Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Destiny is not Written in Stone ❯ Chapter Two ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Author's Note: SO here is the second part of the first part. If that makes any sense to anyone but me you get a cookie! I hope you all like it as much as the first. And EPM, I am ashamed! When is anything in my stories what it seems to be? I can't give it all away yet! * Winks * So, just hang in there… More should be explained. Besides please remember that some people will end up with their usual partners either because I like it that way or because, they just would mesh well with another.

Disclaimer: * Looks around and put s up my big billboard *Only the plot is mine…sorry to disappoint everyone….

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Jadeite woke to find Rei long gone and a terse note telling him to get the hell out left by his chair. With a shake of his head he got up to shower before he left. After all she had abandoned him here, she owed him a shower right? Walking past her dresser he caught a photo that had been taken recently. It was of all the Senshi including those damn Starlights. His eyes narrowed as he looked at them. He didn't like the silver haired one for some reason. Then with an indifferent shrug he went on his way to her shower. He would worry about the why later…

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Nephrite was waiting outside the door to her apartment when Makoto was done assaulting the punching bag. Her greens eye grew more determined as she stepped over him. No words, no look, no nothing. She was going to get over this fluttery feeling by ignoring it. That brilliant plan lasted until he stood behind her and she felt his breath on her neck. She whirled around.

"You are in my personal space. Get away from me." She snarled.

"Makoto, you know I can't do that. Not with things like this between us. Can't we even be friends? That is how we started originally remember?" he asked running a finger over her sweaty cheek, watching her eyes darken with memories.

"Nephrite, I am not ready to be friends or even acquaintances with you at the moment. All I want is for you to leave me be. I have different priorities than I did back then. I am not the same girl I was." She said, stressing the last part, trying desperately to get him to understand.

"Then let's start over. From scratch. My name is Nephrite. I live around the corner and you are?" he said undaunted by her repeated refusals.

"This won't work on me. I know your games Neph." She shot back leaning against her door with her arms crossed, "But a good try. An `A' for effort."

With a growl of frustration he did the last thing she had expected in her mind, but her heart knew this was coming. He kissed her hard and deep.

`Oh shit….' Went through her mind as lightening went through her veins.

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Ami came out humming to find Taiki in her room getting dressed and Yaten out for the day. Kakyuu was at the table eating a muffin and looking through the paper. She looked up and gave Ami a wink.

"Someone looks like the cat who got the cream."

Ami grinned back, her eyes dancing, "No cream, but I think I found the delivery man or should I say woman for my cream."

The two women exchanged naughty looks and said together, "We need a new metaphor."

Taiki came out a few minutes later to find his princess and Ami giggling over tea. Ami looked up and her lips quirked into a smile.

"Hey pokey, takes you long enough in the morning doesn't it? Want to go for a walk and talk?" she asked, her eyes begging her to say yes.

"Sounds great. See you Kakyuu. Seiya is still around I think."

"Yes, she and I are going to help Michiru move later. I think she is moving back into her old apartment she had before she and Haruka moved in together." Kakyuu said with a knowing smile.

"Do you need our help?" Ami asked very concerned, worry in her eyes dimming the glow.

"Heavens no! You two go out and have fun. Seiya Michi and I can get it all taken care of. If worse comes to worse we will track some of the others down. Now shoo!" and with that Kakyuu shooed them out the door and grinned, one down two to go….

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Haruka heard a pounding on the door and hollered for Usagi to get right as she heard Rei's angry voice, "… and they were just sitting there. In a café like nothing had ever happened! What the hell is she thinking?"

Usagi stifled a sigh; she wondered when this would happen. Out of all her Inner Senshi, Minako and Makoto had had the closest bond with their General. She could see their love still to this day if she looked deeply into either's' eyes. Her head turned and met Haruka's gaze as she entered the living room.

"Rei, we have to be happy for them if they find love and peace." Usagi said as she pulled Rei onto the couch with her.

"But…"

"Wouldn't want their support if you wanted to start seeing Jadeite again. Not that you do." Usagi ended quickly after seeing fires rage in Rei's eyes.

Haruka sat down, "I am not big on the Generals, and not just because they a REALLY bad sense of timing. Nor am I big on conventional relationships. But if they are happy then our jobs as friends is to support them…no matter what the cost."

Rei looked at them, "And it has taken you this long to get together because…"

They pointed at the other person, "She is too stubborn."

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Seiya looked up and saw the blonde General…what was his name…

"Hey you General person! Come over here and give me a hand would you?" she hollered across the street.

Jadeite's head swiveled and looked at Seiya like she was insane, "Help you with what?"

"Moving Michiru out, what does it look like we are doing? Swan Lake?" Seiya snapped.

"Pretty snippy for someone asking for help aren't you pretty lady?" Jadeite asked in a purposefully belligerent tone. Wanting her to think he had forgotten who and what she was. She was one of those new Senshi, "Why is Michiru moving out. I thought she lived with her lover."

Seiya rolled her eyes and glared at him with fiery eyes, "As if you didn't know already. Michi and Haruka broke up. And yes it had a lot to do with what you said the other night. Why couldn't you leave things alone? Maybe the Inner Senshi are right and you four are the bane of this world." With that out of her system she went back to loading the moving van with her boxes.

Jadeite watched her struggle before years of drilling by his mother and then the earthen queen made him start picking up heavy boxes and helping. But that did not stop him from grumbling about `damn Senshi' and how they `were more trouble than they were worth'. Michiru started to giggle and kissed his cheek. His flush made Seiya smirk. And theior eyes met and something happened. Time seemed to stop…

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Ami grinned at Taiki with a knowing sparkle in her eyes that bored on naughty, "I know something you don't know." She said in a singsong voice.

"What would that be Ms. Mizuno?" Taiki asked, taking her hand and leading her into the wooded path.

"That I find your other self just as attractive but not more so than this one." Ami whispered into her ear.

Taiki stopped abruptly on the trail, after the defeat of Galaxia she and the others had not reverted to male form. This meant Ami, the girl she had been longing for, was attracted to both sides of her. But what meant more to the Tall Starlight was the fact she liked her natural form better. That was wonderful, because Taiki had no clue what she was going to do if Ami asked her to revert.

"Aren't you going to say anything Taiki? Did I misread this whole thing…?" Ami said, sounding lost and unsure for the first time in recent memory.

Taiki saw the worry in her eyes and made a split second decision, one that would alter her life forever… Leaning down she kissed Ami's petal soft pink lips. Savoring the sweetness of her. Ami placed a hand gently ion each side of her face and gently pulled her closer to deepen the kiss… And time seemed to stand still…

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Rei looked at Usagi and Haruka with a smile playing on her lips, "I actually had a reason for coming over here today. I was going to take Usagi to brunch. Would you like to join us Haruka?"

Just then Sailor Moon's henshin song burst out of Usagi's purse, she darted over and answered it, her eyes widened and a grin spread over her pink pouty lips, "Yaten! How are you and everyone over there?"

Haruka's navy eyes narrowed and her lips thinned, `Those damn Star Lights again? Weren't they going to back to whatever galaxy they had come from yet?'

Rei noticed Haruka's reaction and mentally smirked at the tall Wind Senshi. Her violet eyes began to dance. Oh this could be fun! Watching Haruka when she went into jealousy mode was always fun. Now all she had to do was play Devil's advocate.

"Rumor has it our silver haired Star Light has a infatuation on Usagi." Rei said taking a seat on the windowsill overlooking the skyline. Haruka growled as Usagi's laugh tinkled in the still air.

"Yaten, we were just about to go to lunch. Who's we? Rei, Ruka and myself. Why don't you meet us there?"

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On the other end of the phone Yaten was doing a happy dance. After all her first goal was moving all well. Getting to know Usagi better. If she got to know her better maybe she could decipher these feelings she had for the Lunar princess.

"Sounds great. Where are you all going? To that little place on King Street? The one where you and I went after going to see that movie last time? Okay now I know where you are talking about! I can be there in less than 10 minutes. I will get a table if there first no worries!" and with that Yaten hung up and whistled to herself as she finished her early shopping of the day.

Now that she could be her normal feminine self she was enjoying shopping again. In a short khaki cargo skirt and a lime green sleeveless polo shirt she looked casually cute. Her eyes danced as she slid her new chrome sunglasses over her eyes and walked back out into the sunshiny day. It was looking up more and more each time.

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Kakyuu looked at Michiru through the doorway to the master bedroom with sad eyes. The aqua haired beauty was staring at the five last boxes of her life here with Haruka. A lone crystal tear trickled down her cheek. This was a woman who had given up her hearts desire now two lifetimes in a row. But something was keeping Kakyuu from weeping with the beauty. Her story was still unfolding around her. Her heart would feel and find a more powerful love that it currently had. Blinking rapidly as if to clear her eyes of a mist Kakyuu entered the room and put an arm around Michiru.

"I have done this as well. It is hard and I know this will sound clichéd but you will survive this. You will find another love." She said hugging her.

"So many memories are contained within these four walls. And now I am to walk away from it because it is the right thing to do. Because I know in my heart - that I am not in HER heart the way she is in mine. SO I let my love go knowing she won't be coming back. The peace I felt the last time is strangely missing and all I want to do is fall to my knees and weep." Michiru said with a sad smile and wistful eyes.

Determinedly Kakyuu picked up two of the five boxes and pointed to the other three, which were smaller, "We are going to get you out of here and into your new place. We have a general downstairs helping load furniture. We will make your new place even better than this one. And tomorrow you know what? The sun will come up again."

Michiru looked at her with solemn eyes, "You are a lot like Usagi."

"There is a reason to that. But that is a story for another day."

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Taiki looked at Ami after pulling away from their kiss and winked, "Still thinking you misread the situation?"

Ami sighed and leaned into her, "No, I am sure now I did not misread your intentions. Which is good otherwise I would have had to hurt you. Or have one of my friends hurt you. Anyway, just so you know. You are never leaving me behind. When you go back, I am coming with you."

"Who says we are going back? There is a lot about our pasts you still do not know. Like the fact that part of the triumvirate came from the Silver Millennium."

"The triumvirate? What are you muttering about?" Ami asked sitting up straighter.

Taiki sighed and ran a hand over her face, "Come over here and sit down…this may take a minute or more…"

Ami settled herself on a bench and looked up at the pacing girl in front of her. Her heart seemed stuck in her throat as if she could not breathe. Something was coming and she was not all the certain she was going to like it.

"Back in the days of the Silver Millennium - the peace stretched beyond this realm. Our Galaxy was also included. There were three Senshi known as the Alpha Senshi. They were considered to be the best of the best. Kakyuu was one, Galaxia was another and Usagi was the third. As Sailor Cosmos she was the leader of the Alpha Senshi."

"Wait, in all of our memories Sere had no Senshi abilities whatsoever." Ami said emphatically.

"The Senshi she transformed into the other night against Galaxia? That was Sailor Cosmos. That was her truest form." Taiki said, "I know because she visited our planet at night and in secret. And I saw her Ami. I know what I saw. Their identities were hidden. But I know it was her."

Ami's eyes went misty and she looked at Taiki with disbelief, but then it dawned on her - what reason would she have to lie to her? There was no point in it being hidden…some kind of secret. Why hadn't Usagi told her? Told any of them? Then it hit her. Her face drained of color as understanding came upon her. THAT was the one thing Usagi always wanted more than anything. To protect them. Keep them safe - when it was supposed to be the other way around. She closed her eyes and it was like a damn of memories broke free…a lone crystal tear ran down her cheek and she threw herself at Taiki.

"Damn memory shield break down at the worst times…" she muttered burying her face in the neck of her girlfriend. Silent sobs shaking the tiny girl to the core.

Taiki just held her in the shade of the trees. Letting the proud warrior let her shields down. Shields she had not known were even up. And just let her bodily warmth infuse the other girl. Let her peace seep into her. And then with a gentle kiss on her full lips she led her off down the path, "I think we need ice cream. Self revelation always seems to go down better with a scoop of double fudge ripple."

Ami giggled, "You sound more like one of us everyday Taiki. Now about contact lenses…"

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Minako closed her eyes and let the smell of the fresh air wash over her. Next to her the stoic general watched as she let herself go. Something he was now afraid to do. The last time he had let his guard down his mind had been taken from him…and so had she. He needed to keep his mind so he could win her back. If he had learned one thing from being in a crystal forever is a long time to wait without your heart. Because this nymph had stolen it.

"Minako? Venus? Can I ask you a question?" he asked gently.

She nodded her ascent and he continued, "Back …when we were happy. DO you regret any of it?"

She opened her eyes slowly and smiled sadly at him, "Do I regret? Life is too short for regrets, but yes I have some. Some that still makes me sad. I should have opened up more to you and you to me. If we had shared more I think we might have made it last longer. But the question I think you wanted to ask is if I regret loving you. And no I don't. Because I think that was my moment. My moment to be loved and give love in return."

"You haven't felt love since?" he asked in shock.

"When have I had time Kunzite? Between saving the world and keeping up and alternative personality when the hell have I had time to fall in love?" she snarled with rage in her eyes.

"You found time for me."

"No, I was forced to work with you and you wormed your way through my walls. I did not actively seek you out. And we worked together… It was another time and place. I am not who I was then. Despite everything you see I am not the girl I once was. You changed me…. for the good and the bad." Minako said with a sigh, "Do you regret loving me?"

"Never for a moment. You were my sunshine, the light in my life. You made me love. I treasure all my memories of us together. You were my everything. I just was too blind to miss that I was yours until it was too late."

"We were both fools then weren't we?"

"Yes, I think stupid fool describes it well."

"You were stupid…I am too stunning to be stupid."

"Minako your inner Venus is showing…."

"Bite me General."

"Where at and with pleasure…"

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Makoto shoved Neph away from her and with hurt green fire in her eyes and turn and rushed through her door and slammed it in his face. He leaned against it and started to talk to her.

"Give me a chance. I know you felt it too. That old fire that eats you up from the inside out. That passion." He said through the door. Somehow knowing she was leaning on the other side.

"There is more to this than passion. You killed me with passion the first time and then you tried to kill me later with passion. Passion is all fire…and it burns out." She said back…the heavy door muffling her voice.

He slammed his fist on it in frustration, she was HIS damn it! They had been married in the last lifetime…why couldn't he get through to her they had to work on this…he NEEDED her and he didn't NEED anyone.

"Damn you! Why can't you look into my eyes like you used to and see what I am trying to get through to you? I am not that man that came back and tried to kill you. Serenity's love and my love for you freed me from Beryl's control. I just want a chance. Why won't you give me a chance?" he said the anger in his voice fizzling quickly.

The door was yanked open to reveal an openly emotional Makoto, "A chance? Another chance at my heart? Why the hell would I be THAT dense? You destroyed me Neph. That fire and spark that ties me to you? If I could find a cure to it I would. If I could free myself of this feeling and emotion tied to you I would in a heartbeat. Why can't you let me go?" tears ran down her cheeks, "Why do I still have to love you damn it? WHY?? Who the hell did I piss off up there that I still love you????"

"Is that so bad?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, because love shouldn't hurt this badly. It hurts me, tears me apart inside to love you!" Makoto said softly, fresh tear welling up in her leaf green eyes, "Please…just go away for today. Just leave me alone."

"No, I won't go away and I won't leave you alone." Nephrite shot back, eyes glowing with renewed passion, "Not until we work this out and you agree to give me a chance to be your friend again."

"Fine come in, on the condition that you leave after we talk." Makoto said, stepping aside so he could enter her apartment.

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Yaten watched from her corner booth as Rei led Usagi and Haruka into the diner and back towards her. The young priestess had a smile making her eyes dance and her lips smirk. Yaten just smiled sweetly and watched as Haruka and Usagi sat across from her and Haruka shot her an evil glare as she put her arm possessively around Usagi. Yaten smiled at the taller woman and winked at Usagi.

Usagi watched Haruka's glare and Yaten's wink and couldn't decide who amused her more. Then she met Rei's eyes and they both burst out laughing. Just then the TV over the counter started playing a familiar song. It was Usagi's old henshin song.

"What the hell? Oh kami-sama save us all…"muttered Usagi turning to watch in growing horror as a catastrophe unfolded on screen.

On the screen was a young girl dressed as Sailor Moon and she even had a scepter. Then she started to speak. This is when the catastrophe began.

"Now everyone! Remember, eating all your vegetables will keep you nice and strong just like me! Sailor Moon says!"

Usagi's face went pale and Rei was barely able to suppress her laughter. Slowly Usagi turned back towards the table. Her eyes met Rei's.

"Didn't I threaten legal action? Why did they have to start those up again?" Usagi muttered as if she were still the petulant child of 12 she had been in that mode of her transformation.

"You did and I think we even had a lawyer. But then they quit. Evidently they felt safe again." Rei said still trying to keep from laughing.

"Honey? Who was that and why did they try and look like you?" Haruka asked, her tone full of amusement.

"THAT is an incompetent actress…. separately trying to copy me and do some public service announcements for kids. Because I am a person to look up to." Usagi said with one baleful look over her shoulder at the TV screen.

"Look up to you? What are you 5'2?" teased Yaten.

"Look who's talking! Do you even break 5'0?" Usagi teased right back, feeling Haruka's armrest on her shoulders and she snuggled in a little closer.

Yaten stuck her tongue out at Usagi and then smiled at the waitress as she brought her tea. Rei settled in and accepted her coffee with a soft thank you and a grateful sip. Usagi disengaged herself from Haruka and reached for her cup of coffee and cream. Her blue eyes twinkled at the waitress as she watched the waitress making eyes at Haruka. Haruka noticed as well as she took her tea. With a sideways look at Usagi Haruka played up to it a bit and with a teasing growl Usagi snuggled back in.

"Trying to make me jealous lover?" she teased right in front of the waitress.

"Yup, did it work?" Haruka asked as the waitress walked off in a huff.

"Not really. If that was her reaction to you being taken I wonder what she would say if she knew you were a woman." Usagi said, her lips curving in a smirk, "Hmm, maybe I should find out. Where did she vanish to?"

Rei sighed and sipped her black coffee, "You are evil aren't you Usagi?"

"Actually yes I am. All those times I died to save peoples lives and then was brought back was all a big fun romp in the flowers for me." Usagi said with a perfectly straight face, her eyes gave away her amusement however.

"I thought as much. You certainly do it enough."

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Ami watched Taiki as she finished her sundae and then leaned across the table and kissed away a bit of chocolate syrup on the corner of her mouth, "Missed some."

"Aren't you feeling bold and brazen today?" Taiki teased reaching across the table for Ami hand and squeezed it playfully.

"Well, I am not usually this way. I never ave been this totally at ease in the company of others. Except for the Senshi. But they don't count. They are like my family. I feel safe and comfortable with you. Like I can be me. And if I babble on any longer I will be the single dullest person alive." Ami said, flushing slightly at the look in Taiki's eyes.

Those rich violet eyes that seemed to look through her and yet that didn't scare her for once. All it did was make her want to look into them forever. They seemed depthless. Her deep blue eyes narrowed and her face took on a look of deep thought. The silence stretched between the two of them and yet in was a totally comfortable silence. They were content for the moment to look at each other and try to see each other's souls through their eyes.

To Minako who was passing by it was too good of a thing to pass up. Then she sensed him still behind her and sighed. Then she turned and went into the ice cream parlor and stopped next to their table and grinned as they sat oblivious to her.

"Well, either you two are hypnotizing each other or you finally realized what everyone else realized MONTHS ago." Minako said, her sky blue eyes dancing until HE entered behind her, "ARG! And everyone knows my shadow, Kunzite?"

"Will you stop and listen to me?" he said nodded curtly at the couple at the table.

"Nope, because guess what? I don't care what you have to say. About this or anything else for that matter. You are dead to me because the past is over and dead. I do not want to relive it by any bit of the imagination."

Ami grinned at Minako, "I take it you are still being haunted by the ghost of your betrothed past?"

A wry smirk teased Minako's lips, "However did you guess? Was it the ever present shadow?"

Taiki looked at them and then at Kunzite, "Since I don't believe we were ever introduced. My name is Taiki Kou. And you would be one of those Generals from the other day I will assume?"

Kunzite nodded, "Yes I WAS the first General of the late King of Earth. Now I am the General of her Royal Highness Queen Serenity of the Moon. And I am the betrothed of Senshi V-"

"WHOA! You WERE my betrothed. Then you went all psycho and tried to kill me. Now you are my ex who just won't die." Minako said raising her voice and glaring over her shoulder at him.

"Well nice to meet you anyway Kunzite. I am a Star Light and from the Kinmoku Galaxy." Taiki said with a look out of the corner of her eye s at Ami and Minako.

"Oh, your Alpha Senshi was Kakyuu, we called her the Fiery Fairy on Earth." Kunzite said shaking Taiki's hand.

"Okay so we the only ones who had no clue about the Alpha Senshi?" Ami said in annoyance.

"The Alpha's? I never told you guys about that?" Minako asked distractedly. Ami hopped up and glared at everyone.

"Okay, everyone wasn't in on the big secret okay! I bet the Outer Senshi don't know." She said heatedly before storming out the door.

"Was it something I said?" Minako asked watching the normally cool-headed Mercury storm out in and angry huff.

"She never knew about Usagi being an Alpha. Why did you never tell them?" Taiki asked getting up and moving towards the door.

Minako's face lost all its color and she darted out in the daylight, "It wasn't my choice! It was Selenity's idea! Oh for crying out loud…AMI!!! Slow down and talk to me damn it!"

Kunzite looked at Taiki and smiled ruefully, "you are sure you want to fall in love with one of them?"

Taiki just smiled back, "Too late not too. She had me with her first smile."

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Kakyuu looked around Michiru's apartment and smiled, "Just enough room for everything… You picked a great one. Seiya and General Guy…put the sofa over there."

Seiya poked her head around and translated the agitated muffled bellow from the man at the other end of the sofa, "He says his name is Jadeite and that you are gonna get your ass kicked."

"I would seriously like to see a mere mortal man kick and Alpha Senshi's ass. Tell him I will sell tickets if he wants to try." Kakyuu scoffed. With a roll of her eyes and an arrogant sniff she swept out of the room and into the kitchen.

The two others staggered in with Michiru's full size leather sleeper sofa. With a groan they put it down and glared at the other two who were in deep conversation about where they thought it should go.

"Okay new rule. It gets moved only twice by us. You two are Senshi too you know! So use your own damn strength." Seiya said leaning tiredly against the couch.

"That is a valid point, why are we carrying everything?" Jadeite asked innocently.

"Because I said so." Michiru said with a small grin.

Kakyuu grinned at her, "The queen couldn't ave said it better herself."

Jadeite rolled his eyes with Seiya and together they said, "It's gonna be a hell of a long day…"

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Makoto watched as Nephrite paced the floor in front of her couch. He had been pacing in that same so when she had left to take a shower. His browed was furrowed and his jaw tense. All signs he was gathering his thoughts.

"What? Since it's the middle of the day and there are no stars to consult…have you lost your way General?" she snipped as she hopped over the couch and sat down, hugging a pillow to her chest.

Nephrite turned as if he was surprised to see her and then quickly let calm settle over his features again, "I can think without them Makoto… They led me to you after all."

"Did they tell you you were going to destroy me Neph? Did they tell you would make me wish I had never been born to feel the pain I was feeling?"

"Makoto…I hate myself for that. I honestly do. But nothing I say can make those memories go away and I am not totally sure you SHOULD forget them. All I am saying is that you need to let them be in the past and let our future begin anew. Because no one will ever love you like I do."

Makoto snorted, "You are still in love? Do you even know what it means? You love your stars but did you ever truly love me? I think I was just a poor second to them the whole damn time."

His eyes filled with rage, "NEVER doubt my love for you. It has kept me sane. It has given me hope and courage to face you here today. I loved you then and I love you now. And nothing - not even you will stop me from proving it to you!"

Se surged to her feet and met his gaze without faltering, "Prove your love? How about proving your sanity. Tell me why my acceptance of you is so damn important. Sere accepted you and she is the only one who's opinion should matter since if you ever cause her a moment of doubt we will kill each of you and make sure that the death is permanent this time."

With a final look around the room Nephrite found her practice sword and handed it to her, "here take this then and do it. I am sick of here you throw my death in my face. Either kill me or get over it already."

Makoto took the sword and felt the familiar weight in her hand and looked at him in amazement, "You are either insane or well, insane. I could kill you with this."

"I would rather have you kill me that hear you mention it every other damn sentence. I love you to bits but that does NOT give you the right to harp at length about you being the cause of my demise. So either end it or sit and listen." Nephrite said in determined tone of voice, praying she didn't see the nervous shake in his hands or the pulse at the base of his throat.

Makoto dropped the sword; "Well you just took all the fun out of it, so I guess I will listen."

"Are you pouting?"

"I do NOT pout, I mope. And I am not even doing that."

"Then why is your lower lip out?"

"Either start talking about the topic you wanted to talk about or get out."

"Yessum…pouter…"

"Kiss my ass."

"Been there and will gladly go there again."

"GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~

"So, I heard about this club downtown. I was thinking everyone could get together and have a celebration. What do you think Usagi?" Rei asked as they waited for the bills.

"Sure, we saved the world. I say we party!" Usagi said with a knowing glint in her eyes.

"Finally! You never did say it even after you promised." Rei teased, as Haruka and Yaten grew more and more confused. Rei looked up and giggled, "That is right! Neither of you really ever hung around after the saving of the world before. Usagi has more than one-signature phrase you know. We always through a party to celebrate after and after the first time she died…it was sort of a `Welcome back from the Dead' deal. So Now after every averted apocalypse she says, "we saved the world, I say we party.' I know it isn't much. But it one of those tings that you count on hearing. It was what I wanted her to say before she faced Chaos but she said she would say later."

"Ramble much Rei?" Usagi said as she quickly paid all tree tabs before anyone else could reach for their wallets, much to her girlfriend's dismay.

"Usagi, I was going to pay." Haruka said, her eyes dancing, "Can't let the world think you re my sugar mama can we?"

With a roll of er cerulean blues she hopped up and held out her hand, "I will kiss it all better later. See you guys at 9ish in the club?"

Raven colored brows lifted and smirk played with corners of a full pair of lips, "Even care what club I am talking about?"

"There is only one club downtown you would be referring to - Escape." Usagi replied as Haruka put her arm around her waist and dug for her keys with her other hand.

"9ish? Works for us. How about the Lights Yaten?"

"As far s I know…we have no plans. I have your cell number Usagi. I will call if we can't make it. Well, if they can't. I wouldn't miss a chance to dance with you for the world." And with that the silver haired nymph vanished.

"She seems happier now, don't you think Rei?" Usagi asked as they all walked out to the respective vehicles.

"I think anyone would be happier once the threat of all consuming evil had vanished. Especailly, once your princess was returned to you." Rei said reasonably, "Who are you going to call?"

"How `bout I take Minako and Makoto and you take Ami and Michiru?" Usagi said opening her car door and tossing her purse in.

"Deal, Talk to you later?" Rei asked hopping into her car.

Wit a wink and a wave Rei was off nd Haruka turned to her girlfriend with a raised sandy eyebrow, "Any plans till later love?"

"Well, I was going to raid my closet for something to wear, and then I have to go to the hospital and get the dressing on my ribs changed, and then I was going to spend the rest of my day wit you." Usagi said s she clicked her seatbelt into place.

"How is the pain?"

"Not as bad as being sucked into a black dreamhole, or Beryl. I thought it would be worse…drowning and everything."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~

Ami reached for her cell phone, which was ringing with Mercury's henshin song, with a low moan she saw it was Usagi, "Hey Usa. How goes it?"

Usagi's brow furrowed at the tense undercurrents in Ami's voice and her eyes narrowed, "Spill Mizuno. Something is up."

"Oh, just that everyone seems to know about the Alpha Senshi and your roll in them except the Inner Senshi - who were sworn to protect you."

An embarrassed flush stole over her cheek, "Ami, meet us at Haruka's apartment. I think we need to talk."

"Fine." And with that Ami hung up and did a U-turn in a nearby Parking lot and was soon zipping her way across town. Her blue eyes flashing her displeasure.

Haruka looked over at Usagi, "No alone time then pet?"

"I think Ami needs me to tell her about the Alpha Senshi. She sounded REALLY upset and hurt. Damn, and me without my visual aides."

"You have visual aides? Good lord…"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~

Minako's cell went crazy and she quickly answered it to avoid the sight of Taiki and Kunzite bonding, "Okay I think I am mentally scarred Rei. Taiki and the moron from hell are BONDING. It seems that they might yet become friends."

Rei just chuckled, "Okay oh scarred one, I guess that means you aren't up to Escape tonight then? Drinking, dancing, and making merry?"

"I am SO there. DO I have to invite the deep thinkers over there?"

"Yes. It's the `We saved the World' party. And they helped save the world Venus me love."

"Arg… Ruin all my fun!"

"Be a good girl and invite them and I will buy you a drink later…okay?"

"Ohh! Goody! One with a little umbrella?"

"Yep you can have your umbrella."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~

"Makoto, you made me se myself without hiding in the shine of the stars. And I loved you for that. You opened my eyes and my heart. But you were one of the legendary Senshi. And I did find fault in myself. Fault that I was sure would drive you away from me. Faults that ate away at me inside. You were this perfect angel and I was afraid that if you saw my faults you would leave me here on earth and fly back to heaven. And that would have killed me."

"So, to find those fults you joined the evil forces taking over my world and killed me first? Yes, now you re making perfect sense. The kind of sense that makes none at all." Makoto said with a roll of er eyes.

"Yes, NO! No, just listen. So I went looking for ways to hide my faults. I lied and decieted thinking I was hiding them from you and in fact I was making everything worse. A fact that Beryl used against me. She showed me the pain I was causing you and promised to take the pain away. I thought that if I took your pain away that you would forget everything else. So we invaded and we killed and slaughtered. But the whole time we were all under the impression that our loves, the Senshi, would live. Then we knew that wasn't going to happen - we portrayed the Alpha Senshi would get there in time. WE didn't know their Human forms. WE didn't know that when we killed our King and thusly Serenity that we killed Sailor Cosmos. That Galaxia was off fighting Chaos, and that Kakyuu was fighting to keep her people free. WE had effectively destroyed what we held the most dear. And that effectively destroyed us. When we saw what we had done. We all closed off our hearts and became what Beryl had always wanted - hers." Nephrite said taking a seat across from Makoto and running his hands through his hair. His eyes met hers and he tried to pour his emotions into that look. TO make her see and feel everything he felt and had felt.

Makoto took a deep breath and looked away. Comforting this man from the pain he was feeling and reveling in the pain - because for the first time she felt it matched her pain, tore her emotions. She reached out slowly and put a hand on his arm, "I hate the past. The pain of the past. But that isn't now. That may happen again and it might not. If I live in fear I can't be the person I want to be. So, I hate this sense of pain that comes over me whenever I see you. I don't know if I hate you or the memory of you. I need you to give me time to put the old you and this new you into perspective. I need time."

Nephrite looked at her with pain in his eyes, "I can accept that. Time is not as final as never. Never is such a very long time."

"Now get out of my place so I can take a shower."

"Need some help?"

"OUT!!!"

"Yessum."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~

Usagi stared off into space in the elevator, she could feel the warmth and support of Haruka next to her, "This could get really ugly honey. Just to warn you."

"Ugly doesn't scare me. Nothing in our world can scare me anymore. I love you." Haruka said wrapping her arms around Usagi from behind. Pulling her into the safety of er body. Making her quiet peace suffuse itself into her. With a contented sigh Usagi let her comfort her. This was so peaceful.

"And here we are. I saw Ami's car so I am betting she is already here. And waiting for me."

"Is she really that scary that you are this nervous? It is Ami after all not Rei."

"Ami's temper is scary…because you never really know how to handle it. She isn't even really all that furious - she is hurt. And that is worse than anything. Because I am the one that caused the hurt." Was the quiet reply as the door opened to reveal Ami outside the condo door.

"Hello Ami."

"Hello Usagi, Haruka."

Haruka looked between Ami and Usagi and saw the hurt on both faces and sighed. This was going to take awhile - there went her time alone with Usagi today anyway.

"Why don't we go inside and talk? I will make tea." She said forcing a smile onto her lips.

Silently they all filed into the apartment and Haruka separated from them to make tea. Ami followed Usagi into the living room, taking a seat on the couch across from Usagi's chair. Usagi took a deep breath.

"I'll just start at the beginning. At the birth of the cosmos, the Alpha Senshi were born. WE were created to protect everything and everyone. Galaxia to protect the physical planets and the stars, Kakyuu the people, and myself? I was created to protect the whole thing. All of the cosmos - everyone and everything. It was all entrusted to me. Then my family was created and that was the time of Silver Millennium. I separated my strengths between others and went to protect you all and my family. I never henshined by order of my mother. I suppressed the Senshi in me till even I almost forgot I could. I fell in love. Not just with Endy, but with all of you." Usagi said, stopping to smile at Haruka as she entered with the tea. She sat quietly and looked over at Ami.

Ami sat silently and her gaze was fixed on Usagi. Her features were relaxed and her aura was calming down, "So it never occurred to you that as your protectors we might want to know who and what you were?"

"I was an Alpha Senshi who was in love. I had friends and I wasn't lonely anymore. Kakyuu was at home running her planet and system nd all was peaceful there. At that time Galaxia was peaceful patrolling wherever she felt the need. She had no real home and never seemed to want one. We all thought the time when we were really needed was over. So we became complacent. That was our fatal error. One we swore never to make again. Beryl came and destroyed us using your lovers against us. I was killed. Kakyuu and Galaxia came to late for back up. And it was all over until I was reborn. And even then, I never thought I would have to get tot his level again. I never thought that Cosmos would be needed again. Then when I needed to reach that level. And then I went into that lovely coma and reached balance. I became Galaxia's worst nightmare - her superior. And I hurt all of you."

Ami smiled, "That is all I wanted to know. I just hate not having all the facts. And the General seemed to know. They just seemed more informed than me and you know that drives me crazy. And my feelings got hurt. So I acted out. I do apologize."

Usagi winked, "Let me buy you a drink later and we can call it even."

Haruka watched the two, "This was all just a glorified hissy fit?"

Ami raised an eyebrow, "I do not have hissy fits. I get upset and make it known. There is a difference you know."

Usagi chuckled and went over to hug Ami, "If you ask Kakyuu I bet she could even show you pictures of our home."

Ami returned the hug and winked at Haruka, "I may never let go. She is nice to hug."

Haruka raised a sandy colored eyebrow, "Watch the hands and the pressure. I just had her bandages and dressing changed."

"You had my dressing changed? What am I your car?" Usagi teased sitting on Ami's lap.

Ami grinned and shoved Usagi off, "Wouldn't want to explain to Taiki why I smell like another woman. Especailly after I ran out on her at the Ice Cream Parlor. I left her there with Minako and Kunzite."

"Ouch…" Usagi and Haruka said simultaneously.

"So it is 9ish at Escape?" Ami asked getting up and moving towards the door.

"Yes. I hope you and Taiki can make it."

"We will be there. You have my word on it your majesty."

"Cute Ami. VERY cute!" Usagi said mock lunging after her with a pillow as Ami darted to the door laughing softly.

Turning one last time she looked Usagi in the eyes, "I am sorry I doubted your honesty to us. I truly am so very sorry."

"There is nothing to be sorry for there love. I am the one who should be sorry."

And with that Ami just smiled and slipped out into the hallway.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~

AN: Okay so I thought I could get the first fourth of the epic all in two parts. I guess I was wrong. So, here is the next installment. Enjoy!