TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE TRYING TO READ THIS AS A TXT FILE: Save this document on your computer and open it in MICROSOFT WORD ON WINDOWS 98 or else the SPACING will be messed up. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MICROSOFT WORD IN WINDOWS 98: go to http://members.xoom.com/SMradioplay and read the fic there AS AN HTM FILE! P.S. Turn off the spelling check unless you like those little red lines! ^^;; *.....* = thoughts _....._ = verbal stresses on a word * * * * * Sailor Stars Awakening: Chaos Theory: Act Nine The final battle: The last curtain falls. ********************************** CHAOS THEORY ********************************** By Hoshi and Sora E-mail at Kaelali_Su@hotmail.com Finished 5/29/00 * * * * * Lowering her gaze to the ground, Mars felt her strength begin to give way. "Maybe it's just easier to give up. There's no way we can defeat her." "Mars!" gasped Mercury, running to her side. She knelt down to grasp her shoulders, giving them a sharp shake. "Listen to what you're saying! Have you forgotten yourself? I've never heard you speak this way! We cannot give up on Usagi-chan! We cannot give up on ourselves!" "Sailor Mars is right." Sailor Cosmos's voice coiled around her ears from behind, her voice oily and dripping with false concern. "It would just be so much less trouble to just surrender, to give yourselves to me." She placed one hand to her breast, her fingers lightly touching her neck. "I can see how tired you all look...You know, if you simply give up, you can rest all you want, forever even." Mercury stood and turned to face her. "We will never give up," she said in a low, hard voice. "Oh, Mercury?" Cosmos raised one curious brow. "I think perhaps you are the only one who feels that way. Look at your friends, your team. They're exhausted." Mercury frowned. "That's not true! Ne, minna?" There was no response. "Minna?" Mercury looked over her shoulder where her friends had stood, surprised to see Sailor Jupiter kneeling next to Mars, her arms wrapped around herself. Venus sat on the ground nearby, hugging her knees and burying her face. "Minna? What are you doing?!" "She's right, Mercury," said Venus, her voice small and weary. "I'm so tired..." "GET UP!!" commanded Mercury. "Get up! Don't let her talk you into defeat! We can't give up! We can't let Usagi-chan down!" "DON'T YOU GET IT?!" cried Mars, raising her eyes to Mercury as tears streamed down her face. "Don't you understand?! Usagi is DEAD! And so are all of our friends! Seiya- kun...and, and Yaten-kun and Taiki-san and Haruka-san and Michiru-san, Hotaru-chan and Setsuna-san, they're all GONE, Ami-chan, _dead_. What are we still fighting for?" Her voice disintegrated into sobs. "What is there left?" Mercury clenched her jaw, willing back tears. "What about the rest of Tokyo? What about our parents and our friends from school? Have you forgotten about them?" "What do they matter?" whispered Venus, turning her face into her shoulder. "I thought nothing could defeat Usagi-chan, who fought for nothing but purity and love. I thought as long as she could survive, that everything would turn out okay. But...but even she was defeated. What's the point of fighting for a world where nothing is sacred anymore? Where nothing, not even love, lives forever?" * * * * * Tuxedo Kamen, watching from a distance and unable to hear their words, felt his heart sink in his chest as he watched three of the girls submit, leaving only one to stand fighting. *I want to go help, but this is between them now.* Leaning one fisted hand against the wall behind him, he leaned his forehead against his arm, closing his eyes tightly in weary frustration. Slowly, his eyes opened in realization and his head raised, meeting eyes with Sailor Pluto, her face inches away. Gasping in surprise, he jumped back, only to realize that she was lifeless and unmoving, separated from him by a wall of shining crystal. Frozen in her last position, her wand hung poised in the air with her lips slightly parted, her face turned over the side of her shoulder, stepping away from where Tuxedo Kamen stood. Each piece of hair hung expectantly in the air, as if any second the wind would begin blowing again to weave through it. Stepping closer, he slowly frowned, staring into her emerald eyes and laying one hand on the crystal next to her, leaning close to the petrified image of her face. The eyes, staring penetratingly into his, blinked, once. Tuxedo Kamen gave a start and a soft cry of surprise as he backed away. As his breathing began to return to normal, he ran forward again, placing his hands on the transparent walls of her prison, pushing as hard as he could against the crystal. Beginning to pound his fists against the walls, he grimaced as his hands began to bruise without leaving the tiniest scratch on the flawless glass surface. He looked back up into Pluto's eyes, her gaze sympathetic and knowing. She shifted her eyes to the side, motioning with them to her right. Following her gesture, he began to walk around the translucent wall, realizing it was shaped like a cube, like a huge die tossed aside during a game, each face portraying a different soldier in various positions of resistance. Passing by Neptune, frozen in attack with her hands reaching to the sky, and Saturn with her scythe hanging in mid-swoop as her long black hair bloomed around her, Tuxedo Kamen came across Sailor Uranus and paused. Motionless, she hung in the air, as if the wings on her back had allowed her to fly. One foot was folded beneath her and the toes of the other hovered inches above the street, her body at an angle as she leaned her entire body weight into a forward thrust, almost as if she were reaching out to escape, her face twisted in a shape of rage. Standing before him, the very tip of index finger broke free of the sheer confinement. Almost imperceptible wrinkles and disturbances in the crystal surrounded the extrusion. Reaching forward, he traced around her finger, feeling the uneven surface beneath his fingers. He bent over, peering into her angry face, her infuriated eyes burrowing a hole into his skin. *The prison walls are weaker here...* he thought, reaching out to her. * * * * * Mercury began to slowly shake her head from side to side, trying to deny what she was hearing coming from the lips of her friends. "Usagi-chan's love isn't dead! Even if _you_ have given up, it still lives in _me_! Usagi-chan will always live as long as I continue to believe in her, in her cause, in _our_ cause! And I won't surrender this easily!" Whirling to face Cosmos, she stalked towards her, eyes ablaze. Amused, Cosmos peered down at her. "Do you have something to say, girl?" Mercury's face hardened. "I'm done talking. It's time to _act_." Raising her transformation wand to eye level, she shouted, "I PRAY TO THE PLANET OF MERCURY! Planet of ice and water! Help me in my time of need!!" For the briefest second, there was nothing, and the three remaining senshi rose their eyes to her. Sailor Mars quickly drew in and held her breath, tightening one fist. A soft blue glow slowly emerged from the tip of her wand, glittering like a blue-tinged fog. Quickly the mist began to swirl around itself, growing thicker as it began to spiral around Sailor Mercury, enveloping her body. Turning her head to the side, Mercury closed her eyes and surrendered herself to the cool embrace of the haze, feeling its light fingers brush against her lips and skin, soaking into her being. Rose petals of the purest blue swirled in the air around her, stroking her flesh and tangling themselves in her hair. Mercury could feel as the uniform melted off of her body and the chill smoothness of silk replaced it, clothing her in a slim blue gown as the symbol of Mercury began to shine brightly against her fair skin. The rose petals faded away, leaving behind a faint trail of sparkles. Gently, the tall heels of her shoes alighted on the ground, and Mercury faced Cosmos. Taking a step back, Cosmos regarded her with caution. "What are you doing?" "I'm finally putting an end to this, Usagi-chan," she whispered. "We love you..." Raising her hands into the air, she closed her eyes tightly, bracing herself. "Everyone, this is it! This is our final chance! Stand beside me and together we can defeat this!" Her fingertips began to shimmer as pale blue droplets formed in the air around her, miniature spouts of water beginning to spiral down the length of her body. * * * * * Jupiter watched her from behind, feeling the energy begin to build around Mercury. *I don't have power like that...* she murmured to herself. *I want to help her...but I...I can't...* Glancing around her, she could see the regretful doubt reflected in the other girls' eyes beside her. *Believe in yourself...* whispered a tiny voice. Jupiter's head shot up, her eyes wide. "Se...Seiya?" She could feel the warmth of his grin on her skin. *It's not over yet, Mako-chan. Together, you guys can do this. * *We believe in you, Sailor Jupiter, came Taiki's voice. Even if you can't see us, we will stand beside you.* *Did you think we would leave you behind?* chimed in Yaten. *But we can no longer help you fight this battle.* *It's up to you to find the power inside yourself...* Seiya's voice trailed off, and she could feel their presences leaving her. But as they faded away, their words remained sharp in her ears. Suddenly, the air seemed charged with static electricity, and the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood up, sending a tingle down her back as she closed her eyes, feeling the power of the invisible thunderstorm around her. *Find the power inside yourself...* Opening her eyes, she rose to her feet, startling the girls beside her. Lifting her transformation wand to the sky, she shouted, "I PRAY TO THE PLANET OF JUPITER! Planet of thunder and protection! Help your daughter in her time of need!!" A clap of thunder sounded from above as a lighting bolt shot down from the sky, connecting with the tip of her wand and shooting down through Jupiter's body, singeing her uniform into charred bits of cloth that fell from her body. The bright flash of light forced the others around her to shield their eyes, and they lost sight of her in the blinding blaze. Tilting her face to the sky, Jupiter raised her arms as a sea of green rose petals embraced her skin, clothing her naked body in silk and gauze as the symbol of Jupiter burned green into her skin. Raising her arms, tiny sparkles of electricity crackled from her fingers. "Come on, Venus! Mars! Join us!" Mars, feeling the power in the air, jumped to her feet, Venus rising beside her. Grasping her wand tightly, she furrowed her brow and yelled, "I PRAY TO THE PLANET OF MARS! Planet of fire and passion! Help me in my time of need!!" Immediately a burst of flame engulfed her as she spread her arms wide, welcoming the flames. She felt the frown lift from her brow as the red rose petals encircled her, swirling the crimson silk around her thighs. Beside her, Venus followed her motions, shouting, "I PRAY TO THE PLANET OF VENUS!! Planet of love and light! Help me in my time of need!!" Light, bright and yellow- tinged like that of the sun, burst from her wand, dancing and spinning around her body as the yellow petals twirled in flurries around her, dressing her in an ancient and delicate dress. Coming to rest beside Mars, she stepped forward to stand beside Jupiter and Mercury. Raising one finger to the sky, Venus felt the energy begin to build, shooting up her arm, and the shine of energy spread from her finger up into the heavens. Mars crossed her arms before her, her fingers spread wide as tiny flames began to flicker in the air around her, reflecting red in her eyes. Sailor Cosmos took another step back. "What are you doing? You have no energy left to fight me!" But her the firmness in her voice had slipped down a notch, her eyes showing fear. The four girls before her, each immersed in her own element, began to brighten, a storm of water, fire, lightning and light flashing before her. Suddenly, each girl raised both arms to the sky, throwing their heads back in unison. The flash of a smile broke through Cosmos's lips before it was quickly overridden by the look of horror it had exposed before. Sailor Mercury's eyes shot open as she lowered her head to stare at Cosmos. "MERCURY!!" "MARS!!" cried Sailor Mars, doing the same next to her. "JUPITER!!" "VENUS!!" Sailor Cosmos winced under the harsh glare of their stares, shielding herself with her arms. "DON'T!" The girls ignored her, shouting in unison, "LAST CHANCE ATTACK!!" And lowered their hands, propelling their energy forward. But... Nothing happened. In the moment of silence that followed, the girls stared at each other, perplexed. Mars frowned as she stared at her outstretched hands, the fire still dancing bright around her. "What...?" She glanced to the side, seeing the confused expressions on the faces of the other soldiers as well. Suddenly, a flame danced too close to her arm, and it seared her skin. Crying out, she flinched back, accidentally moving deeper into the inferno. She screamed as the ends of her hair caught fire, and she clawed at her head, trying to escape the scorching heat as it began to consume her dress. "MARS!" cried Jupiter next to her, reaching out, but a bolt of electricity shot through her arm, paralyzing it as she gasped painfully. "What is...why is this happening?!" she shouted, falling to her knees as the lighting she had been master of moments ago turned against her, darting through her body and singeing her skin, the bolts cutting her open like blades as she thrashed about. Hearing the commotion beside her, Mercury turned to look, but a solid wall of water blocked her vision. She frowned, reaching forward, and a thin tendril of water snaked out reaching to her fingers. Sailor Mercury paused, her frown deepening. Suddenly, the tiny stream shot past her, wrapping itself firmly around her neck and beginning to squeeze. Mercury's mouth shot open as she struggled for air, tearing at her neck, but coming away with only wet hands. The wall of water descended down upon her, filling her mouth and lungs with water. Sailor Venus smashed her hands against the invisible wall that surrounded her as the intensity of the light increased, blinding her. But even through her tightly clenched eyes, the glare grew stronger, the color behind her eyes turning from black to orange, and finally to red as she opened her eyes, her back arching as far as it could, and shrieked shrilly in terror. Instead of eyes, brilliant beams of light shot from her sockets, escaping through her ears and lips as well as she screamed, eaten away from the inside. Cosmos rose above all them laughing joyfully as she spun around in a graceful dance of victory. "You don't get it, do you? I always win! I am the most powerful being in the UNIVERSE! The pathetic little powers of you insignificant planets would never be enough to defeat me, even multiplied a hundred thousand times!" She threw back her head and laughed again, listening as the screams slowly ceased, each losing the ability to control their own movements and actions. * * * * * Uranus stared at the flaming, drowning, dying, shining, losing battles of her friends as they fought against their own power, a desperation entering her heart as she imagined their screams and pain. Tightening her jaw, she began to struggle against the hard substance around her, fighting her enclosement but finding little release. But something must have broken through, because Tuxedo Mask suddenly turned to face her, staring at her as she worked with all of her muscle to escape. Placing one hand next to her face, he bent over to stare into her eyes, blocking her sight from the destruction of the girls. She could feel a tear build in her eyes, but it had nowhere to go, and merely blurred her vision as she increased her exertion. Mamoru felt a pressure building in the crystal and stepped back. A single hairline crack split from where her finger protruded from the center and spread outward to the very edges of her prison. * * * * * Finally, Cosmos, beginning to become bored with the slow consumption of the girls, cut her hand through the air, signaling a stop. The elements suddenly ceased their attacks, evaporating into nothing. The charred mound of ash where Sailor Mars had stood clomped to the ground, flaking apart and disintegrating, the unrecognizable, melted features of Venus doing the same next to her, and Jupiter's scarred and bleeding corpse falling to the concrete on the other side. Slowly, three beautiful lilies sprouted from their remains, one green, one yellow, and one red, and they bloomed to reveal three shining jewels. Only Sailor Mercury remained standing, wavering back and forth in her drenched clothing, her body bloated with water and her skin as blue as her dress. Her eyes frozen open and condemning, they stared into Cosmos as she recoiled, startled. Sailor Mercury's purple, bloodless lips moved wordlessly as if making a silent accusation as she stared at Cosmos. "You...you couldn't have survived that!" As if in response, Mercury's eyes slowly closed, and she wilted to the ground. Her breathing still quick and panicked, Cosmos stared at her body to see if she would move again, perhaps attack her, but the body was motionless as a blue flower bloomed on her chest. Just another soulless corpse, laying beside its sisters. Letting loose a shuddering breath, Cosmos smoothed back her bangs, straightening her torn and bloody skirt and shredded cape. She carefully stepped over to the bodies, gathering up their starseeds without touching or looking at their faces (or what remained) and holding them close, she backed away. Opening her hands, she watched the four jewels revolve on their points. The longer she looked at them, the more her unease grew, and quickly, she smashed them between her palms, turning the diamonds into dust as their spirits seeped into hers. The energy that flowed into her came as swiftly and hotly as the others, but this time, it almost felt as if her skin burned and her insides froze, creating a paradox as she shivered, feverishly. The sensation quickly passed though, leaving her feeling slightly empty. Slowly, a grin spread across her face, and she began to laugh, loud, hysterical, uncontrollable laughter, and she supported herself against a half-collapsed wall of brick. Resting her forehead against the stone, she let the waves of laughter over come her without restraint. Suddenly, a voice cut through her giggles, making her jump. "Do you think this is funny, Usako? The death of your friends?" His voice was weary, sorrowful, but with a hard edge of anger beneath it. "Are you really crying, on the inside?" Cosmos turned to face Tuxedo Mask, whose actual mask has been torn away long ago. He was dirty and tired, but he stood tall. He had drawn out his baton and held it at his side, a look of mixed frustration and sadness in his eyes. "Are you going to fight me as well, Mamoru?" questioned Cosmos, curiously. "You've seen me kill everyone around you, and you would stand alone against me?" Her lips twitched, half-forming a smile before her face went blank again. He shook his head. "I'm not quite alone, Usako." And he spun away from her, raised his baton in the air, and brought it down with all his strength into the crack formed by Uranus, deepening the fracture and sending it spreading like a spider web throughout the cube. The block of crystal exploded outward with the tinkling of shattered glass, tiny slivers and large chunks alike shooting past Mamoru as he turned his face away, raising his arms as his jacket was sliced open by razor-sharp shards. A sharp exclamation of surprise pierced the air as Cosmos shot up into the sky to avoid the blast. Standing in the center, the four soldiers stepped out, brushing the last bits of debris from their clothes and hair, shaking out the tiny wings on their backs as they walked past Mamoru without a glance or a thanks. Pausing as she passed him, Neptune, glanced up into his eyes. "You know what we have to do." He looked down at her, then over to where Saturn stood, preparing herself. Looking back at Neptune, he sighed, and nodded. "I understand." Sailor Neptune echoed his sigh and lay one hand one his arm briefly as she began to walk away, taking her place beside Sailor Uranus as they stared up into the sky at Cosmos. Mamoru walked to stand beside Setsuna, Sailor Saturn located between the two pairs. Taking a deep breath, Saturn shouted, "Come down here and face your fate, Cosmos! It's time to end this!" As Cosmos pondered them from above, Mamoru turned to Setsuna and whispered in her ear, "What will happen, when she uses her attack?" Setsuna didn't blink as she replied, "We will all die." Mamoru stared at her stone face. "All of us? Why?" Setsuna did not reply, but Michiru appeared at his side, her eyes remaining glued to the figure above. "There is nothing that could kill her, no one could force death upon her but Death itself. But in being the messenger of Death, to cut the thread that holds Cosmos to this astral plane, the threads of those nearby must also be severed. Only a wide, harsh and quick blow will snap her strings." Mamoru gazed at her, then looked up to where Cosmos slowly floated to the ground. "Do you understand?" Mamoru looked back down to her, a tiny, sad smile brushing his lips. "Yes." Michiru returned his smile, and reached up, kissing him on the cheek. "I am sorry it has to end this way." He shook his head. "Don't be sorry. We will all meet again in heaven, where we can finally be in peace." Neptune looked briefly into his eyes, a haunted look on her face, then returned to lean against Uranus, waiting for Cosmos. * * * * * Michiru felt the breath catch in her throat as she watched Sailor Cosmos from below, and she turned her face away, burying her cheek in Haruka's shoulder as she lay one hand on Sailor Uranus's arm. Uranus looked down, startled, and quickly draw an arm around her, her expression softening. "Look at her," came Michiru's choked whisper. "Look at her, Haruka. She is unrecognizable. Clothed in stained white silk, proudly displaying the blood and ashes of her friends smeared across her skin." Though her eyes were hidden by her bangs, her cracking voice told of tears. "She is soiled, reeking of death and hate! Who is she?!" she demanded, grasping tightly onto Haruka's sleeve. "Who is this _monster_ in the shape of our princess?! What has happened to the innocent girl we swore to protect?!" Uranus closed her eyes fiercely, willing back tears as she pulled Michiru close, shaking her head. "Don't torture yourself with these thoughts. That creature is not our princess! You cannot think of her that way or we will not go through with this." "Then where is she?!" Neptune jerked her head up, forcing Uranus to look into her eyes. "When did we lose track of her? When did we look away and miss her departure?" Uranus opened her mouth to respond, but Michiru cut her off. "No, no don't tell me any more lies. That girl is our princess, and we have failed in our mission. We have failed her and ourselves and everyone else." Abruptly, she released her hold on Haruka, backing away and hugging herself tightly. "And they have paid for it with their lives," she murmured, looking to where the scattered remains of the inners lay. "Paid for it with their souls..." She sharply shook her head to clear it. "There is nothing to do but destroy her and ourselves and pray that the world can start again." She lay one hand over her eyes to hide her tears as Uranus stared at her helplessly. "We do not deserve to have ever been born." Sailor Uranus started forward, extending one hand to her, but a sharp clearing of the throat from behind forced her to turn away. A feral grin pasted to her face, Cosmos arrived on the ground. "Oh, how touching. Are you crying over your losses? It's a worthless gesture, for soon you will lose everything anyway, including your lives, and I can remake this world over anew without disturbances like you." Sailor Saturn stepped forward, blocking Cosmos's view from Uranus and Neptune as they embraced. Cosmos's smile widened as she crossed her arms. "You know that I am untouchable, I am invincible! What are you planning to do, kill me? It's been tried." Saturn's eyes narrowed. "I am sorry, Princess. This is the only way. You knew this would come." Gravely, the others stepped aside, and she raised the scythe above her head, bracing herself. The grin frozen on her face, Cosmos's eyes opened wider, showing the whites around the gold circles. Drawing back, she shielded her arms before her, her fear genuine this time as it spread across her features. "No...no! You can't! You won't!!" Saturn, ignoring her plea, began to swiftly twirl her staff above her head, making wide, sweeping slices through the air. Taking a deep breath, she opened her mouth to call to the clouded sky. "DEA..." "I HAVE NOT COME THIS FAR TO BE DESTROYED BY YOU!!" screamed Cosmos, rushing forwards. Extending her arms, she shot out a beam of raw, golden energy, pushing all of the power of the cosmos into the attack, bearing down on the woman before her. Without hesitation, Sailor Pluto swiftly turned, holding her garnet sceptre with both hands. "Spatial...Time...HALT!!" And in that instant, in that very second, time stopped. Cosmos remained in the air, pressing forward with her mouth open in a wordless scream, the blast of her attack spreading outward from her hands, unmoving. Tuxedo Mask, Neptune, and Uranus stood, halted in various forms of recoil, a nonexistent force lifting their hair and blowing their clothes tight against their bodies. The only sound in this timeless void was the harsh breathing of Sailor Saturn as she stared around herself in shock, trying to steady her equilibrium. The soft tap of shoes against the pavement caused her to turn, finding herself facing Sailor Pluto. The woman gazed at her silently, her staff to the side. For a long while, neither of them spoke, staring at each other. Sailor Saturn broke the moment and looked away, running her eyes over the others around her. Turning to look at Sailor Cosmos, she carefully walked over to her, passing through several frozen beams of light, a strange tingle running down her spine as she went through them. Gazing down at Cosmos, she looked closely at her stained face, noticing a few tiny, wet track marks running down her cheeks. Slowly she reached out and stroked her cheek, and some of the soot came off on her fingers. *Do you think this is funny, Usako? The death of your friends? Are you really crying, on the inside?* Surprised, she brought her fingers up to her face and rubbed them together, and the red-streaked ash disintegrated. Saturn stared at her fingers for a moment longer, then, taking a breath, she faced Pluto again. "Will she die?" Setsuna walked towards her and lightly lay one hand on her shoulder. "If she does not, then it is all over, for surely we will." Saturn nodded once, and Pluto drew away, giving her room. Lowering her head for a moment, Saturn focused her attention to a single end, breathing in and out in deep, even breaths. Opening her eyes, she raised her head, staring straight ahead at Sailor Cosmos. "I am sorry, Princess," she repeated. "This is goodbye." Whirling her scythe around her body, she swung it into the air, revolving it above her head. Taking one step forward, she shouted into the waiting silence. "DEATH.....REBORN.....REVOLU...*TION*!!!" And with a rapid swoop, she carved the blade through the air, splitting existence into two even halves as the world crumbled around her, and light itself began to disintegrate into nothing. * * * * * **Author's notes** E-mail to Kaelali_Su@hotmail.com Web page at: http://members.xoom.com/SMradioplay AOL Instant Messenger : aiwoshinjiteru Short one, I know. What happens...? Tune in next week to find out! Don't touch that dial!! Actually, the next chapter IS the last...Did they all die? Has Cosmos survived? What will happen to the Rivers of Time now that its sole guardian has been destroyed?! Hmmm....Only *I* know the answer to that...MUHWAHHAHA!!!! --abrupt subject change-- Does anyone else know what Zetsuai Since 1989 is? Not the OAVs, but the manga? Ahhhh.....YUMMY!! I have a couple MP3s of the opening (who makes CDs for a manga?!!) and some remixes, and oh wow, is that Ishihara Shin'ichi's voice S-E-X-YYYY!! I recommend it to ANYONE and EVERYONE (except maybe my grandmother or my 10-year-old-brother: don't want Grannie to have a heart attack, and don't want to spoil the little one TOO young...) Heehee...But it's fun ain't it? I would like to thank Rachel (who will never read this) for ruining my purity and allowing me to have some naughty fun, and Meiryosa for supporting me, and Clare-chan for continuing to read this, and Shorty for helping me with my troubles in love, Josh and Chris for making my life a living hell, and Bob for being Bob. I think...maybe Meiryosa will actually to read this...oh oh oh! I wanna thank Lady...something with an F for pointing out a few mistakes I made earlier and giving me enough to time to at least attempt to fix them in time! When did these author's notes become monologues for me to ramble random nonsense? Oh, don't despair about the ending to this chapter, there's redemption in the end...sorta...maybe...heh heh... Oooohh, I love Zetsuai...Must....go.....listen...to...Mp3's....!!!! ^_^;; Oh, one more thing, has anyone else noticed that "Saturn" in Japanese is spelled "Sataan?" Umm, anyone else think "Satan" when they read that?" Hmm...Hotaru as the devil...