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Part Fifteen

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	A bright flash of light appeared in a wide area full of flowers. A gentle breeze
 moves tree branches, leaves and flower petals slowly gliding across the sky 
following the direction of the air. A gloved hand reached out into the air, letting 
a soft, pink rose petal land in the palm of the hand. Fingers delicatly 
surrounding the petal without making a fist as the arm slowly swayed back, 
revealing the identity of the one holding it.

	Sailorneptune smelled the petal before letting it fly off with the new breeze 
that came across them. She watched it for a moment before turning to Uranus's 
direction with a casual smile. "Uranus.. Forgetting your rivalry with these 
Senshi.. This place is rather beautiful.. Don't you think?"

	"It's...okay." The sandy haired Senshi folded her arms, taking this 
opportunity to just look around. There were blossoms and flowers and roses 
everywhere of a variety of colors. A pathway made out of cobblestone down the
 center where a fountain was. There were cherry blossom trees as well as many 
other classifications. Uranus scratched her head. "..it's decent."

	Neptune stifiled a giggle as Mars and Venus started surveying the area, 
Kakyuu alongside them. Fighter, who was still holding onto her shoulder, 
stumbled beside her princess, her eyes narrowed.

	"P-princess.. I feel it. I feel Suisei here somewhere.. I don't know what she's
 doing.. But... She's in the palace."

	"...Sailoruranus, Sailorneptune, Sailorpluto, Sailorsaturn.. I know you four 
are very strong and very powerful, so I hope you have no offense or anything 
whatsoever to this request.." Kakyuu's eyes were pleading. "I am going to go in 
there.. I need you four to guard the back entrances and exits to make sure she
 does not escape.. Sailormercury, Sailormars, Sailorjupiter, Sailorvenus.. I need 
you four to guard the front. She may try escaping or something I am not 
capable of handling.."

	Uranus and Venus looked to each other before giving Kakyuu a nod. The 
eight Senshi quickly ran to their posts, leaving Kakyuu alone with Fighter and 
Maker. Maker took a step forward, as if to ask what they should do, but it 
seemed that Kakyuu anticipated her question, because she raised her hand to 
stop Maker from speaking.

	"Starlights.. You're badly hurt.."

	"Not badly enough, Princess!" Fighter's eyes showed sympathy and at the 
same time her true, inner emotion. Fear. "Sailormoon and our own ally are 
somewhere out there in space, and we may never find them. One that knows 
their whereabouts is inside out palace, and even if it kills us.." she looked to 
Maker who simply nodded to Fighter's statement. "...even if it kills us... We will 
find out where their location is.. If we are to die with this battle, whether it be 
of blood loss, of loss of energy, strength, beaten up too badly, it does not 
matter. Because before that final breath escapes us.. We will know that Odango
 and Yaten are safe."

	"Fighter..." Kakyuu could not believe the deep emotion in that which Fighter 
said. Even she could sense the fear in Fighter's voice as she spoke. She was 
truly, incomprehendably worried for the lives of the two missing. Kakyuu flashed 
a small smile towards her Senshi. "Fighter, Maker.. If you two go in as well, 
Suisei may just go off and tell Kasei to kill them. She does not want to harm you
 two for she believes you two will be her Senshi."

	"We will never become her Senshi," Maker said, coldly. "We are your Senshi.
 Always and forever. Healer, too. We will do whatever it takes to find them, 
protect you, and defeat them at once. No matter what the cost may be."

	"..Arigato...Maker... But you two must know that they are using them as 
hostages for us to do whatever they want us to do. If you are to follow me, 
Suisei will see it as a threat to herself and her and Kasei's mission. Then Healer 
and Sailormoon will be killed. I do not want them to be killed. That is my last 
intention. Also for her to take over.. But if her taking the throne saves their 
lives.."

	"Princess!! You can't be suggesting..!!" Fighter felt the urge to pass out. No. 
She wasn't that wimpy.

	"If Sailormoon survives, she can make the best of this situation. I believe in 
her, and her power. I also believe in Healer. I know she will be alright, and yet 
this is a threat even to her. You must understand why I am saying what I am 
saying. We cannot afford to have Sailormoon die. Because if we all were to 
barge in, they will kill them, then us, and take over Kinmoku. There will be no 
order or peace and thousands of innocent people will die. All of this.. All these 
lives.. Are resting on my shoulders. As princess of Kinmoku, I will defeat this 
threat on my own. I am sorry, my Starlights..."

	Fighter and Maker felt like a ton of bricks just crashed on top of them. Well. 
It even looked like a ton of bricks crashed on top of them, they were that badly 
beat up. But they slowly understood. They understood that this was the only 
way, and that if they wanted to see Sailormoon's sapphire eyes or hear 
Healer's bitch-rants again they would have to agree. Not only for those two, 
but for their own lives, the ones of the solar system Senshi, and of the people 
of Kinmoku. There was no alternative.

	"...Hai, Princess. We accept and understand your decision," Maker nodded, 
her eyes staring downward. "If you need help.. We will be here."

	"Arigato.." Kakyuu inhaled, grabbing the hem of her skirt before stepping 
inside the palace. '..this is my battle. I just wish I may be as strong as you, 
Sailormoon.'



	Suisei stood in the throne room, standing in the front of the room, looking 
outward. Guards and people of the palace were on the ground, unconscious. 
She had used her attacks to counter-attack and knock out each and every 
person that dared stop her. Now only one stood between her and taking 
Kinmoku over. The guard's name was Hayabusa. He stood in the center of the 
throne room, a sword in his hands, his gaze locked on Suisei's unmoving form. 
She had one arm hanging by her side, the other resting on her hip. A smirk on 
her pink tinted lips.

	"You do know that if you dare strike me, the life of one of the heirs of this 
palace will diminish?" The way she spoke with suchhatred and uncaringness 
made him even more angry.

	"If you are to hurt Princess Kakyuu, or any one of the Sailorstarlights, my job
 is to kill you.. No matter what it takes."

	"But.. I won't be the one hurting her.." Suisei licked her lips. "My dear ally, 
Kasei, will be the one choking the life out of your precious Sailorstarhealer.. And 
since you do not know where she is, and, since I wasn't the one to kill her.."

	"Do not play smart with me! You fool.. You just gave away your entire plan 
to me. I could have the entire planet know what you plan to do and have you 
killed.."

	"You dare, and I will kill her. Me, Kasei. Doesn't matter. You may make the 
call, Hayabusa."

	"Suisei. Stop threatening him and stop using the lives of my Senshi to get 
what you want. If it is me you would like to speak to, I am here. Let Sailormoon 
and Healer go." Kakyuu stepped into the room as she spoke, trying hard not to 
step on any body as she did so.

	"Heh... So Kakyuu finally appears."

	"I asked you nicely for you to release them. Now do so!"

	"I'm not letting them go. They are my lifelines.. Without them, anyone could 
just attack me or Kasei without a care in the world. But. With them, if anyone is 
to attack us, they will be able to hear either or of the two Senshi scream their 
final scream.."

	"You are heartless.. Rude.. Terrible.. I cannot believe you are actually doing 
this to human beings.. Now that we are here, what is it that you want?"

	"Your place."

	"N.. Nani?"

	"Your place as Princess of Kinmoku."

	"....what?"

	"You heard me. Give me an answer. Or instead of letting you hear it, I can 
SHOW you the death of your own Senshi." Suisei licked her lips once again. "I 
can just imagine the blood pouring out of her neck.."

	Kakyuu's hands went into fists. Her plan was the right choice.. Wasn't it? No 
matter, it was too hard to say.. But if she didn't say something fast...

	"You're too slow for my tastes, Princess.." Suisei laughed, her eyes flashing 
as she jerked the sword out of Hayabusa's handsand rushed toward Kakyuu. 
One swing. That was all she needed.

	Kakyuu was frozen in place. Her fear had glued her to the ground, mouth 
open in a silent scream. All she could make out was a single scream, a loud 
scream. Familiarizing the scream, her eyes widening when she connected the 
voice of the scream tothe voice of one of her Senshi.. That was went red poured
 onto marble. 

	Dark red. 


* * * * *

	Kasei slowly opened her eyes, pushing herself up rapidly to see Healer and 
Sailormoon staring at her with fear in their eyes. Healer had more anger than 
fear. She stood up, holding onto her waist while advancing to the two Senshi. 
Healer slowly stood up, placing herself in front of Sailormoon. Kasei stopped in 
her tracks, quirking a brow. "Why are.."

	"This is Sailormoon. The last time we met, I did not believe her. In her. And 
yet she saved us, our world, our Princess from Chaos. With her beliefs. If she 
could do that to such evil, then I can't let her die. If this is my last stand, I'd like
 to have my last thought of me doing something right."

	"Yatenchan.." Sailormoon's eyes softened, filling up with crystalline tears.

	"You'd risk your life for this Senshi..?" Kasei took a step back.

	"..You'll never know."

	Kasei narrowed her eyes before closing them, chuckling. "You are strong.."

	"Nani..?" Now Healer quirked a brow.

	"You defeated me with strength of attack. Wisdom of words. Courage, 
bravery.. Is this your purpose, Star Senshi?"

	"My purpose is to protect the princess of Kinmokusei. She is not here. This is
 a princess.. Who saved us all."

	Kasei slowly made up so she was beside Healer and Sailormoon. She placed 
a hand on Healer's shoulder, raising her head up. "Maybe.. I misjudged you. You
 are incredibly strong."

	"Sailorcrystals. They give us hope." Sailormoon smiled at that comment from 
Healer.

	"What..?"

	"No matter how many times you are killed.. Your Sailorcrystal is your back 
up. You may always be reborn," added Sailormoon.

	"Having that in mind, then I do not care if I die protecting her."

	Kasei looked to the side. Had she forgotten her true calling? Her true 
mission? Had she been so caught up in Suisei's ideas and the thought of being 
Queen that she forgot everything she stood for? "Sailorstarhealer. I will bring 
you back to Kinmokusei."

	"W...what...?" Healer's eyes widened, unable to believe the words that 
echoed through her brain. After all the pain she went through, she was going 
home?..

	'Sailorstarhealer. I will bring you back to Kinmokusei.'

	"Kakyuu..." she breathed, eyelids fluttering closed.


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