Subject: Past Loves: Part Four by Fushigi Kismet --------------------------------------------------------------------- Author's Notes Note: I am unable to respond to e-mails at this time (probably for a long time) since the e-mail address I am using does not belong to me and the owner would prefer me not to respond. Apologies. However, I still read *everything* that I get, and your support is *very* important to me! If you have questions, I promise to answer them either in the Author's Notes (They'll usually be in the 'fic that's out two times after the current one, since I'm usually done the next Part the day *after* my deadline and send it in that day.) or in a questions and answers readme that I'll release a week after Parts Five and Six come out. I know that several people have requested that I send them my new Parts, but I hope that reading the 'fic as it is posted is okay, since I can't e-mail you. It takes me around two weeks to write each new Part anyway, so they're usually out as soon as I finish. Gomen for any inconvenience. Currently, my 'fics are only posted at Jupiter Knight's archive and the Sailor Moon: Fan Fiction Collection Center, but if you find a site that'll take 'em, e-mail me with the address and I'll see what I can do. Thanks go to Mimin Choy, Nicole Jackson, Renee, Deborah Sparlin, Sue Mei, Becky, Glenda, and Jay who are such wonderful people, for all of their support! To answer Renee's question, the people that the inscription was referring to in Part Two was answered in Part Three (I think) and more will be answered at the end of this 'fic, though not all . . . The answer is actually a really long and involved one and if I get enough feedback, I might actually write the 'fic that will reveal the *whole* truth. *Hint hint*) My guardian "angel", Deborah pointed out the fact that Endymion refers to Serenity as "Sere" in Part Two: First Love, even though he doesn't know her true identity! That was an error, which I have corrected. Anyway, Part Two was missing a little of the end, (as Glenda mentionedÑThanks, I was waiting 'til Part Four was done, to send it in. BTW, you're the first person to notice!) so I sent in a (hopefully) fixed version. However, I'm happy that Deborah picked out the error. It shows that people are actually *reading* my stuff if they notice things like that! Yay! Glenda, the answer is yes. :) (I don't want to spoil anything. Read Part Five!) Sue Mei mentioned that Monica Shin and Fiona Lim's 'fics are a bit harder to find than the rest, so here (respectively) are the locations of their homepages: http://www.pipeline.com/~monica/ http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Lofts/8390/moon.html (Most of the other authors that I mentioned fics can be found either at Jupiter Knight's Archive, A Sailor Moon Romance, or the Sailor Moon Fan Fiction Collection Center.) Almost-Anime Quote of the Day: "Drown out my dreams, keep me from remembering whatever wants me to remember it!"ÑLady Amalthea to Prince L'r, The Last Unicorn. and "Help me, drown out my dreams, keep me from remembering whatever wants me to remember it!"ÑSerena, "Even if You Forget Me . . ." by Rachel Aaron (I thought her series was rather kawaii, and found the similarity interesting . . .^_^;) Read Lianne (She's so awesome! She even mentioned me in her Author's Notes, yay!), Amethist ("The Wacky Adventures of Psycho Setsuna" is *so* funny!), Ninx, Pandora, Jennifer Wand, Jendra, Janelle Jimenez, Laurel Anne, and Monica! (Among others . . .) Okay, now the DISCLAIMER: Sailor Moon belongs to Takeuchi Naoko, Nakayoshi, Kodansha, Bandai, Toei Co. Ltd., Buena Vista, D.I.C., The Program Exchange, etc. Copyrighted 1992. I am getting no money out of this, please don't sue. Moonlight Densetsu is copyright somebody 1992. However, this is an original work by ME, and the original song, "ANGEL LIGHT" (COPYRIGHT 1997) is MINE. Ask for permission if you want to use it! Thank you. Sailor Moon Past Loves by Fushigi Kismet In the hospital, all was silent. In the waiting room, empty save for four girls who lay unconscious, the only sound that could be heard was an echo of a thought. <> the whisper of a thought echoed. <> Minako turned in her slumber as glittering tears fell from her eyes. "Past loves . . ." she murmured. "My love . . . forever." The beginning of "Moonlight Densetsu" starts playing. A painting of the Moon Kingdom appears. The camera pans away from it and we see Minako, Rei, Makoto, Ami, Usagi, and Mamoru looking at it in a store window. Yumeno Yumemi comes out and invites them in. They walk in and are instantly surrounded by dozens of paintings of the Moon Kingdom. Usagi sighs as she sees one of Queen Serenity. Mamoru puts an arm around her and holds her close. She leans on his shoulder, looks up at him while he is looking down at her and they smile. The screen flashes BISHOUJO SENSHI SAILORMOON PAST LOVES (in Japanese) and pans away until it is centered and surrounded by flashing colors. "Gomen ne sunao ja nakute," Usagi runs across the screen, falls, and getting to her feet, she turns into Princess Serenity and keeps running. "Yume no naka nara ieru," Mamoru wakes up in the middle of the night from a nightmare. Sitting up in bed, the moonlight shines down on his and with a flurry of red rose petals, he turns into Prince Endymion. "Shikou Kairo wa shotto sunzen," Mamoru senses that Usagi is in trouble and gets a terrible headache. Clutching his head, he transforms intoÑnot Tuxedo Mask, butÑPrince Endymion. He runs off into the night. "Ima sugu aitai yo." Usagi (her hair down) stares up at the full moon, her face cupped in her hands, her elbows propped up on her window sill. The camera swivels around from a profile shot, to focus on the dreamy look in her eyes. Suddenly, a light flashes and stretching her arms out to the moon, she becomes Princess Serenity (hair still down). "Nakitaku naru you-na Moonlight," Rei gazes into the Sacred Fire, dressed in her Shinto Priestess's robes. The flames flicker and she turns to stare out the door where the moonlight is slanting in. There is a shot of the door from her point of view. Her arm can just be seen at the side of the screen and it looks as though she is wearing her Mars fuku, but as the camera pulls away and we see Rei, she is *not* Sailor Mars. She is *Princess* Rei. The camera swivels around to look at her face and the faraway look in her eyes. "Denwa mo dekinai Midnight." Makoto runs through the darkened Tokyo streets just as the clock in the distance strikes midnight. She turns to look at it, framed by one of the trees that line the road. A bolt of lightning streaks across the sky near the clock and as it illuminates the scene, she seems to turn into Sailor Jupiter. However, when it is gone, it can clearly be seen that she is *Princess* Makoto. The camera swivels around to look at the determination etched in her face. "Datte junjou dou shiyou?" Ami stares at her reflection in a pool of water. A drop (teardrop?) falls into it causing the surface to ripple. As it ripples her reflection seems to turn into Sailor Mercury, but when it clears, the reflection is of *Princess* Ami. The camera swivels around from the reflection to look at Ami's wistful expression. "Haato wa mangekyou." Minako clasps her hands to her heart and looks at the mountains on the horizon. The camera spins around her dizzyingly, until she is merely a blur. Only a few details can be picked out. It seems like she is wearing her Sailor Venus or Sailor V fuku, but when the camera abruptly comes to a stop facing her, she is wearing neither. She is dressed as *Princess* Minako. The camera pans to a close up of her face and her love-filled eyes. "Tsuki no hikari ni michibikare," Jadeite gazes up at the moon as he wanders about what looks like an ancient Earth city. (The *same* one as the one that Princess Serenity has visited at least three times.) He whispers something into the night but only "RÑ" can be heard before the scene changes abruptly. "Nandomo meguri-au," Nephrite gazes up at the glittering night sky and in his mind begins to trace out a constellation. It is a face that looks amazingly enough like . . . "Seiza no mataki kazoe uranau koi yukue." The stars warp all of a sudden until they are a slightly different night sky. Zoisite looks down and smiles as he runs up to a figure ahead. The only thing that can be made out is something blue . . . "Onaji kuni ni umareta no Mirakuru Romansu." Kunzite looks out at the sprawling city that stretches out beneath the Earth Palace (It's situated on a hill.) and adjusts his cape. His attention shifts to what he holds in one gloved hand. It is a long, glittering, golden strand of hair. "Mo ichido futari de Weekend," Usagi and Mamoru sit on a blanket spread out in the park and eat a picnic lunch. Usagi is holding a pie in her left hand as she bends to pick up her fork. Mamoru turns to say something to her as she straightens up with a happy cry, her fork in her hand. He gets, you guessed it, a cream pie in the face. Usagi and Mamoru look at each other, (he's just eyes staring out of cream) then start laughing. "Kami-sama kanaeta Happy-end." Usagi uses a napkin to tenderly wipe the last bit of pie off of Mamoru's face and she smiles cutely at him. He catches her hand and smiles at her and they kiss. "Genzai kako mirai mo," Flash images really fast of Princess Serenity and her court in the past on the moon, Usagi and the girls in the present out shopping, and Neo-Queen Serenity and her Sailor Senshi in the future in Crystal Tokyo on the screen. "Anata ni kubittake." Flash images really fast of Prince Endymion and his Guardians in the past on Earth, Mamoru and the Generals in the present (don't ask), and King Endymion and four shadowy figures in the future in Crystal Tokyo on the screen. "Deatta toki no natsukashii," The screen is split into four separate scenes. The four Senshi and the four Guardians smile at each other. "Manazashi wasurenai," The stars sparkle in the heavens again. Cut to a split screen of sixteen-year old Princess Serenity (on the left side of the screen) and nineteen-year old Prince Endymion (on the right side of the screen) standing on their balconies. (Since it's a split screen, there are no moons of planets and it looks like they're staring at each other.) "Ikusenman no hoshi kara anata o mitsukerareru," The four Senshi and the four Guardians walk towards each other. "Guuzen mo chansu ni kaeru ikikata ga suki yo." Mamoru, Usagi, Rei, Minako, Makoto, and Ami walk through the park together, laughing and talking. Usagi, who isn't looking because she's talking to Mamoru, accidentally walks into Rei where she has stopped to smell some flowers. Rei gets up, self-righteous and annoyed and starts to yell at Usagi, who looks like she's about to cry, but then Minako, who's talking to Makoto and Ami and also isn't looking, walks into Usagi. Minako sudden stop causes Makoto and Ami trip and fall onto her while she's falling on Usagi, who's falling on Rei. They all land with a crash on the ground. Mamoru's the only one who's left standing and he gets a *huge* sweatdrop. Everyone gets to their feet, start to yell, stop, then start laughing. "Fushigi-na kiseki Kurosu-shite nandomo meguri-au," The four Guardians and the four Inner Senshi kiss each other tenderly in front of a lake in the green-blue light of twilight. The wind ruffles their hair. "Seiza no matataki kazoe uranau koi no yukue." There is a distant shot of this scene. Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion appear suddenly in the center, just hugging each other, tears in their eyes. Everyone changes from their past forms to their present ones and back again. "Onaji juni ni umareta no Mirakuru Romansu." The two cats scamper into the scene and manage to end up right in front of Serenity and Endymion. They transform into their human forms for a split second, then change back again. "Shinjite-iru no," Queen Serenity, and Sailors Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus appear off to the sides in a flash of light. "Mirakura Romansu." The couples pull apart, but still holding hands, they turn to face the screen and smile wistfully. Freeze screen. UNLIKELY LOVE *The Past* *On Earth* With a flash of light, the portals flared open and the three girls fell to earth. Literally, *to Earth*. "Ow!" Mars yelled, rubbing her posterior. "What happened?" "I think we need more practice," Mercury commented dazedly, while getting to a sitting position. "You can say that again," Jupiter groaned, picking herself up from the ground and dusting herself off. "All right, all right!" Mars said irately, "There's no time for this! We can all bellyache later, *after* we've found the Princess." "Right!" Jupiter and Mercury replied. "Well then, let's go!" Mars immediately began running off. "Uh, Sailor Mars, you might not want to do that," Mercury called after her. Mars ground to a stop and turned back. "Why not?" "Uh, well, you see . . ." "Spit it out!" "It might be a good idea if we changed into something a *little* less . . . conspicuous." Jupiter burst into a fit of laughter. Annoyed, Mars looked down at what she was wearing and grim realization dawned. She, like them all, was clothed only in her Sailor fuku. Her *short* Sailor fuku. Her *really, really short* Sailor fuku. Looking up, she said weakly, "Oh. Maybe you're right." Sailors Mercury and Jupiter just stared at her for an instant before they burst into another fit of giggles. An instant later Mars joined them. After detransforming into more modest clothing, Rei, Makoto, and Ami agreed to split up in search of the princess. When one of them found her, she would contact the others using either telpathy or the more conventional method of her communicator. If in seven days' time, they had yet to find her, they would all meet back up where they had arrived and try another spproach. "So are we agreed?" Rei asked, fidgeting awkwardly in the red dress that she wore. "Agreed," the other two Senshi echoed. They piled their hands on top of each other as a sign of unity, and agreement, then pulled away, each heading in a different direction. Thirty seconds later, Ami stopped and said, "Uh, Rei, Makoto?" "Yes, what is it now?!" Rei snarled, exasperated. "Wouldn't it make more sense if we all headed towards the city *before* splitting up? I mean, the princess's residual teleportation energy *is* emanating from near there and that is the likeliest area to search. Where else would she go?" Makoto and Rei exchanged a sheepish look. Turning about and catching up with Ami, they all headed towards the city. Kunzite paced, his cloak billowing behind him. Fingering the clasp his own cloak, Jadeite wondered if the only reason that Kunzite paced was to show his off, then quickly dismissed the thought. Kunzite was worried, just as they all were. Kunzite suddenly stopped pacing and faced them. "Look, menÑ" "Ñall of you know that Endy's been missing for several days now." "Oh, really?" Zoisite drawled sarcastically as he lounged, polishing the edge of his sword. "I hadn't noticed." "Enough backtalk!" Kunzite snapped, shocking the other three Guardians. Kunzite almost never lost his air of indifference, and he *never* snapped at Zoisite. They had always been as close as brothers, ever since they had become sparring partners in school. Being two years the elder, Kunzite had always acted as the protective older brother to his younger friend, always making sure that no one ever insulted him by referring to his "delicate" looks. He suffered no insults from *anyone* about Zoisite, least of all from himself. Jadeite snuck a look at Zoisite and was relieved to see that his friend and companion looked a bit peeved but was none the worse for Kunzite's outburst. Kunzite calmed himself down with an obvious effort. "Apologies, Zoisite, I had not meant to lash out at you. I may be under a great deal of stress, but that is no excuse." "Yeah, well." Zoisite shrugged nonchalantly. "No hard feelings." Kunzite looked at him for an instant, measuringly, then nodded in satisfaction. "Chin up, head high," he murmured. "Never let 'em get you down." Jadeite allowed himself a small smile at the familiar verse of the Warrior's Ballad. It was a great honor to be considered worthy enough to merit warrant in the Ballad and Kunzite had just shown that he thought Zoisite was worthy. Zoisite beamed at the praise. "What of the prince?" Nephrite asked, a tinge of impatience in his voice. Immediately Kunzite's expression darkened. "We must find him. Soon." "Any ideas?" Jadeite asked. His companions ignored him. "At least we know he's all right," he tried again, touching his stone for emphasis. "That is a blessing," was Kunzite's only reply, but it was said with the distinct sound of relief as he was reminded that they would *know* if anything had happened to their prince. "There are many dangers out there." "You know, Kunzite, Endy can take care of himself." Kunzite frowned. "I am well aware of the prince's abilities, Zoisite. Still, it is our *duty* to protect him. We must not be remiss." Nephrite snorted. "*Us* remiss? Never. Besides, isn't Endy the one who keeps running off? I'm reminded of a certain incident two years ago . . ." "Huh." Kunzite resumed pacing. "That hothead is going to get himself killed one of these days with his reckless behavior. We should have found him earlier then, too. Endymion is the last prince of Earth and heir to the kingdom when he comes of age. The Ministers of State may be running the country right now, but soon, the responsibility of ruling the kingdom will fall to him." Jadeite fidgeted with his clasp again. "If he doesn't start taking his responsibilities more seriously, I don't know how he's going to manage," Kunzite said, finishing off Jadeite's thought. "Maybe we haven't raised him up right," Zoisite sighed. Jadeite and Kunzite turned to stare at him incredulously while Nephrite simply stared up at the ceiling. Zoisite sweatdropped and spread his fingers in a "V" for victory sign. "Just kidding." Kunzite and Jadeite groaned. Nephrite stopped leaning against the wall and got to his feet. "Well, I for one am going to find Endymion." He walked out. Kunzite exchanged looks with the remaining two Guardians. "You two go look for the prince. I'll wait here in case he returns." was the unspoken thought. They all knew that the Cathal border was troubled. The Cathals had been readying for an all out attack for years. With Prince Endymion away, the only one with enough authority to issue orders to the military was Lord Kunzite. That was why he would remain at the Palace. He performed his duty to his prince by protecting his kingdom. Only Jadeite looked back as they left the room and only he saw the troubled look that crossed Kunzite's face as he stared out the large glass window at the city below. Beryl stared bemused at the dark pointed crystal that hovered in front of her. "What is that for?" Metallia laughed as best a nebulous evil entity could. "To aid you." Beryl made a noise of disbelief. "I don't think so. I need no help to dispose of my enemies. Not with the Power that I now possess!" "Do not forget who gave you that Power. And they are our enemiessss, Beryl. You will usssse the crysssstal to accomplissssh our goalssss." "So what do want me to do with it?" "Contained within it are sssseven of my mosssst powerful warriorssss. I make a gift of them to you. Usssse them wissssely." A malicious smile touched the edges of Beryl's lips. "Warriors. Yes, I will make use of them. After all, once I become Queen of Earth with Endymion as my king, I must have underlings to serve me." She snatched the crystal and admired its shadowy depths. "What are they called?" "The Sssseven Sssshadowssss." Jadeite walked about the city depressed. He didn't notice where he was headed and so ended up walking into a girl. "Hey!" she yelled, obviously upset. "Who do you think you are, you moron?!!" Jadeite was just about to reply angrily when he stopped short. The girl yelling at him appeared to be around his age. She was tall, but not too tall, with raven-dark hair and flashing violet eyes. And she was beautiful when she was angry. Even when she was screaming at him at the top of her lungs. "Why don't you watch where you're going?!" she shouted, glaring at him under perfect dark brows. Jadeite stared, mouth agape, then pulling himself together, he closed his mouth with an audible snap. "IÑI'm sorry," he blurted out. "I didn't mean toÑI mean it was an accidentÑuh, is there anything I can do to make it up to you?" he asked in some confusion. The girl raised one perfectly sculpted brow over one violet eye and said, "You could get off of my foot." Jadeite immediately leaped back and nearly knocked over an old woman carrying a basket of vegetables. After another round of apologies, he turned back to the girl, almost expecting her to be gone, but she was still there, tapping her foot impatiently and glaring at him angrily. He was in heaven. Rei looked at the bumbling blonde man in front of her. Aloud she said, "You're not too coordinated are you?" He turned red around the ears and stammered, "N-no, I mean yes, I mean . . . um, I guess I wasn't paying too much attention as to where I was going." Rei looked at him for another instant. She shook her head quickly, shutting her eyes. "I have to be going now," she said, turning to go. "Wait!" Jadeite cried, drawing stares. He ignored them and grabbed her arm below the elbow. Mentally he asked himself what he was doing. "What do you want?" the girl asked irritatedly, shaking off his hand and walking faster. He quickened his stride to keep up with her. "How about your name?" Rei considered. It couldn't hurt anything. "It's MaÑI mean, Rei. That's what I'm called, anyway." "I'm Jadeite," the boy said earnestly, "and I think you're quite lovely." Inwardly he cringed, "Thank you," the girl said smoothly. "Would you like to get something to eat? I know a nice little place." "I'm sorry, but I have someplace to go. If you'd excuse me?" She pushed him to one side, then left down a side street, quickly getting lost in the crowd. "Rats!" He stared after her. Rei mentally cursed. Too bad Earth was off limits. The guys were cute. Nephrite was walking in the gardens, trying to think. He often came here to calm himself before he consulted the stars, but night would not fall for several hours and he was at a loss as to what to do in the meantime. He placed his hand over the stone that hung near his heart. The crack of a branch being stepped on in the stillness instantly dissipated his melancholy mood, and put him on the alert. He edged closer to the noise. It was coming from the other side of a large rosebush. Cautiously, he looked over the top of it and found himself eye to eye with a beautiful girl. She looked quite fierce. Makoto looked at the good-looking man in front of her. He was staring at her. She stared right back. She had only wandered into this secluded garden to rest her feet for an instant and take stock of her surroundings. The flowers and trees were also exceedingly lovely and no one would blame her for taking a small break in her search for the princess. was the thought that made her wince, uneasily. She redoubled her hostile glare at the man. "Who are you?" he asked. "Who are you?" she asked right back. "I'm Nephrite," he said, careful to avoid use of any titles. She glared at him for another couple of seconds, then shrugged and said, "I'm Makoto." "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance." "I'm not so sure that I'm pleased to make yours." She scowled. Nephrite thought objectively, as he watched her scowling at him. "Are you lost?" he asked politely. Commoners weren't allowed in the Royal Gardens. "Oh, what? Uh, I guess so." "Well, you do know that these gardens are off limits," he said as gently as he could. She narrowed her eyes. "Then what are *you* doing here?" "I work here." "You're a gardener?" "No, more like an astronomer, if you would," "but I have been given permission to be here." "Well, I guess I haven't. I should be going anyway, so it doesn't really matter. But," she hesitated, "I was looking for a friend of mine." "Really?" "Yes, my friend must be lost, and I don't really know where she is. She's short, with blue eyes, and long blonde hair. Her hairstyle's kinda unusual, so if you see her, you'll know who she is. Tell her I've been looking for her, okay?" "I shall certainly inform her if I see her. Um, what is her name?" Makoto smiled a little, and it wasn't pleasant. "You'll know her by her hair, and I'm not sayin' anymore than that." "All right." Nephrite shrugged, it didn't really matter to him. "Listen, I'm looking for a friend, too. Maybe we could look together?" "I don't really think so." Zoisite yawned. He fingered the stone that hung around his neck. A flash of blue attracted his attention. Chasing the elusive color he found himself looking at a young woman with a rather unusual hair color walking down the street. He broke into a jog then slowed when he caught up with her. "Um, excuse me, I don't suppose you've seen a young man with black hair, blue eyes, and an affinity for roses around here, have you?" The woman gave him a funny look. "No, I haven't as of yet, but if I do come across such an individual, I shall certainly inform him that someone answering your description was inquiring for him." Zoisite's eyes bugged out a little, but the woman didn't notice having turned away and kept walking. He quickly caught up to her. "I'm Zoisite. What's your name?" The woman didn't turn to look at him or even slow her step. "I am Ami." "Well, Lady Ami, can I assist you in any manner? Have you just arrived in our fair capital? I don't remember ever seeing you before, and I know most of the populace." "I have just arrived, yes." "Do you need a guide?" "I am looking for a friend of mine." "Hey, maybe my friend's with yours. Perhaps we can search for them together? What do you say? I'm not a bad guy, and I always respect a lady." Ami stopped and giggled. "I'm sorry. I have been rude, haven't I? It's just that I am not used to conversing easily with gentlemen." "Oh, there are a lot of unsavory types around here, I guess." Ami giggled again. "I didn't mean that! I just meant that I don't usually speak to many people. I-I find it hard to speak with men in general." "Oh!" A light bulb went off in Zoisite's head. "Why didn't you just say so? Now, you haven't had that much trouble speaking with me, have you? That's a start. So anyway, loosen up a little, and while we go look for our friends, I'll show you the time of your life today!" He grabbed her wrist and dragged her off after him as he raced down the street. Ami followed, the shocked look on her face eventually changing to one of bemusement. She smiled to herself. Kunzite walked round the Palace grounds, scanning for any trouble. He needed something to occupy him. Without the others around, he had nothing to do but worry about Endymion and that made him feel ridiculously paranoid. He heard a suspicious sounding noise and went to take a look. Unfortunately, it was only a minor Lord and his Lady out on a romantic stroll. They were whispering romantic nonsense at each other. Kunzite stalked away, irritated beyond words. He resumed his patrol, ignoring every couple that he passed. Too late he realized that the Festival of Romance was only three weeks away. Utterly disgusted, he veered clear of any places where couples were likely to be, including the Royal Gardens and the Court of Fountains. He scowled ferociously and ignored the ladies that gazed at him with obvious admiration from behind their ornamental fans. Kunzite did not like women. He did not trust women. The only woman he had ever liked *and* trusted had gone off and married his older cousin, who was to inherit the throne. Thus his inherent mistrust of women. "Love makes you weak/Love makes you strong/Slows the tongue that would speak/Fills the heart with courage and song." He sighed heavily, the words bitter on his tongue. "Love is but an empty lie," he quoted, "to fill your days before you die." He continued on his way, trying to ignore the love that was in the air and the flirtatious sighing of the women about him. Minako twiddled her thumbs and tried whistling at the same time. She failed. Miserably. Blowing out a breath, she ran a hand through her long golden hair and sighed. She was bored. Really, *really* bored. She glared at the mirror on her dresser and her reflection glared back. She glared at Artemis where he was curled up next to the mirror on her dresser. He took one look at her face and scampered off. She glared at the wall next to her dresser. It did nothing. Minako banged her head on the dresser counter in frustration. Taking out her hairbrush again, she resumed brushing her hair for the millionth time that day. Staring at all of her hair on the brush, she idly wondered if she was going to go bald from lack of anything better to do. Groaning, she put down the brush and pounded her fists against her dresser top. Jadeite kicked at a rock on the street, and frowned as his boot received a scuff mark for his trouble. "Excuse me," a melodious voice said. "Could you tell me ifÑ" Jadeite snapped his head up and intent two blue eyes met two startled violet ones. "Ñyou've seen a girl with golden hair tied up in two buns?" Rei finished quietly, still gazing into his eyes. "No," he responded, his voice low and slightly hoarse, "but I've just seen a vision for the second time." Rei blushed. "Thank you," she replied. He smiled. "I'm sorry I haven't seen your friend. Listen, maybe you and I could do our searching together. My friend's missing too." Rei considered the notion for a moment. "Well, maybe. I'm lost enough in this city as it is. You can help make sure that I don't keeping walking around in circles like I have for the last two hours." "It would be my pleasure," he said gallantly, bowing. "The only thing is," she said slowly, "I don't know you very well." Jadeite simply grinned. "We can work on that." Rei smiled back as she took his hand. "Okay, Jadeite," she said stumbling slightly over the strange name. "Call me, Jade," he said with a carefree laugh, as he bent to kiss her hand. "It's easier that way." Her lips curved in a smile at the feeling of his lips brushing her fingers. "All right, Jade. So . . . where shall we start looking?" He straightened, still holding her hand to him. "I know this quaint little place to eat . . ." "Jade!" "Who knows, our friends have probably gotten hungry by now. Everyone has to eat, after all!" Rei smiled, looking at him amusedly. There was nothing she could say against that logic. She took the arm he offered and laughingly they made their way through the city. Half an hour after the incident in the Royal Gardens, Makoto and Nephrite were wandering through the streets of the capital together. she thought acidly. Nephrite grinned to himself. "We must've looked everywhere by now!" the woman beside him complained. "The city is a large place. We could both search for *days* and still not locate our friends." "Oh, *GREAT*! That's just what I wanted to hear." "Do you really object to my company *that* much?" Nephrite asked, interjecting a note of hurt into his voice. "No, of course not," Makoto replied immediately, much to Nephrite's satisfaction. "I actually feel comfortable being with you. You're a very good listener." "Thank you, but you still seem upset." "I guess I'm just frustrated . . . and worried about my friend." "Yes, I can see that. You're a very caring person, and very protective of your friend." "She's like my little sister. I *have* to protect her. It's . . . hard to explain." "No, I understand. It's the same between my friend and I." She smiled up at him. "You're a really wonderful guy. I hope you know that. I'm glad you understand. Hey, you know something funny?" "Hmmm?" "I think you're the *first* guy that I've *ever* had to look up to to talk to." Nephrite chuckled, then sobered at the tinge of wistful pain in her voice. "Don't be ashamed of your height, Makoto. You're a beautiful woman and your height only serves to show off your beauty better." She smiled again. "You're kind." "I'm honest." She looked down, flustered. Then she took his hand in hers and held it tight. Looking up at him (*again*) she said, her eyes sparkling like the most brilliant stars, "I don't think that I'd *ever* tire of your company. I'd never want to leave." Looking at the way she looked, Nephrite could but gaze at her beauty, stunned, as he said, "I wish that you never had to." Ami and Zoisite glared at each other as they walked around the city. "Amphion's theory was better! The principles were more sound!" Ami said heatedly. "But Crevian developed his better and it is *much* simpler than Amphion's! Beside, Amphion was wrong about the Flaxter principle!" Zoisite retorted. "ButÑ" Ami began indignantly. Before she could say anymore, Zoisite clapped his hand gently over her mouth and whispered softly in her ear, "Shhh. All right, I forfeit. It is too beautiful a night to spend arguing with a lovely lady over meaningless mathematical principles." "Mmmeemingiff!" Ami said, her voice muffled by Zoisite's hand. "I'm sorry," he said, releasing his hand. He turned her until she faced him then looked straight into her angry blue eyes. "Please don't be mad. I'm sure you're right." "So you're just giving up?!" "Honestly, Lady Ami, there is no point to this debate. We can argue about math for years, wasting our lives over trivialities, or we can actually go out and live our lives! Making the most of every moment! *That* is why we are alive." Slowly, the anger in her eyes faded, replaced by wry understanding. "I suppose I am far too zealous when it comes to math and science, but that is simply the way I am. The way everyone expects me to be." "Don't," he said suddenly. "Don't let others control your life. Don't let yourself be fitted into a mold. Let yourself be who *you* think you are and not who everyone else thinks of you as." "How?" "Break all the molds, push all the boundaries! Escape your limitations, AmiÑOh, I'm sorry, LadyÑ" "No. Call me Ami. Titles are so formal." She said the last with a coy little smile and her eyes sparkled with mischief. "That's the girl! Now, we'll find our friends sooner or later and when we do, make yours think of you as you are!" Ami started to laugh. Zoisite stopped short. "I had not realized that I was so amusing," he said dryly. "You're not. Oh, I'm sorry," she said, bringing her laughter under control, "but my friend is the one who's *always* trying to loosen me up. She is the *last* person to think of as a stereotype." Zoisite grinned. "You'll have to introduce us." Ami immediately stopped laughing and her eyes started to flash. "Oh, no you don't! I saw you first!" Zoisite looked at her intently. "Did you now?" Ami shrank back, immediately apologetic. "Oh, I'm sorry. I-I shouldn't have said that. I don't know why I said that. It was just on the spur of the moment. Forgive me, please." Zoisite was disappointed. For an instant he had thoughtÑHe still hoped . . . "Ami, what you said before, did you mean it?" His voice was low and serious, quite unlike his usual carefree self. She averted her eyes. "I am at ease with you. I am myself with you. I did not mean toÑI have no claim on you, sir. I should not have presumedÑ" "Presume away," was his quiet reply. Ami looked up into two *very* green eyes, intent and searching. "ZoisiteÑ?" He grabbed her wrist gently and held it as he bent his head, kissing her with all of the love and passion that he had begun feeling for her when he had first met her but a few hours ago. She was hesitant at first, then responded equally and when they finally pulled away from each other, her cheeks were flushed with pink. "You're right, mathematical principles can wait." Zoisite grinned, then held her close. "Lady AmiÑ" "Ami," she corrected him gently, as she smiled. "Ami." His grin widened. "I think I'm falling in love with you." "And I, with you." Drawn closer as if they were to opposite magnets attracting, they kissed again, then pulled away quite abruptly, and turned their backs to one another. "We mustn't!" Ami said, flustered. "We shouldn't!" Zoisite said at the same time. "We have to find our friends!" they both said turning to each other. "Right, this can wait," Zoisite said, taking her hand as they ran off, "till later." "Later," Ami echoed, then blushed again, ducking her head as they ran, but her hand tightened on his, and in the darkness of the evening, Zoisite grinned again. Kunzite ran through the palace, ducking into an empty room and pressing himself to the wall as two girls ran screaming past. "Um, Lord Kunzite?" a voice asked uncertainly. Sighing in relief that it was a male voice, Kunzite turned his head, still pressed against the wall, to look at the doorway next to him. A page had his head poked through the door. "Um, sir?" he asked, disbelief tinging his voice. "Uh, nevermind!" Kunzite barked out, pulling away from the wall and brushing himself off. "What is it?" "I was looking for Prince Endymion, sir, but was unable to find him." "The Prince is elsewhere at the moment. If you have a message you may give it to me and I shall make sure that he receives it." "It's about the borders, sir. Cathal is encroaching. They've overtaken the village of Edmunston." "Is that all?" "No, sir. It seems that they have gained outside help. They have new allies." "Their names?" "They call themselves, the Dark Kingdom, sir." Minako dusted, singing as she went. After becoming as bored as she could stand without losing her sanity, she had gone into a cleaning frenzy and had decided to clean every room in the Palace. All of the Senshi's rooms, hers included were nigh-spotless now, and she had moved on to Princess Serenity's room. She knew that it was an invasion of privacy, but she shrugged the thought off as she reasoned that none of them had nothing to hide and if she could not be trusted, who could? She picked up a series of Serenity's sketches that she had left lying out and flipped through them. She drew in her breath as she came to a sketch of her. she thought, eying the drawing critically. Placing the sketch on top, she straightened the papers and put them on a shelf. Then, her mood greatly improved, she started cleaning again with a vigor, dusting as she sang the catchy song the musicians had played at the last ball. "UnlikelyÑ as an unlikely love! UnlikelyÑ as the stars above! UnlikelyÑ as an unlikely lu-uh-uve! UnlikelyÑ as an unlikely love! Mmmm-um-um da da da da dah Mmmm-um-um da da da da dah . . ." her voice trailed off. "What's this?" She picked up a sketch that Princess Serenity had fallen to the floor. It was a fanciful sketch, of a man and a woman holding a rose and framed by the night sky. They looked to be very much in love and the woman was clearly the princess. The background was definitely Earth. "Oh Gods, Sere, what does this mean?" Her hand shaking uncontrollably, Minako suddenly noticed that the old scar on her wrist had opened and she that was bleeding all over the picture. She dropped the sketch to the ground and clutched her wrist desperately to stop the bleeding. "Oh Gods, the oath I swore on his death! That my life's blood should bleed on the return of the evil. Why now? Why this? Oh Sere, what is to become of us both?" She fell to the ground in a huddle. "The evil has returnedÑSuch an evil. We will *all* have to be strong, to defeat it." Faint, she passed out. Sailor Pluto arrived in a flash, gazing at her still form. "For you, Venus, born of Love, born into Pain, your suffering has just begun. But you *must* be strong, for the Princess . . . and for yourself." She easily lifted the Senshi and with a gesture made the bleeding stop. Then with a swirl of her staff, they were gone. The drawing lay on the floor, unnoticed, in a pool of blood. * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * Venus awoke, groggy from loss of blood. Then she saw where she was . . . and screamed. An instant later a rather irritated voice cut her off. "Could you please tone it down? You're giving me a headache." Sailor Venus immediately snapped her mouth shut. Wide-eyed, she stared at her surroundings. She tried to get up but found that she couldn't. Pluto appeared and sighed. "You're not dead, I am *not* cranky, there is no up and down, and you are in the Place that is Beyond Time." Sailor Venus made a face. "Gee, that explains everything quite nicely, thanks. HeyÑwait a second, how did youÑ?" "You think quite loud, Venus." "You mean you read my *thoughts*? And hereÑ" "ÑI thought that you respected privacy! . . . But, I guess you already knew that, huh?" Pluto let out a long suffering breath. "You never change." "Am I supposed to?" Sigh. "Sailor Venus, we haven't the timeÑno that's not rightÑI haven't the patience for this. I happened to save your life a little while ago, and now I am going to collect on my debt. You are going to listen to me, and listen well." "Yes." "The evil, as you have already ascertained, is returning." "Yes." "You know who they are, do you not?" "Yes. The Dark Kingdom has returned to conquer the universe." "And only you and I have any chance of stopping it." Sailor Venus stared at the emotions flickering through Pluto's eyes, unable to read any of them. * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * *A week later* The Senshi had been less than successful on their individual searches and the Guardians had not fared any better. Still, neither froup minded much since they *knew* that their charges were all right, and they were enjoying the company of their traveling companions. Nevertheless, the Senshi's week was up and as promised they had to return to their meeting place. They were loathe to part from their company, however. "Must you go?" Jadeite pleaded for the umpteenth time, knowing as he did so that it was futile. Rei smiled fondly at him. "You know that I do. The searching is accomplishing nothing. I have yet to locate my friend." "And I have yet to locate mine! Why can't we just keep searching together, Rei?" "I made a promise to meet my friends today." "And you can't go back on a promise," Jadeite sighed. "I know, I know." He looked so sad that on impulse, Rei leaned up and kissed him on the mouth. He opened his eyes, surprised, but his face softened as he saw her tightly shut eyes and the tears rimming them. He gave himself to her kiss. A long moment later, though it was too soon for Jadeite, they parted. "You're the first woman to ever kiss me," he whispered, touching her face. She stroked his hair away from his face. "You're the first man I've ever kissed." Taking her by surprise, her pulled her closer to him. "Don't go, Rei!" he cried impulsively. "I have the worst feeling of foreboding that I shall never see you again, and I could not bear that. You're too special to me." She smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Can't you say it, Jade? What's in both of our hearts?" "I can, only if you feel the same." "How could I feel any different? You grow on a girl. When I first met you, I thought that you were a bumbling fool, but cute," she added quickly. "And I thought that you were a goddess." "Now I think you're the most wonderful man I have ever known." "I still think you're a goddess. I live for your smile, Rei." "Then we feel the same," she stated simply. "Then I can tell you. I love you, Rei." "And I love you." This time he kissed her and she let herself be kissed, trying to stop the flow of her tears. When they parted for a second time, no matter how she tried to hide it, her eyes were wet. "I hate good-byes." "That was no good-bye kiss, Rei!" "No. That was my promise to you. My promise to return someday. We'll see each other again." "But you have to go," he finished. "Yes, I have a duty to perform. I don't know why, but I think you can understand that." "I can understand." "So this isn't good-bye. It's justÑtill we meet again." "Rei, IÑ" "I know that you love me. I don't need to know anymore. Please Jade, don't make this harder for both of us." "I won't. Till we meet again, Rei." "Till we meet again." She smiled once, then left, disappearing down a side street. Jadeite stared after her. "Ami, how can you leave?" "I can, because I must." "But AmiÑ" "Zoisite," she said firmly, smiling bravely, to force back the tears that threatened to fall, "I'm sorry that I can't stay to help you look for your friend, but I must be meeting some of mine." "Take me with you!" She laughed easily. "You know that I can't." "Then come back right after meeting them!" She sobered. "The answer is the same as before. I can't." "Ami, I thought that weÑ?" She turned away. They had not spoken of that incident since the night that it had occurred, and now was *not* the time to bring up their kissing. Or what it meant. "We were very impulsive, were we not?" "I guess we were." He sounded defeated. "Still, usually impulsive actions stem from desires." "I suppose." "Even of the two of us, did feel something for each other, I'm afraid it is far too illogical to work. I have never taken much stock in love at first sight." "Nor have I." ". . . Till a week ago, that is," she corrected herself. "Ditto," he said, hope dawning. "Regardless, I *must* meet my friends. I don't break my wordÑ" "No, I don't suppose you do." "Ñwhich is why when I say that we'll see each other again, you should believe me." "And I do." She turned around, smiling. "Reach for the skies, right? Well, let's be completely illogical and promise that we'll go dancing when I'm here next." "Dancing it is." "I never danced a step in my life," Ami admitted, smiling more. "Lady, I'll be more than happy to teach you." "That is Ami to you, sir," she said tapping him lightly on the forehead. "And don't you forget it!" "No, Ma'am." Ami turned away and walked off. Halting a dozen yards away, she stopped and turned back to him, blowing a kiss his way. She winked, then resumed walking and soon she was gone. Zoisite smiled and began to whistle. She'd be back. "I have to meet some people." "You're leaving, aren't you?" "I never said that I'd stay." "No, you didn't, but Makoto, I wish you would." "Well, I do too, but there's nothing I can do." She hunched up her shoulders, sighed, resumed her normal posture and kept right on walking, out of his life. He knew that he had to do something, and fast. "Makoto, I love you." She stopped. Instantly. Her voice was low as she asked, "What did you say?" "I said, I love you. I want to spend my life with you." "I thought so." Dead silence reigned, then: "Mako, say something, please!" "This is a joke, right?" "No." "Then why would you say such a thing?" "I meant every word." "I know you did. The question I asked was "Why?"." "You're the only woman I've loved for a long, long time. I let all of my chances slip through my fingers, but I'm not going to let you go. Please, Mako, if you feel anything at all for me, tell me now. I have to know if I'm loving you in vain." "Stop!" she cried, pressing her hands to her ears. "I can't listen to anymore!" "MakoÑ" "Why do you have to tell me such things? I was happy. *We* were happy! Now you've gone and ruined it! I could have left, put my feelings behind, but now . . . nowÑOh, whatever possessed you to do this to me?!" "It's because I LOVE YOU! What is wrong with loving somebody?!" "Everything, and nothing," she whispered, turning to face him, her eyes shimmering with tears. "Why can't you let somebody love you? Why can't we be happy, together?" "We can't be. You and I both know it. We both have our reasons, and I knew, long before you did that we would both choose duty over love. That's our priority, isn't it? Being the type of people that we are?" "You're wrong." "Am I?" He meant to respond but found he could not. "Am I?" she asked again, walking forward until she was looking up at him, searching his eyes. "Mako, IÑ" She turned away, disappointed. "I was right, wasn't I? Duty before love." "Give us a chance, Mako!" "You made your choice in that moment of indecision and it wasn't me." "No, Mako, we canÑ" "LEAVE ME ALONE!!!" Makoto screamed, tears welling up in her eyes. Sobbing, she pushed him aside and ran off. "Please . . . just leave me be!" Nephrite stared after her, "WAIT! MAKO, I'M SORRY!!!!" She paid him no heed and the sound of her sobs drifted to him. He stared at the stone about his neck and whispered in a low voice, "I-I love you, but we can never be together. WHY?! Why can't we be together?" Then the answer came to him bright and clear, flooding his mind with calm and quiet acceptance. * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * Sailor Venus began to speak up, "Sailor Pluto what should weÑ?" But Pluto cut her off as she tilted her head to one side as though listening. "We have run out of time." "What? I thought we were outside of time!" "We are, though no time has passed for us, for the others several days have passed." "*DAYS*?!!!" Sailor Venus shrieked. "What do you mean, DAYS?!!!" Pluto frowned. "I could return you to the instant that I took you here, but that would be pointless. You shall return to whatever time I see fit and I shall return you to that when, Sailor Venus." It was then that Minako noticed that that she *was* Sailor Venus. "WaitÑuh nevermind. Just tell me, why am IÑ" she pointed at herself. A smile touched Pluto's lips briefly, "No time." She swirled her staff and Sailor Venus was gone. She swirled her staff again and returned to the Gate of Time. Sailor Pluto concentrated, and from within her energy glowed and came forth. "Winds of Time, retrieve that which was gone, returning it to its rightful place. Energy blast return!" A white glowing bubble of energy burst forth from her and shot through the door, towards a certain spot on Earth, where two people were baring their souls to one another. * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * "Dearest, as I told you before, nothing could ever stop me from loving you, Usako." "I'm not Usagi. I'm from theÑ" A huge bubble of energy formed around her and floated her up into the air. "Mamoru!" she screamed, the manifestation of energy taking her away. "Usagi!" "I'm from the Moon! I'm from the Moon Kingdom!" she cried back and her tears fell and hit him where he stood as she vanished into the night. "USAKO!!!" Endymion screamed after her. Something swirled with purple light in the air in front of and above him. Sailor Pluto appeared, wielding her staff as she floating gracefully to the ground. When she was firmly on the ground, the two of them exchanged challenging looks. She was the first to speak. Rei, Ami, and Makoto ran from three different directions to their meeting spot. They all felt the flash at the same instant. "The princessÑ" Rei began. "Ñhas returnedÑ" Makoto continued. "Ñhome," Ami finished simply. They looked at one another. "But not willingly." Ami sighed. "She's hurt!" Rei said angrily, feeling her princess's pain as her own. "It's Pluto's interference again!" Makoto fumed. "We must return, now!" Rei ordered. The other two nodded and as one they shouted, sticking their hands into the air, "MARSÑ" "MERCURYÑ" "JUPITERÑ" "TELEPORT!!!" They disappeared in three swirls of red, blue, and green light. "I warned you before," Setsuna said, pointing the end of her staff at him, "leave her be." "Who are you?!!" Endymion demanded. "What do you want with Usagi?" ""Usagi" is returning home! Now, I will ask this of you again, will you stop interfering and leave her alone?" "NO! IÑWe love each other!" "Even if she is from the moon?" Endymion fell silent, at a loss for anything to say. Setsuna looked on him and a shadow of pain flashed through her eyes, but she hardened her heart towards him. "Swear to me that you will have nothing more to do with Usagi and I will let you live," she murmured softly, soothingly. "I WILL NOT! I love her. I will always love her." "So be it," she whispered, the heart within her breaking into a million pieces. "Then you must die." Raising her staff aloft, she whispered, tears flowing down the sides of her face, "Dead scream." The quartz crystal that Endymion wore around his neck flashed suddenly with a bright white light as he desperately dove out of the way of the attack. The Guardian's stones all began to glow bright green simultaneously. <<"ENDY!">> four voices and minds cried out in alarm. "Something's wrong," Jadeite whispered under his breath, clutching at the stone about his neck, his link