Rating: PG-13

For Chapters 1 to 8, see file SOULMATE.TXT.

                               Soul Mates
                                by lady

                              CHAPTER NINE
                     Love Forsaken, Love Reclaimed

        A chilly wind blew across the streets of Tokyo, whistling
through every open nook and cranny, and down the almost deserted alley
where a couple stood a few feet apart. The man and the woman were
quietly staring at each other, unmindful of the playful breeze that
toyed with the man's loosened shirt, opening it to reveal the white
uniform he wore underneath.
        A gasp was torn from the woman's lips as she glimpsed what the
wind had uncovered. It only served to fuel the man's anger more. "Does
this look at all familiar, Rei?" he asked provokingly, unable to hide
the bitterness in his voice. "Does it remind you of someone you ought to
know?"
        Rei stood silent against his reproach, keeping a hand over her
mouth to stop the nonsensical sounds she would have uttered otherwise.
She was still staring in shock at Justin's open shirt, trying to accept
what her mind had already deduced.
        Justin was one of the white ninjas.
        The white uniform he wore was unmistakable, and, although the
idea was too incredible to believe, the proof was right in front of her.
        When moments passed and she just continued to stare at him,
Justin assumed that she didn't recognize the outfit and took more
drastic measures.
        "No? Nothing at all?" he goaded. "Well, maybe this will help
your memory along." And he pulled the edge of his uniform to bare his
left shoulder to her gaze. High on his chest, just below his left
collarbone, three puncture marks were just beginning to heal. They were
obviously deep and still swollen, surrounded by a purplish-yellow color.
        Rei gasped once more and closed her eyes, unable to keep viewing
the results of her carelessness. It was her fault that he was injured
and she knew it well.
        On the second week of December, she had been heading for a
meeting with her supervisor, when someone tapped her shoulder from
behind and asked for the time...


______________________________________________________________________


        "Excuse me, do you know what time it is?" a female voice
inquired.
        Rei, in a hurry to be on her way, checked her watch without
looking at the speaker and answered absently. "It's almost noon."
        "I'm afraid you gave me the wrong time," the persistent voice
insisted. "Care to try again?"
        As always, Rei was quick to lose her temper and turned abruptly,
ready to give the stranger a piece of her mind. But the words she
prepared to utter disappeared when she saw who she was talking to.
        It was definitely female, she noticed, but with green, scaly
flesh and deep, red eyes. The hair that fell all the way to her ankles
resembled long, intertwined vines that ended in sharp steel points,
almost like arrowheads. She had coiled part of it around one hand, ready
to use it to attack.
        "No? Well, I'll tell you what time it is, Sailor Mars. It's time
for you to die!"
        Shock went through Rei at the mention of her alter-ego, but
nothing showed on her face. She was not about to confirm the youma's
suspicions by admitting who she really was. "I don't know what you're
talking about."
        The youma laughed at her efforts before spearing her with a
hateful glare. "It's no use trying to deny it. I know who you are. I saw
you transform with my own eyes." Her grip tightened on her weapon as
accusations poured from her lips. "You and your Sailor friends are
responsible for my sister's death. I arrived too late to help her, and I
saw you finish her off. I knew I couldn't take all of you on at once, so
I waited until you changed back to your normal selves. My patience was
rewarded when I finally saw who you really were."
        "I've waited a long time to get you alone, Sailor Mars. Now it's
time to pay with your life. Die!" And she whipped her hair towards her
target, the sharp points meant to stab her like knives.
        Rei barely managed to jump out of the way, and quickly raised
her transformation pen. "Mars Star Power...Make Up!"
        The youma lost no time in attacking again, making Mars dodge
numerous hits before she managed to launch her own.
        "Mars Fire...Ignite!"
        With quick reflexes, the monster wrapped her hair around her
body and it protected her from being burned. Mars watched in disbelief
as she repeatedly attacked, her enemy dodging every one without
sustaining a single scratch. Seeing that her fire was useless, she
charged physically and managed to land a few blows. The youma was quick
to learn her moves, however, and had soon wrapped her vine-like hair
around Mars' neck, choking the life out of her. Black spots suddenly
appeared in her vision, and she knew a moment of panic when she started
gasping for air.
        Then all of a sudden, she was free. She was thrown backwards, a
little distance away, when the youma abruptly let go of her grasp. She
sat where she landed, breathing hard to fill her lungs with much needed
air.
        Sounds of fighting echoed from somewhere in front of her, and
Mars lifted her head to see what was happening. What she saw was the
youma defending herself from the relentless blows of her opponent, a
white clad figure she recognized from Jupiter's description. A white
ninja, her friend had called him. Someone who interfered when she needed
him most. Mars wondered if he was the same one who rescued her fellow
Senshi.
        Watching for another moment, she saw that he was holding up well
against the monster and decided to call for reinforcements. She quickly
used her communicator to contact the others. "Everyone, I need your help
right now." She had just finished describing their location when she
heard the shout of warning.
        Mars looked up to see three arrow points heading straight
towards her and was too surprised to move away. When they would have
struck her, however, something white shielded her and took the blow
instead. She watched in shock as the ninja collapsed in front of her,
holding onto the hair attached to the steel points now buried in his
chest.
        "Now, Mars," he gasped, trying to tell her something.
        She saw what he meant when the youma wrapped the rest of her
hair around her body. There was a part of the monster uncovered because
he held a few of the strands, and she focused her attack on that small
opening.
        "Mars Celestial Fire...Surround!"
        The youma screamed as fire devoured her body, leaving nothing
but a pile of dust and a few steel points where she last stood. Mars
didn't waste any time viewing the remains but quickly turned back to her
injured savior. He groaned as he removed the last of the arrows from his
chest and placed a hand over the wound to stop the bleeding.
        Mars went down on her knees beside him and cradled his head in
her lap. He looked up at her from intense, blue eyes filled with agony.
        "Are you okay, Mars?" he whispered, looking her over to see if
she was hurt.
        "I think that's supposed to be my line," she replied, trying to
make him smile in spite of his injuries. She knew he must be in great
pain as she watched the blood seep through his fingers. "I'm sorry. I
should have been more careful. I should have--"
        "Shh." He placed a finger on her lips to stop her rambling.
"I'll always...be there...to protect you...Mars. Always." Then he
stiffened and gritted his teeth as a new onslaught of pain passed
through him. He closed his eyes in his agony.
        Mars looked at him worriedly, knowing he should be in a
hospital. She looked around and saw her fellow Senshi arriving in the
distance. She carefully laid down the now unconscious ninja and run to
meet them halfway.
        "Mercury, hurry please," she shouted as they came in hearing
distance. "He's hurt badly. You have to help him."
        "Who's hurt, Mars?" her friend asked as they kept on running.
"What happened?"
        "I'll explain later. Just help him first."
        They reached their destination a few minutes later and found
nothing but an empty lot. In the spot where the white ninja lay before,
only a blood stain and three arrow points were left behind. Proof that
Mars hadn't imagined the whole thing.

______________________________________________________________________

        Rei opened her eyes to look upon Justin questioningly. "You
disappeared. I looked for you for hours but I couldn't find you. Where
did you go?"
        Justin realized that she really wanted to know. She had felt
concern for him when he was hurt, and it softened his heart a little.
"I woke up in a hospital with Nathan beside me. Apparently, he had just
gotten there when you finished off the youma and waited for you to
leave. He got me out of there as soon as you turned your back."
        "But why?" she asked, hurt that he hadn't trusted her to care
for him when he was injured. "I would have helped you. He didn't have to
take you away so secretly."
        "It wasn't time, Rei," he said sadly, knowing that the right
time may never come for them now. "It wasn't time for you to know who I
was. If you'd recognized me, it would have affected a lot of lives, not
just my own."
        Rei saw the sadness in his eyes turn to pain as he spoke. It put
her to mind of how much agony he'd endured for saving her life. It also
made her wonder what was causing the suffering she could see, even now,
mirrored in his gaze. Unexpected tears started in her own.
        "You said you'd always protect me." She shook her head at the
words. "I don't understand. You are my enemy, and yet you rescued me.
Why now, when you've never cared before?"
        "You've always been stubborn and hardheaded, Rei," he accused
softly, noting the wetness in her eyes. "You never listened unless you
wanted to. I've been trying to tell you that I'm not the enemy since New
Year's eve--that I'm not who you think I am. Perhaps I've been trying
too hard."
        When Rei seemed about to protest, he put up his hand to stop
her. "It's all right, Rei. I'll keep my promise to stay away from you.
You won't have to worry about me anymore." He smiled then, the saddest
smile she had ever seen, and it brought more tears to her eyes. "If this
relationship is going anywhere, it will be because you want it to. The
ball is in your court, Rei." Justin lifted his hand to wipe away her
tears but stopped before he touched her. "I just wish..."
        Rei waited for him to finish, not knowing why it seemed so
important to know what he wanted. But her wait was in vain as he flashed
her another melancholy smile and walked away.
        As his steps took him farther and farther from Rei, Justin
finished what he'd meant to tell her. "I wish you could have loved me
just a little, My Princess," he whispered to himself. "I wish you could
have loved me like I love you." Then, resigning himself to a life
without her, he reluctantly added. "Good-bye, my love."
        He dashed impatiently at the tears clouding his vision, only to
find that there seemed to be an endless supply. He clenched his fists in
frustration and heard his knuckles crack, sounding to his ears like the
breaking of his heart. He closed his eyes in pain. "Good-bye..."
        Rei watched his retreating back and waited for the feeling of
relief to overwhelm her. It never came. Instead, a heaviness seemed to
settle upon her heart. Somewhere deep inside, a pain started to throb.
Slowly, steadily, it spread outward until her whole body felt like it
was one big ache. Her limbs started to tremble as shivers wracked her
slim form, reacting to what only her subconscious acknowledged. She had
lost a vital part of her being.
        She wrapped her arms about her, willing her mind to grasp what
was happening to her body--to her soul. Only more questions seemed to
pop up in answer, leaving her all the more confused. And the single
question that kept hammering itself to the forefront was the most
puzzling one of all.
        What have I just done?

                                *       *       *       *       *

        Galen was busy writing reports when he heard a hesitant knock on
the door. "Come in."
        He heard it open and close in response, and when nothing but
silence followed, he looked up to see who it was. Haruka stood at the
entrance.
        Galen hadn't seen her since New Year's eve and wasn't sure what
to say. He wasn't at liberty to declare his feelings and was unsure of
how to approach her. In the end, it was she who said the first word.
        "I'm sorry to disturb you, but there's a couple of things we
need to discuss."
        "Please have a seat," he offered, indicating the chair on the
other side of the desk.
        Haruka did as she was asked before getting right down to
business. "Yamamoto-san wants to meet with you to discuss that new
surveillance system we created for his company." She looked up to see if
he was listening and saw his nod of acknowledgment. "Also, Furukawa
Sachiko called to ask if we could spare a few bodies on the fifteenth.
It seems a lot of political bigwigs are attending the party she's
throwing, and she wants to beef up her security. I made a list of the
people I thought best to send." She showed him a copy of the list and
started discussing the names on it.
        Galen stared at her countenance as she outlined her plans for
that particular assignment. He studied her face and noted it's total
lack of expression. So calm, he thought. So composed. Not a trace of the
emotions she displayed the other night. He wondered if she had truly
resolved her feelings, or if she was just hiding her turmoil behind a
blank mask.
        "Fujiwara-sama?"
        Galen came out of his contemplation at the sound of his name.
The questioning look she gave him made him realize that she'd stopped
talking a few minutes before. He knew she was waiting for an answer but
he couldn't remember what the question was.
        When he didn't say anything after a while, Haruka repeated
herself. "Do you want to make any changes to the plans I've made?"
        Galen shook his head, more to wake himself up than to answer her
question. "Uh, no. Go ahead just the way you told me." It was a good
thing he trusted Haruka implicitly to handle the job well, or he'd be in
big trouble. " And just give me Yamamoto's phone number. I'll contact
him myself."
        "Very well. I'll leave you this copy of the list as well." And
she held out the piece of paper for him to take.
        Galen looked at it and thought he saw it quiver in her grasp.
He wondered if it was wishful thinking on his part that she felt enough
emotion for him to make her tremble, even slightly, in his company. He
decided to put it to the test.
        He reached out for the paper, just far enough so their fingers
would touch for a moment. When Haruka literally snatched back her hand
as if burned, he knew he wasn't imagining things. She wasn't as
indifferent to him as she wanted to pretend. She still felt something
for him.
        Haruka held her right hand enclosed with her left one as if to
soothe it. She had worked so hard at trying to tell herself that she had
been a fool, and that she felt nothing for him now except loathing. But
a mere touch of his fingers proved her wrong. She could still feel a
warm tingle from the momentary contact, and it made her wish for things
she couldn't possibly have.
        "Haruka..."
        The sound of her name on his lips reminded her of better days.
Those wonderful days when they worked, joked and laughed together. They
didn't see each other much anymore. And when they did, the conversations
were short and stilted. It just wasn't the same.
        "Haruka," he repeated, but stopped once again, not knowing what
to say.
        She looked at the entreaty in his eyes and was torn between
running and being safe, or listening to what he had to say and risk
being hurt again. But before she could decide, the choice was taken from
her by a knock behind her.
        The door opened without invitation and Usagi entered the office.
"Galen, how about having lunch with me? I hear the new French restaurant
is pretty--Oh! I didn't realize you were busy," she finished abruptly,
looking from one occupant of the room to the other.
        Usagi's presence reminded Haruka of why she was avoiding Galen
and helped restore the calm composure she had when she first entered.
Gathering her things, she stood up and managed a semblance of a smile.
"That's all right, Usagi-san. We're already finished."
        Usagi was not totally convinced. "Are you sure? I could wait
outside if you're not--"
        "That's not necessary. I was just leaving." And without another
word to Galen, she left the office.
        Usagi's face was a study in regret as she faced her old friend.
"I'm sorry, Galen. I didn't know she was here."
        "That's okay, Usagi," he assured her, shrugging of the incident.
"I didn't know what to say anyway. I couldn't really explain anything
until we resolve your problems with Mamoru."
        Usagi looked at him thoughtfully, knowing he must be hurting at
Haruka's indifference. Galen had always been in touch with his emotions
deeply. He felt everything more than anybody else, and it was sometimes
a disadvantage. When he loved, he loved fiercely and totally, and the
rejection of that love must hurt him deep inside. It was all her fault.
        "I'm sorry," she repeated dejectedly and hung her head.
        "Hey, it's all right." He lifted her chin and wiped the tears
off her cheeks with his thumb. "Now what's this you were saying about
lunch?" he asked lightly.
        She couldn't help but return the smile he gave her. He had
always been strong, inside and out, and the least she could do was
emulate that strength. She resolved to keep his mind from his problems
the rest of the day.
        "I want to try this new French restaurant down the street."
        Usagi linked her arms to his and pulled him towards the door.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        Down the hall, Haruka closed the door to her office and leaned
against it. Closing her eyes, she ran the events of the past half hour
through her mind again.
        "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" she said aloud to herself. "You almost
made a fool of yourself again."
        She pushed away from the door and moved towards her desk.
Opening the folder on top, she attacked her work with a vengeance,
trying to forget what happened in Galen's office. After an hour of
little accomplishment however, she finally gave up.
        <It was so much easier before,> she thought, <when all I had to
fight were monsters. Now she was up against her own emotions, and,
already, it seemed like a losing battle.>

                                *       *       *       *       *

        Mamoru was taking a short break from work, strolling downtown to
clear the cobwebs from his mind. After yesterday's fiasco with Usagi, he
had been unable to do anything but think about it, leaving the program
he was creating untouched on the computer screen.
        This morning, he had resolved to keep Usagi from his mind and
concentrate on work. He had made good progress for the first hour or so
until his secretary came in and reminded him of what was on his schedule
today. He had several people coming to see him this morning, she said,
and a three o'clock meeting with Fujiwara Galen. Then she turned and
closed the door, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
        "Galen."
        The mere sound of his name brought back all the pain and
frustration Mamoru was trying to forget, keeping him unfocused and
confused. He had still managed to keep all his morning appointments
afterwards, but couldn't remember a single word he said. When the last
one finally left, he walked out the door and told his secretary he was
going for a long lunch. Now here he was, a few blocks away from his
office and still unable to get Usagi out of his mind.
        As if just the thought of her had conjured her image up, she was
suddenly there, a few yards in front of him. She was sitting at a table
by the window of a restaurant, looking thoughtfully in the distance. He
was glad to see that she was alone so he could finally talk to her. He
took an excited step in her direction, only to be stopped short by the
arrival of another man.
        Usagi looked up as he approached and smiled with pleasure at his
company. Mamoru felt resentment settle in his heart. Who was this
stranger who was deemed worth of her smiles when he got nothing but
reproach from her? He needed to know.
        Mamoru glanced at the man sitting across from Usagi, ready to do
battle with the newcomer. Only, it wasn't a newcomer who sat there but
an old friend. Ex-friend, he amended. The man who'd replaced him in
Usagi's heart, or so he believed.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        Justin had been walking for hours after he left Rei and was
finally heading home. He was crossing the street when he spotted Mamoru
standing like a statue on the sidewalk. He called out to him but was
totally ignored by his old friend.
        Upon closer inspection, Justin noticed that Mamoru was paler
than usual and his hands were clenched tight enough to draw blood. When
Justin followed the direction of his unwavering stare and found Usagi
sharing a meal with Galen, he quickly grasped the source of Mamoru's
distress. He clasped a hand on his friend's shoulder and shook him out
of his stupor.
        "Snap out of it, Mamoru," he ordered. "She's not worth it. None
of them are." Fresh from being hurt himself, Justin was speaking without
thought, not really meaning a single word he said.
        Mamoru was aware enough to hear the bitterness in his voice and
wondered about it's cause. He looked at his old enemy in the eye and
found a kindred soul, helpless and in pain. It created a connection
between them--something that they shared--and made him more comfortable
in his presence.
        "You don't really believe that, do you?" he asked of the other
man. "Usagi's worth everything to me, and I'm sure whoever she is must
be pretty special for you to love her."
        Justin couldn't refute the truth of his words. Mamoru was right.
Rei was everything to him as well. "You're right," he admitted
grudgingly but with a melancholy note just the same. "She's very
special. So special that I lived and died and lived again without
forgetting my love for her. But now it seems I have no choice but to
forget it," he admitted in a hoarse voice. "I'm just not sure I have the
heart, or the strength, to do it."
        Mamoru placed a hand on Justin's shoulder to offer comfort,
knowing full well what it felt like to lose a loved one. With his own
heart close to breaking, he sympathized with his old enemy's situation.
Or was it his old friend's?
        Usagi had said he was one of Endymion's protectors and Mamoru
had no reason to doubt her. Maybe this was a good time to get to know
him better. And perhaps also a chance for them to help each other out.
It was worth a try.
        "Have you had lunch? Justin, isn't it?"
        The other man seemed to welcome the change of topic, shaking
himself out of his depression. He shook his head. "No. I was too
preoccupied to think about it," he replied. "But now that you mention
it, I'm starving."
        "Good. Let's go to that Chinese restaurant around the corner.
The portions are good there and everything's delicious."
        "Lead the way," Justin agreed and followed Mamoru down the
street, looking like two old buddies having a great time.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        Rei had also been wondering around the city all morning, trying
to still all the strange emotions running through her body. For hours
after Justin had walked away, she had been battling feelings of guilt
and loss. Guilt because she knew she had somehow hurt him when all he'd
done was save her life. Rei was no longer sure that he was the same
Jadeite who fought the Senshi years ago. Somewhere along the way, she
had started listening to the words he kept repeating. And now, when it
was too late, she finally believed that he was telling the truth. He
wasn't the enemy she thought he was.
        The feeling of loss was more puzzling to her. She knew it was
somehow tied to Justin's leaving but couldn't figure out how. She had
barely known the man for her to miss him in any way. But her heart and
mind were insistent. She had lost something important when he walked
away from her. Something so vital, it left an odd, hollow feeling inside
her. The longing in her heart was so strong, it made her want to cry.
For what? Rei didn't know. Only that she had to find out what it was
before it got any worse.
        Minako and Ami were waiting for her when she entered the temple,
looking pale and dazed. Ami immediately checked to see if she was
feeling ill.
        "Is she okay?" Minako inquired.
        "She feels fine," Ami responded. "Are you all right, Rei?"
        "I still can't believe it," she mumbled in return. "He's one of
them, and he saved me." Rei was referring to Justin's being a white
ninja, something she was still having trouble digesting.
        "Who's he?" Minako asked with a puzzled frown. It was unusual
for Rei to be so vague about anything. She always said what was on her
mind, loud and clear.
        The other girl didn't seem to hear her question and continued
like an automaton to sit on the sofa, staring at her hands. "I hurt
him," she said miserably. "He saved me and I hurt him. What am I going
to do?"
        "Rei, are you sure you're all right?" Ami repeated worriedly.
"Won't you tell us what's wrong?"
        Rei just shook her head.
        A noise just outside the temple doors alerted them to someone
approaching, and they all looked up to see who it was. A smiling Makoto
appeared a moment later holding the hand of a reluctant Nathan.
        "Come on," they heard her say. "They won't eat you, you know?"
        Looking at the surprised and wary looks on her friends' faces,
he wasn't too sure. Turning a bemused smile to his love, he said, "Wanna
bet?"
        Makoto laughed at his show of cowardice and pulled him inside.
She was just about to reintroduce him to the others when Rei spoke.
        "You're one of them too, aren't you?" She had stood up and taken
a few steps towards him.
        At his puzzled expression, she clarified her question. "A white
ninja. You're one of them too, aren't you?"
        Nathan took a quick look at Makoto when the words 'white ninja'
were mentioned. It was the one thing he hadn't discussed with her, and
he was worried that she wouldn't take it well.
        Aside from a raised eyebrow however, she said nothing and even
squeezed his hand in reassurance. That eased his mind a lot.
        "Yes, I am a white ninja," he admitted. "I take it, you've
finally spoken with Justin?" Nathan didn't understand why tears suddenly
flooded Rei's eyes before she turned and left the room. He automatically
moved to follow her but was stopped by Makoto's hand.
        "I'll find out what's wrong," she reassured him. "Stay here and
have a talk with Minako and Ami."
        He nodded his assent, and she left to follow Rei. Nathan looked
at the two remaining Senshi and didn't know what to do. So he smiled and
sat on the sofa, ready to wait 'til forever for them to start the
conversation.
        After a few minutes, Minako's curiosity got the better of her
and she started grilling him. "You're a white ninja? One of the white
ninjas who saved us countless times? But why? You're our enemy. Isn't it
ironic for you to save us from your own monsters?"
        "Stop!" Nathan almost yelled when she opened her mouth to add
another question. "Give me a chance to answer first before you ask
anything else," he said more calmly. "First of all, as I already
mentioned, I am a white ninja. One of the group who helped you from time
to time. Why? I guess because we didn't want any harm to come to you.
Contrary to what you think, we are not your enemies but your friends."
        "How can you say that?" she retorted sarcastically. "I didn't
fight you personally, but my friends did. How can you deny the facts?"
        "I deny it because I wasn't the one they fought. True, he looked
like me, but that doesn't mean he IS me. It's hard to explain," he
finished lamely.
        "More like impossible," was the disbelieving reply.
        "Then how do you explain our helping you?" he challenged.
        Minako was taken aback for a moment. "Well...you must have
ulterior motives."
        "No, we don't," Nathan answered adamantly.
        And they kept on going, each trying to prove the other one
wrong, until Nathan finally asked, "Then tell me, why does Makoto love
me if I am the enemy?" He raised one eyebrow at her, daring her to
answer his question.
        Minako opened her mouth then shut it again. He was right. She
had no answer for that one.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        Makoto found Rei crying her heart out on her bed. She really
didn't know what to say so she just sat beside her and touched her
shoulder comfortingly.
        "Hey, it can't be so bad, whatever it is?" she said softly to
the other girl. "Do you want to talk about it?"
        Rei stopped sobbing and raised red, watery eyes towards her.
"I'm so confused, Mako-chan," she admitted. "I don't even know why I'm
crying."
        "No ideas at all?" her friend prodded gently.
        She nodded her head reluctantly. "I hurt him. I know I did. And
now I feel so guilty."
        "Justin?"
        "Yes," Rei acknowledged. "It's strange. I could never think of
him as anything but Jadeite before. Now I can't seem to get Justin out
of my mind."
        "Is it because you care for him?"
        "Care for him?" Rei repeated wonderingly, like she never
considered the possibility before. "I don't know. I just know that he
saved my life and I hurt him in return."
        Makoto's curiosity was piqued. "Tell me about it."
        Rei hung her head and proceeded to relate this morning's events.
Then, in halting sentences, she told her friend about that day, a few
weeks back, when she first met Justin. Listening to the other girl's
story, Makoto quickly understood why Rei was feeling guilty.
        "So you no longer believe he's the enemy?"
        "No. I don't know what made me change my mind, but I did."
Turning to her friend, she asked, "I know you don't think Nathan's an
Enemy. What made you believe that was true?"
        "It's a long story," Makoto replied. "One that isn't mine to
tell. Suffice it to say that he explained everything to me and found a
way to prove, without a shadow a of doubt, that he was telling the
truth."
        "I should have listened to Justin, shouldn't I? Then maybe I
wouldn't be in this situation. Crying for something but having no idea
what."
        Makoto just looked at her with sympathetic eyes. You poor soul,
she thought silently. You threw away the most precious gift you've ever
been given, and you don't even know it. I just hope you'll find a way to
get it back somehow, before it's really too late.

                                ~~      ~~      ~~      ~~      ~~

        Bright and early the following morning, Ami decided to visit a
downtown bookstore. Although reading books was one of her favorite
hobbies, she wasn't there to purchase one today, but to get one signed.
Ami had learned from Nathan yesterday that Zachary was going to be
signing books this morning at that particular bookstore, and she wanted
to see him. She wanted to thank him for helping to save her life.
        When Ami found out that Zachary was also a white ninja, she
realized he was the one who was always very protective of her. She
wanted to know the reason why. She needed to know. It was suddenly very
important.
        A crowd had gathered behind her as the time drew nearer for the
signing to begin. Ami was the fifth in line and could see the desk where
Zachary would be sitting. Her pulse started to race when she spotted him
coming from the back.
        Zachary didn't notice her standing in line when he sat down and
reached for the first book. He was unusually preoccupied this morning,
impatient for the whole thing to be over, and wasn't paying attention to
what he was doing. He'd heard from Kenjo, early this morning, that
Nathan had seen Ami the day before, and he wanted to ask his friend
about the meeting.
        "Zach?" he heard a hesitant voice say as he started to reach for
the next person's book. Startled out of his reverie, he looked up to see
who was calling him so familiarly.
        Ami wondered if she had said the wrong thing when he looked so
surprised. Nathan had said to use his nickname because it would surely
get his attention quickly. He didn't say if it would end up giving her a
bad impression though, for showing a marked lack of respect for a
renowned author.
        Zach couldn't believe it when he saw Ami in front of him. He
fought the urge to rub his eyes just to make sure he wasn't imagining
things. Afraid that she would disappear when he touched her, he
restrained himself from doing so and gave her his most charming smile
instead.
        "Ami-chan, you're here," he said inanely and wanted to smack
himself afterwards. For someone who made a living using words, he
couldn't seem to do anything but state the obvious. It was a good thing
Ami was too nervous to notice his lack of finesse. Besides, she was too
busy admiring his handsome, smiling face to notice anything else.
        "Ami," Zach prompted again before she realized she was staring.
        "Oh! I...I'm sorry. I just wanted to thank you for...you know...
looking out for me when you were...umm..."
        He smiled at her broken sentences--an indication that she was
just as nervous as he was--and found the courage to ask her to wait for
him. "Ami, we need to talk. Privately," he added, looking around at the
crowd. "Is it at all possible for you to stay until I'm done here?" He
looked at her hopefully and was relieved to see her nod.
        "I'll wait for you by the reference section. I need to find a
good dictionary anyway."
        "Thank you," Zach replied and finally took the book she held
out. He wrote a message automatically and didn't realize he'd signed it
'with love' until he saw the incredulous look on Ami's face. And then
there was no more time to explain as the next person in line took her
place.

                        *       *       *       *       *

        Sometime later, Ami stood in the middle of an aisle, facing a
shelf of books without seeing a single one. In her mind's eye, she was
still looking at the words Zach had written in her book. 'With love'
he'd signed it, like it was the most natural thing in the world. She
knew he hadn't meant to do it when she spied the surprised look on his
face afterwards. <But why would he do it in the first place?> she
wondered. <Unless he really meant it? Unless the words came from deep
within him and he wrote them without thinking.> Dare she believe it
could be so?
        "Ami," a quiet voice spoke from behind her. She knew it was Zach
before she even turned because all her senses were suddenly on alert.
Her heart was hammering like she'd run a marathon and tingles run up and
down her spine. It was very disconcerting.
        "Zach, is the signing over?" she asked before she realized how
stupid that question was. Of course it's finished, dunce-head, she
admonished herself. He's here, isn't he? "I mean, of course it must be
finished because you're here." <Oh God! I must have left my brains at
home this morning.>
        Zach only smiled, not seeming to notice her being tongue-tied.
He was too busy clutching a book in his hands like it was a lifeline and
he was a drowning man. It made her feel a little better, knowing she
wasn't the only one almost having a nervous breakdown.
        "You said you had something to tell me," she stated more calmly.
"I'm almost finished here, if you want to go somewhere else."
        "I...I did have something to tell you, Ami. But now that you're
here, I can't seem to find the words."
        She was surprised. "That's an odd thing for an author to say,
isn't it?"
        "Not really. Believe me, it isn't the same thing at all," he
said in explanation. "It's one thing to sit in front of a computer and
type words. Another to stand in front of someone you care about and
speak from your heart."
        Ami shook her head slightly, unsure she was hearing the right
words. Had he just said he cared about her?
        "Tell me, Ami. Have you read any of my other books besides
that?" And he gestured at the one she was holding.
        "A few," she replied, "but not a lot. I'm always too busy
studying medical references to read much of anything else."
        "No need to apologize," Zach said reassuringly. "I just wanted
to know if you've read any of my earlier works, like 'Moonlight
Destiny'."
        "I don't think I've read that one. Why? Was it a bestseller?"
        "It was one, but that's not why I asked. I wanted to make sure
you read it." He held out the book in his hand and waited for her to
take it. "It's the first book I ever wrote," he confessed. "When I was
writing it, I didn't even know it was going to be a book. I just started
putting all my feelings down onto paper, so I could have a record of
everything I was experiencing. I thought I was going crazy, you see."
Zach turned towards her fully then, needing to gage her reaction. Ami
looked back at him unflinchingly. "About seven years ago, I started
having recurring dreams of another time and another place. It was pretty
confusing at first, living in the present in the morning and
experiencing the past when I went to sleep." He took a deep breath and
leaned on the shelf behind him. "Anyway, I wrote everything down, like
in a journal. And when it was finally done, I knew that I wasn't going
crazy and that they weren't just dreams. The things I saw, the people I
befriended--they were all real."
        "I'm not much good at saying what I feel, Ami. But if you read
the book, it'll tell you everything that's in here." And he took her
hand and placed it over his heart. "Promise me you'll read it? Please?"
        Ami could only nod her assent because her throat was choked with
tears. She already knew she was going to the library as soon as she left
here. She meant to read the book from start to finish without being
disturbed, and that was the best place to do it in. Again, she nodded
her head.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        Rei and Minako had been running errands all morning, and they
were finally on their last one. As they approached the wide steps of the
library, Minako jokingly said, "Bet you we'll find Ami in there
somewhere."
        Rei joined in her laughter and knew Minako was probably right.
They had also been looking for Ami this morning and couldn't seem to
track her down. They knew she was going to the book signing earlier but,
when they got there, it was already over. Afterwards, they looked for
her everywhere they happened to be and didn't find a single trace of
her.
        When they had entered the library doors, Rei immediately went to
return the books she was carrying while Minako checked to see if she
could spot Ami anywhere. She quickly found her sitting in a quiet corner
with her head bowed, totally absorbed in the book she was reading.
Minako waited for Rei to come back before they both headed towards their
friend.
        "Hi, Ami," Rei said in low tones as they approached the desk she
was occupying. "Is that a new book?"
        When Ami lifted her head in surprise, they were both shocked to
see tears coursing down her face. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "I didn't expect
to see you here."
        "Oh, Ami," Minako finally said after a short silence. "What's
wrong?"
        "Can we help?" Rei added.
        "It's nothing. Really," she reassured them. "I'm all right."
        "But you're crying!"
        "It's just this book," she explained. "It's so sad, so tragic.
It was horrible what she made them go through at the end. She was
heartless!"
        Rei closed the book and read the title. "'Moonlight Destiny'.
You're crying over a novel, Ami-chan?" she asked incredulously. "But
it's only fiction. It's not real."
        "You're wrong, Rei," she said with such conviction that her
friends were taken aback. "That's what Zach tried to explain to me this
morning and I finally believe him. He said that most people think it's
just a beautiful love story with a tragic ending. They think it's
something he made up. But he swore to me that, although the words may
read like fiction, everything he wrote was the absolute truth. All the
people he described, all the feelings he conveyed, all the events he
related, are all part of his distant past, he said. A past very few
people remember."
        "This book is about our past as well," she told her spellbound
audience. "It's about the events that happened in the Moon Kingdom so
many years ago. I'm in this book and so are the rest of the Senshi,
including the two of you. It's something that you both should read to
better understand our past, and in turn, our future as well."
        "You're making it sound so profound, Ami-chan," Rei said after a
while. "Like our very lives and destinies are tied up in this book."
        "I believe they are, Rei-chan. But why don't you judge for
yourself?" And she gave the book a slight shove in Rei's direction
before standing up and leaving the other two Senshi.
        Rei looked at Minako questioningly before reaching for the book.
She carefully opened the cover and read the printed dedication inside.

        For the lady who gives meaning to my life--the one I love.
        This is for you, Ami, wherever you are.

        She looked up to see the same confusion she felt mirrored in
Minako's eyes. She turned the page to see the publishing information. A
date six years earlier seemed to leap out of the page to be absorbed by
her shocked eyes.
        "But how could he have known her name?" Minako wondered out
loud. "Usagi was still with us then. She couldn't have told him."
        Rei didn't have any answers either, so they both looked down at
the book. Could Ami be right that it held a lot of answers? There was
only one way to find out. Rei reluctantly turned another page and
started reading aloud.

        What else exists in this world that is more
        beautiful to behold than a love so pure, it is worth dying
        for. A love that fills the very corners of the heart, and
        feeds the very cravings of the soul. A love that tests the
        boundaries of time and sets no limits upon itself. A love
        that is precious and true...and everlasting.
        To behold such a love is to glimpse into the
        wonders of Paradise, and I am blessed to be one of the
        lucky ones. My name is Zachary, and this is my story.

        Rei paused to look at Minako once again, a chill of foreboding
creeping up her spine. Minako was looking just as disturbed as she was
but nodded towards her to carry on. She complied.

        The Lunarian Realm was the most magnificent sight I
        had ever seen. My liege and I had traveled there with our
        three friends and comrades at arms, Kenjo, Nathan, and
        Justin, to convey the Earth King's good wishes to the
        Lunarian Queen. At least My Liege was there to convey
        those wishes. The four of us were sent to protect him like
        we've been doing for the past several years.

        The story went on to explain who Zachary's liege was and how his
protectors were gathered together. It describes the events leading to
the mission that sent the Prince and his four guards to the Lunarian
Kingdom.

        I watched My Liege as he walked towards the throne
        where the Queen awaited. He looked confident, as always,
        none of the nervousness he confessed to earlier showing on
        his face. It gave me the courage to tamp my own nervous
        feelings down, so none may see it.
        I focused on my liege's actions and did what he
        did. When he bowed, I followed his lead. And when he
        spoke to the Queen, I listened intently. It was when the
        Queen's messenger arrived that everything began to happen.
        Forgotten for the moment because of some important
        message, my liege took the chance to look around. That was
        when he noticed her and became captivated.

        Rei read on about how the Prince was quickly enamored of the
Queen's daughter. Although he found out later that she was engaged to
someone else, he had avidly pursued her because he knew, deep inside,
that he would love only her for the rest of his life and beyond.
Zachary confessed to having the same feelings for one of the Princess'
constant companions.

        The first time I saw her, she was mostly hidden
        from my view. It piqued my curiosity that she seemed
        content to be behind all her friends who were standing
        confidently in front. At first, I thought it was because
        she was flawed. I soon learned otherwise.
        The next day, I saw her again, but this time, in
        full view. She was standing by a tree, wearing a light
        blue, toga style gown of some soft material. I noticed her
        hair was short and unusually blue, which somehow suited her
        well. Eyes the color of the deep blue sea stared out from
        a simple but beautiful face, and a shy smile tugged at her
        soft, pink lips. I thought she was utterly lovely.

        As the rest of the tale unfolded, Zachary told of his growing
love for his Amy. It wasn't long before he confessed his feelings to
her, and was relieved to learn that she felt the same way. Then,
together, they watched and waited as, one by one, their respective
friends found their way towards each other and a love more precious than
any of them had dreamed.

        The time had come to part once more, and we were
        all reluctant to say farewell. But the separation was to
        be a short one, for the following night was the Lunarian
        Princess' birthday, and we were all looking forward to
        attending.
        I watched as Nathan held his loved one close one
        last time, before finally coming to join our group. The
        ladies had gathered on the other side, and I watched my Amy
        put on a brave smile which didn't reach her eyes. I knew
        she was worried and trying not to show it.
        She had always been afraid that something would
        happen to stop me from coming back. I constantly had to
        reassure her that nothing would be able to do so. But, who
        knows? Maybe she had been right. For what happened next
        was something I wasn't prepared for.

        Zach painted a ghastly picture of tortured souls lying in a pool
of their own blood. Carnage lay everywhere when the five of them had
finally reached Earth, and an unseen enemy seemed bent on destroying the
whole planet. The four warriors knew they might not be able to save
their home, so they decided to get their liege out of there quickly. It
was hard to convince him but, in the end, he reluctantly agreed. That
was when they all separated.

        I run into the woods, not knowing what to expect.
        Suddenly, I heard a loud explosion in the direction of the
        castle, and I hastened my steps. I guess I must have been
        careless, since I didn't even see them coming. It seemed
        like one moment I was alone, and the next they were upon
        me. I thought I was done for, but an image of my Amy's
        worried face gave me the strength to fight back. I gave
        her my promise that I would return, and I would have done
        anything to fulfill it.

        Zach mentioned that he was deeply wounded and too weak to move,
so he just sat where he fell. That was how Nathan found him when he
finally came.
        He wrote of his relief when they finally reached the castle,
only to be attacked and brought before the demonic creature who had
caused all the destruction. In pained and angry words, Zach related in
detail her evil plans to conquer the Lunarian Empire. Then, helplessness
ringing in every line, he told of how they were forced to watch as those
plans were carried out.

        I saw myself walking towards Amy and, suddenly, I
        was afraid. For it wasn't really me who approached her,
        but an evil twin bent on doing her harm. I watched with
        hammering heart as he held her close in his arms, and I
        felt her pain as he took her life with one swift blow. I
        ached to catch her as she fell and to look into her eyes
        for one last time, but it was already too late.
        She was gone.
        She was gone, and in my heart I knew I had also
        died. There was only the shell of my body left, watching
        unfeeling as the rest of the battle went on. Even the
        untimely deaths of My Liege and his princess couldn't raise
        any feeling in my heart anymore. Amy was gone.
        In my mind there was only one thought. I wished
        with all that was left in me for the peaceful escape of
        merciful oblivion. I felt my prayers were answered when I
        saw a blinding ball of light heading in my direction. In
        my mind, I spread my arms in welcome, and imagined I could
        see my Amy's face etched in the brightness. I chanced to
        whisper my love's name one last time as I felt the warmth
        engulf me totally. And then I knew...no more.

        Rei slowly closed the book and turned it over carefully. She
stared at the intricate design on the cover intently, unwilling to raise
her eyes, afraid of what might happen.
        A quiet sob from the across the desk prompted her to investigate
however, and she found Minako with her face buried in her hands. The
sight of her friend's uncontrollable grief triggered her own tears, and
she felt them flowing down her cheeks. She was soon sobbing as well for
the unjustness of it all.
        "How could she?" Minako managed to say after a while. "What a
cruel thing to do, making them witness their loved ones' deaths when
they were helpless to do anything. Oh! How could she?"
        "Beryl has always been heartless and cruel," Rei reminded her.
"She has no feelings, and she thrives on other people's misery. What
else did you expect from her?"
        "Beryl," Minako repeated. "So you believe it too. That Zach
meant Beryl when he described that demonic creature."
        "There are too many similarities for it to be just plain
coincidence," Rei reasoned out. "Yes, I believe that evil creature was
Beryl. And I believe the rest of the characters are known to us as well.
Mamoru is Zachary's Prince while Usagi is the Lunarian Princess. We-,"
she paused to take a deep breath, trying to find the courage to say the
words out loud. "We are the ladies in the Princess' court. The ones the
Earth Generals fell in love with. The ones who fell in love with them."
She hung her head in misery, knowing that what she'd uttered was nothing
but the complete truth. Justin had loved her for more years than she
could even imagine, and in a split-second, she had thrown it all away.
What a fool he must have thought her. What a fool she really was.
        "Oh, Rei," Minako cried to her. "What are we going to do?"
        There was nothing she could do, Rei thought miserably. She had
given up her chance when she'd let Justin walk away from her. Now all
she had left was time to regret it. "I don't know, Minako-chan. I don't
know." She stood up and picked up the book. "You don't mind if I keep it
a little longer, do you?" She asked of her friend. When the other girl
shook her head, she turned and started to walk away.
        When she had taken a few steps, she stopped suddenly and looked
back. "Whatever you do, Minako-chan," she advised earnestly. "Stop and
listen to what he says. And do it with an open mind. You'll be glad you
did when everything is done." And with one last look to make sure she
had been heard, she turned once more and walked away, leaving a
bewildered Minako behind.

                        *       *       *       *       *

        Kenjo had spent most of the day dealing with a client and was
more than ready to head home. He had just stepped out of the building
however, when he almost run smack into Rei. She was in such a hurry, she
didn't even notice his presence.
        "Hey, Rei! How's it--going?" he finished as she turned the
corner. He wondered what was happening to make her hurry so. Then
deciding to leave well enough alone, he moved in the opposite direction.
        After he'd gone a few blocks, he noticed Minako walking towards
him in the distance. She was on the other side of the street so he
stopped at the next corner to wait for the crossing light to turn on.
Even then, he kept his eyes on her all the time, and that was probably
why he noticed something unusual happening. A large crown was gathering
around her.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        Minako stayed at the library until she felt calm enough to
leave. When she did, she decided to go to Ami's place and slowly walked
in that direction.
        As she put one foot in front of the other, she thought back to
what the book had revealed that afternoon and suddenly smiled. Now she
knew what Kenjo had been laughing at the other day. What an irony it
truly was, that they'd switched sides to defend after being steadfast
for so long. No wonder he found it funny.
        Makoto kept on smiling as she remembered some of the greater
arguments they'd shared. So lost in thought was she that she didn't
notice all the other people suddenly surrounding her. She only halted
when she almost bumped into one of them.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        From one of the dark alleys nearby, a dark hooded figure lurked.
He'd stayed to make sure his minions were following the right target.
An evil smile graced his face as she almost run into one of them.
        "Time to say good-bye, Sailor Venus," Athol said in a gravely
voice. "You couldn't hide your powers in the anonymity of your normal
self any longer. The strength of your aura gives all your secrets away."
        When he saw that they had her surrounded, he pulled his cloak
closer around him and disappeared into the fading afternoon light.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        "I'm sorry," Minako apologized. "I wasn't looking where I was
going." She moved to one side and started to continue on her way. The
man followed her actions and stood in front of her once more. She looked
up to see who it was.
        He was a complete stranger to her, so she thought she must be
imagining things. She tried to change directions again, only to be
blocked by the same man. She was starting to get irritated.
        "Excuse me, but you seem to be in my way."
        "I'm sorry, Sailor Venus," the man said stoically as he
continued to look down at her. "Our order is to eliminate you, not to
let you pass."
        Minako stepped back as she digested his words and noticed the
other suspicious characters beside him. She looked behind her and saw
more of them lingering around.
        "Who are you?" she asked, puzzled.
        "We are Morgon's followers, and we shall soon have one less
Senshi to worry about after we finish with you."
        "Not if I can help it!" She suddenly held her transformation pen
and prepared to lift it up.
        The persons surrounding her saw her intention and started to
metamorphosis into their true forms. Creatures, dark and scaly, with
horns and hooves emerged from the human forms, making the rest of the
people on the streets scream and run for their lives. Even the ones in
the cars stopped and left their vehicles in the middle of the street.
Soon, only Minako was left with the monsters.
        "Venus Star Power...Make Up!"
        She quickly jumped out and rolled away from the middle of the
group. She counted more than a dozen youma and wondered at her chances
of winning. It didn't look very good.
        "Venus Love Chain...Encircle!"
        She whipped the chain and managed to hit a couple of creatures.
The leader avoided the attack and purposefully strode towards her.
Venus backed a few steps and gave it another try.
        "Venus Crescent Beam...Smash!"
        Another small group of youma fell from that attack but the
majority were still standing. Venus was running out of options and
getting really worried when she heard the shout.
        "Give it your best shot, Venus!"

                                *       *       *       *       *

        Kenjo watched from a distance as the suspicious group changed
into monsters before his eyes. He knew Venus might be in trouble because
of the sheer number of them surrounding her. He waited to see if his
assistance might be needed.
        When Venus had launched both her attacks and was still heavily
outnumbered, Kenjo knew it was time to make his move. He closed his eyes
and transformed into Kunzite, making him many times stronger and so much
more powerful than his ordinary human counterpart. He held his forearms
in front of him, hands slightly clenched as if to hold a ball at least
twelve inches in diameter. Then, in a deep booming voice, he half
shouted, "Searing Molten Magma...!"
        The air between his hands started to waver because of the heat
he was generating. Sparks started to appear before forming a mass of
swirling, hot lava, then cooling off a little to create a rock-like
object, still fiery red in color. He raised it above his head and
prepared to hurl it towards Venus.
        "Give it your best shot, Venus!"

                                *       *       *       *       *

        Venus noticed Kunzite holding the large rock above his head
before it was suddenly hurtling towards her. Like it was happening in
slow motion, she remembered reading about such a scene in "Moonlight
Destiny" and knew what she had to do. She just hoped she wasn't making a
big mistake.
        <Zach, I hope to God you were telling the truth.>
        She raised her right arm straight up with her fingers outspread
and screamed, "Venus Solar Rays...!" Like Kunzite before, heat waves
made the air above her fingers waver. Then flashes of light seemed to
enter her fingertips before she clenched her hand into a fist. Her left
hand went up to cup her right fist in front of her, and she used her
right forefinger to point forward, almost like holding an imaginary gun.
        When the rock Kunzite had hurled was right in front of her, they
both shouted together, "Blaze!"
        A blinding ray of orange light emitted from her forefinger,
striking the rock and breaking it to bits while heating each one in the
process. The heated masses turned to boiling lava as they hit the youma,
burning a hole through the creatures and leaving enough flames to devour
their bodies to ashes. Soon, nothing was left but the dust they had all
turned into.
        Venus heaved a sigh of relief. <Thank you, Zach,> she said in
her mind. When she looked towards the now transformed Kenjo after
changing back to her normal self, she knew she owed the author more than
he will ever know.
        "Mi-ko, are you all right?" he asked as soon as he was near
enough.
        "Miko?" she asked, puzzled. "I'm no priestess, Kenjo. You must
have mistaken me for Rei."
        Those words made him smile. "I can never mistake you for anybody
else, Minako. But I guess you don't remember that I shortened your name
to Mi-ko a long, long time ago."
        "Zach never mentioned anything about that."
        "Zach?" he asked with a frown. "What has Zach got to do with
anything?"
        So she explained at length about the book and how she'd learned
so much about the past. The look on his face turned more incredulous as
the minutes ticked by.
        "You mean he actually put everything down on paper and sold it
as a book?"
        "Everybody thinks it's fiction anyway," Minako said in Zach's
defense. "And I'm glad he did," she added obstinately.
        "Then I guess I'm glad too," Kenjo said softly, giving her
another gentle smile. "I've missed you so, Mi-ko," he admitted, tracing
a curved finger down her cheek. "I'm glad that I can finally talk to you
again, like before."
        She laughed suddenly. "Talk?" she said as if it was an elusive
quantity. "When did we ever talk? We just argued!"
        When he looked about to protest, she jabbed him lightly on the
ribs. "Besides, I still think Usagi is being very hard on Mamoru. She
ought to reconsider her decision."
        Kenjo gave her mischievous face one look and laughed out loud.
He placed a hand on her back and started her moving in the direction of
the Silver Millennium, before giving her an answer. Minako's shout of
indignation was heard in the distance followed by the sound of more
carefree, male laughter.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        It was dusk by the time Mamoru finally walked out of his office
for the day. He had spent a pleasant couple of hours at lunch with
Justin, before getting back to his program with a vengeance. After
getting his secretary to reschedule his meeting with Galen, he had
worked nonstop on it and was very satisfied with the end results.
        Mamoru was surprised at how much he'd learned from Justin in the
few hours he'd spent with him. The other man had tried to explain his
role in Mamoru's life and, surprisingly, he believed him. What Justin
said made too much sense to be ignored. Now he knew a lot more about his
past with Usagi and was eager to put it to good use. He got his chance
earlier than he expected.
        Mamoru was on his way to the Silver Millennium, hoping to talk
with the other Generals, when he spotted Usagi walking in the same
direction, a couple of blocks ahead. He run to catch up with her and
managed to reach her in a few minutes.
        "Usako," he said, reaching out a hand to touch her when she
turned around. "Can we talk, please?"
        "I don't have anything to say to you," she answered stubbornly.
"Please leave me alone."
        "You don't understand. I need to explain what happened four
years ago."
        "What's there to explain? It seems pretty clear cut to me."
        "Usako, everything is not always what it seems," he tried once
more, frustration evident in his voice. "Please listen."
        Usagi closed her eyes and strengthened her resolve. She was not
going to give in to his pleas. She was not going to be hurt again. She
used the one excuse she knew would put a halt to his persistence.
        "I can't. I've got a date with Galen tonight. Please excuse me."
And she moved to turn away.
        "Galen!" he half shouted. The look she gave him should have
warned him to stop, but he was too furious and blind with jealousy to
notice anything. "Have you forgotten that he gave you up a long time
ago, Usako? He didn't even fight for you. What kind of man would give up
the woman he loves so easily? A coward, that's what!"
        Her hand came out of nowhere and delivered a resounding slap on
his cheek, with enough force to snap his head sideways. The slap managed
to make him come to his senses, but it was already too late. The damage
had been done.
        "Galen is ten times the man you are!" Usagi screamed at him,
indignation evident in her every movement as she delivered the final
blow. "Maybe that's why I love him so!" And she turned and ran all the
way home, not caring that she'd left a devastated man behind, his whole
world crumbling to pieces at her final words.

Acknowledgement: I'd like to thank Shana, Karen and Nerak for sharing
their opinions with me about a certain part of this story. It really
helped a lot. Also, thanks to Greywolf (Eric den Biesen) for coming up
with the concept of the spirit attacks by the 'Shiro-kage' Generals.



                              CHAPTER TEN
               Truth or Consequences: The Trials of Fate

        Mamoru sat up on the bed, breathing hard, his body covered with
sweat. He could still see the image of Usagi from his dream, running
away in tears, while over and over she screamed the words that cut his
heart to pieces.
        <Galen is ten times the man you are! Maybe that's why I love him
so...love him so...love him so...>
        He clasped his temples with his hands, trying to quiet the words
ringing in his ears. And still, it was persistent.
        "No more!" he shouted to the room at large, desperate to stop
the taunting voice. All at once, only silence filled the room. The sound
of his own voice had managed to pull him out of his half-asleep state to
total wakefulness, banishing the traces of his nightmare in the process.
His body felt weaker as the tension left him, and he slumped back
against his pillow.
        "Usako," he whispered softly and reached for their framed
photograph together on his bedside table. He had moved it there soon
after he had first seen her again.
        Mamoru traced a finger down Usagi's image and noticed again how
youthful she seemed then--how happy she was in his company. Now it
seemed he was only the harbinger of tears and hurtful, angry words. Her
smiles were reserved for another.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        In a large mansion on the other side of the city, Haruka was
also awake. No matter how hard she'd tried, sleep had managed to elude
her. She had kept on seeing Galen's face whenever she'd closed her eyes.
She couldn't stop thinking about him.
        It all started the past afternoon when she was leaving the
Silver Millenium at the end of the day. She had just walked out of the
doors when she saw Usagi run through the gates like the devil himself
was behind her.

________________________________________________________________________

        "Usagi?"
        The young lady looked up at the sound of the familiar voice and
changed her direction to head straight for Haruka. She had no choice but
to catch and hold Usagi as she continued to sob her heart out. The
anguish on her face touched Haruka's heart and resurrected all the old,
protective feelings she used to have for the younger Senshi.
        "What's wrong, Usagi-san?" she asked softly as she run a gentle
hand down the other woman's back, trying to calm her down. "What
happened?"
        Usagi just shook her head that was buried in Haruka's shoulder.
The tears kept flowing down her cheeks, but she refused to say a single
word of explanation. There was nothing the older Senshi could do but try
to soothe her as much as possible.
        The sound of the door opening behind her made Haruka look back.
She found Galen standing on the steps, looking uncertainly in their
direction. She couldn't help the soft gasp of surprise that left her
lips.
        Her reaction made Usagi aware of Galen's presence, and she
quickly moved to be enclosed by his strong arms. Completely lost in her
grief, she didn't notice the hurt look that passed through Haruka's eyes
as she did so, nor the helpless one that suddenly shadowed Galen's.
Haruka turned and started to walk away, but Galen's soft voice stopped
her.
        "Haruka?"
        It was only a whispered word, but the longing and uncertainty it
conveyed were so powerful, it made her look back. Galen's face was a
study in frustration as he continued to hold a crying Usagi while he
looked towards Haruka pleadingly. There was a struggle going on inside
him, and it was evident when she looked into his eyes. He very obviously
wanted to talk to her, but Usagi needed comforting, and he was torn
between the two of them.
        Haruka smiled gently, knowing how difficult this situation must
be for him. She suddenly felt generous and made the offer before she
could change her mind. "It's all right," she said in soft tones. "Why
don't you take care of her for now. I can wait until tomorrow." And she
gave him another smile of encouragement.
        Haruka saw Galen's shoulders lose the tension in them and
watched him breathe a sigh of relief. "Thank you," he said, his eyes
telling her how much her understanding meant to him. With one last look
at her, he turned the now calmer Usagi towards the doors and slowly led
her inside.
        Haruka waited until they were out of sight before heading for
the parking lot. As she slowly walked to her car, she kept wondering if
she'd done the right thing.

_______________________________________________________________________

        As she looked out at the night sky, Haruka pondered again
whether her decision to listen to him was the right one. She sighed.
She really had no choice. Galen had grown too important to her, and
since she needed his presence in her life, she would do anything to make
things better between them. Whether their talk the following day was
going to be a step forward or not however, only tomorrow can tell.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        Galen was up and about early the next morning, eager to start
the day. For the first time since New Year's eve, he felt free,
unburdened by his promise to Usagi. That feeling could be attributed to
the talk he had with her last night which made a lot of things possible
for him.

_______________________________________________________________________

        Usagi had calmed down a lot by the time they reached her suite.
Galen opened the door for her and followed her inside, bent on
discovering what had happened to make her cry. He knew it had something
to do with Mamoru, and he was right.
        After a few careful, prodding questions, Usagi told him what had
occurred in angry tones overlying the pain she really felt. She chose
her words carefully when she repeated the insults Mamoru had said about
Galen's character. She was so afraid that it would hurt him.
        Unaware of Usagi's worries, Galen was frankly amused about
Mamoru's view of their past relationship. He obviously learned what he
knew from somebody else and didn't remember a thing himself. If he had
his memories back, he would know that Usagi and Galen had both learned
that they didn't love each other after all, not romantically anyway. It
was a mutual decision to part ways and nobody was really, truly hurt.
Admittedly, he did have quite a few bad days when Mamoru first came into
their lives. Hell! He was miserable, and he knew it. Only Haruka's
presence had made those days bearable.
        Inevitably, it was also Haruka herself who made him realize that
his feelings for Usagi were merely that of a brother, not a lover. She
made everything in his world right again, and for that he owed her a
lot. She deserved better than the hurt and indifference she'd been
getting from him the past few days, and he was determined to put a stop
to it.
        "Usagi," Galen started, making sure she was listening.
        "Yes?"
        "I think it's time to talk to Mamoru," he suggested.
        "What?" she asked incredulously. "But why? I'm not ready yet. I
need more time."
        "More time to do what? Nothing's changed since New Year's Eve.
You've been steadily avoiding him, not giving him a chance to explain.
I don't think a few days or weeks will change the situation if you keep
doing that."
        "But..."
        "Usagi, listen to me," Galen continued, holding her by the
shoulders until she looked at him. "I'm not trying to be hard on you or
anything like that. I just want you to try and resolve this situation
we're in. It's starting to hurt a lot of people, and I don't feel
comfortable with it anymore. Please try and see it from my point of
view."
        Usagi looked beyond the plea in Galen's eyes to the pain and
frustration he was experiencing inside. She'd heard it earlier too, in
the way he'd said Haruka's name. She knew then that this conversation
was inevitable. But still, she wasn't really prepared for it.
        "I'm sorry, Usagi," he went on. "I'm sorry for rushing you into
making a decision. But I can't keep hurting Haruka the way I've been
doing the past few days. That is no longer an option."
        Usagi took a deep breath and nodded her head. "I understand,"
she said, and she did. She hated seeing the hurt look in Mamoru's eyes
every time she turned him away, and it was getting harder and harder to
do so. All of a sudden, she realized the guilt and remorse she felt
afterwards wasn't worth the extra time she wanted before she confronted
him. Usagi didn't want to be hurt by Mamoru again, but she was hurting
herself more by avoiding him. <Galen was right,> Usagi thought. It was
time to confront the demons that have been plaguing her for the past
four years. It was time to face Mamoru.
        "I'm sorry, Galen," she apologized, putting a hand on his arm.
"I'm sorry for being such a coward and for involving you in my
problems."
        "I'll always be here for you, Usagi," he promised gently.
"Don't ever forget that."
        "I won't. I promise."

_______________________________________________________________________

        Thinking back on that conversation, Galen only hoped that Usagi
really meant it when she said she'd talk to Mamoru. But at least he was
now free to talk to Haruka--something he was really looking forward to.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        After countless hours of trying to sleep with little success,
Haruka finally got up at five o'clock and went for her early morning
jog. By the time another hour had passed, she was dressed and on her way
to work, arriving at the Silver Millenium two hours before she was
supposed to start.
        The sound of her shoes hitting the marble floor seemed too loud
as she headed for the elevators that would take her to the twenty-fifth
floor. The lobby was deserted as she passed it and so were the rest of
the offices in the building. It was too early for anyone to be around.
        As Haruka stepped down the hall towards her office, she was
startled by the sound of movement coming from Galen's office. She
decided to investigate and knocked on the door just in case it was
really her boss who was in there. The door opened at once and she saw
surprise wash over Galen's face when he found her on the other side. He
opened the door wider and beckoned her in, giving her a welcome smile.
        "You're very early today," he commented once they were both
seated across from each other.
        "Look who's talking," she replied, cocking an eyebrow at him.
        A sheepish grin appeared on his face as he explained, "I
couldn't sleep. I had a long talk with Usagi last night, and I couldn't
sleep afterwards. Morning took a long time in coming."
        "I couldn't sleep either," Haruka admitted. "I kept thinking
about what happened yesterday, and I was curious about your reasons for
wanting to talk to me."
        "I'm just glad I could finally talk to you again, Haruka.
Really talk, I mean. I missed you, you know. I missed working with you
and laughing with you and...and just being with you."
        She looked down slightly before whispering the words, "I felt
the same way," but didn't elaborate any further.
        Galen heaved a deep sigh, knowing it wasn't going to be easy to
explain his actions of the past few days. At that particular moment, an
apology seemed the best way to start.
        "I'm sorry, Haruka," he began, looking at her earnestly. "Sorry
for the things I've said and done lately. Sorry for the hurt I've
managed to inflict in the process."
        Haruka kept her silence, not denying the fact that she had been
hurt.
        "I didn't really plan for any of that to happen," Galen
continued. "But everything went haywire from the moment Usagi greeted me
at the airport."
        "You don't have to explain about Usagi," Haruka was quick to
interrupt, closing her eyes. "She's very important to you, I know."
        "That's just it, Haruka. You don't know," Galen said in
contrast. "Usagi is a very good friend, and it's true that we shared a
past together which will always remain a very special time in my life.
But that's all she is to me, Haruka. A friend who also happens to be the
Moon Princess whom I am sworn to protect."
        The Outer Senshi finally looked up to find Galen still staring
at her, his eyes asking her to believe him. "But...but I don't
understand," she started, totally confused. "If she's just a friend, why
did she kiss you at the airport? And please don't tell me that was just
a 'friendly' kiss."
        He almost smiled at the vehemence in her tone, because it
betrayed how strongly she felt about that moment, but he didn't. It was
still too early to believe that he would be forgiven.
        "I was just as surprised as you were when Usagi kissed me at the
airport," Galen explained, standing up. He walked to the window and
stopped, looking out but seeing only the scene that transpired a few
weeks back. "Usagi and I have only been friends for a long time now, and
kisses are not something we usually share. Apparently, Usagi saw us
standing so far apart and decided to help us get back together a little
faster. She thought kissing me would make you jealous and make you
realize your true feelings for me." Galen smiled slightly, remembering
Usagi's enthusiasm. "She's very impulsive, as you probably know. She
didn't really think it over very well."
        Haruka's brows met together in a frown. "But where did Usagi get
the idea that we should be together?" she asked, obviously puzzled.
"Why would she think I'd be affected by her actions towards you?"
        "Usagi remembers everything, Haruka. She has all her memories of
the Moon Kingdom, and she knows that we were a couple back then." Then,
after a short pause, "She knows how much I want us to be together once
again."
        Galen's last statement faded into silence, and with his back
turned, he couldn't see Haruka's face. He had no idea what she was
thinking. After the silence lengthened however, he started to believe
that Haruka didn't share his feelings and an ache formed in his chest.
        "It's all right," he said softly, his words laced with pain,
when he couldn't stand the silence any longer. "You don't have to say
anything to me. I know you don't feel the same--"
        "It worked."
        Galen halted at Haruka's sudden interruption. "What?" he asked,
afraid to believe what he thought she was saying.
        "I said it worked," she clarified. "Usagi's kissing you made me
realize that I wanted to be more than just your friend. It brought out
my true feelings for you."
        Galen returned to his seat and took Haruka's hand in his own.
"Your true feelings," he repeated. "Haruka, are you saying...? Do you
mean...?"
        "Yes." The one word that he wanted to hear. Well, one of the
words, anyway. He breathed a sigh of relief and held her hand tighter,
looking into her eyes.
        "I love you, Haruka. I know it didn't seem like it lately, but I
do."
        "I love you, too, Galen," Haruka finally admitted to herself and
to him. Then, seeing how serious he looked, added with a mischievous
smile, "I must if I can put up with all that you've done and still feel
the same way."
        A stricken look crossed his face at her last statement. "I'm
sorry Haruka. I really am. It's just that Usagi--"
        "Shh." She placed a finger over his lips to stop his explanation
and smiled gently. "Usagi is a lot of trouble, isn't she?" she asked
him, a hint of laughter behind her words. Galen looked up to see the
teasing light in her eyes and knew his troubled moments were finally
over.
        "Yes, she is," he agreed wholeheartedly. "But we all love her
anyway."

                                *       *       *       *       *

        Mamoru arrived at the Silver Millenium just in time for his nine
o'clock appointment. He greeted Galen's secretary pleasantly and asked
if her boss was ready for their meeting. Eumi, not knowing that Haruka
was in Galen's office and a little flustered because she was late, told
him to go right in.
        Mamoru walked down the hallway to the first door on the right.
Just as he was about to knock, he heard the conversation going on
inside. It was pretty intimate and obviously between lovers, one of whom
was none other than Usagi's Galen.
        He opened the door without knocking, anger pushing him on. He
found Haruka and Galen still holding hands and strode forward to haul
the other man to his feet by the collar.
        Galen, surprised at Mamoru's appearance and his following
aggressive actions, stood up when he was pulled but was quick to
disengage the contact afterwards. He stared at the other man
questioningly and watched him turn positively livid.
        "How could you?!" Mamoru accused angrily, looking at the couple
in front of him. <Oh Usagi,> he thought, knowing how hurt she would be
when she learned about this meeting. "How could you betray her like
this?"
        "You don't understand, Mamoru," Galen tried to explain. "Usagi
and I--"
        "Don't you know she could have walked in at any minute?" Mamoru
continued furiously, not hearing a word the other man said. He turned to
face Haruka who had also stood up. "I thought you were her friend."
        "Mamoru-san," Haruka began defensively. "It's not what you
think. Galen and Usagi are not--" The tightening of Galen's hand around
hers made her stop and she saw him shake his head.
        "Maybe you should talk to Usagi first, Mamoru," Galen suggested.
"She already knows about us, but I don't think you'll believe that until
she tells you herself."
        Mamoru's anger suddenly deflated at the mention of talking to
Usagi. He knew the possibility of that happening was almost nil. "She
doesn't want to talk to me," he said miserably. "She just runs away and
cries." He looked away from the couple, not wanting them to see what was
in his eyes. "I told myself I wasn't going to stop trying until she
finally listened to me, but I don't think I can go through with it.
When she looks at me--it's as if she hates me. I just can't take it
anymore."
        From the way Mamoru said those last words, Galen knew he'd had
enough rejections lately and wouldn't welcome anymore. But Usagi was
finally willing to talk to him, and Galen knew that she still loved him
no matter what he'd done. There was no need to guess how Mamoru really
felt. It was always there for all to see, written in his eyes, whenever
Usagi was around. It would be a crime not to help them get back together
when he knew they were perfect for each other. All they needed was a
chance to sit down and talk about the past. The past that was preventing
them from having a future.
        "I know it's been rough going since New Year's Eve, Mamoru.
Between our arrival and the attacks that have been happening lately, it
must seem like your whole world has been turned upside down. But the
Senshi and the Generals have started coming together one by one, and I'm
sure that you will also get your turn. Don't give up now." Galen paused
to take a breath, hoping he was getting through to the younger man. "I
know Usagi hasn't been very receptive lately, but she's been through a
lot in the last few years. She just needed time to adjust to being with
all of you again. After four years of waiting for Usagi, don't you think
it's worth another try to get your relationship back to the way it was?"
        Mamoru remained silent, but his shoulders were no longer slumped
and his eyes lost the desperate look that was there a moment before. He
turned towards Galen and looked him in the eye, trying to ascertain the
other man's sincerity. He saw nothing there to cause him any doubts.
Galen really meant what he said. Ever so slightly, Mamoru nodded his
head.
        Galen smiled his approval. "I'm supposed to meet Usagi for lunch
at noon. She told me to meet her in the lobby. Why don't you go in my
place?" he suggested.
        Again, Mamoru nodded his head. He turned and walked to the door,
pausing with his hand on the knob. He stood like that for a moment,
seemingly undecided, before looking back towards Galen. "Thank you," he
said softly. Then he turned around once more and walked out the door,
leaving the couple watching him behind.
        When he was gone, Haruka turned to Galen with a worried frown.
"Do you think he'll be all right?"
        He put an arm around her and smiled reassuringly. "I think
they'll both be all right."

                                *       *       *       *       *

        <Galen is running late,> Usagi thought as she waited by the
information desk in the Silver Millenium's lobby. That was unusual.
Galen had always been prompt before. But then again, there was always a
first time.
        Near the elevators, in a corner partially obscured by plants
from Usagi's view, Mamoru stood, watching her transfer her weight from
one foot to the other as she patiently waited. Uncertainty was written
all over his face, but he forced himself to take a hesitant step
forward.
        Any minute now, she's going to look up, he told himself
silently. She's going to see me coming and run straight for the doors as
fast as she can. That is, if she doesn't start crying first. The
possibilities that run through his head made him grimace, but he kept on
going, one step at a time.
        Usagi saw movement from the corner of her eye and turned with a
ready smile for Galen. Only it wasn't Galen who was slowly approaching,
but Mamoru. Suddenly, every instinct in her body told her to run and
hide--to avoid the painful feelings this meeting would surely
produce--but she stood her ground. She'd told Galen she was going to
have a talk with Mamoru, and she's going to keep her word even if it
meant hurting the both of them. Maybe then she can get on with the rest
of her life.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        Mamoru walked silently beside Usagi, still not quite believing
that she had actually agreed to talk to him. When he saw her expression
after she recognized him, he was almost sure that she wanted to refuse,
but something had managed to change her mind. He could only be grateful
to whatever it was.
        Usagi also walked silence beside Mamoru, trying to recall all
her reasons for wanting to hate him. Being with him like this reminded
her of older, better times when she had been naively in love with him
and had been confident her love was returned. Now it only hurt to know
that she had been completely wrong, and that she'd been a fool. It
reminded her of why she had suddenly left him and everything else behind
four years ago.
        Beside her, Mamoru stopped walking, and it was only then that
she noticed they were already at the park. It was the same one where she
had first spied on Rei and Mamoru a long time ago. The same one where
she herself had enjoyed a boat ride with him before the surprise arrival
of Chibi-Usa.
        <Oh my God!> she thought, for it suddenly just hit her.
<Chibi-Usa!> What is going to happen to her, now that she and Mamoru are
going their separate ways? An ache formed in her chest at the sudden
realization. She'd never even thought of what repercussions her present
actions could cause in the future. She'd never thought of anybody but
herself. What a selfish creature she had become.
        <I'm so sorry,> she said in her mind to the daughter who may
never be born. <I'm so very sorry.>
        "Usako?"
        Mamoru's voice brought her back to the present and she found him
standing beside a bench. Feeling weak from the sudden drain on her
emotions, she walked the short distance between them and sat on one end,
hoping he would sit as far away from her as possible. Seeing the guarded
look on her face, Mamoru turned towards the lake and stood with his back
to her, leaning his arms on the rail fence surrounding the water.
        Usagi struggled to get her composure back and partially
succeeded after a few minutes. It was then that she realized he hadn't
said a single word. Her brows knit together in a frown. For someone who
had been trying to pin her down for a talk, he had suddenly gone very
quiet.
        Mamoru was very much aware that Usagi was waiting for him to
start the conversation. After all, he had been the one who'd kept
insisting that they needed to talk. He knew he had to say something
soon, or she might very well up and leave without hearing him out first.
But the words just couldn't get past his suddenly clogged throat. The
fear he felt was all but choking him at the thought that his whole
future was hanging on his next words.
        Usagi fidgeted in her seat, not knowing what she was supposed to
do. She found the silence uncomfortable and looked around the park to
keep herself occupied, unexpectedly finding pieces of her past lurking
in every corner. The memories flashing across her mind brought a wistful
smile upon her lips and she let herself be lost in their wonder.
        Usagi remembered being so happy then, so carefree and unburdened
by any problems. She had been so much in love that every moment she
spent with him was like being in heaven. She almost wished it could be
the same again. She almost wished...
        <No!> she silently screamed. <No, no, no!> She had been a naive
fool back then and had been living in a dream world. She didn't wish for
things to be the same again, she told herself. She didn't! But who was
she trying to convince?
        "Mamoru-san?" she prompted, trying to rein in her emotions.
"What is it that you wanted to say to me?" Anything at all, she pleaded
silently. Anything to keep the memories from clamoring to the surface.
Anything to stop me from yearning for things I could never have.
        Usagi watched his shoulders rise and fall as he took a deep
breath. "There are so many things I want to say to you, Usako, but I
just can't seem to find the right words."
        She shook her head at his statement, desperate for him to
continue. "You don't have to sugar-coat the things you need to say to
me, Mamoru-san," she told him gently. "Just say them straight out."
        "I don't know," he murmured, more to himself than to her. "But I
guess there is no other choice." Time's up, he added silently, and
forced himself to say the words. Yet another moment passed, and no sound
issued from his lips. <Oh God, I can't do this. I can't-> "I want to
talk about what happened that day, four years ago," he finally blurted
out.
        "That day four years ago?" Usagi interrupted, and Mamoru heard
all the bitterness and hurt in her voice. Anguish crept into his heart
and he flinched inwardly. All of a sudden, every hope he had of the two
of them getting back together disappeared.
        Oblivious to his suffering, conscious only of her own, Usagi
went on. "That day four years ago, I stood in front of all of you,
bleeding and hurt, while the rest of the Senshi threw accusations at
me." Tears gathered in her eyes and blurred her vision as they
overflowed. "I thought that we were friends, that we were a team. I
guess I found out differently."
        Mamoru recalled that memory along with her, more clearly now
than when he was actually living it. He remembered the shock on her face
as she listened to the others; the disbelief as she turned to him with
imploring eyes.
        "But do you know what hurt the most?" he heard her continue in a
tearful but determined voice. "What hurt the most was that you stood
there and said nothing. Nothing!"
        Mamoru closed his eyes in defeat at the accusation, knowing he
had no real defense against it, no valid reason he could offer. All he
had were the pitiful excuses that had plagued him at the time.
        "I waited for you to stop them, to say that they were wrong.
But you couldn't even look at me. And then when you finally did say
something, it was only to tell me that I wasn't there when you needed
me." Usagi laughed bitterly, relieving that moment over again. "I wasn't
there for you? What a joke that is! I've always been there for you. It
was you who wasn't there for me when I needed your support." She wiped
the wetness from her face and tried to calm herself down. In her
distress, she failed to notice the tensing of his shoulders and the
clenching of his fists. She couldn't see the torment that passed his
eyes. "I thought you loved me," she finally concluded, tears blocking
her throat. "But I guess that's a joke as well."
        "No!" Mamoru almost screamed when he couldn't take it any
longer, finally turning to face her. "That's not the way it was. That's
not the way I felt," he continued earnestly, his eyes imploring her to
understand.
        Usagi looked at him with surprise, shocked at the way he
reacted. So he wasn't as calm and collected as she thought he was. She
could almost swear that that was pain coloring his expression. But no,
it couldn't be. It must be her imagination.
        "I didn't agree with them, Usako," he tried to explain, "but I
was so lost in my own thoughts that I wasn't quite aware of anything
else." At her puzzled expression, he gave a sigh of frustration. <How?>
he asked himself. <How do I explain something I don't even understand
myself?> "I guess I should start at the beginning."
        Mamoru sat down on the bench beside her, not too near but not
that far either. He looked in the distance and tried to concentrate on
finding the words that would make her understand.
        "The first time I saw you, when I still didn't know you were
Sailor Moon, I felt this...strong pull towards you. I didn't really
understand it, and I tried to ignore it as much as possible." Even
through his misery, a slight smile still managed to tilt his lips as he
remembered how Usagi used to react to him in those early days. "I
thought you were very beautiful, but the feelings I had for you went
much deeper than mere attraction. It really puzzled me for a while."
        Usagi looked at him with wide eyes, finally giving him her full
attention. Although she reacted with disbelief at first, she noted that
his hands were clenched tightly into fists, and that there wasn't an
ounce of humor on his face. He could only be telling the truth. <But
still...> "But...but you were always teasing me, and pointing out all my
faults."
        "Of course I was," he agreed wholeheartedly and Usagi was taken
aback. "If I didn't do that, I knew my feelings for you could easily
turn serious, and I couldn't afford to be serious about anybody at that
point," he explained, trying his best to get through to her. "My life
was a mess as it was, trying to find my true identity, fighting the Dark
Kingdom, and trying to figure out what those strange dreams I've been
having were all about. I didn't have the time or the energy for anything
else."
        <So he had only been pretending,> Usagi thought. Somehow, that
bit of information made her feel so elated inside, and she felt a
definite softening in the region of her heart.
        "After we found out who we were and I discovered you were my
long, lost love, I finally understood where all those deep feelings were
coming from. But we had so little time together, I wasn't able to
explore it further."
        A frown marred his face at the thought of the events following
that discovery. Up to this very day, he still couldn't believe he had
taken part in what happened next. "You will never know how guilty I felt
when I finally recovered all my memories and learned what I did after
that day," he said in a hoarse voice. "I couldn't believe that I could
hurt you that way. That I could almost kill you."
        "But you were under Beryl's influence," Usagi soothed, unable to
bear the agony in his voice. "You didn't know what you were doing."
        "But I should have known," he insisted, not able to forgive
himself. "I should have remembered who you were. You were too important
to me to be forgotten so easily."
        Usagi looked at him with sad eyes, knowing no other words to
make him feel better. <Oh, Mamo-chan, how terrible it must have been for
you, yet you didn't say anything. Why didn't you tell me how you felt?>
she wanted to ask him but listened to him instead, feeling more and more
of the barrier around her heart melting away.
        "I told myself that I would make it up to you, and the next few
days we spent together were wonderful. It didn't feel like you blamed me
for the things I did even if I blamed myself, and I was able to breathe
a little easier." He paused, remembering how relieved he was that he
didn't repulse her. "Then the dreams started coming." Mamoru looked at
her then, and she saw all the regret he felt written on his face. "I
didn't want to hurt you anymore, Usako, but I felt I had no choice. Your
life was in danger and I couldn't take the risk of losing you to death
even if it meant hurting the both of us. And it did hurt me to push you
away, when all I wanted to do was hold you in my arms and keep you safe.
You'll never know how much I hated myself for doing that to you."
        Usagi didn't know what to say. It was like looking at a new
Mamoru, totally unlike the old one she knew. <Why?> she silently
demanded. <Why did you wait 'til now to tell me all this? Now, after we
have hurt each other so.> But she didn't say it out loud. "You never
told me how you felt, Mamoru-san," she said instead. "I always had to
guess at your feelings because you never shared them with me."
        "I know that, Usako," Mamoru admitted shamefully. "I knew it
then, too, but I couldn't seem to help it." He got up again and began to
pace restlessly. <How? How do I explain to her who I really am inside?>
"After what happened in my past--the accident and not remembering who I
was--I tried to keep to myself most of the time. After a while, it
became a habit and I saw no reason to change it." He paused to organize
his thoughts, wondering if he was getting through to her. "Of course I
had friends, but none of them knew me very well and I preferred it that
way. There were things happening in my life that I couldn't share with
anyone else."
        "And then I met you and the other Senshi. For the first time in
my life, I had something very close to a family and it felt wonderful to
finally belong." He stopped pacing then and looked at her directly. "It
felt wonderful to be loved, Usako."
        Usagi kept her glance on his face, mesmerized by the emotions
being revealed there. Mamoru was finally opening up to her, and she
could only sit back and listen to each and every word he uttered.
        "When we were alone together, there were so many things I wanted
to say to you, but the words just wouldn't come," he continued when she
didn't say anything. "I didn't know how to tell you how I felt because
I'd never done it before. Sharing my feelings was a new experience for
me and I found it very difficult to do." <Can you understand that,
Usako?> he asked in his heart. <Can you see how hard it was for someone
like me, who has never shared his feelings, to tell you how much I loved
you?>
        He sat down beside her once more and took hold of her hands. "I
decided later to show you how I felt instead, and I spent as much time
with you as possible. There were times when I wasn't perfect, when I
made certain mistakes--like forgetting your birthday," he reminded her
with a sheepish grin that was quickly gone, "but I did my best to make
it up to you. As time passed by, I stopped worrying about saying the
words to you, deluding myself into thinking that you surely knew by then
how much I cared for you," he finished in a tone filled with
self-disgust.
        "But I did know how you felt," Usagi felt compelled to admit.
"At least I believed I knew back then. You never said the words but I
always felt special when I was around you, and I thought it must be your
love I was feeling. Perhaps that's why I thought you also knew how I
felt without the words being said. I guess I was wrong."
        "It wasn't your fault, Usako," Mamoru told her earnestly.
Putting the blame on her was the last thing he wanted to do. "How you
felt was plain for everyone to see, but I let doubts enter my mind. I
guess that easily happened since I never really forgave myself for what
I did to you in the past."
        "I thought I'd already forgotten it, but it must have been
lurking at the back of my mind, waiting to ambush me when I was most
vulnerable," he explained, trying to clear up the misunderstanding that
occurred four years ago. "I started remembering it the first time you
arrived a little late to help us. I told myself I was being foolish and
promptly dismissed the thought. But after you were late a few more
times, it started bothering me a whole lot more. I began to wonder if
you were losing interest in me. I recalled all the mean, hurtful things
I did to you and I wondered if you blamed me after all."
        Usagi started to protest but he stopped her with a finger at her
lips. "I know it was foolish, but it seemed very real at the time. I
kept looking for reasons that would make you stop loving me to justify
why you weren't always there for me. You blamed me; you didn't love me
anymore; you only pretended to love me for destiny's sake and you
decided you couldn't go through with it." He paused to take a deep
breath, wondering why he was doing this to himself. One look at Usagi's
face was all the answer he needed. "It also just occurred to me how
young you really were at the time," he kept on determinedly. "I realized
that what you felt could have been just infatuation--a crush, if you
will--instead of the love I took it for. This and all the other reasons
kept running through my head over and over, until I was almost crazy
with fear--fear that I was losing you."
        Usagi suddenly felt unburdened, a great weight having been
lifted from her shoulders at the sound of those words. For the first
time in four years, she could finally breathe easily.
        "That last day, it was finally driven into my head that you no
longer cared for me. I felt so guilty," he said, letting her go and
cradling his forehead in his palms. No matter how much it hurt to say
it, he needed to go on. "I knew you never meant for anyone to get hurt.
You were simply avoiding me. How could you have known that we were
losing the battle so badly?" Mamoru shook his head, unable to bear the
memories passing behind his closed eyes. "I blamed myself for your
absence, and indirectly, for every injury all the Senshi sustained. In
my mind, I believed I was the reason you weren't there, and it was also
my actions in the past that led to your reasons for not being there. It
was all my fault."
        "But..." Usagi started to protest but Mamoru didn't notice.
        "When Jupiter voiced all the fears I was feeling inside, it all
suddenly became too much for me," he continued as if she didn't say
anything. "I thought that, if even she could blame your absence to your
lack of feelings for me, then it must be true. I wasn't just imagining
it. That was when you asked me if I agreed with what she said--that you
didn't care for me anymore. In my thoughts, it was all connected. Your
not being there when I needed you meant you didn't care for me anymore,
and I told you so. Only, I included everyone else in the answer because
I didn't want you to see how much it was hurting me. How much I resented
the idea." Again, he shook his head. This time in self-disgust. "Even
then I was trying to keep my feelings to myself. I was such a fool."
        One look at his face told Usagi that no amount of words could
comfort him. Even if she'd tried, all the right phrases seemed unworthy
following his heartfelt confession. So she let the silence flow between
them as she continued to stare at his face, still very much fascinated
by the emotions passing through it. Sorrow. Regret. Fear. And yes, love
was there as well. She could hardly believe her eyes. Mamoru had loved
her after all four years ago. It seemed he still did.
        "Mamoru," she tried tentatively, carefully choosing her words.
"I want you to know that I did care about you a lot back then, and I
would have been there for you if I could have managed it somehow. But I
myself was in a fight and I almost didn't come out of it alive. It was
Luna's interference that saved my life."
        "I know that, Usako," he said before she could continue. "Luna
told us everything that same night." He clenched his fists once more as
agony joined the other emotions he wore like a mask. "At that point, I
felt like I was somehow caught in a nightmare. Wherever I turned,
whatever I did, I ended up hurting you and pushing you away. It was
almost laughable how things always turned against me, but I didn't find
it funny. The joke was on me." And he smiled without mirth, lost in old
memories better left in the past.
        "Mamoru..." was all she could say, feeling helpless against his
sadness. Tears threatened to overflow once again as she watched his
shoulders slump, a tormented look entering his eyes. She wanted to tell
him that it was okay--that she still loved him. She was grasping for the
right way to start when his next words managed to stop her.
        "It seems that after all these years and all the soul searching
I have done in that time, I would have learned my lesson. But I
haven't." He ached at the thought of what his next words would do to
her. "Like I said, I always end up hurting you, and today isn't going to
be any different."
        A sudden fear clutched Usagi like a fist and slowly squeezed the
joy out of her heart. <What could he possibly mean?>
        "I know you don't love me anymore," he stated haltingly but
determinedly pressed on. "Galen... Galen is the man in your life now."
Oh God! How it hurt to say the words, no matter how true they were.
Mamoru watched as a frown appeared on Usagi's face. He couldn't bear to
see the pain his next words would surely produce and turned around to
look at the peaceful lake.
        "Galen is a good man," he admitted grudgingly, giving the other
man his due. "I considered him a friend before I found out who he really
was--what he was to you. But I will never forgive him for what he's done
to you now." Mamoru clenched his fists harder, wishing it was around the
other man's neck. How could he do this to Usagi?
        Surprised by his vehemence and puzzled by the cause, Usagi
leaned forward and demanded, "What has he done to make you hate him so,
Mamoru? I know he would never do anything to hurt me." She was
absolutely sure about that.
        "You're wrong, Usako," he contradicted. "So wrong."
        Alarmed by his tone, Usagi got up and stared at his tense back.
"What has he done?" And when he remained silent, "Tell me!"
        Mamoru turned around so quickly that Usagi took a step backward,
unsure of his next move. His face was arranged in harsh lines and a
bleak look covered his eyes. "I'm sorry, Usako, for being the one to
tell you this." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "Galen has
fallen in love with someone else," he finished in a defeated tone, never
hating himself more than at that moment. <Forgive me, Usako.>
        As suddenly as it formed, Usagi felt her ballooning fear deflate
at his statement and almost gave in to the laughter and happiness
bubbling inside her. But one look at Mamoru's face told her it wasn't
the time to do so. He was hurting, she suddenly realized. Hurting for
her. Somehow it endeared him all the more to her heart, and she reached
out and touched his shoulder.
        Mamoru felt her hand and opened his eyes, expecting to see tears
running down her face. To his complete surprise, he discovered a slight
smile playing upon her lips. He couldn't believe it. "Didn't you hear
me, Usako? Galen has fallen in love with Haruka!" he repeated himself.
        Her smile broadened. "I know."
        "You know?" he asked incredulously.
        She nodded her head. "How did you find out?"
        "I walked in on the two of them holding hands in his office," he
said in a furious tone. "They didn't even try to deny it. I wanted to
kill him for doing that to you."
        Usagi's eyes widened and she looked at him in alarm. "You didn't
hurt him, did you?" she inquired, concerned. "I've known about the two
of them for a while, so it comes as no surprise."
        Mamoru couldn't understand why she was taking it so lightly.
"But aren't you hurt, Usako?" he asked, wondering what he was missing.
"Aren't you even angry? He chose another over you."
        Ever so slowly, Usagi shook her head.
        "But... but why?" he went on, still unable to see what was right
before his eyes. It seemed she needed to spell it out for him.
        "Galen's relationship with Haruka couldn't hurt me because I
don't love him--not that way," she told him with shining eyes, a blush
stealing upon her cheeks. "I have always loved just one man, and I
thought he didn't care for me," she continued to confess. "That hurt me
so much that I left everything I held dear behind to start a new life.
I couldn't bear to be so near him and know he didn't return my
feelings."
        Mamoru couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was he dreaming or
did she just say she still loved him? He was almost too afraid to know
the answer. His chest suddenly ached with all the hope he thought was
lost to him, and with his heart in his eyes, he asked softly, "Usako, am
I hearing it right? Are you saying you still-" He couldn't finish the
question for fear that she would say no. But as he watched with baited
breath, slowly she nodded her head.
        Without another word, he took a step forward and enfolded her in
his arms, as close as he could possibly get her. He lowered his face to
her hair and inhaled the fresh scent of it, loving its silky feel. He
still couldn't believe she was back in his arms again.
        "Mamo-chan," she whispered against his chest, clinging to his
hard frame with all her strength. "I missed you so."
        Unbidden tears started in his eyes at her use of the familiar
nickname. "I never thought you'd ever call me that again, Usako." And he
held her even tighter. "I'll never let you go again," he swore in a
husky voice. "I love you too much to lose you now."
        Usagi pushed away from him, just enough to see his face.
"Mamo-chan, you love me?" she asked wonderingly, feeling like all her
dreams were finally coming true.
        "I should have told you how I felt a long time ago, Usako," he
told her, gently tracing a finger down her cheek. "But now you'll get
tired of hearing it, because I'll say it all the time."
        "Never," she assured him with a radiant smile. "Because I love
you too."
        "Usako..." Mamoru pulled her back into his embrace and just held
her, finally at peace with himself. Everything was right in his world
again, now that he knew Usagi loved him back.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        Justin rubbed the back of his neck to help relax his tense
muscles. He had been going over blueprints all morning, and his neck and
back were complaining from being bent most of the time. He was really
looking forward to a long, hot bath followed by a very restful
afternoon.
        Justin turned a corner and smiled when he spotted the Silver
Millenium in the distance. <Not too long now,> he thought to himself and
hurried his pace. He absently glanced towards the park as he passed it
and stopped abruptly, retracing his steps. What he saw made him draw a
resigned breath.
        <So much for that R & R,> he complained silently, before closing
his eyes and changing to Jadeite.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        Coming from the other direction, Galen and Haruka were finally
on their way to lunch after giving Mamoru and Usagi enough time to
depart from the Silver Millenium. They were talking comfortably, at ease
with each other, and happy to have the ever present tension between them
totally gone.
        Galen happened to look up just as Justin appeared from around
the corner and pointed him out to Haruka. "Isn't that Justin coming this
way?"
        "Looks like him," she replied, squinting to get a better look.
        Galen was about to hail him when they saw him stop and
backtrack. After he quickly transformed to Jadeite, Galen halted himself
and muttered a puzzled, "What the hell-?"
        By the time he proceeded to attack, Galen grabbed Haruka by the
hand and took off at a dead run, moving fast to see what was going on.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        Unaware of what was going on around them, Mamoru and Usagi
continued to hold onto each other, perfectly content to stay that way
forever. From Mamoru's shoulder where her head was resting, Usagi
finally opened her eyes, and she moved back to look at his face again.
As she did so, she noticed a movement from the corner of her eye and
turned slightly, surprised to find a shadow moving on her right. She
spun in that direction and quickly found their assailant, just in time
to push Mamoru and herself out of the its swinging ax's path.
        Suddenly, the ground shook and cracked in a straight line
heading towards the uninvited youma. Soil and rocks appeared from the
crack and continued to gather in proportion as it neared the helpless
monster, his feet caught in the gap, and finally proceeded to entomb him
standing up. Then, as quickly as it formed, the pillar of dirt sunk into
the ground, leaving the crack to finish mending itself until it too
completely disappeared from view.
        Mamoru helped Usagi up as they both watched unblinking,
fascinated by the spectacle happening before them. Jadeite managed to
reach their side just as everything became normal once more. "Are you
okay?" he asked the two of them.
        "Fine, thanks to you and Usagi's quick reflexes," Mamoru
replied. "I didn't even see it coming." He shook his head at his lack of
awareness.
        "Don't look now," Jadeite warned back, "but a huge group of its
friends are about to join us."
        "What?" the couple shouted, turning around. Sure enough, a big
bunch of youma was coming towards them.
        Mamoru immediately had a rose in hand and prepared to transform
into Tuxedo Kamen, but Usagi stopped him. "Endymion," she said softly.
"We need Endymion more."
        He gave her a puzzled look but did as she asked, while she
herself transformed into Millenium Moon. As they finished, they heard
footsteps coming from behind them and turned to find Falcon and Uranus
quickly approaching.
        "We saw Jadeite transform and attack and thought you might need
some help," Falcon explained in response to their raised eyebrows.
        "You're more than welcome to get rid of them," Jadeite offered
with a mischievous grin, pointing to the advancing group.
        "No problem," his friend said confidently. "Falcon Steel
Talons... SLASH!"
        The revolving steel disk easily passed through all the youma,
turning them to dust and leaving no evidence of their earlier presence.
        "Way to go!" Jadeite said, reaching to give Falcon a
congratulatory handshake when they heard Uranus swear softly. "Heads up,
folks. I think we have a big problem on our hands."
        Everyone looked up.
        In the distance, coming down the roadway were five hooded
figures, almost like monks. Surrounding them were the largest number of
monsters anyone had ever seen. Even as they approached, from the trees
and bushes, even from the lake, more and more youma popped out,
increasing their number to immense proportions.
        "Damn!" Jadeite uttered. "We can't handle all of them. We need
more help."
        "The others are on their way," Sailor Moon said in reply. "I
managed to get them on the communicator."
        "Then we'd better stall for time until they get here," he
answered with a resigned sigh. "Here goes nothing!" He suddenly had two
perfect, peach colored rose blooms on each palm, crushing them to reveal
a mound of petals. Quickly making fists, he crossed his forearms and
waited until the inside of his palms glowed a bright orange.
        "Metamorphic Rocks... PULVERIZE!"
        He flung the glowing petals at the enemy and watched as they
grew and changed to stones. Increasing in size until they became huge
boulders, they slammed into the unsuspecting monsters and pinned them to
the ground, eventually turning all of them into dust.
        Uranus raised her hand and proceeded to attack. "World Shaking!"
she screamed just as Millenium Moon released her flaming sphere. Falcon
was handling the group in front of him with his steel talons, while
Endymion borrowed a trick from his alter ego and used his sharp stemmed
roses.
        As the monsters continued to pour out from their surroundings,
the small but valiant group started to tire and began to move backwards
as the enemy advanced.
        "This is not going great, guys," Jadeite said between gritted
teeth. "Where's the cavalry when you need them?"
        "Right here! Boreal Turbulence... ENCUMBER!" Massive gusts of
wind pushed back their approaching foe and gave them a few minutes
reprieve. Nephrite turned to Zoisite. "Now!" he commanded and the other
man nodded, looking towards Mercury.
        "Ready?"
        "Whenever you are," she said in acknowledgement.
        "Let's do it then."
        As with the other Generals, he easily produced four pink roses
out of thin air and held them by the stems in his left hand. He
flattened his right palm over his clenched fist until a bright glow
emitted in between his hands.
        "Cataclysmic Forest..."
        Zoisite threw the roses in quick succession to land in a
semi-circle around the advancing youma. As each rose hit the ground, it
cracked and thick, hard vines filled with sharp thorns erupted from the
gap. The vines spread upwards and outwards, intertwining with each other
until they formed a dense forest made of thorns.
        Mercury cupped her hands and raised them above her head, looking
up. "Mercury Hymnal Frost..." The cold air seemed to condense upon her
palms as she lowered them to her lips and blew.
        "AMALGAMATE!" they shouted together.
        Her icy breath shot straight to the dense growth and permeated
through, wrapping each thorny vine with ice to create even sharper,
deadlier icicles.
        "That should hold them for a while," Zoisite said with
satisfaction.
        "Nice timing!" Falcon offered the new arrivals with a smile.
Nephrite, Jupiter, Zoisite, Mercury, Kunzite, and Venus were all
present. "Where's-?"
        "We're here!" Wolf shouted as he rounded the corner with
Neptune, Saturn, and Lynx.
        Now only Mars was missing, and Jadeite scanned the area to see
is she was nearby. He wasn't able to find her by the time Falcon called
everyone's attention.
        When they had all gathered together, Falcon informed them of
what was happening. "We'd better think of something quick. That fence
isn't going to hold them forever."
        "I noticed something odd," Endymion volunteered. "Those five
monks, I think they're the source of the never-ending number of youma
we're up against."
        "What do you mean?" Wolf questioned, having no idea what he was
talking about.
        "Every time we destroy a lot of them, the monks seem to pray and
a dark shadow falls over them," he said in explanation. "Before we know
what's happening, more monsters are popping out of nowhere."
        "Then we're done for," Jadeite concluded pessimistically.
"There's no way to reach the monks without eliminating the youma and
there is no end to their increasing numbers."
        "Not necessarily," Falcon countered immediately, looking at his
fellow knights.
        "What do you have in mind?" Nephrite prompted.
        When he saw Lynx and Wolf nod in agreement, Falcon explained to
the rest. "The 'Shiro-kage' Generals have an attack where we could fight
as our namesakes in the form of energy. The only problem is, our human
bodies are completely vulnerable to any attack the enemy decides to use
then. Somebody has to protect us while we do battle."
        "Endymion and I will do it," Sailor Moon offered, ignoring the
look of unease on her partner's face.
        "Neptune, Saturn, and I will assist them," Uranus offered, not
wanting anything to happen to Galen now that they were finally together.
        "Very well," Nephrite agreed. "Then it'll be up to the rest of
us to finish these monsters."
        "Fine by me," Jadeite replied as the rest nodded their
acknowledgement. The group quickly dispersed as the fence was finally
breached.
        As they neared the quickly disappearing ice forest, they found
to their satisfaction that a lot of the youma had perished in its deadly
clutches. The Senshi and the Royal Guard Generals quickly spread out in
a straight line to form a human fence. Soon, raging winds, burning lava,
and other deadly forces of nature filled the air as the battle ensued.
After a while, it was hard to say who was winning.
        A little distance behind them, the three 'Shiro-kage' Generals
formed a small circle and unsheathed their swords from their back.
Grasping the hilt in both hands, they held their swords in front of them
and bowed their heads slightly. In the silence that followed, they
concentrated all their energy onto their swords until the gleaming steel
started to emit a blinding glow. The brightest of lights seemed to
envelop them for a moment, before suddenly rising and taking the shape
of their totems--a lynx, a wolf, and a falcon. These three shadow
creatures sped to their prey in a blinding flash, leaving their host
bodies vulnerable and unprotected.
        Now the other four Senshi and Endymion formed a wider circle
around the Knights of Selene. As they stood and waited, they prepared
themselves for the inevitable attack, knowing that the fight between the
youma and the others was not going well. They knew that if they failed
and anyone managed to breach their shield, it could very well mean the
end for everyone.
        As they continued to watch and wait, Mamoru gave Sailor Moon an
apprehensive glance. He was still in the dark as to why she wanted him
to change to Endymion instead of Tuxedo Kamen. He thought he would be of
more use to them in that form since he was more comfortable fighting
that way. Endymion was still pretty much of an enigma to him.
        Usagi saw his worried look and gave him a reassuring smile. She
knew the time had come to give him the four items the men had asked her
to pass along. Quickly searching for and finding them, she handed them
over.
        "The guys said you would know what to do," she explained,
indicating the Royal Guard Generals with a nod of her head.
        Mamoru listened to her closely, and then looked down at the
items he was holding. He had no idea what to do. He saw nothing there
but four beautiful roses in varying colors--a peach one, a yellow one, a
pink one, and an ice blue one. For lack of anything else to do, he
produced a red rose of his own and added it to the pile. Still, nothing
happened.
        A short scream from the front interrupted his thoughts and he
saw Zoisite stagger back from the line, holding a bleeding arm. Mamoru
clenched his hands into fists as he watched a number of youma pass
through the break in the human fence. He knew there was no time left to
try to make sense of the roses in his hands. The time for fighting was
upon them.
        As he watched the youma come closer, he suddenly felt a pulsing
warmth coming from his right hand and he raised it to have a look. He
had unconsciously clutched the roses together when he clenched his fist
earlier, and now it was hard to tell which flower was which. The
different colors seemed to be blending together even as he watched, and
he peered down closer to see what was really happening. To his total
amazement, he saw the five individual roses shift, move and merge
together until only a single rose remained. He opened his palm to view
it more clearly. It was a beautiful, golden rose.
        The sounds of fighting penetrated his consciousness once more as
he heard the others shout their attacks. He knew he had to do something
as well, but was at a loss as to what. As he deliberated his next move,
the rose started to pulse in his hand again and he clutched it before it
managed to drop to the ground. For the second time in so many minutes,
he was surprised to discover that it was changing once again. The stem
was becoming longer and thicker, increasing in width until it was the
size of a sword's hilt, before the bloom at it's head began to glow
intensely. Then, as if waiting, it remained unchanged for the next few
moments, and he knew instinctively that it needed him to do something.
But what???
        Mamoru closed his eyes in despair and, suddenly, it was there--
the words he needed to finish the transformation. He dropped his arm to
his side, a few inches away from his body, and opened his eyes. Softly,
as if testing them on his lips for the first time, he uttered the words,
"Golden Laser Whip..."
        The golden rose bloom glowed even brighter as it narrowed and
stretched a few feet to the ground. "STRIP!"
        Endymion moved his right hand in a circular motion above his
head, before aiming the glowing whip at the advancing enemy. As it hit
the youma's bodies, the monsters were cut to ribbons, leaving nothing
but a few remains scattered on the ground. Again and again, he lashed
out at them, feeling his confidence build with each stroke that he
wielded.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        On the other side of the park, in an area shadowed by an eerie
darkness, Athol stood with his four loyal followers. As he continued to
watch the battle rage on, a most evil grin formed on his face. He knew
with utmost certainty that it was only a matter of time before the other
side gave in. He was already anticipating the victory that was surely at
hand.
        A sudden flash of light from across the park blinded him for an
instant and he covered his eyes with his arm. When his vision finally
returned, he noticed that the area around him was lighter and steadily
becoming brighter. He turned to look at the other seers and found them
all wearing puzzled looks, obviously as surprised as he was by the
sudden change. Then one of them suddenly looked up and a mask of pure
terror crept over his face.
        Athol watched the other three seers follow his gaze and step
back, clutching their hands in front of them as if to protect
themselves. Their mouths opened and shut without a sound coming out and
their eyes seemed to be glued to the object behind him. Slowly, unsure
of what he would find, he turned and raised his head towards the sky.
What he saw there was his death looking back at him.
        He opened his mouth and let out a soundless scream.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        Justin reeled back in pain as he was hit by another youma. All
around him, he could hear the others groan as they too sustained wounds
from the overwhelming force of the enemy. They had already gotten too
close for him to use his powers, so he was wielding his sword to ward
off their attacks. But that piece of steel was becoming too heavy for
his arm, and soon he won't be able to raise it.
        He noticed a monster striking from his left and he turned to
defend himself, killing it before it managed to attack. What he didn't
see was the youma bearing down on him from the back, until he heard the
sound of its footsteps, a little too close for comfort. When he turned
around, the monster was already about to strike and he knew it was too
late.
        Justin watched the sharp claws coming closer to his head and he
closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable. Suddenly, his whole body
felt overheated and he thought it was the blood rushing to his head,
getting ready to burst out of his skull. When a few minutes passed and
he felt no pain however, he cautiously opened his eyes and found a mound
of ashes in front of him. Frowning in puzzlement, he carefully followed
the trail of singed grass and found the source standing a few feet in
front of him, wearing a worried look. It suddenly made him want to smile
and laugh for joy.
        Mars had finally arrived.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        Falcon saw terror written all over the five monks' faces as he
and the others approached. He watched as they tried to call out to their
monsters in an effort to save their worthless lives. It's too late, he
wanted to tell them. Nothing can possibly save you now.
        The fighting that followed was brief and effortless, as with
teeth and claws, the monks bodies were torn apart. In a matter of
minutes, four of the hooded figures were nothing but dust on the ground.
Only Athol was still alive and he scrambled away from the ferocious
creatures, using the last of his powers to transport himself
underground.
        Falcon gave the others a mental command and they all headed back
to their bodies, knowing that the others needed help.

                                *       *       *       *       *

        The group around the 'Shiro-kage' Generals felt their return
immediately and dispersed to join the others on the battlefield. As they
left the circle, Uranus looked at Falcon questioningly and he smiled his
reassurance. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze before leading her
to follow the others.
        The Royal Guard and the Inner Senshi were relieved to see their
comrades, and they fell back to let the others take over. Without the
monks to produce more monsters, the number of youma was manageable now
and they knew their help wasn't needed any longer. They assisted each
other off the battleground and rested at a safe distance, giving Mercury
a chance to see what she could do about their injuries.
        A half an hour later, the last of the youma finally fell and the
others gave a sigh of relief. They gave each other congratulatory pats
and headed to join the rest of the team. Mercury watched as they slowly
came closer and called out for Saturn to hurry up. Although she had
managed to take care of most of the cuts and bruises, there were some
serious injuries that only the younger Senshi's healing touch could
cure.
        Saturn went to work as the rest of them discussed the battle.
It was a hard won victory, and they were all aware of it.
        "If the next attack is this bad, not all of us might be able to
make it," Mercury expressed her concern, looking worriedly at a
seriously injured Zach.
        "This one came pretty close to taking some of us," Jadeite
agreed, giving Mars a meaningful glance.
        "So what do we do?" Sailor Moon asked. "Morgon is still on the
horizon, and we can never tell when he will attack. He is a whole lot
stronger than those monks we just fought. And the power he commands is
much more intense."
        "We may have to use the crystal next time, Usagi," Galen told
her evenly. "It shouldn't drain your energy if you use it properly."
        "I know. But I still won't be able to use its total power. I
need the Senshi's help for that to happen." When the others just looked
at her questioningly, "All the Senshi's help," she finished her
statement.
        "So what's the problem?" a male voice suddenly asked from behind
her.
        Everyone looked up at the sudden intrusion and found something
they never expected.



                             CHAPTER ELEVEN
              Love and Friendship: The Rewards of Destiny

        The stranger looked amused as he surveyed the faces before him.
Just as he expected, each one wore a different expression, displaying a
multitude of varied emotions among the lot of them. It made it a lot
easier to pick the one who considered him a friend from those who
believed him a foe.
        Slowly his lips formed into a smile as he took in his friends'
reactions. He noted Galen's relaxed stance beside Haruka, his own lips
tilted into a smile and welcome showing in his emerald eyes. Usagi, on
his other side, had a happy grin on her face and could barely contain
her excitement. On her left, Nathan offered him a nod of
acknowledgement, while Ashe gave him the thumbs up sign from his place
beside Michiru. Zach managed a wave with his good arm and Kenjo gave him
a quick, two-fingered salute. Hotaru clasped the arm Drake held around
her shoulders as they both looked towards him with warm welcome. And
Justin, as always, had a sly little smile on his lips, looking for all
the world like he was keeping a secret.
        The rest of the group wasn't exactly hostile looking, but
definitely more guarded. Haruka, Michiru, and Rei all wore identical
suspicious frowns as they gazed at the stranger among them. Ami had a
shy, tentative smile on her lips, while Minako and Makoto both looked at
him in open admiration. Mamoru's face was a blank mask on the outside,
but his intense gaze showed his readiness for anything that could
happen.
        The stranger had seen enough and, with confidence and
understated grace, took the few steps necessary to bring him before
Usagi. Some of her companions tensed as he dropped on one knee and
raised the fingertips of her right hand to his lips. Usagi was kind of
surprised herself, until he finally looked up straight at her and
favored her with a slow wink.
        "Show off!" she then accused him with a laugh and pulled him to
his feet. She gave the giant of a man a big hug and let him know how
much she missed him. "I'm so happy that you're finally here, Logan."
        "Well, Princess," he started in a deep baritone. "I'm glad to
see you're doing okay."
        "Logan," Galen said as he clapped the other man on the shoulder.
"It's about time you got here."
        "Yeah," Ashe agreed. "We were afraid we had to do all the
fighting without you."
        "Of course, we all know how weak-kneed you get when it comes to
a battle," Drake added tongue-in-cheek since most of them knew Logan had
more strength in one hand than a dozen ordinary men in their whole
bodies.
        "Quit ribbing him, you guys," Hotaru admonished. "He might think
he wasn't welcome here the way you keep going on and on."
        Logan couldn't help but smile at her staunch defense of him.
"It's all right, little one," he soothed her, "I've lived with these
rogues for a long, long time. I know when they're being serious and when
they're acting like clowns." And he gave Drake a playful punch which
made the other man wince.
        "Ouch! Watch where you put your hands, old buddy. You just might
break my bones, you know?"
        "He's really that strong?" Makoto asked curiously from Nathan's
side.
        "Oh! How wonderful!" Minako added, awe in her voice.
        Logan gave them both a courtly bow. "Ladies."
        "Ooohhhh!"
        "Hey!" Kenjo protested. "How could you swoon like that in front
of me?" he asked of his lady.
        "Never mind you," Minako replied, thoroughly enjoying herself.
"Logan is so tall and handsome."
        "And strong and elegant," Makoto piped up, not wanting to be
outdone.
        "And a perfect gentleman!" they finally chorused.
        "What are we? Chopped liver?" Nathan asked, looking comical in
his bewilderment.
        Everyone laughed at their expense, finally breaking the tension
that surrounded part of the group. When things quieted down once again,
Logan was reintroduced to Mamoru and the Senshi who had no memory of
him. He was surprised to notice that they trusted him immediately, even
Haruka. He had been prepared to wait a little while before they were
completely at ease with him, but he found there was no need to do so
after all. It seemed their friendship was his for the taking.
        "Well, people," Zach said when greetings had been exchanged. "I
don't know about you, but I'm pooped. I think I'll head back to the
Silver Millenium and get some rest."
        "I'll go with you," Ami volunteered, assisting him to his feet.
They waved their good-byes and turned to walk away.
        "Are we still on, Minako-chan?" Makoto asked when the two had
passed the gate.
        "Of course, we're on."
        "What are you talking about?" Rei asked curiously.
        It was Nathan who answered, "These two suddenly got it into
their heads to go skating. They were dragging Kenjo and me to the rink
when we got the distress call."
        "Oh."
        "Would you like to come, Rei?" Makoto offered. "It'll be fun, I
promise."
        "Well, I..." she began before thinking it over.
        Nathan winced with surprise as he felt a jab on his ribs. He
looked down to find Makoto staring at him with wide, meaningful eyes
before motioning in Justin's direction. He quickly got the message.
        "Umm, Justin, how about it? You're a pretty good skater, if I
remember right."
        "Better than you, that's for sure," Justin replied
half-jokingly. He was tempted by the offer before he got a look at Rei's
hesitant face and knew she wanted to go. He wasn't about to stand in her
way. "But I won't be joining you today. I'm dead tired, and I need a few
hours of undisturbed sleep before I'll feel like my old self again. See
you!" And he turned and followed in Zach and Ami's wake.
        Rei turned pale as she watched Justin's retreating back. <He
must hate her a lot,> she thought, <if he was willing to forego
something he enjoyed so much just to avoid her.> Suddenly, all the
excitement and hope of going together as a couple disappeared with his
departure. Nothing was left but the ache of regret that seemed to be her
constant companion of late. It was enough to bring the tears to her
eyes.
        "I'm sorry, guys. I'm kind of tired too," she finally said,
blinking rapidly to stave off the flood. "I think I'll go home for a bit
and meditate." She gave them a final sad smile before walking away.
        "Well?" Minako asked of the other couples who were left behind.
        Haruka snatched Galen's hand and began dragging him away before
he could respond. "We were on our way to lunch and I'm really starving
now," she said in explanation. "Maybe next time."
        Michiru didn't mind going and was about to say so when Ashe
interrupted. "Uhh, Michiru, didn't you have to meet with some people
about that concert you'll be giving soon?"
        Michiru gave him a puzzled glance but was quick to note his look
of desperation. She managed to hide her smile before facing the others.
"Oh! I completely forgot about them. I guess we'd better get going so we
won't be late. Bye, everyone!" she lied convincingly and quickly hurried
after Ashe who had already left.
        "Why do I get the feeling she wasn't telling the complete
truth?" Minako asked the others.
        "Maybe because she wasn't," Drake replied with a laugh. "If you
had your memories, you'll remember that Ashe hated skating. He could
never get his balance and always ended up with his bum on the ice."
        "Really?!" Makoto laughed and tried to imagine the handsome,
blond man wiping the ice with the seat of his pants.
        "Still!" Minako grumbled after a short while. "It won't be much
fun with just the four of us."
        "We'll join you," Hotaru volunteered, looking up at Drake. "You
don't mind, do you?"
        "Of course not," was the quick reply. "I know how much you love
to glide across the ice."
        "Then it's settled. Now there's six of us."
        "I'll go," Logan offered, "if you don't mind sharing partners."
        "Well," Nathan answered hesitantly. "I don't know about that.
The way they've been behaving towards you, it might not be safe to share
them." And he laid a possessive arm around Makoto's shoulder, looking so
serious until he ruined it by winking down at her.
        "Bully!" she accused him with another jab in the ribs. "Don't
let him intimidate you, Logan," she started reassuringly until she
realized how absurd the statement was. Logan was taller and larger than
Nathan was, and with his extraordinary strength, was more than a match
for the other man.
        "Don't worry, Logan," Minako spoke when Makoto fell silent.
"I'll skate with you as many times as you like."
        "What about me?" Kenjo was quick to complain.
        "You can wait your turn," she answered determinedly. "Surely
grown men like you can compromise so that everyone manages to have fun."
        Kenjo kept quiet but didn't look any too happy about sharing his
time with Minako.
        Now all eyes turned to Usagi and Mamoru. "Won't you come with
us, Usagi-chan?" Makoto asked her old friend. It was the first time
she'd spoken to her since that fateful New Year's eve. "Luna said you
were one of the best skaters in the Moon Kingdom. Maybe you can give us
a pointer or two."
        Usagi wasn't sure how to react to the offer of renewed
friendship. She still had misgivings because of what happened in the
past, but knew a lot of things were said in the heat of the moment then.
She had already wasted so many years apart from Mamoru because of
misunderstandings. Could it be possible that the same reasons were also
responsible for the Senshi's reactions before?
        Usagi looked up at Mamoru to see what he thought of it. He
smiled his encouragement and placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a
squeeze of reassurance. She placed her own hand over his and made up her
mind.
        "We'll be glad to go with you," she finally replied. She still
wasn't completely comfortable with the prospect of opening herself to
more pain, but thought it couldn't hurt to spend some time with them and
see how things progressed. <Perhaps,> she told herself, <if she let it,
time will manage to solve all her problems.>
        Unaware of her private thoughts, the group around her breathed a
sigh of relief. Makoto and Minako exchanged glances, and they both knew
they'd been given a chance to redeem the old friendship they had so
blithely thrown away. And although everything was not yet forgiven nor
forgotten, there was now hope that things will be resolved in the near
future.
        A tentative friendship was established as the group started
moving towards the park gates. A feeling of excitement was in the air,
and the looming presence of the enemy was forgotten for the moment.

                *       *       *       *       *

        In the dark empty caverns underneath the ground, that same enemy
sat alone on his throne, contemplating his fate. He hadn't moved from
this spot for the past couple of hours, expecting his army to return to
him. He had known that something had gone wrong when they didn't arrive
at the appointed time.
        It started like a spark of a match being lit, this hatred he
felt inside. Slowly, breath by breath, it built into a raging inferno as
he recalled all the misfortunes he had suffered at Sailor Moon's hands.
First, there was the loss of his mother, then later his trusted seer,
Drago. Now she had gone far enough as to take his whole army from him.
She was going to pay for them all.
        Fool! he called himself for listening to Athol. The plan was
full proof, he'd said. There was no way they could lose. Morgon had
listened to him and believed he had made some sense. He almost deserved
to lose his whole army because of that.
        "My Lord," came a weak voice from somewhere in front of him. A
glimmer of a man appeared before slowly solidifying. It was none other
than the culprit he had just been thinking of.
        "My Lord...the army...they are gone." He took a choking breath,
blood seeping from the wounds he had sustained in the attack. "The
warriors...they had...an energy attack...I didn't know...about. They
had... no bodies," he continued in disbelief, not making much sense.
"We couldn't...touch them...hurt them. They were...invincible." He
reached out a trembling hand towards his master in a pathetic plea for
help. For a moment, it looked as though Morgon would respond, lifting
his own hand. Then an evil glimmer entered his eyes.
        "Thank you, Athol, for letting me know," he said to the helpless
seer. "Now it's time you joined the rest."
        Athol only had time to blink in shock before the burst of dark
energy from Morgon's finger entered his chest and exploded. In a moment,
all that was left of him was a memory.
        <How utterly foolish,> Morgon thought, <to think that I would
forgive him just because he came to warn me. To think that I wouldn't
see his cowardice in leaving the others to save himself. He deserved far
worse than what he got.> The glimmer brightened for a moment as he
looked at the spot where the seer last stood, before suddenly
disappearing. Morgon sat back once again, deep in thought, contemplating
his fate, now that he was all alone.

                *       *       *       *       *

        Justin shifted once more on his bed, this time to turn on his
back, a hand cradling his head. He had been trying to get some sleep for
the past hour or so and hadn't had any luck so far. Now he looked up at
the ceiling and wondered, not for the first time, if his friends were
having fun skating, if Rei was enjoying herself.
        Justin spared a wistful thought on how much he would have
enjoyed spinning with her on the ice. He would have grabbed her hand and
sped across the rink, not stopping until they were tired, or until they
fell down in a tangle of arms and legs. Sitting on the cold surface with
him, she would have laughed with merriment, and he would have held her
face in his hands and told her how beautiful she looked. Then he would
have whispered how much he loved her, and they would have kissed.
        Justin shook himself out of the daydream, knowing how utterly
farfetched it was. Rei wouldn't be caught dead alone in his company
these days, much less, holding her hand. The future didn't hold any such
moments for them, and it seemed terribly bleak indeed.

                *       *       *       *       *

        The fire blazed warmth around the room as Rei sat in front of
it, eyes closed, lips chanting a silent prayer. In meditation, she was
supposed to be feeling inner peace, but in truth couldn't concentrate
enough to tune out her inner turmoil. She was hurt and confused, and
foremost in her mind was Justin's rejection.
        Rei recalled the flash of pleasure on his face when the word
skating was mentioned. She had looked at him and waited for him to say
yes, urging him to do so in her mind. But all the excitement left him
when he turned around and saw her eager face. He had suddenly given such
a flimsy excuse and was quickly gone.
        Rei gave up trying to meditate and buried her face in her hands.
<Why?> she asked silently. Why was she doing this to herself? Hoping and
praying for something that could never be hers. Not anymore. It was
totally hopeless.

                *       *       *       *       *

        Usagi glided along the edge of the rink, holding Mamoru's hand
and just enjoying the feel of the ice under her skates. It was such a
change from fumbling and falling on her face, and she was determined to
make the most of it.
        Mamoru looked down at her serene face as he skated beside her
and saw the slight smile hovering on her lips. He wondered what she
could be thinking of that would make her smile so beautifully. His gaze
fell on their clasped hands, and he marveled once more at the events
that transpired that morning. He still could hardly believe that, after
so many years filled with hopes and frustrations, they were finally
together again.
        And they would stay together, Mamoru thought in determination.
Nothing was going to come between them ever again. He would make sure of
it. He gave Usagi's hand a warm squeeze and she looked up at him, her
happiness showing on her face.
        Across the rink, just stepping out of the ice, Makoto joined
Minako, Hotaru, and the four men who were taking a break. She took the
cola that Nathan handed her with a smile of thanks and proceeded to
quench her thirst.
        "They look beautiful together, don't they," Minako suddenly
asked of no one in particular. Everyone followed her gaze and found
Mamoru and Usagi slowly heading their way.
        "Yes," Hotaru agreed softly. "They do make a beautiful couple.
I always felt they belonged together, even when they first met and Usagi
was going out with somebody else."
        "What is it you're saying?" Makoto butted in. "I thought it has
always been Mamoru and Usagi even in the Moon Kingdom. How come she was
seeing somebody else?"
        "She was not only seeing somebody else," Nathan clarified. "She
was engaged to be married to him."
        "What?!!" both Minako and Makoto almost screamed. "You mean, she
loved this other guy and Mamoru came and stole her from him," Minako
continued in disbelief.
        "Bingo!" Kenjo answered. "Of course, she realized later that she
only loved him like a brother. They parted as friends and everyone was
happy."
        Makoto frowned at his careless dismissal of the man's feelings.
"How could you say that? This other man must have been devastated when
he lost her. He couldn't have been very happy."
        Kenjo was about to explain his statement when Minako gasped.
"Oh my God! I just realized something."
        "What is it?"
        "If we were all reincarnated, this man must be alive somewhere
at the moment," she answered in a horror-stricken voice. "What if he
comes here and wants Usagi back? We have to do something to stop him."
        "You're right," Makoto agreed, sharing Minako's distress. "We
can't let him break up those two again. It's unthinkable after what
they've been through."
        The two of them looked at each other in worry, missing the
barely held laughter the others were trying to hide. Finally, with a
completely solemn face, Drake shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid he's
already here," he said seriously. "He's already come between them and
you can't do anything to stop him."
        "Oh no!" Makoto exclaimed and turned towards the approaching
couple once again, fully expecting to see a man between the two of them.
Of course, there was no one there, but that didn't keep her from
worrying.
        Mamoru noticed her frown and immediately asked, "What's wrong,
Makoto?"
        "Nothing!" she answered on a high note, glancing around to make
sure no one was trailing them.
        "Are you sure?" Usagi followed up, not buying her answer.
        "Come now, Makoto," Nathan prodded, taking the chance to pay her
back for making fun of him earlier. "You can't hide your worry from
Usagi and Mamoru. Why not just ask them about it?"
        "Shh," Minako whispered, tempted to clamp a hand to his mouth.
        Seeing this reaction, Kenjo's face lit with devilish glee. <Ah,
sweet revenge!> "We've been telling these two about your past," he
happily explained to the couple. "They're worried about your lost love
coming back to haunt you again, Usagi. We told them it was already too
late."
        Mamoru's hand tightened around Usagi's until he managed a
glimpse at Drake's face. His features were contorted in a comical way,
trying to control his laughter over the ruse they were playing. It was
then that Mamoru figured it was only a joke and quickly got into the
act. He let go of Usagi's hand forcefully, making sure that they all
noticed.
        "How could you, Usako?" he asked in a hurt voice, blinking and
managing a quick wink at Usagi. "You didn't tell me he was back. How
could you hold my hand and think about going back to him again?"
        "Actually," was the careless reply, "YOU were holding MY hand.
Is it my fault if I still love him? I was going to tell you later, but
now you know the truth."
        Mamoru turned his face away, more to hide his smile than
anything else. "That's it," he stated solemnly. "I've had enough. After
waiting for you all these years, I finally discover what kind of woman
you are. Thanks to you two," he gestured towards the gaping Senshi, "my
eyes are finally open. Good-bye, Usako."
        "But...but...." Minako stammered, not knowing what to do.
        "Wait!" Makoto shouted. "Don't leave. This is not...it's not
supposed to be...we didn't mean--" She looked helplessly at the others.
"Do something!"
        Drake couldn't keep it in anymore and burst out laughing. Once
he started it, everyone let go, and they were soon all howling and
crying with mirth while Makoto and Minako looked on in bewilderment.
        "What's going on?" Makoto asked.
        "Your face!" Nathan said on a laugh. "You should have seen your
face. I wish I had a camera."
        "Hey, guys, what's so funny?" Justin suddenly appeared from
between Drake and Hotaru. "Care to share the joke?"
        "I think the joke's on us," Minako answered. "We thought we were
having a crisis, and then they all started laughing."
        Hotaru took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. "I'm sorry.
I know I shouldn't have gone along, but you were so serious."
        "I take it, there was no other man," Makoto asked with a raised
eyebrow. "Usagi and Mamoru's relationship was never in danger?"
        "Actually," Kenjo said, still smiling widely. "Usagi had really
been engaged to another man when Mamoru met her in the Moon Kingdom.
It's also true that he's very much alive and here in the present."
        "Do we know him?" Minako returned. "Is he going to be a
problem?"
        "I thought he was a problem," Mamoru said seriously. "It turned
out I was wrong." He felt Usagi take his hand and smiled down at her.
        "Who is he?" the other Senshi asked, breaking into the private
moment. Usagi looked at her and answered softly, "Fujiwara Galen."
        There was a series of gasps as the two ladies digested this
information. Now they understood why the bond seemed so strong between
those two. They had loved each other in the past. Maybe they loved each
other still, but in a different way. In the end, there was nothing they
could really say except, "You're lucky, Usagi-chan, to be loved by not
one, but two wonderful men. I could almost envy you, but I don't have
to."
        Makoto leaned closer to Nathan, and he put an arm around her,
making her feel how special she was. Minako was also close in Kenjo's
embrace and feeling at peace with the world.
        Justin's gaze went from one couple to the next and he felt
compelled to look away. It almost seemed like he was intruding on their
very private moments. He looked around and, not finding what he wanted,
cleared his throat.
        "What happened to Rei?"
        "She didn't come along," Logan replied from beside him. "She
said she was going to meditate."
        "I see." But he didn't, not really. He fully expected to see her
here when he finally gave in to temptation. He was very disappointed
that she wasn't around.

                *       *       *       *       *

        Ami spent the afternoon watching over Zach while he rested in
his suite. Since she had nothing else to do, she tried to find the
source of the youma who had been troubling them lately. With the data
she had gathered from her own computer during the last two attacks, she
was able to create some sort of map and poured over it as the afternoon
hours ticked away. By the time Zach woke up, she had what she wanted.
        "I found it!"
        "Found what?" he asked, peering over her shoulder.
        "The place where Morgon is hiding. It's right here." And she
pointed at the spot she had discovered.
        "Well," he said finally, "I think it's time for another meeting.
Let's inform the others about what we've found."
        "That's what I thought," Ami agreed and reached for the phone.

                *       *       *       *       *

        The meeting was scheduled for two o'clock the following day at
the temple. Rei, who had the day off, used the time to prepare for it by
doing a fire reading. Although she was able to feel an evil presence
however, she wasn't able to pinpoint its direction. Frustrated with her
efforts, she finally gave up and went to sit at the front porch to wait
for the others.
        Usagi was the first to arrive, an hour early for the meeting.
She had finished with her appointments sooner than expected and had
decided to come straight to the temple since there was nothing else to
do. But now, seeing Rei on the porch steps, she stopped in her tracks
and waited to see how she would be received.
        Rei got up from her sitting position and walked a few steps
closer. She could hardly believe her eyes when she saw Usagi walk into
the temple gates alone, and the years seemed to melt away as they stood
together once again, like they've done so many times before. But no,
this Usagi was not anything like the other one. There was no clumsiness
in her movements nor any fear or uncertainty in her eyes. She carried
herself with confidence and was very much aware of her own worth as a
person. No, she was definitely nothing like her old self.
        Funny, Rei thought as she smiled slowly. She was going to miss
having that old Usagi around. Nevertheless, this new Usagi seemed to be
more of a match for her and she welcomed her presence.
        "Welcome back, Usagi-chan. It's been a while," she said in
greeting. "Why don't we go in and have some tea?"
        Usagi wasn't sure what she expected from Rei, but she accepted
the offer with relief. She didn't really feel like getting into one of
their fights right now and was glad Rei wasn't inclined to do so as
well. She followed the other woman into the temple and prompted herself
to be as amiable as possible.
        They spent the next few minutes getting comfortable and pouring
themselves some tea. Usagi sipped hers slowly as she searched her mind
for what to say next. She was just getting uncomfortable with the
silence when Rei surprised her yet again. "I'm sorry," the other Senshi
apologized. "I know I was one of the main persons who caused you to
leave Japan and your family, and I'm sorry."
        Usagi was taken aback. She had never expected Rei to apologize
without the other Senshi to prompt her, and she didn't know what to do.
"I've always had a bad temper, Usagi, like I'm sure you already know,"
Rei continued when Usagi didn't say anything. "I was so full of myself
in those days, so sure that I was always right. I had to lose someone I
cared about before I took a step back and examined myself."
        Her hand started shaking so she put her cup down. She raked her
other hand through her hair and took a deep, steadying breath. "That
day, when you turned around and I saw your bleeding back, was the first
time I admitted to myself how brave you really were. There we were with
a few cuts and bruises, berating you for being late while you stood with
your back ripped to pieces and took it all without moaning about your
own injury. I didn't know if I could have done the same thing, and I
respected you for it."
        Usagi sat back and listened in wonder, understanding little by
little how the other Senshi must have felt when she disappeared.
"Mamoru-san wanted to go after you right away, but Luna told him to
leave you alone for a while. Afterwards, when we found out you were
missing, I think he almost went out of his mind. He looked for you
everywhere, as did the rest of us, and we couldn't find you. But Mamoru
kept on looking for you long after the rest of us gave up. He couldn't
accept that you were no longer in the city. He couldn't accept that you
were gone."
        Unbidden tears started in Usagi's eyes as she pictured Mamoru
searching vainly for her. When she had thought she was the only one
suffering in Canada, he was back here probably feeling even worse.
        "I felt so guilty," Rei admitted with downcast eyes. "I was the
one who threw those accusations at you. I was the one who really pushed
you to leave. I didn't know what to say to him, so I kept silent and
watched him fall apart." She wiped at a stray tear on her cheek. "I was
never more grateful than when Luna cornered him and made him see what he
was doing to himself. Mamoru seemed to get better after that, and I
could tell that he was going to be all right."
        The silence that followed seemed charged with tension as Rei
took another sip from her cup. Usagi had a feeling that the other Senshi
wasn't finished talking yet, so she waited for her to continue. After
taking a few moments to compose herself, Rei went on with her story.
        "Do you know that we broke up for a while after you left? The
Senshi, I mean," she asked her old comrade. "I think we were simply all
feeling so guilty about your disappearance that we couldn't stand seeing
each other and being reminded of what we've done. We went for months
without any contact with each other, until Haruka and Michiru got wind
of what was happening and gathered us back together again. The day we
became a group once more, we promised ourselves that if you ever
returned, we would do everything in our power to bring you back to the
fold. But first and foremost, we would ask for your forgiveness. And I
guess that's all I'm really doing--asking for you forgiveness." She
brushed at more tears and put on a calm face before facing Usagi. Her
eyes betrayed her uncertainty however, and made all the difference to
the woman who was looking at her.
        Usagi could hardly believe her ears. Was this really Rei who was
saying sorry for her actions? It didn't seem so. She was more used to
hot-tempered, obstinate Rei who wouldn't budge from her decisions no
matter how wrong they were. Where had that person gone? She thought back
to New Year's Eve, remembered Rei's reaction to the others, and knew the
fiery temper was still there just beneath the surface. It was somehow
being subdued by this sad, tearful woman who had suddenly taken over her
old friend's body. She wondered if it was just her forgiveness that was
troubling the other Senshi, or if there was something more.
        "I can't say I wasn't hurt when you threw those accusations at
me four years ago," Usagi began softly. "I can't say 'let's forget it'
because it will take me a long time to forget. A lot of things changed
because of it--not all of them bad--which would never have occurred, or
at least taken longer to happen, if the situation wasn't altered. But
the bottom line is, I felt betrayed by my friends when it happened. I
felt like you all turned your backs on me when I didn't deserve your
contempt. It hurt, Rei," she said in a pained voice, remembering how she
felt then.
        Rei heard the anguish in her words and knew forgiveness might
not be possible after all. Usagi had suffered more than any of them had
from the break up, since she had been all alone while the rest of them
had each other to lean on. It was sad to know she had played a part in
hurting her friend so.
        Taking a deep, calming breath, Usagi continued, "What I can say
is that I'm starting to understand that I wasn't the only one hurt when
I left Japan. That I'm starting to realize that things were said and
done in the heat of the moment without being meant. However, realizing
and understanding this doesn't mean I can totally erase the hurt they
inflicted. It can only lessen the pain a little." She shook herself out
of her melancholy state and looked at the other Senshi. "So what I
propose is a truce. Let's talk without putting fault and blame into the
picture. Let's try to get to know one another again. You'll never know,
maybe in time, forgiveness will follow."
        Her now dry eyes filled with wetness once again as tears of
relief overflowed when Rei realized she was being given a reprieve. She
stepped closer to Usagi and, to the other woman's surprise, gave her a
hug. After a moment, she felt it returned. "You won't regret it,
Usagi-chan. I'll be one of your best friends from now on."
        "Well, I don't know if I want you to be too good a friend,"
Usagi said with a twinkle in her eye. "I might not recognize you then."
        "Oh, you!" Rei gave her a playful punch and they both laughed,
much more at ease in each other's company now than when they first
started.
        When they were sitting again and drinking tea, Usagi asked Rei
how she felt about their new friends. To her utter shock, Rei burst into
tears again.
        "I hate this!" that Senshi uttered disgustedly, showing a bit of
her old fire. "I'm turning into a watering pot. What's the matter with
me?"
        "That's what I wanted to know," Usagi told her, not unkindly.
"What is it, Rei? I know there's something else bothering you besides
making up with me. Would you like to talk about it?"
        Rei just continued to wipe her tears with her fingers. She had
heard what Usagi asked and was quietly deciding whether or not to share
her dilemma. After a minute, she decided it wouldn't hurt to tell Usagi
the truth.
        "I've been so stupid," she admitted to both herself and Usagi.
"I lied a bit to you earlier. I haven't completely changed my attitude
even after you left Japan. I still believe I'm always right until
somebody can prove me wrong." She paused, seemingly lost in thought for
a moment. "Well he proved me wrong, all right. He proved me wrong and
then he left me. And now I couldn't seem to get him back." Her voice
broke over the last words, and she bit her lip to stop its trembling.
        Usagi watched her try to regain control and quickly realized
what was wrong.
        "It's Justin, isn't it?" she guessed correctly.
        Rei nodded her head reluctantly.
        "What happened? Did you two have a fight, and he turned his back
on you? If so, I'll have a few words with him."
        "No!" Rei quickly denied. "It's not his fault. It's mine.
Please don't say anything to him." Her eyes implored Usagi to listen to
her.
        "But, Rei...!"
        "Please?" she begged Usagi. "He hasn't done anything wrong.
He's just...just keeping his promise."
        "What promise?" Usagi asked and leaned forward to take a hold of
her friend's hands. "Rei, you're obviously hurting. Won't you tell me
why?"
        "Only if you swear you won't say a word to him."
        Usagi sighed. "Very well, if you insist," she finally agreed.
        Rei closed her eyes, relieved at hearing those words. There were
already so many problems between Justin and her without adding anyone
else to complicate things more. Besides, she needed to do her own
apologizing.
        "Rei?" She looked up to find Usagi staring at her expectantly
and knew what her friend was waiting for. But baring her soul to another
person was turning out to be more difficult than she had thought. It
took a lot of courage to admit to your own faults.
        "I'm sure you already know how stubborn I could be," she finally
started, only to be interrupted by Usagi's enthusiastic, "I sure do!"
earning herself a heated glare from Rei.
        "Do you want to hear this or not?!" the other Senshi flared at
her.
        "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Usagi quickly replied, although her lips
kept twitching at the corners. "I promise not to interrupt you again."
She raised her arms to indicate surrender.
        Rei looked at her doubtfully then huffed in exasperation. Usagi
smiled apologetically and did manage to behave herself for the rest of
the afternoon, while the words poured out of Rei's mouth like a dam that
had broken. And when the last syllable had been uttered and only the
ticking of the clock could be heard, Usagi was no longer smiling.
        "Oh, Rei," she sighed softly, at a total loss for words.
        "I've really lost him, haven't I, Usagi-chan?" her friend asked
in a child's frightened voice. "He's really gone from me."
        Usagi didn't like the sound of her voice and moved to sit beside
her, determined to put a stop to Rei's surge of self-pity. "No, Rei,
you're wrong. Justin is not gone from you, and you won't be letting him
go either."
        "No?" Rei asked skeptically, but she couldn't keep the hope from
her voice. "How do you propose I stop him?"
        "By telling him the truth, of course," Usagi assured her. "I
know Justin, and he's got a very soft heart. He'll listen to what you
have to say and he'll understand. Believe me, he hasn't been acting like
himself lately, too."
        "Just tell him the truth," Rei repeated, shaking her head. "You
make it sound so simple when it's not."
        "I didn't say it wouldn't be difficult. But isn't Justin worth a
little hardship?"
        "I guess," her friend answered, still not totally sure if she
could do it.
        The sound of approaching voices intruded on their private
conversation, and Usagi got up to take a peek at who was coming. She saw
Nathan and Makoto together with Zach and Ami just outside the temple
doors and waved them in. She then looked back at Rei and said, "Why
don't you freshen up, Rei-chan? I'll keep them occupied until you get
back."
        "Okay," the other woman replied. "Thanks, Usagi-chan." She
smiled her appreciation and turned to leave the room. Usagi followed her
example and left to greet the others.
        The rest of the party arrived within the next half-hour in small
groups. Haruka, Michiru, Galen, and Ashe came together in one car, while
Drake drove Logan and Hotaru in another. Kenjo and Makoto walked over
from her house, tagging along the two cats with them. Justin and Mamoru
were the last to arrive and the latter went straight for Usagi. That
Senshi raised her face for his kiss then tugged him down to sit beside
her.
        "I'm sorry I'm late. I had a surprise visit from a client and he
just wouldn't leave."
        "That's okay," she assured him. "We haven't started yet,
anyway."
        Rei chose that moment to enter and she smiled when she saw
everyone had already arrived. "I guess I've kept everyone waiting.
Shall we get started?" At everyone's nod of assent, she sat down beside
Minako.
        Justin was very much aware of her presence across from him. He
looked around the group and started feeling uneasy because everyone else
seemed to be in pairs. Only the sight of Logan sitting alone made him
more relaxed. At least he and Rei were not the only ones without a
partner.
        "So, Ami-chan," Makoto was asking, "where did you say Morgon's
hiding?"
        In response, Ami spread a map on the table and pointed to a
spot. "Over here. It's practically in the middle of downtown but very
deep underground."
        Everyone took a closer look, and soon questions and answers were
flying back and forth. All of them were so absorbed in their plans that
they almost jumped as a group when another voice intruded.
        "I knew I shouldn't have trusted you to go ahead," the voice
said derisively. "I leave you alone for a minute and you've got women
hanging all over you."
        The statement was directed at Logan, and sure enough, all the
ladies seemed to be clustered around him. He grinned sheepishly before
getting up and approaching the speaker.
        "Setsuna," was all he said before bending down to cover her lips
with his own in a deep, "I missed you a lot" kind of kiss which seemed
to go on forever. A series of whistles and throat clearing forced them
to pull apart a long time later, but not to look away from each other.
        "Whew! Is it hot in here or what?!" Ashe commented with a
wolfish grin, pulling at his closed collar.
        "If you want to pass a little of that around, Setsuna, I'm all
yours," Drake added before wincing from the pinch he got from Hotaru.
        "Hmph!"
        The older Senshi only smiled and told the younger one, "Don't
worry, Hota-chan. The Brat's a little too young for me."
        "But I'm not," Galen put in and got up to give her a hug and a
kiss on the cheek. "You're looking beautiful, as always, Setsuna."
        "Thank you, Galen." And in a whisper meant only for his ears,
added, "I see you finally got your lady," to which he only smiled in
response.
        The rest of them followed Galen's lead and surrounded her,
giving hugs and kisses and greetings of welcome. It took a while before
everyone was once more in their seats around the table.
        "Before I forget, I've got a letter for you from Queen Serenity,
Usagi." Setsuna handed over the note.
        Usagi quickly opened it and scanned the contents. "Oh, look!"
she cried excitedly.
        "What is it?" Ami asked for everyone.
        "It's in Kanji!" she replied, waving the letter in the air.
        "Usagi!" Rei cried exasperatedly and threw a cushion at her.
She caught it nimbly.
        "You've got to give me credit, guys," she said, undeterred.
"I've never written in Kanji before."
        "Okay, already," Minako grudgingly agreed. "What does the letter
say?"
        Usagi creased her forehead in a frown as she perused the message
again. After a moment, she looked up and admitted, "I don't know. I
can't read Kanji yet."
        A deluge of cushions were thrown at her this time, and the
letter was snatched from her hand.
        "That's strange," Ami began after reading it. "It only has two
sentences. It says, 'Don't you think it's about time to visit Mama,
Papa, and Shingo again? It's been a while since you've seen them.'
That's all there is."
        "Well, I was never good at writing letters," Usagi explained.
"Maybe I'm just trying to remind myself of a special occasion. Let's
see, is it Mama's birthday? No. Papa's? No. Maybe it's their
anniversary."
        "Usagi-chan," Makoto interrupted. "The air of Japan must not be
good for you. The longer you're here, the more your brain is turning to
mush."
        Usagi made a face at her and kept the note in her purse. Mamoru
moved nearer and asked, "Do you want to visit your parents later?"
        "Sure. Are you coming with me?"
        "Of course."
        "Great! Are we done yet, people?"
        "I guess so," Ami replied. "I'll work on figuring out where the
entrance to Morgon's hideout is and I'll let you know."
        A chorus of agreement followed her statement, and everyone got
ready to leave. Usagi saw Rei looking worriedly at Justin and she pulled
Mamoru aside.
        "Will you wait for me in the car? I've got something to do
first."
        "Okay. Don't be long."
        Usagi nodded and quickly strode towards Rei. "Don't worry," she
told the other Senshi. "I'll make sure he'll come back afterwards."
        "What are you going to do?"
        "Just leave it to me." Usagi ran after Justin, who was already
at the door, and caught his arm. "Wait up! I need to talk to you about
the Midorikawa place. There are some blueprints I'm not clear about."
        They walked together towards the gates and down the long flight
of stairs, before suddenly, "Oh, shoot! I forgot my keys in the temple.
I can't go home without them." She gave the stairs an exhausted look and
Justin took the hint.
        "Do you want me to get them for you?"
        "Would you? My feet will be forever grateful."
        "No problem." He turned around and sprinted quickly up the
steps, without an inkling of what was really happening. Usagi walked to
Mamoru's car and got in. "I'm ready," she told him.
        "What's Justin doing?" he asked curiously.
        "I think he forget something," she fibbed. "Anyway, he's got his
own car so we don't have to wait for him."
        Mamoru wasn't completely fooled, but he just shrugged his
shoulders and started the engine.
        Justin quickly reached the temple and was about to knock, when
the door opened suddenly and Rei stood before him. He was startled for a
moment but was quick to recover.
        "Rei. I, uh, came to get Usagi's keys. She left it in your
living room."
        Rei just stood like an automaton, equally startled to see Justin
on her front porch. She didn't really believe Usagi could persuade him
to come back. It seemed she had underestimated her old friend.
        "Rei?" Justin prompted when she just continued to stare at him.
        "Huh?" she said distractedly.
        "Usagi's keys. Can I go look for them?" he reminded her with a
smile.
        "Oh! Please come in." She moved aside for him to enter.
        Justin went straight to the living room and looked at the side
table. It wasn't there. He took a glance at the sofa and chairs and
didn't find them there either. At a loss as to where else they could be,
he started feeling between the cushions just in case they got caught
there.
        Rei watched him going through her furniture, knowing he wouldn't
find what he was looking for. Her heart started pounding harder as she
worked up the courage to tell him the truth.
        "That's strange," Justin puzzled after coming up with nothing.
He looked at the sofa speculatively and seemed to make up his mind.
        He moved to one side and was about to lift it, when Rei spoke up
"Justin, stop. It's not behind the sofa."
        "You don't think so? That's the only place I haven't looked."
        "Trust me. It's not there. Usagi's keys are right where it's
supposed to be."
        Justin frowned. "And that is?
        "Where she put them last--In her purse."
        The frown became worse. "Now why would Usagi send me back to
look for them if she had them all along? I don't know about you, but it
sounds pretty stupid to me."
        "Actually, she didn't," Rei fidgeted.
        "Didn't what?"
        "Send you back to find her keys," she finally confessed. "I know
it sounds underhanded, but she only used that excuse to get you back
here. She thought we needed to talk."
        "I see," Justin said and thought he did. Usagi was trying to
play matchmaker again without knowing all the facts. She should have
left well enough alone.
        "I'm sorry," he apologized. "I won't waste any more of your
time." He picked up the coat he dropped on an armchair and proceeded to
the front door. "Good-bye."
        Rei watched with dread as he walked away, her mouth opening and
closing without a sound coming out. He was almost at the door before she
managed to shout a word.
        "Wait!"
        Justin stopped abruptly, his back stiffening. He was half
expecting a blow from Rei, but it never came. After a few moments of
silence, he turned around to see if she was still there.
        Rei stood close behind him, looking at him with desperate eyes.
It wasn't an expression he was used to seeing on her face, that he
started to worry.
        "Rei? What's wrong?"
        She shook her head. "Nothing." Then, "Everything. I don't know
anymore."
        Justin used a finger to lift her chin and gently smiled down at
her. "I think you need to rest and think things over. I'll leave you
alone so you can do just that."
        "No!" Rei said, alarmed, catching hold of the hand touching her
face. "Usagi's right, Justin. We do need to talk."
        <Talk?> Justin thought and cringed inwardly. Every time they
talked lately, Rei ended up yelling at him, and he ended up getting
battered emotionally. He didn't think he could handle anymore.
        "I don't think that's such a good idea," he started.
        "Please, Justin. I really need to say some things to you. It's
important." Tears brimmed on her eyes and threatened to overflow.
        "Shh," he soothed, not knowing how to stop the tears. "If it's
that important to you, I'll listen to what you have to say."
        "Really?" she asked hopefully.
        "Sure," he agreed with a nod. "Just don't cry, okay?"
        Rei dubbed at her eyes self-consciously as he continued to watch
her. When they were dry, she led the way back to the living room.
        Justin sat across from Rei like before and waited for her to
begin. Whatever it was she wanted to say was taking a while to come out.
        "On New Year's Eve," she finally began, "when I first saw your
face, I didn't realize you were the stranger who helped me before."
        "Of course, you didn't," Justin told her. "You weren't meant to
know then."
        She smiled weakly. "I guess I could use that as an excuse, but I
won't. I should have known that you weren't the Jadeite whom I fought
before. When Usagi said you were not who we thought you were, I should
have listened."
        Justin couldn't stand to see her blame herself. "It's
understandable that you were suspicious at first," he told her, trying
to lighten her burden. "You had not seen Usagi for a while, and we were
all perfect strangers to you. It was all right for you to believe then,
that we were the enemies you once had. After all, we looked exactly like
them."
        Rei shook her head in disagreement. "Maybe it was all right to
be leery of you at first, like the other Senshi were. Maybe it was even
all right to try to avoid you. But I didn't stop at that, did I? I had
to open my big mouth and accuse you of all kinds of horrible things. I
even called you a bunch of names you didn't deserve."
        "But you didn't know--" Justin tried again before he was quickly
interrupted.
        "I didn't even try," Rei went on. "Don't you see? I never shut
up long enough to listen to your side of the story. If I did that, maybe
I wouldn't be sitting here right now, regretting the past few weeks."
        She finally kept silent and kept her head down, her hands
mangling a handkerchief between them.
        Justin stared at her forlorn figure and felt disheartened. So
that was what this whole thing was all about. She was feeling guilty of
the way she'd treated him. He had hoped for so much more, but he was
willing to let her off the hook for this one. "There's no need for
regrets, Rei," he uttered softly. "Nobody can control their reactions to
certain things, and you wouldn't be the Rei I know if you didn't rebel
against the situation. Stop worrying about it," he commanded with a
gentle smile. "I forgive you."
        Rei didn't know what to say, so she didn't say anything. True,
she had wanted his forgiveness, but she'd also wanted so much more. She
was hoping that their talk would lead to a return of their old
relationship, but it seemed he was only offering his friendship.
        Justin got up and prepared to leave. He stopped when he got even
with Rei's chair and bowed his head slightly. "You might want to tell
Usagi that everything is fine, so she won't pull this kind of trick
again. Her matchmaking instincts seem to be working overtime, and she
always loved to practice on the two of us."
        Curiosity sparked through the despair in her eyes for a moment.
"Has she done this kind of thing before?"
        "Oh, yes. Even worse, really," he reminisced fondly. "She broke
your dollhouse once before."
        "I had a dollhouse?" Rei asked with interest.
        Justin nodded his assent. "It was a huge dollhouse, perfectly
formed and fully furnished. It was your pride and joy. I used to wonder
how long it took you to put it all together."
        "Wow!" she said but without much enthusiasm. "And you said Usagi
broke it? But why?"
        "Just chipped it, really," he admitted. "She wanted the two of
us to get together, so she figured you'd need my help in repairing your
dollhouse. I guess she'd noticed all the longing looks I was sending
your way."
        Rei closed her eyes and tried to imagine Justin as he was back
then. They must have just met, and she didn't have all the preconceived
ideas she had when they met in this time. It must have been wonderful to
start fresh.
        When she opened her eyes, Justin was no longer in sight. She
panicked for a moment before she heard his footsteps walking away. She
run to catch up to him.
        "Justin!"
        He was exactly at the same spot where she stopped him before,
and he couldn't help having a feeling of déjà vu. 'What now, Rei?" he
asked a trifle impatiently without turning around. His self-control was
getting a little thin, and he was afraid he might break any minute and
beg Rei to come back to him.
        "You said...you said you felt something for me in the Moon
Kingdom," she stammered, not wanting to put a name to his feelings.
        "That's true," he admitted grudgingly.
        "How...how did you feel?"
        Justin had to close his eyes. "I don't think talking about it
will do any good, Rei. I think I'd better go."
        Rei put out a hand to stop him. "Please, Justin. I need to
know."
        His fingernails bit into his palms as he clenched his fists. He
clenched his jaw.
        "Justin?"
        "Damn you, I loved you! Is that what you wanted to hear?" he
said through gritted teeth. "You were everything to me."
        Rei reeled back, not from the angry tone, but from the emotion
laden words. So he had really loved her then. What a pity she was such a
fool.
        "That feeling...I destroyed it, didn't I, Justin?" she asked
shakily. "I ruined everything."
        Justin didn't reply, and Rei thought he didn't really have to.
It was too late to change anything. Too late.
        "Thank you for telling me," she said with a watery smile. "I
think it's time for you to go now." And she swiftly turned around to
hurry into the living room. She was almost through the entrance before
she heard his softly spoken words.
        "You know, I recall promising to stop bothering you," he
reminded her and finally turned around. "I don't remember saying that I
would stop loving you." And then he smiled that endearing smile and
opened his arms to her.
        Rei didn't need a second invitation. She ran into his arms and
held on tight, burying her face in his chest. She felt his arms close
around her back and looked up to his face.
        "Justin, I..."
        "Shh. No more regrets, Rei."
        She smiled and shook her head. "No more. But, Justin?"
        "Hmm?"
        "I love you."
        He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and held her ever closer,
savoring the words he thought he would never hear again. And in the
silence that followed, as they stood by the door in each other's
embrace, Justin finally said the words he'd been longing to say for the
past thousand years.
        "I love you, Rei."

                                *       *       *       *       *

        The setting sun found Usagi and Mamoru nearing her parent's
house. Usagi had finally given up on guessing what the occasion was and
just sat back to enjoy the ride. Mamoru smiled at her indulgently and
slowed down to take a turn.
        Usagi's communicator beeped as they rounded the last corner.
        "What's up, Ami-chan?"
        "Something disturbing has appeared in the last half-hour. It's
got all the signs of Morgon's handiwork."
        "What now?" Makoto asked from her end, disgruntled.
        "Is it really urgent?" This was from Rei, who was not looking
forward to fighting right now.
        "I don't really know," was the unwanted reply. "I thought you
might want to do a fire reading..."
        The screeching of tires interrupted her statement, followed by
the slamming of car doors, then the sounds of running feet. After a
minute of ominous silence in which everyone held their breath, Usagi's
cry of disbelief was heard.
        "Oh, my God!"
        "Usagi?!!!"



                             CHAPTER TWELVE
            And Eye for an Eye: The End of a Twisted Legacy

        The beauty of the setting sun was lost to Usagi as she stared at
the spot where their house should have been. Hovering above the ground
where the gate used to stand was a huge, gaping hole of massive
proportions. Within its darkened interior, black clouds swirled round
and round, silently beckoning her to enter its depths. Mesmerized by
their movement, she stepped forward without thinking, but a touch on her
arm had her turning with a start. She found Mamoru behind her, worry
lining his handsome face, as he watched her with a question in his eyes.
        "Usako?"
        The sound of her name shook her out of the trance and she
wondered what she could have been thinking. There was nothing compelling
about the massive void when she turned around and looked at it again.
Only the fact that her family was lost in it had her moving closer to
the pulsing rim. Peering into the darkness, she searched for them in
vain as jagged streaks of lightning lit its depths.
        "Usagi-chan?"
        A hand settled lightly on her arm and she turned to find a
person close beside her. An elderly woman stood to her right, giving her
a friendly smile.
        "It IS you. When did you get back?"
        It was Mrs. Nakahara, their neighbor from across the street.
        "Your parents must be so happy to see you," she went on,
seemingly unaware of Usagi's preoccupation. "I know Ikuko-san has been
so worried about you."
        The young woman just continued to look at her strangely, a frown
marring her face. Her brows drew together as she realized her neighbor
didn't notice what was happening.
        "Nakahara-san, the house...what happened to it?" she finally
asked.
        "Oh, I know it's changed a bit," the old lady answered, looking
right into the void. "Your father did some renovations while you were
away. Don't you think it looks much better now?"
        Usagi followed her gaze to the swirling cloud of darkness,
before quickly looking back. She had no idea what to say to her old
neighbor. A tap on her shoulder made her turn to Mamoru and she saw him
shake his head. She understood what he was trying to tell her.
        "Yes," she finally agreed in a trembling voice. "I...I think it
looks much better now. It's nice to see you again, Nakahara-san."
        "I hope I'll be seeing more of you now," the old lady responded.
"Don't you go and leave again without saying good-bye." She beamed
another smile at Usagi and, with a wave of her hand, headed for the
corner to cross the street.
        When the old lady was out of hearing range, Usagi couldn't keep
her panic in much longer. "What is happening?" she demanded of Mamoru.
"Why can't Nakahara-san see that the house is missing?"
        "I don't know, Usako," he replied, looking at her worriedly. "I
just don't know."
        "Usagi-chan?! Mamoru-san?! What's happening out there? Someone
please answer!"
        The voice was coming from the car and they both remembered the
communicator. Mamoru quickly opened the door and picked it up.
        "Rei? It's Mamoru."
        "Thank God," cried the relieved Senshi. "What happened? Are you
both okay?"
        "We're fine," he said, then quickly changed his mind. "Actually,
that's not completely true. There's something very strange going on
here. I think you all need to see it."
        "We'll be right over." This was from Galen. "Stay put and don't
do anything rash."
        "I understand," Mamoru answered and switched the communicator
off. He placed it on the dashboard and turned to Usagi. She was still
standing beside him, staring into space blankly. She didn't seem to be
aware of his presence and he wondered at her state of mind.
        "Why don't you sit down for a while, Usako," he suggested
softly. "The others will be here soon and we'll discuss what to do about
this."
        Usagi moved like an automaton as she turned to the car. Guided
by Mamoru's hands, she settled quietly on the passenger seat and stared
out through the windshield. The shock and worry of the past couple of
hours finally caught up with her and it left her feeling drained and
exhausted. Laying her head on the seat, she concentrated on gathering
all the energy she could muster. She knew she needed all her strength to
save her family from whatever Morgon had planned for them.
        Unaware of her thoughts, Mamoru leaned back against the car and
regarded the source of their dilemma. From both sides of the street,
people continued to pass it by without giving any notice to the
phenomenon occurring before them. Somehow, Morgon had managed to shield
what was really happening from the view of ordinary people. Only the
persons who mattered were given a glimpse of his evil power at work.
        "Mamoru-san!"
        Mamoru turned and found all the Senshi and Generals coming
towards him. He gave them a relieved smile and stepped forward to meet
them. Galen was the first to reach him.
        "Usagi?" the other man questioned.
        Mamoru motioned behind him. "In the car. I'm not sure if she's
okay. She's really worried about her parents, and I don't blame her.
Just look over there," and he pointed to the area where the house should
have stood.
        "What is it?" Makoto asked, taking a step closer.
        "Some kind of energy," Ami answered, doing quick calculations on
her minicomputer. "It has the same characteristics as a wormhole, so it
most likely leads to a totally different place."
        "Any idea where that could be?" Zach asked her.
        "I'm afraid not." She gave Galen a frustrated look and he nodded
his understanding. He gave the swirling, dark energy another glance
before looking back towards Usagi.
        She was still sitting inside the car, quietly staring out the
windshield. Her face, still impassive, showed tracks where the tears had
fallen, already dried. The slim fingers curled upon her lap began to
clench as forgotten memories surfaced in her mind. Then within her soul,
the searing heat of anger began to burn.
        Morgon...Morgon...Morgon...
        It was all his fault. Images quickly passed through her head
like a film going backwards...
        ...Zach falling back when he got hit by a youma, his face
echoing his pain...
        ...Saturn's shocked face as she waited for the fiery whip to end
her life, unable to make the move that would save her from certain
death...
        ...Mercury's futile effort to free herself from her captor, her
harsh breathing evident as she desperately struggled...
        ...Drago lifting a knife to plunge into Falcon's vulnerable
back, and the horror she felt at the moment she witnessed it...
        ...Jupiter holding a bleeding shoulder, her eyes searching for
the unknown warrior who helped her out...
        And the other less obvious injuries...
        ...Zach's apprehensive face at thought of Ami's reaction when
she sees him for the first time...and Ami's uncertainty as to how to
react...
        ...Makoto's hurt and disbelief at her first glimpse of
Nephrite... and Nathan's worry and fear at destroying the love he had
finally found again after so many years...
        ...Justin's shattered heart when Rei refused to believe in
him... and Rei's tears at the thought of losing the one she loved...
        ...The pain in Mamoru's eyes when she refused to see him...and
the echoing hurt she felt when she denied her feelings for him...
        And then there were her own...
        ...The sight of Mamoru's still form as a youma stood over him,
the blood seeping from underneath his head...
        ...The feel of the sharp claws as they were embedded in her
back, tearing at her skin and leaving it bloody and raw...
        ...Morgon's evil laughter at the sight of her friends'
suffering, all of them wounded and hurting, if not totally
unconscious...
        ...The accusations she suffered as a result of his tricks,
delaying her arrival with the appearance of unexpected foe...
        ...The loss of her family and friends, and the regret she felt
at leaving everything behind...all the long, lonely years that
followed...
        ...And now, the disappearance of her home...
        It was all Morgon's fault. All the unhappiness of the past few
years came about because of his appearance. She wasn't going to let him
get away with it, she thought as she clenched her fists. She'd be damned
if she were just going to sit here and let him harm her family. Oh, no,
she promised herself. This was one battle Morgon was NOT going to win.
        The opening of the car door caught everyone's attention, and
they all watched as Usagi emerged from within. Mamoru, who was closest
to the car, quickly stepped forward, but his progress was halted by a
hand on his arm. He turned around in time to see Galen shake his head,
and was puzzled as to what the other man was thinking. Puzzled, that is,
until he heard Usagi's voice.
        "Galen," she said with a command in her tone. A glance at her
showed that she was neither teary nor helpless, but well in control of
herself. Mamoru wasn't surprised when the Moon Kingdom general obeyed
immediately and moved to her side.
        "Have we learned anything new about that...thing?" Usagi asked
as soon as Galen was beside her. "Nothing much," he said in reply. "Just
that it has the same characteristics as a wormhole and could possibly
lead to a different location."
        "I see," she said, disappointed. "And YOU can't tell me anything
more about it?" she asked again, repeating herself.
        "Not from this point of view," he replied, understanding what
she meant.
        <Then there really isn't anything to decide,> Usagi thought to
herself. If saving her parents meant entering that void, then she would
gladly do it. She just didn't want to do it without knowing all the
facts. She had counted on Galen being able to tell her more about it,
but it seemed even his sight wasn't able to penetrate through the
darkness.
        Usagi glanced around to see if the others had learned anything
new. They were gathered at the far side, discussing something she
couldn't hear. She was just about to ask them what it was when she saw a
young man approaching from the corner of her eye. She turned around in
time to see him stepping through the void.
        "Shingo, stop!" She run to intercept him, but was too far to
reach him in time. She jumped the last couple of feet and managed to
hook onto his arm, but she couldn't check her landing fast enough and
ended up catapulting them both into oblivion.
        "Usagi!" everyone screamed as they saw her fall through the
wormhole. Nobody was close enough to catch her without going in
themselves, and they looked at each other in panic when she completely
disappeared.
        "Galen?" Ashe prompted, for once, completely serious. He was
looking at his commander, waiting for his signal to go ahead. He wasn't
disappointed.
        "No choice," was Galen's reply, resigned to what he must do. He
looked at each of them in turn and saw that they understood. With a last
deep breath to calm himself, he took the first step forward and beckoned
them all to follow. "Let's go."
        The darkness was absolute on the other side of the wormhole and
it brought most of the group to a complete stand still. Only Galen
continued forward a few more feet, until he reached the two people
standing stiffly in the middle.
        "Usagi, are you all right?" he asked of the frozen Senshi.
        "Galen? Thank God you followed me," she said with evident
relief. "Is everyone else here?"
        "Yes, they're right behind me."
        "Good." She tightened her hold on her brother and tried to look
around. She couldn't see anything in front of her, not even her
brother's form.
        "Can you see anything at all?" she asked the general beside her.
        "I could see about a couple of feet in front of me, but not much
more. From the looks of that wall on my right, we're somewhere
underground."
        "Would Falcon be of more help?" she asked enigmatically.
        There was no answer for a moment, then a hesitant, "Yes, but you
know there are consequences." He was referring to the fact that Shingo
was around.
        "We have no choice," was her response, echoing his earlier
words. "If we're to get out of this alive, we need Falcon and the
others."
        "Are you absolutely sure?"
        "I'm sure."
        "Very well." He retraced his steps to the others and told them
of Usagi's decision. They were all a bit surprised but understood the
need for their alter egos.
        A few feet away, Usagi relaxed her hold on her brother, before
completely letting go. She touched him on the shoulder and turned him to
face her. "Shingo, I'll leave you for a moment, but stay right here,"
she told him so he won't panic. "No matter what happens, don't move so
I'll know where to find you." She waited another moment to make sure he
understood before retreating to join her friends.
        "Ready, Everyone?" she asked the whole group. A chorus of
assents followed her question. "Then let's do it." She raised her hand
and grasped the crystal pendant. Aware of the others raising blades and
transformation pens, she looked up and shouted her command, "Millennium
Moon...Make up!"
        Hearing his sister's voice, Shingo looked towards the spot where
the sound came from. He couldn't see anything at all, until a bright
spark suddenly appeared in the darkness. It illuminated Usagi's face for
a moment, before suffusing her whole body in the brightest of lights.
Shingo shielded his eyes as all around her other gleaming shapes took
form, revealing the Senshi as their bodies transformed and outlining the
generals as their frames metamorphosed. When the light finally
disappeared, he put down his arm once more to the sight of utter
darkness. No changes were evident but he knew something important had
taken place.
        He felt a touch on his arm as Sailor Moon reached out to make
sure he was still where she left him. When she was assured of his
presence, she turned around once more and assumed the others were behind
her.
        "Falcon, what do you see now?"
        That General quickly looked around, noted the confines of the
cavern they were in, and reported his observations. "The cave we're in
is not very large, but there are three passageways leading away from it.
I can't see where they end from here, but one of them must surely lead
to Morgon."
        Wolf took a deep breath and tried to separate the scents that
permeated their surroundings. His eyes narrowed slightly as he detected
an alien smell, and he stepped in the direction it came from.
        "He's in the cavern to the left," he told the group to their
surprise, earning a few raised eyebrows in the dark.
        "But, how--?" Sailor Neptune inquired, voicing the question in
everyone's mind.
        "His scent," was the simple answer. "The other caverns just
smell of earth, rock, and plants. Natural scents that you'd expect
underground. But the one on the left has a little something added.
Something I can't identify."
        "Good work, Wolf," Sailor Moon said before turning back to
Falcon. "Can you lead us through it?"
        "Of course." He took Uranus' hand and told the others to follow
suit. Then cautioning them to stay close together, he proceeded to lead
them down the left passageway. When they finally reached the other end,
a huge boulder blocked the exit.
        "Kodiak, I think we need you for this one," Falcon said as he
eyed the giant rock.
        "What is it, Falcon?"
        His leader took his arm and brought him to the front. "If you'll
reach out, you'll feel a boulder right in front of you. It is quite huge
and presumably heavy from the way it looks."
        Kodiak did as he was told and immediately made contact with the
rock's surface. He tested its weight by applying some force and felt the
boulder shift a little.
        "Can you move it out of the way?" Sailor Moon asked from behind
him.
        "No problem." He put all his power into his arms and easily slid
the boulder forward. As it slowly rolled under the pressure, a sliver of
light penetrated the opening, making the small group shield their eyes
from the unexpected brightness. When the space was big enough for a
person's body, they filed through one by one and regrouped on the other
side.
        The flatness of the cavern was almost unnatural, with no
outcroppings or smaller rocks to mar the smooth floor surface. The light
that blinded them earlier came from the far side of the cave, where the
rocks piled one on top of the other until they reached the opening high
above.
        With the room being bright, Shingo turned around to ask Usagi
what was going on, but the words never left his mouth. He looked at the
Senshi and the Generals with wide, startled eyes and couldn't believe
what he was seeing. He had started to back away when Sailor Moon stepped
forward and tried to stop him.
        "Shingo, please. It's me, Usagi."
        "Usagi?" he repeated after her, not making any sense of her
words.
        "Look at me, Shingo," Sailor Moon told him, cupping his face in
her hands to make sure he did so. "Look closely."
        He saw the wide, blue eyes staring back at him, imploring him to
show some recognition. He noted the heart-shaped face he knew so well,
and the imminently familiar way she did her hair. He wondered why he
never saw it before. Sailor Moon was Usagi. Usagi was Sailor Moon.
        "Usagi!" he cried and held on to her tightly.
        She put her arms around him and thanked the Lord he was all
right. She would do everything in her power to make sure he won't be
hurt.
        "Sailor Moon," Pluto called, making her look up. The other
Senshi pointed her staff towards the side wall, where the light caught
on something and sparkled in return. Sailor Moon dropped her arms from
around her brother and moved closer to examine the two large objects.
She had to cover her mouth a second later to stifle her scream of
distress.
        "Huh!" she gasped loudly, attracting everyone's attention. She
was oblivious to their stares as she gazed at the horrifying scene. Two
blocks of ice stood at attention, the forms of her parents encased in
their cold depths. Both of their faces wore an expression of terror, and
Sailor Moon could clearly imagine how they felt at their final moments.
She shook her head in denial. She couldn't believe this was happening.
No! She didn't want to believe it.
        "Mamaaaaaaaa!"
        The terrified scream was followed by someone passing by her,
shoving her to the side. She was too stunned to react at first, but
quickly run after him when her mind finally grasped what was happening.
        "Shingo!" she screamed, reaching out to stop him. She had almost
managed to touch his arm when an energy force came out of nowhere and
blasted her away. She was thrown a few feet backwards and landed
painfully on her side.
        "Sailor Moon!" Mercury called and quickly moved to her side.
"Are you all right?"
        "I'm fine," she told her impatiently and motioned her away.
"Look after Shingo."
        Mercury glanced at Usagi's brother and sadly shook her head. "I
don't think I can do anything for him right now," she told the other
Senshi.
        "What do you mea--" The words were cut short when she noticed
her brother, and the tears in her eyes threatened to fall. He was still
where he was when she last reached for him, literally frozen in the act
of running.
        He came so close, was the first thought that crossed her mind,
her anguish almost uncontrollable. He almost managed to touch Mama.
Sailor Moon closed her eyes in despair and let the sorrow pass through
her. And when the sorrow had ebbed, her anger took over. He will touch
her again...I swear!
        She stood up determinedly, fury coursing through her veins, and
screamed a challenge to the unseen enemy.
        "Who's there?" she shouted to the room at large, her voice full
of grief and overwhelming rage. "Stop hiding behind the walls and show
yourself, Coward!"
        Nothing happened for a moment, then the sound of loud clapping
was heard from the front. A shadow of a man detached from the wall.
        "Ah, the tigress has sprung some claws. I think I like that,"
Morgon mockingly observed. "How are you, Sailor Moon?"
        "You damned coward!" she answered, almost spitting. She rushed
towards him, but Endymion held her back. "You cursed, underhanded--"
        "Tsk, tsk, such language," he scornfully laughed. "I take it,
you don't like my little surprise? I thought I'd pay you back for what
you did to me last time."
        "My family had nothing to do with it!" she screamed, straining
to get free.
        "Your family had everything to do with it," he countered. "You
killed my mother!"
        "Your mother deserved to die! She was nothing but pure evil, and
you are just like her!"
        That statement wiped the smirk from Morgon's face. "You'll pay
for that, Sailor Moon."
        "No, Morgon. You are going to pay for what you did to my family.
I'm going to kill you!" She finally managed to break out of Endymion's
hold, only to run into another unyielding chest. "Get out of my way,
Nephrite," she commanded, trying to move around him.
        "No." He clamped two hands on her arms and wouldn't let her move
an inch.
        "Let me go!"
        "Snap out of it, Sailor Moon. You can't take him on alone."
        "I can. I'll kill that murdering son of a bit--"
        "No. Listen to me, Usagi," he said as he gave her a hard shake.
        "Your parents are not dead. Your brother is not dead. Do you
hear me?"
        Sailor Moon shook her head, refusing to believe his lies. "He
killed my family. He has to pay, and I'm going to make him."
        "You're going to get yourself killed!" he told her in reply.
        "Listen to him, Usagi," Jadeite beseeched her. "He knows what
he's talking about."
        "That's right, Usagi," Kunzite added when she seemed to be
listening. "Your parents and brother may be frozen in those ice blocks,
but they can hear everything you're saying. I don't think they'd want
you to sacrifice your life for them."
        "They're not dead?" she finally ventured, hoping against hope
that they were right.
        "No, they're not," Zoisite assured her, "and if we defeat
Morgon, I'm sure they'll be all right. But you have to be calm to be
able to fight well, Usagi. Rushing into things will just get us all
killed."
        "I think that's what he wants you to do," Nephrite finished,
looking down at her. "You don't want to give him that satisfaction, do
you?"
        "No," she answered, inwardly calm. The rage that had ran rampant
through her earlier finally dissipated.
        "How touching?" Morgon sneered. "And such a waste of time. I was
going to take it easy on you, Sailor Moon. I was going to kill you right
away. But now, because of your, oh, so noble warriors, you're going to
suffer through my hands."
        "You're wrong, Morgon," Sailor Moon contradicted. "You're going
to suffer through mine! Millennium Flaming Sphere...INCINERATE!"
        Morgon watched as the fireball approached, feeling the heat
intensify as it moved closer and closer. He squinted against its
overwhelming brightness but stood his ground until it was almost too
late. At the last possible second, he jumped out of its way, his
movements so quick, they weren't visible to the naked eye. To all those
who were watching, he seemed to disappear for a moment before
reappearing somewhere else.
        Sailor Moon's group tensed at this show of immense power and
everyone prepared themselves to confront their final enemy. Each of them
knew it wasn't going to be easy, and many of them were bound to get
hurt. As they stepped forward and started to separate, Morgon moved back
to his original position. He watched them carefully as they came nearer
and waited patiently for their next move.
        The Senshi and the Generals were quick to surround Morgon,
making sure he had no path for escape. Sailor Mars was the first one to
attack, raising her arms and shouting her command, "Mars Fire...
IGNITE!"
        Morgon just laughed and put his arm forward. The palm of his
hand alone dissipated the flames.
        Venus and Jupiter quickly followed up and sent an electrified
chain whipping his way. Morgon countered with a blast of dark energy,
which easily neutralized the Senshi's powers.
        As more of them tried and failed, it quickly became obvious that
attacking in small doses wasn't going to be enough. They all looked at
each other and seemed to come to an agreement. They moved forward as one
body and quickly got into position. What came next was a barrage of
assaults that even Morgon wasn't expecting.
        He jumped high into the air as the ground cracked on Jadeite's
command, but quickly got caught by an icy wind. Nephrite's Arctic Tunnel
managed to change his course a little, but he was too strong to be blown
away by its force. He feinted to the right as soon as he landed and
avoided being slashed by a disc of Steel Talons. Yet, the very movement
that saved him from Falcon's attack caused him to be in the way of
Lynx's Blazing Claw. He arched his back and performed a graceful
somersault over the massive explosions, all the while chanting a
malevolent command. Even before his feet touched the ground, a massive
amount of dark energy surrounded his body and exploded outwards.
        Zoisite took Mercury in his arms and shielded her from the
blast, while Nephrite grabbed Jupiter's hand and tried to run as far
away as possible. Both Jadeite and Mars dropped to the ground to avoid
most of the impact, and Kunzite covered Venus' form as they ducked to do
the same.
        As the destructive force rapidly spread outward, Lynx held
Saturn tightly and jumped quite a distance away. Kodiak didn't think
twice before standing in front of Pluto, taking the brunt of the
explosion himself. Falcon, Wolf, Uranus and Neptune held each other's
hands and formed an energy shield to protect themselves, while Endymion
wrapped Sailor Moon in his cloak, the armor he wore lessening the impact
on his body.
        Everything took place in less than a minute, but the damage it
caused was quite extensive. All the Senshi and the Generals sustained
numerous injuries, ranging from bruises to broken ribs. As they assisted
each other to their feet, Morgon was busy chanting another spell, one
especially meant for Sailor Moon.
        "Usagi, watch out!" Jupiter screamed as she saw what their enemy
was up to.
        "Cataclysmic Forest..."
        "Mercury Hiemal Frost...AMALGAMATE!"
        A dense forest of icicles formed in front of Sailor Moon and
protected her from the blast. Mercury and Zoisite's quick reflexes
managed to save the Moon Princess but at the cause of aggravating Zach's
injury. He fell to his knees as the large cut on his side started to
bleed again.
        The others quickly attacked Morgon from all sides to keep him
from doing any more damage. Just like before, he managed to avoid all
the assaults easily. The only thing it accomplished was to keep him
busy.
        As he watched Morgon moving about the cavern, Kodiak found the
opportunity he needed. He clasped his hands together tightly and raised
it all the way behind his head. Then, with all the force in his brawny
arms, he moved to strike the air in front of his face as a glowing
energy suffused his hands.
        "Kodiak Feral Grip...RIP!"
        The blinding light rushed towards the elusive Morgon and caught
him completely unaware. He was too busy avoiding the attacks of those
who were near him that he didn't pay attention to the others at the
back. As he noticed a lightening in his surroundings, he finally spotted
the coming of the energy force. He twisted sideways quickly, but it
still managed to hit his right arm. As it passed through his skin, it
made deep cuts across it, like the claws of a bear ripping upon his
arms.
        The wound he sustained only managed to make Morgon murderously
mad and he screamed his outrage. He focused all his hatred and sent it
surging towards the back of the cave. The `Shiro-kage' Generals and the
Outer Senshi were quick to scatter to avoid the deadly blast. Only Lynx
and Saturn had no time to move out of the way because they were standing
nearest to the front.
        Lynx quickly jumped to avoid the explosion and tackled Saturn in
the process. They landed a few feet away and rolled away to safety.
Falcon was beside them at once, making sure they were all right.
        "Are you two okay?"
        "I'm fine," Saturn replied, getting up to relieve Lynx of her
weight. He followed her lead at a much slower pace.
        "You're hurt!"
        Lynx followed her gaze to his arm and saw that it was bleeding.
He immediately covered it with his palm and gave her a reassuring smile.
"It's just a scratch, Saturn," he told her to stop her from worrying.
"It's nothing to be concerned about."
        "Then let me have a look at it." She took his hand away and
proceeded to work her magic on his wound. While she was preoccupied,
Lynx turned to Falcon.
        "He's too strong, Falcon," he told the other knight. "He's
stronger than all of us put together. We need to do something else."
        "I realize that," Falcon replied, watching the already battered
Senshi and Generals as they fought the illusive Morgon. His vision
suddenly blurred as fog descended on the cavern. "What the--?"
        "Metamorphic Rocks...PULVERIZE!"
        "Searing Molten Magma..."
        "Venus Solar Rays...BLAZE!"
        The others kept attacking even though they couldn't see
anything. Morgon's form was completely shrouded in the fog, and they
weren't sure if he was still where they saw him last. Only Falcon could
see slightly through the thick mist, and what he saw made him curse.
        "Damn it!"
        "What is it?" Lynx asked.
        "Forcefield," he replied curtly. "He's built a forcefield around
him. None of the attacks broke through."
        "Shit!"
        "Oh, no. What are we going to do?" Saturn was suddenly beside
Falcon and looked to him for a solution.
        He was quiet for a moment as he studied his enemy's defense
shield. "There is only one possible way to beat him," he said after a
while. "The energy totems." He turned to Lynx and commanded, "Find Wolf
and Kodiak and bring them here right away. Saturn, you come with me." He
grabbed her hand and moved closer to the others.
        "Outer Senshi, I need your help!" he shouted over the sounds of
fighting. The three older Senshi were beside him at once and he turned
to the ones left behind. "Try to keep him occupied for a few moments. We
might be able to beat him yet."
        He led the Outer Senshi to where the Knights of Selene generals
were waiting and told them of his plan. They understood what he wanted
and quickly formed a defense line in front of the Knights. The four men
faced each other in a circle and unsheathed their swords. A moment
later, a glowing light suffused them and their energy totems became
visible above their heads.
        On the other side, Morgon was taking a brief rest from the
battle, knowing that his force field could withstand any of their
attacks. He was gathering his energy to finish them off once and for all
when he glimpsed an unusually bright light from the corner of his eye.
He quickly looked up and saw what was transpiring at the far end of the
cavern.
        Ah, so this is the secret weapon Athol was talking about, Morgon
thought to himself. What was it he said? They had no bodies? His eyes
narrowed to slits as he closely observed what was happening to the
Knights. When their energy totems became visible to his view, an evil
grin formed on his lips. He stretched his arms forward, putting inner
wrists together with palms spread outward. A flow of destructive words
emanated from his lips as he chanted his most powerful attack. Then with
a mighty shove, he released the energy force that would destroy them
all.
        "Haaa!"
        The Inner Senshi and Royal Guard Generals were quick to jump out
of the way. Sailor Moon turned to Endymion and shouted, "The Outer
Senshi!"
        He looked towards the four women and saw them still standing
guard over the four knights. Endymion knew they couldn't withstand
Morgon's attack and run to shove them out of the way. He managed to
knock two of them to the side and quickly pulled the other two before
the destructive force reached their position. Together they watched in
horror as it swept through the four Moon Kingdom Generals, picking up
their helpless bodies and tossing them away.
        Morgon watched as the dark energy sped to the group at the back,
confident of his victory. He didn't notice the bright energy totems
rushing towards him before it was too late. A scream of agony issued
from his lips as they penetrated his forcefield and tore at his skin and
armor. By the time his attack finally hit and the animal figures
disappeared, he was badly hurt and bleeding, and much too weak to
maintain his defense shield any longer.
        The group in front saw their opportunity and commenced attacking
him again. It took all of Morgon's effort just to evade the assaults and
he wasn't aware of what had happened to his earlier targets. He was much
too preoccupied to notice that his aim had run true.
        The blow caught Falcon from behind and quickly encompassed the
rest of the Generals. The force of the attack drove their bodies
backward and slammed them hard against the wall. As they slowly crumpled
to the ground, the Outer Senshi cried out and rushed to their sides.
Endymion and Sailor Moon, who followed close behind, watched them as
they knelt beside the men they loved.
        Setsuna lifted Logan's shoulders and cradled his upper body on
her lap. She was careful not to touch the outer skin of his arms and
legs, which were raw from being burned. As she stroked his cheek with a
finger, he stirred and opened his eyes. The look he focused on her was
filled with pain and anger.
        Logan tried to sit up but winced as his injuries began to bleed.
He cursed at his own weakness, but let Setsuna lay him back down. A
glance at her face had him raising his hand, and he touched the tears
running down her cheeks.
        "Shh," he tried to sooth her, "I'm going to be all right."
        Setsuna managed a smile as she held his hand to her face. "I
know."
        But the tears kept running down her cheeks and he started to
worry. "Where's Drake? Is Ashe all right?"
        A hand on his shoulder kept him from looking around and he gave
her a frustrated look. "They're both going to be okay," she told him to
appease him. "They have serious injuries, but Hotaru and Michiru are
looking after them."
        That seemed to quiet him a bit, before an impossible thought had
him fighting against her hold. "Galen!" he shouted then continued in a
softer voice, "It's Galen, isn't it?"
        Setsuna couldn't deny that she was crying for Galen and Logan
tried to look behind her. "Damn it, Setsuna! Let me up. I need to see
him." He looked at her seriously and wouldn't back down, so she had no
choice but to help him sit up.
        The first person he saw was Ashe being cradled in Michiru's
arms. The right side of his body was terribly burnt and he couldn't hide
the pain he was feeling.
        Towards his right, Logan noticed Hotaru bending over Drake's
body. Her hands hovered over his left side as she used her healing
powers to try to cure his injuries. His eyes were closed, an arm across
them, as he gritted his teeth against the pain. He didn't see the tears
in Hotaru's eyes nor the furtive glances she kept casting towards
Galen's direction.
        Haruka knelt beside Galen and pushed the hair back from his
face. She waited for him to open his eyes, but he didn't stir from the
feel of her touch. Behind her, Usagi clutched Mamoru's hand when she
noticed how extensive Galen's injuries were. He looked down at her and
wondered what she would do if he died.
        Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when Galen's eyelids
fluttered before slowly revealing his eyes. His gaze was unfocused and
full of agony, but he moved his hand to clasp the one Haruka had on the
ground. She leaned closer to his face as he mouthed some words.
        "Others...?" he whispered weakly.
        "They're fine," she reassured him.
        "Good." He let go of her hand and put both palms against the
ground. He winced as he put pressure on them but continued to try to
lift himself up. Haruka held his shoulders and tried to talk him out of
it.
        "Don't move! Your back--" she told him in a panicked voice.
        "Terrible, is it?" he asked with a slight smile.
        "Worse," she admitted, eyeing the charred skin which was
bleeding profusely in a few places. "You need to stay down until Hotaru
can look at it."
        "I need to talk to Setsuna."
        "No, I--"
        "Haruka," he said seriously, making her listen. "This is
important. We need to finish Morgon before he kills all of us."
        She couldn't refute his statement, so she reluctantly helped him
to his side. "Help me sit up, please." She used his arms to raise him to
a sitting position, but he couldn't support himself once he was up. Very
carefully, she lowered his back to her chest so she could take on most
of his weight. She almost cried out for him when he opened his mouth in
a silent scream as the burnt parts of his back came in contact with her
body.
        A wave of dizziness passed through Galen as he gritted his teeth
against the pain. He couldn't afford to lose consciousness at that
moment and his strength of will managed to keep him from giving in to
the agony. He opened weary eyes to find Usagi and Setsuna watching him
worriedly.
        "Usagi, I'm afraid you'll have to use the Crystal."
        "I'll take care of Morgon, Galen," she told him confidently,
worried that he would try to fight in his present state. "Just stay here
and rest." She started to get up but he put out a hand to stop her.
        "No," he told her, "even though we managed to hurt him, he won't
die so easily, Usagi. He's very strong--even stronger than his mother."
        "That's all right," she said unknowingly. "The Crystal won't
drain my energy so it doesn't matter how much power I use."
        "Actually," Setsuna said before Galen could speak, "it doesn't
have enough power to kill Morgon right now. The Crystal's true power is
only awakened when the Moon's Guardians blend their powers with it. We
didn't have time to do that because Morgon moved too fast. Now it's too
late."
        Usagi remembered then that she had been waiting for Setsuna's
arrival to do just that. It had slipped her mind in her excitement to
see the older Senshi and she'd completely forgotten about it until now.
"So what happens if I use the Crystal anyway?"
        "You'll d--"
        "Nothing will happen because you're not going to use it like
that," Galen interrupted before Pluto could finish. The Senshi looked at
him with a frown.
        "There is no other way," she told him.
        "There IS another way," he contradicted. "Usagi, give me the
Crystal."
        Setsuna was shaking her head even as the Princess handed him the
Crystal. "No, Galen. You can't do this."
        "I can," he said determinedly, "and I will."
        Still Setsuna shook her head. Galen pleaded with his eyes as he
held the Crystal out to her. "Please, Setsuna. You know I won't let any
harm come to her."
        The Outer Senshi couldn't refuse him and she reached out to take
the Crystal from his hand. She knew that Galen had always been
protective of Usagi, but to go so far...
        Pluto stood up and walked towards the other side of the cave.
She went into the fray and managed to do what was needed in the shortest
time possible. When she had passed the Crystal to each one, she left
them to continue fighting the injured Morgon while she returned to the
others.
        She knelt in front of Neptune and Wolf and covered the Crystal
with her palms. She concentrated her life force into her hands and let a
small part of it slip into the gem, sharing it so Usagi's won't be
totally drain during the fight. When she had finished, she handed the
crystal to Michiru. The other Senshi did the same and reluctantly passed
it to Ashe. He managed to clasp the Crystal in his right fist and put
all the power he could into it. As the life force left his body, he
swayed in Michiru's embrace and almost passed out.
        Pluto took the gem from him and passed it around to the
remaining Senshi and generals. The last one to take it was Galen as
Haruka reluctantly offered it to him. He felt her tense as he reached
out for it and knew she understood what could happen afterwards. As she
transferred the Crystal to his hand, she held on to him tightly and
tried to accept the decision he had made.
        Galen closed his eyes for a moment and leaned back against her.
He had no way of comforting her and he couldn't allow himself to change
his mind. To him the alternative was just unacceptable, so he accepted
his role and prayed for the best. Still, as he felt her let go of his
hand, he wondered why fate was so cruel to bring her back into his life
only to grant them so little time together.
        He hesitated a bit as he felt the Crystal pulse in his hand and
watched it start to glow. It beckoned to him, but he couldn't help but
wish for a little more time. A cry from the front put an end to his
indecision.
        Morgon was starting to get his strength back and had managed a
blast at the Inner Senshi. Mars came out of it with a bleeding shoulder
and Mercury was down on her knees. The Royal Guard quickly came to their
defense and started bombarding him with continuous attacks. He
retaliated by putting up his forcefield once again.
        Saturn saw what was happening and finally had enough. She stood
up determinedly and started walking to the front. Lynx watched her with
anxious eyes and wondered what she was up to.
        Hotaru had had enough of Morgon hurting her friends and loved
one, and she was determined to end this battle once and for all. She
only had one way of defeating him and the use of it carried a great
price. To her, the consequence was insignificant compared to the safety
of everyone else, and she was more than willing to accept it.
        She stood her glaive in front of her, holding it at arm's
length. A cloud of doom appeared above her head as she mouthed the
words, "Silence Glaive..."
        "Nooo!"
        The shout came from the back as Drake struggled to reach her
before she finished her attack. He managed to get up and take a few
steps before falling to his knees with a thud. The blood dripped on the
ground before him as he clutched his injured side, but with gritted
teeth and determination, tried to get up once again. Frustration was
evident in the eyes he raised to Saturn when his body refused to obey
him. He held out a hand to her in a silent plea.
        "No, Saturn, don't!" he shouted over the distance. When he saw
her still hesitate, he cursed under his breath. "Damn it!"
        "There's no need for that, Saturn," Galen said from behind him.
"Don't worry about Morgon. Just take care of Drake before he passes
out."
        The youngest Senshi obeyed him immediately and went to assist
Drake. Galen turned back to Usagi when he saw a relieved Lynx enclose
Saturn in his embrace. "Get my sword and bring it here, Usagi."
        "Your sword?" She spotted the item on the ground a few feet away
and went to retrieve it. When she placed it on the ground before Galen,
he removed the emerald stone on top of the hilt.
        "After I finish with the Crystal, put it here and use the sword
to destroy Morgon," he told the bewildered girl.
        "But why?" she asked. "I mean, why can't I use it directly?"
        "I'm not sure if the Crystal has enough power, even now. My
sword contains a big part of my life force and it will feed the Crystal
a lot of the power it will need. That way it won't drain you so much
when you use it."
        "I see."
        Usagi was surprised to feel Galen's touch on her face. She
looked up to find him staring at her unwaveringly.
        "Galen? Is something wrong?"
        He shook his head slowly, a slight smile lingering on his lips.
He looked up at Mamoru and asked him softly, "Look after her, will you?"
        The other man nodded gravely and gave his promise. "You have my
word."
        Haruka tightened her hold on Galen even more when she saw him
clasp the Crystal in his fist. She felt the tension fill his body as he
closed his eyes and took a long, deep breath. A sliver of light appeared
from within his fist and intensified to a blinding shine before
disappearing once again. For a moment afterwards, she thought he was
going to be okay, then his body grew slack in her arms. As she held him
close and let the tears fall, the hand that held the Crystal fell limply
to the ground. Within its uncurled fist, the precious gem emitted a dull
glow.
        Usagi took the Crystal from Galen's hand and placed it on the
hilt of the sword. As soon as it settled, the glow spread outwards and
encompassed the whole weapon. Sailor Moon carefully touched it with her
fingers and felt it pulse with the power it held.
        "It worked!" she said excitedly and turned to Galen with a
smile. "Galen, it worked."
        She frowned when Galen didn't respond and thought he had passed
out. She shook his arms and tried again. "Galen?"
        She held his shoulder and shook it harder. "Galen?!"
        "Usagi..." Haruka said and touched the younger Senshi's hand.
The tears on her cheeks told their own story.
        "No..." Usagi said, letting the doubts creep in. "No! Galen,
wake up! Galen! Galen!"
        "Sailor Moon," Pluto said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Take
the sword and destroy Morgon."
        "No," the girl said, not wanting to believe what had happened.
        With tears still streaming down her own cheeks, Setsuna shook
her hard to wake her up. "Usagi, do you want to waste Galen's gift to
you, huh?!" she asked her harshly. "Are you saying he died for nothing?"
        Sailor Moon could only shake her head.
        "Then take the sword and use it! That's his life force you're
wasting!"
        "No..." she whispered, still denying what she knew was true.
"No..." she clenched her fists, letting her grief course through.
"Nooooooooo!" She grabbed the sword with both hands, heedless of its
weight, and charged towards Morgon. All she could think about was Galen
giving up his life to destroy this monster and a murderous rage suffused
her. She wielded the sword like a knight as she run and took her first
slash.
        The Inner Senshi and Royal Guard saw her coming fast and moved
out of the way. They didn't know what had happened at the back, but they
knew Galen would never have let Sailor Moon attack alone if he thought
she couldn't do it. Taking some much-needed rest, they watched avidly
from the sidelines to see what would happen next.
        Morgon saw her coming alone and an evil smile formed on his
lips. Once again, he put his arms forward and repeated the chant he used
on the `Shiro-kage' Generals. As he finished the words, he saw Sailor
Moon lift the sword and slash it towards him. Cynically, he thought she
was too far away from him and was completely shocked when he felt the
first slice.
        Usagi didn't know if she was doing any good, but she repeatedly
slashed Morgon as she run towards him. Each time she sliced the air, the
sword gave out a blinding light that streaked towards her enemy. The
beam passed through Morgon's form before disappearing into the darkness,
but he remained standing in one spot. From the distance between them,
Sailor Moon didn't realize she was cutting him to pieces.
        Morgon struggled to call on his power, but he was already too
weak to do any good. He watched the cuts appear on his body and felt the
torment he had inflicted on countless others. As his body slowly
disintegrated and he felt death closing upon him, he searched deep
within his mind and found solace in the guise of his mother. He clung to
her image as his body turned to dust and he felt consciousness leaving
him. "Mother..."
        Sailor Moon stood before him and continually sliced at the air
in front of her. She couldn't see anything for the tears brimming in her
eyes, the grief clutching at her soul. She lashed out at her tormentor,
her only thought to destroy him before he took more of the people she
loved. The last price he took was already too much.
        Usagi felt gentle arms go around her as Mamoru held her from
behind. He used the strength in his arms to stop her wild thrashing and
kept her in his embrace until she finally grew still. The tears that
bathed her face showed that her grief was still unspent and Mamoru held
her closer.
        "It's all right now, Usako," he told her soothingly. "Morgon is
finished. He can't hurt you anymore."
        Mamoru didn't realize that Usagi was no longer thinking of
Morgon, but of the man who'd protected her all of her life. The thought
that she would never see Galen again had her going numb and the sword
fell from her hands. It landed with a clang as Usagi felt the strength
leave her and she dropped to her hands and knees. She wasn't aware of
Mamoru kneeling close behind her and looking at her with worried eyes.
        On one side of the cave, the three ice blocks had disintegrated
when Morgon's life force had disappeared. Usagi's parents and younger
brother clung to each other with relief as they were released from the
icy hold. Ikuko was the first to let go as she looked towards the front
at her daughter's grieving form. She took a step forward but was quickly
blocked by the Inner Senshi who had finally learned what had happened to
Galen.
        "Please give her time," Mercury asked of her as she gently shook
her head. "Nobody could help her right now, not even Mamoru."
        Ikuko understood what the younger woman was saying and didn't
try to push past her. She watched Usagi's face as the tears continued to
fall, her mother's heart feeling helpless at the face of her daughter's
sorrow. She felt a hand enclose her shoulder and she looked back to find
Kenji open his arms. She went into them without hesitation, shedding her
own tears for the man who had loved her daughter so.
        Usagi watched without interest as the tears dripped on Galen's
sword. She looked at her reflection on the shining steel and wondered
why she had let this happen. Why hadn't she known that for Galen to
share his life force in the state he was in, he had to forfeit his life?
Setsuna had known and she had tried to stop him. Haruka had also known,
but she hadn't dissuaded him, only held him closer as she supported his
decision. But Usagi wouldn't have accepted it. She would have fought him
every step of the way--if only she had known.
        <Damn you, Galen,> she thought in her grief. <Why did you have
to be so noble, you had to sacrifice your life?! We could have found
another way...another way...> She clenched her hands against the ground.
<Damn you! You didn't have to die!>
        She raised her face upward and let out a mournful cry, the agony
behind it showing the torment in her soul. She wasn't conscious of the
others behind her, holding each other close as they all shared in her
grief. Nor was she aware of Haruka who continued to rock Galen's form
slowly, her own face drenched in tears as she held him close in her
embrace. All that Usagi was conscious of was the empty space in her
heart that was tearing her apart.
        "Gaaaaalleeeeeeennn!"



                                Epilogue
          The First of Celebrations: A Return to Happier Times

        Usagi awoke with a start, her hand grasping the crystal pendant
that hang about her neck. Clutching it in her palm, she looked around
the room, fully expecting to see the phantom that continued to haunt her
dreams. She found nothing out of place in the quiet room, except for the
few pieces of furniture best suited for a teenage girl. Slumping back
against the pillow, she sighed, swallowing the fear that remained as
vestiges of her nightmare lingered in her mind.
        A drop of perspiration trickled down her temple and she put up a
hand to wipe it off. Suddenly feeling stifled in the heat of the room,
she got up and opened a window, enjoying the feel of the clear, fresh
air as it wafted on her face. Over the horizon, the first rays of the
rising sun were starting to become visible, giving the promise of
another warm day. She smiled as she watched the sky lighten, only
turning away when the phone started to ring.
        "Hello?"
        "Today's the day! Aren't you excited?" a cheery voice said from
the other end.
        "Oh, it's you, Rei." Usagi sat down and rested her head on the
wall.
        "Is something wrong, Usagi-chan?" her old friend asked when she
heard her tone. "You sound...odd."
        That was just like Rei lately, very perceptive. "I'm fine," she
reassured her. "I just had another dream."
        "Oh, Usagi, not that nightmare again," was the exasperated
reply. "It happened several months ago. You should start letting it go."
        "I did let it go, Rei," she answered, but wondered if it was
true. "It's only when I'm excited or depressed that it suddenly recurs
again. I guess it has something to do with my emotions."
        "And of course you're getting the jitters today," the other
woman said, sounding excited again. "Hey, that's normal. It's not
everyday you get to marry one of the most gorgeous men in the world!"
        Usagi couldn't help but laugh at her friend's outrageous
comment. It was just this kind of attitude that helped her put behind
the events that happened six months ago, and the picture of the man who
managed to put all their lives in turmoil.
        "Seriously, Usagi-chan, you should try to put it all behind you.
Morgon is long gone, and Galen... Galen wouldn't like you feeling guilty
about anything."
        "Thank you, Rei. I think I needed to hear that."
        "Well, now that you've heard it, get off that bed and start
getting ready. You don't want to be late for your own wedding!"
        "Yes, ma'am!"
        Usagi gave the phone a mock salute and was still laughing when
she put down the phone. She almost missed the soft knock that sounded at
her door.
        "Usagi? Are you awake?" she heard her mother say. She had opted
to stay in their house for the last month, giving her mother the chance
to enjoy helping her prepare for the wedding.
        "Come in, Mama."
        The older woman was smiling when she entered the room. She found
Usagi wide-awake and still sitting on the bed. "So you couldn't sleep as
well. I know it's very early, but would you like to have some breakfast
before getting ready?"
        "Sure thing. You know I could always eat anytime."
        Her mother's smile widened. "That's something that hasn't
changed, at least. Freshen up and come to the kitchen. Kyle's already
eating his breakfast."
        "Really? What about Mom and Dad?" she asked, referring to her
surrogate parents, Professor Stanton and his wife Michelle. They were in
Japan to attend the special occasion and were talked into staying with
them by her parents.
        "They're not up yet," Ikuko answered as she closed the door on
her way out.
        Usagi sat on the bed for another moment, thinking how much her
life had changed in the past year. She was glad the hard times were
finally over and that things were definitely changing for the better.
She smiled as she got up, knowing that her life was about to take
another giant leap.


                *       *       *       *       *


        The church was packed to the fullest and the crowd murmured
among themselves as the time to begin came ever nearer. The nervous
groom stood at the altar, pulling at his shirt collar to relieve some of
the heat that permeated the enclosed space. A hand settled on his arm
and he turned to find Justin standing beside him. As Mamoru's best man,
it was his job to support the groom, but he, too, was anxiously awaiting
the start of the ceremony. Together they looked towards the back door as
the first few strains of a soft tune was struck by the pianist.
        The women wore black at the wedding-long elegant gowns with
smoky gray accents designed to fit each lady's individual style. Silver
jewelry hung upon their slim necks and wrists, and sparkled from every
delicate earlobe. The men beside them also wore black, their white
shirts gleaming in stark contrast. Smoky gray bow ties and matching
cummerbunds mirrored the colors of their partners, making each couple a
perfect blend. The first one down the aisle was Rei holding on to the
crook of Kyle's elbow. He was thrown in as her partner when Justin was
chosen as best man, and the other man had not been too happy to note
that Usagi's 'brother' was way more attractive than he was led to
believe. Following them were Nathan and Makoto, looking at each other
like they were the ones being wed. Ami and Zach came up next, with Kenjo
and Minako right behind them. Drake and Hotaru, Ashe and Michiru, and
Logan and Setsuna brought up the rear before Haruka finally started her
own march. She was Usagi's maid of honor and looked very serene as she
walked down the aisle just before the bride herself.
        In a room nearby, Usagi sat in her wedding dress, looking at her
reflection in the mirror. She took a calming breath when she heard the
knock at her door and got up from her relaxed position.
        "Usagi, it's almost time. Are you ready?" a male voice called
through the door.
        "I'm coming!" She took one last look at herself in the mirror
before grabbing the bouquet that was on the dresser. She was out of the
room in the next moment and facing the man who was waiting for her. "I'm
ready."
        He looked down at her with a smile, noting the brightness of her
eyes. She was obviously very happy and he was glad that everything
turned out wonderfully for her. He wouldn't have been satisfied if her
happiness wasn't complete.
        Usagi took note of his smile and knew she had chosen correctly.
Nobody else had more right to give her away at her wedding than the man
who was standing before her. He was the only one she had ever belonged
to, and the one who cared for her the most. Even now she could see the
love shining out from his emerald eyes...

________________________________________________________________________


        She sat on the ground, exhausted, and didn't bother trying to
move. Time didn't seem to matter much as she closed her eyes and tried
to keep her mind on nothing. The inconsolable grief, which suffused her
body earlier, was still very much in the background, but she knew that
if she let it take over, she was going to have a breakdown.
        A pair of strong arms enclosed her from behind and she leaned
back against Mamoru, finally accepting the support he so wanted to give
her. She had hoped that the feel of his warmth around her would ease the
ache of losing Galen, but nothing seemed to be able to accomplish that
feat. The 'Shiro-kage' General had been so much a part of her life, his
essence imbedded in her soul, that to rip it out now meant leaving a
gaping hole. She felt so empty inside, so incomplete, and she didn't
know how to cope with it.
        Mamoru sensed her emotional struggle, but he didn't know how to
ease it. There was nothing he could say that would make everything
better, so he just held her closer and gave her what comfort he could.
Behind them, the others watched silently, trying to deal with their own
losses, and hoping against hope that things could be undone.
        Usagi finally got up, knowing she eventually had to do so. With
numb legs and weary body, she took the first step that would bring her
closer to the man she had first loved. He lay unmoving in Haruka's
embrace, seemingly in sleep, his features arranged in gentle lines. Her
eyes were drawn to his solemn face, still handsome even in death, and
she couldn't wait to see his smile again. Knowing that she will never be
able to do so brought fresh tears to her eyes and she dropped on her
knees beside him.
        "Galen..." she whispered, stretching her arm to touch his face.
He still felt warm to her touch, and she had to tamp down the hope that
he could still be alive. There was no use in longing for something that
could never be. Not when it was too late.
        Haruka watched Usagi's face crumple in tears from behind Galen's
form. Knowing how much pain the other woman must be feeling, she reached
out and clasped her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
        Usagi looked up when she felt Haruka's touch and saw her old
friend's sympathetic gaze. She grasped the hand that held hers tightly
and whispered the words that needed to be said. "I'm sorry, Haruka-san,"
she told the other woman earnestly. "I didn't realize what would happen.
I didn't know-"
        "Stop, Usagi," Haruka interrupted. "It isn't your fault. It was
Galen's choice. He did what he wanted to do--what he needed to do.
Nothing you could have said or done would have changed his mind."
        "But-"
        "Shh. It's over now. There's no use discussing it anymore. It
was Galen's life to give, and we have to respect his choice. I know it
hurts," she paused, holding him even closer, "I know it's difficult to
accept, but we have no other alternative. Life goes on, even if we don't
want it to."
        "Haruka..." Usagi started when she saw the torment on the other
woman's face, but she had no other words that would ease her friend's
burden. So she took the hand of the man who had sacrificed his life for
her, and, together, they grieved for the loved one they had lost. All
was quiet in the cavern as the others bowed their heads and showed their
respect for the man who had given his all to save them.
        Haruka had her arms around him, her head touching his as it
rested on her shoulder. The tears flowed freely from beneath her closed
eyelids, trickling down her cheek to land softly on Galen's left
shoulder. She was no longer aware of Usagi kneeling in front of her, nor
of the others hovering nearby. All her thoughts were focused on the man
in her arms as she tried to say a final good-bye to him. When the words
wouldn't come, she just held him a lot closer, and suddenly felt a
heartbeat that wasn't supposed to be there.
        Usagi saw Haruka give a start and wondered what had spooked the
older Senshi. She was looking at Galen like she had seen a ghost, and
the younger woman couldn't see any reason for her reaction.
        "Haruka-san, is something wrong?"
        Haruka looked at her, her expression still startled, and finally
shook her head slightly. "It's probably just my imagination, Usagi.
Don't worry about it."
        "Don't worry about wha-oh!" She dropped the hand she was holding
when it suddenly contracted in her palm. With big, round eyes, she
watched as it moved on the ground, contracting into a loose fist before
straightening once again. She covered her mouth to stop herself from
blubbering and looked at Haruka with renewed hope shining in her eyes.
        The other woman also couldn't believe what was happening and met
Usagi's gaze across Galen's form. "I thought I felt a heartbeat, but I
knew it couldn't be," Haruka told her in wonder, the grief on her face
slowly turning to joy. "It's so faint, Usagi, but I can still feel it!"
        Usagi couldn't say a coherent word since she was laughing and
crying at the same time. The other Senshi and generals gathered around
them as the news of Galen's recovery filtered through the group.
        Hotaru knelt beside Haruka and touched the other woman's
shoulder. "Let me see what I can do for him before he wakes up
completely." She gently pulled Galen from Haruka's arms and, together,
they laid him carefully on the ground. His back was still a hideous
sight, the skin charred in most places, but the profuse bleeding had
obviously stopped some time before. Hotaru called upon her healing
powers as she let her hands hover over the numerous injuries.
        Galen groaned after a few moments, his hands clenched again as
they lay on the ground. His face slowly gained back some of its color
and the gray hue that tinged his skin completely disappeared. Everyone
breathed a sigh of relief as his eyelashes fluttered against his cheek,
and the emerald eyes they knew so well finally appeared from beneath his
lids. They were dull and full of pain, but still very much aware of his
surroundings.
        "Galen, can you hear me?" Haruka said from somewhere nearby. The
words sounded too soft to the man on the ground, but he understood them
nonetheless.
        "Haruka?" he said, blinking a few times to clear his vision.
        "I'm right here." She reached out and grasped his hand gently,
bending down so he can see her.
        "Morgon, is he-?"
        "He's dead."
        "And Usagi?" he continued, worry overlaying his words.
        "I'm right here, Galen," Usagi answered before the other woman
could do so, moving closer to his line of vision. Galen turned slightly
to look at her more fully and noticed the tears falling down her cheeks.
A quick glance behind her showed all his other friends wearing worried
looks, and he turned to Haruka in puzzlement. She, too, looked like she
had been crying.
        "What's going on?" he asked of the group in general. "Why all
the long faces?"
        "You don't know?" Haruka wondered.
        "Know what?" he repeated, confused.
        "You died, Galen," she finally told him, "or at least we thought
you were dead. I couldn't feel your heartbeat even though I was holding
you close."
        He could hardly believe what he was hearing. "Is that true?" he
asked of Ashe.
        His best friend nodded and he had to believe him. Ashe's face
was totally serious, so unlike his usual demeanor.
        "I don't remember anything after transferring my energy to the
Crystal," Galen explained, trying to make sense of what had happened. "I
thought I must have blacked out, because the next thing I recall is
feeling heat moving around my back. After that, I opened my eyes and
here we are."
        "I don't understand it either," was Setsuna's quick rejoinder.
"I thought there could only be one outcome to your giving your life
force to the crystal in your condition."
        "Maybe Falcon was much stronger than all of us thought," Mercury
surmised. "He could have given most of his energy to the Crystal, but
retained enough to remain alive. The amount left must have been too
small to maintain all his body functions for the first few moments, but
built up quickly because his body was at rest."
        "But his heart wasn't beating," Usagi insisted.
        "His heartbeat could have been so faint, it couldn't be detected
without a heart monitor," Ami reasoned out. "It doesn't really mean it
isn't beating just because you can't feel it."
        "Then he was alive all along?"
        Ami looked at the older Senshi who spoke the question. "That
seems to be the case, Haruka. I'm sorry I wasn't thinking clearly enough
earlier to realize it was possible."
        "Don't be sorry, Ami-chan," she replied with a watery smile.
"I'm not. I'm just happy he's okay." She looked down at Galen with a
tender smile, before raising her head at Hotaru's touch. The younger
Senshi nodded her head, and Haruka moved out of the way as both Ashe and
Logan came forward to help their leader to a sitting position.
        When he was facing them once again, a slight smile lifted the
corners of Galen's lips. "I guess I just can't die so easily," he told
the group lightly. "There are still so many things I haven't done yet."
He gave Haruka a meaningful glance and slowly raised the hand that he
was holding. As his lips lightly touched the soft skin of her knuckles,
their eyes met across the short distance and a look of absolute
tenderness passed between them. So lost were they in the private moment
that Usagi's next question gave them a little start.
        "Why did you do it, Galen?" the young woman demanded, her brow
creased in part worry, part anger. "Why did you almost kill yourself
trying to save me?"
        The Shiro-kage General was a bit surprised at the question, but
didn't think twice before saying, "Do you really have to ask, Usagi?" He
looked her in the eye and she saw his answer shining out of his own--
all the love he had always had for his little princess.
        "You fool," she cried tearfully, lunging forward to be enfolded
in his arms. "I don't want you to die."
        Galen held her close and ran a hand down her back soothingly.
"I'm not keen on dying myself, Usagi," he started jokingly, but quickly
turned serious, "but if it's the only way to save you, then I will do
it. You know I've always protected you from any harm. I guess I always
will. It's not something I can stop myself from doing. Do you
understand?"
        He felt Usagi nod her head against his chest, before she moved
away from him slightly. "Just try not to do it so dramatically next
time, okay?" she told him tearfully. "I don't think my heart can take
it."
        "I'll try my best," he answered solemnly, then broke into the
smile she had been longing to see-the smile she thought she would never
see again.

_______________________________________________________________________

        That same smile was once more leveled on her as Galen took her
hand and placed it on the crook of his arm. Together, they moved towards
the open doors which led to the room where all their friends and family
were waiting. As they stood at the entrance for a moment, waiting for
the music to begin, a sea of familiar faces looked back at them, but a
certain few stood out from the rest.
        Her parents were seated near the front on the left side, her
father smiling proudly while her mother cried tears of joy. Right beside
them was her brother, Shingo, who was presently giving her a thumbs up
sign. On the pew behind them was her other set of parents, William and
Michelle Stanton, who were looking very happy to be in her wedding. They
had been quite surprised to hear from her after so many months, and more
than a little shocked to learn that she was getting married.
        Sitting towards the back of the church was Naru, Usagi's best
friend in junior high school. She was now working as a flight attendant
and had come home several months ago when she had a couple of weeks off.
Needless to say, she'd heard that her old friend was back in Japan and
they had a long, tearful reunion. Afterwards, Usagi gave her a tour of
the Silver Millennium and blithely introduced her to all her new
friends. Everything was going great until Naru came face to face with
Nathan, who to her looked exactly like the other Nephrite. The
expression on her face then was totally indescribable, and Usagi smiled
slightly as she recalled it now. Strange, it didn't seem funny at all
when it was happening.
        The sound of the wedding march forced her thoughts back to the
present and she took a quick deep breath before hearing her cue.
Usagi's smile was bright as she took her first step towards the altar,
and all her attention was focused on the man standing at the end.
Waiting for her there was Mamoru with a smile of his own, all
nervousness gone as he watched her walking down the aisle. When Galen
finally placed her hand in his, the two men paused to look at each other
eye to eye. In that moment, a new understanding was formed between them
and the bond they shared was doubly strengthened. Usagi watched as they
nodded to each other, the two most important men in her life, and she
knew that no woman could ask for anything more. She had all the love she
needed right here in this tightly knit circle.
        The priest smiled fondly at the young couple when they finally
turned around to face him. Hand in hand, they listened to his voice as
he spoke the words that would bind them together forever.
        "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and
this woman in holy matrimony..."
        The ceremony that followed was solemn and special, not only to
the two people being married, but to their closest friends as well. As
they said the vows that would join their lives together, the promises
they spoke were also echoed in the hearts of the other eight couples.
Each pair looked forward to their own wedding ceremony, and the day when
they would finally be together and never have to part again.
        When all the words were spoken and the priest declared them man
and wife, Mamoru turned to Usagi and gently lifter her veil over her
head. The face he revealed under the cloth was radiant with joy, the
eyes that looked up at him brilliant with tears of happiness. He lifted
a hand to gently cup her face, wiping at a stray tear that rolled down
her cheek, before bending his head to seal their promise with a kiss.
        As Usagi felt his warm lips moving gently upon her own, she
finally let herself believe that this was no dream, but wonderful
reality. She was well and truly married to her Mamo-chan, and she need
never be apart from him again. She lifted both arms and placed them
about his neck, savoring the knowledge that he was now her husband.
Mamoru reacted by deepening the kiss and putting an arm about her waist
to hold her closer.
        Moments of silence passed before the first clap was heard,
quickly followed by a number of others. Soon the church was thundering
with the sound, along with a few whistles and catcalls from the guys in
front. The couple broke apart hesitantly and looked around in confusion
for a moment. At the sight of all the people, they quickly realized
where they were and both of them blushed a becoming red. With a sheepish
smile to his new wife, Mamoru offered his arm to Usagi and they started
to walk towards the back door.
        The reception was held at the Silver Millennium Restaurant and
the menu, personally prepared by Nathan and Makoto, was a food
connoisseur's dream. The decorations were done by Usagi the day before,
and others worked together to put the finishing touches. The restaurant
looked more like a ballroom when they were done and everyone who
attended appreciated their efforts.
        Mamoru sat on the main table, watching Usagi dance the first two
dances with each of her fathers. As the music glided to an end, he stood
up and walked to her side, offered a hand and led her to the middle of
the dance floor. The band in the corner struck a mellow tune and the
couple swayed slightly to the music. They were looking into each other's
eyes and were not aware of anyone else except the partner in their arms.
        After a minute passed, the other couples joined them one by one,
until all of their friends were also on the dance floor. No one else
thought of following their lead, but watched, mesmerized, as the nine
elegant pairs moved about the ballroom. It wasn't so much the women's
beauty nor the men's good looks that caught everyone's attention, but
the fact that they were looking at each other with so much love and were
totally oblivious to anyone else. The people watching couldn't help but
envy the closeness between them.
        Soon the music ended, and the cutting of the cake was done with
as much flair as possible. More music followed after the meal, but none
of the main group participated very much. The women were helping Usagi
hostess, while the men gathered in a corner and were discussing
something important.
        "Okay, men," Justin was heard to say, "are we going with the
bouquet or the garter?"
        The others didn't seem to find this question odd and talked
among themselves to see if they could come to an agreement. After a few
minutes, Mamoru walked up to them and asked, "Well?"
        "We're going with the bouquet," Ashe replied and the others
nodded their confirmation.
        "Good choice. Do the women know yet?"
        "No, but I'll go tell them," Nathan volunteered.
        Ten minutes later, everyone's attention was focused on Usagi as
Mamoru removed the garter from her leg. He smiled at the group of men
gathered on one side, before turning his back and throwing the item.
None of his closest buddies made an effort to catch the garter, but it
hit Logan's shoulder and he caught it as it fell. The rest of the group
offered him wide grins as they clapped him on the shoulder in
congratulation.
        The next event was the one they were all waiting for. The men
were more anxious than the women were, as they watched the ladies gather
on one side of the dance floor. Assessing the group to see where her
friends were, Usagi turned around and found the guys following her every
move. She smiled at them and held on to the bouquet a moment longer,
watching them shift impatiently as they waited for her to act.
        What a way to decide who was getting married next, Usagi thought
as she prepared to throw the bouquet. She couldn't believe that Galen
and Nathan, and even Zach, agreed to Justin's scheme. So whoever catches
the bouquet gets married next, wasn't that their plan? She wondered what
they would do if someone else caught it.
        Usagi took a deep breath, held the bouquet a little tighter,
then tossed it with all her might over her right shoulder. She knew that
that was where all her friends were, and she watched the men follow it
with their eyes. Moments later, a scream was heard from behind her,
followed by a whoop by one of the men in front.
        Usagi smiled as she realized who had caught the bouquet, but she
knew it didn't really matter. Somewhere, some way, somehow, all her
friends were going to come together, and nothing in this world could
stop them. Nothing out of this world could do it either, for that
matter, she thought with a laugh.
        There were a lot more adventures ahead of them, and,
unfortunately, a lot more battles. She didn't believe for a moment that
the Dark Kingdom was finished with them. They will surely be back to try
to invade the universe again, and if not them, then some other evil
force will be there to replace them. Usagi wasn't really worried. She
knew that all her friends would stand beside her to fight them off.
Nothing was going to defeat their small, but valiant, group.
        Usagi shook her head to clear it, wondering what she could be
thinking. Whatever happens, happens, and no amount of contemplating was
going to change it. The future, with all its problems and rewards, was
best left in the hands of fate. There was only today to worry about, and
for this moment, this hour, this day, she was content.


        The End


        Well, this is it-the end of Soul Mates. I can't believe I
actually finished the whole thing. I've never done that before, although
I've started many stories in the past. I probably have a folder full of
beginnings, but no endings. This is my first.
        I'd like to thank everyone who has helped me along the way,
especially those who've gotten me over some rough spots. I'd also like
to thank all the people who have been patiently waiting for me to finish
the story, some who have been with me from the start, which I'm ashamed
to say was two years ago ^^. I hope I've given you a little
entertainment along the way and that you've enjoyed your time with me.
        Please feel free to drop me a note anytime. You can find me at:
ladylyn@mb.sympatico.ca
        Thanks!

        Lynda