AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Okay, standard disclaimer.  Sailor Moon and all related characters do _not_
belong to me.  They are copyrighted by Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha, Toei 
Animation, and who knows who else depending on what language you're watching
it in....  However the characters of Kaen Kou and Candace "Candi" Martin of
this fanfiction are purely creations of my own insanity.....

----------------------------------------------------------------------------





                               AFTER THE FIRE
                     MY SAILORMOON SAILORSTARS FANFICTION
                              BY:  Immicolia

                              The Tenth Part:
                           "A Meshing of Souls"



	Kaen groaned and rubbed at her head as she slowly came to.

	"What the hell..." she mumbled under her breath.  I feel like I've 
just been drug behind a car.  What happened?"  She glanced around and spotted
the other three members of her team slowly waking up as well, and Candi being
held captive by that same hooded thing that had caused all this trouble to
begin with....

	"You," she hissed, glaring at it.  "Who are you, and why are you 
doing this?"

	"I have no name," it replied simply.  "Although I am known as the 
Master by my Elementals, and that is how you can refer to me until my 
Elements become one with you....  Which won't be long in coming."

	Kaen finally struggled to her feet, her fists clenched in anger.  
"Okay, that's half of my question.  Now what about the rest.  Why are you 
doing this?"

	"I suppose the time is right now," it murmured, more to itself than
to its captives.  "I stole your powers and gave them to my Elementals because
I needed a distraction.  A way to keep the senshi of this planet off my back
if you will.  The first few attacks of ours were to see if you were here...."

	"Why us?" Taiki put in, joining Kaen.

	"You don't belong on this world, just as we don't.  You aren't 
trusted, you were the easiest to discredit to use as a distraction.  It was
all too easy to make the Sailor Senshi of this world believe that you had
switched sides, a fact which you saw firsthand I believe...."

	"Yea, we saw it," Yaten sneered as he and Seiya joined the small
group.  "But what was the distraction for?"

	"So the senshi would safely ignore us until the stars align properly
for the time of the joining," it answered calmly.  "We needed to prepare,
and to do that we needed a distraction.  Plus I needed to find a host for
my spirit.  Something that your friend here has been fortunate enough to
become."  It tightened its grip on Candi and she let out a small squeak.
Yaten immediately tensed and started forward, but the other three held him
back.

	"We can't do anything Yaten," Kaen whispered in his ear.  "Don't get
yourself killed trying to help her when you can't."  He glared at her but 
quit struggling and the group turned their attention back to the Master.

	"Why does your spirit need a host," Taiki asked, trying to find a
way to discover this thing's weakness.

	"Simple my boy," it replied smoothly.  "I gave up my mortal body 
when I gained control of the Elementals millennia ago.  I am a free spirit, 
only able to exist in this void....  Oh, certainly I can survive for short 
amounts of time on planets among mortals.  But for my plans to go through
I must be able to exist in the mortal world for long periods of time... and
to do that I must soul bind with a mortal.  I was hoping for a male but
I suppose your little friend here will do...."

	"I... if you've been around for millennia, how come this is the first
anyone's ever heard of you?" Kaen asked slowly, eyeing him carefully.

	"We were sealed," it spat bitterly.  "The Golden Sailor locked us
away before she sealed the Chaos within herself.  But when the Chaos was 
freed the seal weakened, and now we're free as well.  And now you will 
become one with my Elementals so we will truly be able to take over this 
world... and soon the galaxy as well...."  It began laughing and the four
ex-Star Senshi fell into defensive postures.

	"I'd like to see you try!" Seiya snapped.

	The Master eyed them carefully.  "Since you are unable to fight back
I don't think that it would be much of a contest.  However...."  It paused
thoughtfully for a moment.  "A contest would be interesting.  Yes, a race!"
The Lights blinked in confusion and it began to explain.  "I can be fair, 
and I shall give you a fair chance to win back your powers, and your friend.
You shall race my Elementals.  If you survive to the end of the course I set
then you can have your powers back.  Then if you can defeat my Elementals 
your friend will be returned.  That simple.  Do you agree."

	Kaen started glaring with even more fervor.  "Oh, that's real fair!
In case you haven't noticed I'm in a skirt!  I'm kinda at a slight 
disadvantage here!"

	The Master looked her up and down momentarily and finally gestured.
Instantly she was clad in a boy's school uniform like her three teammates,
and filling it out quite nicely.  A fact that made her companions gape until
she shot them a dirty look.

	"You should dress like that more often Kaen," Yaten finally spat out.
"It... ah... suits you...."

	Kaen eyed him flatly.  "I would, it's certainly more comfortable, 
but then you three would probably end up slipping in puddles of your own
saliva."

	"So do you agree?" the Master asked coldly, ignoring the banter.

	Kaen gestured her team closer.  "What do you think?" she whispered.
"Do you think we can trust it?"

	"We don't have any choice," Taiki whispered back.  "It's either do
this or try and fight back until...."  He trailed of, not wanting to finish
the thought.

	"All right," Kaen sighed.  "Is it settled then?  Do we go, possibly
go down, as a team in this little contest?"

	Seiya nodded.  "We'll follow you Kaen... princess...."

	Kaen gave them a small smile.  "Younger princess," she corrected 
them.  "And Sailor Senshi first and foremost."  They broke up the small 
huddle and Kaen nodded to the Master.  "We accept your challenge."

	"Then let the games begin...."

                           **** **** **** ****

	Kaen ran headlong down the hall, daring a glance at her watch.  She
held back a moan, since all it would do would waste breath, and tried to put
on an extra burst of speed.  The thirty second head start was almost up.  
Soon Blaze, her elemental double, would be after her.  And the contest would
truly begin.

	She stifled a cry as she tripped, and quickly righted herself.  
She couldn't stop.  She couldn't afford it.  If she slowed down she was as
good as dead.  She put her head up again to check where she was going and
smiled as she saw a door ahead.  That must be it!  She had almost won!

	She dashed through and slammed the door behind her, letting out a
small sigh of relief.  A sense of relief that died as she saw where she was 
now.  It was a small square room, with a rope hanging from the ceiling in the
exact center.  And the other three members of the Sailor Starlights were 
leaning against the other three walls, looking as short of breath as she 
felt.

	"I don't think this is the end," Taiki gasped, mildly winded.

	"Neither do I," Kaen replied, trying her best to catch her breath.
"I guess we go up from here."

	Yaten looked up at the ceiling and moaned.  "I don't waaaana!" he 
started whining.  "I've had enough of this.  Even 'becoming one' with these
Elemental things can't be as bad as this!"

	"Coward!" Kaen spat.  "You're gonna let a little rope climbing stop
you!?  Some Star Senshi you are!  How you _ever_ became one of the Sailor
Starlights is beyond me...."

	"If I wanted to climb ropes," Yaten began flatly, "I'd go to gym 
class... which I don't."

	"Which is why you're in danger of failing," Seiya replied while 
tugging on the rope, testing how well it was attached.  "Seems sturdy.  Come
on, let's go.  We don't have time to waste!"  He started shimmying up, and
Kaen irately began tapping her foot, waiting for him to get high enough up
so she could start climbing.

	"Carry me," Yaten said, turning to face the two on the floor.  "I 
have such weak little arms.  I'll never make it...."  He tried his best to
look sincere and Kaen rolled her eyes.

	"In your dreams," she snapped back.  "You do not have weak little 
arms.  And I think when there's an Elemental right on your ass your tune
will change.  Come on Taiki, let's go."  She let Taiki go ahead, then 
grabbed the rope and started hauling herself up behind him, glad once again 
that she wasn't wearing her usual uniform anymore.  If she had been she 
probably would've ended up kicking Yaten up this stupid rope just so he 
wouldn't get a chance to look up her skirt.  She dared a quick glance at the 
floor and saw that Yaten was still standing there, not making any effort to 
move.

	"Yaten, get up here!" she snapped, glaring down at him.  "We don't
have time for this!"

	"I told you..." he started yelling back, until a pounding at the
each of the doors to the room made him jump.  He glanced around in panic
then back up at the others, who were all almost at the top by now.

	"Only one way out runt," she called down at him.  "What's worse,
a little bit of exercise or the wraith of the Elements?"

	He shot one more quick look around the room, as if looking for 
anything that might have been overlooked, then giving a small shrug resigned
himself to his fate and began scaling the rope.  He was nearly at the top
when the Elementals finally burst into the room and the sound almost caused
him to fall.  Fortunately, Seiya and Taiki grabbed him before he lost his
grip and finished hauling him up.  As soon as he was safe, Kaen unfastened
the rope, letting it fall to the floor below, and slammed the trapdoor shut.

	"That probably won't slow them down much," she said flatly.  "Come
on, we've got to keep moving...."  She started down the narrow tunnel, the
rest of her group following her closely.

	"Kaen," Taiki said, the oppressive silence of the tunnel hushing him.
"Do you get the feeling that they're letting us win?"

	"We haven't won yet Taiki," Kaen replied flatly.

	"You know what I mean.  They're intentionally letting us get ahead.
It's like they're leading us into something...."

	"Well whatever it is they have planed we have no choice but to go 
right into it," Kaen sighed.  "I wish this was over.  I was kinda enjoying
myself as a normal human girl, it'll be nice to get back to it...."  They
stopped as they reached a three-way junction.  "Hmm... so what'll it be guys?
Door number one, door number two, or door number three?"

	"Cute Kaen," Yaten mumbled.  "Real cute.  Just turn this whole thing
into a game why don't you?"

	Kaen suddenly gasped as she realized something.  "That's just what 
this is!" she exclaimed suddenly.  "It's all a game!  The Master said as
much...."

	"'Let the games begin,'" Seiya quoted flatly.

	"Exactly!" Kaen said with a brisk nod.  "They're just toying with 
us until...."

	"Until the time is right," Taiki put in.  "Didn't they say that they
had to wait for the proper alignment of the stars before they could do this
'joining' thing?"

	"Right," Kaen agreed thoughtfully.  "So they play with us until the
stars are right, and by they we'll be too tired out to fight this 'joining.'"

	"So what should we do?" Yaten asked, leaning up against a wall.

	"We quit running!" Kaen replied firmly, punching her palm.  "We find
a nice wide open space, with maybe a few hiding spots, and we face 'em down!
If they want to try this joining they can't kill us, and we might find a way
to trick them.  Or at least make them miss the alignment."

	"Okay!" Seiya exclaimed happily.  "Now we have a plan!  But...."
He glanced around again.  "We're back to our first problem.  Which way should
we go?"

	Kaen glanced at the three paths.  "I dunno.  Eeny, meny, miny....
Ah hell!  Let's take the middle one!  Come on guys!"

	The other three nodded in agreement, and together the four of them
started forward purposefully.

	Because now they had a plan....

                           **** **** **** ****

	The small group stumbled out of the tunnel looking dirty, tired,
and decidedly worse for wear.  They looked blearily towards the center of 
the room then glanced around them, looking for any exits.  Finally Kaen 
sighed.

	"This is it," she said softly.  "This is what they were herding us 
toward.  This very spot.  And this is where we face them down.  You guys 
ready?"

	"Do we have any choice?" Yaten mumbled under his breath.

	"Probably not," Kaen replied simply.  "I think we should probably
hole ourselves up over...."  She was suddenly stopped short by a loud 
screeching noise as their Elemental doubles tore into the room behind them.

	"Oh goodie!" Blaze/Nova exclaimed happily.  "You made it!  Now the 
real fun begins!"

	"I thought we were supposed to get our powers back if we won the
race," Seiya stated simply.

	"And you believed us?" his Elemental double asked in return.  "Man!
I can't believe that _anyone_ would be that naive twice!"

	"Their naiveté isn't important Brooke," the Master put in from where
it was sitting, causing the group to turn to face him.  "It's only another
half hour until the alignment.  Then the full joining can take place.  
Perhaps we should help our friends prepare.  As this young lady is...."  It
moved aside slightly and the Lights gasped in unison as they spotted Candi
laying unconscious on what looked like some sort of an alter, clad in a black
robe.  Yaten tensed and looked about ready to do something foolish until
Kaen grabbed him by the arm.

	"Don't do it," she said softly.  "You won't be able to help her by
getting yourself killed or hurt."

	Yaten turned to face her, trembling with barely controlled furry.
"That rat-bastard," he mumbled.  "It deserves to die...."

	"And we'll get it.  We'll find some way to stop it.  But it won't 
help any if you do something rash...."  She trailed off momentarily and
looked him up and down.  "You really do love Candi, don't you?"  He 
swallowed hard and nodded slightly.  "Don't worry, we'll get her out of 
this somehow."

	"Enough talk," Yaten's double said irately.  "Let's go!"

	"Now remember Breeze, we can't kill them," Taiki's double put in.
"We still need them."

	"Yea, yea, yea," she mumbled, slowly walking forward.  "Now don't 
worry, this won't hurt... too much...."  She smiled at them evilly, and Kaen 
shot her group a glance that plainly said, "Run".

	They immediately scattered and found themselves dodging various 
blasts and bolts as they dashed across the chamber.  Finally Kaen threw 
herself behind a pillar and the other three quickly joined her.

	"So much for that," she sighed.  "Now what?  Anybody got any ideas?"

	"We sit here until we're old and grey," Yaten said flatly, leaning
against their shelter.

	"Come on out little Starlights," a taunting voice called to them.
"How can we _play_ with you when you're hiding like this?"

	"Who wants to bite the bullet and go down fighting?" Kaen asked,
glancing at the others.  No one spoke up.  "Okay, then I guess we're going
to sit here until they decide to come and get us."

	They sat and waited for the inevitable when a commotion near where
the Master was sitting drew their attention.  Cautiously they peaked around
the pillar and spotted what they had been looking for all along.

	"Kakyuu," Kaen breathed.  "I knew she'd show herself sooner or 
later."

	Kakyuu calmly stared at the master then finally spoke.  "Why do you
lust for destruction so?  The powers of the Elements are necessary for life
throughout the universe.  Why not put them to their proper use?"

	"Simple my dear.  I'm evil.  That's all there is to it."

	"You realize that I will be forced to destroy you if you do not 
stop."

	"What makes you think that you can?" he asked simply before lashing 
out at her.

	She calmly dodged aside and Kaen suddenly noticed something.  "She's
a senshi," she gasped, watching her sister carefully.  "I never thought...
I mean, she never let on...."

	"None of us imagined it could be possible Kaen," Taiki said softly,
watching the battle with equal wonder.  The Elementals had stopped trying
to lure the Lights out and were watching the fight as well, unsure of what 
to do.  Kakyuu was making no effort to fight back as the Master continually
tried to blast her.

	"Hold still you little wench," it hissed, "and let me take your 
powers like a good girl.  I believe they would be quite useful to me in my
conquest."

	"Why is it that those who are evil never realize that they can't
win," Kakyuu asked calmly, dodging aside again.

	"I _will_ win!" the Master snapped, shooting another beam in her 
direction.  "I have the powers of the Elements at my command!"

	"Such power is useless if fueled by evil.  The power brought about
by goodness and love is the only true power."

	"Ha!  Love is weak and insubstantial.  And anything that you try to
throw at me will be easily shredded by my Elementals.  In fact...."  He
broke off his attack and turned to face his minions.  "Me fighting you is
a waste of my time.  Destroy her my Elements!"

	Blaze/Nova stepped forward first.  "No problem," she said, eyeing
the princess calmly.  "This'll be a snap.  STAR...."  Suddenly she choked.
"STAR MYST..." she tried again, and immediately choked again.  "ST... augh!
I can't!"  She crumpled to her knees, sobbing slightly in frustration, and 
the other Elements were at her side immediately.

	"What did you do to her!" Breeze/Healer snapped, glaring at Kakyuu.

	"I did nothing to her," Kakyuu replied, her voice perfectly even.
"It is simply impossible for the powers of the Sailor Starlights to be turned 
against me.  I am their princess.  They are sworn to protect me.  And as you 
are in their forms, that promise binds you as well."

	"Go back to your Elemental forms then!" the Master snapped, glaring
at the quartet.  "Destroy her!  Now!!"

	"You don't have to," Kakyuu said softly.  "I know you aren't evil by 
nature.  You can return to working for the good of the universe, if you'll 
just stop listening to...."

	"But we have to," Brooke/Fighter cut her off.  "The Master has the
ultimate control over us."

	"No one has ultimate control over you but you.  And do you really 
want to destroy when you can build?  Do you really want to kill when you can
heal?  Do you really want to hate when you can love?"

	"Damn," Kaen breathed in awe as she watched the Elementals watch her
sister with interest.  "She always was the eloquent one.  I can barely
string two words together and she's tossing out flawless arguments.  That's
why she's the princess and I'm just a senshi...."

	"I thought it was because she was five minutes older and you were
born with the powers of Sailor Supernova," Yaten put in flatly.

	Kaen glared at him.  "Quiet you.  How am I supposed to see what she's
up to with you yaking in my ear?"

	"You're the one who started it!"

	"Am not!"

	"Are...."  The argument was quickly killed as Seiya and Taiki hushed
them both, and full attention turned back to Kakyuu.

	"Kill her!" the Master roared.

	"You don't have to," Kakyuu countered softly.  "Join me and together
we can defeat it.  Then you can be free, like you were once.  Do you 
remember what being free was like?  Working for good instead of evil."

	"I remember," Blaze/Nova said hoarsely.  "Sorta.  We were young.  So
was the universe.  We grew and we helped the planets grow...."

	"And you can do it again."  Kakyuu looked at them each in turn.  
"But first you must stop taking orders from the forces of evil.  Will you
join me?"

	Blaze/Nova glanced back at her companions.  "I don't know... whadaya
think girls?"  They each gave a brief brisk nod, and the four of them walked
in unison to Kakyuu's side.

	"Traitors," the Master hissed.  "Turncoats.  I will destroy this pest
myself.  And then I will punish you for your insolence...."

	"No you won't," Blaze/Nova said flatly.  "We're through taking orders.
Your time's up.  FIRE...."

	"EARTH...."

	"AIR...."

	"WATER...."

	"ELEMENTAL BLAST!" they finished in unison, letting their full power
flow.  The Lights shielded their eyes at the blinding flare, unsure of what
they could do.  So all they did was watch in awe.

	Kakyuu swiftly twisted her wrist around and instantly a deck of tarot
cards appeared in her hand.  Her eyes narrowed as she squared herself in front
of her opponent and she took a deep breath, expelling it in a single shout.

	"STARLIGHTS ROYAL STRAIGHT FLUSH!"

	The attack hit the Master dead on.  Already weakened from the 
strength of the combined attack of the Elements it let out a scream as the 
power sliced through it, shredding the cloak and the spirit within.  The 
scream shifted to a mournful wail as the Master faded into nothing more than 
scraps of cloth and dust on the wind.  As the last of it faded the Elementals
collapsed to the floor, and the Lights dashed to their princess' side.

	"Sis you're all right!" Kaen exclaimed happily, hugging her tightly
the second she reached her side.  "This is great!  Let's get our powers back
and go home."  She reached down and was about to take her transformation 
device back from her Elemental double when Kakyuu stopped her.

	"Don't!  Your borrowed powers are the only thing keeping them alive
right now!"

	"So?" Kaen asked in confusion.  "Personally I think after what they
pulled they deserve it.  Who's to say they won't try something like this
again?"

	"Kaen you don't understand," Kakyuu said softly.  "The Elementals are
necessary for life in the universe.  Without them all life will fade.  Yet
for them to survive they need something to unite them, they cannot exist
alone.  Either the power of pure good or pure evil, whatever is stronger in
the person who decides to control them....  Someone must control them soon
though.  I don't think they can last long like this."

	"Princess," Taiki said softly.  "What are you saying?"

	"I know what I have to do....  I must take control of them...."

	"But sis," Kaen whispered.  "If you do you... you'll lose your body.
You won't ever be able to go home again...."

	"It is a sacrifice I have to make.  Now step back."  She looked them
over and saw that they weren't about to move.  "And that is not a request,
that's an order.  As your princess I demand that you step aside.  This is
something I have to do.  The fate of the universe is at stake.  And that is
_far_ more important than the life of a princess of a solitary lifeless 
planet...."

	"Princess...."

	"Sis...."

	"Please don't...."

	"Kakyuu...."

	"I'm sorry."  She hastily brushed aside a tear.  "But it must be 
done."  She turned to face the unconscious Elementals as she detransformed.
"I have come.  I ask for the power of the Elements to be mine.  That the
flame, the wave, the wind, and the stone forever be bound to me.  That they
follow my command, but that they first and foremost follow the command of 
their hearts.  Rise Elementals.  Rise and live for the powers of good once
again...."

	Slowly the four Elements struggled to their feet, groggily coming to
grips with what had just happened to them.  Blaze/Nova finally turned to
face Kakyuu, her eyes shimmering with tears, and smiled once again speaking
for the group.

	"Thank you," she whispered.  "Thank you for believing in the good
in us."  She and the rest of the Elementals turned to face the lights and
shifted back to their full Element forms, each holding the stolen 
transformation device that they had been given.  Finally Blaze spoke, holding
out the star shaped pin to Kaen.  "I believe these belong to you," it 
whispered, head down.

	"Thanks," Kaen replied with equal softness, gently taking it from
the Fire Elemental.  She glanced around at the others, who were going through
similar exchanges with their own Elements.  "I guess this is it," she finally
said.  "Peace has finally returned to the universe."

	Blaze nodded.  "And we'll try to keep it that way."

	Yaten stood there, slowly turning his winged microphone over in his
hands.

	"It's still in one piece!" Breeze snapped at him.  "I didn't break
it or anything!"  Yaten glared at the Element, who immediately looked
uncomfortable.  "Look... I'm sorry, okay?  For every stupid jerky thing I
did.  And I'm really sorry for what I did to your girlfriend.  That was a
really low blow...."

	Yaten's head jerked up at the mention of Candi.  "Oh my God," he 
breathed.  "Candi!  Candi are you okay!?"  He dashed over to the alter and
gave the brunette a small shake.  Finally Candi's eyes fluttered open and
she threw her arms around his neck.

	"Oh Yaten!" she sobbed, her voice muffled against his shoulder.  "Is
it over?  Is it finally all over?"

	"Yea," he replied hoarsely, gently stoking her hair to comfort her.
"It's all over now.  Let's just go home...."

                           **** **** **** ****
                                 EPOLOUGE
                           **** **** **** ****

	"So you guys are leaving now?" Usagi asked the group sadly, and Seiya
nodded at her.  "For good?"

	"Yea, Kakyuu can't stay on Earth, or any planet actually, now that 
she's taken control of the Elementals....  Well, she could but she'd have to
soul bond with a mortal... and whoever did that would probably end up 
lost.  If she could even do it now that the time for joining is past.  We're 
just going to go stay with her...."

	Kaen took a deep breath and suddenly spoke up.  "I don't want to 
go."

	"What!?"

	"I said I don't want to go.  I'm staying here."

	"But... Kaen...."

	"You can't change my mind."  She stuck out her chin defiantly.  "I've
decided.  Blaze can take all my powers if necessary, I don't care.  If I have
to live as a normal human being, fine!  But I'm staying."

	"Why!?" Yaten snapped, glaring at her.  "Why do you have to break
up the team like this?"

	"Because we've changed."  She looked them all over, including the 
faint ghostly shapes of Kakyuu and the Elementals who were waiting for them.
"Look at us!  After all we've been through, together and apart, do you really
think that we could go back to being the way we used to be?  A team dedicated
to the protection of our princess.  She has the Elementals, she's Sailor 
Kakyuu, hell she's a free spirit and effectively an immortal!  What does
she need us for?  Plus we'll all be girls there, I won't have anyone to 
flirt with."  She pouted slightly and the others looked at her oddly.

	"Kaen," Seiya finally began.  "You're sure about this?"

	"Positive.  Blaze, you're free to take my senshi powers.  You can
be Sailor Supernova from now on.  I'm content just to be plain old Kaen Kou."
She took her pin and tried to pass it to the Elemental, who immediately tried
to pass it back.

	"No Kaen, you keep it.  I don't need it."

	"Take it Blaze.  I insist.  I want to be sure that you'll be able
to protect Kakyuu...."

	"I'll be able to handle it Kaen."

	"Blaze!  Take it!"

	"No!  Kaen, look if your that concerned we can do a sort of a half
soul bond."

	"What?"

	"Well, since the time of joining is over we won't be able to fully
unite our souls.  But we can do a half uniting so that whenever you 
transform into Sailor Supernova you'll have my power at your command.  And
when I need it I'll be able to tap into your power in turn.... What do you
think?"

	Kaen nodded slowly.  "I like the idea."  They held the pin between
them and closed their eyes, quietly concentrating.  A faint orange glow
surrounded them and as it faded they reopened their eyes.  Kaen took the
pin and turned it over in her hand, her fingers trailing over the flame 
emblem that was now etched on the surface.  "I'm gonna miss you guys." she
finally whispered, facing the Three Lights.

	Taiki glanced between his princess and the only girl he had ever 
found himself caring about and suddenly made the first irrational decision 
of his life.  "I'm not going either," he said flatly, eyes glued to Kaen.
"I'm going to stay here with you."

	Kaen blushed slightly.  "Thanks," she mumbled.  "I was afraid that
I was going to get lonely here...."

	"You're not going to be lonely at all," Seiya cut in.  "Because I'm
not leaving either."  He glanced at Usagi and smiled slightly.

	"Two idiots and a masochist," Yaten mumbled under his breath, eyeing
the rest of his group with disdain.  "How did I _ever_ end up saddled with
them?  You guys are making a mistake," he added louder.  "But enjoy 
yourselves anyways.  Have a nice life and all, you know with the Outer Senshi
on your cases constantly about who knows what...."  He trailed off as he 
saw Candi run up and tried to steel his will.  He had made a huge mistake
getting so attached to her.  He wasn't from this planet, he knew that he was
going to leave eventually.  And even if he hadn't been here only temporarily
Candi was.  She was an exchange student, it never would've worked.

	"So you're going?" Candi asked sadly, causing him to almost forget
all those things that he had been telling himself.

	"Yea," he replied softly.

	"Well, I... I guess this is good-bye then.  Will you still be able
to visit?"

	Yaten looked into her huge hazel eyes and knew that he couldn't lie
to her.  Not about this.  "Candi," he began slowly, "I don't even have to 
leave if I don't want to.  These three are staying...."

	"Really?" Candi asked the three of them excitedly and Kaen nodded
slightly.  "That's great!  But... what about you?  Do you want to go?"

	Yaten shifted uncomfortably.  "I don't know....  Do you want me
to go?"

	"I'm not sure.  I don't want to hold you back if you really want to
stay with your princess."

	"Well I don't know.  I just don't want to prolong any hurt that
might be coming.  I mean, we're going to have to separate eventually and...."

	"Oh for crying out loud!" Kaen snapped, cutting in.  "Yaten, it's
tearing you apart to have to leave.  And Candi, you're dying to have him
stay.  So knock off the word tag, stay together and kiss already!"

	The two of them blushed and Kaen nodded slightly as they moved a 
little closer together, glad that the two of them were finally going to be
happy.  "Well, I guess this is good-bye sis," she said softly to Kakyuu's 
faint form.  "We're going to miss you...."

	"Wait," Candi suddenly said.  "Isn't there any way for her to stay
too?"

	"The only way is to soul bind Candi," Kaen replied.  "And the time
of joining is past.  And even if it wasn't it's far too dangerous."

	"Kaen," Blaze interjected gently.  "What about a half binding?  Since
Kakyuu's a senshi it should work.  Whoever does it will gain the powers of
Sailor Kakyuu."

	"Are you sure it'll work like that?" Yaten asked the Element coldly,
afraid that Candi would do something rash.

	"Of course!  I'm... pretty sure... anyways...."  Blaze trailed off
uncomfortably and Candi gently put a reassuring hand against Yaten's cheek.

	"It's okay.  I'm sure it'll work just like that.  Come on now, let's
try!"  Candi and Kakyuu's hands touched and their eyes slid closed as they
began the process.  The Elementals began working on their own half bonds
as well and Kaen and Blaze stood back watching.

	"Fingers and toes crossed?" Kaen asked the Element.

	"Well... fingers anyways," Blaze stated.  "But if I had toes they'd
be crossed too...."  The pair stopped their conversation as Candi's eyes
slowly slid open.  "Well?" Kaen prompted irately.  "Did it work?"

	Candi nodded dreamily.  "I never thought it would be so amazing.
There's a whole other person lurking just below the surface of me now.  And
one simple phrase will bring her out.  It... it's wonderful."  She turned
back to face Kakyuu.  "Thank you princess," she breathed.

	"No, thank you," Kakyuu replied.  "Now you can help them.  The
universe needs protection.  You never know when the peace may be shattered
again...."

	"But together we'll be able to overcome any evil," Kaen said simply.

	"Right!"  Seiya put his arm over Kaen's shoulder.  "A valiant team
brilliantly lead by Sailor Supernova."

	"And perfectly seconded by Sailor Starfighter," she countered, 
slipping out of his grip and punching him on the arm.  "You guys did good
without me.  I don't know how the hell you pulled it off, but somehow you 
did."

	"And hopefully we'll never have to do it again," Taiki put in.

	"We won't," Kaen replied flatly.  "The four... ah five!" she 
corrected herself, glancing at Candi.  "The five of us are going to shine
on forever...."

	Kakyuu nodded slightly to the Elementals and together the five of
them faded away, heading back to their void.  The Sailor Starlights would
be fine.  Kinmoku Sei and its five kingdoms was no more, but its protectors
would live on, and shine on, for years to come.  No matter what faced them
in the future, if they stayed united they would remain unstoppable.  And they
were no longer the protectors of one planet... they didn't know it yet, but
in a way they were now protectors of the entire universe....

                                  FIN
                             (for now....)


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-Immicolia...	immicolia@hotmail.com

Immicolia's Fanfiction Nebula
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Temple/8671

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