It was already late the next morning when the Princess of Mars arose. She tried to gasp for air as she sat on her bed, abruptly shaken. Her vision had been more frightening than the first. It tortured her by allowing her to see more detail and less signs. Especially the very figure who held sway over the enormous storm.
     What did the vision really mean? When would it all ensue? And why did I have to return here when I was already too late?
 
     Questions continued to plague Enyalis Rei until noon. Although she tried to add to the conversation when she dined with the Queen, thoughts of doom still continued to linger, as if the generals seated at the table, minus one, were the figures surrounded by dark thick smoke. She shook her head dismally and dismissed her imagination.
     "Rei-chan, daijobu?" Makoto asked thoughtfully.
     And then the Princess of Mars finally had the entire audience to herself. They were all blankly staring at her, well, except for Minako. Her gleaming eyes were still intent on the person across her, with her chin resting on the palm of her hand.
     "Yes!" Enyalis Rei answered with a huge grin. "Daijobu-yo!"
     She was actually thankful for the support of her friends who were careful not to mention the name of him who was absent, and even offering some advice. The situation had even actually sparked the interests of the leaders from Earth, with their comrade actually succeeding in shaking the coldness of the fire princess right down to her very core. And for her part, the Princess of Mars was thinking, that she probably still exhibited the most sullen appearance even when she tried hiding it under a comfortable smile---that, compared to the happy princesses seated side by side with her, she looked enormously wretched! It must've been due, in part, that she had not been sleeping soundly for the past nights.
     By late afternoon, when the sun had started to dim its light over the Lunar palace, Enyalis took it to herself to investigate her dream. If she can probe the signs, it would at least dampen her increasing anxiety. She then began to search every imaginable portal that would be as solemn as that of the room where the sacred fire was rekindled every day at Mars.
     She patiently opened every door in the hall and the eleventh door came to no surprise. The Princess of Mercury sat across General Zoisite inattentively paying attention to their game of chess. As she tried to redeem her queen from the kind general's hand, he had by far surrendered entirely to her. Even figuratively. The score was actually 3-2 in Ami's favor.
     "I let you win," Zoisite grinned mischievously.
     The Princess of Mercury smiled naively. "But I thought I was letting you win," she honestly told him.
     When Enyalis Rei heard part of their sugary and gracious dialogue, she had known that the day would not end as she had planned. This was, in fact, the first sign, only she had not recognized it.
     The Princess of Mars had even traveled to the kitchen and accidentally stumbled upon General Nephrite with streaks of flour all over his cheeks, even humbly donning on a frilly apron. If she only knew about their flour episode the other day, then she would understand what he was doing there with the kind Princess Makoto. But the Princess of Jupiter was busy with their work to explain.
     When at last, evening was about to settle, the Princess of Mars had found a vacant room far hidden from the populated areas of the palace. She knelt carefully on the floor and closed her eyes. Sure that no soul would ever disturb her from these dark recesses. The room had been empty enough to dissipate even one singular murmur. It would be time to begin her chant to meditate, as dread started to fill her chest already. It was all getting heavier, as she struggled to breathe.
     "Neeee, daijobu?!" The voice was then followed by incessant laughter.
      Oh, no!
     Enyalis Rei stood immediately and tried to walk patiently towards the door. I could be just more fortunate if I'd just hit my head! she thought, helplessly, then twisted the knob on the door.
     "Minako-chan!" she called. The Princess of Venus halted instantly and shot an innocent glance at her.
     That succeeded in preventing the Princess of Mars from getting angry. Of course, lovers would really seek the dark recesses for their privacy! She saw the stoic General Kunzite smile back at the cheerful princess and that was absolutely the rarest thing indeed...which, she just happened to break. Everyone was again involved in a staunch conspiracy!
     "Hmmm? Rei-chan?" Minako's large eyes inquired.
     Enyalis Rei shook her head regretfully. "Gomene, Minako-chan." She then proceeded to leave them, inspite of the bewildered Minako. She tried to follow in an effort to console the Princess of Mars, except for the soft tug by General Kunzite's hand. His eyes told her that her friend needed a moment alone, to which Minako nodded in understanding.
 
     With the frustration still unsettled, Enyalis Rei walked unknowingly to the great hall where no presence lingered above the marble steps. The huge entrance to the veranda was tempting and she found herself venturing to enter outside. The Romanesque pillars glowed amazingly with the aid of the dim pale blue light from the Earth. And it was indeed a marvelous view that she found all to herself. She was fortuitously spared of the last sign since Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion had exited a far few moments ago.
     The gigantic azure orb was fascinating enough to postpone her intended meditation. But it then seemed that it would beckon a storm. The dark clouds trying to suddenly overcome its placid atmosphere as it would be under another power. It wants to leave us all desolate and powerless. The same figure with her wavy tresses staring straight at her with her scarlet eyes...terrifying as she was....
     "Yamete..." she whispered.
     Her heart still pounding furiously when she uttered a word that seemed to stop the spell. She tried to catch her breath and glanced at the same blue and white swirls circling magnificently around the Earth. Peaceful as it was before.
     Are we really doomed? she thought desperately. What does this all mean? And he....
     She gasped. He is still back there. The last time she saw him was before she left. And she had pushed him to go back to his planet. It was all her fault! She had wasted all that time and she had really been too late. Will he ever survive that?
     But unfortunately, he might not return. This was Enyalis's last thought as she leaned morosely on the pillars.

     Kunzite grinned as he entered the great hall where the throne sat. Still engaged by the stories of his buoyant princess. But his private moment had been interrupted when he saw a flash of white light break the void in the middle of the room. The new visitor stood regally as soon as the light settled.
     "Jadeite-kun." Kunzite greeted seriously.
     "Konnichiwa, Kunzite." The visitor greeted his comrade.
     "It is already good evening, Jadeite. What took you so long?"
     "I just checked how everything is, as Endymion's instructions. Queen Beryl has taken the task quite well."
     "I still don't trust her." Kunzite frowned upon hearing the name of their sovereign.
     "I, too." Jadeite answered, nodding.
     Kunzite looked at his gallant friend, wondering why he had not asked the question. He was about to leave when Kunzite asked him to halt. "She has returned, Jadeite."
     Jadeite smirked at the statement. It was the same person who has told him that 'she' had to leave two days earlier. "Who has returned?" he asked nonchanlantly.
     Kunzite smiled. "The mysterious woman with the bad aim."
     Jadeite grinned at the joke. "Enyalis Rei would not return. And it would be a good thing for both of us."
     Kunzite's eyes widened. This was not the same lovesick general who had just left. But then, Kunzite knew that holding on to the truth would be enough to break him. As before. "She did return, Jadeite. Do you think I'm lying?"
     "Where is she?"
     "I don't know. She had been circling the palace for a long time."
     Jadeite laughed. "It was too good to be true, then!" He shook his head and walked briskly towards the nearest exit, not allowing Kunzite to finish his nonsense. Why would she return? She didn't have any reason to!
     But Kunzite simply shrugged his shoulders. It would be of no more use to persuade the stubborn general who was veering away fast towards the nearest exit. In the direction of the veranda.

     Is he still alive?
     Enyalis Rei shook her head in frustration as she leaned on the cold pillars. Would it be a tragic thing to do if she could just hope and wish that he was still okay? But the vision was too much for her. And it came at the wrong time when she was at her most vulnerable. She felt the tears welling in her eyes.
     Then, like a sharp chill that penetrated her soul, it came to her at that instant. It seemed all the more familiar and it was getting stronger and stronger. She covered her mouth with her hands to calm her surprise.
 
     Jadeite had concurred with his reason that she would never return. Kunzite can keep all the nonsense to himself!. His friend had only succeeded in filling his thoughts with more questions. Maybe he thought I would still be curious about her. But it would be better to ponder about these things on his own. He thought this as he entered and saw the immortal pillars that were lighted gently by a luminiscent azure. Kunzite was probably hallucinating, as well! The view had done that to him before.
     He nearly can't believe it. There she stood. The cause of his stubborn will. She was dressed in an exquisite long gown of cerise silk, with the light touching her graceful shoulders. Her raven hair swaying in the wind, and her long fingers covering her mouth as she stared at him with her surprised purple eyes. Jadeite was again plagued by her apparition.

     Enyalis Rei was glad that she was able to cover her lips with her hands before he even entered. It was on the appropriate time because she was able to hide the smile that formed in her lips when she saw who it was. Enough to break free of her nearly-dejected state. But the important thing was that there could still be something to be done! Her vision had only been a forewarning. The Earth where he came from can still be delivered from the dark clouds.
     "Jadeite-san...." she whispered patiently as she took a step towards him.

     Jadeite managed to hide his astonishment under his dispassionate stare. "Why does it always have to be a confrontation between us, Enyalis Rei?" he asked disdainfully as he walked towards her.
     "Huh?" She halted as he continued to come closer. She breathed heavily at the sight of him. Solidly approaching her as though he was a miracle that narrowly escaped the doom in her vision. He had caught her wary smile when she withdrew her hands. The first one he ever saw form in her lovely red lips. Jadeite thought that this was the more appropriate distance to look at her. In front of him was an ever remarkable face with piercing dark eyes, and even lovelier than when she was angry.
     "You shouldn't have returned, Princess." He told her without polite pretenses.
     It struck Enyalis Rei's ego when he spoke. The tears then remained to well in her eyes and with a casual toss of her hair, she stared at him angrily. He probably didn't understood what caused her to return. Never even bothered to consider the state she's in! Maybe, she even returned to warn him of her vision. And luckily, he is here....
     "Baka !"
     "Baka ?"
     "Then I shouldn't have returned!"
     The Princess of Mars began striding furiously towards the entrance. At least she was assured that the clouds had not yet dominated the Earth and that he was spared of all this. But Jadeite swiftly held his hands on her arms before she could get away. Now hopelessly reconsidering that she is really lovelier when she is angry.
     "I'm sorry, Princess," he sincerely apologized unable to contain his true affection as he held her supple arms in his hands.
 Enyalis Rei looked carefully in his deep blue eyes and unable to contain her true feelings as well. She now admitted that she had indeed missed him. Even if he had defied her from the very start.
     He is still here? What does it all mean? Are we all doomed?
     But he had returned to her.
     "You're here, Jadeite-san!" she whispered, her eyes gleaming for the first time. Everything after that had only come natural and seemingly even in the spirit of spontaneity. She raised her head and drew her face closer to him. And kissed him. Not even one part of her guilt progressed.
     But Jadeite was stunned. His eyes were open as he leaned closer to her, not familiar with a situation in which he had no knowledge of. She apparently wasn't able to feel his hand pulling her gently closer to him. Jadeite realized that she was indeed real. As real as his intense fascination for her. And still unaware of the mystery she had created for herself. He felt the rush of emotions in her chest and the tears flowing from her eyes.
     "Gomene, Jadeite-san," she whispered after she withdrew. She felt his warmth. His kiss. And how handsome he stared at her, still listlessly wondering what she had just done, and why she had just done that.
     "Baka !" he whispered. He smiled cheerfully as he held his hand to her chin and effortlessly raised her head to his. And after she closed her eyes, he touched his lips to hers again.