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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
- 7
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- 9
HOUSE FULL

Tokyo, Juban District

Aster smiled while she watched the girls make fools of themselves. They had gone to a karaoke club, and the five of them were taking turns singing along to the music. So far, Minako was the best. She had taken vocal lessons while she was in England. Of the other four, ChibiUsa was the closest to on tune and key.

In the six weeks since her crisis with Kunzite. Takagi had been in Tokyo, and had spent the night with her, every other night. When Takagi wasn�t in Tokyo, Aster took the girls out to do something, sometimes only a movie.

About once a week, Kunzite came to see her, and they spent a night together in the sturdy treehouse that was built into the oldest tree on the property. Takagi spent the days and opposite nights in the United States, preparing the Hogosha Kishi1 for their eventual trip to Tokyo. There were some cultural and philosophical problems. The Kishi came from vastly different backgrounds and locations.

~*~*~*~

Takagi had encountered Kishi Mars, the Knight of Fire, completely by accident almost four years ago. He had been in Paris, France, and had been startled by a flare of Planet Power.

The man in question was a race car driver named Eduard LeBlanc. He was terrified when a sluglike monster with tentacles, bulbous eyes, and too many teeth had attacked him. His terror had turned to amazement when a tie tack that he had been given by his mother had glowed, floated off of his tie, and then turn into a weapon. He had felt compelled to grasp the sling floating before him. The armor had formed almost immediately and he had used it to destroy the monster.

He was devastated that the human who had been the host had died when he was freed. Eduard had actually been relieved that someone could explain everything to him, and had taken Takagi�s direction without question.

~*~*~*~

The next two, Kishi Uranus and Neptune, had been encountered in London six and a half months later. Takagi had started looking for potential Planet Power, and had followed where it led.

They had been attacked in Trafalger Square by two monsters that looked identical to the monster that had attacked Eduard.

Nathan and Quentin both had been plagued all of their lives by dreams of the battle on the moon. Once he had told them who he was, they greeted Takagi like an old friend, and packed up their professions to follow his lead.

~*~*~*~

The trail led to Boston, Massachusetts five months later, and a slender, silver-haired man of a conservative Christian upbringing that carried the power of the moon. Thomas Black was studying Astronomy, and had no idea why he had been attacked by the slug-like monstrosity.

He feared and hated his Planet Powers, calling them �witchcraft,� and swearing that he would be killed if he returned to his small town. He did what Takagi suggested so that he could do some good, and in the meantime he prayed for forgiveness of his sin: using witchcraft.

~*~*~*~

Four and a half months later, Takagi felt Planet Power in Arizona. He sent the four Kishi ahead to San Francisco while he investigated. By the time he had reached Arizona, the power source was gone.

Three months later, Planet Power had flared in Atlanta, Georgia. This time, the youma had attacked Atlanta-born international restraunteur Vincent James Knight. Kishi Sol was reborn.

Like any sensible man, he ran. Takagi tracked his now-active Planet Power and introduced himself to the golden-eyed and golden-haired man. Vincent had agreed that San Francisco was a good place for a five-star restaurant.

~*~*~*~

Three months after the attack in Atlanta, Planet Power had flared in Omaha, Nebraska. Takagi had found Kishi Venus still at the scene of the attack, staring at himself in shock. Takagi had spirited him away immediately, and returned Martin Peterson to his apartment to pack. Since he had no family, and no ties, Martin willingly went with Takagi.

~*~*~*~

Two and a half weeks after Omaha, a youma attacked a young blonde man at the waterfront. Takagi happened to be enjoying a sunny day, and was on the scene when Kishi Jupiter electrified the scene.

It turned out that Kishi Jupiter was an acquaintance of his from several years before: a civil engineer named Robert Van Doorn from South Africa, now in negotiations to take a contract in Japan. Takagi was helping with the paperwork.

~*~*~*~

Nearly five more months had passed without any sign of the youma, their still-unknown master, or the Kishi who had been attacked in Arizona.

Without warning, and seemingly without reason, Planet Power had flared in San Diego, and Takagi had gone to investigate with the Kishi. They had found Kishi Saturn defending a blonde woman from a youma. After dispatching the creature (the host was alive, but quite insane), Takagi had managed to have a few words with Kishi Saturn. He was the one from Arizona.

~*~*~*~

Now, having known all along where Endymion was, Takagi had all of the Kishi except for Mercury. For some reason, that one planetary Kishi had yet to appear. Takagi had encountered Sailor Terra, just a month ago. Terra, like all of the Kishi before her, had been given a communications device that would span the planet.

The technology had been common during the Silver Millennium, and had been recreated in Crystal Tokyo. Takagi had brought them back with him, the last time he had visited the future. Aster had one, so that she could contact the Kishi if anything else happened in Tokyo.

Aster had spoken to Sailor Terra twice.

The first time was after she had moved in with Kishi Sol. Terra had been viciously beaten and was recovering in Sol�s house. The Kishi in America had all met one another that day, and Takagi had been furious for a while, and then had accepted it. He had also accepted their tendency to follow Kishi Sol rather than him.

Aster had wanted to know which of them had spoken of their love first; a love that went back as far as Aster�s love for Kunzite, and Usagi�s love for Mamoru. Aster had wanted to settle a ten thousand year-old bet about it. Minako was in the position to collect money from all of them. Only she had believed that they would tell one another simultaneously. Everyone else had bet on either one or the other.

The second time had been a week after that, to see how Terra was doing, and if there was anything she needed that Aster could provide. Terra had rather listlessly thanked her, and told her that unless she could resurrect the dead, there was nothing Sol could do.

Aster was worried about Terra�s state of mind, and had spoken of her worries to Takagi, but not to the other Senshi. Terra had always been the brooding type, but her relationship with the Knight of the Sun should stabilize her.

Earlier in the evening, Aster had tried to contact Terra. She had been met with silence. Now, there was a growing sense of disquiet in her, as if she were waiting for something to happen. Now she understood the concept of the mythical Sword of Damocles.

Always sensitive to the moods of people around her, Usagi sat down next to Aster and leaned against her, gazing sympathetically into her friend�s face.

�What�s wrong, Aster?� she asked. �You aren�t yourself. I know you must miss Takagi, but he�ll be here tomorrow night.�

�I know, Usa-chan,� Aster sighed. �I just can�t shake the idea that something bad is happening, or is going to happen.�

�Anything from the Kishi?� Lita asked as she reached for her tea. She took a long drink, and then plucked the microphone from Rei�s hands.

�My turn, Rei,� she declared. �You�ve been hogging it.�

�Nothing from the Kishi,� Aster said. �Nothing from Terra, either. I tried to call her earlier, but she didn't answer. I guess she could have been swimming or in the bath or something, but I�m uneasy.�

�Mamo-chan doesn�t like to swim,� Usagi said. �Maybe Terra doesn�t either. Why don�t you try her again?�

�Okay,� Aster said. She reached up to the communications device, camouflaged to resemble a gold medallion with a good luck symbol etched into it.

�Terra, this is Sol,� she said. �Please answer. I�m getting concerned.�

�This is Pluto,� Takagi�s mellow voice soothed Aster�s nerves. �Is there trouble?�

�No,� Aster admitted. �I�m just checking in on one of my subordinates, Pluto. Nothing you need to worry about. She�s always answered quickly, before. Now, she�s not answering at all.�

�That�s �cause she cain�t answer,� the choked voice of Kishi Sol interrupted the lovers� conversation. Aster felt more chilled than she had before.

�What do you mean, she can�t answer?� she demanded. All of the girls stopped in the middle of what they were doing and turned towards Aster, silent.

�She ain�t heah,� he said, his Southern accent thickening with his worry. �The house is all messed up, an� there�s one o� them black crystals in the middle o� the flo,.�

�Don�t touch it,� Aster said. �Pluto, meet me at my place, in half an hour. Sol, hang on to yourself. I�ll be there as soon as I can.�

�Nikkou, you can�t,� Takagi protested. �I told you about the Planet Call.�

�I won�t meet his eyes,� Aster said, sighing. �I have to be there for him. Just meet me at the house. Sol off.�

She looked up to find that the girls had switched off the machines, disposed of their trash, and gathered their jackets. They were all ready to leave.

�Let�s go,� Makoto said. �The sooner we leave, the sooner you find out what happened.�

�I already know what happened,� Aster said grimly, pulling her own jacket on and opening the door. �I just have to find out how he did it, and to ask for some help.�

***** *****

They had just stopped in the driveway and Tori had turned off the motor of the car when they all felt a surge of Dark Energy, nearly on top of them. The girls tumbled out of the car on the far side, transformed, and then leaped over the vehicle, ready to battle whatever youma had been sent to attack them.

Aster got out herself, watching carefully, and feeling around for any sign of Dark Energies.

On the porch, something purple and silken fluttered, as if to get their attention.

Aster approached the porch one step at a time, looking up at the roof and the rafters of the porch, to make certain that nothing was lurking, waiting for her to be stupid.

When no youma materialized out of the darkness, Aster reached out and snatched the purple scrap of silk off of the porch.

The six Senshi watched Aster examine the cloth, and then examine something like a necklace that it was tied to. They ran forward, almost as one, when she dropped to her knees. They knelt around her while Tori kept watch, willing to do anything they were capable of to assist her.

�I know who Sailor Terra is,� Aster said softly, clutching the scrap of torn silk in her hand. �My stepfather took her to the Dark Kingdom.� The necklace attached to the silk was a communications medallion like the one Aste wore.

She carefully climbed to her feet, shaking off attempts to assist her. She looked around at the others, knowing that they were out of their depth. They had no idea how to deal with someone like Takara. He was evil in a way that they did not understand. If she had her wish, they would never completely understand.

With Aster�s encouragement, the six Senshi detransformed and followed her into the house. They all sighed in frustration when she called Haruka and Michiru and asked them to come over and keep an eye on the girls while she was gone.

When she hung up the phone, Aster sat down and explained her actions to them.

�I have to see if there�s something I can do,� she said. �It�s possible that this was done to draw me away, and leave you girls defenseless. With Haruka and Michiru here, not to mention Washino, you are anything but defenseless. Mako-chan, you and Ami and Minako have been taking karate three times a week. Takara would never expect a physical attack. He will expect you to use your powers. Planet Power can�t hurt you. I suggest that Mercury, Mars and Moon use that triple tiara attack that you told me about, and that Venus love chain him, and Jupiter beat the crap out of him.� She paused and looked at ChibiUsa.

�If he comes here, you take the tunnel to the other house,� she admonished the younger girl.

�I don�t want to,� the pink-haired girl objected. �I�ll moon dust him!�

�No,� Aster said. �Don�t make me make this an order. You hide in the other house with Saturn, and start yelling for Pluto. She�ll get the two of you out of there if necessary. You have to stay away, Hime-chan. If he can get his hands on you, he can destroy our future.�

�Well,� she said, her face in a resentful pout. �Since you put it that way, okay. I just don�t like hiding.�

�I know, Hime-chan,� Aster said, smiling despite her own fears. �That�s one of the things I love about you.�

Three thumps on the roof made Aster look up, alarmed, and then she smiled in relief.

�Looks like the sitters are here,� she said sarcastically. �Now, you girls mind your manners, and don�t make any trouble. If you�re good, I�ll bring you some candy.�

Her announcement was met with a collection of raspberries as the door opened to admit Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru.

�I don�t plan on being long,� she said. �The girls will tell you what my instructions were. Hopefully, I�ll see you soon.�

�Don�t forget your audition, day after tomorrow,� Michiru reminded her. �You said you wanted to play with the Philharmonic.�

�No,� Aster said as she stepped into the center garden, henshin wand in hand. �I said I wanted to play with you.� She closed the shoji before Michiru could respond. There was a surge of Planet Power and a flash of light before they heard a pair of feet hit the roof of the house.

�So,� Michiru said, looking around at the girls. �What do you want to do?�

~*~*~*~

Sailor Sol waited on the roof for Kishi Pluto. When she saw the mists gathering, she jumped down to the yard, and was waiting when he finally materialized. He looked her up and down, breathless as always in the presence of her power and enhanced beauty. He held out his hand to her, and she was about to take it when she abruptly grimaced, and then looked as though she was going to retch.

�Let�s get going, Pluto,� she said. �He�s drinking, and I don�t care for the taste of what he�s using.�

�Probably Southern Comfort,� he muttered, taking her hand and drawing her close to him.

�No,� she said. �Southern Comfort is peach flavored, isn�t it? This doesn�t even have a hint of any kind of flavoring. It�s just raw liquor, worse even than cheap sake.�

�That is saying something,� Pluto agreed. �Hold on, Sol. You haven�t done this in ten thousand years.�

�There�s a lot of things I haven�t done in ten thousand years,� she said, smirking at him. �I�m not sure I want to do some of them.�

He smirked back, and then he rotated his naginata over his head, drawing down the mists of limbo to transport them seven thousand miles in a matter of moments.

***** *****

In Beverly Hills, Vincent Knight kept looking around the living room of the house he had rented, and he thought about Akari. She was so sweet, and she was so wounded, and she was pregnant, carrying twins sired by Endymion. He didn�t care. He loved her, anyway. He had asked her to marry him, and they had sneaked off to Las Vegas for a weekend, to have it done.

Now, she was gone. The wreckage of the living room, and the black crystal in the middle of the wreckage proved that she hadn�t left of her own volition. His Planet Partner was coming to help him. What could Sailor Sol do to help? Her Planet Power couldn�t get Sailor Terra out of the Dark Kingdom. Who was she trying to fool?

He was pouring his second glass of bourbon when his gate intercom buzzed. He glared at the device set into the wall, and then he reached over and pushed the button.

�Yeah,� he said into the speaker. �What d�yall want?�

�We overheard your conversation, lad,� the mellow Irish brogue of Sean O�Connell, Kishi Saturn, was like a balm on his aching heart. �I knew ya�d start drinkin�, and tha�s not somethin� a man should do alone. I brought Eduard, Martin, and Robert with me, and we�re gonna keep ya company whether ya like it or not.�

�I hopes ya brought your own,� Vincent said, pushing the buzzer that unlocked the gate.

After the intercom shut off, he walked back over to his chair, picking up the bourbon on his way.

He didn�t get up when the expected knock came to his door. He called for them to come in, and then reminded them to remove their shoes before leaving the entry. The four men padded into the living room in stocking feet, and each bearing burdens. Eduard and Martin were both carrying boxes, while Sean and Robert had one bottle in each hand.

Sean walked over to Vincent and put a large bottle of Southern Comfort into his lap while Eduard and Martin both pulled highball glasses out of their boxes, along with their favored drinks; Jack Daniels in Martin�s case, and some dark Merlot for Eduard.

�I know it won�t bring her back, lad,� he said. �I just thought that you�d want to get numb for a while.�

�That won�t be necessary,� a woman�s voice from the open french doors that led to the patio drew all eyes in that direction.

All five Kishi stared, awestruck, at Sailor Sol, framed in the doorway by the late afternoon sun, with Kishi Pluto behind her.

�Can we come in,� she said softly. �Or are you lot just going to start fly catching as a hobby?�

�Holy shit,� Martin breathed. �I forgot ��

�� what kind of effect she has,� Robert finished for him. �Pal, you just took the words right out of my mouth.�

�If you cretins are through,� Eduard spoke up. �I believe ze lady �as asked for entry.�

�C�mon in,� Vincent said. He drained the glass in his hand. All of the other Kishi watched the new arrival grimace and shudder.

�If you have to drink,� she said, stepping into the house and reaching for her tiara. �Couldn�t you at least drink something decent tasting?� She removed the tiara and became a stunningly beautiful woman in a gold silk blouse and a pair of red jeans. She walked over to Vincent and sat on the arm of the chair.

�I know it hurts, Taiyono,� she said, using his name from the Silver Millennium. �I won�t pretend that it doesn�t, and I won�t tell you the hurt will go away.�

�Good,� Vincent said, looking up at her. Now in civilian guise, Takagi braced himself for the stunned expressions that never came. The two solar powers gazed into one another�s eyes for several moments, and then they wrapped their arms around one another and Vincent started crying into her chest.

Aster stroked his hair with one hand, and used the other hand to lift the bottle of Southern Comfort out of his lap and hold it out to Takagi. She turned so that her legs were across his lap, so that the embrace would not become uncomfortable.

Takagi took it away from her, and then set it out of Vincent�s reach.

While Vincent was crying out his grief, Sean poured a bourbon and handed it to Takagi.

�Well, lad,� he said. �It looks like you got to her first, this time.�

�Yes, it does,� Takagi said. �It�s not who�s first, it�s who stays. She�s been seeing Kunzite.�

�She always did love him,� Sean said, taking a drink from his glass. �She might be tryin� t� turn him. Anyway, lad, if either of us thought livin� with her was goin� to keep her on a leash, we�d be foolin� ourselves. Neither of us�d gain anythin� by bein� selfish. I won�t even try.�

�I have never asked her to be exclusive,� Takagi pointed out. �The only thing that worries me is that she hasn�t been Sailor Sol in ten thousand years. I think in the intervening lives, she�s forgotten about the Planet Call.�

�The only reason you remember it, lad,� Sean pointed out. �Is because you were the first one of us t� experience it, this time. It�s also the first time you�ve experienced it with such a standoffish partner. You don�t know that we�ll have th� same kind o� experience you did.�

�I don�t want you to find out the hard way,� Takagi said.

�One day,� Sean said. �One of us will.�

�Not if you�re smart,� Takagi retorted.

~*~*~*~*~

When Vincent cried himself out, Aster let him pull away and pull several tissues from a dispenser on the end table next to the chair. After he had wiped his face and blown his nose several times, he looked at her, and her soaked shirt.

�Aw, honey I�m sorry,� he said. �I done ruint your shirt.�

�Some things are more important than clothes,� Aster said firmly. �Besides, this was made in Japan. It�s washable silk.�

�Akari done introduced me to that,� he said. �I jes� didn�t know where you got your clothes, that�s all.�

�Made in Japan,� she said proudly. �All of my clothes are custom made.�

�Must be nice to have money,� Martin observed. Aster looked at him, and then smiled gently.

�Sarcasm isn�t your style, Venus,� she said. �That�s more Mars or Mercury�s style. I remember you being part of the bad jokes department, along with Jupiter. Dirty jokes department was Uranus and Neptune. Of course, if we ever get the Terrible Trio together, we�ll all have to watch where we step, sit, stand, and lie down. The practical jokes department was Charon, Callisto, and Cerberus.�

Takagi groaned expressively.

�I remember that, too,� he said. �How two of my satellites could develop such atrocious habits is beyond me.�

�Happiness does that,� Aster observed. �You want everyone to share your good mood. It�s just a shame that their good moods contributed to some of the worst practical jokes I�ve ever seen.�

Robert grinned, suddenly remembering.

�It�s not like they ever did anything vicious,� he said. �Most practical jokes are embarassing to the target, but they�re usually a load of fun for the observers.�

�Well,� Aster said, one arm still around Vincent. �I have one third of the trio, and he�s a humorless individual, unless you count gallows humor.�

She would have said more, but the gate intercom buzzed. Vincent started to get up, but Takagi waved him to stay still and went to the gate.

Five minutes later, Nathan, Quentin, and a panicked-looking Thomas came in the front door.

�What happened?� Thomas demanded. �What can we do?�

�My stepfather took her to the Dark Kingdom,� Aster replied. �There isn�t anything that WE can do. If you gentlemen will excuse me for a few minutes, I have a call to make.�

�The phone is right there,� Martin pointed out, gesturing to the table next to Vincent�s chair.

�Who said I was using the phone?� Aster asked. She headed to the backyard, where she could see a koi pond. She paused along the way to pick up the black crystal and wrap it in a silk handkerchief before continuing on.

Outside, Aster knelt by the koi pond where she could see sky reflected in the water�s surface.

�Zoisito,� she called softly. �Can you hear me?�

�I hear you,� Zoisite�s voice was clear and lovely, as always. �You�re troubled about something, Hoshiko.�

�Akari�s been kidnapped,� Aster said. �Takara took her to the Dark Kingdom. Zoisito, she�s pregnant. She can�t stay there.�

�She absolutely can�t stay here!� Zoisite said, shocked. �We�ll find her, Hoshiko. Don�t worry about that. We�ll find her, and we�ll send her to you.�

�I knew you would help, Zoisito,� she said, smiling. �Give the others my love, especially Kunzitosama.�

�I will, Hoshiko,� Zoisite said, smiling. �We�ll find Akari. You take care of things there. Nephrite and Jadeite lost track of Takara.�

�Oh, Gods,� Aster said, paling. �I�m not at home. Zoisito, can you ��

�Send someone?� he finished. �I�ll try, Hoshiko. The Queen has Kunzitosama trying to trail Takara. She is going to be furious that he has taken Akari to the Dark Kingdom.�

�She should dislike this more,� Aster said. �I am assuming that she never wanted us to get our powers. I got mine due to Takara following me to Nagasaki and attacking me. Akari got hers from a direct attack from one of Takara�s youma.�

�Yes,� Zoisite said. �The queen will want to hear this. I will do what I can, Hoshiko. I would suggest that you get home as quickly as possible.� Zoisite�s image faded out, leaving Aster in a cold sweat.

She returned to the group in the living room, who all looked completely solemn.

�Get packed,� she said. �All of you. I want you on planes for Tokyo in the next forty-eight hours. Taiyono, you pack everything up, and I�ll have my plane waiting for you at Los Angeles International Airport within ten hours. Anyone that is ready then can come, too, but my Concord doesn�t carry more than one car.�

�I can be ready,� Robert said. �Martin can bring my car with him when he comes, or I can arrange for it to come by commercial flight.�

�I must withdraw from my classes,� Thomas said. �I will come if I can. I do not own a car, and my employment is not permanent.�

�All t�fixins came wi� th� house,� Vincent said. �I cn be packed an� ready when yer plane gits here.�

�Fine,� Aster said. �Takagi, I have to get back, now. They lost Takara.�

Both Takagi and Vincent paled when she said that, although the rest looked more puzzled than anything else.

�Who�s Takara?� Martin asked. �And how to you make a call without a phone?�

�I don�t have time to explain,� Aster said. �Just trust me on this, Venus. You guys get to Tokyo as fast as possible.�

�We don�t have anywhere to stay,� Robert objected. �Sean said his business manager had located a possible house, but we haven�t heard anything.�

�Your business manager?� Aster said, turning to Sean.

�Aye, mum,� Sean said. �He said he�d found me a big house in an area he called �Cherry Hill�, but he was havin� a bit o� trouble gettin� hold o� the owner. It seems she�s a member of a rich family, and she doesna hae the time to meet wi� a mon who works fer a �gaijin�.�

�I can fix that,� Aster said. �I�ll just buy it, if you have your heart set on that house. I do have a couple of large houses available, though. They�re fixed up, and have basic necessities.�

�What necessities?� Martin wanted to know.

�Some furniture,� Aster responded. �You know, couches, beds, clothes cabinets, two stoves, refrigerator, deep freeze, dumbwaiter, ofuro ...�

�Thank God,� Robert intoned. �I can start living like a civilized person again.�

�Very well,� she said. �Unless you do have your heart set, Saturn.�

Sean smiled and pulled a Polaroid picture out of his jacket pocket.

�Can ye do better than this, lass?� he asked her.

Aster took the picture from him, carefully avoiding touching skin to skin. She took a long look at the house in the picture, and then she smiled. The smile turned into a chuckle despite the situation, and then a giggle, and then she sat down abruptly on the coffee table, laughing heartily until tears ran down her cheeks.

When she finally calmed down, she saw all of the men looking at her like she was a lunatic.

�I think you�ll find my house more than adequate,� she said, grinning like a fool. �That is my house.�

�So, then, mum,� Sean said, all business. �What�ll the rent be, then?�

�We�ll work that out,� she said. �Just rest assured that you have a place to stay. Don�t worry, Taiyono, the kitchen will be up to the exacting standards of Vincent Knight.�

�How�d y�all know my name?� he asked. �I ain�t told ya, or nothin�.�

�I live in Tokyo,� Aster explained as she headed towards the door she had come in through. �My uncle, when he visits, won�t go to anyting less than a five-star restaurant. I�ve been eagerly awaiting your opening, so that I don�t have to go to the Tower, again.�

She pulled out a cell phone and hit a speed dial number. She waited for it to be answered, and had a short conversation in Japanese with the person on the other end. She closed the phone and put it away, looking satisfied.

�The Tower?� Vincent queried, following her. �Tokyo Tower? You don� wanna �have� t� go there again? You poor, deprived child!�

�That�s right,� Aster said defensively. �But you already know what our lives were like. We�ll talk about this later. I have a house full of girls to take care of. Ten hours, Taiyono. Be at the airport. That means in eighteen hours, you�ll be landing in Tokyo. Don�t be late.�

�Ah won�,� he promised. �Y�all sure she�s gonna be brought back t� us?�

Aster paused in pulling her henshin wand out of her pocket, and affected the mannerisms of a small child.

�My Uncle Zoi never makes a promise he can�t keep!� she said stoutly, sticking out her lip and stamping her foot.

Most of the men laughed, and even Thomas smiled a bit.

�Close your eyes, boys,� Aster said as she raised her wand. �Staring at the Sun can blind you. Solar Cosmic Power Transform!�

When the pain of transformation had passed, she saw that everyone had obeyed her order except for Vincent, who was staring at her openly, and awestruck.

�Ah never knew it c�d be that beautiful,� he said. The others opened their eyes, and Robert, Martin, Nathan and Eduard whistled. Sean simply dropped from his seat to kneel on the floor.

�You kneel to no one, Saturn,� Sailor Sol said. �Do not begin by kneeling to me.� She crossed the room to where Thomas stood, awestruck.

�Don�t worry, Tsuki,� she soothed him. �They will find Terra, and she will come back to us. In the meantime, if you feel Dark Kingdom energies, get away. None of you is a match for Takara. You call for me, Tsuki, and we�ll see if he wears sunblock with SPF one million.�

She leaned forward and lightly kissed him on one cheek, and then turned to Takagi, who had transformed while she spoke to Thomas. Takagi held out one hand to her, and she walked over to him and took his hand. Takagi whirled his naginata and called down the mists.

~*~*~*~*~

They returned to Tokyo to a dark, quiet house. Sol detransformed and stepped into the house to find Haruka and Michiru half asleep on the couch.

�The girls are in bed, Sun-face,� Haruka said drowsily. �Tori took Moon-face and the squirt home over an hour ago. They dropped Rei home on their way. You were gone for quite some time.�

�I didn�t think it was that long,� Aster said. �Nephrite and Jadeite lost Takara. I�m glad the three of you are here, and not at the beach. The girls said that your house is pretty isolated.�

�The benefits of money,� Michiru said, stretching. �Do you mind if we don�t get up?�

�No,� Aster said. �Where�s your little one?�

�She found the room downstairs,� Haruka said. �She went down there. She says sometimes she just has to find a silent place and listen to the silence.�

As if on cue, there was the sound of a door slamming. From the direction of the basement stairs came the sounds of a young girl sobbing and hurried footsteps.

Hotaru came running into the room, and she threw herself at Michiru, burying her tear-stained face in her foster mother�s soft shoulder.

Michiru did her best to calm the younger Senshi, mystified about what could have terrified her.

Finally, Hotaru seemed to be over her fright. She turned her head on Michiru�s shoulder so that she could see Aster and Haruka.

The smallest Senshi opened her mouth and said six words that did more to chill Aster than the near-supernatural cold that she could feel creeping closer with every day.

�There�s a sound in the silence.�

TBC
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Diamohns are Forever