Title: Soul Lights

Subtitle: Foreshadowed Dusk (3/3)

Status: Alpha

Author: Matthias aka MysticMew

Email: Minaru@gmx.de

(Plot) Beta-reader: Ayrki

Rating: R

Category: Angst, Romance, Crossover/Fusion (somewhat)

Fandoms: Sailormoon (manga), bits of Tenchi Muyo (OVA), Card Captor Sakura (manga)/Slayers, Ranma 1/2, Inuyasha, Vision of Escaflowne, Magic Knight Rayearth, Skies of Arcadia Legends

Main Pairing: Minako/Hotaru/Makoto, with a side focus on Sakura/Tomoyo/Lisa and Lina/Amelia/Sylphiel (which in a way is the same)

Timeline: Five years after the end of the manga. This is the first Main Story Arc of the Soul Lights Continuum

Summary: Crystal Tokyo is just a few months away when the peaceful lives of the Senshi are thrown into utter chaos again. Can Minako survive the various hardships suddenly thrust into her path and can the Senshi survive their final battle to realize the future they worked so hard for?

Distribution: Soul Lights Continuum (http://sl.catstrio.de), Starsinlove-group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/starsinlove), ff.net (www.fanfiction.net), Mediaminer (www.mediamer.org), ASMR (www.moonromance.net), Shoujo Ai.com (www.shoujoai.com). Anyone else, you can have it but please ask first, 'kay?

Disclaimer: See individual disclaimers below intro

Story Disclaimer: Copyright©2004 by Matthias Engel

Note: () indicates change of POV to the listed character, if empty then the following will be done in third person, a question mark indicates a character who is either unknown yet to the reader or should stay that way for now. <> Indicated time/place if necessary

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<190097 BC ()>

The landscape was one born out of a picture book, a fairytale beauty telling about a pompous, wealthy kingdom where none would have to suffer.

First impression often clouds the eyes for the real truth behind it all.

Oh sure, the setting was beautiful. The palace sitting in the middle of the vast silvery lake - Mare Serenitas - shone with a glorious light reflecting the strong heart, the inner soul's light of its creator. High in the sky hung the blue planet from which we had all come, the wounds inflicted throughout the short - relatively spoken - but bloody war were healing fast and the people of both Moon and Earth had been given a new hope, a new peace.

All was well since Serenity had established the Moon Kingdom… At least to the casual observer, to the common people. However, if you were one of those that only three years ago fought for the survival of the entire galaxy, the ones who had made all this possible. For them the results seemed barely worth the personal sacrifices.

Lady Peitho found her quarry on the balcony of the palace, looking out over the water, her gaze seemingly losing itself in the depths of space. Yet Peitho could tell with one glance exactly where her mate's focus was directed to… and the realization made her stomach lurch, her heart clench and her soul cry out in denial of what she knew was impossible to avert. She stood there for a long time, gazing at the lovely profile of the young woman, her albino-white skin shimmering against the illumination from the Earth above, just like the hair took a momentary effect of crystallized purple, a kind of halo effect, like an angel. Her angel.

For as long as she could remember the Senshi of Saturn and her had been together and there wasn't a time when they had been separated from each other for more than a few days. The bond between them was a natural one, a strong one that knew no boundaries and would be sustained to the ends of time if necessary. It was only that vague hope that had kept Peitho going over the last days ever since learning of the last terrible blow fate had dealt them. Now though, seeing her beloved like this, on this very day, that hope was simply not enough…

Lady Phoebe turned in time to receive the embrace properly, Peitho clinging to her in desperation and longing, a million thoughts, words and feelings tumbling through her but none were expressed vocally. It wasn't necessary. The kiss they shared told everything there needed to be said and yet, at the same time, it felt like so little, not enough, not enough to diminish the soul-shattering pain in themselves. Nothing could. Their auras flared in response to the emotional outburst. Golden-orange and purple dancing like hungry flames around them, hissing warningly at the world around the two lovers that wished to separate them.

Finally they pulled apart but only so that Peitho could pull the smaller girl closer again, not ready to let go at all. She would never be ready. "It's not fair," she whispered, tears spilling from her eyes, tears of anger and frustration, tears of helplessness. "It's not worth it. Lina, Amelia, Sylphiel and even Persephone had to die, poor Filia is… And Tsunami left too…" she choked out with an angry sob. "What is all this worth if everything is taken away from us? Didn't we earn ourselves anything?" Peitho wanted to curse, rant, lament at the unfairness of fate, she wanted to never let go of that sweet woman that meant more than life to her. And yet she knew she could not. In the end they would all fulfill their duty, no matter the cost. That was the harsh destiny of a star child. A life that could bring both incredible joy but also incredible pain.

"I know, Araine. I know," the usual calm and collected Phoebe responded in kind, not able to hold back her own tears. Again the two Senshi's lips met and the flames of light around them were dancing even more passionately, hissing even louder… for they knew instinctively that it would be the last time. The last time those two souls would come together so intimately.

"I love you so much. I wish I could go with you," Peitho breathed, her vision blurry but her heart clearly seeing and imprinting the image of her life's anchor before her. It would be the last memory and it would be burned into her very essence, never to be forgotten.

"I love you too," Phoebe whispered, trying to sound strong but failing miserably. "Take care of Serenity, she needs you now." There was a silent plea in her purple eyes that needn't to be spoken aloud and Peitho nodded even though her heart and soul were screaming to just go with the other woman, to ignore everything else and follow her mate… She didn't listen. She couldn't listen. All what would have been truly worthless if she didn't stay by their young charge's - now Queen's - side. Peitho knew that if they would both leave, the young Queen they both loved and had raised like their own child would not be able to bear the heavy duty.

Peitho and Phoebe's eyes never left each other, seeing the depth of the emotions swimming within their clear pools even beyond the tears. "Promise me," Peitho pressed out before her voice would fully fail her. "Promise me that you will find me again. Regardless of how long it takes. Promise you'll find me again and even if I changed and don't recognize you anymore that you…"

Phoebe pressed a single finger against the older woman's lips. "I promise." And with that she stepped back, slipping from Peitho's grasp even if the other feebly tried to hold on, the flames separated with a snap and a hiss… one might have even heard a wail. The purple one curled around its Mistress, forming the familiar Senshi fuku, the traditional uniform of a Sailorsenshi. The long scythe, known as the Silence Glaive, fell into one outstretched hand and with a wave of that deadly instrument a portal was created from nowhere. Sailorsaturn gave a long, suffering last glance at her mate, turned and walked through the portal that would lead her home… and yet so far away from it at the same time.

As the portal closed behind the Senshi of Silence, Peitho turned around, mimicking the position her mate had taken when she first came here, her gaze following the same path as Phoebe, towards the planet of Saturn. In that moment of finality all the hope was gone. She knew without a doubt that Phoebe wouldn't return in this life. The dimensional rift would take much longer to close, especially on a nexus planet like Saturn. Her heart, her soul, her essence would not come back…

As tears and sobs overtook her, she was only dimly aware of another having come up behind her, holding her trembling form. She was only dimly aware of being cradled like a small child by the young ruler whose heart was breaking for her last remaining Senshi and adoptive mother…

First the brave three mages she had had so little time to really get to know had sacrificed themselves for sealing Pandora and poor Pluto had to see her sister suffer the same fate, unable to stop it because it had been the only option available. It wasn't a surprise that the remaining Time Guardian had cut herself off from everything, retreating to the gate. Then Tsunami had left, leaving Serenity feeling confused and betrayed even though she tried so hard to understand her sister's motivation. And now, now they had discovered a dimensional rift on Saturn, obviously an aftereffect from the energies unleashed in the war. Normally, that wouldn't be that huge of a problem. But the special status of Saturn, being a nexus of ley lines and dimensions, made it a delicate matter. If not properly dealt with, the rift could unleash horrors upon the galaxy that would ruin everything they had fought so hard to create.

And only one could properly deal with it. Even if it meant damning her to a long, lonely vigil.

"Why, Sere-chan? Why?"

Queen Serenity, first monarch of the Moon Kingdom, founder of the Silver Millennium had no answer. She had no answer at all.

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The year 2001. The world has entered the new Millennium and the birth of a new age is proclaimed. Yet, the true birth is still to come, now in tangible distance. The Senshi prepare for the promised rebirth of their kingdom, enjoying the last months of normal life.

But while events unforeseen begin to shatter the tranquility and happiness of their everyday life, in the shadows something old and absolute dark is stirring. Soon it will show its face and then, then the true battle will begin…

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M&M DreamWorks Presents

Soul Lights

Foreshadowed Dusk

Phase Three: Consequences

A Mega-Crossover/Fusion Epic

Based on the works of Takeuchi Naoko and all other assorted authors

Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon(c)Takeuchi Naoko

Card Captor Sakura, Magic Knight Rayearth(c)CLAMP

Slayers(c)Hajime Kanzaka, Rui Araizumi

Tenchi Muyo(c)Pioneer

Inuyasha, Ranma 1/2(c)Takahashi Rumiko

The Vision of Escaflowne(c)Kawamori Shoji, Yatate Hajime

Skies of Arcadia Legends(c)Nintendo, Sega, Overworks

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<Present Time, relatively spoken (Minako)>

Shame. Shame and guilt.

The feelings were so strong that they set my soul afire. Not that it made much of a difference in the eternal swirl of agony caging my life's essence. The memories were unrelenting. Scenes from distant to close past, from this life and the previous… and the one before that… Yet, that one memory was the nexus, the spark that set aflame the oil spilt over my soul, letting it explode in an all consuming blaze. Shame rippled through ever fiber of my being as I remembered the countless opportunities, as I relived the heartfelt tries of Makoto and Hotaru. The love they so selfless offered and that I had pushed away again and again, taking a small eternity to even acknowledge it and never returning it properly. Now I could see them as what they were, barriers pushed aside, overridden by the onslaught upon my soul, relentless and merciless. And I would have ried with shame and guilt at the pain I had caused them if I possessed a physical form to do so.

I saw again and recognized now the spiral that had unconsciously begun so long ago that had since then made me reject true love, a vicious cycle that had begun on that lone balcony on the Moon and had been intensified in this life throughout many other, smaller events. That wasn't an excuse, of course. Just a realization. A shameful and guilty one.

Anger and frustration.

They were easy feelings to succumb to, safe havens… or so I thought. It was easy to loath destiny for all it had done to us, for all it kept doing to us. Every time we thought we were happy, something would come and take it away from us, tearing at our souls, ripping our hearts out. It was unfair, plainly and simply unfair.

What had we done to deserve this? What had we done but sacrificing our lives, our youths, our dreams, again and again, for what we believed in, what we wished to protect. Why then, why did we never seem to gain a reward…

And yet the anger at circumstances was only a temporary haven after all, not a safe one by far. Those feelings burnt inwards, pointing back at me, showing me all the opportunities I had been given, all the opportunities I had allowed to pass me by in my own ignorance and ridiculous refusal of love…

Disgust.

Anger and frustration eventually turned to disgust, shame and guilt melting together into a hot searing flare of self-loathing. Ultimately all this was just another big excuse. An excuse for my failure. I had tried to rationalize my actions in the face of duty but by doing that had refused the very thing that made me able to perform that duty. I had tried to follow one path… and ultimately failed on both.

I had pushed them away when all that they wanted to give me was love, the one thing I had yearned for so long but refused to grant myself. They had pushed onwards regardless and I had even taken advantage of that… However, never once had I been able to say what my heart was whispering to me. Reluctant, afraid…

Disgusting. Why? Why had I been so damn stubborn? They were promising me so much, so much I had longed for, so much I wished to give myself. Why did I keep holding onto that illusion, those walls? Why had I built them in the first place?

I knew why. Now, I knew. And the truth was disgusting me only further. I had honestly thought, made myself believe that I was following the right path, the path meant for me… And in the end all I had accomplished was following the one that led me further and further away from it.

As I watched the flashes of memory pass me by, my life… lives replaying in a never-ending cycle of agony, a silent scream of terror was lodged on the edge of release but it would never be voiced, never be heard, never be acknowledged. Never be released. This was worse than hell. Conscious thought was lost to me ever since entering here. I wasn't even aware of how much time had passed, of where exactly "here" was. Only one thing I was aware of. No light fell here. Not in the sense of illumination. I could see very well. Could see all those deeply buried memories coaxing forth the emotions of shame, guilt, anger, frustration, disgust and so much more. They weren't bright memories. None of them were. It was an endless spiral of agony, forcing me to see, relive, experience again and again not only the emotions I wished never to remember from those situations, but also making me see now what they really were, adding further to the torment.

And below me I could feel more than see the abyss, waiting to devour my soul completely. I would probably have welcomed it at this point if not for the undeniable, foreboding sense that it would not bring release but only further torment… with the only difference of finality. I didn't really realize how I knew all this, probably a distant recognition, a survival instinct from Peitho. And yet I wondered why I was even struggling. Why was I still fighting back, refusing to let myself fall completely? I had lost. I had failed in everything. My duty and my very reason for being. I had failed those that loved me, failed to protect Makoto and Hotaru properly, failed to ever return their love, failed Usagi consequently because I could not be there anymore to protect her, probably failed the child in me, the only evidence of success in my life, regardless of how unwillingly conceived… Yes, I had failed…

But I shall be damned if I give up. Serenity never gave up, Usagi never gave up. None of us ever gave up. And I, Sailorvenus, sworn leader of the Princess' guard would not either!

The brief spark of resistance against the unbearable torment would have been insignificant. In fact the next moment it had almost been extinguished again by another painful memory hammering another needle into the core of my soul. It wouldn't have made a difference… if not for the echo it received.

For a timeless moment the darkness slowly devouring my soul, feasting upon it until nothing was left, was disrupted by a soft bluish light. The memories were stopped, cut apart by ten beautiful wing-like objects of purest life force, as if creating a tunnel, a tunnel at which's end I could see the flare of emerald green and deep purple, a surge of unconditional, overwhelming love pouring over me like a tsunami and yet so gentle like a morning breeze.

I didn't hesitate a moment, knowing beyond doubt that fate had just presented me with another, a last opportunity, an opportunity to make all that right again that I had did wrong. This time I didn't question the feelings from the spheres of light anymore but accepted and embraced them, letting myself be pulled towards them on invisible bonds formed between us without even realizing it.

Darkness turned into light as I was pulled inside the protective circle of the wings and in-between the safety of the two souls that I could now acknowledge to love beyond doubt. One old, one new, but both of infinite worth to me. The pain and agony was forgotten for the moment as I was cradled, bathed in their light and love like a newborn child…

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(Lisa)

I had been trained for spiritual assaults like this. Both in this life as much as Sylphiel had, even more so the latter. I knew from her memories what to expect, I knew the symptoms and it was nothing more than just that spiritual attack, an attack that could be overcome when you were strong enough…

It wasn't nearly enough to prepare one for the true trauma.

Cut off from the source feeding the terror wasn't enough as I realized in some detached corner of my mind. The memories were nearly impossible to be held at bay and ignored for the brief time in which I had resisted… tried to resist HER they now came back like a tsunami briefly stopped by an obstacle, with even more force and vehemence.

Flames. A ship on the open ocean was alight with crimson tongues of destruction. I was crying, held protectively in my father's arms, too young to really comprehend but knowing instinctively that something bad had happened to my mother and cousin that were still there, having been unable to reach one of the lifeboats in time.

An eruption of heat and blinding light. I had to shield my eyes even as I kept up the barrier to stabilize the Raywing. I could feel the power underneath striking the shield with impossible force. I didn't know what happened but my heart felt cold, something having been torn away… again. I could hear them talking in awe but only Amelia's comment about what happened to the city made me blink against the blinding effect of the power eruption. And then my eyes settled on Sairaag… or what had once been Sairaag, an anguished scream of denial tumbling from lips…

Flames again. The heat was nearly unbearable. I knew beyond doubt that without Soyo-chan's two layer air bubble that had formed a zone totally devoid of any air I would have been only a pile of ash for a long time already. I stumbled through the fire disorientated, my mind foggy not only from some of the little acid smoke I must have inhaled but also because the fire had surprised me in the middle of the night. I tried to push that back, intently focusing on finding my parents, hoping against hope…

The hope was crushed replaced by a feeling of aching loneliness when I stumbled into the remains of the bedroom…

Everything came back to fire in the end. Fire had taken away my family, in both lives, I couldn't separate the memories anymore. The dark and twisted reality having taken a front seat in my soul, like a parasite. I tried to fight it off, suppress the memories but I couldn't. They had been too fast, too intense. The haunting fire was tearing at, feeding on my fears and grief, on the guilt of not having been able to prevent either event. Somehow I had always managed to stay alive even though I felt like dying myself. More than once I had wished that I had just been claimed by the fire too, sparing me the grief and remorse. I had loathed at fate, finding it unfair, wondering why I survived and my family did not. And now, with Sylphiel's memories returning I could see that this dark shadow seemed to have followed me into this life as well. And again, I had survived, forced to watch and experience the death of my family, the only one who survived the inferno thanks to Soyo-chan…

Soyo-chan!

I clang to the sudden spark of concern, fueling my resistance, recalling the image of the broken form of my best friend, the only one who had ever truly understood and completed in this life. The one who had spent so much time and energy into helping me overcoming my parents' death, breaking through the haze of depression that had settled over me after the incident.

I couldn't succumb to this now. There were still people who needed me, people that I could protect. Soyo-chan and… and…

There was the fire again but this time I didn't feel repelled by the image burning into my mind. It came right from the core of my soul, stronger than any of the others. The fire wasn't consuming but cleansing. I could see a shadowy figure, red hair and a blowing cape…

Lina!

*Girls are supposed to be cheerful.*

I had clung to that after the events in Sairaag, after losing my father to Copy Rezo, after I had time to really let the truth settle in. And it had helped. And it helped now. They needed me, they needed me to be strong. I could feel the anxiety from the Soul Link that was still there even as unused and dim as it was. The concern and love flowing through it filled me with new strength. That was what I had been searching. All those years and especially after my brief visit to the Jinja here. It had been their awakening souls calling me then. Now I understood, I understood the restlessness I had felt all my life and the dreams that had started shortly after my visit here.

They were searching for me, waiting, even after all this time, the bond, the promise between us had not weakened. This was our second chance… And I would not, COULD NOT let it slip away again! True I had wished to die after the blows that fate had dealt me in both lives but at the same time there always had been something giving my life meaning. Father, Lina, Soyo-chan… They all made me realize in their own ways, conscious or not, that there would always be something left worth living for.

I reached out mentally towards the link bonding us together and my heart leapt a little at the enthusiastic response from Lina and the little bit more reserved but equally honest one from Amelia. Reassured that their worry was diminished for the moment I focused inward again, searching for the other link that led to my elemental friend. The state in which I found the gentle Sylph elemental briefly staggered me in my newfound enthusiasm but I firmed my resolve. I would be damned if I let another one of those dear to me slip away. I had the ability, I had the power and this life, the travels and experiences as Lisa had also given me a new kind of confidence.

My mana flared in response to my thoughts and wisps of white and holy gold began to form around the small form of the elemental. I fought back a wave of exhaustion the recent attack and keeping the terror at bay had left inside of me, intently focusing on Soyo-chan. As Sylphiel my grasp on the elemental concept had been meager at best. But now, through my trusted friend I had a new angle to work with and so it was much easier to draw Air mana directly from the Astral Plane, mixing it with the healing energy to repair the Sylph's spiritual matrix.

The process was complex and tedious, especially in my current state, with only recently reawakened memories, a spirit that wasn't quite adjusted yet to draw upon so much holy power… I worked fast but precisely, knowing that neither of us had much time. I could rest afterwards. Now, only the healing was important.

A sigh of relief escaped my spiritual lips as I sensed the elemental's own survival instincts kicking in, not to mention the Sylph's natural ability to draw strength from their environment. Only a moment later golden eyelashes fluttered open and I felt myself momentarily distracted by the grateful smile and that… endearing gaze, wondering once again just how deep the Sylph's affection run. Before my friend could say something though, my focus blurred and I had just enough sense of self-preservation to retreat my spirit fully back into my physical body before blissful unconsciousness claimed me.

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(Jupiter)

At the moment where the anger took hold I lost all kind of rational control. The inability to do something, the surreal state of being incapable to prevent the horrifying scene unfolding in front of my eyes had pushed past all the layers of control I had mastered in the span of my recent training. A fury unlike I had ever felt bubbled forth from the depths of the inner volcano and my chi responded in kind.

The aura probably had been something between dark crimson slowly turning to black. That should have warned me of how far I had been gone into the rage sparked through the moment, but as I was I didn't notice and probably didn't care either. All I knew was that my friends… my lovers had gotten hurt by this thing, the sight of Minako being impaled like this and that look of utter terror only thickened the red haze…

I almost resented the interruption, wishing… WANTING to vent my anger, needing a release for the guilt at my failure and the concern for Minako. Looking back, I wondered if a release of such negative chi would have doomed the other girl. Of course, I wasn't so reasonable in that moment and watched in a helpless state of frustration as things unfolded almost too fast to follow, with a precision and harmony that spoke of high quality teamwork I found hard to imagine given that the participants only knew each other for roughly two years…

The arrow hit its target with amazing accuracy, the… limb - or whatever it was the creature had used to attack - was not severed though but practically consumed in a burst of intense light. Before I could even comprehend that the Seeker stumbled back as a massive… boomerang hit it in the head, followed by a burst of fire.

"MARS SNAKE FIRE!"

Just like the name suggest an angrily hissing snake of flames wrapped itself around the creature. However, this was only a short-lived success as the Seeker collapsed into its blob-shaped form, escaping the fire and reforming again into the vaguely human-shaped body. It had to instantly defend itself again though, obviously still disorientated at the loss of its hand. It was the green-haired Mitsuki now that literally exploded in a vicious dance with two bluish-white blades of pure energy…

I blinked. I knew there was something about all of them but that… I shook my head, not having quite yet let go of my own anger, and more than ready to do my own share of inflicting revenge on the creature that had dared to hurt one of those that I loved…

"It's not too late yet."

Sasami's voice drained the last bit of anger - not the frustration though - as I spun around to see Hotaru… no, Saturn on the ground cradling an unconscious Minako… or Venus, something in-between probably. Not that it mattered! All that mattered was the flash of feeble hope briefly overriding the shock and deep concern on Saturn's face. I opened my mouth to say something but never got the words out.

"Quickly now, her soul's almost beyond reach." The blue-haired girl gestured and I moved before I even realized my brain had given the command to kneel on one side of Minako, Saturn moving to the other. I wasn't quite sure what was going on or what the other girl was planning to do but the fact that my other lover seemed to trust her completely was enough to extinguish any feelings of doubt before they arose. Besides, Hotaru had told us about Pandora's minions specialty that involved having the victim's soul succumb to eternal agony, and just the thought of the grave and cruel description having been applied to Minako now was… was…

"We have no time to waste. Take one of her hands each and give me your other." Sasami was kneeling at the blonde's head now as we instinctively did as told. The sounds of battle had faded into the background and while I was worried that worry was quickly overridden by the burning ache in my heart at the almost lifeless sight of my pregnant lover… Oh kami, the child! With all control I could master I forced down the panic, concentrating on the task at hand, one thing at a time.

"What now?" I asked and almost didn't recognize the cracked whisper that came out as my own.

"Now we have to guide her soul back. You have to concentrate. Focus on the bond between you, on the love that you feel for her. Let that and only that dominate your thoughts." A part of me wanted to protest, wanted to say that there wasn't a bond between us to begin with, that Minako was Hotaru's, just as Peitho had been Phoebe's… The frustration at my earlier failure only fueled that thought despite everything that the younger girl had said. Yet, my own problems didn't matter here, insignificant in the face of what had to be done here. If I couldn't do anything else for them, at least I had to do something to save Minako now. So I pushed back and momentarily banished those concerns out of my mind and heart, focusing rather on the positive feelings, shining strongly like a sun.

I closed my eyes, a tingling of intense, pure energy surrounding us like a bubble giving me pause for a moment, and then I made myself remember all that which I loved about our blonde leader. From the first nuances of kinship, over a strong friendship blossoming from equal, repressed loneliness, finally turning the first seeds of love on my part. I pictured in my mind the cheerful smile that I had been missing so much in the last years. I could picture the confidence that seemed to settle in whenever she became Venus, the intuitive skill and grasp on a situation so vital to a true leader. Minako was a complex person even if she had denied one of those aspects lately and I admired and loved both sides of her, wished nothing more than to see her genuinely smiling and happy again, even if it was with Hotaru. I didn't care, as long as she was alive and well…

I gasped, feeling a response. The sensation was incredible. A bit like the spiritual link that Rei had used to access the blocked memories. While not a complete merge, it was still more potent, on a much deeper level than just the human spirit which only left one thing…

Intense warmth flooded me as my senses were temporally overwhelmed by such strong positive emotions from the other two. I concentrated hard on what I thought had to be Minako's soul, reaching out and feeling Hotaru join me in the action. I had no idea how I even knew what to do, this went far beyond any mental training I had ever undergone so far. I acted on impulse, letting myself drift with the flow. A burst of joy filled my heart as I could feel Minako respond.

Come back to us! I practically willed mentally and she did. With a gasp I felt the connection cut… No, not cut. It was still there. I could reach out and feel it… whatever "it" was. Warm, comforting… loving. I shook my head at the spinning sensation. Again I was distracted for a short duration as I actually saw what had sparked the sensation of purity before. The four of us were enveloped in a veil of blue-green light, soft and comforting, with ten glaring white blade-like shapes forming some sort of protective ring around us. My mind boggled at the power level I picked up. This was pretty much as potent as Usagi's own power!

"She's okay," Sasami's voice drew my attention back to more pressing matters. I glanced down at the blonde woman and noted that the terror in her face seemed to have melted, she almost looked peaceful. But the other girl's tone hadn't conveyed relief yet and I noted that Minako's body seemed to sudden shake with tremors, her head jerking and mouth opening as if screaming but no sound came out. Eyelashes fluttered once, twice, but eyes remained closed, apparently caught between the exhausted unconsciousness and the physical need to do… Yes, to do what?

"Kami, the baby!" Saturn breathed and I gasped in response, the previous ignored panic exploding full-force. Almost out of reflex I reached for my communicator. Surely Ami could…

"No time for that," Sasami again interrupted, cast a brief, worried look beyond the veil of energy and closed her eyes for a brief moment. The markings on her forehead - which I dimly noted had changed somewhat - flared white for a moment before…

I gaped at the short flare of a crescent moon sigil but never got past the stage of opening my mouth, before pinkish-red eyes snapped open again in determination. The next thing I knew was that we were somewhere else entirely…

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

()

On one of the main streets in Minato-ku Usagi and Mamoru walked alongside each other, having decided to take a relaxing walk. The last weeks had been busy with the revelations from Hotaru and the more than possible threat looming over everyone's heads like an executioner's blade. After conferring with the others Usagi had pushed an increase in training regiment for those physical capable of it. Not that she didn't trust in her friend's abilities but considering what they were about to face, it was better to be prepared. Besides, it gave everyone some way of releasing tension and frustration at being unable to do something in advance.

Usagi didn't want to fight again. She would have been fine if Galaxia had really been the last of her enemies. Going toe to toe with the Galactic Chaos was more than enough. That experience though, that and the long years in between then and now had made her more mature. Nowadays she was aware of and felt the heavy burden of royal linage, the mantle she would soon take… WHEN - and not if - they survived this. She had learned to make decisions like this, the right ones, even if she herself didn't like them. They had fought too long and hard to allow this situation to take it all away again.

The last week had taken its toll on her. Outwardly she hoped that no one had noticed, having applied the "Queen Mask". Only her husband knew how worried she was for everyone. It was hard not to. Hotaru had obviously restrained herself in explaining the threat that this Pandora posed and even then the fear in her voice and eyes had been visible for everyone. Who wouldn't be concerned when even the usual cold Saturn was?

The couple was a few steps away from the Crown Fruit Parlor when Usagi suddenly stopped cold. Mamoru, walking beside her, halted abruptly, staring worriedly and not sure what to do as a faraway look momentarily crossed Usagi's features before blue eyes cleared again, only to be taken over by an expression of grim determination. Her posture spoke of deep concern for a moment before muscles tightened and her warrior nature took over, something that Mamoru hadn't seen in a long time. It had always been Usagi or Serenity, but there hadn't been much need for Sailormoon outside of regular training.

Without hesitation he followed his wife when Usagi slipped into a side alley, glancing around for any onlookers. No sooner had he given a nod of confirmation, a blazing light already erupted from Usagi and without a word or seemingly concentration the transformation washed over her, large wings instead of the usual ones for her Eternal form enfolding.

"I'm needed elsewhere," Sailormoon said simply. "Call Ami, I think we might need the hospital ready." And with that she took off, leaving the dark-haired man behind rather puzzled by the sudden departure and lack of proper explanation. Not that he didn't trust Usagi to know what she was doing. He was sure she would have told him more if she had the time. Which obviously wasn't the case.

It took a moment for him to process her last request and another to figure out the meaning. Grimacing, his mouth pressed into a hard, thin line, he turned sharply and began walking swiftly while with one hand taking the cell phone from its pocket.

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

(Sakura)

I had blocked out the sounds of battle, my gaze fixed on the young miko. A thousand and one sensations were coursing through me. Once again I had failed her. After all this time spent searching, this ending was just too unfair. There was nothing either of us could do. The injury wasn't physical lethal but instead went right down to the soul. And no spell, be it all so powerful could heal that. She might be separated from the source of the torment now but by experience I knew that even brief contact with a Soul Thief had dire consequences.

I glanced up helplessly at Tomoyo on Lisa's other side and was surprised… no, shaken actually to see my own deep concern reflected there. Tomoyo had always been a gentle soul who'd worry about all those around her, but that level of sorrow that I saw in stormy blue eyes, so much like the own mix of anguish and sadness in my heart… I had only ever seen such intensity directed at me. Suddenly I felt very ashamed for ever doubting my mate's feelings on the whole issue. Often the dark-haired girl would put back her own feelings on a topic if it meant not too worry, despite how much I encouraged her not to and so I hadn't been able to help but wonder...

"Can't we do anything?" Tomoyo asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I held her gaze for a moment, searching blue eyes for any sign of… I didn't even know what I was searching for! All I knew was that I didn't find it. Which was sort of a relief. "We can only be there for her and hope she makes it through," I said, drawing strength from her presence and feeling a spark of confidence… or maybe it was just stubbornness. "She's a strong person. She… she can make it. I'm sure of it. W-we have to believe her…" I shook my head angrily at my own shaky voice. As much as I was surprised by Tomoyo's reaction, that same sad and anxious look directed back at me, it hurt, hurt deep inside me, steering my own heartache for the girl between us. I wanted to give Tomoyo some assurance to latch on too, but…

"I… I think so too…" Tomoyo said, her voice low, nearly breaking. Eyes locked for a moment of mutual pain and aggravating concern we looked down at Lisa's prone form and gasped in unison at the faint, brief flicker of gold. A small smile broke through the depressed expression I surely had to be wearing. That's it, fight back. Pride temporally pushed away guilt and worry and then changed into shock. Pleasant shock at that.

I hadn't dared to touch it. I was aware that the Soul Link between us was still there. That hadn't even surprised me that much. Soul bindings were eternal. I could probably have done something about it all the time. Maybe the link could have even helped us find Lisa earlier. But I was afraid, afraid to provoke a negative reaction, afraid that maybe, somehow Pandora would take note of it and… do something… something like that.

Irrational fears, I knew, since those links were quite safe, but still at the back of my mind. My main reason was though that a link between soul mates was something sacred. Touching it, acknowledging its presence, that meant you acknowledged the other as your chosen mate and the union between you as true, honest and meant to be. While I had no problem with that, using the link to track down Sylphiel's reincarnation would eventually led to making that choice for her. And at that time I didn't know how similar they were. And even if I had, I would have never done something like that to another person. If there was to be a revival of what had once been, it would be a conscious one. I would never violate the bond between us like that.

And so infinite joy flooded me at the moment when I felt Lisa do just that. I could feel her soul mingling with Tomoyo's and my own, drawing strength and confidence, while at the same time reassuring. I had dared hope for this, I had often lain awake at night, thinking of the old times and wondering if… wishing that it might be like then again. And now, for a brief moment the space that for all the love between Tomoyo and me had been left vacant was filled. Completion, harmony, balance. It felt so… beautiful, simply right beyond any doubt. I could feel Tomoyo's joy too and basked at the short but wonderful sensation giving me new courage. Lisa's presence drew back slightly but in my heart I knew that this would only be temporally.

I looked at Tomoyo again and again saw the happiness in my heart reflected in her radiant face. We shared a relieved smile. It was going to be alright. Maybe Pandora had succeeded in breaking part of the seal, but she hadn't been able to claim Lisa in the process. She had been strong enough to resist and she wasn't giving up now.

A momentary flare of Lisa's aura attracted me again as I could feel some sort of deep concentration coming from the girl, just before her body went limp and if we hadn't been holding her, she would have collapsed on the ground. For a moment worry returned but Tomoyo quickly reached over to check her pulse and nodded gently. "She'll be fine. Just exhausted."

"That's…" I started in relief before my awareness was suddenly drawn back to the all too close action still escalating a few paces away. My head snapped around when Time… or Persephone - we really would have had a talk about that one - collided with the ground not too far away from us. I narrowed my eyes at the clearly battered but still very much dangerous Seeker. Fine dark mist was floating around it and the skin was turning pitch black. I instinctively knew what it meant.

"It seems Pandora is not too happy with me interfering," Persephone stated, getting up again. "And I can't unfold my full powers on this plane as I am." Her gaze was fixed on the growling creature ready to explode into action every moment. The mists around it were thickening and the body adjusted to them, distorting its form to an even more bestial one, more threatening… it gave the danger the creature presented a more fitting look, though I really would have done without. It was obvious that Pandora was feeding her henchman power in order to get rid of us right away. But why take that risk, even with one third gone, it had to take her a lot of concentration and energy to channel this much power. Especially so soon.

I glanced back at Tomoyo and then Lisa, a cold feeling making me shiver as I realized one thing. We were all here. All three maintainers of the seal. "Crap," I cursed. "Tomoyo, get Lisa inside and stay there," I ordered, my mind slipping into combat mode. My other mate looked for a moment like she would protest but I obviously looked stubborn enough to make her comply with only a moment's hesitation. However, right at that moment the now enhanced Seeker shot forward and I had barely time to react. A strategy hadn't yet formed and so we probably would have been caught off guard at the moment if not for the sudden explosion of golden-yellow from Lisa's body. I noticed the wind picking up ferocity around us for a short moment before the small, harmless seeming creature exploded forward with a cry of anguish totally uncharacteristically for her kind… even if understandable under the current circumstances of her obvious mistress' condition.

So I was right in my assumption, I mused, plucking the star key from its hiding place just as the Sylph attacked the Seeker who had been tumbled backwards by the fierce charge, being caught defenseless in the middle of its own attack. I knew that the elemental wouldn't be able to hold it at bay very long. Not alone anyway. "WINDY!" I shot a glance back at Tomoyo and nudged my head in the direction of the shrine to emphasize my earlier request. The dark-haired girl nodded and moved to get Lisa inside.

I turned back to focus on the battle. There had been a brief pause as elemental and card spirit looked at each other and then in mutual agreement they had begun to bind the offending creature in place. I glanced at Persephone/Time. "What exactly did you mean by not having your full powers here?"

"I'm still bound to the card, sort of," came the somewhat chagrinned reply. I grimaced. This was getting better and better. What else had Clow managed to temper with unknowingly? Well, okay, that wasn't really fair. For all I knew, we had thought Persephone was dead, one of the many sacrifices of the war. So, this really came as a surprise, a pleasant one. But there was no time for explanations now.

"Can I set you free?" Receiving a nod that didn't have much enthusiasm behind it, I frowned. "But I guess we don't have the time for that now, huh?" Another nod and I had to refrain from cursing. We were running out of time. The Seeker was snarling and both elementals had trouble keeping it occupied. I closed my eyes briefly, a heavy sigh escaping my lips. "Guess I have to pull out the big guns after all."

This would be ugly, especially afterwards.

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

(Saturn)

I had allowed myself to be carried onwards by the old memories, knowing that there wasn't much time to waste. I had seen other victims of what we had termed Soul Thieves in general - essentially everything working for and tainted by Pandora - and the memories were not too comforting. Frankly the panic was there, just beneath the surface and I had tried to drown it in trusting that Tsunami knew what she was doing. Funny thing that, usually it had been the other way around in the old times… But I was far too worried to care about that and she seemed confident enough. That she obviously managed to get her own abilities honed helped too. I wasn't sure if I could have pulled it off without her. Technically maybe but I had been too frantic after Minako took the blow…

Everything just kept reminding me of that day we parted ways over two hundred millennia ago. I hadn't wanted to go, I could have cared less about the rift or about consequences. I had seen so much sacrifices, hurt, pain, grief, loss… I didn't want any more. At the same time that was why I had to go. It was the hardest decision I had ever made, leaving Peitho after nearly three decades to attend to my duty… to protect her and Serenity…

And now I had almost lost her again. No, not almost. She was still in danger. Actually I had been pretty sure the child was lost after the assault. I couldn't fathom how the body adjusted to the attack and the brief loss of its soul, still keeping the young seed alive. On the other hand this confirmed my earlier theory neatly that we weren't just simply dealing with a normal child created by slight magical aid here but something far more potent. If I listened closely I could pick up the bright, clear vibes of a star… no, two stars pulsing in synch from Minako's body.

Well, all those worries and concerns briefly were forgotten as I looked around the scene. We were in a rather beautiful setting at the base of a giant tree with a small forest around it under the illuminating light of a silvery full moon… Subspace, I thought, extending my senses but not able to pinpoint an exact location or the borders of the area. The feedback I got was rather overwhelming, the presence residing here was enormous. I glanced up at the tree and my consciousness touched something ethereal and ancient for a moment. A gasp escaped my lips as I recognized the tree for what it was.

"I can answer your questions later, Phoebe," Tsunami's voice snapped me out of my brief shock. "Put her down in the water. This isn't going to be easy." Her tone was soft but urgent and I knew I was wasting precious moments. Minako was shifting through a myriad of states, from near wakefulness to unconsciousness, threatening to go beyond from the abnormal strain she was physically and spiritually subjected to. If we waited much longer, I… we would really lose her… again. Both of them.

Glancing at Jupiter I pleaded with my eyes but needn't have bothered. Obviously she was just as taken by the setting but had picked up on the urgency of the situation. I caught a brief glimpse of guilt, remorse and frustration from the brunette, hinting at the insecurity beneath it and silently resolved to deal with that later. After all this was over and everyone was safe… hopefully.

Wordlessly we picked Minako up and carried her over to the clear pond of water all around the base of the tree. Jupiter almost slipped for a moment when she stole a glance at the tree. She really did hold up great though, given that her sensitivity to nature and plants especially probably made her head swim at the moment. I could see her hesitate when I began to lower Minako's head into the water and smiled reassuringly, my keen sight having already told me enough to know that our mate wouldn't drown. Hopefully the opposite actually.

"Can we do anything to… Tsunami?" My voices faltered as I looked over to the other girl seeing her glow brightly while she was leaning against the tree's bark with both hands, clearly struggling in some manner. Another gasp sprang to my lips as I managed to pick up thin but very potent lines coming from the tree, wrapping around Tsunami and then going back again. They're… I caught Jupiter's arm as the taller woman started to rise more in agitation than alarm, instantly grasping what was going on, though it was hard to comprehend… That would give me a massive headache later when I allowed myself to sort through all that the other girl had obviously gone through…

"You know what to do…" Tsunami pressed out, her voice visibly shaking now as her and the tree's presence were drawn to each other with force and finality. There was a bright flash and when the light cleared Tsunami was gone from sight. Not from the plane though.

"Where is…?" Jupiter started but cut herself off, jumping slightly in alarm as roots and branches were extending from the tree to secure the blonde laying in the water. I held her gaze, slightly shaking my head.

"Mako-chan, we have to act now. Trust me okay, this is the best environment we could have hoped for." Doubt and anxiety were warring in emerald eyes with the wish to trust. Iwas relieved and humbled at the slow nod, instinctively knowing how much the other girl was fighting her emotions, her overprotective nature rebelling at the earlier inability to help in any direct way with the assault. I could feel the insecurity leaking through the tentative Soul Link formed to coax Minako's soul back to us. I smiled softly and sadly at the same time, recognizing the feelings as some I had briefly entertained myself but the seeds of doubt were much greater there. She's doubting her place with us…

"What do we need to do?" Jupiter asked, squirming slightly under my gaze.

"We have to feed the child our power. It's being made from our essences and if I am correct in what I am suspecting, it can only be stabilized by all three of us." I didn't say out loud that I could only hope that Tsunami could stabilize Minako enough for this. "It's a matter of balance." Technically I was just reciting what I knew. I had never experience or seen first-hand a star birth and this was unorthodox even for the standard one I hurt about.

"We? Don't you mean…"

I cut Jupiter off by grasping her hand, momentarily pushing back my own fear for Minako and trying to convey all the feelings I held close to my heart for the brunette. "Yes, we. It's never been just me, Mako-chan. That child, it's ours. Our baby."

"Our…" Jupiter nearly choked on the words.

I nodded. "If we do this now, it will," I said warmly, sending a wave of love over the link, making the other girl gasp, looking at me with wide eyes that then softened, a slow, hesitant smile spreading over her lips.

*Hurry up, she's not going to hold up any longer!* Both of us jumped slightly at Tsunami's mental voice and our eyes swiveled down synchronically to our mate. Glancing back up I took note of the serious and confident expression slipping back into place and nodded in confirmation.

"Let's do this," Jupiter said, her aura starting to glow, tiara vanishing as the green sign of Jupiter blazed free of its confinement.

"Together," I agreed, taking one of my two mate's hands each, waiting until Jupiter copied the gesture before flaring my own aura.

The next moments were hard to describe as every conscious and unconscious thought was directed at channeling the necessary energy for this to succeed, a small corner resigned to a constant prayer for this process' success. I couldn't lose her again, not after finally finding her again. I could lose neither of them. Not Minako, not Makoto, not the hopefully-soon-to-be child. They were my family. I knew in my heart that my place was with them, all of them and I knew that we also could only make this work together. Losing one would crush us all. Together we could work this all out and then, after such a long time, we might all find some happiness.

Focusing on these thoughts of love and hope I let myself fall and relented control as I felt the large presence enveloping us, starting to direct the potent powers.

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

(Tomoyo)

Getting Lisa to the shrine when behind you your beloved was waging a battle with a very dangerous opponent was difficult enough, add to that the fact that the miko wasn't exactly light weight - not that I want to call her heavy either - and I wasn't exactly strong…

I made it to the entrance just as a small explosion from behind drew my attention. Well, okay, that wouldn't have been enough to worry, but I knew that Sakura wasn't one to curse easily, and the string of choice words that followed now had been rather violent. With worried eyes I took in the scene of Time - I had the strangest feeling I should know who she really was, Sakura obviously did - and my girlfriend squaring off against the creature. The Seeker was now sporting vicious looking claws and fangs, as well as a sharp horn just above the one eye, all in a dark crimson color. Not to mention that it was throwing around spears of some kind of dark energy, making it nearly impossible to chant any long term spell… Which obviously was the cause for Sakura's aggravation.

I tore my gaze away, knowing - as much as it shamed me - that I would only be in the way of such a fight. I trusted Sakura that when she said I wasn't ready for that kind of opponent, I didn't feel ready either. I had to trust in her as I always did, that was all which was left to me. That and taking care of Lisa. The poor girl had been through a lot. I had to admit I admired her for her inner strength. Sakura and I had seen and experienced firsthand the terror that Pandora could put upon her enemies. The agony the soul would be subjected too. I shuddered at the memory. That Lisa had been able to actually fight back against such a direct contact so vehemently was amazing. It spoke not only of the one sleeping in her but also of a very strong character.

I honestly couldn't quite say that I was totally without doubt about the possibility of adding another to our relationship. The memories of the three of us were the most clearest, yes. They also were invoking very strong feelings that I again and again found myself hoping to experience once more for real. This wasn't just all about Sakura. This was about us. And yes, I did have my doubts. I mean, you can't just go and accept someone else in the love of your life that you only know from some vague memories of a past life without at least thinking about it. Personally, if I would just let myself decide on the memories I knew that I would have no problems with it. But that would just be Amelia. I wanted to be sure I could accept that as Tomoyo too. I wanted to be fair to either of them…

The last fleeting doubt had been eradicated that short moment of complete harmony. She was meant to be with us and in my heart I could admit with complete certainty that if it had been Lisa I first met, I would have fallen in love with her too. From Sakura's teachings and the memories I did remember I was pretty much aware that Soul Links were eternal. The partners would not necessarily met in every life cycle or they wouldn't even need to be aware of reincarnation. Soul mates always attracted each other and if they met, the result was almost always predictable.

Yes, there was no doubt about it anymore that the purple-haired girl had belonged, did belong and would belong with us. And the open acceptance and longing, that spark of joy I had experienced over the link was more than enough proof and encouragement for the other's acceptance of that. Now, all we had to do was survive this battle… I glanced back at the fight again where Sakura was trying to nail her enemy with spells and cards alike… The creature was either too fast or just shrugged them off. It was painfully obvious that neither her or Time were left enough time to do any major attacks since the Seeker was attacking like a berserker demon if not occupied - and with an astonishingly tactical awareness at that!

"Why don't you leave her to me?" I jumped slightly and whirled on the older woman in the priestess robes kneeling beside us and gently checking over Lisa's form. I had been so caught up in the battle that I hadn't even heard or felt her approach. From the background information we had gathered I assumed that had to be Lisa's grandmother. I had been wondering where she was in all that ruckus outside and assumed she had to be out or something.

The older woman chuckled quietly, picking up Lisa with surprising ease. "Now, don't give me that look. You don't expect an old woman to barge in on business that is clearly out of her league, do you?" She made a head motion at the distant battle scene. I winced and unconsciously took a step forward when I saw Sakura catching a blast in the side that sent her flying none too gently. Logical my mind knew that Sakura was right and I had nothing to achieve by being there but my heart screamed at me to rush to my maid's aid.

"Let me take care of Lisa. You see that your friend doesn't get into too much trouble," Lisa's assumed grandmother said and went to walk off with the younger girl in her arms as if she was weighing nothing at all! "Oh, and try to not level the entire Jinja, ne?" She winked at me and with that disappeared into the next room, her entire demeanor not matching the dangerous situation at all.

I shook my head at the retreating priestess in amazement but then focused back on the scene. It seemed the Seeker had now singled out Time and was chasing her around the yard with attacks, leaving small craters where the attacks missed her narrowly. Sakura had struggled to her feet and tried to use the temporary focus to her advantage… only to stagger as the creature whirled around without warning, lashing out with a stream of dark energy like a rope coiling around her body. At first it was just a flinch but then a short high-pitched scream sprang from the redhead's lips as waves of energy shot out over the chain and into her body.

My heart won the struggle then.

Darting forward I snatched the staff that Sakura had lost in the middle of the action. I had been a little reluctant at first when my mate had offered a formal co-bonding to the key years ago, after the incident with the Seal Cards. Sakura had said she would feel better about it since this kind of magic would be more instinctively and thus easier for me to conjure. I wasn't sure that I was ready at that point but events between then and now had taught me to be glad about the offer. Especially now.

"SWORD!"

The staff responded immediately. I didn't allow myself to think logical, instead letting my instincts take over, hoping that the half-awake, half-asleep presence of Amelia would know what to do. Apparently she did. "ASTRAL VINE!" There was a brief flare of resistance when new magic met old, trying to assimilate into one. My concern for Sakura and the resulting will overrode any such barrier and the transformed sword-staff was bathed in a deep red glow, filling and enhancing it with pure spiritual power from the Astral Plane.

The Seeker was so distracted with torturing Sakura it never saw the strike coming. I was clever enough to call upon the little combat training I had had until now and roll away immediately after severing the chain and thus managed to avoid an angry swipe with the broken off energy chain, the ground shook slightly under the hissing, reverberating whip-like snap that followed.

"BLAST ASH!"

The creature tried to move but Sakura, teeth pressed together against obvious pain, dropped a globe of absolute blackness around it, momentarily swallowing the form. With one glance I could tell that she had trouble standing upright but was stubbornly refusing to give in. Our gazes locked over the brief distance for a moment, concern and gratitude equally flashing between us. The battle wasn't won yet though. We both knew that.

"A circle, now!" Sakura called out urgently.

For the tiniest of moments I hesitated at the request. On the one hand I felt pride swelling up inside of me at the trust but on the other I really wasn't sure if I was ready for that kind of… The thought was quickly cut off. By entering this as I had, I was now an active part of the battle and could not pull back anymore. Once again letting instincts take over I willed the sword to reform into the star wand. Standing up I focused on the area where the creature had been swallowed by the black hole-like magic. Five cards materialized around me as I rooted the wand into the ground, calling up every last bit of training and memories I had mastered so far. I could feel the power around and inside of me growing in response.

With a growl the Seeker emerged from Sakura's spell. I was ready for it.

"FLOW BREAK!"

The variation of the ancient White Magic spell, now backed by the five elemental Clow Cards was probably the strongest I had managed so far - apart from the Resurrection back when I had to save Sakura. However, for all the effort I could now clearly feel the familiar touch of an enormous presence lurking behind the physical body of the Seeker, straining against the temporary seal. I dropped to my knees, trying to give Sakura that extra bit of time she needed. Time moved forward, adding her own powers to the mix but it nearly wasn't enough. Pandora was obviously hell-bent on taking us out right here and now with that one minion, feeding it more and more power.

I glanced back and a mixture of relief and concern washed through me as I saw the blade forming between Sakura's hands. Panting in exhaustion I dropped the barrier just in time for the redhead to surge forward, the surely lethal spell completed.

"RAGNA BLADE!"

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

(Neptune)

"Okay, who invited this thing?" Uranus hissed in annoyance, temper flaring under the heat of battle and the frustration of lacking success in it. I could sympathize, really. I saw myself as someone who held tight control over her temper, only using it when necessary, but even I was getting mildly annoyed at the continuing failure of our attacks. I ducked a swipe of one claw, heeding Hotaru's urgent warnings that contact was if somehow possible to be avoided. Once again the creature moved insanely fast and only having trained with the Senshi of Wind for years, boosting my own speed and agility, enabled me to bring my body into a roll, evading the energy beam that spiraled onwards to rip a hole into one of the post's of the Jinja's entrance frame.

Another arrow flew narrowly over my right shoulder but missed its target, the creature having adapted already to those attacks to a point where it barely got hit by them anymore. Which was a shame since it really didn't seem to like their purifying nature.

Not exactly as I planned our weekend, I mused. Haruka and I had been out enjoying the nice weather and trying to get our mind off of the aggravating helplessness that had claimed pretty much all of us after Hotaru's revelations. We had both caught the subtle signs of danger immediately, senses still as honed - if not even more - as they had been years ago.

I was glad now we hadn't slacked in practice and for the intensive teamwork training Venus had insisted on after we officially joined Inners and Outers into one group. We had been wary, I admit. Years of working alone, only Uranus and I, it had been hard. But we managed and now it turned out to be a huge benefit because I doubt we could have adapted to properly work with the colorful group already engaging the Seeker in battle otherwise.

Uranus joined me a moment later as the green-haired girl took our place, wielding her energy blades with skill and ease, yet still unable to do proper damage. I watched mesmerized for a moment as she phased in and out of view, not with abruptness but with the fluent grace of a dancer, just like her attack patterns. Grace being one of my own strong points - or so I've been told - I could admire this with open appreciation. That wasn't enough though to put the overwhelming worry to rest.

I knew Hotaru and the other two had been here today. Just the day before I had spoken to our adoptive daughter and found out what they were planning to do, and it was exactly around the time she said they'd come by. I hadn't had time to really concentrate on that but now I could tell that they were neither here, nor anywhere in the Jinja's near perimeter. I was pretty sure I would know if they were nearby.

"Where are Hotaru and the others?" I asked Mars after joining my partner in a double attack, distracting the creature long enough to give the other, now slightly winded girl an opportunity to get out of immediate reach. This swap routine was getting tiring. I was pretty sure we were wearing it down but the question was how fast? And would it be fast enough?

"Safe," Mars replied curtly, her eyes flashing with her own worry. Over the years she had managed to sharpen her temper to suit her needs, to focus better on her abilities. I would readily agree that she had outdone me long ago in pure spiritual skill. The worry I saw there now fueling her concentration was more related to the situation at hand and not at my question, or at least that's what I thought, maybe what I wanted to think. She shot another fireball from her fingertips, spreading the flames into a tight circle, momentarily boxing in the enemy. "It's energy levels are dropping," Mars mumbled quietly, then corrected herself. "No, that's not right. It had been fueled by an outside source before and that is dropping…" She shivered. "Or diverting attention elsewhere."

Deciding to let it go for the moment, trusting that Mars knew what she was talking about I glanced over at Uranus. A brief eye contact was everything it took and the move was executed. Harmony born from years of companionship allowed us to set up an attack that managed to blindside the creature. Drawing its attention I played bait and readily accepted a minor hit. That stung, though not as much as the slice from the Space Sword when Uranus cut deeply into the Seeker's side, swiftly moving away again. The monstrous beast howled in obvious pain but once again showed remarkable endurance as it went right onto the offense. I hadn't quite recovered from the hit I had taken and was presenting a much too easy target…

"CHRONOS TYPHOON," a whisper rang out over the yard deep and clear. A temporal gale storm suddenly encased our enemy flinging it off the ground and quite a distance away. A moment later a shadow fell over where I was still kneeling. "Are you alright?" Pluto asked, giving the wound a concerned glance.

"Only superficial," I muttered. "Is anyone else going to come? I hate to admit it but we are having huge problems here." Uranus, who had moved over to join us, nodded in grim agreement, eying the creature that was getting to its feet again, even more angry than before.

"Usagi's on her way," Pluto confirmed, twirling her staff and pointing it back at the proper target. "DEAD SCREAM."

There was a time, right at the beginning, when we had met in the midst of the Death Busters crisis that the statement would have resulted in mixed feelings, now I couldn't deny the relief and the spark of hope those few words had ignited. Judging by the slight shift in position that I doubt anyone else caught, Uranus felt the same.

"I'm not sure it's giving us time to wait," one of Mars' friends commented, the one who had her hair tied into a ponytail and was sporting an impossible huge boomerang - wielding it with equally impossible ease.

The head miko was already a step ahead of her as it seemed. "Kagome, Hitomi spread out, the others distract it for awhile and keep it as much in one place as possible." Not waiting for confirmation she, the girl with the light-brown hair and the other black-haired one spread out to circle around the Seeker. I wouldn't have questioned anyway, any suggestion that came over with that much confidence was surely welcome. The trouble was the other part of the plan which involved distracting the enemy that proved very agile and resistant, having proven to adept fast to any new tactic or patterns and never giving us much time to set up something complex.

"I know this sounds silly, but if no one has a better idea, I suggest just keeping it busy is our best option," the one with the energy blades stated, already moving to resume the attack.

I glanced at Uranus and then briefly at Pluto. Receiving a shrug from the former and a stoic nod from the latter, we moved as one, Uranus and I taking point on either side while Pluto circled around to the back, leaving the front open for the remaining two girls. Frankly I wasn't sure if that was the best idea to leave the frontal assault to the other unfamiliar girls who despite obvious skill definitely didn't have our Senshi advantages, the formation had come natural though and years of honing tactics as well as instincts told me to just go with the flow. It wasn't like the positions were going to remain fixed anyway.

The following minutes were leaving not much room for conscious room and I had to rely on my battle instincts alone. Distantly I noted that if THIS was just a minion - albeit a formidable one - then we would have a lot of work to do in order to survive against this threat. I filed this away for later use and continued to focus on staying alive right now and keeping the creature as occupied as possible. It was a small miracle that our mixed attack force of two groups not used to each other managed to harmonize for the few minutes the brief but heated skirmish took.

Finally a glance over my shoulder in a temporary moment of being able to take a steady breath told me that Mars and her two friends had obviously finished whatever they were doing. As I mentioned earlier, I wasn't a spiritualist or trained in any kind of religion but I had always been rather sensitive. And those senses were taking in the perfectly aligned triangle formed by the three women.

"Break!" I called and everyone was more than willing to heed the advice, being very much in need of one.

No sooner had we cleared the space between the three woman and our enemy as I took note of lines of spiritual power forming between them. The Seeker had been ready to move afterwards but now flinched and then put up a valiant struggle which availed it nothing though. I took a glance at Mars and the other two and noted that they didn't look like they could keep this up for very long.

That was when - and I mean that quite literally and without being poetic or something - our Angel of Hope arrived and the rest was, thankfully, the result that should be expected.

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

()

If someone had come by the Jinseikouro shrine right now they would have started slack jawed at the mass destruction. No, the building was still standing and remarkably enough looked pretty much untouched. The yard through was a plane of burned stone, small and bigger craters, rubble flung into every direction. It looked worse than it actual was but the casual onlooker probably would have a hard time believing. That is if they even had time to think before taking in the scene in the center of the yard where a monstrosity with black skin was just impaled by an equally black but strangely formless, non-corporal blade.

The wielder, a older teenager with brownish-red hair shook visibly under some kind of strain, twisting the blade slightly before with a flick of her hand it neatly cut through skin, leaving the beast's form broken and dead. Or so everyone had thought. Including Sakura and Tomoyo. The dark-haired girl realized with a start though that the creature was somehow still moving even as the energy blade dissipated from obvious strain and exhaustion. For a moment terror gripped her heart as the creature, on the verge of death, moved forward towards her beloved. She was too far away, she could do nothing to prevent the last act of defiance from their foe…

Suddenly the distorted form of the Seeker let out a gurgling noise before exploding into many thousands of particles, revealing a man clad like a priest with a staff in both hands which he now drew back to rest in one at his sight. The enigmatic smile had never left his face. "Stubborn bastard," he commented casually.

Tomoyo needn't even access her memories of Amelia to recognize him and only had it confirmed by the mixture of annoyance and anger the hiss from Sakura conveyed while she dragged herself over to the duo.

"You." After taking a ragged breath, she added, "I should have known you were still around. Just to annoy Filia." The strained smile was humorless. Tomoyo could tell the redhead was struggling with both relief and annoyance. "How long have you been here?" the question finally came, more like a snarl.

Xelloss, self-proclaimed Mysterious Priest, didn't even flinch under the accusing stare. "Long enough," he said calmly, holding up a hand. "You can beat me up later though I can assure you I have legitimate reasons for not interfering earlier. I think now you should rest. You drained a lot of your reserves." He stopped to fix Sakura with a brief but uncharacteristically hard stare - well, for dealing with them or their former lives at that anyway. "If it is of any assurance to you. I PROMISE you that no one came to harm in either of today's attacks."

Both girls knew that serious promises like this were something the man gave scarcely and thus could be assumed to be truthful, as truthful as you get with his kind.

"Either?" Tomoyo asked what was on Sakura's mind as well.

"Oops," Xelloss smiled, as he always did. "Did I say that?" He shrugged. "Oh well, you realize that those things always come in pairs, don't you?" Once again Sakura cursed and then her body shook slightly as the effects of the spell overtook her, the reincarnated form still unused to channel such high quality Chaos Magic.

Xelloss looked actually worried for a moment, before focusing on Tomoyo with once again unusual seriousness. "Get her back inside and take care of that. I'll stop by later." And with that he vanished from sight, just to reappear in the big tree that had only received some minor damage from the battle. He watched as the dark-haired girl struggled to help her companion inside.

"So much for that." Both young women would have been surprised to actually hear the Mazoku sigh. "I think I'm getting too old for this." Closing his eyes briefly he took a death breath… well, he would have if his form allowed him that action. Then the smile was back in place and with almost casual indifference he said, "Alright, next business," and vanished from sight completely.

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

(Sasami)

{A/N: From now on when I refer to Sasami/Tsunami I will only use Sasami since she provides the physical body. When I do flashbacks or similar things I might go and use the appropriate name then.}

I glanced up from my position, seated and leaning against the trunk of my tree self, here in the heart of the ship, when I sensed the familiar presence approach. It felt definitely weird. Not really odd or uncomfortable, I hadn't even been afraid of this anymore. Sasami and Tsunami had been connected for so long that over the years a much deeper understanding for each other had developed and recently they had been so close already that the finality of today was just a logical conclusion, a technical detail that had needed to be done.

The only thing that was really weird was that the constant background presence was gone, merged completely with my own. It had been that way for both aspects, and the lack of that comforting presence left a void in its place, a void which was quickly filled by the new harmony my soul inspired, the balance longed for finally completed.

I suppose that's one the things the others back on Jurai never understood. Oh, they said they did, they tried to be understanding, but real comprehension? No. In the back of their minds they were thinking of assimilation as one aspect dominating the others. In my case though, it was more like the scattered pieces of a soul merged together that had been meant to be one from the start. That happened sometimes in the great scheme of things. Sometimes fragments of a soul that was supposed to be one were born in different ages and would somehow seek out each other over time. It had been that way for Tsunami and the tree, it had been that way for Tsunami and Sasami.

The part of me that was Sasami though brought one of the most valuable gifts back into the mix other than a truly physical body. Innocence. No, not naivety, that's a completely different thing. I meant the kind of innocent purity that had been lost to both other aspects of myself through personal and universal hardship. Sasami, despite all that she had seen, had always managed to keep some level of innocence and purity.

In essence I felt complete, more so than I could ever remember from either set of memory. There was just one last thing missing.

As my eyes met deep purple ones I slowly pushed up to stand, still remaining contact with my tree self. A deafening silence vibrated in the space between us, our gazes locked and neither moving, emotions flashing through worried eyes.

It had been one of the hardest decision, personally, that I've ever made, leaving the rest of my friends behind to take care of the delivery. Of course, I knew long before that there was no other way. Had I done anything different, acted on my selfish impulses, the downward spiral into disaster would have begun today and the war would have been lost before it even had really begun. No, what I did was the right thing and I had had all the confidence in the world in the black-haired miko and the rest of the girls who had come to be such good friends and comrades in barely two years time. Yet, I was immensely relieved to see Mars unhurt, especially after not having been able to divide even a shred of concentration towards the activities below. The proceedings up here had been straining and exhausting enough to call for my full attention. All of me.

Finally the Senshi of Fire stepped forward, reaching out with one hand to touch my cheek, not flinching as my eyes showed the sliver of doubt and fear in them. We had talked about this, of course, and I honestly believed that the other woman understood, that she really understood what that which had happened today meant to me. Still, I could not help but fear rejection. I had already lost love once because of this. No, that wasn't fair. It hadn't been entirely because of the assimilation. There had been a lot going on. This here, this was important though, maybe even more so than Tenchi had ever been. Don't ask me how after such a short time you could fall so much in love with someone. Frankly this had been the last thing I had planned to find when I had set out years ago.

"This doesn't change anything," the raven-haired female warrior said with utmost conviction and I felt my heart make a leap at the gentle, loving gaze directed at me. She really did understand. She understood that the emotional bindings of one part that I now defined as myself were the bindings of all, meaning the love that I felt for her came from my whole being. She had been the first to really, truly understand - apart from Washu maybe - and the gratitude and overwhelming affection I felt because of this was nearly choking me.

"I love you," I whispered, before bringing my hands up around her neck to bring her down into a brief kiss, passionate and full of need, expressing all the worry that had been in the back of my mind during the recent events. My lips lingered on hers for a moment before pulling back slightly, not relaxing my grip though or letting go in any other way. Mars didn't seem to mind.

"I'm alright, really," she said, interpreting my feelings correctly. "We are all a little winded, some scratches, but no one got hurt. Thanks to Usagi, that is." She looked at me seriously, her eyes inquiring without judgment. "She said someone or something was calling her… Did you?"

I nodded, relief again flooding through me. I hadn't had time to check whether or not the mental call I had sent out had been received properly. I didn't have a connection to her as I had to Serenity and most of my focus had been on Peitho at that moment. Leaving my girlfriend and the others behind unguarded though hadn't been an option either. I knew how Pandora's creatures reacted to the output from Serenity's Ginzishou and from what I had gathered the reincarnation of this generation had a much more active and developed bond to her crystal than even Serenity had at the beginning of the Creation War. Obviously I had been correct.

"How is Minako and…" Mars' voice trailed off as it was her turn to be concerned.

I quickly shushed her with a chaste kiss. "Everything is fine. There will be some ramifications but nothing to be really worried about," I explained with the same assurance that the other woman had used earlier and in a softer tone added, "Nothing and nobody was lost today."

For a moment neither of us said anything, basking in each other's presence. A soft breeze played with our hair, treetops swayed gently all around us and the clear life water of the pond sent ripples out from our position. I was infinitely grateful for the moment of calm after all the events. As I said, no loss had been suffered. I didn't know whether or not I would have been able to deal with the guilt and shame had I not succeeded in my task or something more fatal had happened in the battle.

Precognitive abilities could be both a blessing and a burden and I hated making decision that might hurt others, knowing that any other course of action would result into a much bigger catastrophe. I was by far not omnipotent but the ancient knowledge and abilities of a tree spirit were vast and really hard to explain. They had often enough brought part of me much loneliness and alienation.

Not anymore though.

"Are you ready?" I asked in a hushed, somber voice, almost not daring to break the spell of the subspace scenery and the bubble of harmony around us, but knowing that time was running out for the last optional part of the assimilation process. A part that didn't need to be done but that I wished, longed and hoped for. "I don't want you to…"

My words were cut of by another kiss and I could feel her spirit… no, her very soul reaching out to touch mine, gently moving in to mingle with all the aspects already there, filling the space that had still been vacant. "I am ready."

No further words were needed.

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

(Hotaru)

A low groan rumbled forth from my throat and I reached up with one hand to rub my forehead. Slowly I blinked my eyes open against the hazy effect. The room I was in was small but definitely cozy, a warm feeling of safety. Despite that there was nothing special. Bluish, almost watery walls, Spartan furniture and two other beds beside the one I was currently lying on.

Carefully I set up, fighting the sensation of dizziness that the drain of too much internal mana had left. The energy was slowly refilling itself but it would take some time to compensate for the vast loss. Probably even more so for them, I thought, taking a couple of steps so that I stood between the other two beds. With one hand I reached out to first stroke softly through golden bangs and then on the other side along the edge of brown hair. A gentle smile tugged at the corner of my lips taking in the sight of the peacefully resting forms of my family.

Family? I blinked for a moment, wondering for a moment where that had come from, but then the answer came naturally. I just had to close my eyes and reach inside of me, feeling the bond there that tied us all together. All three… no, all four of us. Another smile as a huge ton of anxiousness I hadn't even realized was there yet fell from shoulders.

Deciding that the two woman would probably need some time to recover their senses, I made my way over to the door which slid open soundlessly to reveal a small hallway. I stepped outside, looking around. My senses, even as dilated as they were at the moment, pretty much told me already where we were. I hadn't had time to properly focus but now I could see beyond the subspace field inside what I suspected to be a vast space vessel of some sort. Tree branches lined the walls and there was some kind of porthole at the end of the hallway. Moving over to the hole I didn't hesitate to step in, feeling the dimensional warp ahead and merely looked around to re-orientate myself. I was back in the forest setting, most likely the core of the ship, especially considering the massive tree dominating the scenery from its central position.

I spotted her sitting against the base of the trunk, with her hair open and two circular markings on her forehead, as well as the crescent moon albeit being hidden at the moment in between them. With a raised eyebrow I took note of the fact that Rei was there as well, pretty much all but resting with her head in the other girl's lap, a thick blanket of foliage covering them both to a degree.

"Am I coming at a bad time?" I questioned with a slight smirk as I held Tsunami's eyes while approaching the two. I couldn't help the wink, feeling much too happy and content at the moment now that the crisis was temporally averted and everyone was apparently safe. Rei's presence confirmed that. That and a lot more.

Tsunami shook her head softly and gently repositioned the raven-haired priestess against the tree, rising in the process, more appropriate clothes shimmering into existence. I smiled at the slight blush Tsunami was trying to hide but failing miserably to do so. She had always been a bit reclusive and… shy when it came to her personal feelings. "The bond had to be done now or we would have had to wait a long time," the blue-haired girl said. Her outward appearance was a little older than Sasami had been… then again, I never could quite determine Sasami's age before.

"Are you happy?" I heard myself ask even though there was so much else I wanted to know. The atmosphere between us wasn't even uncomfortable, more a little… awkward. It had been over two hundred millennia after all that we've spoken to each other, as… adopted daughter and mother that is.

"I am," Tsunami softly replied. She took a step forward and then after a slight pause, crossed the remaining distance. I received her in my arms with natural ease, falling into the old memories and basking in their revival. Until this moment I hadn't realized just how much I had missed her, the feelings clouded by the loss of Peitho, overshadowed by the loneliness created from my mate's absence. Now that was mostly out of the way, moved aside for other things to remember, to long for.

"I missed you," the young woman in my arms said after a while of comfortable silence. She looked up to meet my gaze and my heart reached out to her in this instant, the feelings I saw there hard if not impossible to properly describe. "I shouldn't have left, I know that now." Her voice was small, that of a little child's, not that of the young, strong woman she had been hours ago in the midst of chaos.

"You've grown up," I simply said, saying with my eyes what needn't be said with words. Tsunami's expression softened with relief. "Several times now, I suppose," I added with a grin, glancing up at the tree. "But really now. A Yggdrasil? When you left to make your own mark on the world I had no doubt you would but… Isn't this a little…"

"Much?" the other girl answered with a wink of her own before pulling away. She walked back to the tree and gently traced her hand over the bark. "She needed my help when I found her. Serenity would have done the same I'm sure."

I nodded with a smile. "See. No need to worry then. We were all young and had to cope with being put through too much to even comprehend for living beings, even those like us. You found your path, didn't you?" I said, trying to show the pride I was feeling. There was still much I'd like to know, what happened to the woman I had cherished like a daughter for nearly two decades, but that could wait until later.

"I did. And I learned my lesson." There was a deep sadness and concern there, something I could relate to on a basic level, having seen generations come and go, having watched the Silver Millennium slowly fall prey to the cancer from within. Metallia and Beryl had just finished what had been predictable for many years before their time. I saw the same realization in the pink eyes of the other woman even if for other scenarios yet unknown to me.

"But you are staying now, aren't you?" I asked, curious but sensing the topic too depressing for either of our current moods. There would be time later.

I followed her meaningful gaze to Rei's sleeping form. Outwardly nothing much seemed different but where before a strong bond had already existed between them, it was now just as potent and final as that between Makoto, Minako and myself. "I have a reason to. Many reasons actually. I still have obligations elsewhere but… This is my home, it has been and is again. And maybe together we can learn from the mistakes we made and build something… better." She turned back to me, expression still soft but more serious. "But that isn't what you really want to know right now, isn't it?"

I shook my head, surely looking slightly sheepish. "Not really. I can feel her though, that's why I wasn't too worried." After a moment's pause I added, "So where have you tugged away your new sister?"

A short feeling of… dread shot through me at the pensive look in Tsunami's eyes. Then she held up a hand and with a wave the space shifted to show a watery pool filled with some sort of light green liquid shimmering in the air. Like a tiny star in the middle of space a small crystal floated in its center, shimmering in rainbow colors that looked a little faded, like a fine sheen was covering the crystal, dimming the richness of what surely had to be a fascinating spectacle otherwise. The trained eye could see the translucent bird wings that would give the crystal its unique form when properly matured. A sigh of relief left my lips, as the rest of the anxiousness left me.

"This was all I could do. The seed was immature and will need some time to form a physical body. I…" Tsunami stopped, voice wavering. "I'm sorry."

Moving forwards I stepped through the water and drew the other woman against me, trying to quell her guilt. "And without you here, as you are now, what you have become, do you think the seed would have survived?" I asked gently, pushing her away at arm's length to fix her with the best stern face I could manage. Probably nowhere near what Haruka could do at her best but hey, it had always worked before. "So don't you dare beat yourself up over this. You did well and everyone's fine." I gave a glance in Rei's direction, making sure that the blue-haired woman noticed it. "You should be happy."

For a moment longer we remained as we were but then Tsunami fell back into the embrace. "I missed you, Phoebe," she repeated softly.

"I missed you, too, Tsunami-chan."

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

(Lisa)

Methodically I changed the wet cloth. This had been an admittedly soothing routine at first but soon became less and less distracting, as I found my mind wander over the events of a couple of hours ago… or more like the events that I had barely even been a conscious part of. In the heat of the moment, when I had no other choice to adept it was easy to meld present and past memories. Now, I began to experience the thorough… disorientation.

And yet, despite the oddity and at the same time seriousness of the situation, an inner peace had settled in my soul, filling that which I had searched years for, the missing part I had always recognized as lacking. I had found it… although the price was quite a high one. I tried to reason that most likely regardless of what I could have done, this would have happened sooner or later. However, I couldn't help the nagging self-loathing directed at myself. If I had just insisted on them coming over earlier, maybe all of this could have been avoided. Now the consequences were once again…

I closed my eyes but there was no escaping the scene as similar images of the past haunted me. Of the same redhead, different but yet so similar in nature, in a state no human soul should experience, especially beginning at such a tender age. It was the same thing all over again and it didn't help anything that I wasn't really responsible. I felt responsible. Responsible for the condition, responsible for her.

A slight creak - which probably no one who hadn't spent as much time as I did here would have noticed - announced the opening of the door a moment before it actually happened. That gave me enough time to notice that my fingers had absently began to play with auburn-red hair. I jerked them away a pang of guilt lancing through me as I saw Amelia… Tomoyo - I reminded myself that she didn't have a complete memory set for some weird reason yet - slip into the room. The reaction was probably unnecessary since we were… had been… would be… Gah, it's not easy sorting through all the different feedback your brain gives you with memories and a personality of two different lives. It would be easier over time, Sakura seemed to do fine from what I had seen and could now interpret. So soon after the reawakening of my past's memories, however, it was a great deal confusing.

"Your grandmother is a nice woman," Tomoyo commented, not giving any indication that she took note of my hasty action or if, she didn't seem to mind. I was secretly hoping for the second. I was pretty sure it was the second. One connection I could make now is that compared to Amelia, the girl now sitting down on the other chair next to the bed after having put down the small tray was far more perspective. Not that Amelia hadn't been, but a similar trait of character analyzes only surfaced when she had been a lot older, forced to take over the mantle of Queen at a young age. For Tomoyo it seemed to be a natural thing that probably had been there for all of her life.

I smiled at the comment, reminded once again of how… accepting Baasan was. She took everything in stride and rarely acted surprised by something, not to mention that she had maintained an amazing vitality for her age. "Yes, she is." I glanced at the dresser and the framed photograph there. "I am glad I can be here with her. She taught me a great deal."

Tomoyo seemed to have caught the look but didn't make a comment. I found myself amazed once again at the lack of tension I registered from the other girl. Granted she probably was prepared for this, had a lot of time preparing for the possibility of… this. But Tomoyo wasn't quite Amelia, her memories were fragmented and the part of her soul that carried the Queen of Saillune was somewhere caught between sleep and wakefulness. On top of that it was apparent that she and Sakura went along the way in this life whereas I might seem like… an intruder. I felt like one on some level. That's why I felt slightly awkward.

"How is she?" Tomoyo asked after a short while, our gazes mutually focused on the resting form of the redhead. The question didn't help the awkwardness because the answer would most likely lead to the inevitable.

"Erratic," I replied simply, not looking up to meet the other girl's eyes. I could feel the inquiring stare and added, "You know what I mean."

Silence hang over the room as the full impact of the situation settled in. I heard Tomoyo drawing in a sharp breath before releasing it slowly. "She was afraid that would happen. Her mana is more balanced in this life but not used to channel something so potent yet. The only time she did that before was more or less lethal." My head snapped around at the sad tone and the implications the revelations bound to it. Seeing the pained expression though I decided that explaining what she meant with this could wait until later. It wasn't all that important to the current situation anyway.

I blinked as a soft chuckle escaped Tomoyo's lips. "Must be fate. It has been the same thing for us in our last life, has it not? The beginning, I mean." I grimaced at the truth of her statement. The initial forming of our bond had been in a similar, even if not so dire situation. The parallels were hard to ignore. It seemed fate liked to throw us at each other by force. I couldn't help but laugh. It was neither really humorous nor overly bitter. However, it helped me to relax slightly.

Seconds stretched into a minute, maybe two as we sat there, staring at each other. Well, staring would be too strong a word. It was more like shyly searching eye contact once in awhile, almost expecting the other to give some negative sign or reaction. Nothing like that happened though. The bond held true and all I saw was reserved but present affection, underlined by something deeper and older. I felt myself drawn into blue eyes magnetically, unable to resist the spell, not WANTING to resist.

"We don't need too… you know, now…" I started even though my heart wasn't really in the offer and quite frankly I didn't think it was even possible to avoid physically acknowledging the bond. I couldn't help but feel that this was all rather rushed and neither of us was given much of a chance to adjust.

I was so unprepared when the other girl suddenly leaned forward, bringing our faces so close together that I could feel her soft breath that I almost fell from my chair. The pull that had been vibrant before was now like the beat of a sledgehammer. Powerful, fast and unable to ignore. No words were really needed and they weren't spoken either. I leaned into the touch of one tentative palm on my cheek, refraining to close my eyes, unable to break contact with the striking beautiful orbs so full of warmth and acceptance, of understanding. Yes, she understood, even lacking the advantage of full memories she did understand what the bond between us meant.

It was so much like the vivid images in my memories. The first sparks of love that had quickly matured after that between Amelia and Sylphiel. The situation was almost a mirror of that time. The feelings of kinship just as strong as then, maybe even more so now with the added memories. In a bold move I reached with one hand behind the dark-haired girl's head, drawing her in for a kiss that was, in the literal sense, the meeting of two souls who had sought each other for a long time, always close but never allowed to touch as they had longed to. You could almost hear the ethereal sigh of contentment and relief. Oh, it wasn't a passionate kiss, more soft and slow, not awkward either but with a harmony that spoke of that which existed between us even though neither of us had really understood or even known that for a long time.

The contact was rather brief, yet left me with an even greater sense of fulfillment, a completeness previously unknown to me. There was only one thing missing now to reseal the ancient connection between us.

A shy but truly radiant smile answered my own grin as we parted, I untangled my fingers from their place in the dark hair, taking the hand on my cheek and interlocking our fingers gently. I glanced up to see Tomoyo's expression hadn't changed. Totally devoid of any doubt or hesitation, willing and wanting to experience the full extent of that which had been lost so long ago and that had been taken from us so forcefully.

I glanced back at Sakura's form as I noticed her stirring slightly. The recovery spell had almost completed its work now. All that needed to be done now was stabilizing the mana disorder the use of the Ragna Blade had once again created. And there was only one permanent way to do so.

"Ready?" I asked in a whisper, not needing to look. The squeeze from our joined hands was answer enough. I couldn't help but grin slightly. Sakura was in for one hell of a wakeup call. I swore I heard Soyo-chan chuckle at the mental picture.

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

(Sakura)

There is something you cannot quite describe about the sensation waking up snuggled comfortably between the warm bodies of two incredible women. As hard as you might try to say with words what went on inside of you, words were rather inadequate for this kind of situation. There had been a brief moment of… panic when I woke up, my sleep-clouded mind not yet able to properly process what the rest of my senses were relaying. A dozen scenarios had flashed before my mental eyes but ultimately the fog had cleared and the memories of last night came back, coaxing a soft smile on my lips. Had it even been night? What time was it anyway? Somewhere around mid or late morning I suspected. I hadn't paid attention before falling asleep again exhausted, the kind of exhausted that had nothing to do with intensive fighting…

I'm sure the silly grin threatened to split my face as I turned back to gaze at the magnificent sight of Tomoyo on my right and Lisa on my left, both having their heads resting on my chest, just above either breast like a cushion, sleeping the sleep of the innocent. Yeah right, innocent! I suppose the saying is true after all. It is always the quiet ones you have to look out for.

The last thing I remembered before being woken up in a rather… unexpected manner was slaying the Seeker with the Ragna Blade. I had nearly lost consciousness before finishing the incantation and pure will alone had pushed me onwards, knowing that if I failed to take out the enemy we would all be finished. The strain was enormous. On top of the fact that this body still had a hard time adapting to the strong essence of Chaos Magic, the shocks of dark energy Pandora's creature had given me had done their own bit to bring me to the edge of unconsciousness. Somehow I had still pulled through, aware that I pretty much overexerted my mana in the process.

Therefore I logically shouldn't have been surprised at the consequential scenario that followed. Screw logic. Waking up after such a straining battle to the sight of two beautiful young women with rather clear and willing intentions should break even the most strong-willed composure. In the state I was in, I had not much to object. I could feel the signs of mana overload, being all too familiar with it and my soul and spirit practically cried out for the salvation promised by the two others who had given it in such a fulfilling, completing manner so long ago.

Now, looking back at it I couldn't help the fleeting thought if all this might have been too fast. The ironic parallel to that night in Saillune that had been the beginning of our relationship back then was all too present in my mind. Then again, those doubts pretty much paled in comparison to the feedback from the bond during its physical re-acknowledgment. The harmony was overwhelming, touching right down to the core with the trust and acceptance I could make out from the other two.

Especially Tomoyo. I had gotten the first glimpses of just how important this was to her before, but during the lovemaking I could see that she comprehended on an almost conscious level the significance of that which was between us, even without her full memories of Amelia.

"Feeling better?" I barely resisted the urge to jump, an unconscious part of my mind rationalizing that I didn't want to disturb the two other girl's sleep for now. I fought down the initial reaction and turned my head slightly to the left where seemingly without concern for our quite naked states the small form of Lisa's Wind Elemental was perched on her mistress' shoulder. A slight blush crept into my face but I ignored the urge to reach for the covers. From my studies I knew that natural Elementals had low to no regard at all for concepts of modesty and the stare the golden-haired Sylph was directing my way was rather distracting, in a somewhat uncomfortable manner.

"I do," I replied after realizing the spiritual being was waiting for an answer. "Um, I don't think we have been properly introduced, I am…"

"I know who you are. The backlash from the memories was hard to ignore." She glance at Lisa for a moment and while I wasn't the best person ever to read over people's emotion, I thought I saw something akin to… longing there. I blinked, distracted from the startling thought when the Sylph looked back up. "Lisa calls me Soyo-chan. You can do so too, but only under one condition." She didn't even give me a time to nod before continuing in a gravely serious tone. "If you hurt her, you will regret it. Powerful sorceress or not."

I held the daring gaze of tiny sky-blue eyes for a long moment, seeing the depth of affection. I wasn't quite sure how deep it reached but it was apparent that it went deeper than just close friendship. "I have no intention to," I said seriously with all the honesty I could manage. The decision had been made anyway. After last night - or whenever it was - turning back was hardly an option. Not that the option would ever cross my mind. If Tomoyo and Lisa were alright with this, I would certainly not object. My heart was just too happy at the prospect of the second chance given to us.

"Good." Soyo-chan nodded seriously. "Take good care of her." With a flash she disappeared. I glanced down at the ring on Lisa's finger. I remembered reading about contract rings. They were said to be ancient tools made by dwarves to form a bond, a contract between a suitable candidate and an elemental spirit. I was really interested in where exactly the other girl had picked it up in this time and age.

A slight shift indicated that one of the two girls was stirring… no, that wasn't quite right. They were both stirring and my mind boggled slightly at the synchrony with which Tomoyo and Lisa blinked open their eyes and lifted their heads slightly to meet my own gaze. I couldn't help but smile at the cute and sexy sight.

"You two seem rather satisfied with yourselves," I commented dryly but inwardly chuckled at the slightly confused expressions of just having woken up on the other two's faces. Deciding that a little payback was in order, I reached down to firmly pull the purple-haired miko up so that our faces were on the same level. Gazing into green eyes for a moment I relished in the mixture of familiar feelings and a refreshing newness. Lisa blinked cutely, still kind of half-asleep but that was probably quickly changed when I pulled her in for a soft, slow kiss. The sparkle in the other girl's eyes upon departure was more than enough reward.

Focusing on Tomoyo who had sat up in the meantime, I gave her no time to contemplate, repeating the same procedure as with Lisa, feeling the overwhelming need to reassure her and myself that nothing would change between us. And nothing had. I felt that upon first contact. The last bit of doubt was shredded into so many tiny pieces. The small part of our relationship that had been vacant until now had been filled and the consequences weren't minimizing what was between us. That Lisa was here with us now was the exact opposite. Enriching. That was what it had been, was now and would ever be. With just one at their side either of us could be happy but that was nothing compared to the harmony that amplified all of our feelings.

After a small eternity we pulled apart. I stole a glance at Lisa, finding the miko smiling softly, obviously experiencing the same recreation of the feelings just rediscovered. Both girls were flushed from the way they were woken up and I allowed myself a satisfied smirk. Yes, payback was a nice thing… And I wasn't quite done yet.

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

(Makoto)

"She's going to be fine, Mako-chan, would you calm down?" Hotaru repeated softly for the x-thousandth time. Not that it helped much. In fact, the way she stood there leaning casually against the doorframe of the waiting room was infuriating me even further.

"How can you be so calm? She got herself nearly killed, went through childbirth UNCONSCIOUS and oh, not to mention that your baby is nothing more than a piece of jewelry!" I knew I was ranting, I knew I was probably being a total pain in the ass but I couldn't help it. Now with the action behind us, with nothing to concentrate on, everything that happened the day before was settling in. Not slowly but with a big bang. Add to that my own helplessness and frustration during the fight and all that followed and my brain was quickly shutting down trying to rationally comprehend all the information. And Hotaru just stood there as if everything was alright!

Waking up disorientated in what I later learned was a spaceship hovering cloaked in Earth orbit was hard enough to digest but at least it gave me something to distract myself with from the more depressing and confusing topics. Bringing Minako back down to the surface and into the hospital for observation was also helpful to get my mind focused on different things. After that though there hadn't been much to do but wait and worry. Hotaru had said that considering the spiritual trauma Minako went through and the drain necessary for the birth would have her sleeping for some time. As much as I tried I couldn't be quite so optimistic though.

"Our baby," Hotaru's calm but suddenly sharp voice penetrated through the distracting haze of my flashback. I turned my head to look at her, seeing a hard edge suddenly had entered purple eyes which made me momentarily sway in my ranting mood.

Fried nerves quickly took over again though. "Oh come on now, not that again… You are just…"

"You FELT it, did you not?"

I froze, a memory of the recent events boring through the wall of denial and self-illusion. A wall that was easier to deal with because the truth behind it, the truth the memory evoked made this whole damn thing even harder to deal with. I gritted my teeth and continued my pacing until I turned around then stalked right up to Hotaru, looming over the smaller girl who just looked up with the same calm expression. Underneath though I could detect the barest hint of… annoyance, aggravation and… impatience.

"You know it is true, Makoto," Hotaru stated again, not looking away under the heated glare.

"And you think that's supposed to make me feel better?" I answered quietly, a slight chill entering my voice. "It is supposed to make me feel better to know that it is also MY child that is now…" I trailed off, the simple thought of just finishing the statement aloud was repulsing. I had just taken a look at the undeveloped star seed, the remaining truth of what was supposed to be a human, a life form, a…

"Now what?" Hotaru asked almost innocently but the look in her eyes belied the seriousness of the question. She was very aware what I was thinking and she wanted me to say it, to face this. It hurt inside, to admit the truth of what the connection which had undeniable developed between us revealed and then seeing just what had become of that truth.

My lips worked silently but for a long time nothing came out. I couldn't say it to her face. As angry as I was, I couldn't just throw the words in Hotaru's face. Turning around I quietly walked back into the empty room, feeling overwhelmed and almost desperate to understand the other girl's reason for her attitude. I wished I could be so calm. I wished I could understand all that which she apparently did, all those missing links. It was getting too hard to keep track of, to hard to just simply take in stride. I had reached a point where rational thought had become almost impossible. "You know what I mean. You know damn well what I mean. She's supposed to be flesh and blood, a happy, healthy, little baby, not just a tiny crystal that…" I broke off again, digging my hands roughly into the backrest of one of the chairs, trying to get a hold of my troubled feelings before I really exploded.

"The seed is her, just as yours is you, and mine is me. It's a miracle that the seed even survived considering all that happened. It just needs a little time to develop…"

"Didn't you want the kid at all?" I growled out, knowing on some level that that had been an unfair low blow. I was proven right as barely a moment passed before Hotaru had abandoned her spot, one hand grasping my arm with a strength one barely would expect from such a fragile-looking girl. I turned with the urging movement, flinching slightly under the hurt gaze. I shrugged free of the grasp and put some distance between us again. The anger and frustration inside of me not able to yield at the moment. "Sorry," I muttered but kept walking until it was now me who stood at the door.

"You know I do want the baby. We agreed on that, didn't we?" Hotaru's voice was soft, only the slightest hint of the hurt my accusation must have inflicted audible. I admired and envied her for the level of self-control. If not for her, this whole bizarre mess between Minako, her and myself had probably been blown up in our faces already. "Why can't you trust me when I'm telling you not to worry, that everything's fine all things considered?" The question hurt even more, fueling the whispering voice of doubt in my heart that had been momentarily quieted in the heat of the events but hadn't given up quite yet.

"I'm trying to, Hotaru-chan. But I really can't understand how you can be so calm when your daughter barely survived and is now nothing more than the core of what she is supposed to be, put in suspended animation until she might one day be ready to really be born," I hissed the last part. I had half turned around, the impulses overriding every other emotion but the softly spoken reply drained all the anger I wanted to direct at someone from me and only left a gaping hole of shame and guilt behind.

"Would you rather have it that OUR daughter has to be here now? Here, in the middle of what soon will be a war zone? Here, where soon we fill fight our very existence? A fight that has a high possibility of some or maybe all of us not surviving?"

I felt suddenly empty, my strength fading away and I had to lean with my head against the doorframe for support as Hotaru's words of logic cut through all the arguments I could come up with, ripping them apart and leaving me helpless, once again helpless, unable to direct all the jumbled emotions inside of me at anyone but myself. She was right, of course. I knew the moment the words registered that there was no way to challenge the logic behind the statement. "I…" I fumbled for words, finding it hard to even speak, desperately searching for words but not finding. "Kami-sama, gomen nasei, I…" It sounded so lame and I wanted to hit myself for being so damn stupid, for not seeing the reasoning behind Hotaru's calmness.

I jerked my shoulder away from the gentle touch but didn't say anything else, just staying like I was. Hotaru, having approached behind me, hesitated obviously. I almost expected her, maybe wished for her to just hug me and be done with it. But she didn't and I honestly had no idea what to make of this, how to deal with all of this.

I felt inadequate, the doubts about my place in this relationship returning full force and the vulnerability brought about by this situation was perfect nutrition for it.

"Minako needs us now, Mako-chan. This will be even harder on her as it is on us. Don't think I'm completely above all that. Really, I am anything but. I'm just trying to not make this any worse by worrying myself to death."

"But that's just it," I replied, voice tight, "I'm just making a fool out of myself. Whatever did I do for you when just being in the way? You two, you are just right for each other. I am just…"

"Mako-chan, don't…" Hotaru pleaded desperately and I'm sure had I looked at her now it would have broken me in two right away. Truth was I didn't even want to say those things but they just spilled out. The doubt and guilt having taken firm control and not letting go again. I was losing it and I would end up hurting everyone, especially Hotaru, even more the longer I stayed. Concentrating on the last remains of control I could muster, I pushed forward out of the door. "I… I need to take a walk," I muttered. "Take care of Minako." Ignoring Hotaru's calls for me stop I was out in the hallway and soon enough out of the hospital itself, taking to the rooftops from there and heading in the direction of my sensei's dojo. I needed to get my mind cleared, I needed to get everything back into focus before I did something irrational and rash that I would end up regretting for the rest of my life.

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

<200021 BC ()>

The nights out in the wild free nature, far away from the bustle of the villages, larger towns and cities were refreshing. The two young woman, more or less still girls, currently resting on a small hill, wrapped in the shadows of the night, only illuminated by the soft light of the Moon always enjoyed to stay outside, especially in the warmer months. There was nothing to be said against the nice comfortable bed of an inn room but out here they felt much more in tune with life, they felt the harmony between the world's and their own nature. And they were blissfully alone for miles to come most of the time…

The air wasn't really cold, it was one of the hottest months of the year and they seldom needed one anyway. They liked to be alone with each other, undisturbed by anything other than nature's caress. Sixteen year-old Phoebe was currently laying on her side with her head rested in her partner's lap and one hand reaching up to play with golden-blonde hair absently. Peitho, in a relaxed sitting position, was alternating her gaze between star gazing and looking at her mate, an action which the other girl mirrored and somehow always managed to glance towards the two years older Senshi in synch with her so that their eyes would met, speaking of unrestrained affection, unconditional love.

"I wonder what they hold. So many of them, so many lives. We are supposed to protect them, don't we, and yet we haven't even been further than one or two visits to our planets," the Senshi of Love mused slightly, starting to mirror the dark-haired girl's motions with her own and producing a content sigh in the process.

Phoebe closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of her mate carried towards her by a chilly breeze. A slight shiver ran down her spine and in response she snuggled closer into the warmth provided by the other. Peitho was always getting so… moody in nights like this. Romantic, yes, but also poetic and sometimes slightly depressed for no real reason. After all, they had each other. So what reason would she have to be depressed? "Why, you are going to plan and leave me to explore the stars?" the Senshi of Silence teased lightly, knowing that the other would pick up on the playful tone.

"A fascinating idea," the older woman stated in a voice that ALMOST managed to sound sincerely contemplative. Phoebe merely smiled quietly to herself, enjoying the comfortable silence that followed, the feeling of the long hair entwined in her fingers and the feel of the other's own strokes, occasionally caressing the skin of her face. It was a truly peaceful moment. At least until the other Senshi added in an odd voice that now really sounded serious, "I might do that sometime, you know."

Purple eyes fluttered open, gazing in honest bewilderment at the woman she had known since she was young, not quite believing what she thought to have heard. Peitho smiled knowingly. A reassuring but somewhat wistful smile. "I mean, we are special, aren't we? Pluto told us that our star seeds have the ability to rebirth, a new body than this one dies. There are so many lives out there. Who knows if we might not fall in love with someone else in the next life or the one after that or… You see what I mean."

The younger warrior was quiet for a long moment, trying to make sense of her companion's words. She knew it was in the blonde's nature to see things like that, muse about them and usually she didn't really mind. Now though, now something needed to be clarified. "I love you and I will always love you, in this life, in the next and in any other that follows. You complete me Peitho."

A warm smile danced around the older warrior's lips. She bent down gently to put a chaste, lingering kiss on the Phoebe's lips. "I feel the same way. Exactly the same. I maybe able to bring others together, see who is meant to be with whom. But only you were able to show me that love personally. Only you can make me happy." She needed to clarify, seeing that she had done a poor explanation of what had been on her mind. Peitho straightened up again, smirking slightly at the dreamy look on the pale face below.

"That's not what I mean though," she continued seriously. "Love isn't something that just repeats itself because it was formed in a life generations backwards. We might be drawn to each other but not act on it. We might fall in love with someone else, real true love. But that wouldn't change anything about what we share…" The blonde girl wasn't quite sure what exactly brought that on. The last years had been wonderful, traveling the world, with the one person constantly at her side that truly completed her. Maybe, she kind of waited for the other shoe to drop, that something would come to disrupt the tranquility and happiness of their life… Maybe she was just too melancholic.

"It doesn't matter what happens in some far away life. What matters is here and now," Phoebe stated in a soft but firm voice, sensing the mood of her mate. "I will always be by your side and if for some reason not, I WILL find you again." The two Senshi held their gazes for nearly a minute, only the sounds of nature around them filling the silence. Peitho's heart swelled at the love and devotion in the normally cool and reserved woman's features, once again being reminded of the fantastic gift that she had been given, a gift that needed to be cherished and not questioned.

"Do you think we could fall in love with someone else and still love each other," Phoebe asked suddenly, voice unsure and a bit distant. The Senshi of Love blinked, noticing the faraway look her companion sometimes got when she had a vision, it seemed more like a sudden presentiment somehow. She had gotten used to them but never had it been addressing something so… personal to them.

Grasping one of Phoebe's hands she squeezed slightly. "Maybe. Could you?"

There was a moment of hesitation, then an uncertain nod, "I get the feeling sometimes there is more for us out there. Not something that will disrupt us but… you know…"

"Needs to be added to truly complete us?" Peitho inquired gently, sensing her mate's struggle for the right words. Frankly sometimes she had the same feeling. Brief, fleeting, more precognitive, about something far away in the future, not relevant now. Being the Senshi of Love made her more aware of the flow of bonds that human and other life form's souls could engage in and as that could interpret such small feelings of maybe a missing part of a connection that might be meant to be there sometimes but wasn't at the moment.

Phoebe gave a tiny nod, feeling relief at seeing the recognition and understanding in the other's eyes. They had obviously thought along the same lines again, after all. She answered Peitho's soft smile as hearts expressed what words could not. Then, not really hesitating but more thoughtful the dark-haired Senshi said, "I wonder if we are ever going to have a family."

"Would you like one?" Peitho asked, searching her partner's eyes for just how much it mattered to her. Admissions like these were rare, regardless of how open Phoebe was with her and her alone.

Phoebe paused to give her answer but then softly admitted, "Yes." Reaching up to draw her mate down into a kiss that began to tear at the gentle, tranquil mood, quickly drifting into passion, she added, "But as I said, that is in the future, this is now. And you are getting much too moody for me right now to further dwell on it."

And with that the issue was dropped but often wondered about in the years to come and after they really were separated as consequence of the war, the moment was thought back upon with a bittersweet aftertaste. Right now though they would be too occupied to care and were certainly too occupied to notice that the glow of the silvery Moon had intensified quite a bit. The foundation for one of the answers to Phoebe's question would be born into this world soon…

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

<Present Time (Minako)>

Gradually my senses began to return, awareness slowly settled in as the black void of unconsciousness was parted like a veil. The glaring light streaming in made me blink several times before I could even remotely attempt to make out anything more detailed. I closed them again for a short while and concentrated on my other senses, slowly finding my mind restarting and filling me with my last impression before waking up and in a state of wonder I also noticed that - taken aside the drained state of my internal energy supplies - I felt remarkable… fine.

Slowly I tried again to open my eyes against the artificial glare of the neon lights above. Hospital, a small part of my rational mind piped up, but was quickly shut up by the sight that greeted me.

It's weird how completely at ease I felt considering all that happened but that door I had feared to open before was now wide open and I… I understood, I simply understood. It was next to impossible to put into words but for the first time in a long while - probably ever since that day of our parting generations ago - I felt really, honestly complete. A soft sigh escaped my lips feeling the gentle strokes of fingertips through my hair. I almost regretted making a sound as the movement ceased abruptly and deep purple eyes focused on my own, a swirl of unguarded emotion breaking through all the walls I knew the other was capable of normally.

"Must be heaven," I whispered, fighting the numbness in my arm as I reached up to tug an errand strand of hair back into place, lingering with my fingers on the side of her face. It really felt like heaven. Considering that logically I probably should be dead and if I was dead the figure above me was an angel greeting me after waking from the long nightmare the Seeker's attack had put me through… It was even more heavenly when the realization that all this was quite real and alive sank in. "Hey there." I held the intense gaze with one of my own.

"Hey," Hotaru tried hard to sound calm but her voice was cracking. "You gave us quite a scare."

I smiled weakly, trying to somehow reassure the other girl but it was clear that there was nothing much I could. Knowing her she probably kept all of her own concerns inside until now. I was about to say something when the rest of my mind arrived back on this plane and a couple of things registered as… missing. They didn't provoke a sense of panic or loss but they were definitely missing. "Where's Mako-chan?" I asked first, feeling over the bond a lot of mixed feelings from her end… and she wasn't in the immediate area either.

"She…" Hotaru glanced away but not before I caught a glimpse of sad confusion. "She left a little while ago. Said she needed 'to take a walk'." The tone used for the quotation didn't leave much room for speculation. I knew Makoto and now looking back on the last months without the hindrances, the barriers I had put around myself I could see the signs that the brunette was obviously having her doubts about her place in the shaky relationship between us. Kind of ironic when you think about it. I had had the same doubts. Heck, I had told myself over and over again that they probably would be better of without me. In the long run I would even agree now considering the state I had been in.

"Hey, don't worry about it. She'll come back. She's just stubborn and needs some time to work things out for herself." Gently I urged Hotaru to focus on me again. "She belongs with us now. You know that, I know that and she'll understand that too," I emphasized softly but trying to convey the deeper meaning. Apparently Hotaru did pick up on it because a hesitant, hopeful and almost giddy smile began to spread over her lips.

"You do understand," she said not as a question but a statement, not to me but more to herself for clarification. "You do understand," she repeated in a breathless whisper. I could see the moisture gathering in her eyes and wiped the tear away gently before it could even spill over the beautiful face.

"I do, Phoebe. I do."

She looked so vulnerable now. If any of her former enemies could see her now they would hardly be able to make the connection between the cold, calculating warrior and the young woman on the verge of an emotional breakdown. Despite all that her face was glowing with happiness though which made me feel all warm inside.

Gathering the little strength I could still find I pushed up slightly so that I could pull the smaller girl into an embrace, basking in the renewal of what once had been and was now against impossible odds been given a second chance. "I love you," I breathed into dark hair, trying to put all the truth and feelings into the words that I hadn't been able to say before. As much as the agony inflicted by the Seeker had been an experience I didn't wish to repeat for the rest of all my lifetimes, I had to be thankful for one thing. My search had finally found an end because I had found that one missing key to my heart I had never been able to find again before. The relief and inner peace filling me now was hard to describe and managed to chase away the memories of the traumatic events quite effectively.

We stayed that way for awhile before I slowly loosened my arms around the other girl's frame. Hotaru quite obviously didn't want to move but saw that I was trying hard not to just fall back onto my back. Which I promptly did after she settled back into her chair.

"So," I asked in a cheerful voice, trying to break the heavy moment, "Where's the little bugger that annoyed me so much the last months?" The cheer was an easy distraction, of course, a distraction that was also feeling nicely. The thing was I did feel the fourth presence in the background but it was muted and very dim. I had been relieved already to note that apparently the child did survive the ordeal. How exactly I couldn't quite fathom though. I had avoided thinking about what exactly happened after the attack onwards but now with the emotional confession I felt compelled to do out of the way, the nervousness and anxiety began to creep into my heart.

"She's safe," Hotaru said quietly. I couldn't pinpoint why but somehow I had the feeling that was one of the reasons I received such an agitated feedback from Makoto. "As safe as possible in a situation like this." The other girl gazed back at me, her eyes almost pleading and the next word came in a whisper. "At least… at least the seed is…"

I blinked, for a moment not really comprehending, but then my mind managed to work out the meaning behind the words. "Oh," I said, sounding rather stupidly I decided. Truthfully a mixture of emotions rushed through me as the implications sank in but I tried to focus on Hotaru who seemed rather nervous about my reaction. Reaching out to grasp one of her hands I gave a small squeeze of reassurance. "I'm sure you did all that could you."

Hotaru tried a small smile but it came across as rather weak. "Not me. I couldn't have done anything, you know that. Even if, I think I was much too… shocked and frantic at that moment. You'll have to thank Tsunami-chan." This time the smile was real and laced with a great deal of affection.

I had to admit the answer kind of floored me. "Tsunami-chan? She's still… Oh… right, Sasami. Sorry, sleepy mind trying to work two parallel sets of memories and combining them." I laughed softly, the sound oddly refreshing. I couldn't stress the point enough in my mind how much I felt like a newborn child right now, purged from the confusion, hesitation and the many barriers that had dominated my life before. I felt so… free. Maybe I should sent Pandora a "thank you" card? Hmm…

"It's okay," Hotaru chuckled quietly, reaching over with her other hand to wind it into my long hair. "No haste." With a smirk she added, "You won't ever believe what our little girl turned out to be." Then her humor fell though into a more somber mood. Recalling similar moments from Peitho's memories I could easily see that the events began to catch up to her and she was torn between being happy about the one thing and worried and sad about the other.

"Why don't you tell me about all that I missed until Mako-chan comes back?" I asked, fighting the urge to yawn. Considering that I had been out of it for over a day - which a glance at a calendar on the wall had told me - I was still rather tired. Then again, after what my body - and soul - had been through I should be happy to still be alive and mostly unscathed.

"You really think she's coming back," Hotaru said, practically scared. She didn't say it out loud but I saw in her eyes the loneliness there, the loneliness brought about our separation and the frustration at my own… disregard of her feelings. She didn't want to lose someone she loved again, I realized with a start.

"Hey, don't worry your pretty head," I smiled reassuringly. I had known Makoto for some time now and from the time we've spent together I knew that everything that she couldn't grasp properly, everything that appeared too high or too much for her to deal with tended to frustrate her a great deal. "There's only so much even someone as tough as Mako-chan can take. At some point your inner nature just breaks through and you can't stop it. Let her cool off a bit," I tried to make a convincing point. "And if she doesn't come around by herself, we just have to go hunt her down, ne?"

"With a big bow and a heart-shaped arrow?" Hotaru asked in a cute display of mock-hopefulness.

I smirked in return. "I'm sure I can still hit from long distance."

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

(Persephone)

How much time had passed since I last came here? Here, in the vast infinities of a place that existed outside of anything and still in the very center of everything. Once it had been a place of joy, a timeless beauty with vast planes, forests and other sorts of nature reflections. It had been a warm place, just for the two who dwelled here, endlessly keeping watch over the most important gate in existence.

A reflection of the guardians' hearts. Now only a single guardian remained and that one's heart had been horribly hurt, forced to endure the pains of solitude and loneliness, the heavy mantle of duty all by herself. This heart had shied away from the world outside, fearful of the loses that ultimately awaited her there.

Now the Cocoon of Time was just filled with endless emptiness and deep mists shrouding everything into mystery, like shields, concealments from the harshness of the world.

A single tear slid down my face. Oh, Oneechan, what has happened to you? Of course I knew what. I had watched her those last centuries since my spirit at least had been able to make some contact with the outside world again. I had went back and watched with a heavy heart of immeasurable sadness in the endless flow of time of those events that had happened since we parted ways so painfully. And my heart had wept with the realization of what my dearest sister had to endure all on her own. This was the very reason why a Time Guardian was not meant to be alone. Their post and duty was one of the most difficult and painful.

As the mists parted to reveal the majestic doors of the Time Gate I stopped in my tracks, soft footfalls falling silent and my gaze was directed forward, not daring to even move an inch from Pluto's form. The entire plane held its breath, literally, as for the first time in over two hundred millennia both its guardians had set foot upon it. I searched the other woman's dark crimson eyes and winced slightly under the infinite amount of pain and loneliness stowed in there. It had become harder for her to bear the secluded vigil and eventually circumstances had made her begin to mingle with the normal flow of time once again… But in the end nothing had been able to take away the experiences that came with her duty. Nothing could ever soothe that raging inferno of having seen too much that she was unable to prevent. Generations going by, one loved one after another. Only I could. I knew how it was, what our duty entailed and being separated from her, the only one who understood just as much as me, was pure torture.

Pluto moved forward slowly, her steps tentative, almost hesitant. I stood my ground barely daring to breathe. Oh, how often I had wished in the last years to make my presence known to her, to be with her again. I could have, really I could, however, the consequences would have been disastrous. The other Senshi came to a stop just in front of me, eyes still locked on mine, as she reached up to tenderly touch my face, tracing the skin of my cheek as if I was going to disappear the next moment, crumble like a piece of easy-to-break porcelain. A small smile formed on my lips, trying to convey reassurance but frankly my own emotions were in turmoil and I barely had any control left.

Crimson eyes widened in disbelief and amazement. "You're alive…" The words were not a question but neither a real statement either. More like a fact from a fairytale, something that you knew couldn't be real but strangely enough felt so very real. The carefully measured, ages-old mask crumbled within the speed of a single timeless moment of undeniable realization.

I threw control out of the window. "Oneechan," I breathed, just before flinging myself forward, wrapping the slightly taller woman into an embrace and without a further word pressed my lips against her own. For a moment Pluto was completely overwhelmed but then the response came and all the bottled up emotions I had seen before in her eyes, had understood like no one over could, came rushing out like a cascade. Everything around us melted away as the two oldest Senshi souls met in renewal of a connection so pure as it was ancient. My eyes had closed and I was pretty sure so had the other woman's as nothing else mattered for the moment. Too much time had passed, too much loneliness had been endured in the face of our separation. Questions could come later. This was how it was meant to be, how it had been once before and how it would - yes, I swear it would - be again. Finally we could be there for each other again, share the burden that had been our duty from the day of our birth onwards.

Even as the kiss finally ended, neither of us let go. I had my head rested against the taller Senshi's shoulder as we continued to hold each other. No one said a word but the silence wasn't empty, it wasn't filled with the vast loneliness I had felt the moment I entered this plane. For a first time in ages the silence was reflecting the deep inner peace of its guardians again as their love washed away the other's darkness.

"You were right," Pluto said quietly after a near infinite time and the pain in her voice was disturbing to witness. "You were right," she repeated. "Emotional bindings with those in the flow will only lead to heartache."

"But you still made them," I stated softly. "Even now, after all this. Why?" There was a long pause and I pulled back to see the other's face, shedding a few tears at the conflicting emotions. I gently began stroking the familiar features, mesmerizing each curve again after such a long time. "Because no one can endure the loneliness all by herself." I spoke softly but insistent. "We were both right. In the end there is no way for us to escape that predicament." I brought my face close to hers, never breaking eye contact, reading and drinking the deepest secrets of her soul within a heartbeat. "But, Aion-chan, that's why you have me."

"I thought I lost you," my sister sniffed and I was pretty sure everyone who believed to know her would be shocked at the open grief and searing pain in the gaze at the memories that surely had to have been foremost in her mind… because they were foremost in my mind too.

I leaned forward bringing our lips together again. I could feel Pluto's body trembling, strength draining out of her but easily shifted so that I could support her. "Shh, I know," I whispered upon parting. "I didn't think I could ever see you again, too. And when I learned how much you went through…" My throat felt dry all of a sudden as I swallowed. "It hurt so much."

"How…?" Pluto began but in her eyes I could see clearly that at the moment she really didn't care about the hows and whys, about the circumstances of what happened to me. And I don't think she was in the right mood to deal with my own story of a lone vigil.

"I love you so much," I breathed, instantly killing any questions, any need for knowledge. My own vision blurred and so I couldn't be sure which tears were whose. Not that it mattered.

"You still do?" Pluto's voice was tiny, scared, the voice of someone who had given up hope long ago, only leaving the tiniest flame behind. A flame that unexpectedly had received new air so that it burst into a new brilliant brightness. The question was ridiculous. There never had been anyone else. I never ever could not love her, regardless of how long our separation had been. We were made for each other, literally.

"Let me show you," I replied, voice trembling as I pulled the other Senshi closer, touching lips again as my hands tangled in the long dark hair falling over my sister's and soul mate's back.

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

(Tomoyo)

The air was clean and a soft spring breeze caressed my skin. I had my eyes closed as I stood outside, momentarily blocking out the not so pretty sight of the yard. Considering the kind of danger we had been in, it wasn't even all that bad. Still… I knew it was ridiculous but a part of me did feel guilty and responsible. Despite that, we were now family, sort of, so I felt like this was a violation of my home as well.

A smile tucked at my lips at the memory of the night before. Okay, technically it had been around early afternoon or something but it felt more appropriate to be classified as night activity after all. My cheeks heated up a little but the smile actually deepened.

"You seem to be rather happy this afternoon." I blinked my eyes open but didn't turn or show any other sign of my surprise. I had gotten used to it over the hours spent into the elderly woman's presence. The head priestess of the Jinseikuro Jinja insisted that the silent approach was part of the daily training… Personally I thought she just liked to do it for some weird reason but I was too polite to say it out loud.

"Oh, I am," I replied instead, looking outwards at the scenery of the city and the slowly descending sun. It was already late afternoon. We had slept quite a long time after the activities had been over yesterday - both the negative and the positive ones - and after waking up fairly early in the morning, neither of us had been quite ready to leave the warmth of the bed… or better each other. Not to mention that Sakura wouldn't let us…

Lisa's grandmother stepped up next to me, taking in the damage done in the battle and seemingly discarding it as irrelevant with a slight shake of her head. "So it would appear. It is remarkable that a young woman such as yourself would be so open and accepting when she already is so much in love." From the rather casual conversation tone I had the impression that an explanation was fairly unnecessary but I felt compelled to answer anyway.

"I trust Sakura," I stated as if those few words answered anything. Actually they did. I had had my doubts concerning Sylphiel, or Lisa now, but never did I ever doubt Sakura's loyalty. Too much had happened for that. I knew that whatever still would happen, I could trust that she would neither leave nor hurt me intentionally. "And it's not just that. I feel like I've fallen in love all over again. Just like when I met Sakura, it's the same feeling that I have for your granddaughter. Not just because we used to be together in a past life but… Well, what are names? In the end they are just labels we chose to define ourselves with. Who can tell us why we fall in love with someone? Nobody really can and I think that's a good thing. I do not understand why people always try to look for the negative when they see people in love who are different or whose relationship is different. I think you should see love like it is. Love."

I turned to look at the older woman, being greeted by a warm smile. "It does this old heart good to hear such honest and truthful words spoken by someone several decades younger." She reached out and took my hand, a moment of solemn silence hanging over us. "I am sure you will take good care of her. I have never seen her so vibrant as today. I knew from the first moment I saw the three of you together, that you belonged with each other."

"We will and we do," I felt the urge to clarify both points with unwavering seriousness. Lisa's grandmother nodded with an equal expression.

After that I headed back inside, finding Sakura and Lisa after some searching in a smaller room upstairs that was filled with all kinds of - too the untrained eye - weird stuff. I could see though that most of this here was mystical in nature and rather old. I had always had a soft spot for archeology and after Sakura's adventures with the cards I had become more and more interested in some of the more mysterious items found in human history. A good deal of those which I had read about were filling the shelves or were being spread over the ground in a circle around the two girls sitting in its center, talking excitedly.

"… I can't believe you actually found this." Sakura was weighing a mighty-looking lance in her hands that was richly decorated and if I didn't know any better I could have sworn it was… "Odin's Gungnir." I faltered a little as I made my way carefully over to sit on a chair next to the pair. So I had been right! My eyes widened slightly in amazement. This had to be one of, if not THE most valuable treasure in here. Lisa had already told us that she had traveled a lot, pretty much all across the world. Obviously she hadn't just been sightseeing.

"It wasn't easy to get believe me. Unfortunately I don't have the right mindset to get anything out of it," Lisa smiled without seeming really sad about the fact. "It seems to like you though." Sakura blinked and I followed her gaze downwards to the weapon in her hands surrounded by a soft crimson glow. "You probably won't believe that almost none of these things I really had actively sought out?"

Sakura glanced up again. "I can hardly picture you as a treasure hunter," she laughed merrily, "I still remember those few times we took you along on a raid." Judged by the blush on the purple-haired girl's face I figured it must have been a rather fun event, too bad I couldn't quite recall it. There was some faint memory but I was too engrossed in the present to really focus on it.

"The only thing ever really of worth to me is this." She tapped with a finger against the ring on her other hand and the gesture clearly indicated both object and what it hosted. I didn't know much about the kind of bond Lisa and the Sylph shared, however, from what I've seen the affection was impossible to deny. Due to the exposure to the Clow Cards who were similar in nature my grasp on the concept of elemental spirits was probably better than any of the other mystical fields at the moment. And Sylph's weren't known to be easily violent and aggressive, even if provoked, as Lisa's elemental had been during the fight.

"Those are pretty rare. I didn't even know they still made contract rings. This kind of binding items were almost considered extinct in the old times already," Sakura stated before turning to look at me, as if just now realizing that I had been there. Of course that wasn't true. She had to have known, both of them actually should. I didn't want to interrupt either, content to watch their easy conversation and the emotions between them expressed in so many little details.

I didn't feel jealous. It didn't even surprise me anymore. Not after last night. There was virtually no way I could ever be jealous or feeling left out. All watching those two interact with the ease of old lovers and the eagerness of new at the same time left behind was joy. Joy for their happiness because their happiness was my happiness, our happiness. It really was impossible to explain to an outsider and a complete stranger would probably just shake their head. I doubted either of us did or would care.

"Don't let me interrupt you," I said smiling but knew that the moment was broken when two sets of eyes, one gold, the other green focused on my own. Not that I felt sad about it because this was even far better than to simply watch. The harmony created between us was practically tangible. Don't get me wrong. It was amazing. That I could feel that way again, over someone other than Sakura. What I said to Lisa's grandmother was the truth but almost nine years ago, back in 3rd grade when I first met Sakura… I could have steadfastly sworn that there would NEVER be another.

So much had changed since then and now I could welcome and accept the change with the assurance that it never was a question of exchanging my love for Sakura for another, but instead it had now expanded to another, completing that which already was between us. There was no question left in my heart anymore. Lisa had been, was and would ever be OUR significant other.

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

(Makoto)

Morning dawned over the remote building complex just on the outskirts of Minato-ku. The part here was rather cut off from the rows of buildings on the main streets but not a total refugee. Remarkably enough the restaurant part of the complex was well frequented and made astonishing sales for being so far away from the main business areas. I wasn't surprised, considering the quality of the offered food.

The sun was slowly rising over the horizon. I could feel the flow of nature, the eternal cycle of day and night, dawn and dusk. However, right now the feeling had a distant shadow carved into it. It was more like the Earth expected to never see the light of dawn again. All the life forms around here were restless, sensing the darkness wishing to consume them. Their bonds to the planet cried out to them, to get away. But where were they supposed to go?

I almost fell over, unprepared for the human missile launching itself at me with an exhilarated cry, "Good morning, Makoto-neechan!" Reflexes took over as I caught the younger girl in mid-tackle and shifted my balance so that I was able to fetch her out of the air and settle her down in my lap which, let me tell you, wasn't easy to do with a twelve year old bundle of energy who had inherited the skill and power of her parents. We've sparred a few times for fun and she was almost as fast as me already…

"You are up early, squirt," I mentioned, ruffling her dark crimson hair put up into two ponytails but unlike Usagi's odangos the hair was curled around two extremely pointed ears.

The younger girl nodded enthusiastically and tucked at my gi. "You gonna play with me today?" Cat-like purplish-pink eyes turned up towards me with such innocent playfulness and eagerness it almost hurt to look. The ears wiggled a bit for emphasis and I couldn't help but smile at the sight. Especially knowing that despite momentary appearance the girl was rather sharp and quick-witted.

"I think Makoto-san would like to go back to her own family," another voice called out and the younger girl was faced by a stern look from her mother. "Go back to the house please, Felina-chan, you are disturbing Makoto in her concentration. Breakfast is ready anyway."

Saotome Mia pouted cutely but obediently did as she was told, practically bouncing out of my lap. I had to dodge the widely swinging tail so as not to get whacked in the face. For a moment I stared after the retreating form, amazed once again by the cross between childish innocence and feline grace. If I didn't know the story behind her I would probably be disturbed… just a little bit.

"She's a real pain around vacation time when she has nothing to focus on. You would think she'd actually sleep in like normal kids when they have free time… But no!" Saotome Xian Pu smiled mildly but this one gesture showed enough affection, telling easily she did not mind her daughter's antics at all.

"What is normal anyway? I've met so many people telling me different things about normal, saw so many things that I now consider normal which are the very opposite for others. We should just accept the world around us as it is, other people as they are. It's not like we can really change everything around to fit us." A nice speech surely. It would be even nicer if I followed my own advice…

"That sounds reasonable," my boss and mentor's wife admitted. "So, I guess you succeed in the task my Airen gave to you?"

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, reflecting on the events since yesterday when I had left the hospital after a confrontation with Hotaru. I had sought out the only place of shelter left to me, somewhere where I could rest and think about all that happened, away from all the chaos. Upon my arrival Saotome-sensei hadn't even asked many questions, just led me into the dojo for a sparring session that bordered on a death match… well, for anyone but us probably. I think it was the first time he had really needed to go almost all out in training since subconsciously I must have fueled my attacks with quite a bit of Senshi strength and speed.

After I had vent my anger and frustration in a surprisingly refreshing way, both my mentor and his wife had made me talk about what happened. The Senshi secret wasn't very much one anyway between us and so it hadn't been a problem to relate events as they were. Afterwards Sensei had given me the simple task of clearing my mind with the Soul of Ice technique… I had tried until late at night but never managed to slip into the right frame of my mind.

They had let me stay overnight and I think this morning it was when I really realized just why I hadn't been able to complete the technique. "I don't think I was meant to succeed," I answered honestly and wasn't really surprised to see the soft smile on the older woman's lips.

"Of course you weren't," another female voice answered. The young-looking woman was almost a spitting image of her daughter, her hair tied into a pigtail though and the tail curled around her secure and protectively out of the way. She was a little drenched which draw an affectionate grin from her… or better his wife. "Little terror," the redhead mumbled, before shaking of the wetness in her hair and walking over to me. She knelt down, mirroring my own lotus-style position and I didn't avert my gaze from blue eyes that seemed to be reading me like an open book. "I take it then, you learned your lesson?"

I nodded seriously, having given this a lot of thought over the two hours I had been here already. "I couldn't do it because attaining the Soul of Ice would have required me to shut out my feelings. But, deep inside, that is the last I wanted to do. I would have lied to myself, not helping me any further in understanding. All I would have done would be running away."

"So, tell me then," Saotome Ranma prodded in a soft voice but with a firm edge, "Tell me then that you think they truly do not want you there with them right now. Tell me that you feel like you shouldn't be with them."

I bowed my head, unable to meet the eyes of my mentor. "I cannot do that. I know that it is true. When I reach out to them I can feel them calling, worried but still trusting that I'd come back. It is…" I paused, trying to find the right words. I had thought long and hard about this after my not so wonderful performance yesterday. I had been ashamed of myself and once again felt like an intruder who stood too far on the outside to fit in, to understand that which was shared between my two friends. "It is scary, I admit. I feel inadequate compared to what they share. I ask myself how they could possible need me, accept me, when they have something so beautiful already."

"But shouldn't that be their choice? You do love them both, don't you?" My mentor's wife waited for me to nod in unbreakable certainty. "Then it should be their choice. You have been offered a place in an union with two fellow warriors, two spirits who understand you better than anyone else can and who would not wish to change you, instead wanting you as you are." She smiled at her husband-turned-wife fondly. "You shouldn't push that away. Chances like that are rarely offered more than once."

For a long moment I didn't say a thing, letting the words sink in which I knew to be true already. I could feel them even now and the feeling was right. Harmonic. A beautiful harmony that warmed my heart and as impossible as it was I couldn't deny that truth. I wasn't stupid, I had sensed the change in Minako's aura, I had known that Peitho's memory had reawakened in her and that realization had only further made me believe that I was intruding on their harmony. Now, when I felt carefully along the bond, I only sensed a feeling of dissatisfaction, incompleteness and longing from the other two. And I didn't really understand it.

"Xian Pu is right," Sensei said into the silence. "Have a little more confidence into yourself and trust the words of those who love you. You know in your heart that they are telling the truth, don't you?" I nodded again, a smile slowly but surely creeping into my face. "It's normal to be confused. Heck, it's taken me more than a year to realize what I wanted and there had been a lot of chaos diverting my attention." The man-turned-woman paused to give his wife another look that the other seemed to comprehend immediately with the ease of long years spent together. "But I had someone offering me shelter and so have you. Even if you do not really understand what is inside of you yet, there is someone who wants to be there for you. Let them. Listen to your own heart and then see if what they offer matches your feelings. If they do, you have your answer. Try it, you won't regret it."

"Arigato," I breathed softly, suddenly feeling a lot less heavy in my heart. This was not resolved quite yet but the words of the older couple had given me new confidence. Now all I needed to do was to hope that I hadn't totally blown my chance with those two kindred souls that had offered me their heart. Somehow I doubted that though.

"Don't thank us just yet. If you aren't gone today, I'm going to put you into a box and deliver you personally," Saotome Xian Pu stated with a totally serious face, before turning briskly to walk out of the dojo. "I insist though that you join us for breakfast." I laughed quietly at the threat, feeling much better already.

"Oh, don't laugh. She's capable of doing that, I tell you." Sensei commented dryly but had to stifle a laugh of his own.

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

(Ami)

The weekend had gone by now. Monday morning had come around and Tokyo's citizens began their normal routine again, blissfully unaware of the events that had transpired outside their narrow little worldview. For them nothing really had changed. They didn't have to worry about a dawning apocalypse, probably the biggest possible if one could trust the many warnings from different sources. For them it was just the typical beginning of a normal week of work. Even here in Azabu Central no one quite really knew the significance of room 240 where Minako rested right now. For anyone but a selected few the young woman was just recovering from a hectic delivery circumstances had forced to occur outside the hospital. That in fact Aino Minako had literally been through hell for the safe birth of her daughter - not even to mention that said daughter was the magical product of the union of her and two other woman - that wasn't known to all but a few. No, everything was fine for the average Tokyo citizen…

I took another lazy sip from my coffee before I stepped away from the window. Things had finally quieted down a bit and after all that happened I had finally some time to relax and reflect. Funny thing that. There hadn't even been anything important that Okaasan or I had contributed here other than taking in Minako upon her safe return. But after Mamoru's call we had all been in a state of mind-numbing anxiety, not knowing exactly what was going on, what to expect. It didn't help that I picked up the signs of battle but was confined to wait here in case of fast intervention…

One might suspect that I would be frustrated after all the work we had gone through to cloak Minako's pregnancy as a normal one with just a select few knowing the real circumstances. Quite frankly, I was actually relieved. Something Okaasan told me once came to mind. In the end it didn't matter how a patient had been healed or by who. What should matter to a doctor more than anything was that the patient was healed. That could easily be applied in this situation. From the little I had gotten from Hotaru I had the dark suspicion that if events hadn't unfolded as they did, everything would have taken a much more bitter end. I honestly wasn't sure if normal medical means could have dealt with what had been required.

Of course, despite the fact that nobody died in the attacks not everything was well. Oh no, not at all. If anything the swiftness and destructive force with which our mysterious enemy had made her move was frightening and had hammered the point home to everyone who still doubted the actual degree of danger we were facing here. Haruka and Michiru were rather… shaken from their experience of the battle and that alone was frightening enough. There hadn't been any follow up yet but now that part of the ancient seal had already been broken it was - as Hotaru put it - just a matter of time now. Usagi had called a meeting immediately as soon as everyone - mostly Minako - was sufficiently recovered. The situation indeed had become dire.

Makoto still hadn't shown up since leaving the hospital yesterday. Part of me wanted to bash her one over the head for being so stupid. I wouldn't say that I quite understood all the complications involved in the strange three-way relationship formed between Minako, Hotaru and her but from what I've seen there had always been honest affection between the three of them and now that our leader had found her old cheerfulness again - a trait I relished in, believe me - I doubted that Makoto had anything to worry about. Then again, I could also understand how she was feeling. Well, at least a part of it. Everything she couldn't physically grasp and deal with had always been hard on her. She was a lot like me in that regard. I tended to shy away from outward expressions of emotion. Anything irrational, anything I couldn't rely on to solve with my head was hard for me to grasp. And Makoto compared to me tended to rather express herself with an irrational burst of temper rather than retreat into herself.

I still thought she was being stupid for making those two woman who obviously DID love her in a situation like this now. I wasn't too concerned though. As easy as Makoto was to lose her cool when things got to stressful - and they had hit their maximum limit quite awhile back, that I was sure of - she also was one to easily catch herself again, finding back on the right path. Maybe that was why Minako didn't seem overly concerned, having known the other woman longer than Hotaru who might have spent a good year living with her but who - I could tell with a professional view - was starting to really let all that had happened in the last days sink in. I had been amazed at how long she seemed to be able to hold her calm in the middle of such an emotional chaos, Saturn or not.

"Are we coming at a bad moment?" I glanced up at the voice seeing three girls had entered the room from whom two were at least somewhat familiar although we hadn't gotten much of a chance to talk to. Kinomoto Sakura and Daidouji Tomoyo. The other girl had long purple hair and green eyes and didn't spark any familiarity. I remembered what I've heard from Hotaru, however, and concluded this had to be the one that had been Pandora's primary target in this weekend's attacks. The third seal child… or former one now.

"We wanted to see how Pei… I am sorry, I mean Aino-san is doing," Sakura asked politely. "We would have come by earlier but we had our own experience to recover from."

I smiled slightly. One even remotely sensitive could see the… harmony surrounding the three and I strongly supposed that even those not sensitive were hard-pressed not to pick up on the connection between them. Here was the glaring contrast to Minako, Hotaru and Makoto's situation. "I am sure Minako would like to see you… again." I added the last bit with a bit of reluctance but not really conveying a negative tone. I wasn't sure what to think of it yet. Our leader did seem changed, that was hard to ignore, and I believed there would be a lot more instances to make that clear to anyone in the near future. However, I couldn't see any fault in that change. She had rediscovered her cheerful side and was a lot more open now emotionally as she hadn't been especially in the last months. I didn't want to sound insulting but lately her mood had been rather… unbearable.

"That is good to hear. Is it safe to assume then that everyone is in good health? You have to know our source of information could be considered… unreliable at times," Tomoyo wanted to know in a perfectly neutral manner that didn't really went along with the last statement.

I put down my now empty cup and headed out of the room, motioning the three to follow me. "Oh, everything is fine, considering the circumstances of course." No one commented, so I took the silence as a form of agreement. As outwardly relaxed as the three seemed I had seen many signs of concern in the last years to just take their appearance as it seemed on first glance.

I lead the three girls through the corridors over to Minako's room, answering the one or other question. Minako indeed had made a remarkable recovery. Not even a scar was left from the wound she had suffered and her energy reserves had filled up rapidly once she had regained conscious. More so than should even be possible for a Senshi and recently pregnant woman for that matter. I doubted she needed to stay here longer than a couple of days. Considering the ordeal she had been through, including giving birth to a magical child under the worst of circumstances… I would have termed it a miracle if I had not been a Senshi for so long already. Now, it was only coming damn close to it.

Opening the door a deep frown crept over my face as I noticed the empty state of Minako's room…

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

(Hotaru)

I found her not very far away from the hospital at one of the older schools in Minato-ku. It wasn't that much trouble to locate her now with a reactivated bond. There were mixed feelings inside of me when I came back from running some errands and found Minako gone. On one hand I wasn't all too concerned. She had made a remarkable recovery so far, even Ami had attested to that, but after all that happened I couldn't quell the momentary rise of panic. That maybe something had come up again, something had happened, either personal like some badly thought through reaction from my other mate or maybe that Pandora… Both were ridiculous of course. Firstly, Minako seemed to be more in harmony with her inner self than she had ever been before. And secondly, the amount of energy Pandora had invested in the recent attack and the destruction of one part of the seal had to be too great for a new attack already. If the latter had been the case, the situation would have been even more frightening.

Everyone was in a state of nervous anxiety and the attack had only multiplied these feelings to a cosmic degree, especially within those who hadn't even taken a very active role. Those who did now truly began to realize the exact danger that we were all in and what a true war with this ancient devil would most likely entail. My nerves had been worn rather thin to. The emotional ups and downs were gnawing on my resolve. I was worried about the uncertainty of the future, about Makoto, about facing all this a second time. I was worried about so many things.

The school area was deserted, the short vacation period between end of the old and start of the new term had emptied the halls, classrooms and sport fields. Minako sat on one of the benches in the largest yard with her gaze directed skyward. The glow of the slowly setting sun somewhat behind her gave the woman I had loved and did love again a kind of angelic beauty. Then again, I was probably biased, heavily…

As I approached silently, Minako tilted her head into my direction, a look of apology appearing in her face. "Sorry, I didn't mean to run off. Just… I wanted to go look for Mako-chan and sort of got sidetracked…" She smiled sheepishly and after a time of being at the receiving end of a stern look the smile fell into a frown… or like a pout. "Now, don't give me that look. You know I'm not gonna run off on you. Especially now."

"That didn't stop you before," I commented dryly. The moment the words were out I felt like slapping myself. It was too late to take them back, however, and I felt regret at the pained expression crossing the other's features.

Eventually Minako glanced away with a heavy sigh of resignation. "You are right, I suppose. You know me though, never sitting still." This time I answered the small smile with one of my own. The adventurous and energetic streak was one of the many things that her and Peitho had in common, one of the many things that attracted me so much to her, in this and the first cycle. Peitho had rarely been able to sit still for more than a few minutes. And she HATED lying in bed after acquiring some serious wounds in battle that made resting a necessity. She had been quite unbearable at such times.

I shook my head with a soft laugh as I stepped closer, joining her on the bench. "What am I going to do with you, huh?"

Much to my disappointed the blonde woman got up just as I sat down and walked away a couple of meters. "So," I asked tentatively, "why are you… here?"

Minako didn't answer immediately but when she did her voice had taken on a faraway quality. "Memories. This used to be my Junior High School. It was here where I first became a Senshi in this time. And I think it was here where the delusions begun." I kept silent, sensing that the other needed to talk about this. Not surprisingly a lot of dark memories had to have been dragged up by the Seeker's attack. Yes, there was a noticeable positive change as a consequences but I would have preferred the circumstances to be less painful, less haunting.

"I had my first really big crush back then, I really thought I was in love, maybe I was. Higashi… He turned out to be an enemy. And afterwards the chain continued, many I had been interested in turned out to be either hostile or already taken. I became scared, scared of rejection and heartbreak, fleeing into my role as Sailor V and later on Venus… Because as a Senshi I needn't have to worry about failure. I tried to balance things back then. The excitement and popularity as a super heroine and the normal life as Minako… My Senshi aspect slowly began to tip that balance. In the end duty always destroyed any kind of normal life. I had begun thinking that Aino Minako was really just a cover, that I never truly could be that person."

"But you are her," I stated quietly, looking up to meet deep blue eyes lost in past emotions.

"I know, I know now. But back then, I was young. I didn't really understand what I do now. And I was scared, scared to get hurt. I had been so full of hopes back then, the dreams of a young teenager of the one true love. I had always sought perfection, trying to find that one person that was right to me. However, I did all this on my own, never had I anyone chasing after me, but that was okay… or so I thought. In the end I only set myself up for a great deal of disappointment."

"Minako," I moved to stand up again and took a tentative step towards her. The other woman continued to speak but held my gaze. "This thing, exposed to so much darkness of one's own soul all at once, it can destroy you. For me though, I think I learned a great deal about myself and now I know, know again and maybe even better than before that love is something that you cannot force. It will come to you in its own time. What you have to do is see and accept then it comes." She reached behind her head and untied her trademark red ribbon, letting the hair fall down fully unrestrained now. "I'm very lucky being allowed a second chance."

I blinked in puzzlement as Minako closed the distance between us and slipped around me. Tugging at one hand she pulled me back to the bench and began carefully braiding my hair. Not quite knowing what was going on, I couldn't help but close my eyes at the soft feeling of skilled fingers working through long black strands. I had played with the thought of cutting it shorter again, just like when I was younger but now was glad that I didn't.

"There," Minako's voice brought me out of my short trance and I reached up to notice that my mate had created an impromptu pigtail and, which was the greatest surprise, had bound it together with the red ribbon. I looked up at her questioningly as she stepped around to look me over from the front. "A fresh start," was all Minako said with a hopeful smile that was positively infatuating.

I took her offered hand, getting up. "And this time forever," I confirmed with conviction.

Minako nodded firmly. "Forever."

We smiled at each other and then I leaned forward, standing on my toes slightly to kiss the other woman, feeling and relishing that amazing mix of old and new emotions. Yet, there also was still something missing, something unresolved, and that something was weighting heavily on both of us. "What about Mako-chan? I understand she needs some time but I'm starting to worry…" The other Senshi had become too important to me, to both of us. She was now part of our connection, of the family we had founded. If anything the seed of new life preserved and fully forming somewhere in Earth's orbit right now was the best proof. As hard as these last months were, as much denials as had been uttered in the course of managing the unexpected pregnancy… All this had also brought us closer together, to a point where neither could deny the importance of the other two in their life.

"Let me find her. I think I'll manage and maybe it's better that I go speak to her. Why don't you go on ahead and reassure Ami that I'm alright. I won't be long." Minako lingered with one hand on my cheek, waiting for a reply. On one hand I wanted to protest, insist that at least we'd go together but on the other I could see the determination, could see the need to do this, by herself, as a contribution to our relationship. And that relieved me actually. I had invested so much energy into keeping things together over the last month, I pretty much welcomed Minako taking charge like this. Besides that, Makoto seemed to have made up her mind that eventually all I wanted was Minako, regardless of what I said. She might listen to the blonde.

"I trust you," I said finally, my heart warming at the glow in the other woman's face at the words. "Just don't take too long or I come and hunt you both down. And then, you'll really be sorry," I added playfully.

Minako grinned. "I wouldn't dare risking that but I'll be sure to relate the threat to Mako-chan."

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

(Minako)

Well, one could get used to all the rediscovered abilities. I thought I had been good before. After all, Artemis had put me through one hell of a training. I was pretty sure that none of the others had worked so hard as I had. That had been necessary of course since I had been the first to awaken in this time and therefore the only one to fight the forces of evil, not to mention that most of my Senshi traits had still been locked. Now though the abilities I had gained through my partner's training just seemed like basics. It had been a rather easy task to draw upon the chi and mana around me to replenish my drained supplies. I felt as refreshed as if I had slept a week, ready to bounce of the walls… in the literal sense.

And thus locating Makoto was… simple. Hotaru could have done it but I think she chose not to pry too deeply, afraid to initiate another negative reaction. I had respected our missing mate's privacy and need to collect herself as well but the waiting was getting onto Hotaru's nerves. This needed to finally find a conclusion. And the only conclusion I would allow was a positive one. That is what deep down all of us wanted. I could feel it, clear as the day. There was no doubt about it.

Entering a rather deserted Crown Fruit Parlor I smiled pleasantly at Unazuki who looked up to see me enter, only to glance towards a table in the far corner. I didn't need to look to know who was where. Giving the younger Furuhata a nod, I made my way over to the alcove. There were only three other customers left and it looked like they weren't going to stay long either. Enough privacy then.

"Are you going to sit here all day?" I asked without preamble, making the brunette jump slightly.

Apart from that initial reaction though no other followed, just a weary sigh. "Minako," Makoto said evenly and waved for me to join her. I did so, sitting down opposite of her, somewhat prepared for a long hard talk. Most of this doubt in the other woman I had been responsible for. My inability to let myself be loved had hurt both Hotaru and her. I needed to put that right.

"Makoto," I replied in the same manner but was pleasantly surprised that the brunette was not averting her gaze, instead facing my own directly, still confused but also guilty, apologetic… vulnerable. "Hotaru is worried about you," I stated, gauging a reaction and finding her face falling. "But you know that already." With one hand I reached out to put it other Makoto's who was listless holding her empty glass and continued softly, "I was worried too."

"I know. Are you alright?" Worry momentarily overshadowed every other emotion in her green eyes.

"Just peachy," I answered easily trying to reassure the other woman.

Silence for a moment. "I was an ass, wasn't I?"

A part of me wanted to protest but somehow I knew that wasn't what the other woman wanted to hear. "Yes, you were. A pretty big one actually." I tried to look stern, the attempt, however, failed miserable at the sight of sad green eyes. I grinned in attempt to cheer her up. "You seem to be doing better though."

Makoto smiled shyly in return. "I do. I had some time to think and realized it was pretty stupid to run from something as wonderful as what you guys were offering."

I searched my long time friend's eyes for several moments, seeing the realization of truth there and a new calmness that had definitely been lacking the previous day from what Hotaru had told me. It wasn't like either of us couldn't understand the reaction. Yet, I was wondering about details nonetheless. "What made you do it then?"

The reason why I hadn't persuaded the search earlier - and I could have if I really wanted to - was because I had gotten to know the real Makoto pretty good. Not just in the last months. The basis had been made during those days during a crisis and in between the last and the next. I had seen a part of the loneliness then that had been present even back then. Makoto hadn't even been actively pursuing a relationship. Maybe because she didn't want to, maybe because she was already falling for me, I wasn't quite sure. However, while not as forcefully practiced as I had, the self-imposed solitude had been cause for much loneliness, whether she wanted to acknowledge that or not. I could see that even clearer now, free of my own boundaries and with the knowledge and insight acquired through my ordeal. On some level I believed she had been just as much afraid to love as I had.

"I was scared, I guess," Makoto said after a long while, all but confirming my current thoughts. "I was scared and confused. You two, you love each other so much. Even when you were shying away from the very thought, Hotaru managed to get through to you. I never really ever did anything special to verify this, my part in the relationship. What you do have is beautiful and I couldn't… can't really see how you could offer me to be a part of it."

I had expected most of that and was already prepared to give an answer, seeing that the direct approach probably was the best right now. "So, you want a reason to believe that you belong with us? Do you really need one?" Makoto nodded slowly, a note of hesitation in her demeanor but also a pleading look in her eyes. She needed to hear this. More for her head than for her heart because her heart already knew the answer.

"If you really want an answer," I began, making sure to capture the emerald eyes of the other woman in a look that could have paralyzed a Youma. "Then there is a fairly simple one that you could have come up with by yourself." Dropping my voice to a deeply serious level, I continued, "Our daughter. Yes, I can see in your eyes that you no longer deny this truth. She is your daughter as well, regardless of what you might think of her current state - and believe me neither Hotaru or I am HAPPY about that. But she IS our daughter. Hotaru, mine AND yours. Do you honestly think you can just run away from that responsibility? A child needs their mother. And if it has three… duh, it needs all three of them. Simple as that." The taller woman flinched visibly at the realization of the truth in this simple fact. "But don't think you can quote me now because that is not the only thing why we want to have you with us."

"That answer is even more simple," a new voice intruded and I wasn't even startled like the other woman. I had sensed Hotaru approach for a couple of minutes now and wasn't really surprised either that she couldn't just stay at the hospital and wait as I had asked her to. All that she did was politely give me a head start. I grinned knowingly and received a sheepish one in kind. The black-haired girl slipped next to Makoto and proceeded to put her hand above our still joined ones, drawing the brunette's attention to her. "We want you with us because we love you, because you are a part of our family."

I could sense the small protest and quickly cut in before Makoto even could open her mouth. "You probably think that we already have each other and since we had been together millennia ago we don't possibly need anyone else, that we CAN'T fall in love with someone else. That isn't correct though. Love isn't a universal concept repeating itself in every life cycle in the same manner. This isn't how love works. Why do you think I can say now that I love Hotaru? Not because I remember Hotaru as Phoebe and me as Peitho now. That's part of it but not everything. You fall in love in every life anew. Sometimes soul mates spent lifetimes being close friends, distant familiars or not even knowing each other and they still fall in love. Just because we can remember the person we were meant for doesn't mean that we can't love someone else. Ask Usagi and Mamoru. They didn't just fall in love because they had been in a previous life. They CHOSE love each other, just as I CHOSE to love Hotaru again, just as I CHOSE to love you for the person you are, not because whether or not we had been together in a previous life cycle."

Makoto looked positively thunderstruck with the honest and convincing logic and I had to suppress a smirk in satisfaction, realizing that I hadn't lost my touch at all. Somehow it seemed I had found just the right words. Hotaru smiled at me fondly before turning back to Makoto. "Don't ask so much questions, Mako-chan. Feel, feel and tell us then that you don't want to be with us."

There wasn't even a pause of hesitation before the taller woman shook her head gently, before she put her other hand over Hotaru's. "I can't do that. It's impossible now. I've already fallen in love with both of you. There is no going back anymore."

"Then don't hesitate," I said, trying to look at both woman at once. Those amazing souls that had guided me through the chaos of the last months and had stood by my side regardless of my unresponsiveness. Their own relationship had developed and deepened because of that. Now there was true harmony between us, the last doubts having been washed away.

"Let us be a family our daughter will be proud of. Our daughter that WILL walk this planet with us soon, in our peaceful kingdom that we WILL establish for her and everyone else. Together."

"Together," I repeated in confirmation.

Makoto hesitated just a while longer before the last traces of worry and confusion were washed away by the overwhelming sensation of harmony. "Together," she agreed.

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

(Sakura)

I had settled outside in the yard of the Daidouji mansion watching the sun sink slowly behind the horizon. My eyes were closed and my body relaxed, my senses extended to feel the flows of life around me. The harmony I could feel not only around us but also and especially in myself was beautiful. This was a new sensation, completely different what it had felt like as Lina. Back then it would have taken my body longer to readjust and I had more or less lost the ability to cast any positive-charged mana at all. Now though, now I had learned to truly balance the powers at my command, to achieve a state of mind that was harmony and not preference. I knew now the power of Creation, the opposite of Void, I had channeled it already, together with Tomoyo four years ago. Now, I just needed to properly manage to balance it in the heat of battle, composed in a spell… That wasn't so easy and would take time. Time we didn't exactly have.

I smiled, picking up the soft, clear vibration in the mana flow. The joyful tingle. The meeting of souls in equal harmony. They were alright now, differences put aside. A moment of peace had settled over the unsteady, anxious echo the planet was sending out for several months now, drawing from the positive feedback of another sealed union. A momentary respite, I knew, not to last long, but nonetheless a safe haven, a ray of hope to draw strength from before facing the darkness ahead. Just like us they had pulled through despite all which Pandora had tried in order to destroy us prematurely.

I pulled back from my senses, out of the connection with the ley lines around us, before it became too overwhelming and consuming. This had become a bit of a ritual, a ritual where I could center myself, remind myself of that which what I had once been and now was.

"You took awhile," I stated, not turning around to face the other presence that I had felt approaching for awhile… mostly to hide the knowing grin.

"There was much to talk about," the soft answer came and I turned around, raising an eyebrow at the young woman, judging by appearance at least. "Well," a slight blush crept into Persephone's face, "among other things."

The smirk deepened. "I bet. And believe me the feeling is mutual. Not just for us but for a lot of other people these days, it would appear." The lights in this city were strong and numerous, they shone even against the fast approaching night wishing to swallow them. It gave me hope. So many strong lights, more so than last time. Maybe we would stand a chance after all… No, we did stand a chance. Hope was never to be lost because losing hope meant losing everything. Serenity had taught us that and I had experienced it myself time and again, in this and the previous life.

"Their bonds will be tested," the green-haired Senshi spoke quietly, as if sensing my thoughts. "And their strength may as well be our greatest weapon. I hope it will be enough." The last sentence was spoken very quietly, lined by deep concern from someone who probably knew our enemy best.

It had come as a thorough surprise to me when I finally had gotten Persephone to explain how she ended up in the form of the Time card. My last memory of the Time Guardian had been a bitter one, the memory of an unavoidable sacrifice because only that sacrifice managed to give us a chance at sealing Pandora altogether in the first place. Instead of death though, somehow her very soul had been bound to the Feared One's cage and she had become something like its guardian. No, more like a watcher since there was little influence she had and that little influence had been taken away more and more. However, it had been that influence that had enable to save Lisa from Pandora's grasp. That fleeting connection.

"Can you tell how stronger Pandora has become?" I asked curiously, the question forcing itself into my mind at her comment.

"All that I can tell is that whatever is driving her, that strange power that we could never quite grasp, it's gotten even stronger, confined inside the prison it has consumed her totally. So yes, once she has broken the rest of the seal, her control will be near absolute." Dark green eyes turned away to gaze out onto the city but actually I had the feeling they were somewhere completely different right now.

The words of the Senshi were not really helping to soothe my nerves, reminding me that it wouldn't take our arch nemesis long to make her next move and both of us knew exactly who her next target would be.

Pandora was clever, she would surely realize that with two thirds of her power still restrained she could not possibly hope to target me. That left only one option. I shuddered at the thought and clenched my eyes shut against the helplessness welling up from deep inside of me. Logical I knew there was nothing more that could be done than to be on our guard and prepare ourselves for the inevitable but that helplessness, that knowledge to be able to do a thing to prevent that beast from going after… She had already hurt one of the two I loved beyond anything else. And if…

"Arigato," I said quietly, catching dark green eyes turning towards me and showing unrestrained exactly how thankful I was of the offer that had been made. I could have set her free now, released the soul from the card but Persephone had pointed out that maybe we could not prevent Pandora from breaking the seal but with the feeble connection she had, she might at least be able to protect the remaining seal children's lives from Pandora's grasp. Just as she had done for Lisa. I was eternally grateful for that offer, especially knowing that staying like this was cutting the time she could spent with her own significant other drastically short. This physical form now was merely a temporary one.

Persephone nodded, face solemn. "We cannot have a repeat of last time. So much tragedy… We cannot afford such an outcome again." Her features softened. "I won't let anything happen to her, I promise." I clang to those words desperately. The agony of seeing the experience Lisa had undergone had been enough already. My heart was twisted at the mere thought of picturing Tomoyo put through a similar one. And now that the Feared One's power was set free partially already, there was no telling what she could and would do and if the guardian's words could really be reliable. I didn't question their sincerity, that Persephone really would do everything in her power, but I wasn't quite sure if that everything would be enough.

"You'd better get some rest, we are going to meet with the rest tomorrow." I tried to smile but it failed miserably, all that I managed was a dry chuckle. "War council." While we had not met with our quarries at the hospital this afternoon Mizuno-san had told us that their princess wished a meeting with ALL of us. Frankly I had to agree. This was long overdue. The war had begun and there was no point in going separated ways anymore. Pandora had shown us that that tactic had horribly backfired.

Persephone nodded quietly, locking her gaze with mine in a concerned and adamant look. "You should get some rest as well. Don't muse too long on what might come. You have something to be treasured right now." And with that the Senshi's body shimmered and then disintegrated into green-purple light, reforming into the Time card and flying back to my outstretched hand. With a thought I transferred her back to the book so that she could recharge.

My mind drifted for a moment as I stood outside alone. I knew, of course, that Persephone was right. It would do no good to get depressed about something that hadn't yet happened. All that did was draining away my own hope that maybe somehow things could be different, that we would succeed, truly succeed at which that only had been a temporary, bittersweet victory. I needed to believe… And yet I had been overwhelmed once again by the reminder of how many people dear to me I had seen hurt directly or indirectly by this conflict and all that was connected to it. How could I ignore this?

A small smile slipped onto my face, catching the sound of nearly silent footfalls, announcing the other's presence which immediately helped to soothe my spirit quite a bit, the love connecting us easily drowning out any negative thoughts.

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

(Tomoyo)

Ever since Sakura had become a regular guest the mansion had never been quite the same again. Before it always had a kind of lonely, melancholic feel, probably a mirror reflection of Okaasan's mood and lonely heart. I could understand really. Sakura presence had not only brightened up my but both of our lives and Okaasan seemed to cling somewhat to my happiness. I remembered fondly the attention lavished onto Sakura by an excited Sonomi when she learned we had started to date…

In time Sakura had become not just something like a permanent guest but an actual occupant, and that alone did miracles to the Wa of the house and those living there. Okaasan had even begun to date again lately - even though I was not supposed to know that - which immensely relieved my heavy heart which was always saddened at the thought of her loneliness while constantly watching Sakura and myself. She didn't seem to mind though.

"Your mother is pretty cool," Lisa commented from her place on the spacious couch. For someone who had been thoroughly impressed by the mansion upon arriving she had taken to its comforts rather quickly. Not that I could blame her. Before Sakura I had taken all of this for granted mostly, the luxury was only really made one when I could share it with the one I loved. Well, now there were two of them…

I finished preparing the small table setting for the three of us. Dinner should be just about ready. It had become a habit somewhat that I would go and set the table for Sakura and me over the last years. Sure, we had maids for that, but I wasn't that stuck-up or so I believed and besides, I liked to do something normal for my special girlfriend, girlfriends now. I glanced over at Lisa, an affectionate smile on my face. This was all so new, and also so familiar.

"Yes, she is the best. But beware, once she takes to someone positively or negatively, you'll get the full program," I chuckled quoting Sakura's analysis of Daidouji Sonomi from the beginning of our relationship. It had been a huge relief to see that Okaasan instantly seemed to like Lisa and accept her with an enthusiasm that nearly rivaled the one she usually directed at Sakura. I caught the purple-haired girl wincing, obviously remembering the crushing hug… I couldn't help but grin.

I slowly walked over to my girlfriend, that still sounded… no, not weird, more new, fresh and… I couldn't deny feeling a little giddy. It was as I said to Lisa's grandmother. Like falling in love all over again. There was an air of instant understanding and kinship between us, creating a relaxed state that others in our situation would have needed a long time to achieve.

"Yes, I noticed," Lisa admitted softly, reaching out with one hand. I took it and let myself fall on the couch, finding it amazingly easy to rest my head against the other girl's shoulder. I closed my eyes, breathing in the sweet scent on the other's hair, momentarily losing myself in the moment. "Tomoyo," Lisa whispered softly, gentle fingers threading through my own hair and drawing a sigh from my lips. "This is nice."

"Mmh hmm…" I murmured, blissfully forgetting anything else around us for the moment, relishing in the amazing sensation. Our souls were in synch. Sounded cheesy but I could kind of feel it. While being sort of pulled together by circumstances, through the mutual love for another in this and the previous life, in both times that hadn't changed at all the fact that an attraction had instantly developed, two people taking to each other quickly and finding it easy to deepen this attraction over the boundaries of platonic friendship.

"I'm so lucky," Lisa commented after a period of serene silence. I lifted my head and tilted it slightly to peer at the other girl curiously. Wordlessly Lisa leaned forward the short distance to plant a short kiss on my lips. Soft, warm, chaste but definitely beautiful. The hand in the hair had reached the side of my face lingering there. "I've been given a family again," Lisa clarified and I could see a bit of haunting memory quickly overshadowed by the sparkle of happiness her words accompanied.

"Lisa-chan," my voice broke slightly, feeling the overwhelming need to take away the other's sadness as I had done so often for Sakura. Life had been hard on the gentle girl next to me. She had lost both of her parents, had to watch it helplessly actually. At least Sakura and I had family left to cherish… Not saying a word I enveloped the miko in a reassuring embrace, stroking the others hair and back. "It is and we are," I agreed seriously, "Your family, I mean. Always."

"Arigato," Lisa mumbled, not saying anything else but letting the closeness of our bodies and the caress of our souls speak what words could not express. I could feel the sadness being drained from her and leaned in for another kiss to seal the moment. This one was much more passionate and I had to restrain myself from not making any bolder moves, vivid images of the result all too present in my mind. Pleasant images, mind you, but I think even if I had taken a liking to Sakura's… sometimes kinky inspirations, I would be mortified being caught in the act by one of the maids coming in to announce dinner was ready.

We pulled apart eventually but with clear reluctance. Lisa groaned slightly, "Kami, Tomoyo, where did you learn to…" she trailed of, voice slightly husky.

I blushed a little, realizing the effect I had… well, alright, voluntary produced. "Practice," I replied with a mischievous and promising smile, "Lots of practice." Lisa giggled softly at my response and expression… before nuzzling my neck, making me squeal in surprise and a great bit of… excitement.

I glanced down at green eyes staring upwards innocently. Right, innocently. I think she enjoyed this a little too much. Then again, I wasn't one to complain. The events of the weekend had been hectic and we were all more than aware that this had only just begun. Who knew how much time we would have for… fun activities in the coming months. I had always been good in reading people and Lisa had struck me instantly as kind of… lost on our first meeting. I knew now that all her life she had searched for her place in this world, traveling around but never finding answers to what drove her. Now, after finding us, she seemed to cling to that answer with an almost desperate ferocity.

Caressing Lisa's face, I made sure she saw how serious I was when speaking the next words, "We are not going to go anywhere. We love you and wouldn't want to have you anywhere else." The full smile spreading about the other girl's lips was quickly ascending to get a place right next to Sakura's. The joy and gratefulness radiating from her was infatuating.

"You are an amazing person. A bit like Lia-chan when she was older but with your own charm," Lisa commented with an adoring look that made me quiver slightly, "I can see why Sakura is so madly in love with you, and I can't help but feel that I love you too. Not just because you are Amelia's reincarnation but for the person you are now as well." The words were warming. I think it was the first time we really said the three letter phrase and it definitely suited the mood, deepening, strengthening that which had already developed between us.

The moment was broken though as I felt a sharp pang of sadness and guilt coming over our link. It wasn't from Lisa though which only left one answer. I glanced back at the purple-haired miko after momentarily looking towards the door. Sakura had gone out for a moment to perform her daily ritual. But now she didn't seem as relaxed as she usually was as a result of that.

"Let me go. I think I know what's on her mind," Lisa said softly, rising from the couch. For a moment I played with the thought of following but instead settled back with a trusting smile directed at my other mate. Lisa smiled back gratefully and with a knowing smirk added, "I'll be sure to get her back inside so that we can finish dinner and direct our attention towards… other things." I laughed at the wink she gave me before slipping out of the room.

Yes, I was definitely in love again. Not that I had ever stopped to be in love with Sakura. We had always managed to keep the love between us from weakening or setting into a routine. However, Lisa had added a remarkable refreshing element to our relationship, fitting in seamlessly. I couldn't believe I ever doubted this even in the slightest. Looking around the room, I felt what I did before. The miko's presence had given the mansion an even stronger feeling of vibrant, happy life.

With a content smile on my lips I got up and headed for the kitchen to check when dinner would be ready and afterwards I would see if Lisa needed any help in dealing with a moody Sakura. Despite trusting her intention and ability, I knew how the genki girl was when retreating into herself.

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

(Lisa)

I almost didn't manage to find my way outside again if not for skills developed in years of travel that had become necessary exploring the occasional ruins or underground chambers… The Daidouji manor surely could rival some of them. Not as big as Saillune palace though, I mused with a wistful smile. We had all changed quite a bit. The core of the old personalities was still there but different shades had been added. I started to learn all about those changes concerning Sakura and Tomoyo, so far I wasn't disappointed. Both of them were actually a lot like Lina and Amelia had been in later years and those had been among our most fondly remembered ones.

I found Sakura standing outside, shoulders tense and radiating a troubled aura, not overwhelming but clearly occupying the redhead's mind. It seemed she had sensed my approach and wordlessly leaned back into the embrace. As I said to Tomoyo I was pretty sure what was on the other girl's mind right now, remembering the old days when Lina used to be just like that, especially after meeting again, several years after our first tentative steps towards each other. Steps that had been innocent and all too brief, done in naïve belief that all problems could be overcome by a love that hadn't even fully developed then. And I hadn't made it easier by running like a scared child.

"Don't torture yourself so much. Some things are simply beyond our control. It is the understanding of that and our efforts to prevail over these events that is really important," I whispered into the other girl's ear. "Tomoyo and I know that you would never wish or let any harm come to any of us and the same goes for us too."

Sakura shuddered slightly, the tension only draining a tiny bit. "I know. It's just… Somehow, despite my best intentions, I end up hurting those that I care about. I can't do anything about it and that makes me feel so helpless. I never asked to have such an effect on everyone…"

My grip tightened slightly around the petite girl, softly urging her to turn around. When she did eventually I stared into magnificent golden eyes, a trait that, sharing Tomoyo's opinion, I found to be gorgeous-looking. "But you do and I think you are missing the simple fact while maybe, against your will, people get hurt around you, you also make them happy. You make us happy and we don't want to see you sad or beating up yourself over some failure you could do little about."

"How can you say that so easily?" Sakura questioned, voice tiny, "After what happened to you, after what I let happen to you. Again. Again, I didn't want to, but I still let you get hurt…"

"Shh," I hushed the redhead with a finger, pulling her closer and with soothing motions over her back urged one of the mightiest mages this world had ever seen to release her pent-up feelings of helplessness and frustration about the hardships destiny seemed to like throw into her path. "I won't lie to you," I said softly, continuing to hold Sakura gently but insistent. "It was horrible. I was so scared and alone and all I could think about was the unfairness of everyone I loved being taken away from me. But do you know what made me fight back. You did. You did because one can't ignore the POSITIVE influence on people that you have. Without you I would have given up hope completely when Copy Rezo destroyed Sairaag, without you seeing Fibrizo resurrect everyone for his own twisted play would surely have robbed my sanity. But you've always been there somehow, you always kept my spirits up."

"Syl-chan," the redhead said quietly. "I don't want any of you to get hurt again. And you know she's going to come after… And I can't…"

"You can't protect everyone, Lina-chan. The world is a harsh place. But you have us and we have you and that is the most important thing, is it not?" Sakura glanced up and gave the ghost of a nod. I frowned. "Now, you can do that better. Show me that smile, I like that happy smile of yours." Which was the truth. For all her good sides even Lina's smile didn't reach Sakura's, another thing I could easily agree on with my other mate. It made you feel all giddy inside, a happy, fluttery feeling created by being the target of something so… beautiful.

The next attempt was better but didn't quite reach what I had aimed for. I sighed. "Sakura, please. Don't feel guilty over what has been. I know you are beating yourself up over not acting faster before the attack but tell you what? I believe I should rather blame myself. I didn't listen to my own heart that was telling me to get to you right away. I knew deep down something would happen but didn't act on that warning. And now Pandora is going to break free eventually and both of you might get hurt in the process…"

"But that's not your fault!" Sakura interrupted fiercely, "You didn't…" She trailed off, realization dawning in her eyes. "Oh."

I smiled knowingly. "Yes, it was my fault. It feels like its my fault, just like it feels to you as if it is your fault for letting me get hurt again, just as you feel responsible for maybe not being able to protect us properly… Sakura-chan, in the end, it's Pandora's fault. She is doing all these things and we can only do so much. Neither of us is perfect and when you beat yourself up over what you can't change THEN you really won't change anything."

The attempt of a smile deepened, reaching almost what I had longed for. "You are…" Sakura hesitated before continuing. "… different."

"So are you, so is Tomoyo," I replied, fluently picking up on the line of thought that I had given some attention to as well. "But that's okay. We are together, we love each other, and that's what is counting. Nothing else," I emphasized and to make my point leaned in for a kiss, renewing some of the fire inside that Tomoyo had stirred, delivering the message not too subtly to the redhead. These had probably been the happiest and most fulfilling days of my life regardless of the trauma predating it, and I was going to enjoy them. I had found those that I was meant to be with and finally I wasn't lonely anymore, I didn't feel that restlessness urging me onwards most of my life. I was home here and I would do everything to keep and protect this exhilarating feeling.

"I am scared," Sakura said softly after we parted, "I am scared to lose you again, both of you…" The haunted look was boring right through my heart. I had heard from Tomoyo that Sakura had already seen a different future, a future where she did fail everyone, where everything had stumbled into oblivion, and now faced with the same possibility again, she couldn't help but remember… and fear.

"I think we all are," Tomoyo's gentle voice chimed in, just before she effortlessly slipped an arm around both of us, directing a warm but insistent look at the redhead. "But look, we are all still here. No one died, everyone survived. And that is because you didn't give up, because you did NOT fail. Had you not won the battle, all of us would be dead now. But we aren't. We are alive and together. And it's going to stay like that. Do you know why?"

Golden eyes shifted from Tomoyo to me and back again, a tear slid down one cheek and was caught by a finger from both Tomoyo and me at the same time. Startled we both stopped for a moment before turning to smile at each other, and as we turned back were greeted by that incredible sunshine smile, adoring eyes trying to take us in simultaneously.

"Because everything will surely be alright."

At Tomoyo's nod I looked at them slightly confused. "It's Sakura's magic phrase," the dark-haired girl explained matter-of-factly.

The redhead shook her head vehemently, grasping Tomoyo's hand and then my own, staring intently at both of us. "No. It is OUR magic phrase. Because only you give it meaning. Both of you."

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

()

No visual evidence or indication of the change that this weekend's battles meant for the world and probably the entire universe in the long run had been given. Life continued onward normally for everyone on Earth. For them, nothing had happened. And even for those select few that were aware of the consequences, aware of the first victory their enemy had earned, even those had not seen anything around them that would show just how drastic the pace, the irritating anxiety and helplessness, of the last months had suddenly changed. Not that they needed to. Those that had participated in the battles had met firsthand the danger - and the seriousness thereof - that awaited. Barely none of them doubted anymore that this would very well be the hardest battle they had ever fought.

It was Tuesday morning now. Tsukino Usagi, reborn Princess-soon-to-be-Queen - assuming they survived the following months - stepped out onto the balcony of her and her husband's apartment, her gaze directed skywards and a deep frown etching into the lines of her normally either cheerful or recently more and more calm and collected features. Blue eyes were filled with concern which strengthened with each moment she did not avert her eyes, with each moment that which that her mind processed from the visual feedback did not change.

It wasn't even six in the morning yet, somewhere around dawn actually. But this wasn't the color of dawn, this wasn't the light blue announcing the rise of the sun, this was more a dark blue and purple, the kind to be seen on clear evenings, after the sun had set that indicated the coming of the night. Dusk not Dawn. Usagi had the sinking feeling that she would not see the sun today, maybe not for a very long time…

"It has begun," a voice next to her startled the young heir to the Silver Millennium out of her motionless state. She glanced to the side and was somehow not very surprised to see Sailorpluto standing there, her gaze also directed towards the sky. "Pandora is extending her power. This is just the beginning. Soon the real war will be begin."

Usagi was silent for a couple of moments, before she spoke in a soft, but firmly inquiring voice, "Do you think we stand a chance?"

"I cannot say, Your Highness. I dearly wish I could, but that assurance I cannot give you because I don't know it myself."

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

(Minako)

I groaned tiredly, ignoring the distant sound that had ripped me out of a content, albeit dreamless sleep, snuggling instinctively closer to the warm body next to me, trying to lull my mind back to sleep.

The ringing sound continued.

I grumbled something incoherently and menacingly at the insistent background sound interrupting my sleep. I envied the other two women next to me instantly for being able to totally block it out. I wasn't even sure why or even if I had been woken up because of it. Maybe it wasn't because of it but just simply waking up and then noticing the ringing… that still didn't stop.

Didn't I switch on the answering machine? my still sleep-induced mind wondered and I muttered a few curses while carefully extracting myself from the gentle embrace of strong and secure arms. I gave the brunette and the smaller dark-haired girl curled up behind her a fond look. I really didn't want to get out of bed when I could just stay with two such amazing women… but that damn phone was getting on my nerves! I glanced at the digital clock. Just a few minutes before eight in the morning! Who the hell would call at such an ungodly hour? For a brief moment I wondered if it was one of the other Senshi and something had happened but discarded that idea immediately. That's what our private communicators were for.

Silently slipping into the hallway, I thought back on that offer Ami had made to install that new voice phone system they were working on at Neo Tomoe Labs. I had shied away, finding it a bit too complicated to get used to on first glance. Now I wished I would have taken up the offer, could have stayed in bed then.

"Yes, who is it?" I all but snarled into the phone after picking up one of the receivers scattered over the manor. If I decided to keep that place after the ascension, I would really have to consider employing at least a basic permanent staff.

"Is that you Aino-san? I'm so glad I caught you… Um, I didn't wake you up, did I?"

At the voice that greeted me a rush of mixed emotions coursed through me, most of them negative, and in response my face hardened into one of rude annoyance. I wished the speaker on the other end could see it. "Oh, Yakamuri-kun, of course not. It is not even eight in the morning, I was just having a peaceful nap after some very hectic days and why would you ever think you WOKE ME UP?" I replied in a honey-sweet voice dripping of sarcasm, before it took on an icy tone. "What do you want?"

There was a long period of silence from the other end while I tried to get my raging emotions under control. The feedback was threatening to leak over the bond and the last I wanted to was for my two mates to wake up to find me in a grumpy mood. Too much of that had happened between us lately. We had finally found that harmony we've been searching for. "Well?" I inquired impatiently as after several seconds no reply came over the line.

"Err, look, Mina…"

"It is Aino-san to you," I insisted sharply. On a level I knew that I was unfair. The other man had not been given much of a choice in acting as he had but the way it was done, that's what had really gotten to me.

"Alright, alright," he quickly averted. "I know I've not been handling this issue very well and I've got a lot of pressure actually from other ends and well…"

"Get to the point," I snapped, temper flaring. I had been woken up rude from one of the best night's sleeps I had in ages, especially considering that some nightmares ought to be expected after the trauma I had been through, torn out of bed, away from my two lovers, and now was having a conversation with my ex-boss I could well do without. I wasn't even sure why I hadn't hung up already.

"The point is. I, um, heard from someone I know working at the hospital that you got out yesterday and well, I was wondering if you might consider, as soon as you are sufficiently recovered of course…"

Realization dawned on my sleeping mind and for a moment I was actually considering the implied offer but then my resolve hardened and I cut in before the man could finish his jumbled explanations. "Why I would certainly love to act again," I stated evenly, "Unfortunately I have other responsibilities right now that are of much more dire importance. Sayonara, Yakamuri-san." And with that I actually did hang up, cutting of the sputtered reply I could distinctly pick up before the receiver was put down.

For several long moments I stood there with one hand still resting on the put down receiver, mind slowly processing what just happened. Then, slowly at first but steadily growing, a satisfied smirk crept into my face, deepening with an entirely different emotion when I felt the embrace from behind, strong arms slipping around my upper body and lips nuzzling my neck.

"Mmh, missed you," Makoto's voice drifted into my ear and I shuddered slightly from the breath caressing my skin combined with the feel of the somewhat possessive hug the taller woman was applying. "What was that all about?" the question came albeit I could tell getting the answer wasn't foremost on her mind. Doubts put aside and firmly concentrated on a task Makoto was someone who always executed that task to perfection, I mused with affection. Not that I would complain.

"Yakamuri-san," I mumbled, shifting until I could turn around. As soon as we were face to face I dove in for a thorough kiss, latching my arms around the other woman's neck. "Morning, love," I whispered after parting and was satisfied with the slight flush. "Sorry about slipping out. Believe me I surely didn't want to and probably shouldn't have."

A frown crossed the beautiful features. "What did he want?"

I snorted derisively. "Apparently got word somehow that I was through with my pregnancy somehow, don't ask me how, didn't ask. He more or less wanted me to come back. To act again… The very nerve of it!"

"So, what did you tell him?"

"I brushed him off. Simple as that," I replied honestly.

"Don't you want to act again? You loved the musicals." Makoto asked softly, the frown not leaving her face.

For a moment my emotions wavered. Of course, the other woman was right in that. I had loved to act. The combination required for a musical actress were very high and plenty. You had to be good in several different fields and I had spent so much time in working myself upwards that being brought down the way I had been was… crushing. However, that way was also the very reason why I couldn't even consider the offer. I wouldn't even have if the situation had not been so dire.

"It doesn't matter anymore," I replied quietly after some time in which the brunette had patiently waited for me to me speak. "In a few months one way or another, everything will be over anyway. And," Now I showed the satisfied smirk from before in order to get my point across, "I won't just go crawling back to them like a dutiful dog that has been ignored and treated like a worthless piece of shit after it had been ill for sometime. I'm not that shallow."

Makoto smiled lovingly and her face was glowing with soft pride. "I never said you were. Actually, I'm proud of you for sticking to your own values." One hand reached up to caress the side of my face, brushing against the earring there for a moment before resting on my skin. I leaned into the touch, remembering the previous evening. My gesture with the ribbon had unintentionally started a kind of chain to symbolize the new harmony we had found. Makoto had given me her rose earring - a heirloom from her mother - and Hotaru had given Makoto the pendant she usually wore underneath her clothes which had originally been given to her by her grandmother.

"I am so lucky being allowed to love you and to be loved back," Makoto said, her voice bringing across the sheer astonishment that she had just recently allowed to fully settle in.

Feeling the urge to reassure I pulled the taller woman's head closer and our lips together. The heated pressure was a sure method to fully wake me up and I wasn't quite certain how far this had gone had I not been distracted a few seconds into the kiss.

A low, frustrated and disappointed moan slipped from my mate's lips as I abruptly pulled back. "Mina-chan, what…?" Her voice trailed off as she obviously became aware of my startled expression. Eyes had widened as they had more accidentally passed by the window on the other side of the hallway. At first I hadn't fully registered, too engrossed in the kiss, but then some small part had made me look back. Then I had seen the abnormality, the definitely incorrect color of the sky, for Peitho a hauntingly familiar phenomena.

I only distantly felt Makoto's arms loosening and barely took notice of the startled gasp. I took a few steps forward, the other woman following hesitantly, approaching the window and confirming that I hadn't been imaging things. "It has started," I breathed in a shaky whisper, unconsciously seeking some small measure of support by grasping Makoto's hand tightly - to a degree of being painful - as dark memories from a time long ago were sparked by the scenery overshadowed any other thought for a moment. "It has started."

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

(Lisa)

The mood was understandable low in the spacious dining room. All the lights were on since outside the sun still hadn't given any indication to rise through the dark sky. The really eerie thing was, I noted with another glance out of the window, that no stars were visible as you should expect from a clear dusk-like sky. Instead my sensitive eyes picked up a very faint glimmer of the deepest kind of crimson the color could get away with before tumbling into the pitch-black regions. I doubted anyone other than Sakura picked it up since the halo effect suggested it could only be seen on a different plane. Which probably was a good thing since it had to be expected already that the phenomena would call for a lot of public attention.

"How long is this going to last?" Daidouji Sonomi asked, catching and following my gaze. Nothing much had been said when we had come down for breakfast. Tomoyo had still been asleep but both Sakura and I had been roused by some sort of shift in our surroundings. After we had taken a look out of the window going back to sleep or just snuggling contently as if nothing had happened was impossible. So we had more or less wordlessly joined the older Daidouji in the dining room.

I looked sideways at Sakura for guidance who shrugged her shoulders somewhat helplessly. "It is to be expected, Kaasan. This kind of is how it was last time. You see, it's not really a natural phenomena and in reality the sun's still there. It's like, um… a semi-transparent layer that hinders us in physically seeing the sun's light. Or at least that's what has happened the last time."

"But she was at full power then. Wouldn't something like this cost too much energy with your and Amelia's seal still active?" I asked puzzled. I understood a little more about different planes now from my spiritual training Babasan and even if it was just an illusion, I hardly could believe Pandora would waste the limited contact she had now to the outside on something so… useless. If, of course, she had become so powerful to extend that much power even in her still limited position, then…

"Um, I heard the news this morning and they were saying this thing was limited to the Tokyo area," one of the maids who had come in to bring some more food said.

Sakura raised her eyebrows and then scowled. "Go figure. She knows this is the nexus node now and the most resistance has to be expected from this area. Psychological warfare." She took a listless bite from her bread and munched it with even less enthusiasm. Understandable actually. The event from this morning had all but confirmed Sakura's dark mood yesterday. I had made some calculations in my head and the reaction speed after extending so much energy into the initial strike this weekend was frightening. I had hoped we would at least get a couple of days more.

I took another short glance towards the window, then tore my eyes away. This wasn't good. When Pandora had done a similar thing to Earth in the original war the villages, towns and cities were assaulted with enough fear already, insecurity and leaking knowledge of what was going on, coupled with the roaming monsters… Now, in a world where anyone on other the side of the planet could see and hear instantly what was happening here through the means of various media who liked nothing better than to boost the tiniest thing to a full-fledged scandal.

With any luck we would elude mass panic at least a few weeks before it got intense.

"If I may make a suggestion, Daidouji-san?" I spoke up softly.

The older Daidouji gave me a stern look. "I insist you call me Kaasan at least as Sakura does." The stern look faded into an affectionate smile and I felt myself once again amazed at the openness of the older woman. If that had been my mother… I quickly cut off the thought, the mood was bad enough, I didn't need to make it worse.

"Domo arigato, Dai… err, I mean, Okaasama." Sakura burst out into a fit of laughter, earning a cross look from me though I couldn't hold it very long before I smiled myself, realizing just how much I sounded like my past life's self in her younger years. The excessive use of "-sama" had gotten me more than a few weird looks. Then again, Lina… "You weren't complaining last night, Sakura-sama."

The reaction was immediate, and adoring. Soon the other girl's face was rather hard to distinguish from her hair… I giggled softly at the mortified expression on my lover's face and the frantically waving motions she was performing with her hands.

"Is there something I need to know here?" the older woman asked casually but with a grin that was hard to describe as innocent or oblivious. I mean, Sakura and Tomoyo had been together for four years and had started to… actively pursue their relationship around four years ago. The house was big and sound-proof spells were nice but…

"There is a reason why your daughter isn't up yet. I think Sakura-chan tired her out," I quipped, carefully calculating the reaction and deciding on the uncharacteristic reply. It was working guessing by the hearty chuckle from Sonomi and Sakura's exclamation of protest.

"Lisa!" Sakura tried to look horrified but at the innocent wink I sent her she actually let go of her reserve and succumbed to laughter. Golden eyes caught mine in a possessively affectionate and right now truly grateful look. It wouldn't last but I was glad that at least for a moment the mood had been brightened. Sylphiel probably would have fainted even entertaining the thought of implying what I just did in public. It had been pretty embarrassing and judging by the unrestrained chuckles I picked up from Soyo-chan I would probably be teased about it for a long time. But seeing Sakura a bit more relaxed was worth it.

"Actually, what I wanted to say is," I stirred the conversation back on topic, "and I'd suggest you tell your family that as well, Sakura-chan. We don't know how anyone will react. Maybe you shouldn't go to work for a few days, Okaasan." I didn't even want to mention what would happen if Pandora started to start swarming the city with her minions. That would probably be only possible with at least two thirds of the seal down but I wouldn't swear on this with my life.

"I'm not sure I can afford to," the older Daidouji admitted thoughtfully.

"Onegai, Okaasan, listen to them," Tomoyo's voice entered the room. She was slowly walking over from the entrance, still a little sleepy and with an odd… carefulness in her step. Well, it would be odd if one didn't know what had happened yesterday. Darn, I really had a dirty mind this morning… *Shut up, Soyo-chan!* I reprimanded my elemental mentally… to no great avail. However, I doubted anyone could really blame me after last night's activities that had been necessary to properly get Sakura out of her steadily decreasing mood…

"I can feel the… vibes that field is giving off. I think it'll start affecting people's subconsciousness soon," Tomoyo continued, her voice laced with concern. Sakura and I exchanged a sharp look of concern at the analysis. Amelia had had a very far developed skill to pick things like that up and while underdeveloped for now, Tomoyo was no exception there. The method sounded like something Pandora would use but the possibility was not too comforting.

Sonomi raised an eyebrow at her daughter's slightly disheveled appearance, drawing a cute little blush form pale cheeks, but the insistent and concerned look from the dark-haired girl made her swallow any comment she might have made. "Maybe that is why I should," the older Daidouji spoke softly, "I understand there might be panic. I've been dealing with media long enough to see how things like that work. I have a lot of influence on those working for me though, and don't you think it would help if their boss just stayed home at a time like this? I promise I'll be careful, alright?"

Tomoyo held her mother's gaze for a long time and then slowly nodded. A low rumble from her stomach broke the developing silence and made her blush again, a reaction you couldn't help but find absolutely adoring.

"I think," Sakura stated firmly, "before we go into any more detail about what to do about," she made a gesture towards the window, "this, we should probably finish eating."

There were mumbles of agreement from all sides.

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

(Makoto)

A flash of crimson lightening tainted the dark sky momentarily in a bloody color and cast an eerie illumination into the spacious kitchen even though all the lights had been turned on. Forcefully I tried to ignore it for the moment, concentrating on finishing breakfast and preparations for the guests soon to arrive. The task was relaxing and managed to take my mind away from the present issue.

As expected the news stations were overflowing with reports about the "Tokyo Eclipse". At least that was what it had been dubbed more or less officially. Frankly I could care less about the press, however, the reaction would surely affect the further plan of action in this situation. A situation that really was entirely new. Most of the threats we had to deal with were often vague, yet never with a lack of temporary focus, something physical to grasp and battle, and a lot of them had been centered on us, the Royal Family or anything else connected to the Sailorsenshi. The world itself mostly had only been the battlefield, feeling the consequences only as side effects, mostly not even recognizing what was happening or not remembering afterwards.

This was different. Now we basically knew what we were facing but were confined to waiting and reaction. A state that was tearing on my own nerves just like everyone else's. I tried to remain calm, especially since Hotaru and Minako were slouching around the house with a gloom and doom attitude, however, my own senses were playing havoc on me and the events and feelings of failure in protecting those dear to me were still rather fresh despite anything else that had happened and came up in the meantime. I might have come to accept the genuine feelings of the two other women but that didn't stop me, or actually only strengthened more the dark sense of failure during the attack that nearly cost us Minako, our daughter and much more in the process.

They needed me to be calm now though. With their dual memories the reminder outside of what once had happened, threatening to repeat itself, had to be agonizing. Minako had somehow survived the unusual pregnancy and nearly fatal delivery, Hotaru had been holding the fragile relationship between the three of us together… not to mention more or less initiated it. The least I could do now was bury my own anxiety and provide the necessary support.

I sighed, glancing over the arrangement. Breakfast was ready but as for the meeting… Thankfully a lot of leftovers and yet unused food had been stored here in the manor. From the looks of it, this meeting would be big and probably dwindle into the late evening hours at least. There was no way I could do all of this alone. And Sasami wasn't here yet… For a moment I debated with myself. In the end the decision was rather easy though seeing as with Rei's group alone as well as those mages, this had long ceased to be a Senshi-intern affair.

Quickly finishing the last touches on breakfast I slipped out into the hallway, zooming in on the nearest phone. Frankly I thought it was a miracle that everything was still working in the house considering Minako's refusal to hire a maintenance staff. I never really asked how she managed to hold it relatively clean. Minako wasn't exactly the prime example of a housewife… A mystery that had to wait because of its low relevance.

"Hey, squirt, are your mommy or daddy around?" I asked when the phone was picked up on the other end. There was an enthusiastic reply and some loud noise in the background as I waited. I couldn't help but chuckle at the image intruding into my mind.

Eventually I managed to catch who I was looking for and arrangements were quickly made. My sensei and his wife were quite happy to help out and get some information on what was going on. I was pretty sure the manor could easily take two more people and the food my boss was going to bring along would surely be appreciated. Surely better than a couple of leftovers and hastily prepared meals.

Finished with that task I returned to the kitchen and busied myself with getting the small breakfast over to the smaller, cozy dining room just across the hall that the three of us had come to prefer in the last months where we had mostly stayed here to help Minako with the pregnancy… among other things.

I was getting the last set of trays when Hotaru quietly entered the kitchen and offered her help without a word. I flashed her a grateful smile and together we finished the preparations. Both her and Minako had slipped away some while ago to contact the others and to give a rough explanation about the sky phenomena in order to prevent any wrong assumptions.

"You were calling someone earlier?" Hotaru broke the silence between us and I was quite thankful for it. The eerie dusk scenery outside was wearing my resolve to stay calm very thin already. The gloomy atmosphere that had settled over everything was seeping into the manor like shadows creeping out of the corners.

"Yeah, I don't think the food is going to last for a longer meeting. I called my boss and sensei if they want to come over and bring some food from the restaurant." I glanced at Hotaru questioningly. "You don't mind, do you?"

The dark-haired woman was quiet for a moment, then shrugged her shoulders, "Not really. You trust them?"

"Absolutely," I stated with unwavering conviction. From the start it had been pretty much impossible to hide my secret identity from them. Sensei was pretty good in reading auras and I would believe that ours are pretty distinctive. "They've seen their own share of weirdness. And believe me, there is no one better in physical combat than Saotome Ranma as far as I know. They have just as much at stake as everyone else here but they can help and I know them well enough to tell they won't like sitting on the sidelines."

Hotaru smiled at my fierce speech and I tried to hide a blush when I realized just how vehement I had come over in pointing out that the two Saotomes could be trusted. "I believe you, Mako-chan," Hotaru said in a reassuring tone, her hand briefly reaching up to touch the pendant she had given me. I was wearing it open around my neck, finding it far too pretty to conceal as she had done before. The pendant had the form of a silvery star framing a majestic eagle in shimmering blue colors.

I caught the delicate hand of my lover as she wanted to pull away and held her gaze for a moment, preventing her from stealing glances outside. Both her and Minako had done it several times now since getting out of bed and those actions weren't exactly good for their mood. Hotaru tried to smile weakly at my attempt to avert attention but seemed nonetheless grateful.

"We'll get through this. Together, remember? That's what you said." I pulled Hotaru's hand around my own body and held her for a moment. The contact was doing both of us a whole world of good. I could feel not only her but also my tension draining slowly.

I tried to think of something else to get her mind off the present events for a short time. I was just in the process of addressing the issue of names for our daughter, something that kind of drowned in the hectic of the last days and the abruptness of the delivery, but at that point Minako came into the room looking somewhat grim. I recognized the hard mask of the Senshi's leader having fallen into place, shutting out most other emotions. A soft smile tugged at her lips though finding us the way we were and wordlessly joined the hug. We stayed this way for several more seconds before parting and sitting down for breakfast.

It was going to be a long day.

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

(Tomoyo)

I had had a weird feeling the moment I woke up this morning. And that definitely didn't have anything to do with the after effects of last night's activities. Certainly not. The layer of dusk-like darkness seemed to absorb and reflect every ounce of negative feeling and feeding it back to the people underneath multiplied. This was somewhat like a miniature version of the zone that Pandora had created four years ago when Sakura and I had barely managed to prevent her first attempt of breaking free. Not even really dangerous in the slightest, just provoking a subtle… discomfort. For a strong-willed person like a semi-trained mage it was easy to filter out and ignore. The most negative effect achieved was a certain increase in tension, a higher level of anxiety.

For those not possessing the will power or mental strength to withstand the influence though, the effects would steadily increase. As we made our way through the district, crossing the short distance from the Tomoeda to the Azabu-Juuban region, we met several people walking around lost, clusters of clearly agitated inhabitants whispering, pointing upwards and trying to not get too far away from the safety of their group, survival instincts kicking in. Survival instincts for what, they couldn't tell, and that only added to the tense atmosphere that was plainly tangible in the air.

Just one needs to snap and do something rash, I thought darkly, picking up on the sad reality of the situation. Just one and they may as well panic.

The normal flow of business was severely disrupted. There wasn't the steady bustle, the streams of people going hither and wither. Several shops along the main business district of Minato-ku had not even opened yet, several usually well-frequented were almost vacant. The entire town seemed to have fallen into a lethargic state matching the suggested time of day, visually at least.

"I was in the wilderness of South America and there was more life than here, now," Lisa commented quietly, keeping her voice low as if trying not to draw attention or involuntarily set off a bonfire. Which, on a second thought, was a rather likely possibility to assume and to be wary of.

"If it's magical… can't it be broken?" Kero asked from his place on Sakura's shoulder who was walking in between us with her face set in a stoic, serious mask. None of us tried to get her out of the mood. She was absolutely focused, taking in everything around her with a sharp eye. I had seen her do that a couple of times and wasn't quite sure if it was a trait she subconsciously drew from Lina, had developed herself or a mix of both. This expression was rather much like the one my mate acquired in the heat of battle. Focused, analyzing, ready.

We had taken a small detour in order to tell Sakura's family about what to expect in this situation and where we were going to be the entire day. The Clow Book guardian had insisted on coming along. So had Yue actually but he had eventually relented and stayed with Touya and Sakura's father, just in case.

"Possible, but tricky," the redhead replied to the small creature's question. "What we are seeing here is not really a rip in time and space, but more like a mirage in the desert for example. We perceive it as being there because our senses tell us it is. At the same time it's still like a dimensional layer." Sakura reached up to rub her forehead in frustration. "It's really hard to explain and since I'm sure the question will come up several times again today, let's just say that it is not as easy as you might think."

"However, Kero-chan is right," I pointed out. "If this state continues it will drive Tokyo crazy and the panic will quickly wash over to the rest of the country and onwards. Maybe even without Pandora needing to make another move."

The redheaded sorceress gave a weary sigh. "Of course, you are both right. The real problem is that the effort will not really be much of a benefit. As soon as she breaks more of the seal, this layer will become quite real actually, even if we manage to temporally dispel it. That I am almost certain of." A grimace distorted the beautiful features even more and I glanced away defeated, seeing the logic in the statement. A no-win situation.

The rest of the walk was resumed in mutual silence, matching the atmosphere. We weren't even trying to hide the connection between us. Both Lisa and I were holding one of Sakura's hands and walking quite close to the redhead. No one paid us much attention. The display of affection usually frowned upon in Japanese society had become an instinctual reaction. People everywhere were reaching out to each other to reassure themselves that they were not totally alone in the eerie, unnatural darkness. It was fascinating how social standards in a situation like this seemed to crumble away, showing just how fragile and unimportant the worldview claimed by the general mass was.

Therefore us keeping close to each other was widely ignored, even more so than usual. Sakura and I had never shied away making sure that no misinterpretations were left open about the nature of our relationship to all those who more or less asked about it. We had never went and threw the fact around so that everyone knew but instead acting naturally and not shying away should someone ask or comment. And Lisa seemed to be the sort of person that would prefer a similar, natural approach. Actually from what I remembered she was a lot more open and less shy with her feelings than Sylphiel had been. The both of us seemed to be somewhere on the same level now in that field.

The bond now was helping to create a bubble of safety, a place to draw strength from and all three of us readily did take to it. I noticed Kero eying Lisa with a speculative gaze. Since he had participate in the search he knew, of course, who she was and what she meant to us but he had not been privy to the events of the weekend directly - a circumstances both he and Yue had been rather verbal in pointing out how they weren't fond of being left in the dark with only an uneasy feeling of danger having befallen their mistress. Despite trying to hide it, Kero was very protective of Sakura, and had been really happy actually after Sakura had chosen me over Syaoran. Lisa didn't seem to be oblivious to the calculating stare but didn't return it either, instead keeping close to Sakura. Eventually the small guardian shook his head, gave a defeated smile and focused back on the path.

Shortly afterwards we reached the address that Hotaru had given me and stopped in front of the gates of the manor, standing still for a moment to take in and admire the view. Well, Lisa did mostly, not really used to a spacious house yet. "What is it with you guys and big houses anyway?" our purple-haired mate commented with a slight shake of her head.

"We barely know them in this time," Sakura answered and then after a pause added, "Yet. Which is not so much unlike the last time around when I think about it."

"I understand the house has been a gift from Aino-san's former boss or something like this. I think she mainly accepted it out of courtesy, or at least that's what Hotaru-san told me," I explained further, having given the house a critical study in the maintain. "It is certainly nice."

"Well, I am sure that I wouldn't deny a gift like that either," Lisa replied and stepped forward to test the gate, finding it unlocked. There was a brief resistance though as she stepped forward that I had picked up right away, like a very fine, translucent globe. The other girl nodded to herself, then simply passed through effortlessly, Sakura following right afterwards while I hurried to follow their example.

"I think we have no real right to be jealous anyway," Sakura smiled softly and exchanged a look with Lisa that I couldn't quite decipher.

"Yeah, I suppose I have to get used to palace life again. I'm sure Babasan will tell me at some point that I'm slacking off…"

I blinked, the hidden meaning of the exchange finally registering on me and frowned slightly, "Our house isn't a palace."

Lisa laughed lightly and I could see Sakura grinning, the mood momentarily boosted again by the playful banter as we made our way to the front door. "No, but it's coming close. You might not be a Queen anymore but from all three of us you still inherited the highest social status once again." I could tell that the miko was teasing and allowed myself a blush, reaching over to playfully punch the other's arm while shifting a glare at the sound of a giggle from Sakura.

The spell was broken when we arrived at the door though but the atmosphere had lightened somewhat. I had the feeling that the energy field we had passed seemed to have a counter effect against the undercurrent of the darkness outside and for that all of us were fairly grateful.

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

(Hotaru)

Usagi and Mamoru had been the first to arrive, together with Setsuna, shortly followed by Haruka and Michiru. Ami would probably be there any minute now and I just sensed the three mages passing through the barrier. It was costing me some level of concentration to keep it up but the dim undercurrent from Pandora's little gift was already beginning to affect our nerves and this meeting would need a more cleaner air in order to bring successful decisions. The barrier wasn't really complicated, just like an inversion to an inversion… sort of. The main trouble in keeping it up came from swimming against the current to make a graphic example. Nothing to tiring and definitely better than the nerve-wrecking, background sensation that as ineffective as it normally was against us, constantly blocking it out DID influence our mood quite well. This was much better.

The city was caught between anxious confusion and a listless lethargy. It was like a soft blanket had begun to cover Tokyo. A blanket that at first only brought a sudden darkness but quickly those underneath realized it was meant to slowly suffocate them, suffocate them in their own growing fear. This was going to take awhile, of course, but not very long. An individual human life was clever but human lives acting as a mass awareness were predictable. The panic would come, sooner or later. And that was one of the many things that would have to be addressed today.

I took a deep breath, feeling the energy settle down to a degree where my direct focus was no longer needed to maintain the barrier. A temporary solution that would not last long without recharging but for the designed purpose it was enough. I would have to discuss a more permanent solution with Lina at a later point. After we were certain about how to proceed in this situation.

To say the change of pace had come surprising would be wrong. No, I had expected something like this to happen rather soon, but not THAT soon. Once again I had miscalculated, underestimated the current maximum capacities of our enemy. It was like that with Pandora, even back then. You thought to know exactly what to expect and in the next instant something would happen that shattered that belief completely. The swiftness of Pandora's action, especially in her still limited state, was frightening. And once again I had not anticipated it.

Soundlessly I had moved onto the second story balcony that was connected to the small room. Looking out over the city, one wouldn't at first glance suspect something was drastically wrong, apart from the mismatching time of day and sky color, of course. The darkness seemed harmless, nothing else than a normal dusk to the normal eye. Nothing special at all…

Like the eve of a long night. A town before going to sleep, maybe a long sleep. I closed my eyes remembering this time from so long ago when Pandora had made her presence known to the unsuspecting inhabitants of Earth for the first time. I wasn't sure I could or even wanted to compare the reaction then and what it might be now.

"It's funny," a voice startled me out of my reverie and I looked to the side, seeing Usagi standing there looking up into the sky, "then I just focus a little bit, I can still see the sun and the blue sky. I barely need to make an effort." Usagi turned her head towards me and there was something in her gaze. Something so hauntingly familiar that I was stunned for just a moment, nearly missing her next question. "I wonder, is this because of the Ginzuishou?"

Shaking my head slightly I focused on my Princess. "Might be. Sere-chan had the same ability." The nickname was drawing out a fountain of emotions and memories, more so than I had allowed myself to feel in a long time. Seeing Tsunami again though, even… changed as she was, coupled with my own daughter now sleeping on her ship, I couldn't help but remember the times spent together. Peitho, the sisters and myself…

"Everyone should be here soon," Usagi said, changing the topic, as if sensing how much it seemed to affect me. No, not "as if". She did sense how it was affecting me. That was one of her gifts that she had honed even further over the years. So much like… I quenched the thought for the time being.

"Hai. Kinomoto-san and the other two have just arrived. As soon as Rei with her friends get here we should be ready to start," I agreed. Rei had told Minako earlier that they would be a little late since there had been MASSES flooding the shrines and Hikawa Jinja was no exception. They had to deal with that first. People were seeking shelter and assurance in religion. Not an unexpected occurrence. There had been a drastic increase in former skeptic people turning to Ceiphied for guidance in the old time. Not that it had helped much.

"Do you believe it is right to bring everyone together now? I know I've ordered this without speaking to you first but I believe it has been shown that acting separated would be fatal from now on."

A sharp pang of guilt lanced through me at the words. Surely Usagi didn't aim for that reaction but I could not help myself, having just thought about it myself. "Gomen nasei," I mumbled quietly, feeling a need to express the feelings inside of me, knowing that Usagi would understand and listen. "I have failed you when you were relying on me how to proceed. I have underestimated the leap in power that Pandora has apparently made and did not anticipate such a degree of resources could already be employed. And now we are on the verge of a war that can hardly be avoided anymore…"

I shuddered slightly at the gentle hand on my shoulder. The other woman turned me to face her and I swallowed at the soft, caring and forgiving gaze directed at me. "Don't blame yourself, Hotaru-chan. I am sure that under the circumstances you have done the right thing. From all of us you had the most experience with Pandora, besides I didn't see Pluto disagreeing with you either. I believe no one had anticipated the swiftness and coordination of last weekend. I am sure that I would have not made a different decision either." The gentle look did not leave her blue eyes but it became more intense and serious. "But now it is time that we pull all of our power together. I barely know most of those other people that are going to be here today which is why I am pretty sure that acting separately up to now has been the best idea. We were trying to divert attention and giving a less likely target. Maybe last weekend would have happened much earlier if we had not done it this way. No one can really tell. What needs to be done now is deal with the present and look to the future, not dwell in the past, in 'might have beens" and "would haves". I can't do that alone, I need you and everyone else to help me make the right decisions. You know far more what is at stake here."

I held her gaze with my own for a moment, compelled to look away under the enormous trust I felt directed at me, but I was captured, locked in place. The unwavering hope that radiated from Usagi was infatuating, chasing away my dark thoughts and concerns about what would be upcoming conflict. And once again there was that tug, that familiar sensation… "Arigato," I finally replied in a honest whisper. Memories of a similar talk with someone so similar to Usagi, familiar feelings of hope inspired just like now… I shook my head again. Surely I was imaging things. "I guess I needed that. I've never been much of a leader, so you'd better ask Minako about that, but… but I'll help in any way I can. You can trust on that."

"Good," Usagi nodded thankfully, then suddenly turned to look out into the distance, a faraway look entering her eyes. "Rei and her friends are coming." It wasn't an assumption and I blinked amazed because I had not registered the presence yet… Wait, there was Tsunami, I think. There still was a strong connection between us that enabled me to pick her out from a distance.

"You can tell?"

"I can tell that Sasami is close by."

THAT made me stare. Could it really be? Frankly, there were enough indicators that would verify the theory. There was not such a thing as coincidence in destiny. Everything did happen for a reason. The core that had fought Pandora so long ago had been reassembled in this time in various states of rebirth or simple survival. The only one really missing was…

"Sere-chan?" I whispered quietly.

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

(Sakura)

There was a moment of awkward silence between us when it was Pluto who opened the door. We had talked a couple of times in the last months but not after the events of the weekend up to now. Pluto had always been hard to talk to, I suppose it lay in the nature of Time Guardians which probably should have made me suspicious towards the Time card's true purpose and identity. Now, there was an extra element added by the fact that I was sort of keeping her sister and mate to myself for the moment which greatly limited the time they could spent together. And after such a long time of separation. I believe there were several people around here who could understand on a personal level what that was like, me being amongst them.

Unfortunately the magic of the card was all that still bound Persephone to the seal on some level and cutting that connection would mean forfeiting any influence she might still have on actions from within. I was eternally grateful for Persephone's offer to at least stay that way until the second part of the seal fell, namely Tomoyo's. I didn't really care about myself. I was sure, I could resist long enough on my own and frankly with a two third advantage there were other options open for Pandora to fully break free without concentrating on me. Yet Tomoyo I would not, could not expose to such a danger. I had almost lost Lisa already to that devil…

"Come in," Pluto broke the silence eventually, stepping aside. That at least brought my thoughts to a sudden stop which probably was a good thing. I could not afford to be distracted right now. Especially not after Tomoyo and Lisa had made such a valiant effort to bring me away from thoughts like this. The understanding look that the ancient Senshi was sending me was also rather relieving. She understood why her sister had offered this solution. It had to hurt but she understood and accepted nonetheless. There was something between all of us that had survived or remembered the Creation War and its outcome. Neither of us did wish to lose anyone again. The series of sacrifices was not to be repeated, with all possible means.

Now was as good a time as any, I thought to myself. The recharge should be complete by now. There wasn't a word needed, just a short moment of concentration and in a flash of green-purple Time was released from the book, forming the spiritual body. I focused my awareness and repeated what I had done two days ago, supplying a temporary, physical form that was an exact replica of what the Senshi Persephone had been like. This would do for awhile. A little straining but I felt compelled to the effort as a part of the compromise. Besides, it wasn't much different as supporting Kerberos' true form with my magic in the beginning when I wasn't able to access the resources I could now.

"We are almost complete now," Pluto explained, barely able to hold her usual unwavering composure as Persephone moved over to stand beside her. I shared a knowing look with my mates but chose not to comment. "We are just waiting for a few more to arrive. Mostly Mars and her group. I understand they are stuck for a while at the Jinja."

Lisa nodded in understanding. "Babasan told me the same. It seems the shrines are overflowing." We had actually seen many of the groups we've come across moving towards one of the shrines in the area. I never saw Japanese culture as overly religious, more… very traditional. And seeking shelter in tradition was giving most citizens a sense of security.

"We should probably join everyone then," Persephone said smoothly and started to move towards the direction where I could sense several strong auras clustered together.

I was about to follow but barely made a few steps before being stopped again. "Before you do that, can I have a moment please?" I looked around and located the familiar voice as Phoebe - it was more easier to think of her by that name - standing on the base of the stairs leading to the next floor.

I glanced at Tomoyo and then Lisa who had also stopped. Both of them shrugged. "Go ahead," Tomoyo said and took Lisa's hand, moving to follow the two Time Guardians again. Kero hesitated a moment but then flew over to settle on Tomoyo's shoulder. I nodded to Phoebe and followed her up the stairs.

It was hard to distinguish the auras of several different people in here, especially since they were all so uniquely strong but the one I could sense up here was nearly unmistakable and so I wasn't all too surprised when the raven-haired girl lead me to a small room and found Serenity - well, this generation's Serenity - sitting there. She seemed somewhat… anxious, a bit confused maybe, but that had nothing to do with Pandora's nasty trick. Especially since this seemed to be the room from which the barrier had been spread out. I nodded to myself in silent approval before focusing on the other two woman.

"Hello, Kinomoto-san," the blonde woman greeted warmly, inspiring a strong sense of similarity to the young Serenity that I had briefly gotten to know in the beginning of the year. The same brilliant aura, the same sparkle of unwavering hope.

"Onegai, call me Sakura-chan, everyone does," I replied, instantly taking a liking to the other woman that was obviously carrying the highest authority and respect with the Senshi of this life cycle. I never really had gotten the chance to see the monarch Serenity, I had only known the cheerful girl and strong warrior. The period that was known as the Silver Millennium I only knew about out of a few explanation from Phoebe. I could see why the other Senshi were loyal to her though.

"Then call me Usagi-chan," she insisted with a smile. I was reminded of that formal first meeting between our groups in Saillune and couldn't help the answering smile.

Phoebe chuckled in obvious memory of the same events but quickly sobered. "Sakura-san, you were able to tell that Minako was Peitho before I could, isn't that correct?"

"In a way," I answered, not quite sure what the purpose of the question was. However, I did know that with their bond the other girl COULD have discovered that much earlier but chose to ignore it, deliberately or not. That was not really the point though. "Why?" I inquired.

Phoebe and Usagi exchanged a long look and there was definitely a question being asked and answered in the process. The blonde woman with the distinctive hairstyle nodded slowly and Phoebe took a deep breath. "We have reason to assume that Usagi here might be Serenity. OUR Serenity."

I started, taken completely by surprise at the possibility. After thinking on it for a moment it was like another piece to a big puzzle falling into place though. It made perfect sense. The resemblance was nearly perfect. Of course, that could be a special aspect of the Ginzuishou. I had not known any of the other Serenitys that followed personally to draw a sufficient conclusion and had to trust Phoebe's judgment there.

"That," I commented slowly, "would be beneficial." If the Serenity I've known and the leader of the Senshi in this time were identical, we would not only have the strong power of the Ginzuishou at our disposal but also the memories of someone who had employed it against Pandora already.

Concentrating for a moment, I called Memory from her place in the book. "I don't have the assurance that Love was able to give me with Peitho but… we can try accessing the memories IF they are there." I held up the card and looked sharply at Usagi. "With your consent, of course. I cannot guarantee on the success or what memories would be unlocked."

Usagi took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, before giving a firm nod. "That is alright. I have adjusted to my former life, I'm sure I can deal with another, if this helps us in any way." I searched her eyes for a long time but could only find deep resolve and trust.

"It will," I confirmed, holding up the card. "Believe me, it will."

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

<200000 BC ()>

Flashes of red lightning illuminated the sky, crashing down to the ground and wasting even more of the already battered and nearly broken land. Pitch blackness had become a natural state and the temperature had slowly began to drop the last weeks, further adding to the fear of the people everywhere. Now the darkness was not merely an illusion but a manifestation of the power of that monster that had come to claim their world.

The holy barrier encompassing the capital city of Saillune was beginning to falter under the pressure of evil all around it, and even now what was once a beautiful kingdom now remained as merely a shade of its original self. Buildings were crumbled, the streets were lined with refugees from the surrounding areas. The city had become the last bastion for those still left with hope and the will to fight or merely for those who tried to lull themselves in a last sense of security.

It didn't really matter anymore. Everything would be over tomorrow. One way or another. The nearly two years long war of survival was nearing its final battle, their last attempt, their last hope. Everyone who still had spirit left to draw upon, every last member of the resistance, that had so bravely managed to survive in the face of such great opposition that entire star systems had crumbled under much faster, was clustered together in Saillune, ready to follow their leaders, themselves, in the final battle. A battle that would cost even more lives, demand even more sacrifices. A battle that was not avoidable anymore.

So many lives lost. So many sacrifices.

Young Serenity, princess of a long fallen, forgotten and unimportant kingdom, as well as Senshi of the small, unimportant satellite Earth called it's moon, was standing on a balcony of the Royal Palace of Saillune… though nowadays it gave more the impression of a fort ready to take on the hordes of hell themselves… which wasn't all that inaccurate. The plan had been made, a plan that made every last one of the young woman's insides twist at the costs involved. It was insane, suicidal, UNACCEPTABLE… the only plan that had a sliver of a chance to even work.

Her gaze wondered down to the brooch in her hands, the bright sparkle of the Ginzuishou seeming to create a bubble around it that could not be touched by Pandora's darkness. Pure and strong, full of so much potential. Potential she did not know how to really use even though she desperately wished to. Not because she wanted to be more powerful but so that she could protect her friends, prevent the many sacrifices of others. Especially right now.

Senshi Persephone stood in the shadows for a long time watching the golden-haired woman stare at her crystal as if wanting to draw out the secrets with her eyes. "Do not trouble yourself. The understanding will come to you when you most need it," she finally said, making her presence known. It had not been hard to find the girl when she had slipped away after the strategy meeting was concluded and the green-haired Time Guardian could guess what was on her mind.

Serenity stared at the older woman's casual tone incredulously before her features shifted into a mixture of determination and desperation. "I can't wait that long. If I don't figure it out before tomorrow… then you will…" Her voice cracked and she squeezed the older Senshi's hands painfully as Persephone grasped her own.

"Serenity-hime, what happens to me is my decision. And even if you were to understand your star seed's true powers, what good will it do if released prematurely? I must go that path, it is in my fate, as it is in your fate to be one day a strong leader and a wise ruler."

Serenity shook her head in denial. "How can I be when I let everyone around me die. What kind of ruler could I be then?"

Persephone smiled, seeing once again her and her sister's judgment verified that this girl was to be their savior, the light that would guide the universe into a better future. "As much as we wish to, some things are simply beyond our control. It is painful, to me, to you, to everyone else, but we cannot change it." Green strands fell over her face as the Time Guardian closed her eyes for a brief moment before reopening them with an intense light shining in them that took Serenity by surprise. "Promise me something, Serenity-hime."

"Everything," the younger woman answered without hesitation. She knew in her heart, as painful as it was, that Persephone was right, that her part in tomorrow's assault was vital and could not be changed, regardless of her own or anyone else's importance. The least she could do was honor her last wish.

"WHEN Pandora is defeated, WHEN this nightmare is finally over, you must lead the people who have lost so much into a new, better era. One of peace. You have the gift inside of you, everyone trusts in you immediately. They will follow you. Those left behind will need such a strong, guiding soul like yourself to orient themselves towards. Oneechan and I have always believed that you are the one to bring this universe to a new unity. Don't let our hope be in vain."

The intensity of the belief and trust directed at her made Serenity feel meager, tiny, unsuited. She was not worthy of that trust but still they were all confiding in her, following her, loving her. She and her sister were the youngest and yet everyone looked to her as the light that would shine in the darkness and carry them through.

It did not matter what she thought. She could not, WOULD NOT let this trust be in vain.

"I promise," Serenity, soon to be first Queen of the Silver Millennium answered, but those two simple words held a vow carrying so much more than could be explained in words.

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

(Usagi)

My awareness returned to the present gradually. The memory more like a mist briefly cleared only to overflow the air with its presence faster than it had been banished. However, the recollection of the event, the brief glimpse, the emotions accompanying the images were still present and would remain as such. I had been allowed a short view through the eyes of the one which had supposedly been the beginning of our line. I had seen not only with her eyes though but also with her heart. A heart heavy with the responsibility put upon at such a young age but even more so heavy with guilt and helplessness at her own inability to prevent the countless deaths and sacrifices all around her.

There had been so much more in that promise. Silent, unsaid but present. More for herself than anyone else. Serenity had fulfilled Persephone's promise but she had failed the one that she made to herself. Even after the war had been fought, even after the Silver Millennium had first come to be, she had lost even more, more of those she had promised to protect, their lives and their happiness, had been taken away. Pluto out of grief, Phoebe out of duty, and dear Tsunami because of… She did not even know why then. Only Peitho had been left, but even she was merely present in the physical sense most of the time.

"Princess?" Phoe… no, Hotaru's soft but concerned voice brought me fully back to reality and a determination I had seldom felt before filled me.

Never again. Never again would I let this happen. There would be NO repeat of this time. I was stronger now, I did have the experience, I knew what my crystal, the Ginzuishou, was capable of and I would use that knowledge to ensure that this time no one would need to be sacrificed. Crystal Tokyo would be a place for everyone to live in who helped to craft its existence. Everyone. This had been my decision at the Cauldron and that decision had not changed in the slightest. I would protect my friends and the friends of my friends, because without their support, I could not continue my path. The new age would find a happy, fulfilling beginning and not the sad reality the Silver Millennium had been.

Hotaru shirked back slightly when I lifted my head, the crescent moon sigil glowing brightly. My voice was firm and baring no argument. "I vow that this time no one will leave this battle hurt and alone. Together we will prevail and bring about a new age. Together."

There was only a short pause before the other two girls' expressions began to match my own solemn one. "This vow we carry with you through heaven and hell," Hotaru spoke, her eyes more unguarded for a moment when I had ever seen them before. The pain of loss like a burning fire that she wished to quell with her words.

"To the end of time and beyond," Sakura finished with a seriousness, eyes hard but clearly not vacant of the same haunting look.

Our gazes locked for a timeless moment as the impromptu vow was sealed. Then I turned my head to regard the floating sprite form of the Memory card with a gentle and grateful smile. "Arigato, little one. You helped me very much." It had just been a glimpse, a fleeting memory, but it was enough to make the cracks I had noticed awhile ago open wider, wide enough so that I could slip in and see what lay beneath with some effort. I had always known there was something there, something other than Princess Serenity from the fallen Moon Kingdom. It had become steadily harder and harder to ignore over time. Now I had a way to see beneath that which had been beyond my grasp for so long. I wasn't afraid of the possible change anymore. Especially not if it might mean that I had a better chance of protecting those dear to me.

The card spirit grinned proudly before vanishing in a small burst of light.

The sequence was executed fluently as I rose from where I was sitting, the Ginzuishou reacting to my feelings immediately, forming in a ripple of light the white dress signifying my statue as heir to the Silver Millennium. "I believe we have a meeting to attend." I did not wait for the response of the other two women, my steps directed purposefully out of the room and towards the stairs. Hotaru and Sakura fell into step behind me.

I could feel that why we had been busy upstairs Rei's party had reached the manor as well. And so, as I descended the stairs, I stopped halfway down. The blue-haired girl did so as well and seemed to turn at the same time that my eyes fell on her. For a short moment recognition passed between us with undeniable clarity. Only for a moment though. I could not allow more. This had to wait until a later point, there would be time afterwards. Now there were different things to do and the brief glimpse I had been allowed into the life of the first Serenity had provided me with the connection to properly focus on that crisis that I had been searching in the hectic of the events.

Until the battles of this weekend I had not fully understood the direness of this situation but now I was even more assured that this enemy was unlike anything we had ever faced before and every resource at our disposal would be needed to emerge victorious.

No word was spoken but even so I knew that the other girl understood, shared the same thoughts. There was time to reconnect later. I continued my descent slowly, Sasami joining Rei who had watched the exchange from her place at the door and as one the group moved forward into the living room where everyone had been assembled. Senshi, friends and allies alike.

Most of them I did barely or not even know at all but my friends trusted them and so would I. The outcome of the upcoming battle would be uncertain but one thing was for sure, these brave people would be the core fighting for our all survival. And I would stay to my word, fulfill the vow that I had given. I took in every face suddenly looking up and towards me as I entered the room. I could see the wisps of hope entering their eyes, even those who barely knew me. I had long since accepted that I had this effect on people. And I would not disappoint that trust.

For a moment I was startled by the presence of two unexpected but familiar faces located next to Mamoru. I had meant to call them but had found no time to do so. I wasn't particular surprised at their presence but more curious how exactly they had found us here. Looking past the short redhead and the taller blue-haired woman I found my answer sitting on my husband's shoulders in form of a tiny pixie with light blue hair. A soft smile momentarily penetrated my serious demeanor. It appeared we were as complete as somehow possible for the moment.

I wasn't one for big speeches or great entrances, even though the effect might be given right now, so I simply made my way over to Mamoru and waited until everyone had settled down.

"Let us begin."

THE END of Foreshadowed Dusk

TO BE CONTINUED in Clouded Stars

Author's Notes

Okay, didn't I say that the second part would be the longest? Oh, well, you can never predict those things… especially not with such a hyper muse.

Anyway, I don't have very much to say actually. This is the conclusion of the Dusk as you can see and therefore the conclusion of the first main arc. Before we start with the second main arc (so to say the main main arc) there will be a… no, I won't say short interlude because if I do it won't be short. ^_^ I can't really say how long yet.

I cannot quite say when I will get to the Interlude and next main arc because now we are entering a phase where I first need to be completely sure about all back stories involved, so I may focus on the one or other side story first.

Either way. This part was supposed to be a bit… lighter than the last. Not exactly reached that goal I guess but I wasn't planning a fluffy part either. What I was aiming for was to bring the two triads together and solve their immediate problems, which I did.

I could now go and address various questions… and end up always pointing out that they will be answered eventually. The connections between the various fandoms will become more clearer as well as their background stories. So be patient. :) And yes, there is a logical explanation for the Ranma 1/2 element. There is, I swear!

With sending out this part, I will take some time off from the net or the computer because I will go undergo a cataract operation on my eyes. They are done separately so that will result in very limited to no eye-straining activity for… well, the better part of a month or a little more. You can still send in feedback and all that but don't expect me to answer until I'm through with the whole damn procedure and all better.

That's actually all. Be sure to step by and look up the Soul Lights Continuum webpage (http://sl.catstrio.de), it's still rather tiny but there will be more information soon. Besides, side stories are still open for taking (look up the Contribution section).

And now feed the muse and the author because we have worked hard and are now hungry!

Ja ne, yours

Matthias