To Part A

"Kazeko!" Tokimo shouted, grabbing her shoulder as they walked away from school. Kazeko let out a long, whiny-sounding gasp.

"W-w-w-what?" She shakily managed to reply. She put a hand on the tall wall nearest the sidewalk and tried to compose herself.

"Kazeko, you read my mind, didn't you!" Tokimo asked accusingly, coming around in front of Kazeko and pointing her finger.

Kazeko could feel herself trembling.

"You're Satanists!" The man shouted, his glove-covered hand pointing at them accusingly.

"Deidre, get out of here! I'll fend them off!" He had shouted then, pushing her away from the gathering men. They wore the COP uniform, their red cloaks emblazoned with a shining golden cross.

"What can you do, Iain? You're not any stronger than I am. Let's run!" she had cried, grabbing onto his wrist. He jerked it away.

"Run away, Deidre! I'm not coming with you, so don't bother trying!"

"Kazeko!" Tokimo shouted in alarm. "Are you crying? Here..." Tokimo rifled through her bag, pulling out a purple tin. "Have some cookies. I forgot all about it when it came for the meeting, so now I have all of them left, and--"

Kazeko held her hand up. "I-I-I-I'm f-fine. B-but...please....don't startle me."

Tokimo nodded earnestly. "Right. So why did you read my mind?"

"I can't read minds," Kazeko replied numbly. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"But neither Tokimo nor I told you about the Senshi meeting today," Kouken explained. "We didn't think you'd be up for it. But you came. How did you know about it?"

"Seisui told me," she explained weakly. "She seemed very anxious for me to come."

Tokimo paused, her expression becoming uncharacteristically uneasy. "But why?'

"I don't know. I assumed that you were discussing something you thought only I would know. But that didn't happen, so..."

"You said she seemed anxious?" Tokimo asked unhappily.

"Yes. And I remember trying to get in tune with her...she also seemed...in pain."

"In pain?" Tokimo frowned. Maybe it had to do with those bandages?

"Yes, well, she was in physical pain. But it was an emotional pain, too."

Tokimo grabbed Kazeko's arm. "Why?" she asked sadly, as much to herself as Kazeko. Erik had said she had decided to stop fighting. That meant they could be friends again. So Seisui should be happy, right? She had seemed a little under the weather that morning, but she had said that was because she was up late last night. That was it, right?

"She didn't say, and I didn't ask," Kazeko responded, gently pulling her arm away."I knew she wouldn't answer me." Kazeko paused and looked away, as though lost in her thoughts. "Did you know, Tokimo, that she is repressing her guardian spirit?"

"Her guardian spirit? You called Kouken a spirit, didn't you?" Tokimo looked backwards toward her backpack. "Kouken, has Seisui been repressing you?"

"Tokimo," Kouken sighed, "I think she means her element."

"You mean that weird goop?" Tokimo asked. "The one that turns into that freaky guy?"

"That strange man is called Black Water, which is also the name of the weird goop, as you call it," Kazeko explained. "When I first met her, Seisui had a very strong presence, though it was one full of hatred. But when I talked to her by the oak the other day--"

"You talked to Seisui the other day?" Tokimo asked, moving back toward Kazeko with a look of concern. Why was Seisui talking to everyone but her? First Erik, and now Kazeko... "What did you talk about?"

"I, uh...she wasn't very detailed. She said that she had to move on, that everything was in the past...and she said that she was being forced to be okay by her own volition."

"But that's a paradox," Kouken's muffled voice observed.

"I know," Kazeko replied, furrowing her brows in confusion. "It's as complicated as spirit-talk."

Tokimo could feel unhappiness and frustration rising within her. Why did it matter if Seisui talked to Erik or Kazeko? That didn't make them any less friends, did it? Why was this so frustrating? If Kazeko was right, and Seisui was upset about something, why didn't she tell her? Seisui always told her before! There was silence for a moment as Tokimo seemed to mill over what Kazeko had said.

"But what did you mean by repressing Black Water?" Kouken asked. "Is she going through some kind of denial?"

"No, she knows who Black Water is, I think. It's a weird concept, but...I think she's sort of holding back her own power, restraining herself. In English, there is an expression that speaks of bottling up your anger. Black Water is a spirit of anger, and Seisui has almost literally bottled him up inside herself."

"But if she does that, her Senshi powers will weaken," Kouken observed.

"If you say so. I know spirits, not Senshi powers. I know that spirits often become angered when they are bound."

"But why does Seisui have anger to begin with?" Tokimo asked in distress. "I thought Erik worked things out. I thought we were on the same side again! I thought everything was going to be okay, and me and Seisui--"

"Tokimo," Kouken's muffled voice interrupted her. "I'm afraid Seisui's backing off may have more to do with necessity than desire."

"But doesn't she want to work together with me?" Tokimo asked hurtfully. "I mean, doesn't she want to be friends? Why hasn't she been talking to me?"

"She's just upset and confused," Kazeko said. "Give her time."

"But I want to know if she's upset and confused," Tokimo muttered. "If we're friends, I wish she would tell me she's upset and confused."

There was an awkward silence.

"I'm sure things will be fine, Tokimo," Kouken comforted her. "She just needs time to get some direction."

"I hope so," Tokimo mumbled. "You're right, I mean, of course, but...I hope so. Anyway, I better get going. See you later, Kazeko."

Tokimo walked past Kazeko and headed for home. Maybe Seisui would call her to talk when she got home. Maybe she would even be waiting on her doorstep, ready to tell her what was wrong.

Maybe.

"Oceanus!" Eros shouted, flinging open the door of the turquoise colored room. It was furnished 'tastefully', Eros thought in disdain. Simplistic paintings on the wall and minimalist-style furniture; a style that most would describe as elegant and held back, but one that Eros felt was simple for a reason--it was for the simple-minded. No true art was simple, and as far as Eros was concerned, the talent he heard in Oceanus' early morning fiddle practice reflected that.

"What in the depths of the galaxy cauldron could you be desirous of?" Oceanus asked disdainfully. "I was about to put the finishing touches on the Shine I've been working on--"

"The Shine you're going to use in Crystal Tokyo?" Eros snapped vehemently, stepping deeper into Oceanus' room and glaring into his eyes, an algae green.

Oceanus smirked. "So, I see word has gotten 'round."

Eros scowled. "Damn right it has! I'd have come sooner, but unlike some idle fools, I have my mission to attend to. What exactly is the meaning of this?"

"Nemesis decided to send me after Seisui for a job. As much as watching you sweat amuses me so, however, I must admit that the job is only for this single instance. I am still in control of the German front and am being given no long-term jurisdiction of Japan."

"And your job?"

"The usual, really."

"You don't plan on--"

"Nothing of the sort, Eros," Oceanus interrupted, picking up the violin, gruesome and crudely fashioned out of human bones. "I won't be going quite that far. Nemesis merely instructed me to scare her."

"You mean to aggravate her kakon even more, then?"

"Yes. So be competent for a change and try not to mess up my plans, will you?"

"I assure you, my own plans are keeping me well occupied. And I think you shall find them surprisingly fruitful, thank you," Eros said haughtily, crossing his arms.

"Well, as much as your foppishness amuses me, do you mind? I'm trying to work."

Eros grinned as he turned to leave. "You're just jealous because I'm better looking."

Erik grimaced as he pounded on the anvil, working a red-hot rod into an ornate, twisting pattern of vines. There were few kinds of work as back-breaking, supremely uncomfortable or trying as blacksmithing. This suited Erik just fine.

"So," Ikkoku shouted between hammer falls, "how does one become interested in a hobby as unique as blacksmithing?"

Erik paused, dipping his work in a bucket of water. He sat down and responded between heavy breaths. "I started out sword-smithing with my grandfather," he explained, wiping his forehead. "The rest I just picked up out of boredom."

"It doesn't look very entertaining," Ikkoku remarked, noticing Erik's general lack of comfort.

"No, but it's rewarding," he explained. "And better yet, distracting. I can create something with smithing--and take my mind off things."

"You should have done jewelry smithing," Ikkoku admonished him. "Pick up more prospective wives that way."

Erik just rolled his eyes and began putting away his things. "You seem to have an awful lot of advice for me," he responded. He picked up his tongs and hung them on wall of the stone shed, along with the rest of his tools.

"Well, since we're on the topic," Ikkoku continued, "let me ask you this. A man's parents go on a year-long break from their duties as Chancellor and Councilor of Germany while their son is off playing 'around the world in a couple hundred years'. The parents' brother and sister fill in on their duties while they're gone, possibly, just possibly, getting a taste for the ruling business. Then when the parents go on a leisurely drive through the mountains upon their return, a horrible car 'accident' occurs and--"

Erik swung around toward Ikkoku, a small hammer in his hand and a furious look in his eyes. "How do you know about my parents?" He asked her accusingly, stepping toward her with his hammer raised. "How do you know about Caspar and Didrika?"

"They aren't, or weren't, exactly discreet figures!" Ikkoku responded, flying to a higher, safer branch. "Amy and Derek vonDarkmoor were the two leading figures in Germany politics for several consecutive terms! And if you know anything about recent German history, you know that Didrika and Caspar--your aunt and uncle--took their place when they died!"

"Maybe so, but no one in Japan knows or cares about Germany," Erik retorted. "Especially not a talking gyrfalcon! How long have you been following me, and why? Why do I hold any interest for--"

There was a pause, and for a moment, all that could be heard were the sounds of the forest nearby. Then, without warning, Erik dropped his hammer and held out his hands. A black, iron mask formed between them and Erik placed the mask on his face. A glowing, molten wave washed over him and formed the heavy armor of the Crimson Eagle.

"What's happened?" Ikkoku asked in alarm.

"I don't know," he responded. "But it has something to do with Sailor Titan."

Then, without another word, he disappeared into the rapidly falling dusk.

The haunting sound of a fiddle pierced the night.

The Crimson Eagle approached the yard of the Han'i residence with caution. As he walked toward the streetlight that spilled neon illumination into Seisui's yard, he could see the back of a turquoise-clad man, his hair short and seaweed colored. The music he played was definitely that of a fiddle, and yet this instrument, though it vaguely resembled a violin, was crudely fashioned out of bleached white bones. As they approached the sound, Ikkoku's circling figure fell to the ground. A hawkish scream escaped her lips.

The Crimson Eagle drew his sword.

The man turned around, staring at the Crimson Eagle in annoyance as his fiddle played on. "Do you mind?" he asked calmly. "I'm trying to play, and your bird is rather distracting, as is your weapon."

The Crimson Eagle scowled and looked around; he could see Seisui backed up against a tree--not even transformed--and a bizarre, freakish doll cornering her there. It wore highly formalized, princely attire; blonde hair was attached to its head, and and its face was delicately painted save for it's freakish, vacuous eyes. It was a mocking likeness of Andreas Han'i. The flickering neon light cast bright, unnatural light across it's face; the shadows the white light created were just as dark and eerie as the light was bright.

"Do you like it?" the man asked, continuing his tune. Oceanus, the Crimson Eagle remembered. "Quite a likeness, don't you think?"

"What have you done to her?" the Crimson Eagle shouted, rushing toward him. Oceanus stepped casually out of the way; the Crimson Eagle glanced hurriedly toward Seisui, preparing to make another dive at Oceanus.

She was breathing irregularly; sweat dripped down her face. A few yards away, her father was tied together with what the Crimson Eagle assumed was the rest of her family; they were bound with some sort of thin twine.

"You've disappointed me, Sei," The puppet hollowly informed her. "I told you to forget my foolishness. I told you not to pursue revenge."

"I only did what I thought would make you proud!" she sobbed, clinging to the bark of the cherry tree.

"Did you read my letter to you? Didn't I tell you not to repeat my mistakes?"

"I didn't think I would," Seisui continued, covering her eyes with one hand. "I had power. I was a Sailor Senshi! I was sure I could succeed where you had failed."

"And yet you failed. Failed, and brought even more shame on my family!" He hissed, pointing a wooden finger toward her accusingly.

The Crimson Eagle turned back toward Oceanus. "Doesn't she realize it's a doll?" He asked in alarm. "Why, her real father is only feet away!"

Oceanus grinned in self-satisfaction. "As long as the fiddle plays, she realizes only what I want her to."

The Crimson Eagle summoned an iron ring; with a sharp snapping of his wrist, he sent it flying toward the bone violin. Oceanus merely shrugged as the ring bounced off a force field surrounding the instrument.

"Now, really. Would I tell you something like that when I know you could just destroy the violin and thereby solve your problems? Show a little respect, Crimson Eagle."

The Crimson Eagle ignored his comment. Frankly, he had expected as much. Oceanus didn't seem that dull, and if he was arrogant, it was not a foolish complacency. The Crimson Eagle paused; the talk was probably as much to distract him from an effective target as it was to entertain Oceanus. The Crimson Eagle drew his sword and rushed toward the mannequin, who was occupied with Seisui.

The Crimson Eagle fell backward, clutching his face in surprise. Something was preventing him from getting closer; he held his hand in front of him and felt the resistance of a force field. He turned toward Oceanus in annoyance. "Of course, you knew that would happen!" he shouted.

"I didn't suggest that you go running after my puppet," Oceanus chided him. "That was entirely your own prerogative."

"Crimson Eagle," a small voice whispered. The Crimson Eagle looked around in confusion; then he spotted a small, weasely face poking gingerly out of the bushes. He stared blankly in confusion. "I think Seisui is generating the force field."

He raised his eyebrows. "Seisui?" he whispered back. "But Seisui isn't even transformed, and even if she were, she--"

"I know. But I think the hallucinatory process that Oceanus is putting her through is generating power somehow."

"What? But what makes you think that?"

"When Oceanus first began the hallucination, There was negligible negative energy. But since then, the amount has been multiplying at an alarming rate. I suspect that Seisui's participation in his illusion is somehow creating negative power, like some sort of psychological generator. I don't know that much about Nemesis, but the small amount of power that Oceanus was using to begin with probably wouldn't have been enough to generate a gigantic force field--at least if they're comparable at all to senshi powers. So I suspect that the only reason he was able to create the force field at all was by using the energy that Seisui is generating."

"Okay, fine. But how does that help me?" the Crimson Eagle snapped.

"Having problems? Because if you just plan on standing there, I'd rather you left, thank you," Oceanus interjected over the continuous sound of the fiddle.

"If you could snap her out of it somehow...." Kouken mumbled, half to himself. The Crimson Eagle rolled his eyes. Now what? He doubted that Oceanus would just let him sit there and sip tea until he thought of something good....

"Kouken," he said suddenly. First, he'd better get the help of the other Moon Senshi. Maybe if Oceanus' attention was split...."Go get Tokimo and the others. I'll see if I can get Seisui to snap out of it. As it is, I'm really the only target that Oceanus has to concentrate on, and he doesn't seem likely to let his guard down."

Kouken nodded. "I'll hurry back as soon as I can. What about Ikkoku? Maybe she could help you."

"She passed out, from what I could see. There's nothing I can do for her right now; my hands are full trying to help Seisui."

"Okay. Try not to hurt yourself while I'm gone," Kouken said. The Crimson Eagle frowned; the ferret didn't sound like he was joking.

"I'll try," The Crimson Eagle replied. He looked around once more at his surroundings. Strangely enough, Oceanus didn't seem to regard him; he continued playing as The puppet gesticulated wildly, an evil grin on it's face. "You disregarded my last requests! Disregarded everything I told you in my final moments! What loving daughter would do that? Why would you mock the only wishes that meant anything to me?"

Seisui became more terrified by the minute; by now, she was crouching against the tree, clawing against the bark. "But the dagger! You gave me that dagger! I thought, even though you were depressed and you said that, that--that--"

"It was a but a memento, and you used it to bring shame upon those you love--those who are still alive and have hope! You will be the death of your family, Seisui! You will drain their pride until they have nothing left!" Seisui could no longer respond; her speech was reduced to meaningless muttering as she clutched the cherry tree.

Looking at the puppet, the Crimson Eagle was almost certain he had no hope of waking Seisui up by calling to her. Whatever illusion magic Oceanus was using, it was powerful, and it's source--the fiddle--was too well protected to break. The only hope of helping Seisui the Crimson Eagle could foresee was to distract or anger Oceanus enough to break his concentration on the music.

"You'd better have a replacement for my bird," The Crimson Eagle called out in annoyance, "because gyrfalcons are pretty rare around here."

"Bah. You think the bird is annoying anyway," he replied, continuing to play flawlessly.

"So, how is it that you know so much about us, anyway? You know a lot about Seisui, based on what your puppet is saying, and you know a least a little about me and Ikkoku. And yet I'm transformed, and you've never even met me before in either my civilian or Knight form--and I presume the same is true of her as well.."

Oceanus rolled his eyes, continuing his tune. "Again, how stupid do you think I am? I'm not going to tell you that."

"Well, it doesn't hurt to ask. So are you working with Eros, or--"

"I am not working with that degenerate!" Oceanus snapped, his violin skipping a beat. The puppet momentarily crumpled a little, as though it's legs had given way; Seisui looked bewildered for a moment before the tune continued on and the conversation between her and the puppet continued.

"I'm surprised--"

"You ought not to be!" he interrupted. His hand slid down the violin at an awkward tilt, and the music faltered once more. The puppet's leg's sagged again, and Seisui's look was dazed; Oceanus evidently didn't like being associated with the rather more foppish priest of Venus. He swore something under his breath and turned around, as though to remove the Crimson Eagle's infuriating presence.

The Crimson Eagle charged toward him, his sword held out in front of him. Oceanus swirled around and held out his bow, parrying the blow of the Crimson Eagle's sword.

"Honorless scourge!" he spat. "First you insult me by comparing me to that pimp, then you attack me from behind? What sort of Knight are you, one of cowardice?"

The Crimson Eagle cursed to himself as they exchanged blows. Though his plan may have worked flawlessly, he couldn't help feeling like he forgot himself. Even with a turncoat, it was shamefully dishonorable to attack an enemy's back. He wasn't able to see what effect Oceanus' now-silent and fiddle had on the puppet, but he hoped that it lay as inert as any real doll would.

"Titan prism power, make up!" Seisui's voice shouted shakily. Good, the Crimson Eagle thought; he would have Sailor Titan's help while the other Senshi were on their way.

Several moments went past, and the battle bewteen Oceanus and the Crimson Eagle continued uneventfully. Oceanus, who was facing the tree Seisui had been pinned against, smiled grimly.

"What's so funny?" the Crimson Eagle asked. "Happy your mission failed?"

"Well, it could have gone better," Oceanus replied, parrying another blow with what must have been a supernaturally strong fiddle bow. "But it could have gone much worse."

"What do you mean?" the Crimson Eagle asked. "Why are you--"

"Shimmering crescent!" a girl's voice cried; a shower of bladed, crescent-shaped discs streamed toward Oceanus. Oceanus ducked beneath the oncoming onslaught of discs and the swinging blade of the Crimson Eagle; as the Crimson Eagle swung downward toward him again, another force field blocked his way. The senshi's attack, which seemed to have missile-like properties, futilely pressed into the shield for a few moments before dissipating.

"Bloody--" Oceanus spat, his body dissolving into turquoise mist.

"What happened?" the voice of Sailor Pinkmoon called from Seisui's rooftop. "Did we defeat him? Where's Seisui?"

The Crimson Eagle looked up; he raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Your senshi uniform has changed," he remarked.

She smiled. "That's right! Now I'm Sailor Luna, the soldier of sanctity and light, representing the moon Luna!"

"Well, yeah," Sailor Charon remarked, stepping forward to stand beside her. "If your name is Sailor Luna, you're probably not the soldier of Mars, y'know?"

Sailor Luna just shrugged and continued on. "That makes me a Moon Senshi now!" she said with enthusiasm. "But where did Seisui go? Is she okay?"

The Crimson Eagle turned around and looked toward the cherry tree where Seisui had been. She was, as Sailor Luna had said, gone. "I had just assumed--well, she said her transformation phrase while I was keeping Oceanus occupied. I was surprised it was you that attacked Oceanus first, frankly, and not her. I'm assuming she's okay; Oceanus didn't have her when she left."

"She ran off," Ana shouted, walking toward them. The string that had held Seisui's family members was gone; either they had managed to break free, the Crimson Eagle mused, or it had dissipated when the fiddle stopped playing. "Right after she said that--what do you call it?--transformation phrase?"

"But why would she run away after transforming?" Sailor Charon asked uneasily. "You'd think she'd wanna kick butt after being attacked."

"That was the odd part. After she called out her transformation phrase," Ana continued, turning toward Sailor Charon with concern, "she didn't transform."

"Seisui."

The playground was tiny; the gravel was littered with stray papers that had escaped during the crowded day from their owners' careless hands. The late night's darkness was deepening the shadows, obscuring her small form as she huddled on top of the slide; rain clouds were moving in overhead, thickening the already viscous night. She did not respond as Erik walked toward her. It was because, he suspected, she felt no desire for him to add to her already deepening sense of shame; but he had no intention of doing so.

"Seisui..." he repeated. "Listen, what happened--well, it's not surprising that you couldn't transform under those circumstances. Certainly, I'm sure you weren't feeling very confident at the moment, and moreover, we don't know what side-effects Oceanus' hallucinations might have had. I'm sure that you'll be able to transform again next time."

"Why can't I just shut up?" she murmured--near inaudibly--to herself. Erik paused. Perhaps It wasn't her inability to transform that had kept Seisui here after all. As the words escaped her mouth, deep, racking gasps escaped her lungs and a whining moan interspersed it, as though she were trying--with little success--to hold back her rapidly pouring tears.

Momentarily dumbfounded, Erik said nothing, cursing his own lack of empathy.

"I-I-I had to get in-in-in-volved," she spat out near-incomprehensibly. "I-I-I h-h-had to k-k-kill the q-q-queen, e-eventhoughmy fafather, puh-puhleaded me n-not to in his writing," she covered her mouth, trying to surpress more gasps. "He puh-pleaded, but I w-wouldn't sh-sh-shut up. H-had to exsexsexpress my unwanted op-opinions."

"People always say and do things they regret, Seisui," Erik told her comfortingly. "If you think you're the only person who's been ashamed or regretful of something that they've said, I can assure you that you're mistaken."

"Most people h-haven't tried to kill someone!" she dropped her hand and shouted. Placing her hands back over her face, she shook her head. "Most people don't have a father that tried to kill someone. I'm not like other people at all," she murmured.

"Yes, well, other people don't transform into Sailor Senshi, nor were any of their parents purified or killed by a family's evil ancestors. There are extenuating circumstances."

"I just wanted to stop pretending," she continued, ignoring him. "I was never good at it to begin with. But I wasn't good at being myself either. I'm disgusted with myself that who I really am is just angry and unlikable."

Who am I, to have done such a thing? I've been fooling myself! I've pretended to be honorable when my hands longed for blood and revenge!

Erik shuddered. A vague memory resurfacing. "Everyone can be ugly, Seisui. Sometimes it's only other people that can see how we're beautiful."

"I'm not especially good looking, either," Seisui said bitterly. "Even my sister admitted I was plain."

"I was talking about your soul, not your appearance," Erik said with a sigh. "And your sister was just giving you a hard time about your appearance. You'd be pretty for a girl your age if you would smile more often."

"There's nothing that disgusts me more than a smile that's insincere," Seisui mumbled, wiping away her tears, "except maybe an insincere compliment."

"It wasn't insincere," Erik replied in annoyance. "Seisui, I know things are hard for you. But you need to try and get yourself together somehow. The priests don't look like they're about to pack up and leave, and everyone needs to be strong."

"I've been trying to! But how can I go home everyday and just shrug things off when I see my father and how much he meant to me? And then Tokimo seems more buddy-buddy with Usako now than she is with me, which is even worse. Even Kazeko predicted nothing but misfortune for me!"

"Tokimo probably thinks that you don't like her--and I'm sure that's eating her apart. And you should be the one controlling your fortune. As for your father, well...I'm sorry for it."

"I don't really want to talk about it," Seisui mumbled.

"Too late for that now," Erik replied. Seisui looked at him disparagingly; there was an awkward pause. "Anyway, I'm sorry I wasn't able to save your from Oceanus."

"You did save me, remember?"

"I doubt things would have gone in my favor if Sailor Luna had not shown up. Oceanus would have gotten a chance to resume his fiddle playing eventually, and I would have been powerless."

"It's not like other people defeat youma all on their own," Seisui replied. "So I hardly see why it should make you feel inadequate."

"Both Phoebe and Miranda defeated youma on their own. In Miranda's case, multiple times. I simply don't have the strength that the senshi do."

Seisui scoffed. "Well, you have several times the bravery of most of them."

"Bravery is useless if you don't win," Erik replied. "So whether I am brave or not, I failed."

Seisui said nothing. They were silent for a moment before Erik continued. "Well, I hope you feel better, in any case. Tokimo certainly seems to think you're likable, and she's seen you at your ugliest. You should treasure a friend like that. As for the others, well, you and Yamiko have more in common than either of you would like to admit, and Fubuki probably admires you more than she admires most people, which is no mean feat."

Seisui mumbled something and rubbed her hand; Erik couldn't hear it. He doubted she would agree to repeat it. "And Kazeko seems more friendly with you than she is with most of the other Moon Senshi in Tokyo. Even if people with problems aren't always likable, people can relate to them. Everyone has felt persecuted. I'm sure the others understand, at least on some level." He turned around. "If you ever need my help, Seisui, my duties lie in protecting the Moon Senshi. I will be there."

"That's as good a farewell as any, I suppose," Seisui returned cynically.

Erik said nothing and walked off into the deepening night.

Tokimo shook her head, trying to banish her growing unease about Seisui and whether or not Erik would screw up in trying to make her feel better. She wasn't sure she trusted Erik to get the job done right; but like Kouken said, she remembered with annoyance, Seisui and her were going through some difficulties right now. She was already regretting Erik and Kouken talking her into staying behind. What was she thinking? Seisui was her friend, and she was--

"Usako," Kouken said, turning toward the pink-haired girl. She held Helios' hand and smiled broadly, apparently proud of her efforts. "Your Senshi outfit changed. What happened?"

"Well...the other day, at the fight in the ballroom, Sailor Io called me on her communicator. Only I didn't have a communicator that was compatible with the ones that the Moon Senshi use. So when she called me, a new communicator and locket suddenly appeared. I tried transforming using 'Luna prism power' instead of my usual transformation phrase, and I was able to turn into a Moon Senshi."

Tokimo and Kouken exchanged impressed glances. "So that means you're a little bit cooler now, instead of being lame?" Tokimo said.

Usako just chuckled, but Helios, Tokimo noticed, looked visibly grumpier. "But won't your parents be angry?" Kouken said, sitting down by Tokimo's feet.

"Well, probably," Usako said. "But they'll just have to deal with it. I suppose that a confrontation at this point is inevitable. They probably won't be happy that I didn't bring the Sailor Quartet with me, either. But it's not like I could have not become a Moon Senshi, really, considering that when Io communicated with me, my locket morphed on it's own.

"But if you're a Moon Senshi," Tokimo said in bewilderment, "And it's our job to kill you so that Diana isn't revived, then doesn't that mean that you have to kill yourself?"

There was an awkward pause.

"Tokimo, the only thing that makes you a Moon Senshi is being the Sailor Senshi of a moon in the Sol system. Technically, you don't have to do anything beyond that." Kouken said.

"Well, I guess you have a point," Tokimo replied. She glanced off in the direction that Seisui had gone; she had been wrong, she decided, to let that shifty, mask-wearing weirdo take care of her best friend. Or, at least, her former best friend. "Anyway, I'm going. We've left Seisui alone long enough. There's no way that a grumpy depressing stranger like Erik is gonna make her feel any better."

"I really think it's best if you wait until tomorrow, Tokimo. Things are a little shaky between you two right now, and it was Erik who was able to placate Seisui last time, remember? I think maybe his chances are better at this point. Besides, he's the only one able to locate her. If we leave now, without him as a guide, it's like shooting a needle in a haystack. She could be anywhere by now."

"But Seisui is my friend! She was my best friend. My only friend!" Tokimo turned her head to the side stubbornly. "We hardly even know anything about Erik! He could be a sleaze-ball for all we know, and we just left him with Seisui!"

"He's done nothing in the past to give us that impression," Kouken disagreed. "Indeed, he's been almost annoyingly honorable."

"Well, I think we'd be better off if I talked to her," Tokimo said stubbornly, "So I'm going to go look for her. After all, I'm the Senshi of time-space, so I should be able to use space to my advantage!"

"Tokimo," Helios told her, "You can just talk to her tomorrow. There's no need--"

"Nuh-uh," Tokimo interrupted him. "I've let other people deal with Seisui's problems long enough; they're just gonna mess things up for her in the long run. As far as I'm concerned, the only way to help Seisui is Tokimo-style!"

"Um....Usagi?" Minako murmured nervously, swinging open the sitting room door. Usagi was wearing comfortable slacks and a sweatshirt, instead of her princess gown; administrative duties had ended for the day and Usagi, physically and mentally tired after using what little talent she had in that area, had changed into something more comfy.

She looked up cheerfully and scooted over to the one side of the couch, offering Minako a space. "Hello! Would you like some tea and crackers?"

"Er...don't mind if I do, actually," Minako admitted, sitting down next to her and grabbing a large rice cracker as Usagi poured some tea. "But I didn't come here to chat casually. I heard a disturbing rumor when I was on the street today. I haven't gotten any footage yet, but I'm sure that if it's true we'll see people who recorded it on their cellphones within the next 24--"

"Um, Minako...you haven't told me what it was that you heard."

"Oh, right. Well...people are saying there's a new Moon Senshi floating around Tokyo. They say her outfit is pink and silver, and her hair is pink, too. And they say she's calling herself Sailor Luna."

"Luna like the cat?"

"Well, I guess. I wonder what that could mean? None of the Moons we looked up after the whole Moon Senshi thing took off were called Luna.

"Maybe one of the others would know," Usagi suggested.

"Ami," they pronounced almost simultaneously. Minako called her on the communicator; a timid "hello" echoed from Minako's watch.

"Hey, Ami," she said cheerfully. Do you know of a moon or planet or whatever called "Luna"?"

"Of course," Ami replied. "Luna was what the Romans called the Earth's moon. It was also the root of the English word for lunacy and the associated bird, the loon."

"Uhh...thanks, Ami." Minako looked up at Usagi. "But why would there be a Sailor Luna? There's already a senshi for the Earth's moon, Sailor Pinkmoon. Is there one left over from Rainbow Millenium who's back for revenge for something?"

"Has something happened?" Ami's voice resounded from the communicator.

"I heard there was a new Sailor Senshi floating around town," Minako explained. "Pink hair, pink and silver uniform."

There was a pause before Ami began again. "It's very unlikely that Sailor Luna is from the Rainbow Millenium. Historically, senshi lose their power once the next member in their line displaces them, such as happened to Queen Serenity and Neo Queen Serenity."

"They could have traveled from the past or the future," Usagi pointed out.

"I guess that's true," Ami mused. "But why would they do that? Unless they're some kind of fugitive...which seems unlikely, but I suppose it's a possibility."

"And she couldn't be Sailor Pinkmoon," Usagi observed.

An uncanny silence saturated the air for a moment, broken only by the munching of Usagi and Minako on hard rice crackers.

"It's dangerous to say that anything 'couldn't be' or 'wouldn't happen,'" Ami finally said. "If it were possible for Chibi-Usa to become more like a Moon Senshi--and that's my guess as to what 'Sailor Luna' is, whoever they personally might be--she might do so in the interest of trying to become friends with them. It seems unlikely, but then, so do our other options. And it couldn't hurt to confront her and make sure."

"Okay, but...nobody mention this to Mamo," Usagi told them. "If he finds out that Chibi-Usa has become a Moon Senshi, especially because she's trying to become their friends, no one will hear the end of it for weeks. And I hate to think how it will make Chibi-Usa feel."

"Agreed," Ami replied. "Letting Mamoru know will change nothing and would only increase Chibi-Usa's frustration with the lack of independence he gives her."

Minako nodded. "Let's talk to Chibi-Usa about this as soon as possible, even though it probably wasn't her. At the very least, she might know something."

Fubuki pulled out a stick of fuzz and dived absentmindedly through her pockets for a lighter. Swearing in frustration, she realized she had either left it at home or Michito had "accidentally" cleaned out her pockets without returning all the items. Thankfully, she had hid the sticks in her bag, not her pockets. She waved over at a darkly dressed teenager walking down the street, the sort of counter-culture poser that was probably just as likely to smoke now and again as she was.

"Hey," she shouted. "Gotta light?"

The boy, whose hair was a blinding light blonde, walked toward her. "Yeah, sure," he said, holding out a burning lighter. Fubuki leaned into the flame and set the fuzz ablaze; a shimmering, iridescent line of smoke trailed up from the stick, and she inhaled deeply.

"What are you smoking, anyway?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Fuzz, spazz sticks, whatever you wanna call it," she responded. "I forget the drug name exactly. It's a happy drug."

"I see. Well, that aside, I must admit that you look rather familiar. Have we met somewhere before?"

"Maybe on the news," Fubuki said with a wicked grin. "I was the one that killed the Youma at the church."

He nodded. "Perhaps that's it. If you're a Moon Senshi, might you know Yamiko?"

"Yeah, sure I know Yamiko," Fubuki replied, inhaling again as she leaned against a wall. "We attacked the castle together. But before you get all excited, I wouldn't exactly call us friends. Yamiko is a coward if I've ever seen one."

"Yamiko is no coward," he replied, tousling his blonde hair. "She may have saved my life."

"Oh really? What did she do? Yell out 'look out' when a car was about to run you over? I'm not sure she's capable of much more than that."

"Actually, she destroyed a youma and thus prevented them from killing me when I had an arrow in my back."

"You must be Kane, then," Fubuki observed, taking another drag of fuzz.

"Oh? You've heard of me?" he said, leaning against the wall nearby Fubuki.

"Yeah," Fubuki continued, looking unhappily at her rapidly dwindling spazz stick. "Yamiko mentioned you briefly at a meeting we had. After all this youma shit, we were meeting at lunch to figure out what the hell was going on. People were talking about what happened at the ball the other day, and they mentioned you.

"What was Yamiko's reaction toward me?" He asked with great interest, turning toward Fubuki.

"Fuck, I don't know. The fact that she mentioned you at all is a good sign, I suppose," Fubuki said, shrugging. "Yamiko doesn't like anybody. She didn't really say anything bad or good about you. I suppose the fact that she saved your life probably means something, but then, she helped Seisui kill the queen and they're hardly the best of friends right now. She's weird and anti-social and she changes her mind a lot, and I don't really pay attention. I'd hardly call myself her friend."

"She can be quite caring when she wants to be."

"Well, you like her, so you think so." Fubuki shrugged. "This stuff was weak. Or maybe I'm just getting used it to," she said, pulling out another stick of fuzz. "Give me another light, will you?"

"You want me to help you talk to Chibi-Usa?" Hotaru said. She had been writing something in the eerie glow of her lamp lit room; she was one of the few people Usagi knew that still wrote her journal by hand.

Minako nodded. "It's like we explained. We think she might be Sailor Luna--a Moon Senshi--and we could use your support. Chibi-Usa always liked you best."

"I don't think you give yourself enough credit, Usagi," Hotaru said, closing her journal and putting it in her desk. "Chibi-Usa really looks up to you. But I suppose if you think it would be best if I was there as well, it couldn't hurt."

Minako and Usagi looked each other and smiled.

"Come in," Usako called. In all honesty, she felt more relief than frustration at the interruption; she had been doing her English homework, still hardly her strongest subject, and Erik vonDarkmoor was hardly a slacker's teacher.

"It's us," her mother said, entering the room along with Minako and Hotaru. "We need to talk to you about something."

"Uh, Sure," Usako replied nervously. "What is it?"

"I think in this case, Usako, it's best if we just get to the point," Hotaru said. "Tell us the truth, Usako: Are you Sailor Luna?"

~EPISODE FOURTEEN: FIN~

Kokoro kareteru you ni asu ga kuraku naru kara
Koe ga kurushiku kasureru hodo sakebitai
Donna toki mo kimi no ibasho sagashite
Setsunai omoide mo mune ni motte
Sorazorashii wake no kage ni kakureteru boku mo iru

Sadame wo kowaseba mirai nante aru ka na
Demo maketaku nai kara akiramenai yo donna aite demo
Sadame to iu mono ha michi wo kimeru dakedo
Kaiki gesshoku demo kimi wo me ni suru
Kimi ha umarekawattemo boku no Radiance dakara

Because, as if my heart's withering, tomorrow will get darker
I want to scream until I get painfully hoarse
Searching for where you are no matter when it is
And holding painful memories in my chest
There is also a me who's hiding behind empty reasons

If I destroy predestination, will there be a future at all?
But because I don't want to lose, I won't give up, no matter who my opponent is
That which is called predestination decides our paths, but
Even during a total lunar eclipse, I'll remember you
Because, even though reborn, you are my radiance

NEXT EPISODE

Tokimo: I've had enough of Sei's neglect! It's time to have a talk, and this time, I'll get to the bottom of things!

Usako: Once the royal court knows that I've become a Moon Senshi, my father will be furious. But faced with no other options and desperately wanting to take the final step to independence, I will shrug of his anger and my four loyal watchdogs.

Haruko: One voice calls us to her side, and another beckons us away....

Yamiko: Kane, at first so strongly suspected, seems more and more a person worth trusting. Maybe I misjudged him...

Fubuki: Come to counsel my mother if you wish, but all you will hear are a lunatic's cries...

Next time, on MOON SENSHI: UNMEI NO KODOMO--

"Folly's Clarity"

Mayumi: Everyone needs a little forgiveness.