"What's wrong with me?" Tenshi asked miserably.
"Oh, honey, it's not a problem with you," Michiru said sympathetically.
"Hai. This happens sometimes," Serenity explained. "There was a time when I couldn't transform. It just means that you've lost your will to do so."
Tenshi shook her head puzzled. "But I wanted to transform. I mean, just because I was mad at her doesn't mean I didn't want to help her."
"It's not just a matter of wanting it. There are a lot of factors that could be causing it. Like I said, sometimes, when a Senshi doesn't believe in themselves, or in what they're fighting for, they just lose the will to transform."
Haruka turned to Serenity. "Can you explain why she can't transform?"
"Well, Night Angel is the Knight of Faith. And Tenshi always has had great faith in the world and in people, so no matter how bad things got, she still believed they'd turn out alright. Faith in such things is an important emotion for Sailor Senshi to have, especially when things get very desperate or when someone needs to be forgiven. Tenshi has always believed in the goodness of the universe. But now, if she's lost-"
"You know, she's standing right here!" Tenshi reminded them pointedly, tired of being talked about in the third person.
Serenity smiled patiently at her and continued, "If you've lost your faith, especially your faith in Neko-chan, it makes sense that you wouldn't be able to use your powers."
"What does Ko-, what does Neko-chan have to do with anything?!"
"Well, you are Eryx's Knight. Your relationship with her is the most important as far as your powers are concerned. If you lost your faith in her-"
"You've gotta be kidding me! I can't transform because I got dumped!"
"Honey," Michiru started to explain, "that's not exactly-"
"No, that's great!" Tenshi said sarcastically. "I get my heart ripped out and torn to shreds and as a result, I get further punished by not being able to transform. Yeah, this makes great sense. And you wonder how someone could lose her faith in the world?!"
"Tenshi-"
"Fine. You know what? I quit. There! Now you won't have to worry about your Knight who lost her� his� whichever faith and that's one less thing I have to see Neko-chan for!" She picked up her denim jacket and started towards the door.
"Tenoh Tenshi!" Haruka followed her toward the door. "You get back there and apologize to your queen."
Tenshi turned on her in anger. "Didn't you hear?! I quit. So there's nothing else I'm needed for in this meeting because I'm not a Senshi anymore. I can't be, and I won't be!" She turned on her heel and walked out.
"Dammit," Haruka said under her breath.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tenshi walked quickly in the direction of Infinity College, wishing that there was some way she could just as easily escape her hurt and anger. She knew she wasn't acting at all like herself, but she couldn't help it. Neko's love, Puroko's admiration, Kempo, and now her Senshi powers - she wasn't sure she could handle that much loss. It all ached so much!
Suddenly, she thought she heard someone behind her. She whirled around, but didn't see anyone then. "Great, let's just add paranoia to your list of current problems!" she chastised herself as she turned back.
And came face-to-face with Amethyst.
"Hello, Tenshi," Amethyst said cheerfully.
"Y- You! You're the girl who attacked Hoshi-san and Koneko!" Highly flustered, Tenshi took a step back.
Amethyst followed suit with a step forward. "And you're the Knight who can't transform. Poor thing!"
Tenshi continued backing up and was about to turn and run, when Amethyst grabbed her wrist. "Relax! If I was going to attack you, I would've done it already!"
Tenshi reacted instantly. She locked Amethyst's hand onto her wrist with her other hand. Twisting her restrained hand around Amethyst's arm, she gained control of the situation, and caused her to bend down by pushing down on her arm, since Amethyst's alternative was to let Tenshi break it.
"Tenshi, you misunderstand me."
"Don't try anything, or I'll break your arm. Do you understand me!" Today was not a good day to mess with her.
"Oh, please," Amethyst rolled her eyes and disappeared, leaving Tenshi holding nothing but purple smoke. Any relief Tenshi might have felt at her disappearance, though, was quickly abated as she reappeared behind Tenshi and grabbed her. Tenshi tried to get out of her grip, but couldn't. "Stop struggling!" Amethyst ordered. "Sheesh, give a girl a break. All I'm trying to do here is help you."
"Sure, that's why you're restraining me! That makes sense!" Amethyst's right arm had Tenshi around the throat and her left arm was around her waist. Tenshi couldn't move her left arm much, but she slipped her right hand into her pocket, reaching for her communicator. But she stopped short as Amethyst made her next move. Her left hand, which was previously on Tenshi's stomach, began to carefully move lower� and lower� and lower, tucking itself slightly into Tenshi's pants.
"Stop it!" Tenshi shoved herself away from Amethyst, blushing furiously, as her heartbeat doubled in time. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Had it been a male classmate, Tenshi would've kicked him in the groin, making sure he'd remember not to do something like that again. But Tenshi hadn't expected it from her female enemy. The fact that Amethyst was gorgeous and sexy hadn't made her action any less disconcerting, either.
