"Hi-chan, you’re ringing." Ki commented with a laugh.

Hi, Ai, and Ki were sprawled out on the floor in Ai’s apartment working on what seemed like a never ending pile of homework.

Hi blinked, looking comically confused, which caused the other girls to break out in laughter. Hi glared at them both as comprehension dawned and pulled out the slim cell phone from her pocket. The phones had appeared in the Locked Box in the armoury one day, and prompted by a strange feeling Doku had gone there and found them. They were in a box the twin of the one with the pins except larger. There were thirteen strange cell phones, decorated in the same colours as the fuku’s of the Zodiac Senshi with the final phone being all black with a white diamond and cross symbol. For example Hi’s was red with a rust coloured Aries symbol on the back while Ai’s was gold with a light blue Libra symbol and so on. The phones themselves had only fifteen buttons, the Zodiac symbols, the diamond cross, and the talk and hang up buttons. They had quickly discovered that just pressing a button would call the phone of the Senshi belonging to that symbol. The phones never turned on or off and seemed not to need power at all.

“Moshi Moshi?” Hi answered the phone after she pressed the talk button and put it to her ear.

“Hello Hi-chan,” came Doku’s warm voice over the line.

Hi hooked a pillow and tossed it to her friends when they started making kissing noises at her before turning her back on them. “Hello Doku.” She replied, trying to ignore the giggles behind her.

“Nijima and Milo had spread rumours to all the Inner Senshi that I am some kind of grand protector for the children.” He stated, sounding amusing.

Hi grinned as she remembered him ordering the girls from the palace around, when the school got attacked.

“Sailor Mercury had to go to the Moon Colony with the royal family, the Outer Senshi along as bodyguards. Something about a small plague that needed a cure before it got out of hand. I got roped into babysitting Aki for today while the other Inner Senshi have a day off guardian duty.”

“That sounds like a chore.” Hi said as a suspicion grew.

He laughed. “Would you three like to come to the palace? It’s pretty empty and Aki is a good girl. You could do your work here and besides, I have something I really need to tell you.”

Hi felt a little thrill and quickly tried to quash it before Ai and Ki noticed. “I’m sure Ai and Ki would love to come to the palace.” She said in a slightly louder voice. Doku laughed outright as she continued. “Yes I just know they will be glad to have someone give them a tour of the palace we’ll be right there.”

Doku laughed. “Remind me not to ever get on your bad side Hi-chan.” She said as he heard faint squeals from the background and hung up.

“Do we really get a tour of the palace Hi-chan?” Ki asked excitedly.

Hi nodded and hid a grin as she bent to collect her books. “Yes and your tour guide has spent all her life there so will be able to show you everything she knows.”

“Wow,” Ai said as she closed her bag. “How did Doku manage it?”

Hi grinned, glad their excitement hid her exaggerated innocence. “It was no problem at all, really.” She insisted.

Doku was waiting for the trio when they got to the palace gates, the guards looked curious but waved them inside without comment. Doku laughed seeing the amusement in Hi’s eyes and the excitement in the younger girls’. “Your guide is right in there. Have fun.” He laughed, pointing to a door and catching Hi’s hand in his and pulling her away quickly.

The couple were breathless with laughter when they got to the garden Hi and Ai had wandered into while looking for a safe place to revert to their normal clothes and talk after the fight at the ball.

“They are going to be so mad at me.” He laughed as she collapsed on a bench.

Doku grinned. “You seem to like making people mad.”

Hi waved that off wryly. “They’ll forgive me, besides they deserved it after bugging me when you called.”

Doku became serious as he remembered his reason for calling and sat down on the bench next to her taking one of her hands in his and smiling at the faint flush in her cheeks. “I wanted to tell you about my past Hi-chan.” He took a deep breath. “It’s really hard for me, I haven’t talked to my past to anyone except Setsuna, Sailor Pluto.” He supplied when she sent him a confused look. “I was born Alisdair in the year 1432, it was somewhere north of Briton I’d guess though I don’t know the exact area I was raised. It was a hard time then, there was some trivial war the lords were having and us peasants got caught up in it.” He sighed, his eyes far away, and Hi squeezed his hands in support, her heart constricting as she thought about the pain he must have gone though. “My father took all of his sons with him to the battlefield when I was six. I had four brothers, all older then me although the oldest was only fifteen. I remember everyone around me dying, I hid and covered my ears to the screams of those around me.”

“You were only six,” Hi said softly.

Doku smiled. “I know, I don’t hold much guilt over it anymore, I couldn’t have done anything except die as well. Anyway after everything had become quiet, Sailor Pluto appeared. She picked me up and told me to stop crying, she was going to be my mother from then on and that I was very special.” He smiled and shook his head. “I’ve seen a lot of events going on since then, but since I grew up in the gates of time I’m really only twenty-two.”

He fell quiet, letting Hi think about his words. When she finally answered him, however, she could tell she had surprised him. “So why don’t you go by your birth name?”

He relaxed with a chuckle. “I decided I needed a name to fit in with my new life in Japan.”

Hi grinned. “But Yukino Doku? Poison Snow? I never did think the name fit you very well. I intend to call you Alisdair from now on!”

He looked thoughtful then bestowed a warm smile on her. “My friends called me ‘Dair.”

“'Dair.” She repeated, looking up into his eyes and leaning forward.

His eyes darkened and he started to bow his head, when a scream interrupted him.

They both jumped. “That was Aki!” ‘Dair exclaimed, lunging to his feet.

“Where would she have brought Ki and Ai on this tour?” Hi asked, jumping up quickly.

He didn’t even think. “The nursery,” he said, already running.

Less then a minute later, the two burst into the nursery. Libra and Sagittarius were lying on the ground on the far side of the room unconscious and Aki was cowering in a corner with a man standing over her. Hi drew up short, surprised that it was an actual man instead of a crystal being. She couldn’t make him out very well though he was very tall, probably over a foot taller then she was. He wore ragged jeans and a pair of boots and a dark blue sweater had a hood that covered his head and shadowed his face. ‘Dair didn’t stop though; he lunged forward while Aki screamed again. “Get away from her!” He yelled, trying to wrestle the taller man away from the three-year-old.

Hi ran to Libra’s side, seeing her friend was fighting for consciousness. “What happened?” She asked quickly.

“Crystals, two, dolls.” Libra gasped out, struggling to sit up. “Attack one, other returns attack, tried to attack both, one each, sent back double power.”

Hi tensed in surprise getting the gist of what Libra was trying to say. “’Dair stop it! There are two crystals in here!”

‘Dair looked up startled and the other man pushed him away. “That’s what I would have told you if you stopped to think.” He said scathingly.

‘Dair glared at him and bent to pick up Aki.

“Who are you and what happened?” Hi asked, coming over to them upon realising she couldn’t help Libra and Sagittarius right now.

“My name is Natsuno Mizu, I’m doing a temporary job cleaning here and I came running when I heard the scream. Arrived in time to see those two girls transform. The green one, Sagittarius, shot her arrows at one of the things and its partner intercepted the attack and shot it back. Then the two attacked together and the crystals each intercepted the attack and knocked it back, then you guys came in and I don’t know where the crystals went.”

‘Dair looked crestfallen but Mizu smiled and shrugged. “Anyone could have made the same mistake.”

Hi nodded to ‘Dair guessing Mizu already knew who they were and passed her hand over her pin. “Aries Celestial Power Make Up!”

“Scorpio Celestial Power Make Up!”

When the two finished transforming Scorpio held the calm looking Aki back to Mizu. “Remember not to tell anyone ok honey?” He asked her, pressing her finger to his lips to indicate the secret.

Aki smiled. “Hai Unka Doku!” She replied, pressing her finger to her lips as well.

Scorpio and Aries turned to look around the room just in time to see two dolls separate from the rest. They looked perfectly normal, dresses ribbons and bows and all. Two knee height girl figure dolls stood there, grinning.

“How are we going to beat them if we can’t attack them?” Scorpio asked.

Aries shook her head. “Just keep them away from Aki until we can figure something out.”

“Maybe I could try to hold back one of them physically while you two attack the other?” Mizu suggested. “They might not think me a threat.”

Aries and Scorpio exchanged a glance before looking back to Mizu. “Why would you do that?”

Mizu looked down at Aki tenderly. “I just have to protect her.”

Aries blinked as she studied him. She could see a slight glow on his forehead as well as around both his wrists. “Gemini.” She mumbled half to herself.

“What was that?” Scorpio asked her.

Aries blinked and the glows were gone. “I just,” she stammered unsure of the feeling she had just gotten. “What is your Zodiac sign Mizu?”

Mizu tossed back his hood as his eyes widened. He had ragged black hair that fell almost to his shoulders and his eyes were a very dark blue. “Gemini, and Gemini is under the house of Mercury and Aki is Sailor Mercury’s daughter.” He looked down into the trusting face of the girl in his arms. “Is that why I want to protect her so much?”

“Can’t hurt to find out.” Aries replied as she reached into her dimensional pocket. “Besides, if you are Gemini…” She trailed off meaningfully, glancing at the crystal dolls.

Scorpio grinned. “Gemini is the symbol of twins.”

Aries nodded. “Could be just what we need.” She pulled the Gemini pin from the box and held it out to Mizu who gave Aki back to Scorpio.

Slowly Mizu reached out, his fingers brushing over Aries' before his hand closed around the pin and Aries felt a faint shiver of recognition.

Bubbles burst out from his fist. Starting tiny, the bubbles appeared to be a fine mist as they swirled around his body but quickly grew and diminished in number. Within seconds the bubbles had formed to one solid bubble around which then popped. His outfit was made up of the same pants, shirt, boots and gloves, as Scorpio’s, but his were a dark blue in colour and trimmed with dark green. The Gemini symbol glowed faintly on his belt and forehead and two bracelets encased his wrists. Both were silver but one was studded with rubies and the other with sapphires. He had his wrists crossed in front of his chest so the gems sparkled together.

“You’re up,” Aries said, motioning to the dolls with a faint bow.

Gemini looked down to the bracelets and nodded with a slightly awed looking smile. He stepped forward and lifted his gaze to the twins. “Gemini Separate!” His bracelets flashed and suddenly there were two Gemini’s standing in front of them. Both of them were hazy and indistinct but obviously him, the only difference between them seemed to be that one had rubies on his bracelets and the other had sapphires. “Twin Fire And Ice Blast!” They both shouted. Both of them crossed their wrists over their chests and a ball of energy formed over each. Then together the Gemini’s shot their arms straight out in front of them and the two dolls were encased in a column of fire of ice respectively. Aries and Aki clapped their hands over their ears at the screams that brought while Scorpio winced. The light grew steadily until Aries had to turn away. Seconds later she heard the shattering even through her gloved hands and slowly turned back. Only two slightly burnt spots on the floor showed where the dolls had been.

Aries rubbed her ears reflexively as she remembered the screaming and the two Gemini’s laughed at her disgruntled expression. She glared at them and then at Scorpio who looked equally amused. “Next time you have to baby-sit remind me to sit it out.” She stated and stalked over to Libra and Sagittarius who were starting to look more aware.

Hi had a hard time getting to sleep that night and found herself tossing and turning until well after midnight. The crystals were getting a lot bolder and even though the Zodiac's numbers were growing it seemed impossible for their luck in being in the right place to continue much longer. It was only a matter of time until the Crystals attacked one of the kids and they weren't there to help.

When she finally found herself sleeping into sleep she was quite surprised to have the same dream as she had had the night before the ball less than a week ago.

She was surrounded by the peaceful stars again. She could still feel the other twelve presences with her although this time she recognized the feel of Scorpio, Libra, Gemini, Sagittarius and the boy from her frist dream. Then they were over the ball on the moon again and Hi let out a scream that never came to her lips as she realised what was going to happen. The events of the deaths of the Senshi happened in a blur followed by their own deaths and pain before the silver light of rebirth surrounded her.

Then she was in the ruins of the old Moon Kingdom again and she gave a sigh of relief. Turning she ran quickly towards the spot where she had met the boy before. However before she got there the boy came running around the corner and into her surprised arms.

Hi blinked, startled, and tried to step back when the symbol on his forehead flared and she was transformed into her fuku even down the her hair untangling and braiding itself.

He looked up at her, his chocolate brown eyes muddied by unshed tears. The sense of recognition flared and she knew no matter how mature he seemed he was only a young boy and she wrapped her arms around him hugging him tight.

He sighed then smiled, wiping the tears from his eyes with a faintly embarrassed grin. “Sorry, I’m really so proud of you Onee-chan.”

“Older sister?” Aries asked curiously.

He frowned then nodded. “Yes, in our old lives together we were all related. You’ve already gathered our whole family!” At her questioning look he continued. “Libra was your twin sister, Sagittarius your younger sister and Gemini your older brother. Your mother was a cousin of Queen Serenity; she was the one who charged you with the duties of protecting anyone who would be needed in the future. Your father was a member of Serenity’s court; he was killed while Sagittarius was only a couple years old. My father was from out of the Solar system but we both share the same mother.”

Aries looked slightly stunned as she tried to take all that in. “Is that why, I have such a strong connection with them?” She asked hesitantly.

He nodded. “You won’t be able to recognize the other Zodiacs quite as easily.” Aries shifted unsure if she should ask why she was so close to Scorpio so quickly but he solved her problem for her. “You and Scorpio were engaged to be married, the wedding was supposed to be a couple days after the attack on the Moon Kingdom in which we all died.”

Aries felt a keen sense of loss at that news. “So, I’ve always been told that relationships and soul mates from past lives were not meant to continue into new lives.”

He was shaking his head though. “If Queen Serenity had not used the Silver Crystal to make sure you would all be reborn then it probally would have worked out that way. However because of the influence of the Silver Crystal, you were attracted to those you had known before but not in a way any more intense then friendship. When you all got to the ages you were when you died the first time, the Crystals came and I awakened you, but until that happened, you were a new soul. Now you are the same age you were and are effectively continuing your pervious life.”

“But what about the life I would have had if I had never awakened again?”

He looked saddened. “We’ll never know, but I have a feeling you would have awakened on your own anyway. You were not meant to live a normal life and I think some of your unfound comrades may already have regained some of their powers as they live past the age they died at previously and begin to awaken.”

Aries thought about that, then shrugged it off to discuss with her friends later. “What’s your name?”

He brightened and gave her another hug. “I’m Sailor Zodiac, I was named Fair by my father but you always called me Zi, That’s how our whole family was. Hi, Ai, and Ki, as well as Mizu who was called Mi and myself, Zi.”

Aries couldn’t help but laugh. “Who came up with that?” She asked, already guessing the answer.

Zodiac laughed as well. “Sagittarius of course,” he then looked off into the distance. “It’s almost morning and you have school to go to in the morning. Don’t worry it’s Friday!” He laughed again then leaned up to press a kiss to her forehead. “I miss you Onee-chan, but you will find the others and as soon as all twelve Zodiac Senshi stand together I will appear to you as I am now. I’ll see you on that day ok? I believe in you.”

With that confidence ringing in her mind, Hi sat up in bed as her alarm clock went off.

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