"Eros," Minako said happily, putting aside her romance manga to look at his progress. He had been embroidering almost constantly the past few days; although the machine was able to handle the fairly simple black flower pattern that repeated itself across the light blue fabric, it was still a time-consuming process to cover the fabric completely and evenly. "How is it coming?"

Eros flipped up the needle and flattened the fabric with his hand. "As you can see, I am nearly finished embroidering the last dress panel. After this I simply need to assemble it, which will be a comparatively easy task, especially with the use of this device. It's a remarkable little bit of magic they've created in the time I was asleep."

"Haha, it's not magic, Eros... just a machine. But it looks lovely. I'm a little jealous." Of more than just the dress, Minako thought to herself a little sadly. The past few days, any time she was forced to do bureaucratic drudgery or felt like indulging in a rare moment of quiet time, Aphrodite provided a tranquil escape. She wondered if this was how Endymion felt on his visits to Elysion... as soon as she stepped into the warm, almost Mediterranean refuge, she felt a sense of inner peace. Eros--though sometimes a little melancholy because of recent events--was not a deterrent to her visits, either.

"I'm glad you like it, My Lady--"

"Mina," she corrected him. "Please, Mina."

"Haha, Mina. I could make one for you as well, when I am finished."

She smiled. "That's very sweet of you, but I have so many dresses already. Maybe you could magic one up for me."

"Perhaps," he said with a chuckle. "How are things going with Asuka?"

"He hasn't called," Minako said. "Not since our last date. I think he's sick of me."

"Oh, Minako, If that's so--you deserve better."

"It doesn't matter anyway," she said. "It's not like I can settle down with anyone anyway."

"Honestly, I suspect it is that ridiculous attitude of yours which causes you to chase men away," Eros replied. "It's as if you put up this--spazzy playgirl front to encourage men to love you and leave you. Then when things go south, you convince yourself it just wasn't meant to be."

Minako glanced away. "No..."

"If you were just earnest with people, I think that you would find someone very quickly, Minako. You're beautiful and kind. Even before you had your crystal, you were the leader of the Guardian Senshi, and I don't believe you could hold that position without the charisma we both know you possess."

Minako smiled sadly. "Oh, Eros... don't talk like that."

"I suppose I am being rather a tease, aren't I?" he replied. Minako tried to laugh, but a sob escaped in its stead. "Oh, My Lady... My Lady, do not cry." Eros stood up and hugged her. Where Minako had grown up, in Japan, such a gesture would almost certainly be construed as romantic... but she suspected that Venusians were a more intimate people. "You shall find your prince, do not fear--as long as you stop this nonsense about forsaking love for duty."

Minako hugged him back. "If you say so," she said--though she did not believe him. And she hardly believed that any prince could be as wonderful as Eros. How could Yamiko ever think of refusing him?

"Coeus!" Charon cried, banging on the door of temple of Metis. "Coeus, you gotta be in there! Com'on, open up!"

"I can feel your presence as soon as you teleport here, you know," Coeus said dryly. Charon turned; he stood behind her, looking none-too-pleased. "Ugh, I knew it had to be you... when I felt a Plutonian presence, I almost dared to hope--"

Charon de-transformed. "No word from Mauros yet?" it had only been a day or so, but still... Tokimo had hoped Mauros would be eager to patch things up. "He's probably just feeling guilty about what he did..."

"He hardly has cause to feel guilty... catching me kissing some woman," he said this with a dirty glance in Tokimo's direction, "when I told him to stay away from girls."

Tokimo frowned. "Was kissing me really so bad? You seemed to like it at the time."

Coeus blushed a little. "W-well, you... caught me off-guard. And anyway," he added, pushing his glasses up his nose, "That wasn't you, it was a disguise you were using."

Tokimo smirked. "I could use it again."

"I-I don't want your... alter-ego!"

Tokimo looked a little more serious. "I know I tricked you... and I really do feel bad about that, although I'm still not sure if I could have done things any differently. But I really do like you, Coeus. I love you. I loved you even though I knew that you were one of the bad guys. I like how you make boring things seem fun. I like how you smile when you're excited, and the way your hair looks like, um.... something nice and shiny and blue."

Coeus looked away. "You deceived me. Like every woman I've ever cared about."

Tokimo frowned. "Hey, what I did was mean, but... you lied to me too, 'Livy.' And at least my bad deeds end at a little trickery! You tried to hurt a lotta people, and you woulda if we hadn't come in and defended justice!"

"T-that was only because... I wanted to protect Mauros, plus... p-people are so stupid, you know, and--"

"So you got a right to judge them? Hmph. Maybe I shouldn't have fallen in love with you. You really are a jerkface."

Coeus looked back at Tokimo. "I suppose... I don't have any kind of mandate to judge others, at least--not enough to kill them. It's just... back then, joining Nemesis was the only way I could save my brother. I convinced myself that I was okay with what we were doing because, well.... I don't think I could have lived with myself otherwise, and frankly, I didn't seem to have much of a choice. Even I knew that I was deluding myself, though. Otherwise, what motive would there be for lying to my brother about the nature of our work? But I wanted to save him more than I wanted to be guiltless myself... I would have done anything to give Mauros a second chance, after what they did to him."

"What was that?" Tokimo asked.

"Ah, well..." Coeus looked down. "During the Rainbow Millenium, people thought of Hades--Pluto's holy land--as being cursed, a land of death. So when Mauros completed his training, they just abandoned him all alone on his holy land. He was only 10 at the time..." his voice was bitter. "And they separated him and I when we were only five. We were fairly young, but so close. It was like having half of myself torn away. I was so happy that Nemesis would give us a chance to be together again--give me a chance to protect him from the people who had hurt him before. Now... half of me is missing again, and he probably hates me--with every good reason."

"Mauros doesn't hate you!" Tokimo said, hugging him. "I saw the guilt in his eyes. He'll be back any day now, wanting you to forgive him."

"I should be the one asking for forgiveness," Coeus said. "I was the one who abused his trust."

"We all make mistakes," Tokimo said, nuzzling her face into his chest. "All of us."

Coeus blushed a little. "Uh... Tokimo..."

"I know I tricked you, Coeus!" Tokimo said. "But I love you. I won't ever trick you again. I won't tell you another lie as a long as I live. And I'll tell you all my most embarrassing secrets, if it'll make up for it! So please... can you stay with me? Please?"

"I... I don't know. I feel like I fell in love with someone else. I don't think I fell in love with you."

"Do you think I'm pretty?" She asked, backing away and looking up at him.

"Don't ask stupid questions," he said hastily, staring at her briefly and then looking away.

"Come on, be honest!" she demanded. "Do you think I'm pretty? I won't cry if you say I'm ugly."

Coeus raised an eyebrow. "You're ugly," he said.

Tokimo stuck out her tongue. "Fine, no Tokimo for you! And my mom says I have nice--"

"You're more attractive than your disguise," he said, which was true. "Though maybe 'pretty' is not the word I'd use." He looked at her more directly, trying his best not to linger his gaze on her chest. "Maybe cute. Or... athletic, perhaps."

"Is that another way of saying 'dumb-looking'?" Tokimo asked.

Coeus smirked. "Of course not. Your being dumb has absolutely nothing to do with your appearance."

Tokimo frowned. "Hey!" Coeus laughed, and she couldn't help but smile. "You never laughed when we first met, you know... but now you do. And it makes me so happy."

"Why do you say such things?" he said, trying not to get flustered. Tokimo pulled him toward her and kissed him again. Even though he knew he ought to feel betrayed, all he could feel was an indescribable warmth and happiness. Even though she didn't even look the same, it felt the same as the time before. He was totally paralyzed in this moment.

"Because I love you," she said, pulling away and staring straight into his eyes with uncanny intensity.

He was not sure how to respond. He definitely felt something toward her, and he knew it couldn't be physical attraction alone, because he had seen more attractive women before, and he felt the same way toward her even though she had looked like two entirely different people. She certainly wasn't his intellectual equal... though she had a kind of cleverness that he--that most people, he suspected--did not recognize. That he was only beginning to recognize.

"Do you love me back?" she asked him as the seconds crawled on.

"Yes," he finally said. "Yes... I believe I do."

"Hee, you had to think about it for awhile!" She said, hugging him tightly again and burying her face in his chest. She was so warm... He returned the embrace, resting his cheek against her head.

"I've never been in love before," he replied. "I suppose I was not really sure what to expect."

"Me, of course!" Tokimo said, laughing. "Com'on... let's go snuggle."

"Snuggle?" Coeus said awkwardly.

"You gotta sleep somewhere around here," Tokimo said. "We can go cuddle on your bed."

"O-on my bed?!" Coeus replied. "W-what exactly are you planning?"

Tokimo grinned mischievously. "Well, we'll put our arms around each other, and get real close, and..."

"And...?"

"Hee hee, we'll just have to see where things go from there. Com'on, show me your room."

"I don't know if--"

"Come on! You love me, right?" She nuzzled against him. Coeus could feel the exhilarating warmth rising in him once again. He felt a little fear as he realized he would like very much to show her his room.

"I suppose," he said, flustered. "But... let's try to take things a little slow, Tokimo."

"Aw, why?"

"I wouldn't want you to regret something you did because you decided you didn't like me as much as you originally thought," he said. "What if we realize we hate each other after all? Then you'd regret it..." He'd probably regret it a little, too... though probably not as much as her.

"Aw, that's super-cute, Coeus," Tokimo said, kissing him on the cheek. "Thinking of me like that. I don't think I'll regret any time I spend with you. But we can take it slow if you're embarrassed," she said coyly.

"I'm not embarrassed," he said defensively. "I'm just being realistic."

"I love you," she said. "I know that won't ever change."

"When you say that, it fills me with overwhelming happiness," Coeus said. "I don't even understand why."

"Because you love me, silly," she said. "Come on, let's go cuddle."

Coeus sighed. "I suppose," he said, smiling.

Mauros looked empty-faced toward the wall, then down at his bloody hands. How long had he been here? When was the last time he ate? He felt as though he had just sent the scythe tearing through his brother's flesh. The blood was dried into his uniform and falling off his skin as a dusty powder. He felt betrayed and like a betrayer all at once. He missed his brother. He missed Mayumi. He felt unworthy of both of them. He was a monster.

"Mauros, sweetie," Rhea said, walking into his room. Mauros looked at her, a lost and barren look on his face. She hugged him.

Mauros did not know what to think of this, but he didn't stop her. "I suppose I am not doing my job anymore," he said. "But I have hurt so many people already, I can scarcely countenance the thought of hurting more."

Rhea nodded. "It's okay, Mauros. This place isn't for one such as you."

"You don't seem like you like hurting people," Mauros replied. "Is it for you?"

Rhea pulled away from him and smiled. "There are things which keep me here," she said. "Even if I do not always relish my work. Anyway... it's not so bad. A lot of people have it coming, but you're too pure to know that, Mauros."

"Do you mean... my brother...?" Mauros said with a frown.

"Definitely him," Rhea said with a frown. "Cocky little bastard. Anyway, I'm sure you miss Mayumi."

Mauros bit his lip. "How long have I been here?"

"A week or so," Rhea replied.

Mauros paled. "Mayumi... I told her I would explain things, I... but it's not like I am worthy of her love."

"Oh, Mauros, you're far more worthy of love than your stupid brother, and he has someone. Well, she's everything he deserves, I suppose, and maybe she will straighten him out. Anyway, you belong with Mayumi. And she misses you." Rhea stepped up to his mirror and blew a kiss into its surface. An image of Mayumi gently taking away a withered peony from the park bench where they had met so many times appeared before him; she replaced it with a fresh blossom.

"Mayumi! Mayumi, I--"

"She can't hear you, sweetie," Rhea said gently. "Anyway, this is from an hour or so ago, and you're in no shape to receive her."

"I have to go to her," Mauros said. "I have to apologize..."

"She's going to a ball tonight," Rhea said, smiling sadly. "We'll go together. We'll clean you up good, and it will be the most wonderful surprise for her."

"...what's a ball?"

"Um... I'll explain it while we're getting you fixed up."

Ami couldn't help blushing a little as she came upon her priest in the gardens of Metis, an edenic retreat that was more fountain and pond than garden of the earth. She had deduced that receiving her own crystal probably meant that, like Sailor Moon, she could teleport at will. Her guess had proved correct, and she was easily able to bring herself here. Apparently, however, Coeus was receiving company already. He was leaning over Sailor Charon--Tokimo, Ami thought her name was?--and, well, necking. Ami cleared her throat a little awkwardly.

"Ah--! Um, My Lady!" Coeus jumped away from Tokimo awkwardly, blushing intensely. Tokimo giggled. "I'm sorry, normally I would sense your presence, I just, er--"

"You were distracted?" Ami suggested, smiling.

Coeus glanced away. "I suppose you could say that."

"I'm very distracting," Tokimo said complacently.

"Haha, well, I'm glad you two are not fighting anymore," Ami said. "Things seemed quite tense between you before."

Coeus sighed, resigned. "There seemed little point in denying my feelings any longer," Coeus replied. "They made themselves rather hard to ignore."

Tokimo snuggled against Coeus happily; Ami couldn't help but giggle a little. And she felt a little... well, perhaps it was envy. Her thoughts of romance had been limited to her time spent with books. "Well, I won't interrupt you two for long," she said. "I came here to let you know that Queen Venus requests your presence at a masquerade ball. She is formally introducing Eros and would like for you to be introduced as well."

"It sounds dreadfully dull," Coeus said. "I suppose they'll want me to dance..."

"Haha, possibly. Do you know how?"

Coeus shrugged. "I do. Perhaps not in a manner that they dance these days, and I hardly relish the prospect. Is Tokimo invited...?" he asked, failing to mask the hopeful note in his voice.

"Queen Venus informed me that you were welcome to bring a friend," Mercury said with a smile.

"It sounds boring," Tokimo said. "But I guess I'll be keeping Cici company."

Ami smirked. "Cici...?"

"Tokimo!" Coeus said, obviously annoyed. "Don't call me that in front of other people! Especially not my lady!"

"I think it is rather endearing," Ami said. "But I won't tell anyone your secret diminutive, Coeus. Perhaps you shall just have to come up with something cute and embarrassing for Tokimo."

"It won't work," Coeus replied. "She doesn't get embarrassed. I am beginning to see it will be a problem..."

"I want a nickname, too! Cici, you should come up with a cute nickname for me." she said, nuzzling against him. Coeus looked embarrassed.

"Does your mother know where you are, Tokimo?" Ami asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Um..."

"You know, it's almost dinnertime," Ami said. "She'll probably start to get worried. And from what I hear of your mother, she'll probably call up the palace with a Naginata of her own, thinking we've detained you." Ami paused. "Does she know about you two?"

Tokimo looked a little awkward. "Well... I haven't gotten around to mentioning Cici yet. We've only been together a few days, though."

"Which reminds me, Coeus," Ami continued, "You need to go to school."

"What?!"

"You're only seventeen," she said, continuing despite the fact that Coeus obviously wanted to protest. "Even if you're much smarter than others your age, there are many things that have changed on Earth in the time that you've been asleep, and I imagine your knowledge of them is limited since you've woken up. Going to public school will be a good way to socialize and acquaint yourself with this new world. And you can take some beginner's computer science classes, which you will need to get a head start on if you want to upgrade Aidia like you've been hoping to."

Coeus frowned, but he had to admit that his lady had provided sound arguments. "Can we wait until my brother has returned?" he asked hopefully. "I do not think I could concentrate on my studies, knowing he is still with Nemesis."

Ami sighed and looked thoughtful. "We'll give it a little more time," she said. "Hopefully he will turn up soon."

Coeus nodded, his expression desolate. Tokimo hugged him warmly. She was still angry at Mauros for what he had done, but she couldn't hold a grudge against him when she could see the love for his brother in Coeus' eyes. Coeus nestled his cheek against her head. Ami doubted he would ever admit it aloud, but she could see that Tokimo's confidence and love were all that kept his demons at bay. Ami stood beside him and gave him a comforting smile. "Why don't we see what we can do about Mauros after this ball of Minako's," Ami suggested. "Maybe Sailor Pluto will have some ideas."

Coeus smiled weakly. "Thank you, My Lady," he said.

"Please," she said, "Call me Ami... or at least, Mercury. 'My Lady' sounds terribly distant, and I know my status is a sore point with you."

Coeus shrugged. "I'm priest now, I might as well accept my lot," he said. "Perhaps Lady Mercury would be suitable. Such a title is often used from a priest to his Lady as a term of both respect and endearment."

"Very well, then." Ami smiled. "Why don't you come to the castle tomorrow morning, and I will outfit you for the masquerade."

Coeus sighed. "I can hardly contain my excitement."

Tokimo opened the door to her home a little nervously. "Sorry I'm home late, mom," she said. "I shoulda called."

"I was starting to get a little worried, sweetie... especially with your double life and all. Supper's almost ready, I--" Mrs. Joshi glanced over at Coeus, who had changed into a collared shirt and sweater vest. He hadn't bothered hiding the blue teardrop-shaped jewel on his forehead. Mrs. Joshi smiled politely at the handsome young man. "Who is this, Tokimo? A new friend?" she smirked. "Something more, perhaps?"

Tokimo blushed a little bit. "M-maybe," she said. "This is Coeus, the priest of Mercury," she explained. "And, um... my boyfriend."

Mrs. Joshi scrutinized Coeus for a second. The glasses were a good sign. And he was very cute. Tokimo wasn't the kind of girl to take any guff, so he probably had a good personality. "Welcome!" she said enthusiastically. "You can stay over for dinner."

"Thank you," Coeus said, stepping into Tokimo's home. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs., erm--"

"Joshi," She said. "How old are you, Coeus?"

"Technically, I have been in a stone slumber for several thousand years," he replied. "But I have just lived seventeen summers this June."

"Haha, he talks like a prince, Tokimo," Mrs. Joshi said, blushing a little. "And he wears glasses. I like a man that can appreciate a smart look. Are you very good in school, Coeus?"

"My glasses are actually a link to the computer on my Holy Land... They have a few programs they operate on their own, as well." Coeus replied. "As for my intelligence... well, I am the priest of Mercury... you could say that I am quite exceptional where my mental faculties are concerned."

Mrs. Joshi giggled. "How very modest of you," she said teasingly. Coeus looked a little awkward but said nothing. "Well, Tokimo, if you have a boyfriend who can hope to help you on your schoolwork a little, I am hardly about to complain," she said. "I get the feeling there's more to this story than you're telling me, but we can save the explanations for dinner when your father is home. In the meantime, you two can hang out in the living room while I finish cooking."

"Ugh," Yamiko said, seeing the from tag on the box that had been delivered to her door. "I don't even want to know what's inside."

"Com'on, open it," Sayoko said, pushing the black and silver present toward her sister. Yamiko sneered. It was almost enough to ruin black.

"I don't want a present from a creepy evil stalker," she said.

Sayoko paused for a minute. "Actually, Yamiko..." she said, thumbing the ribbon. "I uh... sort of encouraged Eros to keep after you. And I uh... specifically suggested this present."

"You. What."

"He feels so awful for what he's done. I lied to him when I first went to see him and told him you'd killed yourself in heartbreak. He tried to kill himself on the spot--he didn't even hesitate a moment, it was all me and Minako could do to stop him."

"He's a monster," Yamiko said.

"And he'd agree with you," Sayoko said. "Getting to know him, I'm starting to realize... now that he's accepted his role as the Priest of Venus again, he feels all the weight of having betrayed his dearest principles."

"Well, he shouldn't have done it if that's the way he felt," Yamiko replied stiffly.

"He knows that, Yamiko. He thinks he doesn't deserve a second chance. He's right, but it's because he feels that way that I think you should anyway. And it's a lovely present. There's no point in it's going to waste."

Yamiko bit her lip. How could her sister even think of letting her date that monster? But the image of him at the theater still rang in her mind. She opened the box. It was a dress; she pulled it out and held it up.

It was beautiful. A black empire waisted gown in silk, with silver trimmings all along the edge. Underneath there was a split down the middle of the front of the dress' skirt, revealing a shift of light blue embroidered with navy flowers. Yamiko vaguely remembered the last dress that Eros had given her; this one was just as lovely. Even she had to admit he had impeccable taste. She was immediately torn by pain she associated with the man who gave her the gift and her instant love of the garment he had chosen. She picked up the card inside the box and opened it. There was a poem:

When called up to the busy sphere of Earth
I look upon a jewel in velvet sky
A pale and waxen orb that has no mirth
and heave a slow and wasting sigh.
No jibe, no jest or merry song
That I can say or strum for her heart's sake
Will make from her a smile belong
or leave the sound of laughter in her wake.
And just as I shall never bring her joy
I cannot bring a smile to your face
it matters not what art I can employ
I can't ascend from my disgrace
And since I cannot bring a smile to thee
I shall wither, waste, and worthless be.

Yamiko could feel herself becoming a little flushed. "S-sayoko..." Yamiko said nervously, turning toward her sister.

"Hm?" Sayoko said, trying to pretend she couldn't care less what Yamiko thought of the dress.

"Did Eros write the poem?"

Sayoko got up from the couch and read over the poem. "Oooh, that's so sweet," she said. "No guy has ever written me poetry. Well, it's nothing I recognize, and I know my Shakespeare pretty well. I think he probably wrote it... this sort of thing is his specialty."

Yamiko frowned and brushed her fingers across the dress. Opposite the poem was an invitation to a masquerade ball that the Queen of Venus was holding. "The last thing I feel like doing right now is going to a dance," she said, eyeing the dress appreciatively.

"Oh, well... I guess I'll just have to accept the invitation on your behalf. No one knows what you look like except me and Eros, so... 'oh, of course I'm Yamiko! Yes, I'd love another cocktail...'"

"Okay, I'll go!" Yamiko said. "Ugh."

"Yay! Let's go get our masks!"

"Oh, were you invited?" Yamiko said dryly. "Why would you need to pretend to be me, if that's the case?"

"...kicks and giggles," Sayoko replied. "And blackmail."

Yamiko sighed and held the dress up against her. This was going to be awful. The last thing she wanted to see was Eros.

And yet, she realized with disgust, she could feel her pulse quicken.

To Part B