Note: Characters of Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon belong to the guy that created the manga Naoko Takeuchi and not me, but the characters besides that belong to me!

PEACE SHATTERED
CHAPTER 4

Neko was shaking in fear as she sat at the reserved table and waited. Eight o-clock came, and a figure approached the door. Just as it was going to swing open, a youma charged into the room and grabbed a couple by their collars. Neko almost slithered into a dark corner.

"ETERNAL SOULS ERUPT MAKE-UP!" She yelled to begin her transformation. A white aura surrounded her as souls of every shape and size floated from the ground and formed her fuku, at this point is where she gains her ghost-like, semi-transparent appearance. Her flaming red hair that was done up in an intricate hairstyle turned white and fell down her back. Neko’s secretive violet eyes turned white as her tiara appeared. That’s when the transformation sequence finished.

The youma looked at her and growled as it rushed her, she closed her eyes and concentrated. A ghostly anaconda appeared from nowhere and coiled itself around the youma. It stared the youma in the eyes as it began to absorb substance from the youma.

"Soul Collect."

A white ball appeared in her hands and vanished along with the snake, the youma turned to dust. Just when she was about to leave, a hand grabbed her wrist and held tightly, she whirled around to face the Starlights.

"Who are you?!" Starfighter demanded.

"I am the Guardian of Souls."

"Why are you here?" Starmaker asked.

"I seek the Dimensional Saber and Scabbard within the souls of two humans. Although I know not who they are."

"Who is the one who keeps sending youmas?" Starhealer asked.

The Soul Senshi closed her eyes and answered.

"The Dimensional Marauders, they seek the Saber and Scabbard as I do. But their ultimate purpose with it’s power is to destroy all life everywhere. I must go." She said before vanishing with Starfighter still holding her wrist.

Neko appeared in the kitchen, she looked as if nothing had happened and she hadn’t transformed. She rubbed her wrist absentmindedly, Starfighter had a strong grip. When she looked through the window of the door to the kitchen, she saw that the Starlights were gone. She gathered herself and walked to her table and the guy sitting at it.

<Give me strength!> She prayed as she walked up to the young man. He turned around and they saw each other, their eyes locked. Neko turned as pale as her alter-ego and passed out, it was simply too much for her brain to handle. Seiya had set her up with Yaten.

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"Seiya how could you?! You should know what she’s like by now!"

"Hey, cool down! I was trying to make you and her happy, how was I supposed to know she’d faint?"

"Stop bickering you two! You’ll wake her up!" Taiki hissed.

"You’re saying you don’t want her to wake up?" Seiya asked in confusion.

"Hai, her brain has been through two great shocks in such a short amount of time, it was simply too much for her mind to handle." He said as he replaced the cool cloth on her forehead.

"Will she be alright?" Yaten asked worriedly.

"I knew it! You do care for her!" Seiya crowed.

Taiki ignored Seiya’s remark and answered Yaten’s question.

"She’ll be fine with uninterrupted rest, but we should take turns watching her just in case she wakes up and begins to wander, which will most likely happen."

They each took one hour watches, Seiya left the room and indicated that it was Yaten’s turn to sit there bored to death for an hour. Yaten nodded and walked in the room.

He sighed as he sat in the chair and pulled out a book to read. But his eye’s weren’t focussed on the book, they were focussed on Neko. Finally he gave up on the thought of trying to read and just stared at the young lady sleeping on his bed because of Seiya’s immaturity.

"I know what Seiya did was really immature, but, I’m almost glad he did. Perhaps I am infatuated with you, in fact, I was hoping you would be the mystery date. Truth be known I almost fainted myself when I saw you, you were stunning, and you are even now." He said softly. Little did he know, Taiki and Seiya were eavesdropping on him and grinning, they were both in on this.

Neko’s hand twitched and her eyes slowly opened, Yaten was about to get excited when they fell down and she resumed sleep. Yaten slowly and carefully pulled up the blanket when his hand brushed her skin and sent an electric shock through him. Yaten gathered his nerves and held her hand lightly.

<Her face is so beautiful and peaceful, not wracked with pain as it was at the hospital. Why hadn’t I noticed it before?> He thought as he reluctantly let go of her hand. Neko began to toss fitfully in her sleep and talk.

"Momma? Poppa?" She turned again.

"Why did you kill them?"

"Don’t! Leave me alone!"

Neko let loose a blood curdling screech before sitting up and sweating. She was trembling head to toe. Just then she realized she wasn’t in her apartment, Yaten laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Are you okay?" Yaten asked her gently. Meanwhile, Seiya and Taiki run in to find Neko crying.

"Nightmares, I’ve started having them again. They’ll go away soon." She turned her head aside. "I hope." She muttered darkly before turning back to the Lights.

"Arigato for putting up with me Seiya, Taiki, Yaten. But I’m sure you want to return to your normal life and not have to watch over a weak girl like me." She told them almost icily, the nightmare had put her in a bad mood, as it always did. She stormed from their apartment, leaving them baffled at her sudden and sullen mood.

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She slammed the door in her apartment and walked to the crystalline egg, upon touching it’s warm surface under the lamp she realized what she had done and said.

"Ara dearest brother, what have I done? I’ve lost my friends, I’ve lost Yaten . . ."

"Don’t fret so dear sister, I know the dreams are disturbing but you must persevere in our quest. I’m sure if you apologize to them they’ll forgive you, they’ll realize the past day had been rough. But if you don’t mind me interfering, I think you should approach Yaten-kun and tell him your feelings." Came her brother’s comforting thoughts.

"I’ve totally embarrassed myself! How could I apologize to them?"

Her brother was silent, he didn’t know either.

Neko sighed and sauntered to her closet, it was dawn and she had to get to school, she put on her uniform and carefully folded a business suit into a bag.

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At school, Neko was tired and miserable. She barely stayed up during class, and at lunch, Seiya gathered up the courage to confront her.

"Neko. . .?" He asked nervously, fearful of a verbal sting. But none came.

"Sit down Seiya, I won’t bite, I don’t have it in me." She told him tiredly.

Seiya sat down, wondering what was wrong.

"I’m sorry I snapped at you three like that, it’s just that after all this time I thought I had rid myself of those nightmares. But now for some reason they’ve come back, more vivid than ever and it’s quite disturbing."

"If I may . . ."

"Iie, they are far to personal."

"How. . ."

"Don’t go there."

"Then I accept your apology, although your remarks really hurt Yaten. Perhaps . . ."

"Iie, how could I face him?"

"You’ve got to be strong, you know that deep in your soul you really care for Yaten and it’s not some silly crush."

"I . . . I guess you’re right." She mumbled. There was a scream and everyone was running away. Neko looked up and saw a youma attacking a couple. Seiya grabbed her wrist and they began to run.

Somehow they had split up, Neko looked around to make sure no one was around.

"ETERNAL SOULS ERUPT MAKE-UP!" She yelled and transformed. She used her power and summoned an eagle to help her. Eagle and girl vanished only to reappear in front of the youma. The eagle swooped to attack it but surprisingly the youma ducked and threw an energy bolt at her. Of course it had no effect an went right through her. Suddenly someone yelled.

"STAR SERIOUS LASER!"

The youma shrugged off the attack and charged the Soul Senshi, it didn’t get very far. The eagle had locked it’s talons on it’s face, effectively blinding the youma; but that didn’t stop it’s charge, a fist landed in her stomach and another met her head. She was conscious long enough to send the eagle away and give her final attack.

"Soul Collect." She said weakly. The ball appeared and vanished in her hand before her stamina gave out and her injuries kicked in. She fell forward, the unconscious world enveloping her.

Starfighter saw her begin to fall and rushed to catch her before she hit her head. She carefully picked up the unconscious Soul Senshi when something began to happen. The Soul Senshi de-transformed in Starfighter’s arms . . .

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What do you think minna’s reaction will be when the true identity of the mysterious Guardian of Souls is revealed? Questions, comments and suggestions are welcome! I’m at catofnight@home.com.

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Updated on Thursday, July 8, 1999.