Hey all, I'm back! With actual time to write one of these. Well, this is Part Five, and I am no where close to halfway done. Not even. Also, this is a long, and somewhat boring part. A lot of character interaction, but not a lot of action. Anyways, my apologies to those who thought this would be out long ago. There were some problems in submitting, but I'll try not to do this again. DISCLAIMERS: 1) No own. Not a bit. None of the songs, either. 2) I must mention this now, for it is important. The guys may be Gens, but they don't look the same. There's differences between them and this form and them and the Nega Creeps. Important 3) Let's see...actually, there's not much more than that, I believe. Q's, comments, flames to jkc1984@niia.net Also, I have a homepage! http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/8281/sm.html Please check it out. It usually is updated about the same time this is, and features my exciting "Bits and Pieces" for the coming parts. Onto it! The Four Lovers: Air On a Cosmic String V. Memories and Meetings Love brings a lonely lonely heart I'm just all alone now Lonely lonely heart All the joy and pain I feel, I'm always Dreaming it by myself Love brings a lonely lonely heart But I know that someday it will come While I'm being held in your strong arms Wanting to be together with you... ---Alex Glover's trans of "Watashi-tachi ni Naritakute" I want to be called softly... Even if by just one word... "Ami-chan"... Someday, somewhere, by the wonderful person I know I'll meet. I want him to call me that. --Ami's Monologue, "In Another Dream" I will remember you. --Amy Grant, "I Will Remember" (Creo..) It was already dark, stars dotting the sky in clusters of cosmic baby's breath, when Darien and Luna arrived home. Both beat, they silently moved about the familiar apartment, not stopping to turn on lights as they readied themselves to sleep. However, despite his long day's work and the morning's Senshi meeting, Darien still felt...keyed up. Restless. "Care to take a breath of fresh air, Luna?" he finally asked quietly. "Feeling restless?" "Yea..." She considered for a bit, then with a prim voice and a kitty smile said, "I suppose." He grinned back, and got up to slide open the door, saying softly, "After you." She trotted out onto the balcony and leapt up onto the edge, followed by the still grinning Darien. "I'm still afraid you'll fall," he said, pulling up a chair near her. Both faced the darkened city. "How silly," Luna said. "I am a cat--and besides, you're one to talk! Always balancing on the highest thing around!" She clucked disapprovingly at him. He grinned again. Ever since...Serena had...Luna had moved in with him, and even though she'd been just as stricken as he, she'd done her best to help him go on. However, her "disappearance" yesterday had given him a clue to how she truly felt. "Well, at the time, I was protected," he replied. "Hah! How many times did you get yourself hurt for Sere...oh, what am I saying? Gomen, Darien," she said, voice arcing from smarting to sympathetic. "It's all right, Luna," he replied in a quiet voice. "I've never regretted that." He fingered the two pieces of red string that always remained nearby. he thought, tracing the worn thread. Now, though, his mind turned towards the morning's Senshi meeting, and the question he'd been dying to ask Luna all day. Actually, given the indignation of last nights' aftermath, the meeting had gone relatively well. Artemis and Luna had listened to the battle report, and then Lita, Mina, and Raye got into a sort of three way argument that was interrupted by the cats...and a surprise. Well, for at least him; the Senshi had all looked so thoughtful... "Luna, why didn't you ever tell me the Generals were mine?" he asked quietly. "What?" the cat wondered. "The Generals. Today, you said they'd been commanded by Prince Endymion--and last time I checked, that was me." That had been his morning surprise. Though his memories of Endymion had increased from just brief, brief flickers in his head, tiny snips of years past, this had never emerged. "Actually, they were more the equivalent of the Senshi than under your command," she replied, cat voice measured. "They were led by Kunzite, and by all reports, the five of you got along superbly well." Now she sighed. "We all believed that they turned traitor to the Kingdoms, though why they would when it seemed that they'd..." she clamped a paw over her mouth. "I digress." That was surprise number two--that they'd once been good, his protectors, and his friends. he wondered as he leaned forward. "What else is there, Luna?" he gently prodded. "Darien, I couldn't tell you. It involves the Senshi, and I don't...oh dear," she stopped, for the LOOK had entered his eyes. It was one that she'd seen a couple of times when Serena needed him most--the one that spoke of never giving up. "Now I need to know more than ever, Luna," he whispered. "How can I protect Venus and Jupiter--and Mars and Mercury, though I doubt they'd want it--if I don't know of a potential threat? I can't bear to lose any one of them, Luna. You know that." She considered his words as she looked outwards, then heaved a sigh and looked back. "Promise you won't tell? This memory came to both Artemis and I out of nowhere today, and when need time to consider if we should tell the girls...especially Raye..." she paused, her voice having dipped to its softest purr. "Promise?" "Don't stall me, Luna. You know I'll keep it quiet if you advise it. Now tell me." His voice had gently sloped into quiet urgency, and as the cat locked eyes with him, she found them a deep, sensual blue that seemed to glow from within. It was a gaze she could not resist. "The fact is," she quietly purred, "1000 years ago, during the time of the Silver Millennium, your Generals and Serenity's Senshi were involved in secret affairs." "What?! Luna, are you saying they were in love...as Serenity and I...were?" he exclaimed. "Yes." "How?" Luna didn't reply, only took a breath, settled down, and began to tell a condensed version of the story. "Ahh...so this is the infamous balcony," Zach said as her alighted on the edge. "Nifty." "Zachary Petal, come down, you're making me nervous," Serena said, tugging at his pant leg. He obeyed, agily backflipping off and landing lightly (though unsteadily) on his feet. "Generals' reflexes," he smiled. Both of them were feeling much better after a day's rest--Setsuna said they had two-- though Zach still looked a little worn. Still, the day of sleep had left them both a bit punchy, and they both giggled before slumping over the edge to appreciate the dark. "Oooh, nice view of Darien." Serena said nothing, merely stared. "Luna, too." "You're not in love with Luna." "Zach..." she protested. "Stop it." "Pardon me if I'm eager to get the Princess and Prince thing resolved. Gives me fifty percent more chance of getting back with Amy." "What..Zach, why are you so certain you're going to fail with her? Knowing both of you, I'd say you two are going to charm each others socks off." He brushed it off, saying, "Is Amy down there on the balcony with Luna? Think not. Now, how are you going to get his attention?" No reply. "Serena?" Nada. "Hello, Earth calling Serena, respond now, Serena." Barely, "He still has it." "What?" "The red string...the one I snipped to show it was over? He still has it." Her voice was wistful, and almost hopeful, yet Zach wondered if she, too, really felt she'd join up with her mate. He looked down, scanning for a trace of red--jackpot! It lay in front of him, two pieces curved towards each other. That shape gave Zach an idea, which he promptly told Serena. She smiled wanely, looked again, and then brightened a tad more. "I think I've got something just as good." "So we'll use both," he nonchalantly said as the aura of Zoicite appeared. "It can't hurt a thing. "Incredible," Darien said, leaning back. "SO, what happened?" "What I said before--we thought they were traitors. Now, though, I'm not sure. And if they are good, what does it mean for the Senshi..." she trailed off as Darien closed his eyes. Love had always been difficult for Darien, mostly because his life's path had ripped away his trust in those "connections" at a very young age. Serena, his cute little meatball head, had been one of the first to help him begin to trust again, to make these connections again. Without her, though... It always struck him of the bitter ring of the day she'd...no, even now he couldn't say it. For then, he'd spent most of the day recalling the pale shadow of death that had flashed over her face that night...and the realization that had hit him as tears streamed down his helmet. It'd been painful, he recalled--a painful and angry day as his pure, realized affection for Serena battled that stupid dream voice. Actually, it wasn't the first war he'd gone to with himself--he'd done this before. He knew he'd loved her before, that is, but it'd never been so poignantly evident. He'd broken a few things as his emotions unleashed themselves, as he tried to decide whether to follow the dream or his heart. he recalled icily, though not bitterly. If there was any bitterness, it was directed at himself, not at her. He still could remember the phone call from Raye. "Come down to the Temple. It's about Serena" was all she'd said, yet you didn't need to be a rocket scientist to read the extreme...tension in her voice. It sent a chilling premonition through him, and he'd raced there as fast as he possibly could, even as each step filled him with more and more dread. The shrine steps had vanished under his feet a few at a time, and he'd entered with an expecting (and perhaps odd) look on his face. The thing that struck him immediately was the absence of Reenie. Usually the pink haired girl stayed as close to this group as possible, her and that floating cat head. Absurdly, he thought of how it was that he'd never seemed to notice it floated before. "Where's Serena?" he asked the four girls, two cats group in front of him, voice strangled as his clamp on his emotions slammed down on the waves of coldness within him. Instantly Amy burst into tears, and the others looked not far behind. It was finally Mina who managed to get to her feet unsteadily and take the few steady steps towards him, a piece of paper in one hand, and something else in the other. She tried her best...but then, she collapsed in front of him with a long, muffled cry that could only be considered a sob. "Serena..." she tried, "Oh Serena! She's...she's..." "What?" he exclaimed, apprehension flooding him. "Mina!" and here he grabbed her shoulders, "what happened to Serena?!" His cry seemed to bring silence upon the sniffling group, and that silence scared him more than anything in his life. It was as if they were trying to shield him from something devastating; now, making now effort to shield his voice, he cried out, "Tell me! Where is she!? Raye, Amy, Lita, SOMEBODY, TELL ME!" "She's dead, Darien." He never knew who said it. The voice was drowned out by this sharp cracking in his chest, an incredible burning pain that he'd later identify as his heart shattering. "NO!" he said, screamed--his voice was nothing but a whisper. "I would've felt it...felt any danger, I would've KNOWN..." "Not if she wasn't," Mina whispered. Now it was his turn to crumple to the ground, knees giving way weakly as he splattered to the pavement. "Serena!" he again whispered-cried. "SERENA!" "She wanted..." this was from Mina, and he looked up, emotions in the form of split tears pooling on the ground. She held out something...two somethings...to him, a piece of paper and...no, NO! Not the locket! She'd never... He tore at the letter, seeking some reassurance, something to help him believe that they were wrong, and she was still out there, still alive...there had to be something... And out fell the cut red string. If Darien Chiba ever thought he felt pain, it was nothing compared to the shattering smack in the face of that sight. The letter was worse, and by the end of it he was crying with the rest of them, slow, silver tears because Serena had left this world without realizing he loved her... Luna knew by those water filled eyes what he thought about, but she didn't try to comfort him. Five years meant she'd seen this happen many times before-- she decided--yet the feeling she sensed within him never failed to flatten her spirits. At least, as far as she could tell, the worst of it was over. No, no--she'd forgotten about Lita's breakdown. Darien hadn't, for his unfilitered mind's eye was just coming to it. After that day, things hit below rock bottom for awhile. Sure, they all threw themselves into something else to try and blot out the memories. But the Senshi were still needed to clean up after Rubius and his women; the absence of Sailor Moon threw a serious wrench into the works, though. First of all, they didn't have someone to finish off the enemy, and battles took longer as they tried to wear the beast down. This was finally solved by combination attacks, himself included. The second was psychological; though Mina was the leader, she was too distraught to run things. Therefore, for awhile, Mars, Venus, and Jupiter were almost timid in battle, unsure of when to strike and when not to with no one to defend. Mercury, though, began to think and strike at the same time, a devastating new fighting style emerging. He, too, came down from his aloof tree tops, telephone poles and skylights to inflict some brutal damage, discovering some things about his abilities that would've remained hidden. One night, though, as Lita had to help him carry Mina home--she'd been hit by some serious backlash--he wondered if it was all worth it. So, apparently, did Lita, for as she laid Mina down, silent tears began to run from her eyes, as if her tear ducts had suddenly gotten their version of a runny nose. "I wish I could die," she whispered suddenly, looking at the prone Sailor Venus with no light in her eyes. "Oh, WHY did she leave! She knew we cared! She knew..." He tried, for the first few moments, to comfort her, but in the end gave it up for honesty. Strangely, what came out of this shared night of anguish was a bond between the three, one that soon helped them begin to rejuvenate. It was about this time they started the dinner ritual, just to keep an eye on each other, and to have one place where they could air themselves freely while Lita taught he and Mina how to cook. However, though he tried, he still couldn't keep the two of them from leaving school to pursue their interests-- cooking and modeling--for which they both became highly successful. And though the dinner night was cut down from nearly everyday to once or twice a week, it was still a something they needed. Perhaps they'd need it fro the rest of their lives. He opened his eyes and sighed. he thought as he sat up. and here he twined the whole red string in his fingers, he thought, looking down at his hands, "What's this?" Luna asked, springing down as he stared, dumbfounded, as the piece of thread. As he tugged on it, and rubbed his eyes, wondering if this was some sort of desperate hallucination, Luna gently examined the item on the deck. "How odd," she said, scooping it up carefully in her mouth. "What?" he asked half-heartedly, and the cat returned to drop a flower in his lap. He picked it up, and with a knowing eye examined the clusters of bluish flowers that flowered from the plant--and his eyes widened immediately. He looked from the red string back to the flowers, and softly began to shake. Luna, completely puzzled, asked gently, "What is it?" "A forget-me-not, Luna," he whispered. "This is a forget- me-not." * * * * When Selene had returned, the Master had NOT been pleased. "How could you fail?" he snarled. "It was only those cut rate Senshi!" "Tuxedo Mask did appear, my lord," she whimpered. Normally, it was she who would have done the yelling, but she'd learned her place long ago. The Master was the law for the Dark Trio--and that was that. "Tuxedo Mask," replied the man, gloves clenched. "How did that top hatted, under powered idiot defeat you!" If his words had been dark before, they were positively venomous now. It led Selene to wonder, in a VERY secret corner of her mind, why the Master hated this Tuxedo Mask so much...or the other name he called him, something long that she never could remember. "They had help, my Master," she whispered. "Four men, who called themselves..." "The Generals," replied the man coolly, stepping away from where she crouched at his feet. "Of them I know, though I never expected them to mobilize so quickly." He stopped and turned, dark eyes flicking back to her. "Anyone else, Selene? You know the pain if you with hold..." "NO MASTER!" she cried out. "I would never!" "Good. Then spill it." He relaxed semi-comfortably on a dark wood chair, the deep violet cushions pleasantly comfortable and intricately embroidered. "There was another Sailor, my Master, with dark hair...she held a staff, and stood in the shadows, but from my eyes nothing was hidden," she reported eagerly. "Sailor Pluto? This is interesting," he murmured, sipping his wine from a black flask that was threaded with gold. "And there was another, a young woman I believe...they called her Crystal, and she held a magnificent weapon within her hands. I didn't see much of her..." her words were cut off as he suddenly grabbed a handful of her hair and wrenched, energy flooding the strands. "Tell me about her, Selene," he whispered. "Tell me about her, or I will..." "NOO!" she moaned. "I didn't see much.." "Then tell me what you saw. Was she short, or tall? Skinny, or fat? Blond hair, or brunette?" He jerked her closer. "I'm listening." "She was kind of short, and thin, and she wore a deep black outfit that covered her hair and her eyes and I didn't see much of her because she was turned away from me and PLEASE, PLEASE, Master, don't!" "Where was she?" he asked, voice low and threatening as his eyes sparked at her, and a rusty color began to encircle his hand... "She...she stood in the arms of the blond! Um...uh..." "Jadeite?" "YES! Jadeite! I only remember because Tuxedo Mask was looking strangely at her, and..." "Enough," he commanded softly, releasing her hair from his grip, and then stroking it back down lovingly. His hand now glowed blue, and her face turned rapturous. "You have done well, Selene. Now with these Generals here, we will have more than enough energy to go around, and I will make sure you have your pick." "Master..." she whispered. "I desire the auburn haired one...and Tuxedo Mask. They're so handsome." He chuckled to himself at that. "How fitting," he whispered, still stroking her hair. "Oh yes...yes, you will have your choice, Selene." She gazed up at him with a smile of pure ecstasy, and he increased her energy flow a tad. Her eyes closed as she leaned back, the energy within her like a raw sexual experience that she couldn't get enough of. And the Master knew it. "Hielo! Katarina!" he snapped, and immediately the two appeared before him, instantly in a crouch. He spread his energy to them, saying softly, "Rest, Dark Trio, and build your strength and the Dark force. Soon...soon, we will attack again, and this time, the SENSHI WILL BE OURS!" He couldn't help the laugh that escaped after that, and he didn't stop the three of them from joining in with him. he thought, splitting a picture of Tuxedo Mask in his head, * * * * Zachary Petal was bored. Upon awakening on the morning of his first day of work (or second day of leave, though none would take it), he'd tried to prepare for work. However, he had two problems: a headache from nowhere, and the fact that Jade had told him he looked like "death having a bad hair day." Still, he swallowed two Tylenol, brushed his rat's nest out completely (leaving it hanging), and went to meet with the others. Who promptly send him back to bed, ordering him to take the second day off and warning him (especially Serena and Setsuna) that he'd better spend most of it in bed. However, after un-preparing himself for work and sleeping for another two, three hours, he found he couldn't take much more. So, after dressing once again, this time in casual clothing, and rebrushing his hair (which again, he left down), he headed out towards the park. His boredom had given him something to do: he would head to the park and see if he could find the remains of that creature, and analyze it with his crystal. To his surprise, or perhaps out of sheer luck, there were still signs left. Not on the battleground; that had been swept clean by the energy outbursts. Yet on the plants he found a hard residue, black in color and liquid when warmed in his hand. In fact, where it touched his hand, the skin cooled somewhat, and he knew it absorbed energy. Rooting around his person, he found a scrap of paper in a pocket that he transferred some to. It was about then that he realized he was being watched. he reminded himself, gently shoving the scrap into his pocket. After all, if there was trouble, his upgraded agility would probably get him out of it, and he could go for help or become Zoicite and deal with it. It was with this thought in mind--that he just might be facing an enemy--that he turned around with. Instead of some hard faced, round bodied enemy, it was only a small girl. She was maybe just a little taller than Serena, with dark-ish blue hair and large, sea blue eyes set in a cute little face. "What are you doing?" that cute little face suddenly mouthed, and he was blown back to the present by the sound of a voice yelling at him. "What?" he automatically said in English. She sighed. "Oh...you don't speak Japanese?" she asked. "No, no--I can speak it," he replied, switching into the language, accenting lacing his words. "I just forgot for a moment." "Oh." She stopped for a second, and studied him. The first thing she noticed--had to notice--were the strands of curly blond hair that the wind currently was picking at, hanging lose around his face, which sported both delicate-like features and a pair of gorgeous green eyes that had a touch of gray subtly rubbed into them. It was those eyes that she focused her study on, reading them as she had learned to long ago, and finding nothing but sincerity, curiosity, and something else. "Well...what are you doing out here?" "Taking a look at these plants," he said quietly. He had noticed her study of him, and somehow hoped he met her approval. he thought as he ushered her over and showed her the damaged leaves. Mentally giving himself a shake, he added, "They seemed to be coated by some sort of black...well, if I had to guess, I'd say it was a polymer." "A polymer?" she questioned, eyebrows lifting. She gently snapped a leaf off, and scraped off some of the substance into her hand. she wondered as she watched the crusted substance slowly liquefy in her hand. "Yes...yes, it appears to be. Very observant, Mr..." "Zachary. Zachary Petal," he replied, entranced by the coating in her hand. She noticed he was standing closer, but unlike the other times, it didn't make her feel uncomfortable--in fact, it felt almost normal. "Oh!" she suddenly exclaimed as the skin on her hand started to cool, even under the influence of the sun. "An energy absorber?" she gasped. His eyebrows raised now; his mind rambled, forcing a grin from him. "That's what I observed as well, Miss.." "Amy Mizuno," she replied, still looking down--which is why she didn't notice the EXTREME look of shock and surprise that crashed over Zach's face. "Tarish, too, isn't it?" she added. "Um...yes, I mean, hai," he replied, mind whirling. his mind sighed, and he wanted to...well, slap himself for being so nonchalant. This...THIS was AMY! Sailor Mercury! (That was another reason he wanted to slap himself, for he'd noted her blue hair the first time he'd seen her, and specifically wanted to remember it.) Trying to set his thoughts still, he mused aloud, "I wonder what would happen if it was dipped in water." he thought as she looked up at him, and he tried to control his face, but felt it go pale. With her identity revealed came a thundering wave of compliments for her now, instead of just merely being "cute" and "smart." He swallowed as her eyes studied him, and the five or so seconds between his comment and her saying, "Well, there's a fountain nearby" stretched itself out to be five minutes. "But why are you interested?" shot through his head, but he actually said, "Well, a friend of mine piqued my interest in plants awhile back, but my specialty is diseases." His statement invoked a grain of truth; he did study plant diseases. In fact, he studied all diseases, since he was interested in studying pharmacy when he went to college. Really, it WAS a fascinating subject, even though the others didn't seem to think so. "Are you going to be a plant doctor?" she asked politely as she turned away from the plant, and started walking. He fell into close step beside her. "Actually, I must confess that I'm thinking of studying pharmacy or some form of it when I go to college," he replied honestly, voice smooth even with the thoughts punctuating his words. "I want to be a doctor, like my mother," she said softly. "Really? What sort?" "A pediatrician, to be exact. Perhaps," and here, for some reason she could not discern, she got a little impish, "perhaps you could fill my prescriptions one day." The hidden innuendo was not lost on Zach, but he chose to ignore it, saying, "Perhaps...but if I did, it would be a pleasure, Amy." There was a moment then, as she turned and found the path between clearings, when he smiled--and she found the smile enchanting...if a little uncomfortable. Oh, not uncomfortable in a bad way--truly, she felt exceptionally at ease in his presence, unlike most other guys she was around--but uncomfortable because she was at ease. He was closer to her now, maybe a half step behind because the path was narrow, and that seemed both enchanting and uncomfortable, too. This mixture of feelings nagged at her, teased at the edge of her mind, and she realized she hadn't felt this way since... She calculated quickly, and found it had been not long after Serena had...passed on...was when she'd last thought of him. She remembered it clearly because she'd needed desperately to talk to someone outside the Senshi, and had hit upon him. However, he had been somewhat reserved about her, and in the end had asked--nicely--not to call again. /It's not that I don't like you anymore, Amy. It's just that...well, your future and mine don't cross anymore. I'm sorry./ That day had left her feeling more alone than ever. School and work--her mother allowed her to come to the hospital and volunteer in pediatrics--had provided a respite for awhile, but gradually she felt the emptiness returning. Raye's friendship helped some, but nothing could truly fill it. Or so she thought. Zach wondered what Amy was thinking as she led him slowly towards the fountain. Her face had become somewhat reflective, and it seemed as if her eyes--what he could see of them--looked inward instead of outwards, even as she walked easily onwards. Still, he could see her missteps, as if the path had taken her by surprise. They hit the fountain about then, a small spring that gently washed downward to a small, crystalline pool. Amy was all business as she removed the piece from the pocket, and seemed about ready to place it when he called out, "I'll do it." "No, that's all right." "No really," he said, sweeping in to stand close to her. He tested the water patiently with his finger, and found it (as expected) to be freezing; he didn't expect the gasp to come as he touched it though, and said, "This water is FREEZING, Amy. Please...let me." "But I can't let you..." she started, but then he removed his hand, warmed it, and looked at her. "It'll be all right," his voice gently said, but it was his eyes and tone that spoke to her. /Please,/ they said. /Please let me do one thing for you./ "All right," she agreed hesitantly, and handed over the piece. Neither missed the deft spark between them as their skin gently (GENTLY...barely, is more like it) touched, but both (rather wisely) ignored it. He submerged it deftly, rooting it to the bottom, thinking quietly, >But this is Amy.< drifted up a voice from the depths. However, in Zach's case, that really wasn't an excuse. Not that he was experiencing LAFS (love at first sight), or even a slow form of it...no, that wasn't it at all. Unlike Kevin, who saw Mina only as Kunzite's, he related too well to who'd he'd been not to love her. It was like the instinctive fears all humans have--of falling, and of being alone. Zach was literally born with a third: to love Amy Mizuno, or whoever happened to be Sailor Mercury. In fact, the instinct was so strong that had this path not been the one he strolled, he would've become a meteorologist specializing in fog and ice, and married a small, dark haired woman who lived near the sea... Again, a digression. Zach's hand was freezing as he pulled it out of the clear pool, and he rubbed it hastily as he watched the black speck. Amy hid her notice well, though she barely kept herself (though she didn't know why) from reaching out to him; a blush sprung up as she flattened the emotion, and hastily she refocused her attention on the pool. Around the dot of black, the water seemed...lighter, and both wondered if it would be cooler in that spot as well. Even as it sat there it drew energy, and Amy's eyes widened as she pointed out the formation of frost-like particles on the surface. The fountain even seemed cooler, and the water bubbling from it slowed. "Resilient," Zach finally murmured. "But affected. See how it shrank?" "A more compact sample probably draws more," she answered. "I wonder why the water is clearer though--some sort of reaction?" "Actually, it's probably drawing so much energy that its draining any life forms--bacteria, algae, or other tiny protozoans that live in this pool," he suggested. "Look at that nearly circle around it, though--how far does this affect?" "Do you think it could actually cool the whole fountain?" she asked. "Honestly? Not unless it was..." suddenly conscious of what he was about to say, he looked at the watch. She turned away to watch him shake his head, and wondered what was wrong; and really, there was something wrong, because he'd been out there for nearly an hour, and if he didn't get home soon, Sets and Serena would turn him over to Nate to cook for supper. He looked up, and was politely surprised to see Amy looking curiously at him. "Gomen, Amy, but...well, I'd love to finish this conversation--you're a fascinating person--but I have to go," he explained. He took one last look at the substance, then turned and walked away, murmuring as he did, "Good-bye, Amy-chan. May we meet again, and soon." Amy sat for a little while longer, her face turned towards the pool again, eyes not seeing but pretending to. She needed...needed to make sure she felt his eyes no longer. Then she plunged her hand into the water, noting the great chill in it, as well as reading the rest of it. She was mildly surprised to learn of the temperature variance that radiated throughout the pool, with the coldest and purest water surrounding the splotch. she thought. she reached out and grabbed it, noting again the icy water--and wincing for Zach. she thought. That she'd heard, and was what she'd wanted to hear for a long time. But from a man she'd known, and known for awhile...who loved her, and who she loved...so why had he said it? This was so quick for him, and for him as well--she could tell they had like minds, especially since she'd never had to explain anything to him, and he'd been so quiet--what had she missed? She considered very carefully as she absentmindedly stared longingly at the fountain--which stared back at her. She didn't notice it, though, until she heard the giggle. Looking up, she backed away, letting out a small gasp as what she saw. Two shaded, blurry figures sat on the misty edge of the fountain. One wore a light gray outfit with green trim, had long, curly, sandy blond hair and hidden eyes, and had on a bright smile. The other had fluffy, almost spiky, blue hair, and wore a bright fuku that was very... Another gasp. That was Sailor Mercury! Yet she couldn't quite say it was here--there were small difference, in ribbon color in length, in the arrangement of it, and the symbols, even in the appearance that separated them. But who..the green piping caught her. She's seen that before... Suddenly the Sailor Mercury look alike seemed to slip, and the man's gloved hands were around her in a flash, pulling her to him. The woman's face went from surprised to blissful, and quickly Amy realized that the two were in love. Deeply in love. The man's face was visible now, and the features were like a refined piece of china--and, in ways, resembled...well, Zachary, if you looked closely enough at it. The man was speaking now, whispering really, but she could hear his voice across the ages--"I will always catch you, Ami-chan." It vanished then, leaving Amy to struggle with waves of extreme emotion. However, this wasn't a fight she could win, as she learned when, at home, they exploded on her. So she wept softly for awhile into her bed, even if she didn't know why. Lita and Mina were strolling quietly down the street, engaged in a wonderful conversation, when they were nearly bowled over. "Gomen!" came the hasty voice, and then it dashed off again, leaving Lita to shake her fist and yell, "HEY! WATCH IT!" It was supposed to be a GOOD day. The two of them were on their way to pick up her check from her...uh, the restaurant where she worked. It was predicted that she'd own it in under a year; already she headed quite a few people and took part in some management decisions. Plus, the owner was old, childless, and loved her to death. "Calm down, Lita--we're both okay," smiled Mina, touching her shoulder. Lita often marveled at her friend's mood swings, but this was incredible--the girl had gone from fun-straight laced to fun-giddy in a matter of a day. Lita had no clue what had brought about the change (though she suspected the sunshined haired man had something to do with it), but she hoped it stuck around. Her friend had smoked less and laughed more than she ever had. "Wanna know a secret?" Mina continued, giggling. "Of course," she replied, grinning back. "My agent called this morning," she confessed as they stepped up on the curb. "And he's got big news that would you not...OOMPH!" Her last words came as a man stepped out suddenly from behind a truck and knocked her to the pavement. "Hey, would you..." she started, but then suddenly she saw the person--and grinned. "We just keep bumping into each other, don't we..." "Lita. Lita Kino. And that would be Mina Aino down there," she said. "Nathan Gold, and let me, Miss Mina," he said, reaching down to easily boost her to her feet. "Arigato," she replied. "You're welcome," he said, then stopped. "Wait...are you THE Lita Kino? The fantastic cook?" Inadvertently, she blushed, never noticing the way he seemed to tremble, or the edge to his voice. "Yes," she said softly, shyly. "Pardon me, Miss Kino, but you're gorgeous." He stopped, face contorting. "Sorry--I'm sure your boyfriend would object." she finally thought, checking out his deep brown eyes and soft waves of auburn hair that made him twice as attractive. Gently, and shyly, she replied, "I don't have a boyfriend." For a picosecond, something else flashed through his eyes, but the astonishment that replaced it blotted whatever it was out quickly. "I don't believe that," he said quietly with a half smile. "You're too pretty." "Hey Nate! I don't know what you're doing, but..." Kevin called as his head appeared around the corner, a little sweaty and breathing hard. It was then that she noticed Nate had been hefting boxes. Like an explosion, his eyes found Mina's. "Oh..." "You!" The shocked exclamation brought puzzlement from both Lita and Nate, and they looked at the two. Kevin appeared around the corner completely now, as shocked as Mina, who'd gone nearly white. The contrast, especially in the splashes of sunlight, made both of them look incredible, especially to their friends. Then, Mina fainted. "Mina!" Lita cried out, just as the silvery haired man went down near her. He looked up once--just once--and as his gray eyes snagged her emerald ones, he said, "I've got her." And she trusted him, even as he scooped her up from the ground and held her, almost tender in his movements. It wasn't by his looks, or by the way he held her, but by instinct. "Tell Crys I'm taking my break," he said to Nate in English, and then turned and walked across the street. "That was odd," Lita remarked aloud. She looked to Nate. "Have they met before?" "Perhaps, long ago," he whispered, words unintentional but flying out of his mouth before he could corral them. Now their eyes caught, and Nate held back a gasp. He'd never seen anything so green or luminescent in his life. They were like hidden caverns of jade, dark, glossy green jade that covered by soft, moss green, secrets concealed within that he was dying to seek, to expose to himself only. "Have we...met before?" she asked very slowly, very quietly. She, too, was caught by his brown eyes, the expressive irises as soft as down, sleek as satin, and as sweet to the soul as milk chocolate. His breath caught at the words; hers, though, seemed to ease up. And then a voice called out, "Nate! What ARE you doing?!" Lita blushed; Nate cringed. he thought. For the first time in his life, he tried telepathy--*Serena, don't!* The words hit her in a burst of static, stopping her short. Still she wasn't going to be deterred from finding out why they'd stopped unloading their stuff. So she stopped and touched her Dark gem. "Nathan? What are you doing?" He whirled at the approximation of Serena's voice to hiss and block the view, but was confronted by an extraordinary sight--a short haired, strawberry blond in jeans and a tight shirt, tinted eyes sparkling with her smile. She looked nearly nothing like the Serena he knew, and that had been different from the first one he'd seen. She smiled knowingly, then stepped around him, standing close as he turned. He expected a bit of surprise, and got it, only it was so slight he added "acting" to her list of talents. "Hello," she said in accented Japanese. "Hello," replied Lita, staring at her. Something about her appearance seemed suddenly familiar achingly familiar, even. Yet what bothered her most was how close she stood to Nate, with a palpable air between them that she couldn't quite put her finger on. It made her both wonder and become angry, even if she wasn't sure why; he didn't even resemble her old boyfriend! she thought, "Nate, what's up?" Serena asked in the Sol tongue. "That's Lita! How?" "Mina ran into me," he whispered back. "And then Kevin, and..." "Ask her out." "WHAT?!" "Pardon?" Lita said, even more confused as the two talked in song, except for the harsh, clacking consonants that sometimes punctuated the melody. "Oh...Lita Kino, this is Crys Dark. She's a friend who works with me," he explained. "She speaks in...uh, mostly Quechua." Serena offered him a look-- she thought--then smiled at Lita. "Please to meet you," she said haltingly. "Same here, Crys," Lita replied, smiling brightly. That something people she met liked--she smiled a lot. It was something she learned from Serena. On the other side, Serena stared at her friend, feeling...a sympathy for her. Not that she looked bad--hah! she was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!--but there seemed to be a certain heaviness in her eyes, a soft angering razing at...a pain that cut her due to...She dared not think it now, because she might just start to cry. But she was speaking again. "How do you know Nate?" she asked jerkily, as if trying to recall how to say the words. "We just met," she said, flushing. "She very pretty," Serena announced to Nate, and now both of them flushed. Still, Nate managed to say, "Yes she is" without gritting his teeth. This only set Lita to blushing all the more, even though her sweet green eyes sparkled at the compliment. It was then that she realized that she really needed to go pick up her check. After all, there were things that she needed to get for dinner--she was serving tonight--and then she needed...well, she just needed to do a lot of stuff today. "Nice to meet you, Crys...Nate..I have to go, though." Both suddenly seemed crestfallen, but Crys quickly said, "Bye!" in an overly cute and cheery voice before walking inside. This left Nate fidgeting around for words for his good-bye, which couldn't be like Serena's, but more his style. Hitting upon some, he quickly asked, "Where do you work, Miss Kino?" "Lita." "All right, Miss Lita," he smiled, "where do you work? We just got here from America and..." "America!" "Yes, Lita," he smiled. "And I, personally, would like to taste some Japanese food for once--and they say you're the best." His grin was irresistible, and the new information about him was just as so. "How about I cook for you privately?" she asked. "I can show you the best dishes, and you can tell me about America." Before he could reply, she fished out a business card and said, "Here's my number--call me when you're free." He looked shocked as he took it, but there was an unmistakable look of...glee in his eyes at the prospect, so she assumed it was okay. With another smile and a wave, she abandoned him, walking further towards work with a smile on her face and a spring in her step. That man...Nathan...that was his name...it rang through her head; it made her smile. Not that she...well, it wasn't like her, so why... She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice until she had her check in her hand that Mina was not with her. ran musically through Kevin's head as he laid her down on the bench. She had lain limp the whole time, but the touch of the sun warmed, slightly shaded bench brought her around. He shuffled away, unsure, hands in his pockets as he watched her. Actually, Mina had been awake for much longer; fainting was NOT her forte, but coming awake in a strange man's arms had been...disquieting to say the least. Especially since he had such a drastic effect on her. So she'd lain quietly, not thinking, not moving, just listening to the quiet beat of his heart synch with hers. The touch of the bench, though, had to bring her back--it was too much of a jar to go from a warm shell of comfort to a hard, open, wooden bench. Her eyes flickered open, and he exhaled his held breath. Unconsciously, part of him wept with joy at the sight; why he was incredibly relieved to see her alive, Kunzite wouldn't say. His eyes wouldn't leave her, though, until she rose, smoothing over her skirt, hand to her head as if she had a headache. "I'm sorry," he whispered. Her head shot up, and her eyes locked onto his. He felt like he'd just been caught in a trap, for his body froze under her blue gaze, a chill shooting through his bones. "It's all right," he said. "I won't...please, don't faint, Mina!" "How do you know my name?" she demanded. "How!" "I heard it when Nate and you and Lita," he momentarily broke into a smile, "were talking." The smile stayed, and it made her feel odd, almost shaky. She perceptibly shook it off, saying, "Are you following me? I don't like to deal with," and her she sniffed, "psychos." "No, not at all, Min...Miss Aino," he replied with a subtle shake of his head and a rueful grin. he thought, and nearly laughed. "We just keeping bumping into each other, I guess." Again, he disarmed her, his words making sense even with the odd accent. A part of her yelled that she couldn't trust him, but that came so far out of left field that she ignored it. Instead, she calmly said, "I apologize then. You have no clue how it is, being recognized so much." He chuckled-- she thought--deeply at that, and amazingly it soothed her nerves. Not that he was really rankling them--not at all. He just soothed her so much she became frazzled wondering why she was soothed. "Sounds like you need a bodyguard," he joked. "Are you offering?" she wondered, nearly serious. Well, at least partially. He couldn't be sure, for while her voice was dark, her eyes were light and twinkled brightly at him. "Are you requesting?" "Maybe." "I doubt it." "Why?" she asked, curious. He smiled now, and motioned as if to sit down next to her. When she nodded, he did, and quietly asked, "Can I see your arm for a moment?" "What?" "May I see your arm for a second--please?" he asked again, voice completely guileless, gray eyes innocent. She reckoned that she could melt under the steady heat of those light, soft eyes. her mind chittered as she silently offered her arm. He examined it for a moment before beginning to speak. "You see this?" he said, fingers on her wrist. "Your tendons--they're strong. Very strong. And while I know you're a model, I can see faint marks like calluses on your hands. That could indicate an instrument, but because they're on your palms, it's a probable mark of gymnastic activity." He ran his fingers up her arm, causing her to shiver, fascinated by both her soft skin and the play of the muscle underneath. She was strong. Of that he could have no doubt. He touched her bicep, remarking, "Well developed," traced her tricep and mused, "Very nice," and hit her shoulder...where he found her eyes. Bright and blue, with silver flecks that twinkled within them at him, like tiny, teasing stars. He wanted to touch them--wait! He was touching her! They were close now...close...and his hand rested warmly on her should. Her mouth twitched, and she seemed to be...tense...but her eyes remained still and lovely and twinkled at him with a solemn merriness. "Who are you?" she asked quietly. "You know my name, but I don't know yours." "Kevin," he said. "Kevin Graystone." "Kevin," she said quietly, turning the name over and over in her mind. His hand on her shoulder was both comforting and burning on her clothed skin, and suddenly she had to be, and was, away from him, facing him instead of next to him. His face had a startled look; hers was boldly serene, a bit daring. "I'm sorry," he said, standing. The edges of that frame in time suddenly blurred, and he was Kunzite, the REAL Kunzite, and she was Sailor Venus--no, the PRINCESS of Venus, Senshi of Venus. He held an unfamiliar knife, and she was whipped by the winds from below. As he moved, so did she, in a... She broke the vision with a gasp as she caught herself in a backflip moving away from him, both his hands clenched, body strained as if trying not to leap after her. "Good bye," she said, body still willing her mind to run away, even if her mind willed her to stay. "There are no good byes for those who will meet again," he called back. She thought his voice was steady, but a part of her could hear the tremble, the edge, within, and still see the strain. "Then we shall meet again, K..K..Kevin,' she replied clearly before turning and walking (quickly) away. Kevin sagged against the bench, body still experiencing the violent push to leap forward and after her. He closed his eyes and let the breeze touch his cheek, sweeping a bit of the longer hair to touch his face. He felt utterly alone, yet content in it, as if the fact that he had a void meant it would soon be replaced. When he opened his eyes, he found he was not as alone as he thought. Two misty figures stared down at him, perfect but for their haze. "Kunzite," he nodded to one. "Lady Venus," to the other. >Don't fret, General of the Future,< Kunzite whispered. >One does not win over a Lady in a day. Especially when her bloodline springs from Venus.< The Lady smiled wryly at her mate, then spoke quietly to him. >Heed the General of the Past, young one. His words may not always be noble, but his advice rings true.< he thought bitterly, for once again Venus has slipped through his grasp and into Kunzite's. There were sometimes that he hated himself. "So what is it?" he asked, unable to keep the edge out. "I mean, I don't even know if I WANT to love her...even if she is so..." he sighed, "appealing." >DON'T SAY THAT, General of the Future, or you WILL regret it,< Kunzite said, eyes becoming so bright that they seemed to burn away the haze. >You MUST be patient--don't rush your feelings, or hers.< >He is right, young General. Move slowly, move steadily, but always be patient. A woman's heart is even mistier than a man's at times,< whispered the Lady. Her hand touched his ever so softly, not a touch but a breeze that skimmed over his skin. >We must go now.< "Farewell, those of the past," he said. >Farewell, ye of the future.< With that, General turned to his Lady, toyed softly with her hair, and then kissed her. The haze grew brighter for an instant, as did then, and then, they were gone. "Is Kevin back yet?" Serena asked from her desk. "Nope," Jade replied. "He has two minutes." "Keeping track, eh?" Setsuna chuckled from her console. Her computer had already been set up, and she was playing gently midis as she entered database files. Jade's was nearly there, and Zach's was already up and humming--a surprise for the sick man--but Nate and Kev were SOL if they didn't pick up the pace soon. Nate had at least gotten his out of the box, but Kevin's was still on the truck. he thought as the ringing of the door indicated that Kevin had returned, carrying his equipment. He went to his desk without saying a word, and began to unpack. "How's Mina?" Nate asked. "Well, she recovered," he said, "but sparks weren't flying." He sliced the top quickly and deftly; he was always good with knives. "And Lita?" "Wonderful," he replied. "Lovely, and apparently..." he glanced down at the business card. "And what?" Jade called. "And more than I expected," he said. "Much more." "WOO-HOO!" Kevin cracked, causing the other three to laugh. "Set a date yet?" "Next June," he replied dryly. "So late?" Serena quipped. "You have more patience than I would," Setsuna said, and now everyone laughed. Except for Kevin, but then again, he wasn't big on jokes anyways. "Not as much as the Princess, if I may speak in my defense," he called back. "Gotta be known for something, Neph," she sighed. He grinned to himself and at the friendly banter as he pulled himself under his desk. As his agile fingers began to unravel cords and position then right, his mind thought of--guess?--a business card. And Lita. He already knew that most Japanese business people used business cards like American business people used the handshake; in fact, one could almost establish a pecking order by business cards. Hers had been mostly in green, and tastefully done--at least, he liked it. But why had she given it to him? Was this because she wanted to see him again? "Sets, try the connection," came from above as his mind chimed, his mind chuckled again. >SHUTUP!< chorused back, this time in Nephrite's voice, and he winced. He crawled out of under the desk and began to toy with connections. As Jade said, "Sets, try again," he tried to keep his mind from wandering again; he didn't want a heated internal conversation, especially since he was at work, and there was other things to be done. Yet he did wonder whether or not he'd done the right thing. Perhaps... It was then, as Sets said, "Got it!", that he saw the pair, standing in the middle of the street, totally oblivious to the world. They seemed fuzzy, but the inside were sharp enough for him to recognize the two. Lady Jupiter and General Nephrite. As he watched, the General lifted the Lady's chin, and the two stared at each other for awhile. Slowly she brushed his face, and his eyes, and he wiped a tear from her. Then, swiftly, the two hugged, embracing so tightly their auras joined. Then, they vanished He sat back down and absentmindedly fiddled with some more wires. What he'd seen didn't shake him, as it had the others--it merely strengthened his resolve. He'd taken the first step to winning Lita, and he would. No matter what, he would. It was then that a cry went up from behind them, and he turned. "What?" he asked. "We have mail," Serena said incredulously. "Probably some server welcome," he said. "No, Nate. This is personally addressed," Setsuna said. In a breathy, soft voice she added, "To me." "Huh? Could there be a mistake?" he said, getting up and walking over. The crowd seemed to part around him, and he was able to look over her shoulder and read as she did. DoC, It has been a long time since we last saw each other. It will be longer yet, but only a little while. Nothing compared to the 1000 or so years since last time. Too long, I think, but you have not been away from your Gate. You were always obsessive about it, even though I couldn't pick its locks--and I, my dear, was your best. I know who you are with, and something of your enemy, who I am NOT. Believe this, my heart: I am not the man who battles you. I would die before I saw you bleed a drop of your blood. I will watch for a time to meet. And it will be so good to see you, once again, face to face. W. "DoC?" Kevin asked. "Daughter of Cronus," she replied. "It is part of the Legend of the Moon Kingdom that those who guard the Time Gate have the blood of the Time Lord in them, though whether it is true or not...I am not sure." She shook her head. "No one else should know that! I have not been known for a thousand years, and that legend has died with me!" "Setsuna," Nate asked softly, kneeling beside her. "Who is 'W'?" She looked down at him, and hard as it was to believe, her maroon eyes were misty. Misty! "I have no idea, General," she whispered. Looking back to the screen, she repeated, "None at all." * * * * Jade looked up at the shrine, hands stuffed in his pockets to ward against an unusually chilly evening. It was just as the ones he'd read about, all panels and dark wood, lovely and elegant and peaceful rolled into one. He walked up the steps cautiously, a hand momentarily moving through his short hair. Really short hair, actually. Well, there was enough to lay flat and show the color, but it wasn't like Jadeite had kept his. He couldn't bring himself to grow it like that; it was hard enough to grow it part of that length. As soon as he was in the yard, he came upon a little man, a little bald man with beady eyes that wore shrine apparel. "Have you come to make a wish?" he asked brightly. Immediately Jade thought he could get to like this little fellow. "No, no--I just came to look around. I've never seen a shrine like this before," he replied honestly. After all, it was the truth, though he also hoped (just a little) that he would see Raye. He wanted to meet the firebrand he was supposed to love--well, that the old Jade would love. He'd had a surprise attack of caution, though, he reasoned, if she looked as good as she did as Sailor Mars, caution could jump off a building. he reasoned again. The old man stared steadily at him, as if he wasn't buying it. "If you want to see Raye, she's not here," he said. That caught him by surprise, so much so that he couldn't speak. "I know my granddaughter is attractive," the old man continued, "but I never expected her to attract your type." Now he had to speak. "My apologies, sir, but I'm afraid I don't know your granddaughter. I've never talked to or even seen your granddaughter. Besides the fact that her name is Raye, and she IS your granddaughter, I know nothing about her! So why..." he stopped as the old man beamed proudly, and gestured him further inside. "I like your type, boy! More backbone--much better than that Chad fellow she knew. What an idiot! Like a sentient mop, I'd say..." he rattled on and on as they walked further in. "What is your name?" "Jade," he said bewilderedly. "Oooh, nice," the man replied. "Now..." "Please, excuse me, sir, but I have to...uh..." "Go ahead! Just come back anytime--and buy flowers for my granddaughter like those orchids she likes." he thought as he stumbled away. For the next fifteen minutes he walked about, exploring the area and feeling a lovely peace. he thought quietly. Finally, with a sorrowful look, he started for home. He had a long day, and he needed to check on Zach, and rest. he thought. Raye's grandfather knew instantly when he'd left the shrine, and sharpened as he did. he thought. That night, as the two of them shared dinner, he remarked, "There was a man here today, looking for you." "Chad?" she asked after a few moments. "No, no, Raye--that boy is never coming back. This one, though, was tall and blond, with pure blue eyes and the crows liked him--they didn't come down, at least--and..." "Please excuse me, Grandfather," she said numbly, walking away before he could continue. As she pushed open a panel and walked out, her memories sunk to Chad, and immediately she wished they hadn't. It had been about three years since he'd left, saying that it was too much for him anymore, that even his love for her wasn't enough. She had been almost surprised--but not quite. It wasn't the only thing to desert her; for awhile, her psychic powers had almost vanished. It'd left her feeling stripped of life and very alone, as well as a rage towards the world and...well, Darien. She could never believe that she'd liked him. Oh, it was impossible! He said--he seemed--to love Serena, but then she'd seen him on what could ONLY be dates! He was supposed to pine for her, die for her if necessary--not date! Oh, Venus had called them "meetings with old friends" (which is what they were, said apart of herself) but she had known they had to be very close. She didn't even have the support of the Senshi for awhile--Venus had made sure of that by whipping thoroughly in the first practice fights. Actually, any practice fights, really. Yet most of it had come around to her again. Her psychic powers were back, stronger than ever; Darien had apparently stopped his chorousing; Venus had stopped pushing her around so much, even apologizing. All that needed to happen was for Chad to come back. But he never did. She entered the room of the sacred fire, sat down, and concentrated on it. Immediately she felt the echoes of a great presence all around the shrine. Perturbed that an enemy might be present, she requested his face from the fire. And got something very different. True, a man's face did show in the fire, a beautifully made face with deep eyes and strands of hair. Then it changed, and a woman entered the picture, a flash of fire that was swept into the arms of the man, and they kissed. Raye blinked, and the fire was clear again.