the prestigious Moreau château.

Righted again in this tempting moonlight
I need for my dreams to come true!
Waiting when you will return to me
And I will, I'll still love you!
Oh, love me!

Racing out of the taxi, and up the driveway, Robin's feet pump hard on the sprawling concrete driveway as he flies up the monstrous monolith steps. Whizzing past a flabbergasted Pierre at the front door in a swirl of a whirlwind, this staunch Soldier of Star Healer rushes directly to the study, knowing exactly where he wanted to be, exactly where he needed to be—running fearlessly right into the lion's den itself.

(Beneath the moon again
Beneath la lune once more
The way my eyes search for
La Destiny!)

As the pulsating music reverberating in his soul flares, Robin determinedly grabs hold of the ornate handles of the double doors and without a second thought, throws them open wide.

And all the music and sound and fury thundering in his soul dramatically the entire race here, comes to a breathtaking, ceasing halt as this undaunted shooting star takes firm hold of his destiny...and hers—

"Sir, Madame!" Robin's usually smoky, husky voice booms out across the room loudly now, strong and true and not missing a single beat, despite all the accumulated utilized breath and massive inner drive it took to cross the expanse from the airport to here in this drawing room in such a record short amount of time.

Shocked by this sudden and undignified entrance into their private study, both Madame and Monsieur Moreau look up at the young man standing before them in a tasteful, unbuttoned navy blue suit, though his sage, open collared shirt was slightly disheveled to match his wind tousled striped tie. But the ardently sincere faced, stunning-eyed lad gives them a start, their eyes soon guarded at his rude, unsolicited, unwelcome interruption.

"Young man, I do believe your business here is finished. Please leave." Josephine Moreau was more than a little angered at this young cad who had so callously broken her daughter's heart. Truly, really this time, her mon cherie Michi was utterly devastated by the loss like none other—for a mother could sense when her child was irretrievably in love, like her little Michelle was with this jeune homme, when the idea of being torn away from her young man so ripped her baby's shattered heart to shreds.

"Haven't you done enough?" Henri Moreau could only remember the pain as he had never seen before in the eyes of his beloved little girl and the feeling of helplessness, knowing all his money in the world could not right her scattered heart this time.

"No, Monsieur. No, I have not done enough." Robin feels his courage building from the foundations of his love, as he moves closer to Michelle's difficult parents and faces them both directly as he speaks.

"I am aware you don't approve of me—that I'm not good enough for Michelle, that I'm not worthy of your good family name, that I don't merit her status, fortune, or fame. And I would have to agree with you wholeheartedly—but not for any of those earthly reasons." Robin's clenched fists spread out to gesture to the mansion's opulence and antiquity all around him that spoke of prominence, renown and reputation. There was something so honestly captivating about the way the young man was straightforwardly addressing the older pair, face to face, that Michelle's father had paused in his call of his home's security forces to hear Robin out.

"What I truly don't deserve—and will forever thank God for leading us to one another—is her genuine warmth, her unspoken tender caring, her indefinably beautiful spirit. Most of all, I don't deserve her unfailing, abiding, unshakable love. I am, by far, not the finest 'European society' has to offer. I have no name, no rank, no title in this world, as her rightful partner in life should. That was all a story Michelle only made up so I would be more acceptable in your eyes. There is some truth in it. But if I told you more about myself, who I really am, where I really come from, and whose bloodline I really hold in my veins, I wouldn't expect you to understand. So the only thing I can tell you—the only thing that makes any real sense—is not the unidentified, destitute past spent alone, or any future material worth that either of us may, or may not, be entitled to claim someday, except what's in my heart, what's in her spirit, what's in our soul, right now. And those can never be changed." Robin closes his eyes, every portion of his mind, body, and spirit having his aqua mermaid's artistic touch etched on it in some way.

"All that really matters is that I love your daughter. More than anything in the vast universe, I promise to love her, with all my heart. And I believe I have the good fortune to know that she loves me every bit as much, too. I come to you now, with nothing more than what true and honest feeling of sincere sentiment for her I hold within me. This intense love I feel deep in my very soul—it's a fathomless love that your daughter had entrusted there when she called me to her from beyond the stars. I will vow to you, and more importantly, to Michelle, that my love will last a lifetime and beyond. I attest that since we were born for one another, we will be together forever. And I swear that I will protect this bond between her soul and mine, because it is our destiny." Robin finishes his heartfelt speech with the significant term which ran straight through his destined romance with Michelle Moreau.

Running an unpretentious hand through his mimosa scented silvery mane of hair, Robin deeply feels his emotion freely expressed and succinctly laid out before both of Michelle's parents. He had been so zealous that he had barely stopped for breath, let alone interruption, in between his pledged statements to his rapt audience. His pleas for this destined love were as determined as his starry mint eyes which looked straight into both of Michelle's parents' gazes, with a little prayer for mercy playing a plaintive tremolo throughout his anxious mind.

Silence.

Searching the eyes of this bold young man, Henri Moreau, the head of this monstrous household (not to mention countless business, political and society circles as well) looks to his lady wife for consent. They had to be careful, for Michelle had been spurned by love and broken hearted several times before, with avaricious men and inept boys far less than inappropriate for his high-strung debutante angel. But this time, Henri himself somehow believed this young Robin Starr for his word, judging the confession of this fine-looking young singer's love for his own beloved daughter to be true, banking on his recurring theme promises that this would be a relationship to last the test of time.

For Henri Moreau knew such a boundless love himself, with a passionate soul mate in a beautiful, determined lady of his own, whom Michelle took a lot after. And even though others of his high class may have chosen different paths in this easily debaucherous life, Henri, for one, always intended to live as a God-fearing man of his word, especially when it came to honoring his wife. And in this boy's almost disconcertingly pale, soulful eyes, he could swear he could see something of what he saw in the mirror every day—of a love deep and true for another which could withstand any trial, no matter what the rest of the world may think.

Yes, I need not know of your past or where you come from, young Starr. Class and rank have never been as important to me. My Michelle may marry a pauper if it made her happy, she would never want, for as long as I am alive. However, we never wished her to be loved only for her money and her status, or her family name you so eloquently, and so poignantly, clarified to hold no true value for you.

Perhaps…never before have I seen in my daughter's eyes this degree of feeling for another. And it is the same look I see reflecting in your eyes at this moment, Monsieur Robin. Your very interesting eyes...

Henri assesses the deep degree of love that had somehow—in a sense the contemplative, quiet man could mysteriously feel underlying in their unspoken bond—been forged between his beloved, only child and this polished, yet still somewhat green and vulnerable, young rock star.

Exchanging a long glance with her husband, Josephine Moreau surveys the scene before her, as well. But it was something in this singular young man's powerful words that were still echoing in her mind.

'The only thing I can tell you, the only thing that makes any sense, is what's in my heart, what's in her spirit, what's in our soul. All that really matters is that I love your daughter. More than anything in the vast universe, I promise to love her, with all my heart...'

Suddenly familiar words of another young man, Josephine could still recall so vividly in her mind's eye from years gone by echoing back in her mind.

('All I can confess is my love in my heart for your daughter, Monsieur. I love her, more than anyone in the world...')

"Reminiscent of words you once spoke of me, Henri, to my own dear Papère." Madame Moreau murmurs aloud, her husband knowing well what she was referring to, as he too, was reminded of that auspicious moment.

"And I still could speak them of you, this very day, my Josee." Henri was the true meaning of the romantic Frenchman, as he goes to wife and kisses her hand.

Robin's soul fills with hope as he sees the faint hint of a smile upon her countenance and the slight nod passing between the couple.

Then Madame Moreau turns to face Michelle's handsome upstart beau head on. "If you truly mean those inspiring words, young man—truly mean them, mind you—" She warns, searching Robin's eyes one more time, satisfied that what she was looking for was indeed there. "—then you may have our consent to court our darling daughter." She nods, looking over a relief-filled Robin with a serious look in her stern, somber eyes.

"If, that is—" Madame smiles slightly at last at the young rogue, who was devilishly attractive enough to make up for his height deficiency, though the proud woman would never admit that aloud. Dignified Josephine Moreau's outstretched hand motions towards the doorway, leading Robin's gaze to follow her gesture. "—you still have Michelle's."

Robin was startled, for once—after these dark days of absence from her presence, body and soul, and in such concentrated focus on his intense appeal to her parents—when the sensitive psychic turns his eyes full of consternation.

To find Michelle herself standing not too far behind him, leaning gracefully in the drawing room doorway.

And from the look on her face, she had been there long enough to have heard at least part of his heart moving speech. Pink peony and white geranium petals scatter over the sea of his mind while Michelle's graceful marine perfume of the sea wafts over him. Robin pauses to mentally swim in the pools of Michelle's eyes as he projects all his profoundly passionate thoughts he just stated over again to her, while Michelle sends Robin her answer in cascades of melodious waves of corresponding peppermint and watery notes.

Both celestial telepathic Soldiers' tentatively shielded, yet-severed minds suddenly fill with surplus messages tickling at the edges of their slowly re-opening consciousnesses. Their linked hearts soon were brimming over with hope and pride in their shared dream that this Healer's bold manner and uninhibited words full of unrestrained emotion and unmitigated love had plainly illustrated, unafraid, just for her.

"Robin…" Michelle whispers aloud, trembling in her filmy negligee lacy wraps. "I love you." Those three little words articulated every emotion on every physical and astral plane the pair was connected upon again. Before her parents' consenting eyes, she rushes to his wide open arms, throwing herself around Robin Starr.

His pervading mint musk scent envelopes her every sense, and Michelle's corresponding watery note embraces Robin as she would hold her adored violin. Tenderly, yet firmly, the soulful artist prepares to play her cadenza's music across the strings of his heart's arched fingerboard harmonics once again. With an encouraging, gleaming smile, this star's unsung instrumentation was exposed to this celestial child's expert bow, his devoted soul's harmony freely given to her heart's melody.

Their entranced eyes fill with joyous tears reflecting on the mirrored clear surface of the water flowing crisp and transparent and smoothly through their once again linked minds.

"Michelle." Robin whispers huskily into her soft aqua hair, kissing its ocean of elegant waves he so admired to drown within. "Remember. I told you 'we'll be together, even for another lifetime.'" Quoting himself from an earlier day on this Paris expedition, Robin holds Michelle to his unbuttoned firm chest as he warmly and tearfully hugs her body close to his. In raptures, Michelle responds in kind, her now happy tears caressing the nape of his silvery neck. Both slender, lithe forms fit perfectly into each other's merged puzzle pieces, just like they were designed to be the other half of each other, since before the stars were born.

For both comprehended now the empty painful void of being alone, after being without one another's presence since they had reunited under love's gathering stars of the Princess' momentous wedding which first had drawn them together.

Robin and Michelle realized their mystifying life's journey could only be complete when merged into one romantically incredible and supernaturally magical love story.

"I love you." Robin's soul calls out to hers freely, pushing open all the closed doors Michelle's soul had unlocked as his increasingly powerful mind breaks down any left of the barriers this misunderstanding had erected between them on the astral plane.

Submerged in her shared tears for an emotion he never believed he could entertain previously, in reality's realm as well, Robin sensitively leans to Michelle's starstruck, gorgeous features. With pure electricity passing between them, Robin slides his open mouth kiss warmly along Michelle's quivering lips. Fully, lovingly and passionately, his softly licking tongue tenderly whirls a French kiss waltz with her utterly thrilled one as this introverted star had never so deeply delved before.

But from now on, as truthfully promised, Robin would do his best to respond more and embrace Michelle's wish to feel his demonstrative love in every manner possible.

When in France, one must French kiss one's lover at least once daily. N'est ce pas?

Michelle's romantic French parents, close to tears themselves at the oh-so-evocative reunion where love was magnetically palpable in the moist air, watch the delightfully youthful, beautifully blissful scene play out before them. They were certain that, at long last, their tormented in matters of love daughter had finally found the true love she longed for so very desperately all her life.

It was obvious to all who witnessed their beautiful avowals from the heart that these two perfectly suited young lives had touched on a spiritual level and found a place to reside in one another's soul in unimaginable ways beneath God's Heaven.

Much like the reflective stars gathering in the unseen cosmos beyond, promising to glisten their spectacular lights upon them, no matter what may lie ahead, Michelle Neptune Moreau and Robin Healer Starr's eternal bond of deep soulful love, crafted by the Lord Creator Above, was long ago fated in La Destiny…

---

Dear Sailor Moon friends,

Wasn't that dramatic, romantic ending of Robin and Michelle's reunion emotionally fulfilling? Can you hear the thrilling music playing in the background as the love yearning, expressive climax scene of this season's movie played out? It still stands, after all these years and several books later, as one of my favorite, most stirring, finest chapters I have been inspired to write.

One of the reasons was how this chapter featured the most stirring theme song in this final installment, one of the best of all SM songs I have ever heard, the riveting "Love's Gathering Stars" music which I translated to fit into the lyrical Japanese years ago, that still stands today. The gorgeous 'Sailor Moon in Paris' rhythm you can feel pulsate as the final song brought Michelle to her knees in regretful tears and Robin pumping the streets, running back to fearlessly right all the wrongs and make her dreams come true again for their shared 'La Destiny" in our Paris movie's dramatic conclusion.

Thank you for coming along on this 3-part "Sailor Moon Eternal Movie: Sailor Moon in Paris La Destiny" journey of true love's path in destiny for our star-crossed lovers, set in the breathtaking backdrop of romantic Paris! We hope you enjoyed all the romance and drama set to the lovely 'Sailor Moon in Paris' album which inspired a great deal of the three starring couples' interaction and scenes in this famed 'City of Lights' (The gorgeous Three Lights fit right in here with their intended Outer Sailor Scout partners, didn't they? ;) You can sing along with the translations too! ^0^

In honor of this being the 25th anniversary of when our beloved Sailor Moon saga was first written, back in 1998-99, (it seems but just yesterday for this timeless series…;) after carefully rereading and proof combing through this story that I scripted to continue the SM saga into its 6th season and beyond, over two decades ago, we will be re-publishing the remainder of the chapters regularly, every week.

Subsequently, with Setsuna agreeing to type at her 90+ words a minute for this pen-and-paper writer, we are at last planning to move forward through the rest of the season's chapters towards the New Year! And FINALLY - this author's scribbled handwritten papers are beyond ready, after 25 years, of patiently waiting in a folder – this story will be completed and released to finish this novel: "Sailor Moon Eternal" plotline! YEAH! ^0^

We plan by this year's end that our Sailor Moon 6th season continuation novel will at last be COMPLETED, God-willing. It promises to be chock full of romantic relationships, exhilarating battles and mystical excitement leading to the culmination of Crystal Tokyo for our favorite Pretty Soldier Sailor Scouts & their intergalactic friends!

Please come along for the long awaited, exciting, cosmic powered ride through our beloved Sailor Moon world! ^-^ Thank you for always patiently supporting this saga through the years! Your friendships have been very dear to me, otomodachi, and spurred me to continue in my writing with your encouraging comments on our shared story!

We would enjoy hearing your new reviews of this ongoing tale, chapter by chapter, as it has been told from the heart, replete with love for these wondrous characters who come to life again in the thrilling world of our imaginations!

"MOON ETERNAL MAKE UP!"

SetsunaKou (who illustrated the cover of this book and so many other chapter scenes for me), and I, your humble author HarukaKou, would love to hear your reviews of our treasured Sailor Moon tale written to continue these wondrous adventures!

Doumo arigatou for hanging in for this long ride, dear friends!

God bless and be with you always!

HarukaKou