"I guess we could untransform," Eryx suggested as she glanced back to Mi-chan and Hoshi. "Mi-chan already has, so Hoshi-chan must know. Besides, it'll be better for you."
"I'll be fine." But he detransformed because Eryx wasn't going to let him off the hook. Tenshi wondered how much of Neko's resolve was to save her energy and how much was to have this heart-to-heart with the girl she loved. That's why Tenshi wanted to talk to her.
She took Neko's hand. "Koneko, I know that you love me, and of course, I love you too. And that doesn't change when I transform. At least for me. Demo�." She bit her lip. This was going to be hard. "Someday you will rule Eryx and, I guess, I'll rule its moon. And we should really ask Neo-Queen Serenity- I mean, I don't believe she'd have done that to us, but maybe she didn't know, and if it's even possible�."
"Tenshi-kun, slow down," Neko said nervously. Tenshi was rambling like Neko did when she thought the other person was going to be upset with her. "I have no clue what you're talking about."
Tenshi stared at their hands, continuing quietly. "I thought we could get past it. That if we loved each other, eventually you wouldn't mind. But if you won't ever be able to handle Night Angel, uh, me being a guy- If you don't love me then, then we should make sure that I won't end up ruling as a man. If you want a princess instead of a prince, and I can't give you that, I don't want you to have to find out later having spent so much time and energy on me."
Her appeal was so heartfelt, Neko almost began to cry� or laugh; she didn't know which. "Baka," she cried as she threw her arms around Tenshi. "It's you I love. Your personality, your being, your� soul. I don't care what form it's in."
"But you were so adamant to Amethyst about only being attracted to girls!" And everyone knew that Neko never lied.
"Tenshi-kun, I'm only attracted to you! I mean, sure, I levitate towards girls on the attraction factor, and there have been other girls that I've been interested in, but everything beautiful about them was superficial. The body is only a shell - it's not what I look for in a girlfriend. The fact that you just happen to be kirei and a girl only helped me to find you quicker. And for that I am grateful. But if you were an ugly old man, I'd probably love you only slightly less than I do now." She grinned at her girlfriend.
Tenshi couldn't help but smile too. Things always seemed to work out for them. "But you still want me to be a moon princess, right?"
"Kami yes," Neko laughed. "So tell me when you ask Neo-Queen Serenity, okay?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Amethyst watched from a nearby tree. Eryx was still holding tightly onto Night Angel. *That sap!* she thought, as she released Night Angel from the vine holding him.
She definitely didn't like her. She didn't like losing. And she blamed it all on Eryx. Or Neko, as it was.
Well, there was only one thing Amethyst could do as revenge. At least, until the others came to help her take over the planet. She still liked Earth, just not the Sailor Senshi.
Neko and Tenshi had untransformed, and Amethyst watched them. There had to be something that she could use�.
*Sheesh, they aren't even fazed by the gender-thing. Isn't there anything that'd break these two apart?* She knew there was, but it wouldn't come from her. Afterall, there was only one person who could make Neko doubt her relationship with Tenshi. And Amethyst could make her do it, but only through Neko's dreams.
Amethyst had only been able to pick up on one nightmare of Neko's. But it was just the thing to manipulate for her own use. If she enhanced it, who knew what state it might end up sending Neko into? But she needed to have something here on Earth to control Neko's dreams. Something that would be constantly in touch with her, even when she was asleep.
Finally, she saw it. Neko had just unconsciously fiddled with her necklace. That necklace had been in every vision Neko had of her future and every dream Amethyst had been able to see. And if she had to guess, she'd bet that it transformed with her, into Sailor Eryx's choker, which had a blue heart on it. As it was the only constant she could count on while she was away from Earth, she chose it to be the vessel of her revenge.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tenshi was right. She was a fast healer and her energy was quickly restored. With minimal help from Neko and Mi-chan, she was ready to return to the ballroom long before the party was over.
Actually, by the time they reached the ballroom, Tenshi was in a great mood. "May I have this dance, Koneko?" she asked as Jian-wa joined them all.
But Neko shook her head. "I can't. Hoshi-chan's still watching."
Oh yeah. Tenshi had forgotten about her. Hoshi was sitting over at banquet table, still glowering at Tenshi. Tenshi sighed. She had thought that they had come to an understanding. In fact, Hoshi had even told her to go back to Neko. So what was her problem now?
"Ano, about that� Hoshi-chan kind of knows about you guys." They all turned to Mi-chan, who looked about as uncomfortable as she ever did. "She kinda figured it out."
Neko glanced at Hoshi. Smiled. Waved. Hoshi's expression didn't change in the least.
"You should go talk to her," Tenshi suggested quietly. Neko nodded.
Mi-chan started with her, wanting to give her support, but Jian-wa took her hand and pulled her to him. "Let them talk alone for a second," he advised her and kissed her before she could object. "Neko-chan doesn't need you 24-7."
"This is a good way to get in trouble," she warned him.
"Like I'm scared of trouble," he answered pleasantly.
Feeling very third wheel-like, Tenshi left them, joining her sister at their table.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
They had come in all giggly and cheerful. Despite the battle they had just had and all their injuries, they still were in good spirits.
Hoshi watched them carefully. Mi-chan had been right. Neko was already over everything that had just happened. And it wasn't until she and Tenshi seemed to remember Hoshi that she seemed to lose her confidence.
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