The Second Sheep Named Envy --------------------------- "It should be noted that when he seizes a state the new ruler ought to determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He should inflict them once and for all, and not have to renew them every day." --Niccolo Machiavelli ("The Prince") "I'm jealous of her; Of him; Of everything! Of the great gigantic ocean so calm, Yet, how powerful and hungry it can rage! Of the moon that's hanging off the shore So small and yet so bright against the night! Of the music in the halls that I can't grasp Only to absorb so much and then forget too soon And lose that feeling of peace and passion Combined in one, Like a dream lost to the morning hours At first sight and first thought of a new day." --blue ("Sin: II") "I have discovered that to make a better future, you must first create a worthy opponent to make you fit for such a future. Thus, the harder it is to get to the end, the more you will grow. And the more you grow, the more fit you are to take whatever the reward that awaits you at the ends of your journey. It is because of this that I had created the obstacles to prepare you and the senshi for the future of Crystal Tokyo. For no matter what the treasure there is always a test. Why, you may wonder, would I do such a thing as this? Even you, my ever-forgiving Queen, may question my motives, and might count this as an act of treason or of betrayal. Yet, you cannot deny that without the darkness there is no light, even if you might think this to be an excuse for my actions. That is why I do not consult you on the decisions that I must make. Think of me as cold, as unfeeling, but I am like any mother, sending her child to war, knowing the consequences, but unlike them, I also behold a hope that I had clung to for longer than you can imagine or perceive. So judge me if you must, but perhaps, one day, you will see, that without the enemy there is no hope and without hope, there is nothing." --Sailor Senshi Pluto ("Letters to the Queen") "Are you sure you're feeling better Mako-chan?" Usagi asked for the second time that day. "Umm," Makoto nodded impatiently. "Usagi-chan, it was only a scratch!" The odangle-blonde sighed in relief and settled back into her chair again. The weekend had been hell, twice Makoto slipped back to her feverish state only to recover with a sleep so deep that Ami told them, if her brain waves where any lower Jupiter would have been diagnosed as being in a coma! Of course, Makoto believed none of that, though she was a bit worried about it herself. After all, she had never felt better! Well, not in a long time, anyway. "It's only the effect of your body having been so weak for so long." Ami had explained to her earlier when she puzzled over why everyone still fussed over her so much, but she wouldn't buy 'that' excuse. One just don't question how one felt, especially if it was such an exhilarating surge of energy! Of course, Ami didn't tell her or any of the others what they had all been exposed to a new strain of virus never before seen, a deadly virus that could kill. Ami hoped that their Senshi immune system would fight this thing to death but she couldn't be sure. Still, she feared to tell her friends, for Core had warned her of the consequences when she had asked him the night she discovered it. 'How did she get it?' 'I don't know, it looked like a flesh wound. Might be from an animal or insect bite.' 'Then it is in Tokyo, isn't it?' 'Yes.' 'I'm sorry.' 'No, don't be. You cannot stop something like this from crossing boarders or even oceans now. We can thank all that to technology!' 'I'm sorry.' 'Why? I told you--' 'I'm sorry that you will be one of the first to die.' She had paused horror, but than slowly her fingers took her mind to her notes as she reviewed them methodically, trying to rid herself of the terrifying freeze that had settled into her limps. She knew now that Core did not have the answer to her questions anymore. That, whether she wanted it or not, she had to stop her communications with him. A senshi is the host. The princess has been infected. There were no more choices to be made. "Hello?" ... "Yes, I wish to speak with Doctor Chiba Mamoru." ... "Mizuno Ami." ... "Thank you." ... "Mamoru-kun?" ... "I need to see you today, something interesting came up." ... "No, no, it's not Senshi business. At least, it hasn't come to that point yet." ... "No, I haven't told the other's." ... "It's a little more important than an extracurricular activity Mamoru-kun." ... "It's alright, you haven't offended me at all... It's just that a lot has been happening lately." ... "Please, don't tell Usagi-chan about this." ... "I just don't want her to worry yet..." ... "No! It's not something horrible!" ... "It's just that... I can't tell you this over the phone, I'll have to show you." ... "I'm sorry Mamoru-kun, it's just not safe." ... "Yes, lunch tomorrow would be fine." ... "Yes, I'll meet you there. I won't keep you waiting." ... "Alright, bye." ... She sighed when she put down the phone and rested her forehead to her palm. "How will I explain this to Mamoru-kun?" She asked herself tiredly, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Papers scattered across her desktop, unusually cluttered for her, especially since she valued neatness but these days had been hectic, more than she was ready to admit. She glanced at her watch and winced, she only had six hours left before her next shift at Makoto's apartment. Straightening, she walked over to her bed, deciding that at least a few more hours of sleep will help out her tired brain. But before her eyes closed or her head even hit her pillow the same question aroused, upsetting her sleepy but worried mind. How can she explain to Mamoru that something big was happening, something dangerous, and this time the senshi just might not be able to save it from the dark times to come? Yet, she could not keep sleep at bay, and she drifted into a restless dream before she could even decipher a plan for the next day. "Rei-chan, I didn't expect this!" She heard his voice on the other line as she leaned against her the wooden door of her shoji. She had been cradling the phone next to her ear when the sadness crept into her eyes at the voice on the other line. The others had sent her home knowing that her school was not so lenient, and she could not complain, though a little furious that she now had to wait till the end of each day to check on all four of the others. So, unable to decipher the course of action and having lived with instinct for most of her life, she called him. Something she hadn't done since she had met the senshi, since her princess. She never liked telephones much anyway. They were so awkward, including no physical contact with the person on the other line. She couldn't complain though, for otherwise, she would never have been able to talk to him. Yet, there was more to this than she was willing to admit, especially to him. Something in Ami's eyes changed when she announced that dinner was ready the night before, something had changed the situation and made it worse. What, Rei was yet unsure, but she was determined to find out. A slight smile hovered on her lips as a soft blush colored her cheeks even as those very thoughts sped through her mind. Did he always have this affect on her? At least, as long as she could remember, "Really Hiketsu-san? I thought your specialty was in fortune telling." She retorted good naturedly as one hand flipped back the stray strands that rested on her shoulders, trying to ignore the slight heartache at the memories long buried now that she thought of the past. "Ara, ara Rei-chan! Perhaps, I had a little premonition that you were going to call today." He answered lightly, though she was unable to see his reaction to her words. Telephones! She thought with exasperation. "Just a little?" She laughed off the question, and he joined her. A short pause followed this little pleasantry though she knew she could not delay asking the question that had forced her to call him after so many years of silence. "Hiketsu-san, I--" "Please, Rei-chan. I may not have seen you for at least ten years and we may be strangers now, but we have been through enough together for you to treat my name with a little less formality." He answered lightly, though she could almost hear his frown over the phone. What surprised her was that the Hiketsu she once knew had changed as well. Just from his tone of voice she could tell that he was no longer the prideful friend who once had been like an older brother to her before her mother had died. There was a weariness that inhabited their light- hearted banter that could not be missed, and she could not forget with whom she was now speaking to. "Hiketsu-san...Hiketsu, I'm sorry if I offended you." She finally said, correcting herself of her earlier error. "Rei-chan..." she held her breath but what he said surprised her more if he had scolded her again, "You are not still mad at me for--" "No." She quickly cut in, not wanting him to continue. She could hear him sigh in relief on the other line and another small smile emerged on her lips and she felt herself honestly meaning the words that she had spoken. "I understand why you did what you did better now Hiketsu, even though I did..." she paused before forcing herself to admit what she had been trying to forget for many years now, "love him." The truth was need to be said and she knew that it was time to admit what she had thought she was over long ago. "But Kaidou-san and I were just not meant to be." She did not cry but in admitting her loss she felt like Kaidou had left her all over again. She did not complain for she knew that all the sadness, hurt and tears will never make things the way she had hoped them to be. It was not her place to deny what fate had already planed. It was her duty to protect what she had sworn too, the princess was the center of her life now and she must at least begin the process of moving on. "Rei-chan?" "Yes, Hiketsu?" She asked. Snapping out of her revelry just in time to hear the unspoken question in his voice. "Why did you decide to call me now?" He asked after a long pause. Having a strange premonition that he was about to say something else, yet without any proof, she resigned herself to ponder over the slight catch in the other's voice later. "Something came up..." she paused, choosing her words carefully. "Perhaps, it is best that I meet you in person." She finally said as she pondered out the situation. "What's wrong Rei-chan? You sound... shaken up by something." "I hope we can meet as soon as possible." She replied without answering his question. Sighing in defeat, "Fine, I'll be going into Tokyo on the twentieth for a business trip and I'm sure I'll be able to meet you sometime then." He said, looking at his schedule as he jotted down the dates of departure. "Good, I'll meet you at the airport. When will you be arriving?" She asked. Smiling at her tone of voice, he told her to hold on for a moment as he quickly accessed the Tokyo Airport on his computer, requesting flight time and adding his name to the list of departure. "I'll be there around noon next Friday, Rei-chan. It will be nice to see you again after all these years." There was something sad in her tone of voice when she answered, "Everything has changed," she agreed. "I have to go back to my chores Hiketsu, I'll be there to pick you up." "Thank you." He replied, showing no sign of discomfort or surprise at her quick change of subject. Her mouth twitched in amusement even though she was glad that he could not see her smile. "I should be thanking you Hiketsu," she replied in an equally calm voice. "I'll see you soon." "Goodbye." "Goodbye." She pressed the off-button on her phone and leaned back against the wall, looking up to the ceiling. Sighing, she pondered over what she had done. But she could not find in her heart to say that she would not have done it otherwise had she been given a second chance, but still she felt the guilt weighing on her shoulders. Shaking her head she rose from the floor and walked out into the hall, placing it back on the living room stand. Pausing only at the scene before her as she went to get her broom. The opened screen door gave an unobstructed view of the cherry blossom trees outside as they bloomed in their soft pink innocence. Slowly, she walked to the grounds and touched her hand onto one old trunk, watching the ripe petals fall to the flittering wind that sent them gently to the ground. Her dark hair drifted in the breeze as she pulled back the strands, her eyes darkening with all the memories this garden holds, before glancing to the sky. "Gomen ne." The breeze might have whispered a reply but, when the fleeting petals settled, she was gone. The paper door closed firmly to the gentle breeze, even if the scent of the cherry blossoms still lingered and seeped into the rooms. * * * They did not notice him at first when the new National Party of Japan first came into play in the political field. He seemed an underling. Weak, transfigured, doomed to always be in the shadows of those more popular and strong. Even those of his party did not notice him. Did not see him to be the one controlling all of them. He never complained of this and in a way he would've been content to play in the background, the one doing all the work, the one with the real power. In a way, he might have never even become so powerful so soon and so publicly as he had, but fate had other things in store for him, other things for him to accomplish than the petty politics that were what was once his world. Fate had wanted him to help build a new era and a new beginning. So it gave him an army of radicals ready to die at his bidding, ones who would easily fall to his rhetoric and his powerful mind. It gave him opponents who were inexperienced and even more incompetent. It gave him his chance to rise quickly but quietly. And it gave him the darkness that he found tucked away in the far reaches of political opponents, tucked away in a book, laid on the side of his pillow. He would never know that the person who gave him this would one day be apart of the army that will rise against him. He will never know that by becoming the man hated by the future, he would be the one who made it possible. Even evil have its bad days, and this was just the beginning of a string of bad days! Fujimia Doko was walking down the prominent street a few blocks from the Diet Building when he met her. Dark-green hair and red eyes, an image hard to forget if you could ever truly remembered, but he would later only recall the conversation they had shared. Apparently, she was a local follower in the new Nationalist Party movement. Though, she did not seem like the usual bunch that voted for his party, for her heritage seemed more liberal and leaning toward the left than the far right that his party was on. Her dress was elegant and spoke business, her stance graceful and her eyes piercing and intelligent. She invited him to lunch, an invitation he could not turn down. Not only because it was offered by one of the most beautiful woman he had ever met but also because it was to one of the most prominent restaurants he ever heard of! Pleasing her could help his political career and so he followed her to the classy restaurant. "Excuse me Miss, I don't think I caught your name." He said hurriedly as he caught up with her. Dark eyes met his coolly, yet amused. "My name is irrelevant Professor Fujimia Doko, but my purpose is important. Do you know why you are here?" She asked. "No," he answered, after a moment of hesitation. The look in her eyes told him that he would get no answers if he asked for her name again. "Why am I here, Miss?" She smiled ever so slightly, a smile that warmed his heart slightly at its beauty and sent chills down his back at the look that seemed to possess her eyes. Those eyes seemed to hold thousands of years. Never had he thought he would ever get to see eyes so old and so dark and deep, it made him feel very small and insignificant, a feeling that he never experienced and was extremely uncomfortable with. "I have a proposal for you Professor. There will be an epidemic invading this world, killing all living things, plants, animals, and humans. Most of whom would be extinct--" "You can't be serious!" Doko gasped. "If such a thing is out there, how can we not know?" She smiled, though a little annoyed at his interruption. "The government does not wish the people to panic, they themselves cannot believe it. They cannot shut down the airports just yet because it would arouse suspicion and it will bring a national panic, all of which are most unpleasant." "Then the government is weak! It must be stopped! We must expel all those that might bring the disease to us, and isolate this country from those already exposed!" He said determined. "How can 'you' do that Professor? You have no real powers, and your party is weak. The platform you conduct upon is just as weak and everyone knows that Japan can hardly survive a year without outside trade. The island will starve to death." The woman told him, eyes getting colder, even with the small little sadness in them as she looked at him. Could it be pity that he saw in her eyes? Or was it something else? His pride rose with fury at her description of his beliefs, his skills and the party he had been faithfully following in for so long now. "I will make it happen! Just you wait and see! I cannot believe you would dare criticize the party you are following in!" Amused she sipped the coffee brought to them. "We shall see what you will accomplish, Professor." It was her only reply to his attacks on her persons. The rest of the luncheon was done in quietude. He enjoyed it immensely for a new challenge had been set before him. The two parted with polite goodbyes, and the time he stepped out of the restaurant, he had forgotten her unforgettable face, and the question of a name that she had never told him. All he remembered was the message that she had for him. All he knew was the mission he must accomplish for the country that he wished to protect. 'If I can save the world, what would it matter that a few would have to die and bow down willingly at the feet of the God he served?' His hands closed into a fist, startled to feel something in his palms. Looking down he saw the ring of a broken angel wing. It seemed to once have been apart of something greater, something with more meaning to it. Startled, he pocketed the gift that he knew not who gave it to him and left for the Diet Building. There was much to do and so very little time. He never questioned his urgency, all he knew was that things must be accomplished before it was too late. The dark-haired woman watched him leave from the shadows. She saw him look at the ring in startled wonder and surprise. Her lips curled into a grim smile, eyes narrowing slightly in thought of what was to come. The first phase of the plan had ended, now she must find the others. * * * She knelt before the sacred fire, praying to the gods. One, two, three. Flicker. Like a dance. She had long learned its steps. Her eyes were closed, hiding her secrets from the fire. For the fire cannot know the secrets of its mistress, the fire must not know it. A bead of sweat trailed down her cheeks and trailed down to her chin, joining those that had already gathered. Drip. Splash. Sizzle. A dance. Her body reacted to it like it was a dance as well. Her eyes opened. Violating the ancient rules, but she had no care for those rules. They could not see what she saw. The images came. Darkness eating up the flames. Nameless faces. A strong feeling of power and hopelessness mixed into one. Eyes of dark-rouge. Guilt. Pain. Was this betrayal? A promise. A hope. A journey over a great ocean of troubled waters, and on those shores a great battle would be fought. The winner shall lose. The fire flickered and she was confused at its indecision. There were no answers to the questions raging in her heart. The fire did not answer this way. It only gave her more images. She did not mask her surprise, but she did not lose her concentration either. Not even when she saw the King and Queen of a distant future appear before her, and disappear, melting into the face of a strange, and yet, familiar face. Not until his face appeared. Only he was not himself. The eyes were different. They were bluer but they seemed so distant, so unlike him. She reached out to the flames to feel the skin upon his face. So real. So warm. Her thoughts dispersed. The flames snapped at her for closing her soul from its warmth. She gasped a scream in pain, pulling her hand away. Her hand throbbed and the smell of burnt flesh reached her nostrils. She looked at it with disbelief before denial faded and the pain hit her with a force that startled her. She screamed. The world went black. Something woke her from her sleep. Finally she complied to the insistent ringing by banging on her alarm clock -- something that had become somewhat of a habit. Her eyes widened in surprise when the ringing continued. Groaning she reached for the phone. Where was Mamo- chan when you needed him? Her grouchy mind demanded. Luna was apparently missing again, probably at Central Control with Artemis and doing all that research... "Moshi, moshi." she trailed off with another groan. "Usagi-chan, Rei-chan's in the hospital." A soft voice reached her ears. "Hospital. Rei-chan. Hey Ami-chan." She mumbled, her mind not really making sense of what was going on. "What! Rei-chan's in the hospital?" She screeched. Jumping from bed with a start as she finally woke up. Worry clouded her eyes as she tried to think of a reason why Rei would be at the hospital, missing the exasperated sigh from the other end of the phone. "Come quickly Usagi-chan, I'll inform you what happened once you get here." "I'll be there as soon as I can!" Usagi agreed, silently cursing herself for wasting more time. The phone went dead as she scrambled out of bed and rampaged through the house, thanking whatever gods there were that her lateness for school had given her some speed when it came to rushing things. She couldn't find Mamoru so she wrote him a note and left it on the hallway table, knowing that he'd see it when he step into the apartment. She raced down the stairs and ran for the bus stop, knowing that the ride to the hospital would be a long one but she had not other way of getting there. 'Please, let Rei-chan be alright!' She prayed softly in her head. The time sped by slowly as she neared the hospital. Something bothered her, a feeling of darkness. What was I dreaming of when Ami woke me this morning? She could not remember and in a way, that scared her though she did not know why. She jumped down from the steps of the bus and raced through the parking lot, racing to the door before slamming through it to the counter. "I'm here to see Hino Rei." She told the nurse, her voice shaky as her hands trembled with anticipation. She was gasping but that was okay, she was used to this. "Are you a member of her family?" The nurse asked politely. "Umm...no," Usagi stumbled. "I'm a friend." She told the woman who looked to her sternly. "I'm sorry, we only allow families to visit." Usagi frowned at this. "Oh," she walked out of the hospital and to the edge of the building. Making sure no one was looking she pulled out her Luna pen and held it over her head. "Change me into a nurse!" She commanded and in a flash she was into the hospital again, passing the annoying nurse at the counter. "Hey!" She called to a startled doctor. "I'm suppose to be attending a patient called Hino Rei, but it seems that I forgot her room number." She said with a faint blush of embarrassment, though it was because she really didn't like to lie, though it was perceived to be for a different reason. "Well, I'll go ask the nurse at the counter." Reluctantly she followed. "Nurse Kiko, do you know the room number of Hino Rei?" The doctor asked politely. "Room 675 Doctor," he smiled and turned to her, but she had already slipped away. "Well, what do you know?" He said to himself, his eyes wide with surprise. "What's the matter Doctor?" He shook his head. "Nothing at all Kiko, must have been the coffee break I missed, I think lack of sleep is beginning to make me hallucinate." The nurse giggled at this and smiled. Usagi though was heading up to floor six of the hospital, finding the hallway cramped with people. "Shimatta!" She whispered as she tried to figure out which way to go. She looked up to see the numbers pointing to the left, and headed for that direction. Soon she saw the distraught blonde sitting next to a weary blue-haired woman, both who were briefly obscured by the tall, worried brunette who paced in front of them. "Min'na!" Usagi called out as she fought her way to them. All three looked up startled to see her. "Usagi-chan?" Ami asked surprised. "Usagi-chan, why are you dressed like a nurse?" Minako voiced the question on everyone's mind. "I hardly recognized you at first!" The blonde scolded. "I'm sorry min'na! I couldn't get in at the front desk, they said families only!" Usagi wept. "You didn't mention that Ami-chan requested you to be here?" Makoto asked. Usagi blinked, "You mean I could've done that to get in?" Ami sighed at this as the other two women joined her in exasperation at their odangle-haired leader. "I'm amazed she had the brains enough to transform to get into here, but not tell them that Ami- chan asked her to be here!" Makoto said, throwing her hands up in the air in defeat. Minako giggled at this and Usagi stuck her tongue out at the tall brunette, "You're sounding just like Rei-chan!" "Well, it would be different if it wasn't spoken." Makoto said with a grin. "You don't do it half so well, for by now the two would be having a twenty minute tongue war and you only got a fraction of that reaction from Usagi-chan." Minako told them with a straight face before bursting into laughter. Usagi had a feeling that it was more to release the tension that had been building. "Ne, Ami-chan, do you know what happened to Rei-chan?" Usagi asked. "She burned her hand, but it was a minor burn and won't cause any real damage. What surprised me was that she seemed to be in a coma for no apparent reason. Her ojii-san found her on the floor before the sacred fire with her hand red from burn and unconscious. I still haven't figured out why yet." Ami looked down at the computer in her hands as she tapped away. "Did you get to see her though, Ami-chan?" Makoto asked concerned. "Yes, my Kaa-san allowed me to get a look at her. She's very pale and still unconscious. I hope we can help her wake somehow now that we're all here." Ami's computer beeped, surprising everyone except herself. "Let's go see her now." Ami said, all three nodded in agreement. "Oh, and Usagi-chan, you might want to change out of that nurse outfit when we get some privacy." Ami advised. Blushing, Usagi nodded her head and uttered a soft, "Um!" The four girls walked into the hospital room, only to be greeted by the rapid breathing from the corner of the room. "H-- No...don't! Don't--! No!" They rushed to the dark-haired woman thrashing on the bed, trying to hold her down. "Shimatta, what's she doing?" Makoto gasped as she wrestled with a leg. "She's going wild! We have got to hold her still!" Ami told them firmly even as she struggled to hold onto the arm of the dark-haired girl. "Harder to be done than you say it Ami-chan! I don't think I can't hold her much longer," grunted Minako from the opposite side of Makoto. "Rei-chan! Rei-chan, wake up!" Usagi cried above all of them. Rei stopped moving. "Phew! Usagi-chan, you should've done it sooner if it was going to be that easy!" Minako sighed in relief. They shifted back to have a little more breathing space. "Who'd have known that Rei-chan had so much in her." Makoto whistled as she pushed back a stray strand of auburn hair. "Whatever happened to her would seem to have been more serious than I had previously suspected. Perhaps it has to do with the fire reading." Ami speculated, a thoughtful look stealing over her blue eyes. "I'm just glad she okay." Usagi sighed in exhaustion. Before any of them could speak more, Rei sat up abruptly. "Lok'h dm'ra sura." Purple eyes turned to Ami, "Kri d'quluka." The girl then fell down onto the bed and was at last in a deep sleep. Ami's eyes widened in surprise, "What did she just say?" Minako whispered in surprise. "Daijoubu Ami-chan?" Makoto asked concerned when Ami didn't answer Minako's question. Usagi tended the sleeping Rei as the silence settled into the room, though the worried eyes did turn toward the blue- haired woman momentarily when the other answered. "I-I don't know what she said, but there was--" Ami's voice trembled. She could not erase the burning accusation in those onyx eyes. "You think your computer could translate that?" Usagi asked curious. Surprised, all three senshi turned to the odangle-blonde. "Hai, Usagi-chan..." Ami nodded shakily as she pushed back a strand of blue- hair. Ami typed upon the computer quickly, silently thankful that she had been scanning Rei when this happened. The computer beeped a reply as the ancient text scrolled down. Ami gasped. "Na ni? Na ni? What is it Ami-chan?" Minako asked eagerly. The blonde did not notice the paleness that suddenly invaded the cheeks of the blue-haired woman. "The betrayer is here. The core knows." Ami read as she looked over the screen carefully. She did not tell them the secondary translation of the statement given by Rei. Those last words that had a double meaning, the words that Rei had spoke to her before the dark- haired woman collapsed. But her computer did not forget, her screen flashed the words at her. 'You know the core.' "Core? The core of what?" Minako asked surprised. "And what about the betrayer, who did she mean by that?" The whole room fell silent at Makoto's question. None of them knew the answer to neither questions. CORE. Her mentor and friend for many years on the web of the world, connecting her to intelligence she never saw nor could ever put a face to but she liked it that way, it made her more comfortable. She had met him somehow in its great vastness, a long time ago. Yet, Rei somehow knew her secret advisor, her muse in all the questions she had of the world and one of the few who could answer those she found in herself to ask. She blinked her eyes slowly. She had never feared him, never felt anxious when she thought of him, not until those words he had wrote to her a few days ago, not since her silence to him. Now when she had been discovered, in such a way. "What language did she speak in Ami-chan?" Usagi asked. Another surprise of the day, what a marvel at how Usagi is growing, more and more! The young blonde was earning their admiration and respect. Mamoru must be a very good influence... when he was home, that is. Or, perhaps it's the crystal... She was just glad that Usagi didn't notice the apprehension in her eyes or the way her hands trembled slightly at the realization that she had been discovered. Her fingers moved without her thinking about it. For still her thoughts lingered, lingered on what this discovery may mean. She felt ashamed that she so selfishly kept it a secret from her best of friends, and even now she regret, more than anything else, that she may lose the companionship of one like CORE. Click, click. Another gasp. Was it from her? Her blue eyes narrowed, it can't be. Let me recheck! It can't be! Her focus shifted once more to her computer when the results finally popped up, rather quickly too. "Ami-chan? Daijoubu?" She snapped out of her disbelief and looked into the emerald eyes of her auburn-haired friend. "Na ni?" She didn't realize that there was anything wrong except... "What's wrong Ami-chan? You look like you've seen a ghost!" Usagi piped in. "Un!" Minako agreed as she held the hand of the unconscious dark-haired woman. She faced those stares, almost wishing she could turn away, but she forced herself to look on. "The results came up," all their attention focused on her at that moment. How she hated this attention, even if from those she would trust with her life. "It's ancient, very ancient... Only my computer seems to know it," she knew she was stalling and she had a feeling that they did too. The atmosphere thickened with curiosity and anticipation. "It's a mixture of Martian and Moon Kingdom tongue, I would've never been able to decipher it even if I could remember the language of the Silver Millennium." She looked away. It was too hard to stare back at those shocked faces now looking to her, for what? Guidance? She had none, just her mind that didn't work the way she wanted it to, especially without the help of Core and she knew that there would be no more help from him. "I don't know what to take of this min'na, but it seems that something ancient is rising, that or a long forgotten lore maybe. Whatever it is, there are only these lines to guide us and Rei-chan is down. We're on our own until she awakens from her sleep and by the looks of things it won't happen until at least tomorrow." She sighed, suddenly very weary of what was to come. For a time, she had even fooled herself into believing that the Dead Moon Circus was the last, even though in the future they had warned them that something bigger was coming, something that they never dealt with. Something that will accomplish what the Dead Moon Circus couldn't even do. It was good for a time, and now those times of peace were falling away, taking her dreams -- those that she had established after the nightmarish battles that they had almost lost -- with it. Ami sighed deeply. Whatever was going on, she had better come up with a solution quick. She knew that Core would not be able to help her this time; he had his own problems to deal with. Her hand typed rapidly over the keys, analyzing the data the way that Core had taught her so many years ago. The only other person, who could possibly know more than Core, was Setsuna, and she respected both greatly. Yet, Setsuna could not help her now, it was a problem that she found herself unwilling to tell her dark-haired friend. Why? She did not know, but she followed her instincts anyway. * * * 1992 * * * 'But if such a genetic deformation could occur, how can something so twisted come out of genes?' She typed the question hesitantly. For the first time in her life she had met someone who could understand her, and whose knowledge exceeded her own. She was surprised at the very least at this skill and his abilities. "His" identity was only known to her as CORE, the only name he gave her and the only one he claimed to have. She did not push his privacy policy, like he did not push her own, though she did try to look up some information up on him, all of which turned to empty leads. Of course, she never truly gave up on it, though upfront, neither pushed on identity, though she had been notified that someone had been trying to break into her mini many times. What Core had in brains, he lacked in technology, at least her technology. What he didn't know was that, as much as Ami relied on him, her computer had the intelligence of her former self and all of her ancient mothers combined. Information and barriers built over millenniums can never be broken without the right key, her touch and her own thoughts. It fascinated and amazed her at how quickly her computer responded to her, though she still found it more reassuring to type down some commands though most of the computer had access to her thoughts, how she did not know, but it did. 'It is not a question of genes, but a question of permanent mutation because of a reaction to the environment expressed through a deformation or modification of the genes itself.' Ami smiled at the almost instantaneous response. She had been making similar theories, but hers were based more on magik than natural evolution. Still, it was impressive to see the speed at which Core worked, even without the knowledge that she had gained over the months that she had been studying the Dark Kingdom's youma soldiers. 'That is possible, but what could possibly trigger this type of reaction?' After studying them for the months since she first met Usagi and Luna gave her the compact computer at the arrival of Sailor Senshi Mars -- Rei -- Ami had been working. Researching on the physical and mental structure of a youma, trying to find its weakness. But she had found nothing, only dead ends leading to even more questions! 'Anything can. A dramatic change in environment has caused many changes in the human body and can do so for anything else. Deadly diseases, genes blending the wrong way... There are many causes and traumatic experiences could also be factors.' Her blue eyes became puzzled. Traumatic experiences? 'What do you mean by traumatic experiences and how can it effect the origins and combinations of our genes?' She demanded, curiosity stimulated at the answer he would give. 'Rape could be a traumatic experience, after all. There are only three things that can cause genetic mutation Mercury.' Mercury, her screen name. Perhaps he already knew her real name, but whatever it was he never acted like he did. Always, it was Mercury, the God of intelligence and wit, her Senshi name. She paused for a moment to read the statement over again. Whenever he spoke her name it had always made her pause and reread his entry. 'And those are?' Ami had a hard time admitting that she had yet to delve into the world of genetics. It had never been an interest until now and even though she had already started to pile a few books away to read, she was no expert in the field. 'Physical environmental change, which I had mentioned before, biological engineering that would actually go and mutate the genes, or sex -- well, more like reproduction.' CORE replied. Ami's eyes bulged slightly at her computer as a blush crept across her face. How could she have missed that? It was the fundamental things of genetic mutation of course! 'Oh...I see.' Her hand trembled when she typed it down. She wondered if he knew her reaction to his words, but he gave no crude remarks and surprised her by going into detail on each branch of mutation. He had taught her much during that conversation, and many conversations after that one, but no matter how Ami thought about it she could now see that if it had not been for Core, she would never have become the person that she is now. * * * She sighed as her eyes opened to the white light. Huddling in the corner of the hospital room had made her body cramped. She became aware of the lack of blood flowing to her feet and it made her even more unhappy to be awake. Hospitals, I 'hate' hospitals! Sure, Artemis visited with Luna sometimes. Sneaking in was okay whenever they could get them through security with their duffle bags, which usually means whenever they could. Yet, this added stress made it almost impossible for her to even see Artemis anymore, much less Luna. Those two practically locked themselves into the arcade, researching. Whenever there wasn't patrons there, or they weren't visiting Rei, the two were off, surveying Tokyo and looking for signs and omens that may direct them to the darkness. They needed a lead and Rei being here was not helping any of it. Stretching, she groaned at the cranks and aches at her sides and arms and legs and... come to think of it, she ached all over. She grouchily got up as she headed for the vending machine. "Rei-chan better thank me for this later," she muttered as she inserted a single silver coin into the machine slot. Her blue eyes searched the categorized drinks and pushed the lighted coffee button. The words came across the machine and she gave another groan of frustration. 'Out of order', the machine flashed. "Damn machine!" She grumbled as she pushed the return slot. Nothing happened. Her eyes burned angrily as she reached out and banged her hand against the plastic cover, "Give me back my money you stupid thing!" She screeched, seemingly not to notice the stares she got from doctors, nurses and patients as they paused to watch her battle with the vending machine. "Uh...Miss--?" Of course she ignored the voice trying to snap her out of her mad revenge. "You-Stupid-Thing!" She said, kicking it each time a little harder. "Miss!" She felt her whole body being held back just as the machine made a binging noise. "Hey! What the--?" The white foam cup dropped and the dark liquid splashed down into the cup with a slurping noise. She stopped in her struggle to beam at the machine. "Yeah!" She cried happily as she escaped her captives slackened hold on her because of her sudden change of mood. Already forgetting that someone had tried to restrain her earlier, she scoped up the coffee cup and walked away from the machine before anyone could say anything. Walking casually back to the waiting area, she sat down with flourish. "Coffee! Just what I needed to wake up!" She said happily. As she brought the cup towards her lips, letting the caffeine aroma waken her sluggish senses-- "Minako-chan! Did you have to make such a scene?" A chuckling voice interrupted her just as her lips were about to touch the rim of the cup. Minako jumped in surprise as she swiftly turned her indigent gaze to a blond-haired man who had his arms around an aqua haired woman, accompanied by a tall dark-haired woman with a young teenage girl. "Haruka! Michiru! Setsuna! Hotaru!" Minako gasped. The blond man chuckled in amusement at Minako's astonishment as several young nurses looked with avid interest his way. "Hai, Minako- chan, we are all here." He sat down gracefully next to her and wounded an arm around her slender form. "So, how's it been?" She looked at Haruka with a shocked expression on her face, "Rei- chan's in the hospital." She dropped the bombshell with a solemn voice just as Michiru helped Hotaru into a chair. "Didn't you know?" Haruka still had a way of using those blue eyes that were unsettling, Minako thought suspiciously. Aqua eyes shot up in a start as coral lips opened in surprise. Minako should've enjoyed the surprise on Michiru's face, though this time the fact that Rei was hurt and that was what caused the other's expression of distress, killed whatever feeling of triumph she might have had. After all this time, Minako never truly understood the special bond between Rei and Michiru, something to do with being able to see into the future, or at the very least the ability to unravel present events. Though Minako herself guarded her jealousy like one would guard a mysterious lover, she still had trouble admitting it to herself sometimes. After all, Michiru could be very intimidating, and in many ways, the aqua-haired woman reminded Minako of Rei. They were both so composed and calm -- whom was Minako kidding? Rei was never calm, but the dark-haired girl sure was composed, and whenever Minako looked at Michiru, she couldn't help but be envious of the success and beauty the aqua-haired woman possessed. So what if Minako wasn't perfect like that? Did it matter if Minako hadn't yet become a star when Michiru had already been one most of her life? Admired and loved, was all that Minako had ever wanted in her life but never had, and before her was the one person she wanted to be. Kaiou Michiru. Perfect. Beautiful. Successful. A star. Minako sighed silently to herself. Why couldn't she be like Michiru? And of course, Michiru just had to add to that list of perfection by having Haruka. Though, silently, she found it amusing that all the nurses were gawking at the blonde who was really a woman but acted no different than any other man she knew. What difference did it make? Michiru had it all! The perfect career, the perfect test scores, the perfect reputation, and the perfect lover. And Minako being left in the dust. She couldn't help but be jealous once in awhile that Michiru seemed to have a special bond with her Rei-chan, especially when Minako couldn't compete with such a woman on any levels. Though, Minako would never dare tell Rei of her jealousy, how could she? Rei-chan would just laugh at her for being silly, just like that time when she disguised herself as one of the students attending Rei's school and got the two of them into loads of trouble. But how could Minako help herself for being a little jealous? It was her nature after all! For what is Love without Jealousy? "Is she alright?" All Minako saw was the perfect coral lips move, though nothing reached her ears as she stared into those aqua eyes. Whatever she was searching for, she didn't find because that was the moment Haruka broke her gaze by setting a firm hand on her shoulders and breaking the silence in her mind. "Daijoubu-yo Minako? You look a little pale." Haruka said with soft concern. Blue met blue as Minako hurriedly dragged her gaze from Michiru's deep ocean eyes. "Hmm?" Minako asked as if in a dream, but the look in Harkua's eyes dragged her out of her thoughts and snapped her into focus. Trying to cover her earlier distraction, Minako giggled like she usually did and waved off the worried look of the blonde beside her. "Daijoubu, daijoubu-yo Haruka!" Minako said with an accompanied giggle. "Must be the hospital, you're not getting enough sleep." Haruka stated as she leaned back onto the couch, assured that Minako was back to her normal self. Minako thanked silently whatever god that gave her the ability to act while she contemplated what to do with the situation now that it was settled. "No Haruka-papa, it's the coffee. You know what those things can do to a person." Hotaru made a face that immediately lifted whatever leftover tension there were. Of course, none of them mentioned the reasons behind how Hotaru came to know the hospital so well, and Minako was glad that at least one outer senshi had the same view about hospitals as herself. She looked over to Hotaru and only as her eyes traveled toward the dark-haired girl, did her blue eyes meet those eerie rouge-eyes of the Guardian of Time, or in civilian form, known as Meiou Setsuna. That woman, though beautiful, had a way of making herself practically invisible! A trait that Minako found slightly disturbing and as hard as she tried, for all Minako's cheerful continence, she didn't trust the oldest of the Sailor Senshi. Those eyes studied her back, a bittersweet smile spreading across those rouge lips as if she knew exactly what Minako had thought. She shivered slightly under that gaze, knowing that Setsuna might very well have read her mind, for none of them knew Setsuna too well to say what powers she might have discovered at her age and experience. After all, she was the only senshi who predates back to the Silver Millennium, now, that's very old! Good one Minako, state the obvious why don't you? Her cynical mind jibbed at her. Not in the mood to quarrel with herself and still somewhat tired from lack of sleep, she promptly told that part of her brain to shut up and keep the status-quo until she could think of something else to say. "Did you know this would happen Setsuna?" Oh, great one there, Minako! Her mind quipped again, and Minako blushed when she realized exactly what she said to the older woman. Setsuna's smile changed to amusement as Minako mentally clunked herself on the head for being such a loud-mouthed idiot! Even Usagi had more sense than she did at moments like this! If only Minako had acquired some social graces then she wouldn't have made herself such a big baka as Rei would reminded her whenever she did things like this. "Not really Minako. I don't have a crystal ball to tell me what the future is like." Setsuna replied back with a voice that was void of all emotions. At this, Minako blushed harder. Of course she didn't think that Setsuna had a crystal ball... okay, so maybe at first she did and once in awhile when she was angry... okay, so she had assumed that the Time Guardian had somewhat of a clearer view than what Rei's fire or Michiru's mirror would show, but apparently, the time can be just as vague if not more so than what the other's could show. "Gomen." Minako mumbled. Haruka having sensed the discomfort in the blonde leader beside her, grinned and tried to lighten the somber mood by changing the subject to things that can be shifted away from more personal conflicts that she knew neither side was yet ready to face. "So, I'm assuming Rei-chan's getting better. I'm sure she'll appreciate you waiting up for her, and we promise to visit!" Haruka said with a soft smile as she was starting to rise, having caught something near the hallway. Minako looked up and saw a doctor walking toward them, someone she had thought looked slightly familiar. Now that she thought about it, she was sure there was something she felt slightly out of place when the Outers showed up. "We'll bring flowers for Rei-chan tomorrow when we visit if she's still here." Haruka called out over her shoulder as she waited for the other's to stand and walk out of the waiting area. Minako's eyes widened slightly, as the thought she had been forgetting finally came back to her. Her lips opened just as Haruka turned to give her a friendly wave goodbye, but the look in Minako's eyes stopped the tall sandy-blonde. The two stared each other down as Minako rose from her seat and the blanket fell away, "Haruka," the other tensed at her name. Not exactly because of Minako's way of saying it, but the look Minako gave her. Those blue eyes bore into the lighter blue, as Minako's long forgotten spirit of leadership rose around her like a shroud of legitimacy and intimidation. "What are you doing here if you aren't here to visit Rei-chan?" The other's who were walking out paused and glanced back, at first to wait for Haruka, and now they turned, eyes all narrowing at the blonde before them. The only inner senshi that stood in their way this time. Haruka's blue eyes narrowed, "It's nothing important, why do you ask?" Minako did not back down as she returned those hostile glances turned her way, and for once she knew that she had every right to know the answer that she has yet to discover. 'Minako-chan, you are our rightful leader and thus we shall follow you as ardently as we shall follow Serenity when she rise to the throne. After all, it will be you who lead us to battle, and I know that because your goals will always have Serenity above all else, that there should be any objection to your authority.' Rei-chan had told her that the night after one of the defeats of the Dead Moon Circus, when Minako had been slightly uncertain of her role once more. It was the day when Minako had regained her powers as a senshi after losing her previous skills to transform. When they had all gotten back to the temple, they celebrated that the Inners had finally completed the transformation and now can better handle their enemies. Of course, Minako had stayed a little later with Rei to apologize for her earlier behavior. Rei forgave her and gave her the reassuring words that soothed her guilt and made her a little happier now that they had conciliated after all the fighting. "Because Haruka," Minako said softly, her warning no less dangerous. "I need to know how much you trust us." Haruka smiled, her lips revealing pearly white teeth flashing just as dangerously under the florescent lights. "This matter does not concern the Inners, nor shall the events following after this meeting." Haruka replied coolly. "What events?" Minako asked bewildered. "Events that does not concern you little one." Setsuna spoke. Those rouge eyes had an air of confidence and authority that Minako could never hope to have. That really irked the blonde leader at that moment. "Why must you always treat us as if we are children?" Minako demanded, trying desperately to regain her self-control. Hotaru stepped forward, trying to ward off the words that would be said that could change perhaps the course of history. But the hands of Michiru tightened around her shoulders and silenced the raven-haired girl. "Because you are." Michiru answered. That was the last straw, but before Minako could retort, they had already turned and left her behind. Only Hotaru's sad and melancholic face lingered in her mind for a brief second before the girl turned and joined her adoptive parents. "Gomen." Hotaru had whispered, for there was nothing else she could do. Minako collapsed on the couch. She felt as if all the stress and worries, combined with a lack of sleep suddenly caught up on her. She sighed sadly into her hand as she cradled her throbbing head. "So, we are back to where we started, ne, Haruka?" She would've cried had it not been that she was too tired to cry, her heart felt too broken to hurt. Instead a numbness crept over her as she saw before her the bridge that Usagi, their princess, had worked so hard to build, burn into nothingness by a few exchange of words and careless moments. Did they plan this? How dare they go back on their words of loyalty to their future Queen? Yet, suddenly Minako realized that the Outers had no obligations to her. They had sworn their loyalties to Usagi, not to Minako. Drawing her knees up in defeat and sorrow, she stared at the white wall before her, wondering what had really happened in the course of the time that had passed between her and the Outer Senshi. A deep feeling of dread slowly crept across her skin as she realized that unless the Outers learned to work with the Inners, with Minako as leader, than there would be no union between the two groups. For what would happen when Usagi becomes Queen? Minako couldn't understand how the Outers could pledge their allegiance to Usagi and not to her as well. Her pride felt like it had taken a beating and she was desperate to talk to Rei, but Rei was sleeping safely in her little coma. Minako could talk to no one now, and she felt so alone. She gave out a dry sob, but the sound of it only made her feel worse. Why? Why Haruka? Michiru? Setsuna? Hotaru? Why must you always defy us? Minako felt her heart thump painfully against her chest and knew with certainty that that alliance between Inner and Outer Senshi had been broken once more. Her lids fell over the blueness of her eyes, shutting out the world just like Rei did, feeling a burning sensation at the back of her eyes. Still no tears came. Still the pain numbed her. She sat, with her head between her knees on the bumpy couch of the hospital waiting room, trying to gasp for breaths as she grasped at the idea that Inners and Outers were split down the middle again. No, that's not all, her mind quipped with a sarcastic lilt. Usagi is in the middle now. Usagi is the mediator and the prize. Minako felt like dying for never had she thought that she had to fight her own comrades in arms to win the favor of their future Queen. This was the position that Makoto found Minako in when the brunette came to take over the duty of watching over Rei. By then, the blonde had fallen asleep, her hold less tense than it had been but a few hours before. And when she woke, she did not inform the brunette of what had happened, except to give the other only a half-hearted hug before leaving the other puzzled at what had occurred. Makoto did not push though and decided to wait it out. After all, Minako would tell when she was ready. Yet, it was Minako who silently vowed to not tell anyone anything until Rei had waken at last and can help Minako sort through the confusion and hurt at what had happened. When Rei-chan wakes, she'll know what to do! Minako assured herself as she left the hospital for home, knowing that when she gets there Artemis would demand for some attention on how Rei had been and maybe even suspect that Minako might have had a very bad day. The blonde sighed, agonizing on what to tell Artemis and knowing that she would have to go back to acting like her usual cheerful and somewhat ditz self. How would she ever earn some respect by acting like that? But Minako had a secret to keep and she would keep it as long as she had to, so without realizing it, Minako had already made a firm decision to her course of action. Outside the sun shone brightly over the Juuban district, though the cheerful blonde did nothing to acknowledge of its blinding presence and warmth that surrounded and wrapped life around the flowers and trees that blossomed under its care. She was too wrapped up in her thoughts and feelings to even notice the two people at the cafe who she had passed while glancing out the window of her bus. Nor did Minako notice them get up to search out a more private place to further their conversation, for Minako was stuck on exactly how cheerful she should act to not arouse the suspicions of her cat and her friends. Ami shifted uncomfortably in her seat for the fifth time since she met Mamoru at the cafe. She was even more uncomfortable now that she scanned to see how many people had gathered around them when she had something much more private to discuss. Mamoru watched her discomfort with confused amusement. "Daijoubu Ami-chan?" He asked as the waiter placed a coffee before Mamoru and water before Ami. "Hai!" She replied a bit too quickly as she glanced around wearily once more. She longed for the safety that the library would provide for her, or the books that will conceal her from all that was happening around her, but that was only wishful thinking. "What did you bring me here for?" He asked as he took a sip of his coffee, satisfied that it was just the way he liked it. She shifted again, "I'm not sure if this is such a great place to discuss it. Maybe we should take this to your apartment." Mamoru frowned at this. Ami had never been this uncomfortable with public places, and he certain have never seen her this paranoid about anything, before! Her behavior was starting to slowly unsettle him. True, the blue-haired genius got nervous quite easily when attention was focused on her, but she usually was never this jittery around him. "Alright," he finally complied as her blue eyes finally shifted back to him, almost a bit startled that he spoke. "After I finish my coffee, though." She finally nodded reluctantly as their little lunch rendezvous had became unusually silent and tense. Never, in all of Mamoru visits with Ami, had he felt so uneasy, nor had he ever seen her so distracted either. Yet, still he did not persist to hurry and instead tried to allow the time for him to figure out why she was so flighty, her mind strangely unfocused. Yes, he was worried. Who wouldn't be worried when Mizuno Ami appeared half haggard before him during his coffee break and dragged him from the hospital where he had been doing his intern-shift. It was totally unconventional and if Usagi ever got a wiff of this he'd have a very demanding and jealous girlfriend on his case that he didn't have time to deal with at the moment. Apparently, the patients in the hospital was increasing during this time of year with a strange flu... Could it be the problem with Rei in the hospital? The abrupt thought interrupted his earlier ones. But that can't be! The doctors had reassure him that she was fine and even Mamoru himself had gone in to check on her and he could see that she was not seriously hurt in anyway except the nasty burn on her hand that will heal soon enough. Rei could be it though. She might have said something to Ami to get the blue-haired genius this riled up... Yet, that didn't seem right. Ami had assured him that Rei was doing well in recovery and that she would probably wake up any day now. Anyway, it would be unlikely that it was Rei that Ami had communicated with. Then what could possibly caused her to be so nervous and distracted if it had nothing to do with the dark-haired senshi? He knew that it couldn't be any of the other senshi since Ami had so conveniently left them out of her loop of information. Could it be a third party he hadn't considered? Maybe it was Setsuna, or one or all of the Outers. That could explain a lot of the things happening now. Anyway, Ami is pretty close with Setsuna. But that can't be it either, since he hadn't heard her say one word of the Outers since they set the luncheon. Mamoru went over the events of the past week carefully, but could think of nothing that would've made her so nervous! Usagi had told him earlier that a youma attack had occurred at their school, and that had been disturbing. Yet, Usagi had also mentioned that Sailor Jupiter had taken it out with one sweep of power. That didn't say much about this youma except that Usagi had declared that it was the ugliest and most unnatural looking monster she'd ever seen. When asked to describe what it looked like, Usagi told him that it was one blob of an ugly mess. Typical Usagi answer of course, which did not help his active imagination in the least! Putting down the check, Mamoru ended both an uncomfortable lunch and even more uncomfortable silence. "Shall we go?" He inclined the invitation to Ami with a nod of his head. Her eyes brightened slightly and her body seemed to release a little of the earlier tension that she had been containing. Nodding with a little too much enthusiasm they headed for Mamoru's apartment. On their way to his building, Mamoru again prompted Ami for the reasons that caused her to contact him so urgently, but she resisted his efforts firmly. In fact, it was such a bad move on Mamoru's part that Ami immediately clamped up and wouldn't speak of it. Her earlier tension returned and he was left again to flounder in curiosity and dread. His imagination went on a riot, trying to come up with a conclusion to this problem. "It will be a long day." She had finally said, perhaps an attempt to end the stillness that had settled between them. Not understanding what she meant and having no idea how to answer the remark, he could only nod, saying nothing. The silence once again fell between them as they continued to head for his apartment building. Mamoru had never been so relieved and tense at the same time on arriving to his apartment than that day. His key was inserted into the lock and finally his door opened, at least to him it was a relief, especially with Ami shifting impatiently behind him. The blue-haired girl rushed into his neat home in a flurry, scattering her shoes at the doorway in an unusually untidy manner, so unlike Ami's usual calm neatness. "Ami-chan... daijoubu?" He asked again. The other gave a nervous laugh in answer to his question that only set his stomach churning at the possibilities that laugh could imply. He sighed as he slipped his feet from his shoes and settled them into the comfortable slippers that were made readily available at the doorway. Wondering what Usagi was doing at the moment, the memory of her enthusiastic smile set his mind to a more sedated pace as he strolled into the living room where Ami had already settled herself onto his black sofa and was typing rapidly at her computer. The mood suddenly shifted to seriousness and the change surprised him if not relieved him a little of the nervous tension that he had left at the doorway of his abode. "Now will you tell me what's been going on?" Ami's hand tightened convulsively around her computer, a small gesture that didn't really go unnoticed as she forced herself to relax. Her tensed shoulders that were hunched and her glasses, already perched on her nose, gave off a menacing glimmer as she looked up to him. "Mamoru-san," she said softly. His mouth went dry, when did Ami started to call him 'Mamoru-san' again? She hadn't used that formal a tone on him since he helped with her physics papers a few years back. Since then, he almost feels like Ami's big brother once in awhile, giving him a kind of cozy family feeling whenever he was with her. After all, they were very alike. They both preferred books to company -- at least when Usagi wasn't around -- and they were both quiet people who didn't like to nose around in other people's business. It made association between them easier in that they could sit for hours in silence without ever talking to each other. It was like... family. He thought with certainty that this comfortable feeling he had with Ami would never change, until now that is. Sure, Usagi had been jealous when she heard that Mamoru and Ami would be spending another study night together, but it wasn't like the two were in love! After all, it wasn't likely that they would ever feel more than friendship between them. As Mamoru once tried to explain to Usagi when she demanded why he was spending so much time with Ami, 'We're too alike to fall in love, Usako!' Of course, Usagi, with all her romantic ideals and still childish confidence was unconvinced. She stopped complaining though, knowing that she couldn't get far with this, and she felt slightly guilty that she would suspect Ami to do something so... treacherous! What would he ever do without his Usako? Mamoru thought as he sat down beside Ami. What other little bunny in the world had a heart as big as the Earth and still have so much doubt about herself? So what if it took him longer than he had suspected to realize exactly how much he loved her? He was intrigued all along and when he found out about his true destiny, it had been much more pleasant than he thought could be possible. It had been hard to put the past behind him, and harder to look to the future with any more enthusiasm. Not that it meant he had given up on it, he was too determined for that, it was just that... Ami's hands were trembling and not knowing what exactly to do to settle her down, he reached over and put a hand on her shoulder. The silence should end here. "Daijoubu-yo Ami-chan?" he asked softly. Feeling somewhat responsible for her being in such a state, though not exactly sure why he felt that way. Blue eyes searched his, startling him with the fear he saw behind them. "Gomen nasai Mamoru-san, I have failed you and Usagi-chan." She looked away and rose abruptly, walking over to the sliding doors of his balcony, looking out to the city below. He did not go after her so he could not see her worried eyes wondering over the magnificence of the Tokyo Tower -- studying the spiraling heights that towered over the city, watching and guarding, a symbol of honor and strength. She, in turn, did not return the curious stare of the dark-haired man behind her, though she acknowledged his presence, her stillness seem to say otherwise. It was a while before she finally spoke and told him the horrors that she had been studying since Makoto's injury by the youma. Told him the worst that could happen and explained to him the small percentage of chance to save them, but always there was a price that had to be paid. "It wasn't such a bad day, and it wasn't even too unusual, not really. Mako-chan was late for lunch, but I guess I had expected that after she explained to me that she was staying after class to check on her last batch of cookies, which she made for one of her classes. It would be good, since we all know that Mako-chan tend to overcook, and I guess we're all so happy to see Usagi-chan's delight at those little things that Mako-chan does for her." Ami paused in her tale, remembering the bright sun and her princess's perpetual questions. "Minako-chan came to join us, surprisingly on time that day, I guess I should've taken 'that' as an omen but with Usagi-chan pushing for me to tell her the latest love of my life -- or lack of it... You know how she is -- and now, with Minako-chan to back her up, I guess I wasn't really paying attention." Ami continued to look out the window. "But that's only an excuse, what had kept my mind occupied was a message from an old friend of mine. Someone I never told anyone about and who had helped me over the years on analyzing the enemy." Mamoru gasped softly at what Ami was revealing to him. Never had he done so with anyone except Usako, but then again, he should've expected it. Ami had nothing in common with Usagi, and though she loved the princess of the moon as much as anyone, Ami was never truly comfortable about telling Usagi things that the other might not understand. Though Mamoru understood why, he thought that Ami was being a little too insecure about the friendship between her and his odangle- blonde girlfriend. Why couldn't the blue-haired genius see that Usagi would never think that Ami was trying to make the other look stupid by telling Usagi what was bothering her? But he said nothing, grateful at least that Ami trusted him enough to come and tell him the secret that none of the senshi knew of. It made him feel that he was being included in the little circle of friendship that Usagi had created around them and his own insecurities begun to ebb as her tale unfolded. "He called himself CORE, a gatherer of things, a philosopher, a scientist, and a researcher. We talked between the connections of my computer and his wirings. Whatever they were... he spoke so rapidly to me that it seems that his thoughts just flowed onto the net. Silly of me to describe it like that, I know, after all, technology hadn't evolved that way yet. Not that I have any knowledge of. So I spoke to him with questions about the structure of evolution to understand what could've been a factor of the youma mutation. I asked him about power resources to formulate that perhaps we tap into mana of our own planets, vast and almost inexhaustible once we learn to control it correctly. He taught me so much even when I had never directly spoke of my questions and he had never directly answered them." Her blue eyes misted at the thought that now, Mizuno Ami, was truly alone, for CORE was gone. She could no longer communicate with him, for to him, Ami was as dead as her friends. As dead as her country, and her planet, would be if she doesn't come up with an answer any time soon! "You must be wondering what this has to do with anything, but it has to do with everything! I'm sure Usagi-chan told you about the youma fight we had at our school, but I'm sure that she didn't inform you just how sick Mako-chan got afterwards. I know we asked you a few questions, but between us, we told no one because I requested that no one knows. Usagi-chan probably wasn't sure if you were included to our secret so she hesitated and told you enough to no longer feel guilty that you know nothing." Ami didn't see the stiffening in Mamoru's spine, nor did she detect the tension in the room. Already, she was far too deep in her own thoughts to care about just how accurate her mark on what had happened to sense the dangers of speaking too truthfully. Mamoru still did not speak or interrupt her, though now his mind was filled with questions of what made Usagi so secretive to him. "Yes, Mako-chan had received a flesh wound from the enemy, and yes she did take on a fever, but I had taken on the necessary precautions and had ordered her to stay in her senshi form before she slipped too far for us to reach her. I'm glad of that decision now for had it not been for that, she might have died." Mamoru's whole attention shifted from his own personal turmoil and gasped at what had been said. Died? Makoto? How was such a thought conceivable? What had happened out there that he had not known of? "The youma had been too easy to kill, especially since Mako-chan could destroy it in one blast! Even the youma we had first encountered with the Generals were harder to kill than that! But there is a catch, something that I had not expected," Ami took a deep breath before speaking what she had came to tell Mamoru. "The youma was carrying a virus, a new type of virus that can kill the body by infection. It could be direct contact or it could be an airborne disease that cannot be killed. At least not yet! That is why I cut off all contact with CORE, because he knew that it existed before I could tell him much, he had told me bluntly that he would expect me to die soon." Her body trembled at the emotions and stress that she had suppressed in the last few days. "I'm sorry Mamoru-kun," she broke. He was too distraught to realize that she returned to calling him with familiarity. "By being near us you might be infected!" He rose and took a step towards her, perhaps to comfort her, or perhaps to comfort himself. "What is the catch?" He finally asked, stopping midway when his brain started to function again. "I have come up with two choices for all of us." Ami stated firmly. Her voice no longer quivering, "One, we can do nothing and hope that this is not the virus that CORE had discovered in Southern Italy. Perhaps it won't affect us with Senshi powers, perhaps it is already gone." Ami's voice trailed off as she leaned her head against the cool glass door. "But there is a price. For, if it doesn't go away, we would have the blood of Tokyo on our hands for keeping the status quo and not doing anything to help." "Or?" Mamoru asked, having a feeling that this is the choice with the most implications. "Or, we can change into the Sailor Senshi permanently. The blood of the Senshi will neutralize the disease we carry now, and we will become hosts, but at least it will be blood hosts. Only those who share our blood directly will receive it. I had done the tests and I know, for I have taken a sample of Mako-chan's blood." She turned to him at last, the light of the city outlining her form as she stood there, not really looking at him but at the ceiling as she leaned against the sliding doors that leads to his balcony. "I have tested all of our bloods as well. We have all obtained the virus, thus it must be air borne." Mamoru's breath caught. "I don't know how many people may already be infected by it, but if it helps just a few for us to be Senshi..." Ami looked to him now, her eyes pleading and sad. "I don't want their blood on my hands, and I have no one to turn to now!" He can see that she was desperate, for something, not just to share her story, to give him the warning, but also, there was already guilt in her heart. "Ami-chan," he whispered and gathered her into his arms. This little girl had come so far on her own, and Mamoru felt sorry that though, he had felt like he was her big brother for the last couple of years, he hadn't act in any way to try to help her in the problems she faced. How lonely you must have been, Ami-chan. But he knew that she did not want pity, none of the senshi was like that and Ami was no exception. "I'm sorry Mamoru-kun, but if we come out, how many people will be hurt? How many would try to use us as a political gain? How many will only laugh and say we are nothing more than little girls playing heroine? There would be much hurt and emotional strain if we come out now! Perhaps none of us are ready! Not yet." She whispered, but pulling out of his embrace she looked away. "Yet, we're supposed to be hero's, ne? Sacrifices and all." "Ami-chan, you realize that this is now senshi business, though I know you had hoped it wouldn't be. You 'need' to tell the others!" He stressed, though he could tell that she had already came to that conclusion long before. "Yes. I do don't I? I need to, but I also needed to know that I have a friend when I go and tell the others." She said at last, laughing a little in hysterics. "What am I talking about Mamoru-kun? They are my friends! They always have been." Her voice softened and she shied her face away again. "I wonder how Usagi-chan would take to this brush with death." "She'd just be glad that none of us has died yet." Ami nodded, they both knew that it was exactly how Usagi would think it. Never worrying about her own health the way she did for others. Such vigor and love for strangers and friends alike. Ami was wrong. She should've trusted them sooner. "Yes. Thank you Mamoru-kun." "No, Ami-chan. You have given so much already for us that we should thank 'you'. We should call a senshi meeting, this decision is the biggest one we had of yet, but we all known that the day was coming. After all, we're the rulers in Crystal Tokyo! It's no surprise it has started now." Mamoru said, trying to cheer Ami up. She smiled at him, knowing his intent, "Domo arigato Mamoru-kun," she bowed. Ami, never lacking the manners of a humble student, made Mamoru blush at the honor she had placed upon him. But before he could protest, she looked up to him with a smile that eased him. "I thank you for your help." He returned the smile, but did not miss the uncertainty that still shone in her eyes. "Ami-chan," he said softly. "Hai?" Her eyes widening slightly at what she had given away. "They'll say yes, you know that." She smiled, and this time it was more relaxed. Always, Mamoru would remember that day, for in him he learned that the brilliant Ami had more doubts than anyone, and though she knew the answer, she needed others to reassure her that the path she had chosen was correct. Slightly proud with the knowledge that this exact trait will make her a concerned and wonderful doctor, Mamoru headed for the kitchen to prepare for Usagi's arrival. She would be hungry, as Usagi always was. And with Minako in tow, it would be two great appetites to satisfy. He was just glad that at least this time he had enough of a warning to not have his kitchen sacked like the last time his Usako visited. Putting the kettle to the stove and reaching for the teacups, he heard Ami on the communicator, asking others to come for the meeting. As he reached for the extra cookies that he had bought in case of a surprise visit from Usagi, he found himself anticipating with a certain dread the revelation of their secret identity. Ami was right. This was going to be a long day. There were still many questions still unanswered. Like, who was this Core? And how did he know so much about this virus? Yet, Mamoru allowed the questions to settle, for he had a feeling that Ami was still holding something back. It will come, he knew, the whole truth will be revealed sooner or later. So, he waited with patience that he had acquired after working years as Tuxedo-Kamen, for the day when Ami would allow them into her heart once more. His Lordship Chaos for all of his help during the writing of this fic! And for clearifying several important details that I was confused over! His stories are truly wonderful and so are his characters! And for some strange and twisted reason, he still manage to blow us all away! Ne, Chaos-chan? *strokes Chaos-chan's ego* Angus MacSpon for also putting in the time to help me, but most importantly for pointing out some of the worst grammar and style mistakes in my writing! And for showing us that good ideas will never dry up as long as there are author's out there willing to try the possibilities! Antigone 2000, who gave me new appreciation on the relatioship between Usagi and Mamoru, and showed me that a good writer can tell the same old tale and still make it beautiful and refreshing as it was when it was first presented! And last, but not least! Ken Wolfe, the author who inspired me to write in the first place! And he has awed us all with his new take on everything! Made us think and made us cry, Ken-chan I'd like to thank you for all the wonderful new worlds that you've built with your imagination, while innocently making us all jealous of your awesome skills in writing! Domo Arigato! Thank you for reading, min'na-san! blue@icedream.f2s.com