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Diamohns are Forever	By : SailorSol Category: Sailor Moon > General Views: 22490 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Tokyo, Juban District

2 weeks later, 2:47 am

Aster and Ami both woke with a start. Ami looked around, confused for a moment, and then remembered that she had come to sleep with Aster after yet another nightmare of her mother�s murder. She was about to go back to sleep when she saw Aster summon her clothes to her and start getting dressed.

�What�s wrong?� she asked. �Something felt funny.�

�Someone�s using Dark Energies in Tokyo,� Aster said. �The last time that happened was the night that your mother was murdered. As far as I know, I am the only living person in Tokyo with powers from the Dark Kingdom. This either means that the Shitennou are doing something, there is another Dark Kingdom agent in Tokyo, or my stepfather is back in town.�

�He could be attacking one of the others,� Ami said, scrambling to her feet. She absentmindedly reached for her henshin wand, not consciously realizing that she had not carried it with her from her bedroom.

�Mercury Star Power Makeup!�

When the dazzle of transformation had faded, Sailor Mercury looked inquiringly at Aster, who was grinning in delight.

�Your transformation is beautiful!� Aster raved. �Ribbons of water cover you and make your fuku. I wish I could capture that on canvas, but then everyone would want to know how I saw Sailor Mercury transform.�

�We have work to do,� Mercury reminded her.

�No time to lose,� Aster said. She reached out a hand without looking, and Mercury realized that Kishi Charon was standing beside her, red eyes glowing, ready to take her into the shadows.

They emerged from the shadows onto the balcony of an apartment building. The Dark energies were coming from the other side of the glass door next to them.

� . . . your parents didn�t know you were Sailor Venus?� a voice that Aster remembered all too well came through the glass, muffled. �I was interrupted with Sailor Mercury, but there is no one to rescue you.�

The sound of cloth tearing made Aster�s blood run cold.

�Break the glass, Mercury,� she hissed, drawing her own henshin wand.

�Solar Cosmic Power Transform!�

When her transformation was complete, Mercury had frozen the glass with an ice beam and broken it.

Sailor Sol stepped through the broken glass door to confront her stepfather.

�Get your hands off of her,� she snarled. �Or you�ll lose them!�

�Well, well,� Takara said, turning away from Minako. She was magically bound to the wall, and the room looked like a slaughterhouse. A huge youma with foot-long claws that looked like steak knives was fastidiously licking its claws clean, purring.

�You could always take her place, Sailor Sol,� he said. �I was looking forward to breaking her in, but you�ll do nicely. I did train you well.�

�Don�t even consider it,� Sol said. �I am as far beyond you as the Shitennou. I may not be your match in Dark Kingdom abilities, but I am more than your match in raw power. Run while you can. Your prey has turned hunter and you are now the quarry.�

�I�ll have you on your knees in front of me soon enough,� he gloated. He stepped back from Minako, beckoned to his youma, and then disappeared, taking the youma with him.

When Takara disappeared, so did his binding spell. Minako slumped against the wall, and then she began pulling at her torn, blood-soaked nightgown, screaming hysterically.

Mercury stepped forward to comfort her friend, but Sol put a hand on her arm.

�Don�t touch her,� Sol said. �We have to be back at the house when they call.� She gestured to the door, where sounds of pounding were getting louder and louder. Outside, they could hear the approaching sirens of the police.

�You can stay if you want,� Sol told her. �The police recognize you, but they will wonder what Mercury is doing here without the other Senshi.�

�I�ll go,� Mercury said. �She�s going to need us later.�

�Good girl,� Sol said. She turned to Minako and reached out a gloved hand to capture the younger girl�s chin.

�Mina-chan,� she said softly. �When they ask who to call, you know what to say. You know who to call.�

�Aster,� Minako panted. �I need Aster.�

�Good girl,� Sol said. �We�ll come as soon as they call us. You�re safe now. He won�t come back.� She leaned forward to press a quick kiss to the younger girl�s lips, and then she stepped back. She took Mercury�s hand in hers, and nodded for Charon to wrap his shadows around them and transport them away.

***** *****

When the phone finally rang at nearly 5 a.m., it wasn�t the hospital calling. It was a policeman calling from the hospital.

�Fushida-san,� the officer said. �I am Officer Kishida Ito. I am calling from Tokyo General Hospital. A friend of yours, Aino Minako, has asked that I call you.�

�What for?� Aster asked, pretending sleepiness. �Is Minako hurt?�

�No, she in uninjured,� Officer Kishida said. �I am sorry to say that her parents are not so fortunate. They were murdered by a monster earlier this morning. We are still trying to put the pieces together, literally.�

�I�ll be right there, Kishida-san,� Aster said. �I would like to speak with you when I get there.�

�I am in charge of her at the moment, Fushida-san,� he replied. �I will be waiting.�

Aster hurried out to the car, followed by Washino and Ami. After a silent argument, Aster slid into the driver�s seat and started the car. They drove to the hospital without speaking, but each of them was forming their own opinions of why Takara was attacking the Inner Senshi.

***** *****

At the hospital, the policeman that had called them was waiting outside Minako�s room, and he inclined his head to Aster before she entered the room. Outside, Aster could hear him talking to Washino.

Inside, Minako had been cleaned up and dressed in a hospital gown. She was sitting on the edge of the hospital bed with Artemis in her lap, looking around her wildly, as if she expected Takara to reappear

�Mina-chan,� Aster said. �Mina-chan, I�m here.�

Minako�s wild eyes met Aster�s, and the younger girl threw herself from the bed and into Aster�s waiting arms, dropping Artemis to the floor in her haste.

The cat opened his mouth to speak, but then shut it again when the doctor came bustling into the room.

�I am happy that you�re here, Fushida-san,� he said, scribbling something on a chart in his hand. �Minako here isn�t injured physically, so she�s able to leave as soon as we have someone for her to go to.�

�I�m already taking care of one of Minako�s friends,� Aster told him. �That�s how she knew me. I�m completely capable of taking care of Minako, as well. I�ll speak with Children�s Services about it. They already know me because of Ami.�

�Yes,� he said, his face drooping. �Dr. Mizuno�s death was a blow to all of us professionally, and a particular blow to the Emergency Room staff.�

�It�s always a shock to lose someone,� Aster said. �To lose someone in such a fashion is even worse. She did not deserve to die at the hands of a youma, but then I don�t know anyone that does.�

�Neither do I,� the doctor replied. �Actually, children�s services is waiting. I think they will be delighted that they don�t have to take her. I thought all of this was over with.�

�You mean the youma attacks?� Aster said. �I think we all thought it was over, but I guess it�s never over. This time, it looks like the youma are targeting teenage girls.�

�This is a terrible business,� he said. �I have heard from the police that several people saw Sailor Mercury and Sailor Venus outside the apartment building. It seems that the Sailor Senshi simply have not caught up with the Youma yet.�

�I hope they do soon,� Aster said. �I would hate to think what his next step might be.�

�Definitely,� the doctor said. He signed the papers on his clipboard and handed one of the copies to Aster.

�This will tell Children�s Services that Minako is fit to be released. I�m going to recommend that they release her to you. She would be better in familiar surroundings.�

�Thank you, doctor,� Aster said, bowing to him. �I appreciate your confidence in me.�

�You are generous and kind,� he said, bowing to her in turn. �Just as all rich women should be.�

***** *****

Aster gave Mina the same treatment she had given Ami when they arrived at the house. Inside, she was deeply concerned about Takara�s apparent ability to single out the Senshi. While Ami was keeping an eye on her friend, Aster flipped though her address book and called Makoto�s number.

�Mako-chan,� she said when the other girl answered. �I can�t take no for an answer, this time. I need you to move in here with me. Another Sailor Senshi was attacked last night, and I don�t think it�s going to stop there.�

�It wasn�t Usagi, was it?� Makoto asked, her voice full of fear.

�No,� Aster reassured her. �Usagi is still safe in her anonymity, for now. It was Minako.�

�I�ll pack,� Makoto said. �I should have done this when it was Ami.�

�I�ll send Washino to get you,� Aster said.

�No,� Makoto replied. �I don�t have much to move. I�ll take a cab or two. Washino should be there, in case he�s needed.�

�You�re probably right,� Aster said. �Minako is sleeping right now, and I�m about to call Rei and Usagi to come over soon. I�d like you here before then.�

�I should be there within the hour,� Lita said. �I can pack in half that, and take the taxis in another twenty minutes. You know I don�t live far.�

�I know,� Aster said. �We�ll be ready for you.�

Aster went into the kitchen and put on water to heat for tea, and then for kayu. She put out what she needed for lunch, and started preparations, ignoring the quiet footfalls that heralded Washino�s arrival.

�You don�t have to say anything, Kage,� she said while she chopped cooked fish. �I know what you�re thinking. I should gather all of the Senshi and keep them safe from Takara. I should enlist the help of the Shitennou. I can�t do either of those things.�

�I was not going to suggest the latter,� Washino told her. �The Outer Senshi are strong enough to defeat Takara. I believe that Sailor Moon could on her own, if he did not take her by surprise. You should tell your Outer General about the new attack, and you should plan with her the necessary steps to keep the remaining Inner Senshi safe.�

�How can we keep them safe without imprisoning them?� Aster asked, putting down her knife and turning to face her bodyguard. �The only way to keep them completely safe is to watch them constantly.�

�Not necessarily,� Washino said. �You have the communications bracelets. Make certain that they keep them with them at all times. You have your Dark powers. Make an alarm ward that will tell you if any Dark powers are used around either Hikawa Temple or the Tsukino house.�

�That youma is lightning fast,� Aster objected. �By the time I know it�s there, they could be dead.�

�I think that he has demonstrated that he is not interested in killing them,� Washino said, stepping closer. He saw Aster�s face pale, and saw her swallow convulsively in fear. He hated doing this to her. He did not want to remind her of how frightened she was of men in general, because of Takara.

�That frightens me more,� Aster said. �They can deal with an attack on their lives, but he attacks their families, to demoralize them, so that he can get his hands on them.�

�You warn them,� Washino said. �You put everything down in front of them, and tell them to keep on their toes.�

Aster was about to answer him when the gate squealed and she went past him to get to the door.

When Aster opened the door, at first she didn�t realize what was going on. Then, she looked down and realized that Rei�s grandfather was standing on her doorstep.

�Ojiisan Hino!� Aster cried, delighted. �Please, come in! I wasn�t expecting to see you until my regular trip up the hill tomorrow!�

�I can carry my own goodies for once,� he said, removing his sandals and donning a pair of slippers in the entry. �I heard from Rei that she will be here for a few days. She wants to be available if her friend Minako needs her. Of course, I gave my blessing. I need to talk to you about this, Fushida-san. Something weighs heavily on my mind, and it has for some time.�

Aster nodded warily and led the elderly man through the house and out into the solarium. She indicated that he should sit and then sat across from him.

�What is troubling you?� she asked.

�It�s Rei and her friends,� he said. �I knew something was unusual from the start. Rei was born with an unusual mark on her forehead, which disappeared when she was about a week old. I knew Rei was mixed up in something when those busloads of people were disappearing. It got worse. That beautiful young man with the lovely laugh showed up, and he turned me into a monster. I chased my own granddaughter around, trying to kill her. When Sailor Moon brought me back to myself, I realized why she and the other Sailor Senshi looked familiar to me. Sailor Mars was my Rei. That meant that Sailor Moon was her friend Usagi, and Sailor Mercury was Ami.

�I was absolutely terrified for them,� he continued. �They were fighting terrible monsters, and risking their lives. I could do nothing to help them, except pray. It never felt so useless to pray before. I know you�re mixed up in this, somehow. I know you must know about this. Now, some monster has attacked two of Rei�s friends. I�m afraid that Rei may be next. Is there anything I can do?�

�Yes,� Aster told him. �I�m going to show you a picture of the man responsible. If you even think you see him, I want you to put the strongest charms up that you can. They might deter him. If you know a priest that�s also a sorcerer, get him up to the temple and have him put as much protection on your living quarters as possible. I don�t know how much good it will do, but it should do some.�

�Don�t tell Rei,� he said. �I know she would worry if she knew that her old grandfather knew what she was.�

�I won�t tell,� Aster promised him. �I don�t see any reason for her to know. You�re right, she would be terribly worried about you. They are going to have to know someday, though, Ojiisan. I know not now, but one day, they either will need to know that they don�t have to hide, or something will happen where we need your help.�

�I keep my eyes open,� he said, smiling at her. �I may be old, but I am not blind.�

�Good,� Aster said, rising to her feet. �Now, how about a couple of brownies while I get a basket together for you?�

Aster led the diminutive man back through the house. Ami was in the kitchen, preparing some kayu. Minako was sitting at the table, looking positively green.

�You are very jaaku,� Minako moaned at her older friend. �You knew I would get sick.�

�I thought that the numbness was worth it,� Aster said. �I did the same thing with Ami. Ask her what she thought.�

�You�re right,� Minako said. She looked down doubtfully when Ami put a small bowl of kayu and a bowl of tea in front of her. She cautiously picked up a spoon and dipped it into the bowl, and then touched her lips to the filled spoon.

Unlike Ami, Minako�s reaction to the kayu was not good. The one taste was enough to send her running to the bathroom, hands clamped over her mouth. Ami scooped up the bowl of tea and followed her friend, a worried frown creasing her forehead.

Aster sighed and removed the offending bowl of gruel. She then got some mild fruit out of the refrigerator and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Hopefully, the papaya, mango, and melon would not upset Minako�s stomach. While she was doing that, she prepared her usual basket of food for Hikawa Temple and put extra brownies in it. At the bottom, she added several folded pieces of paper money, more than her usual, with a request that he pray for a quick resolution to the current problem. The elderly priest thanked her profusely and assured her that he would show himself out so that she could tend to her girls.

When the girls returned, Aster put the fruit in front of Minako. Cautiously, Minako took a small bite of melon. When that didn�t cause a problem, she took another bite.

Before too long, the fruit was gone, and Ami had made Minako more tea. She was just finishing that when the gate squealed again, heralding the arrival of the other three girls. They came in on their own, all love and sympathy. Aster let them take charge of Minako while she started mixing cookies.

Aster had just put the first batch of cookies into the oven, listening to Minako tell the girls what had happened, when the gate squealed once again. She went to the front door and opened it to see two taxi drivers help Makoto pile boxes and bundles inside the walls. There were a few small pieces of furniture as well, two boxes of pots and pans, three of groceries, and one full of nothing but cookbooks.

Aster waved to Makoto and returned to the kitchen, leaving the front door open. She nodded at Washino, who removed some cash from a covered bowl in the cupboard and went out to pay the drivers and help Makoto bring her belongings in.

Once the first boxes came in, Minako seemed to put aside her emotions for a little while to help her friend move in. While they were busy, Aster pulled out cookies and put new ones in until she had about eight dozen cooled and on platters. She put those on one tray and got out milk and made tea and brought the whole assembly out and put it on the dining table.

�Minna,� she called out. �I have cookies for you!�

The sounds from both directions ceased for a moment, and then footsteps approached. Aster was unsurprised to see the six girls come out of the back of the house, but she was not expecting Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru come in the front door, each carrying something of Makoto�s.

�This is the last of it,� Haruka said. �I hope that offer of cookies included us, too.�

�Of course,� Aster said, smiling warmly at the sandy blonde �I told you that you were always welcome, and I meant it.�

�Thanks,� Haruka said. �This looks like kitchen stuff. Should we put it in there?�

�Sure,� Aster said, stepping aside. �Just put it on the counter. Makoto and I can decide where everything goes later.�

�Thanks,� Haruka said, and then passed her, headed for the kitchen.

Michiru stopped next to Aster, on her way into the kitchen with the other box of pots and pans.

�You have quite a houseful now,� she said. �You know the other girls will be over here every minute, don�t you?�

�Of course I do,� Aster replied, smiling. �They were over here three days a week, anyway, for Usagi�s cooking lessons. Now, it�s just going to be more. I won�t have time to feel sorry for myself, now.�

�Feel sorry for yourself?� Michiru asked. �Why would you feel sorry for yourself?�

�I don�t have my sister or brothers,� Aster replied. �The man I�ve been looking for my whole life is never going to find me, a man I loved as a child is my enemy, and the other great loves of my past lives have no room for me, this time. To finish that list off, my black sorcerer of a stepfather is attacking my friends.�

�You might be surprised,� Michiru said, her sea-colored eyes sad. �You might be seeing no room because there�s only room for you. As for your stepfather, once the Sailor Senshi catch up with him, he�ll be sorry he even thought about hurting anyone in Tokyo.�

�I don�t know,� Aster said. �You could be right. Apparently several people saw a couple of Sailor Senshi at the latest attack. As for the other, I�ll play it like music I haven�t memorized. I�ll be alright, though. I have two girls to take care of, as well as my family�s businesses to watch, and my investments. I�ll have plenty to keep me busy. I don�t know that I have time for a relationship, anyway.�

�There should always be time for those you love,� Michiru said sadly. She walked away from Aster, taking the box into the kitchen.

Behind her, Aster watched her leave with a longing she didn�t know she had possessed, and then shook her head and returned her thoughts to the problem at hand.

***** *****

In the kitchen, Michiru put down her box next to Haruka�s and looked up at her partner.

�She doesn�t realize that we remember her,� Michiru said. �We have to find some way of letting her know without telling the girls who she is. I mean, of course they should know eventually, but Usagi would immediately relinquish all authority to her if she knew.�

�We need to talk to ChibiUsa,� Haruka said. �Actually, we need to get her to talk to the Warleader. Setsuna told her that she�s not in Crystal Tokyo.�

�I can�t imagine that,� Michiru objected. �She must be there. She�s the most powerful of all of us.�

�Except that we don�t know anything about the cataclysm,� Haruka said. �The problem is that there is a grain of truth in what Setsuna says. If we were up against a foe we couldn�t beat, she would sacrifice herself to save the rest of us. We already know that. She�s done it before. She ordered me to keep an eye on the others when it happens.�

�We just have to make sure that it doesn�t happen,� Michiru said. �You know how Usagi felt know, don�t you?�

�Yes,� Haruka said. �I know how she felt, and I think I even know why she hated it so much. We�ll contrive to stay the night, and we�ll tell her tonight.�

�It won�t be hard, with the girls here,� Michiru said. �Why hasn�t she told them who she is, and then just ordered them to stay with her?�

�Can you see her explaining that to Rei�s grandfather,� Haruka asked. �Or even better, Moon-Face�s parents? No, Michi, she has to play it cool. She already told me that she�s not going to tell the girls, so that they don�t get dependent on her. She wants to see how powerful Sailor Moon can become, without help.�

***** *****

While everyone was occupied, Aster grabbed her cordless phone and escaped into the center garden of her house. She dialed a number from a phone book she kept on her person, and waited for it to be picked up.

�Chiron Construction, Hanaichi speaking.�

�Hana, it�s Aster.� Aster settled herself onto the ground next to her shrine.

�Just a minute, Sunshine,� Hana said. �Toshiro, pick up the extension. It�s Aster.�

Aster heard a click, and then another breathing pattern.

�Look, guys,� she said. �I�ve got a houseful of scared girls here. Do you think you could possibly �drop in� on me tonight? Not to stay, but to calm the girls down with sheer numbers, and maybe bring by some sakura wine or something?�

�You want to get them drunk?� Hana asked. �You�re playing with fire.�

�That�s me,� Aster said. She quickly filled the other two in on what had happened.

�He�s targeting the Inner Senshi,� Aster finished. �I already broke my resolution by telling Venus, Mars, and Mercury. They know that I know about them, they all told me separately. I don�t want to tell Usagi. She�ll hand over the reins automatically. I don�t want her to do this. Besides, I want your evaluation of all of the Senshi. The only ones I don�t have here are Pluto and Terra. Terra�s been seen in the United States, along with most of the Planetary Kishi, and you know as well as I do that Pluto won�t be here. After you get here, and the girls are in bed, I�ll tell you the really depressing news.�

�We�ll be there in about an hour, Sunshine,� Toshiro promised. �Are you sure you don�t want us to spend the night?�

�I�m not quite up to that, yet, Toshiro,� Aster said frankly. �Keep in mind what I told you when you two got me drunk. Seeing him didn�t help. I still have panic attacks around Washino, sometimes.�

�You�re going to have to get over it one day, Sunshine,� Toshiro reminded her. �Maybe when the Kishi get here, we should arrange a group thing.�

�That wouldn�t scare me,� Aster said, smiling. �I do have an idea, though. I�ll run it past you when you get here.�

�On our way,� Hana said. �Hold tight, Sunshine.�

�Thanks,� Aster said, and then disconnected the call. She stood up to return to her guests and froze, startled.

Kunzite was standing next to the pond.

�I believe you had a problem,� he said. �We felt the Dark Energies. Nephrite and Jadeite are dealing with Takara. Tell your shadow that we will keep watch on your home this night. Metalia doesn�t want Takara making anymore mischief.�

�That never stopped him before,� Aster reminded him. She started towards a door, which required her to get closer to him. Her nostrils caught his scent, and she turned towards him with an agonized expression on her face.

He correctly interpreted the source of her pain. He reached out and pulled her to him, wrapping her in his strong arms and his cape. She whimpered but offered no resistance. When he lifted her off her feet and lowered his lips to hers, she met him with all of the considerable passion she possessed. In his own passion, he did not realize that he was slowly rising off of the ground.

Neither of them was aware of five pairs of eyes watching from one side, two pair from two other sides, and a single pair from the area that led to the ofuro.

~*~*~

The embrace grew more heated, as did most of the watchers. ChibiUsa and Hotaru pulled away first, sliding the one inch gap in the shoji closed.

�I wish I could tell them, Hotaru,� ChibiUsa told her friend. �Aster�s suffering so bad, but she doesn�t have to. Sometimes, I hate knowing the future.�

�You just have to trust Aster to know what to do,� Hotaru reassured the Senshi from the future. �Everything will work out. What you need to make sure of is tell her that you saw her in the future. I heard Haruka-Papa and Michiru-Mama talking about it. She thinks she�s going to die.�

�That I can do,� ChibiUsa said. �Only I think I�ll do it later. I know better than to interrupt kissing.�

~*~*~

The five Inner Senshi finally pulled away, exchanging looks that were both aroused and puzzled.

�I know she said she loved him,� Rei said finally. �But I never would have believed it if I hadn�t seen it.�

�Wow,� Minako said. �What a kiss. I think he puts more into a kiss than my last boyfriend did into a trip to Lover�s Lane.�

�That did seem to be very ardent,� Ami said. �It certainly looks like he returns her feelings.�

�I�ll say,� Makoto said. �I wonder how far he�ll go.�

The other four girls looked at her in surprise, and then all five of them carefully pulled the Shoji open again and looked into the garden.

~*~*~

Near the kitchen, Haruka and Michiru watched the fervent activity with wondering eyes. Now, Michiru realized what Aster had meant about the man she had loved as a child. There was, however, nothing childlike about that embrace.

~*~*~

Washino watched the kiss, and the passionate touches that followed it with a feeling of sadness. All this was going to do was make Aster sadder. He had already seen her resign herself to dying as she had before, and now she was going to die with a broken heart.

~*~*~

In the garden, Aster�s senses swam when Kunzite embraced her. She got giddy when he kissed her, and she let his hands roam freely as she slid her arms around his muscular torso, clutching at the hard muscles.

Her head cleared when she felt Dark Energies wrap around them and realized that she could very well have allowed him to take her to the Dark Kingdom again.

She pushed away from him, using her own Energies to strengthen herself to break away from him.

�No!� she cried. The two of them were hovering a few feet off of the ground. She spun her own Energies to keep herself on an even footing with him.

�I meant it, Kunzite!� she cried, tears overflowing her eyes and streaming down her face. �I am not going with you! Stop trying to confuse me!�

�I was trying to comfort you,� he protested. �I did not mean to upset you.�

�You�re my enemy now, Kunzite!� she cried. She reached into a pocket and pulled out her henshin wand.

�Do you want to see?� she asked him, her voice spiraling into hysteria. She raised the henshin wand above her head and lifted her face to the sky.

�Solar Cosmic Power Transform!�

In mere moments, she had transformed from a tortured, confused young woman into a Senshi wielding astonishing powers.

�Do you really want to repeat what happened on the moon?� she asked him. �I did not yield to you then, and I will not yield to you now. My duty and my Princess come first, no matter what the cost to me.�

�I still have my orders, Warleader,� he said. �I will guard you as my Queen has bidden me. I will trouble you no more with my presence, Sailor Sol.� He disappeared in a blue-black flash, but not before the Inners saw the sorrow in his eyes.

After Kunzite disappeared, Sol dropped the rest of the way to the ground, and then dropped to her knees and doubled over, sobbing uncontrollably.

�I�m sorry,� she sobbed to the empty air. �I�m sorry, saiai. I can�t do it. I can�t leave her, and I can�t stop loving you.�

She continued sobbing in the garden, her head against the moss. The sobs that wracked her body seemed like they were going to tear her apart.

It was Usagi that moved first. She remembered when Mamoru had been taken by the Dark Kingdom and was their enemy. She pushed the shoji open and ran to Sol. She knelt next to the other Senshi and threw her arms around her, her own tears falling to mingle with her friend�s.

For several moments, Sol did not responded, and then she raised herself up and threw her arms around Usagi, crying her grief into the younger woman�s shoulder.

As always, the other four girls followed her example, and they all came out to kneel around Sol, reaching out to touch her and reassure her that she was not alone.

Cautiously, ChibiUsa and Hotaru came out. They waited next to the group for the emotional tempest to pass.

After what seemed like forever to the three people still watching from the house, Sol�s sobs quieted, and she drew away from Usagi a bit wiping at her eyes and nose. She looked around at the seven others in the garden, and then looked Usagi in the eyes.

�I guess I owe you an explanation,� she said hoarsely.

�I would like that when you�re ready,� Usagi said. �Why don�t we go inside, first?� She let go of Sol and climbed to her feet.

Unsteadily, Sol climbed to her feet. She turned her head to where the solitary watcher still stood.

�I told you I could do it, Charon,� she said. �I know you had your doubts, but now you know for sure.�

�Yes,� was the reply from the unseen watcher. �Now we both know.�

�Now we all know,� Haruka said as she pulled back the shoji so that she and Michiru were part of the conversation.

�Let me get rid of this,� Sol said, indicating her fuku. �I promise I will tell you everything I know, now.�

�Pluto�s wrong,� ChibiUsa said abruptly. �You�re in Crystal Tokyo. I�ve seen you. She just never bothered to go look for herself.�

�Thank you, Hime-chan,� Sol said. �I am comforted to know that, but the future is not completely set. Something still could go wrong.�

She reached up for her tiara, and pulled it off. In a flash, Aster stood where Sailor Sol had been moments before.

TBC

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jaaku � wicked

minna � everyone

saiai � beloved

hime � princess; hime-chan � little princess
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Diamohns are Forever