Soul Mates
by lady

CHAPTER 10
Truth or Consequences: The Trials of Fate

 

Mamoru sat up on the bed, breathing hard, his body covered with sweat. He could still see the image of Usagi from his dream, running away in tears, while over and over she screamed the words that cut his heart to pieces.

Galen is ten times the man you are! Maybe that's why I love him so...love him so...love him so...

He clasped his temples with his hands, trying to quiet the words ringing in his ears. And still, it was persistent. "No more!" he shouted to the room at large, desperate to stop the taunting voice. All at once, only silence filled the room. The sound of his own voice had managed to pull him out of his half-asleep state to total wakefulness, banishing the traces of his nightmare in the process. His body felt weaker as the tension left him, and he slumped back against his pillow.

"Usako," he whispered softly and reached for their framed photograph together on his bedside table. He had moved it there soon after he had first seen her again. Mamoru traced a finger down Usagi's image and noticed again how youthful she seemed then--how happy she was in his company. Now it seemed he was only the harbinger of tears and hurtful, angry words. Her smiles were reserved for another.

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

In a large mansion on the other side of the city, Haruka was also awake. No matter how hard she'd tried, sleep had managed to elude her. She had kept on seeing Galen's face whenever she'd closed her eyes. She couldn't stop thinking about him.

It all started the past afternoon when she was leaving the Silver Millennium at the end of the day. She had just walked out of the doors when she saw Usagi run through the gates like the devil himself was behind her.

"Usagi?"

The young lady looked up at the sound of the familiar voice and changed her direction to head straight for Haruka. She had no choice but to catch and hold Usagi as she continued to sob her heart out. The anguish on her face touched Haruka's heart and resurrected all the old, protective feelings she used to have for the younger Senshi.

"What's wrong, Usagi-san?" she asked softly as she run a gentle hand down the other woman's back, trying to calm her down. "What happened?"

Usagi just shook her head that was currently buried in Haruka's shoulder. The tears kept flowing down her cheeks, but she refused to say a single word of explanation. There was nothing the older Senshi could do but try to soothe her as much as possible.

The sound of the door opening behind her made Haruka look back. She found Galen standing on the steps, looking uncertainly in their direction. She couldn't help the soft gasp of surprise that left her lips. Her reaction made Usagi aware of Galen's presence, and she quickly moved to be enclosed by his strong arms. Completely lost in her grief, she didn't notice the hurt look that passed through Haruka's eyes as she did so, nor the helpless one that suddenly shadowed Galen's. Haruka turned and started to walk away, but Galen's soft voice stopped her.

"Haruka?"

It was only a whispered word, but the longing and uncertainty it conveyed were so powerful, it made her look back. Galen's face was a study in frustration as he continued to hold a crying Usagi while he looked towards Haruka pleadingly. There was a struggle going on inside him, and it was evident when she looked into his eyes. He very obviously wanted to talk to her, but Usagi needed comforting, and he was torn between the two of them. Haruka smiled gently, knowing how difficult this situation must be for him. She suddenly felt generous and made the offer before she could change her mind.

"It's alright," she said softly. "Why don't you take care of her for now. I can wait until tomorrow." And she gave him another smile of encouragement.

Haruka saw Galen's shoulders lose the tension in them and watched him breathe a sigh of relief. "Thank you," he said, his eyes telling her how much her understanding meant to him. With one last look at her, he turned the now calmer Usagi towards the doors and slowly led her inside.

Haruka waited until they were out of sight before heading for the parking lot. As she slowly walked to her car, she kept wondering if she'd done the right thing.

As she looked out at the night sky, Haruka pondered again whether her decision to listen to him was the right one. She sighed. She really had no choice. Galen had grown too important to her, and since she needed his presence in her life, she would do anything to make things better between them. Whether their talk the following day was going to be a step forward or not however, only tomorrow can tell.

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

Galen was up and about early the next morning, eager to start the day. For the first time since New Year's Eve, he felt free, unburdened by his promise to Usagi. That feeling could be attributed to the talk he had with her last night, which made a lot of things possible for him.

Usagi had calmed down a lot by the time they reached her suite. Galen opened the door for her and followed her inside, bent on discovering what had happened to make her cry. He knew it had something to do with Mamoru, and he was right.

After a few careful, prodding questions, Usagi told him what had occurred in angry tones overlying the pain she really felt. She chose her words carefully when she repeated the insults Mamoru had said about Galen's character. She was so afraid that it would hurt him.

Unaware of Usagi's worries, Galen was frankly amused about Mamoru's view of their past relationship. He'd obviously learned what he knew from somebody else and didn't remember a thing himself. If he had his own memories back, he would know that Usagi and Galen had both learned that they didn't love each other after all, not romantically anyway. It was a mutual decision to part ways and nobody was really, truly hurt.

Admittedly, he did have quite a few bad days when Mamoru first came into their lives. Hell! He was miserable, and he knew it. Only Haruka's presence had made those days bearable. Inevitably, it was also Haruka herself who made him realize that his feelings for Usagi were merely that of a brother, not a lover. She had made everything in his world right again, and for that he owed her a lot. She deserved better than the hurt and indifference she'd been getting from him the past few days, and he was determined to put a stop to it.

"Usagi," Galen started, making sure she was listening.

"Yes?"

"I think it's time to talk to Mamoru," he suggested.

"What?" she asked incredulously. "But why? I'm not ready yet. I need more time."

"More time to do what? Nothing's changed since New Year's Eve. You've been steadily avoiding him, not giving him a chance to explain. I don't think a few days or weeks will change the situation if you keep doing that."

"But..."

"Usagi, listen to me," Galen continued, holding her by the shoulders until she looked at him. "I'm not trying to be hard on you or anything like that. I just want you to try and resolve this situation we're in. It's starting to hurt a lot of people, and I don't feel comfortable with it anymore. Please try and see it from my point of view."

Usagi looked beyond the plea in Galen's eyes to the pain and frustration he was experiencing inside. She'd heard it earlier too, in the way he'd said Haruka's name. She knew then that this conversation was inevitable. But still, she wasn't really prepared for it.

"I'm sorry, Usagi," he went on. "I'm sorry for rushing you into making a decision. But I can't keep hurting Haruka the way I've been doing the past few days. That is no longer an option."

Usagi took a deep breath and nodded her head. "I understand," she said, and she did. She, too, hated seeing the hurt look in Mamoru's eyes every time she turned him away, and it was getting harder and harder to do so. All of a sudden, she realized the guilt and remorse she felt afterwards wasn't worth the extra time she wanted before she confronted him. Usagi didn't want to be hurt by Mamoru again, but she was hurting herself more by avoiding him. Galen was right, Usagi thought. It was time to confront the demons that have been plaguing her for the past four years. It was time to face Mamoru.

"I'm sorry, Galen," she apologized, putting a hand on his arm. "I'm sorry for being such a coward and for involving you in my problems."

"I'll always be here for you, Usagi," he promised gently. "Don't ever forget that."

"I won't. I promise."

Thinking back on that conversation, Galen only hoped that Usagi really meant it when she said she'd talk to Mamoru. But at least he was now free to talk to Haruka--something he was really looking forward to.

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

After countless hours of trying to sleep with little success, Haruka finally got up at five o'clock and went for her early morning jog. By the time another hour had passed, she was dressed and on her way to work, arriving at the Silver Millennium two hours before she was supposed to start. The sound of her shoes hitting the marble floor seemed too loud as she headed for the elevators that would take her to the twenty-fifth floor. The lobby was deserted as she passed it and so were the rest of the offices in the building. It was too early for anyone to be around.

As Haruka stepped down the hall towards her office, she was startled by the sound of movement coming from Galen's office. She decided to investigate and knocked on the door just in case it was really her boss who was in there. The door opened at once and she saw surprise wash over Galen's face when he found her on the other side. He opened the door wider and beckoned her in, giving her a welcome smile.

"You're very early today," he commented once they were both seated across from each other.

"Look who's talking," she replied, cocking an eyebrow at him. A sheepish grin appeared on his face as he explained, "I couldn't sleep. I had a long talk with Usagi last night, and I couldn't sleep afterwards. Morning took a long time in coming."

"I couldn't sleep either," Haruka admitted. "I kept thinking about what happened yesterday, and I was curious about your reasons for wanting to talk to me."

"I'm just glad I could finally talk to you again, Haruka. Really talk, I mean. I missed you, you know. I missed working with you and laughing with you and... and just being with you."

She looked down slightly before whispering the words, "I felt the same way," but didn't elaborate any further.

Galen heaved a deep sigh, knowing it wasn't going to be easy to explain his actions of the past few days. At that particular moment, an apology seemed the best way to start. "I'm sorry, Haruka," he began, looking at her earnestly. "Sorry for the things I've said and done lately. Sorry for the hurt I've managed to inflict in the process."

Haruka kept her silence, not denying the fact that she had been hurt.

"I didn't really plan for any of that to happen," Galen continued. "But everything went haywire from the moment Usagi greeted me at the airport."

"You don't have to explain about Usagi," Haruka was quick to interrupt, closing her eyes. "She's very important to you, I know."

"That's just it, Haruka. You don't know," Galen said in contrast. "Usagi is a very good friend, and it's true that we shared a past together which will always remain a very special time in my life. But that's all she is to me, Haruka. A friend who also happens to be the Moon Princess whom I am sworn to protect."

The Outer Senshi finally looked up to find Galen still staring at her, his eyes asking her to believe him. "But...but I don't understand," she started, totally confused. "If she's just a friend, why did she kiss you at the airport? And please don't tell me that was just a 'friendly' kiss."

He almost smiled at the vehemence in her tone, because it betrayed how strongly she felt about that moment, but he didn't. It was still too early to believe that he would be forgiven. "I was just as surprised as you were when Usagi kissed me at the airport," Galen explained, standing up. He walked to the window and stopped, looking out but seeing only the scene that transpired a few weeks back. "Usagi and I have only been 'just friends' for a long time now, and kisses are not something we usually share. Apparently, Usagi saw us standing so far apart and decided to help us get back together a little faster. She thought kissing me would make you jealous and make you realize your true feelings for me." Galen smiled slightly, remembering Usagi's enthusiasm. "She's very impulsive, as you probably know. She didn't really think it over very well."

Haruka's brows met together in a frown. "But where did Usagi get the idea that we should be together?" she asked, obviously puzzled. "Why would she think I'd be affected by her actions towards you?"

"Usagi remembers everything, Haruka. She has all her memories of the Moon Kingdom, and she knows that we were a couple back then." Then, after a short pause, "She knows how much I want us to be together once again."

Galen's last statement faded into silence, and with his back turned, he couldn't see Haruka's face. He had no idea what she was thinking. After the silence lengthened however, he started to believe that Haruka didn't share his feelings and an ache formed in his chest. "It's alright," he said softly, his words laced with pain, when he couldn't stand the silence any longer. "You don't have to say anything to me. I know you don't feel the same--"

"It worked."

Galen halted at Haruka's sudden interruption. "What?" he asked, afraid to believe what he thought she was saying.

"I said it worked," she clarified. "Usagi's kissing you made me realize that I wanted to be more than just your friend. It brought out my true feelings for you."

Galen returned to his seat and took Haruka's hand in his own. "Your true feelings," he repeated. "Haruka, are you saying...? Do you mean...?"

"Yes." The one word that he wanted to hear. Well, one of the words, anyway. He breathed a sigh of relief and held her hand tighter, looking into her eyes. "I love you, Haruka. I know it didn't seem like it lately, but I do."

"I love you, too, Galen," Haruka finally admitted to herself and to him. Then, seeing how serious he looked, added with a mischievous smile, "I must if I can put up with all that you've done lately and still feel the same way."

A stricken look crossed his face at her last statement. "I'm sorry Haruka. I really am. It's just that Usagi--"

"Shh." She placed a finger over his lips to stop his explanation and smiled gently. "Usagi is a lot of trouble, isn't she?" she asked him, a hint of laughter behind her words. Galen looked up to see the teasing light in her eyes and knew his troubled moments were finally over.

"Yes, she is," he agreed wholeheartedly. "But we all love her anyway."

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

Mamoru arrived at the Silver Millennium just in time for his nine o'clock appointment. He greeted Galen's secretary pleasantly and asked if her boss was ready for their meeting. Eumi, not knowing that Haruka was in Galen's office and a little flustered because she was late, told him to go right in.

Mamoru walked down the hallway to the first door on the right. Just as he was about to knock, he heard the conversation going on inside. It was pretty intimate and obviously between lovers, one of whom was none other than Usagi's Galen.

He opened the door without knocking, anger pushing him on. He found Haruka and Galen still holding hands and strode forward to haul the other man to his feet by the collar. Galen, surprised at Mamoru's appearance and his following aggressive actions, stood up when he was pulled but was quick to disengage the contact afterwards. He stared at the other man questioningly and watched him turn positively livid.

"How could you?!" Mamoru accused angrily, looking at the couple in front of him. Oh Usagi, he thought, knowing how hurt she would be when she learned about this meeting. "How could you betray her like this?"

"You don't understand, Mamoru," Galen tried to explain. "Usagi and I--"

"Don't you know she could have walked in at any minute?" Mamoru continued furiously, not hearing a word the other man said. He turned to face Haruka who had also stood up. "I thought you were her friend."

"Mamoru-san," Haruka began defensively. "It's not what you think. Galen and Usagi are not--" The tightening of Galen's hand around hers made her stop and she saw him shake his head.

"Maybe you should talk to Usagi first, Mamoru," Galen suggested. "She already knows about us, but I don't think you'll believe that until she tells you herself."

Mamoru's anger suddenly deflated at the mention of talking to Usagi. He knew the possibility of that happening was almost nil. "She doesn't want to talk to me," he said miserably. "She just runs away and cries." He looked away from the couple, not wanting them to see what was in his eyes. "I told myself I wasn't going to stop trying until she finally listened to me, but I don't think I can go through with it. When she looks at me--it's as if she hates me. I just can't take it anymore."

From the way Mamoru said those last words, Galen knew he'd had enough rejections lately and wouldn't welcome anymore. But Usagi was finally willing to talk to him, and Galen knew that she still loved him no matter what he'd done. There was no need to guess how Mamoru really felt. It was always there for all to see, written in his eyes, whenever Usagi was around. It would be a crime not to help them get back together when he knew they were perfect for each other. All they needed was a chance to sit down and talk about the past. The past that was preventing them from having a future.

"I know it's been rough going since New Year's Eve, Mamoru. Between our arrival and the attacks that have been happening lately, it must seem like your whole world has been turned upside down. But the Senshi and the generals have started coming together one by one, and I'm sure that you will also get your turn. Don't give up now."

Galen paused to take a breath, hoping he was getting through to the younger man. "I know Usagi hasn't been very receptive lately, but she's been through a lot in the last few years. She just needed time to adjust to being with all of you again. After four years of waiting for Usagi, don't you think it's worth another try to get your relationship back to the way it was?"

Mamoru remained silent, but his shoulders were no longer slumped and his eyes lost the desperate look that was there a moment before. He turned towards Galen and looked him in the eye, trying to ascertain the other man's sincerity. He saw nothing there to cause him any doubts. Galen truly meant what he said. Ever so slightly, Mamoru nodded his head.

Galen smiled his approval. "I'm supposed to meet Usagi for lunch at noon. She told me to meet her in the lobby. Why don't you go in my place?" he suggested.

Again, Mamoru nodded his head. He turned and walked to the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. He stood like that for a moment, seemingly undecided, before looking back towards Galen. "Thank you," he said softly. Then he turned around once more and walked out the door, leaving the couple watching him behind.

When he was gone, Haruka turned to Galen with a worried frown. "Do you think he'll be alright?"

He put an arm around her and smiled reassuringly. "I think they'll both be alright."

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

Galen is running late, Usagi thought as she waited by the information desk in the Silver Millennium’s lobby. That was unusual. Galen had always been prompt before. But then again, there was always a first time.

Near the elevators, in a corner partially obscured by plants from Usagi's view, Mamoru stood, watching her transfer her weight from one foot to the other as she patiently waited. Uncertainty was written all over his face, but he forced himself to take a hesitant step forward. Any minute now, she's going to look up, he told himself silently. She's going to see me coming and run straight for the doors as fast as she can. That is, if she doesn't start crying first. The possibilities that run through his head made him grimace, but he kept on going, one step at a time.

Usagi saw movement from the corner of her eye and turned with a ready smile for Galen. Only it wasn't Galen who was slowly approaching, but Mamoru. Suddenly, every instinct in her body told her to run and hide--to avoid the painful feelings this meeting would surely produce--but she stood her ground. She'd told Galen she was going to have a talk with Mamoru, and she was going to keep her word even if it meant hurting the both of them. Maybe then she can get on with the rest of her life.

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

Mamoru walked silently beside Usagi, still not quite believing that she had actually agreed to talk to him. When he saw her expression after she'd recognized him, he was almost sure that she wanted to refuse, but something had managed to change her mind. He could only be grateful to whatever it was.

Usagi also walked silence beside Mamoru, trying to recall all her reasons for wanting to hate him. Being with him like this reminded her of older, better times when she had been naively in love with him and had been confident her love was returned. Now it only hurt to know that she had been completely wrong, and that she'd been a fool. It reminded her of why she had suddenly left him and everything else behind four years ago.

Beside her, Mamoru stopped walking and it was only then that she noticed they were already at the park. It was the same one where she had first spied on Rei and Mamoru a long time ago. The same one where she herself had enjoyed a boat ride with him before the surprise arrival of Chibi-Usa.

Oh my God! she thought, for it suddenly just hit her. Chibiusa. What is going to happen to her, now that she and Mamoru are going their separate ways? An ache formed in her chest at the sudden realization. She'd never even thought of what repercussions her present actions could cause in the future. She'd never thought of anybody but herself. What a selfish creature she had become.

I'm so sorry, she said in her mind to the daughter who may never be born. I'm so very sorry.

"Usako?"

Mamoru's voice brought her back to the present and she found him standing beside a bench. Feeling weak from the sudden drain on her emotions, she walked the short distance between them and sat on one end, hoping he would sit as far away from her as possible. Seeing the guarded look on her face, Mamoru turned towards the lake and stood with his back to her, leaning his arms on the rail fence surrounding the water.

Usagi struggled to get her composure back and partially succeeded after a few minutes. It was then that she realized he hadn't said a single word. Her brows knit together in a frown. For someone who had been trying to pin her down for a talk, he had suddenly gone very quiet.

Mamoru was very much aware that Usagi was waiting for him to start the conversation. After all, he had been the one who'd kept insisting that they needed to talk. He knew he had to say something soon, or she might very well up and leave without hearing him out first. But the words just couldn't get past his suddenly clogged throat. The fear he felt was all but choking him at the thought that his whole future was hanging on his next words.

Usagi fidgeted in her seat, not knowing what she was supposed to do. She found the silence uncomfortable and looked around the park to keep herself occupied, unexpectedly finding pieces of her past lurking in every corner. The memories flashing across her mind brought a wistful smile upon her lips and she let herself be lost in their wonder.

Usagi remembered being so happy then, so carefree and unburdened by any problems. She had been so much in love that every moment she spent with him was like being in heaven. She almost wished it could be the same again. She almost wished... No! she silently screamed. No, no, no! She had been a naïve fool back then and had been living in a dream world. She didn't wish for things to be the same again, she told herself. She didn't! But who was she trying to convince?

"Mamoru-san?" she prompted, trying to rein in her emotions. "What is it that you wanted to say to me?" Anything at all, she pleaded silently. Anything to keep the memories from clamoring to the surface. Anything to stop me from yearning for things I could never have.

Usagi watched his shoulders rise and fall as he took a deep breath. "There are so many things I want to say to you, Usako, but I just can't seem to find the right words."

She shook her head at his statement, desperate for him to continue. "You don't have to sugar-coat the things you need to say to me, Mamoru-san," she told him gently. "Just say them straight out."

"I don't know," he murmured, more to himself than to her. "But I guess there is no other choice." Time's up, he added silently, and forced himself to say the words. Yet another moment passed, and no sound issued from his lips. Oh God, I can't do this. I can't-- "I want to talk about what happened that day, four years ago," he finally blurted out.

"That day four years ago?" Usagi interrupted, and Mamoru heard all the bitterness and hurt in her voice. Anguish crept into his heart and he flinched inwardly. All of a sudden, every hope he had of the two of them getting back together disappeared.

Oblivious to his suffering, conscious only of her own, Usagi went on. "That day four years ago, I stood in front of all of you, bleeding and hurt, while the rest of the Senshi threw accusations at me." Tears gathered in her eyes and blurred her vision as they overflowed. "I thought that we were friends, that we were a team. I guess I found out differently."

Mamoru recalled that memory along with her, more clearly now than when he was actually living it. He remembered the shock on her face as she listened to the others; the disbelief as she turned to him with imploring eyes.

"But do you know what hurt the most?" he heard her continue in a tearful but determined voice. "What hurt the most was that you stood there and said nothing. Nothing!" Mamoru closed his eyes in defeat at the accusation, knowing he had no real defense against it, no valid reason he could offer. All he had were the pitiful excuses that had plagued him at the time.

"I waited for you to stop them, to say that they were wrong. But you couldn't even look at me. And then when you finally did say something, it was only to tell me that I wasn't there when you needed me." Usagi laughed bitterly, relieving that moment over again. "I wasn't there for you? What a joke that is! I've always been there for you. It was you who wasn't there for me when I needed your support." She wiped the wetness from her face and tried to calm herself down. In her distress, she failed to notice the tensing of his shoulders and the clenching of his fists. She couldn't see the torment that passed his eyes. "I thought you loved me," she finally concluded, tears blocking her throat. "But I guess that's a joke as well."

"No!" Mamoru almost screamed when he couldn't take it any longer, finally turning to face her. "That's not the way it was. That's not the way I felt," he continued earnestly, his eyes imploring her to understand.

Usagi looked at him with surprise, shocked at the way he reacted. So he wasn't as calm and collected as she thought he was. She could almost swear that that was pain coloring his expression. But no, it couldn't be. It must be her imagination.

"I didn't agree with them, Usako," he tried to explain, "but I was so lost in my own thoughts that I wasn't quite aware of anything else." At her puzzled expression, he gave a sigh of frustration. How?, he asked himself. How do I explain something I don't even understand myself? "I guess I should start at the beginning."

Mamoru sat down on the bench beside her, not too near but not that far either. He looked in the distance and tried to concentrate on finding the words that would make her understand. "The first time I saw you, when I still didn't know you were Sailor Moon, I felt this...strong pull towards you. I didn't really understand it, and I tried to ignore it as much as possible." Even through his misery, a slight smile still managed to tilt his lips as he remembered how Usagi used to react to him in those early days. "I thought you were very beautiful, but the feelings I had for you went much deeper than mere attraction. It really puzzled me for a while."

Usagi looked at him with wide eyes, finally giving him her full attention. Although she reacted with disbelief at first, she noted that his hands were clenched tightly into fists, and that there wasn't an ounce of humor on his face. He could only be telling the truth. But still... "But...but you were always teasing me, and pointing out all my faults."

"Of course I was," he agreed wholeheartedly and Usagi was taken aback. "If I didn't do that, I knew my feelings for you could easily turn serious, and I couldn't afford to be serious about anybody at that point," he explained, trying his best to get through to her. "My life was a mess as it was, trying to find my true identity, fighting the Dark Kingdom, and trying to figure out what those strange dreams I've been having were all about. I didn't have the time or the energy for anything else."

So he had only been pretending, Usagi thought. Somehow, that bit of information made her feel so elated inside, and she felt a definite softening in the region of her heart.

"After we found out who we were and I discovered you were my long, lost love, I finally understood where all those deep feelings were coming from. But we had so little time together, I wasn't able to explore it further." A frown marred his face at the thought of the events following that discovery. Up to this very day, he still couldn't believe he had taken part in what happened next. "You will never know how guilty I felt when I finally recovered all my memories and learned what I did after that day," he said in a hoarse voice. "I couldn't believe that I could hurt you that way. That I could almost kill you."

"But you were under Beryl's influence," Usagi soothed, unable to bear the agony in his voice. "You didn't know what you were doing."

"But I should have known," he insisted, not able to forgive himself. "I should have remembered who you were. You were too important to me to be forgotten so easily."

Usagi looked at him with sad eyes, knowing no other words to make him feel better. Oh, Mamo-chan, how terrible it must have been for you, yet you didn't say anything. Why didn't you tell me how you felt?, she wanted to ask him but listened to him instead, feeling more and more of the barrier around her heart melting away.

"I told myself that I would make it up to you, and the next few days we spent together were wonderful. It didn't feel like you blamed me for the things I did even if I blamed myself, and I was able to breathe a little easier." He paused, remembering how relieved he was that he didn't repulse her. "Then the dreams started coming." Mamoru looked at her then, and she saw all the regret he felt written on his face. "I didn't want to hurt you anymore, Usako, but I felt I had no choice. Your life was in danger and I couldn't take the risk of losing you to death even if it meant hurting the both of us. And it did hurt me to push you away, when all I wanted to do was hold you in my arms and keep you safe. You'll never know how much I hated myself for doing that to you."

Usagi didn't know what to say. It was like looking at a new Mamoru, totally unlike the old one she knew. Why?, she silently demanded. Why did you wait 'til now to tell me all this? Now, after we have hurt each other so. But she didn't say it out loud. "You never told me how you felt, Mamoru-san," she said instead. "I always had to guess at your feelings because you never shared them with me."

"I know that, Usako," Mamoru admitted shamefully. "I knew it then, too, but I couldn't seem to help it." He got up again and began to pace restlessly. How? How do I explain to her who I really am inside? "After what happened in my past--the accident and not remembering who I was--I tried to keep to myself most of the time. After a while, it became a habit and I saw no reason to change it." He paused to organize his thoughts, wondering if he was getting through to her. "Of course I had friends, but none of them knew me very well and I preferred it that way. There were things happening in my life that I couldn't share with anyone else."

"And then I met you and the other Senshi. For the first time in my life, I had something very close to a family and it felt wonderful to finally belong." He stopped pacing then and looked at her directly. "It felt wonderful to be loved, Usako."

Usagi kept her glance on his face, mesmerized by the emotions being revealed there. Mamoru was finally opening up to her, and she could only sit back and listen to each and every word he uttered.

"When we were alone together, there were so many things I wanted to say to you, but the words just wouldn't come," he continued when she didn't say anything. "I didn't know how to tell you how I felt because I'd never done it before. Sharing my feelings was a new experience for me and I found it very difficult to do." Can you understand that, Usako?, he asked in his heart. Can you see how hard it was for someone like me, who has never shared his feelings, to tell you how much I loved you?

He sat down beside her once more and took hold of her hands. "I decided later to show you how I felt instead, and I spent as much time with you as possible. There were times when I wasn't perfect, when I made certain mistakes--like not knowing it was your birthday," he reminded her with a sheepish grin that was quickly gone, "but I did my best to make it up to you. As time passed by, I stopped worrying about saying the words to you, deluding myself into thinking that you surely knew by then how much I cared for you," he finished in a tone filled with self-disgust.

"But I did know how you felt," Usagi felt compelled to admit. "At least I believed I knew back then. You never said the words but I always felt special when I was around you, and I thought it must be your love I was feeling. Perhaps that's why I thought you also knew how I felt without the words being said. I guess I was wrong."

"It wasn't your fault, Usako," Mamoru told her earnestly. Putting the blame on her was the last thing he wanted to do. "How you felt was plain for everyone to see, but I let doubts enter my mind. I guess that easily happened since I never really forgave myself for what I did to you in the past."

"I thought I'd already forgotten it, but it must have been lurking at the back of my mind, waiting to ambush me when I was most vulnerable," he explained, trying to clear up the misunderstanding that occurred four years ago. "I started remembering it the first time you arrived a little late to help us. I told myself I was being foolish and promptly dismissed the thought. But after you were late a few more times, it started bothering me a whole lot more. I began to wonder if you were losing interest in me. I recalled all the mean, hurtful things I did to you and I wondered if you blamed me after all."

Usagi started to protest but he stopped her with a finger at her lips. "I know it was foolish, but it seemed very real at the time. I kept looking for reasons that would make you stop loving me to justify why you weren't always there for me. You blamed me; you didn't love me anymore; you only pretended to love me for destiny's sake and you decided you couldn't go through with it." He paused to take a deep breath, wondering why he was doing this to himself. One look at Usagi's face was all the answer he needed. "It also just occurred to me how young you really were at the time," he kept on determinedly. "I realized that what you felt could have been just infatuation--a crush, if you will--instead of the love I took it for. This and all the other reasons kept running through my head over and over, until I was almost crazy with fear--fear that I was losing you."

Usagi suddenly felt unburdened, a great weight having been lifted from her shoulders at the sound of those words. For the first time in four years, she could finally breathe easily.

"That last day, it was finally driven into my head that you no longer cared for me. I felt so guilty," he said, letting her go and cradling his forehead in his palms. No matter how much it hurt to say it, he needed to go on. "I knew you never meant for anyone to get hurt. You were simply avoiding me. How could you have known that we were losing the battle so badly." Mamoru shook his head, unable to bear the memories passing behind his closed eyes. "I blamed myself for your absence, and indirectly, for every injury all the Senshi sustained. In my mind, I believed I was the reason you weren't there, and it was also my actions in the past, which led to your reasons for not being there. It was all my fault."

"But…" Usagi started to protest once more, but Mamoru didn't notice. "When Jupiter voiced all the fears I was feeling inside, it all suddenly became too much for me," he continued as if she didn't say anything. "I thought that, if even she could blame your absence to your lack of feelings for me, then it must be true. I wasn't just imagining it. That was when you asked me if I agreed with what she said--that you didn't care for me anymore. In my thoughts, it was all connected. Your not being there when I needed you meant you didn't care for me anymore, and I told you so. Only, I included everyone else in the answer because I didn't want you to see how much it was hurting me. How much I resented the idea." Again, he shook his head. This time in self-disgust. "Even then I was trying to keep my feelings to myself. I was such a fool."

One look at his face told Usagi that no amount of words could comfort him. Even if she'd tried, all the right phrases seemed unworthy following his heartfelt confession. So she let the silence flow between them as she continued to stare at his face, still very much fascinated by the emotions passing through it. Sorrow. Regret. Fear. And yes, love was there as well. She could hardly believe her eyes. Mamoru had loved her after all four years ago. It seemed he still did.

"Mamoru," she began tentatively, carefully choosing her words. "I want you to know that I did care about you a lot back then, and I would have been there for you if I could have managed it somehow. But I myself was in a fight and I almost didn't come out of it alive. It was Luna's interference that saved my life."

"I know that, Usako," he said before she could continue. "Luna told us everything that same night." He clenched his fists once more as agony joined the other emotions he wore like a mask. "At that point, I felt like I was somehow caught in a nightmare. Wherever I turned, whatever I did, I ended up hurting you and pushing you away. It was almost laughable how things always turned against me, but I didn't find it funny. The joke was on me." And he smiled without mirth, lost in old memories better left in the past.

"Mamoru…" was all she could say, feeling helpless against his sadness. Tears threatened to overflow once again as she watched his shoulders slump, a tormented look entering his eyes. She wanted to tell him that it was okay--that she still loved him. She was grasping for the right way to start when his next words managed to stop her.

"It seems that after all these years and all the soul searching I have done in that time, I would have learned my lesson. But I haven't." He ached at the thought of what his next words would do to her. "Like I said, I always end up hurting you, and today isn't going to be any different."

A sudden fear clutched Usagi like a fist and slowly squeezed the joy out of her heart. What could he possibly mean?

"I know you don't love me anymore," he stated haltingly but determinedly pressed on. "Galen…Galen is the man in your life now." Oh God! How it hurt to say the words, no matter how true they were. Mamoru watched as a frown appeared on Usagi's face. He couldn't bear to see the pain his next words would surely produce and turned around to look at the peaceful lake. "Galen is a good man," he admitted grudgingly, giving the other man his due. "I considered him a friend before I found out who he really was--what he was to you. But I will never forgive him for what he's done to you now." Mamoru clenched his fists harder, wishing they were around the other man's neck. How could he do this to Usagi?

Surprised by his vehemence and puzzled by the cause, Usagi leaned forward and demanded, "What has he done to make you hate him so, Mamoru? I know he would never do anything to hurt me." She was absolutely sure about that.

"You're wrong, Usako," he contradicted. "So wrong."

Alarmed by his tone, Usagi got up and stared at his tense back. "What has he done?" And when he remained silent, "Tell me!"

Mamoru turned around so quickly that Usagi took a step backward, unsure of his next move. His face was arranged in harsh lines and a bleak look covered his eyes. "I'm sorry, Usako, for being the one to tell you this." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "Galen has fallen in love with someone else," he finished quickly in a defeated tone, never hating himself more than at that moment. Forgive me, Usako.

As suddenly as it formed, Usagi felt her ballooning fear deflate at his statement and almost gave in to the laughter and happiness bubbling inside her. But one look at Mamoru's face told her it wasn't the time to do so. He was hurting, she suddenly realized. Hurting for her. Somehow it endeared him all the more to her heart, and she reached out and touched his shoulder.

Mamoru felt her hand and opened his eyes, expecting to see tears running down her face. To his complete surprise, he discovered a slight smile playing upon her lips. He couldn't believe it. "Didn't you hear me, Usako? Galen has fallen in love with Haruka!" he repeated himself.

Her smile broadened. "I know."

"You know?" he asked incredulously.

She nodded her head. "How did you find out?"

"I walked in on the two of them holding hands in his office," he said in a furious tone. "They didn't even try to deny it. I wanted to kill him for doing that to you."

Usagi's eyes widened and she looked at him in alarm. "You didn't hurt him, did you," she inquired, concerned. "I've known about the two of them for a while, so it comes as no surprise."

Mamoru couldn't understand why she was taking it so lightly. "But aren't you hurt, Usako?" he asked, wondering what he was missing. "Aren't you even angry? He chose another over you."

Ever so slowly, Usagi shook her head.

"But…but why?" he went on, still unable to see what was right before his eyes. It seemed she needed to spell it out for him.

"Galen's relationship with Haruka couldn't hurt me because I don't love him--not that way," she told him with shining eyes, a blush stealing upon her cheeks. "I have always loved just one man, and I thought he didn't care for me," she continued to confess. "That hurt me so much that I left everything I held dear behind to start a new life. I couldn't bear to be so near him and know he didn't return my feelings."

Mamoru couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was he dreaming or did she just say she still loved him? He was almost too afraid to know the answer. His chest suddenly ached with all the hope he thought was lost to him, and with his heart in his eyes, he asked softly, "Usako, am I hearing it right? Are you saying you still--" He couldn't finish the question for fear that she would say no. But as he watched her with baited breath, slowly she nodded her head.

Without another word, he took a step forward and enfolded her in his arms, as close as he could possibly get her. He lowered his face to her hair and inhaled the fresh scent of it, loving its silky feel. He still couldn't believe she was back in his arms again.

"Mamo-chan," she whispered against his chest, clinging to his hard frame with all her strength. "I missed you so."

Unbidden tears started in his eyes at her use of the familiar nickname. "I never thought you'd ever call me that again, Usako." And he held her even tighter. "I'll never let you go again," he swore in a husky voice. "I love you too much to lose you now."

Usagi pushed away from him, just enough to see his face. "Mamo-chan, you love me?" she asked wonderingly, feeling like all her dreams were finally coming true.

"I should have told you how I felt a long time ago, Usako," he told her, gently tracing a finger down her cheek. "But now you'll get tired of hearing it, because I'll say it all the time."

"Never," she assured him with a radiant smile. "Because I love you too."

"Usako…" Mamoru pulled her back into his embrace and just held her, finally at peace with himself. Everything was right in his world again, now that he knew Usagi loved him back.

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

Justin rubbed the back of his neck to help relax his tense muscles. He had been going over blueprints all morning, and his neck and back were complaining from being bent most of the time. He was really looking forward to a long, hot bath followed by a very restful afternoon.

Justin turned a corner and smiled when he spotted the Silver Millennium in the distance. Not too long now, he thought to himself and hurried his pace. He absently glanced towards the park as he passed it and stopped abruptly, retracing his steps. What he saw made him draw a resigned breath.

So much for that R & R, he complained silently, before closing his eyes and changing to Jadeite.

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

Coming from the other direction, Galen and Haruka were finally on their way to lunch after giving Mamoru and Usagi enough time to depart from the Silver Millennium. They were talking comfortably, at ease with each other, and happy to have the ever present tension between them totally gone. Galen happened to look up just as Justin appeared from around the corner and pointed him out to Haruka. "Isn't that Justin coming this way?"

"Looks like him," she replied, squinting to get a better look.

Galen was about to hail him when they saw him stop and backtrack. After he quickly transformed to Jadeite, Galen halted himself and muttered a puzzled, "What the hell-?" By the time he proceeded to attack, Galen grabbed Haruka by the hand and took off at a dead run, moving fast to see what was going on.

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

Unaware of what was going on around them, Mamoru and Usagi continued to hold onto each other, perfectly content to stay that way forever. From Mamoru's shoulder where her head was resting, Usagi finally opened her eyes, and she moved back to look at his face again. As she did so, she noticed a movement from the corner of her eye and turned slightly, surprised to find a shadow moving on her right. She spun in that direction and quickly found their assailant, just in time to push Mamoru and herself out of the swinging ax's path.

Suddenly, the ground shook and cracked in a straight line heading towards the uninvited youma. Soil and rocks appeared from the crack and continued to gather in proportion as it neared the helpless monster; his feet caught in the gap, and finally proceeded to entomb him standing up. Then, as quickly as it formed, the pillar of dirt sunk into the ground, leaving the crack to finish mending itself until it too completely disappeared from view.

Mamoru helped Usagi up as they both watched unblinking, fascinated by the spectacle happening before them. Jadeite managed to reach their side just as everything became normal once more. "Are you okay?" he asked the two of them.

"Fine, thanks to you and Usagi's quick reflexes," Mamoru replied. "I didn't even see it coming." He shook his head at his lack of awareness.

"Don't look now," Jadeite warned back, "but a huge group of its friends are about to join us."

"What?" the couple shouted, turning around. Sure enough, a big bunch of youma was coming towards them. Mamoru immediately had a rose in hand and prepared to transform into Tuxedo Kamen, but Usagi stopped him.

"Endymion," she said softly. "We need Endymion more." He gave her a puzzled look but did as she asked, while she herself transformed into Millennium Moon. As they finished, they heard footsteps coming from behind them and turned to find Falcon and Uranus quickly approaching. "We saw Jadeite transform and attack and thought you might need some help," Falcon explained in response to their raised eyebrows

. "Your more than welcome to get rid of them," Jadeite offered with a mischievous grin, pointing to the advancing group.

"No problem," his friend said confidently. "Falcon Steel Talons…SLASH!" The revolving steel disk easily passed through all the youma, turning them to dust and leaving no evidence of their earlier presence.

"Way to go!" Jadeite said, reaching to give Falcon a congratulatory handshake when they heard Uranus swear softly. "Heads up, folks. I think we have a big problem on our hands." Everyone looked up.

In the distance, coming down the roadway were five hooded figures, almost like monks. Surrounding them were the largest number of monsters anyone had ever seen. Even as they approached, from the trees and bushes, even from the lake, more and more youma popped out, increasing their number to immense proportions.

"Damn!" Jadeite uttered. "We can't handle all of them. We need more help."

"The others are on their way," Sailor Moon said in reply. "I managed to get them on the communicator."

"Then we'd better stall for time until they get here," he answered with a resigned sigh. "Here goes nothing!"

He suddenly had two perfect, peach colored rose blooms on each palm, crushing them to reveal a mound of petals. Quickly making fists, he crossed his forearms and waited until the inside of his palms glowed a bright orange.

"Metamorphic Rocks…PULVERIZE!"

He flung the glowing petals at the enemy and watched as they grew and changed to stones. Increasing in size until they became huge boulders, they slammed into the unsuspecting monsters and pinned them to the ground, eventually turning all of them into dust.

Uranus raised her hand and proceeded to attack. "World Shaking!" she screamed just as Millennium Moon released her flaming sphere. Falcon was handling the group in front of him with his steel talons, while Endymion borrowed a trick from his alter-ego and used his sharp-stemmed roses.

As the monsters continued to pour out from their surroundings, the small but valiant group started to tire and began to move backwards as the enemy advanced.

"This is not going great, guys," Jadeite said between gritted teeth. "Where's the cavalry when you need them?"

"Right here! Boreal Turbulence…ENCUMBER!"

Massive gusts of wind pushed back their approaching foe and gave them a few minutes reprieve. Nephrite turned to Zoisite. "Now!" he commanded and the other man nodded, looking towards Mercury.

"Ready?"

"Whenever you are," she said in acknowledgement.

"Let's do it then."

As with the other generals, he easily produced four pink roses out of thin air and held them by the stems in his left hand. He flattened his right palm over his clenched fist until a bright glow emitted in between his hands.

"Cataclysmic Forest…"

Zoisite threw the roses in quick succession to land in a semi- circle around the advancing youma. As each rose hit the ground, it cracked and thick, hard vines filled with sharp thorns erupted from the gap. The vines spread upwards and outwards, intertwining with each other until they formed a dense forest made of thorns.

Mercury cupped her hands and raised them above her head, looking up. "Mercury Hiemal Frost…" The cold air seemed to condense upon her palms as she lowered them to her lips and blew.

"AMALGAMATE!" they shouted together.

Her icy breath shot straight to the dense growth and permeated through, wrapping each thorny vine with ice to create even sharper, deadlier icicles.

"That should hold them for a while," Zoisite said with satisfaction.

"Nice timing!" Falcon offered the new arrivals with a smile. Nephrite, Jupiter, Zoisite, Mercury, Kunzite and Venus were all present. "Where's-?"

"We're here!" Wolf shouted as he rounded the corner with Neptune, Saturn and Lynx.

Now only Mars was missing, and Jadeite scanned the area to see is she was nearby. He wasn't able to find her by the time Falcon called everyone's attention.

When they had all gathered together, Falcon informed them of what was happening. "We'd better think of something quick. That fence isn't going to hold them forever."

"I noticed something odd," Endymion volunteered. "Those five monks, I think they're the source of the never-ending number of youma we're up against."

"What do you mean?" Wolf questioned, having no idea what he was talking about.

"Every time we destroy a lot of them, the monks seem to pray and a dark shadow falls over them," he said in explanation. "Before we know what's happening, more monsters are popping out of nowhere."

"Then we're done for," Jadeite concluded pessimistically. "There's no way to reach the monks without eliminating the youma and there is no end to their increasing numbers."

"Not necessarily," Falcon countered immediately, looking at his fellow knights.

"What do you have in mind?" Nephrite prompted.

When he saw Lynx and Wolf nod in agreement, Falcon explained to the rest. "The 'shiro-kage' generals have an attack where we could fight as our namesakes in the form of energy. The only problem is, our human bodies are completely vulnerable to any attack the enemy decides to use then. Somebody has to protect us while we do battle."

"Endymion and I will do it," Sailor Moon offered, ignoring the look of unease on her partner's face.

"Neptune, Saturn and I will assist them," Uranus offered, not wanting anything to happen to Galen now that they were finally together.

"Very well," Nephrite agreed. "Then it'll be up to the rest of us to finish these monsters."

"Fine by me," Jadeite replied as the rest nodded their acknowledgement.

The group quickly dispersed as the fence was finally breached. As they neared the quickly disappearing ice forest, they found to their satisfaction that a lot of the youma had perished in its deadly clutches. The Senshi and the Royal Guard generals quickly spread out in a straight line to form a human fence. Soon, raging winds, burning lava, and other deadly forces of nature filled the air as the battle ensued. After a while, it was hard to say who was winning.

A little distance behind them, the three 'shiro-kage' generals formed a small circle and unsheathed their swords from their back. Grasping the hilt in both hands, they held their swords in front of them and bowed their heads slightly. In the silence that followed, they concentrated all their energy onto their swords until the gleaming steel started to emit a blinding glow. The brightest of lights seemed to envelop them for a moment, before suddenly rising and taking the shape of their totems--a lynx, a wolf and a falcon. These three shadow creatures sped to their prey in a blinding flash, leaving their host bodies vulnerable and unprotected.

Now the other four Senshi and Endymion formed a wider circle around the Knights of Selene. As they stood and waited, they prepared themselves for the inevitable attack, knowing that the fight between the youma and the others was not going well. They knew that if they failed and anyone managed to breach their shield, it could very well mean the end for everyone.

As they continued to watch and wait, Mamoru gave Sailor Moon an apprehensive glance. He was still in the dark as to why she wanted him to change to Endymion instead of Tuxedo Kamen. He thought he would be of more use to them in that form since he was more comfortable fighting that way. Endymion was still pretty much of an enigma to him.

Usagi saw his worried look and gave him a reassuring smile. She knew the time had come to give him the four items the men had asked her to pass along. Quickly searching for and finding them, she handed them over.

"The guys said you would know what to do," she explained, indicating the Royal Guard generals with a nod of her head.

Mamoru listened to her closely, then looked down at the items he was holding. He had no idea what to do. He saw nothing there but four beautiful roses in varying colors--a peach one, a yellow one, a pink one, and an ice blue one. For lack of anything else to do, he produced a red rose of his own and added it to the pile. Still, nothing happened.

A short scream from the front interrupted his thoughts and he saw Zoisite stagger back from the line, holding a bleeding arm. Mamoru clenched his hands into fists as he watched a number of youma pass through the break in the human fence. He knew there was no time left to try to make sense of the roses in his hands. The time for fighting was upon them.

As he watched the youma come closer, he suddenly felt a pulsing warmth coming from his right hand and he raised it to have a look. He had unconsciously clutched the roses together when he clenched his fist earlier, and now it was hard to tell which flower was which. The different colors seemed to be blending together even as he watched, and he peered down closer to see what was really happening. To his total amazement, he saw the five individual roses shift, move and merge together until only a single rose remained. He opened his palm to view it more clearly. It was a beautiful, golden rose.

The sounds of fighting penetrated his consciousness once more as he heard the others shout their attacks. He knew he had to do something as well, but was at a loss as to what. As he deliberated his next move, the rose started to pulse in his hand again and he clutched it before it managed to drop to the ground. For the second time in so many minutes, he was surprised to discover that it was changing once again. The stem was becoming longer and thicker, increasing in width until it was the size of a sword's hilt, before the bloom at its head began to glow intensely. Then, as if waiting, it remained unchanged for the next few moments, and he knew instinctively that it needed him to do something. But what???

Mamoru closed his eyes in despair and, suddenly, it was there-- the words he needed to finish the transformation. He dropped his arm to his side, a few inches away from his body, and opened his eyes. Softly, as if testing them on his lips for the first time, he uttered the words, "Golden Laser Lash…"

The golden rose bloom glowed even brighter as it narrowed and stretched a few feet to the ground.

"THRASH!"

Endymion moved his right hand in a circular motion above his head, before aiming the glowing whip at the advancing enemy. As it hit the youma's bodies, the monsters were cut to ribbons, leaving nothing but a few remains scattered on the ground. Again and again, he lashed out at them, feeling his confidence build with each stroke that he wielded.

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

On the other side of the park, in an area shadowed by an eerie darkness, Athol stood with his four loyal followers. As he continued to watch the battle rage on, a most evil grin formed on his face. He knew with utmost certainty that it was only a matter of time before the other side gave in. He was already anticipating the victory that was surely at hand.

A sudden flash of light from across the park blinded him for an instant and he covered his eyes with his arm. When his vision finally returned, he noticed that the area around him was lighter and steadily becoming brighter. He turned to look at the other seers and found them all wearing puzzled looks, obviously as surprised as he was by the sudden change. Then one of them suddenly looked up and a mask of pure terror crept over his face.

Athol watched the other three seers follow his gaze and step back, clutching their hands in front of them as if to protect themselves. Their mouths opened and shut without a sound coming out and their eyes seemed to be glued to the object behind him. Slowly, unsure of what he would find, he turned and raised his head towards the sky. What he saw there was his death looking back at him.

He opened his mouth and let out a soundless scream.

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

Justin reeled back in pain as he was hit by another youma. All around him, he could hear the others groan as they too sustained wounds from the overwhelming force of the enemy. They had already gotten too close for him to use his powers, so he was wielding his sword to ward off their attacks. But that piece of steel was becoming too heavy for his arm, and soon he won't be able to raise it.

He noticed a monster striking from his left and he turned to defend himself, killing it before it managed to attack. What he didn't see was the youma bearing down on him from the back, until he heard the sound of its footsteps, a little too close for comfort. When he turned around, the monster was already about to strike and he knew it was too late.

Justin watched the sharp claws coming closer to his head and he closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable. Suddenly, his whole body felt overheated and he thought it was the blood rushing to his head, getting ready to burst out of his skull. When a few minutes passed and he felt no pain however, he cautiously opened his eyes and found a mound of ashes in front of him. Frowning in puzzlement, he carefully followed the trail of singed grass and found the source standing a few feet in front of him, wearing a worried look. It suddenly made him want to smile and laugh for joy.

Mars had finally arrived.

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

Falcon saw terror written all over the five monks faces as he and the others approached. He watched as they tried to call out to their monsters in an effort to save their worthless lives. Its too late, he wanted to tell them. Nothing can possibly save you now.

The fighting that followed was brief and effortless, as with teeth and claws, the monks bodies were torn apart. In a matter of minutes, four of the hooded figures were nothing but dust on the ground. Only Athol was still alive and he scrambled away from the ferocious creatures, using the last of his powers to transport himself underground.

Falcon gave the others a mental command and they all headed back to their bodies, knowing that the others needed help.

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

The group around the 'shiro-kage' generals felt their return immediately and dispersed to join the others on the battlefield. As they left the circle, Uranus looked at Falcon questioningly and he smiled his reassurance. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze before leading her to follow the others.

The Royal guard and the Inner Senshi were relieved to see their comrades, and they fell back to let the others take over. Without the monks to produce more monsters, the number of youma was manageable now and they knew their help wasn't needed any longer. They assisted each other off the battleground and rested at a safe distance, giving Mercury a chance see what she could do about their injuries.

A half an hour later, the last of the youma finally fell and the others gave a sigh of relief. They gave each other congratulatory pats and headed to join the rest of the team. Mercury watched as they slowly came closer and called out for Saturn to hurry up. Although she had managed to take care of most of the cuts and bruises, there were some serious injuries that only the younger Senshi's healing touch could cure.

Saturn went to work as the rest of them discussed the battle. It was a hard won victory, and they were all aware of it.

"If the next attack is this bad, not all of us might be able to make it," Mercury expressed her concern, looking worriedly at a seriously injured Zach.

"This one came pretty close to taking some of us," Jadeite agreed, giving Mars a meaningful glance.

"So what do we do?" Sailor Moon asked. "Morgon is still on the horizon, and we can never tell when he will attack. He is a whole lot stronger than those monks we just fought. And the power he commands is much more intense."

"We may have to use the crystal next time, Usagi," Galen told her evenly. "It shouldn't drain your energy if you use it properly."

"I know. But I still won't be able to use its total power. I need the Senshi's help for that to happen." When the others just looked at her questioningly, "All the Senshi's help," she finished her statement.

"So what's the problem?" a male voice suddenly asked from behind her.

Everyone looked up at the sudden intrusion and found something they never expected.

 

to be continued…