Moon/Serenity: Tsukino Usagi
Age: 16
Grade: 11
Guardian: Luna

Venus: Aino Minako
Age: 16
Grade: 11
Guardian: Artemis

Jupiter: Kino Makoto
Age: 16
Grade: 11
Guardian: Aoao

Mars: Hino Rei
Age:15
Grade: 10
Guardians: Phobos & Deimos

Mercury: Mizuno Ami
Age: 15
Grade: 11
Guardian: Koori

Chapter 12b-Tenkaichi a.k.a. Best on Earth

Perspiring greatly, as one did in August, Hino Rei feebly fanned herself with her hand and complained, "Exactly who did we come here to meet?"

The blue-haired one replied, not looking up from her text, "Mako-chan's old friend, Shinozaki."

"No last name?" teased Minako, glad that she had pulled her long blond hair into a ponytail. Although she still wanted a shower, at least it wasn't down like Rei's. She really did admire the long, raven tresses with purple highlights, but when you wore it down in summertime, there was a real problem. "Ami-chan, I'm surprised you don't remember!"

Blushing faintly, Ami replied, "I forgot. Evidently Mako-chan knows. Anyone know where Usagi-chan wandered off to?"

"Oh, the meatball head probably went to the ice cream vendors or something....." drawled the miko, having only met Usagi shortly after meeting Minako, but they got along well, so well that they knew each other's habits–and quite often, they got into numerous fights ending in raspberry contests. "Speak of the devil," she smiled. "Here she comes. Wait, why's Mako-chan with her?"

The brunette joined them, towing the blonde along behind her. "Usa-chan remembered the wrong platform number that I told her. I was wondering why all of you guys were late. Come on!"

"Really?" asked Rei, shooting the cringing blonde a dark look. "How many was she off by?"

"Ten. It was an honest mistake, really."

Before arguments and finger-pointing could ensue, the running quintet reached the correct station and watched the train pull in, right on time. A tall brunet jumped off easily with a big grin and rushed over to them, picking up their tall friend and swinging her around.

Nudging Ami, Mina whispered, "I didn't know anyone could do that!"

"Mina...." she replied warningly.

"Well, they sure seem to be acquainted well," interrupted the dark-haired girl.

Raising an eyebrow, he asked Makoto, "So it's all girl friends you brought, no boyfriend?"

Green eyes sad, she said, "Nah, I just broke up with my last one. Let me introduce you to my friends, though. They're much better than boyfriends, any time." A spark of triumph and happiness had suddenly entered his eyes, of which she was slightly suspicious of, but she continued. "Tsukino Usagi, Hino Rei, Aino Minako, and Mizuno Ami. This is my friend from my last school and town, before I was orphaned–Shinozaki." After they had all greeted him politely, she asked, "So did you find a place to stay?"

Smiling at her and the rest of the girls, he dug out an address and squinted at it. "Ye. With another old friend of mine, Urawa Ryo."

"Need help moving anything?"

"Probably not. I'm planning on a long visit, and Ryo actually lives in a dorm with two other guys. I'm going to attend Juuban University with them. But you're free to come along. I'm sure they'd be glad to meet such pretty girls, and I'd be glad of the company."

Looking at the others, Makoto asked, "Do any of you want to go?"

Rei shook her head regretfully and said, "Can't. Temple chores."

"Usa and I have to get back; Mrs. Tsukino said something about grocery shopping," reminded Minako, tugging on the other blonde's arm.

Turning to the blue-haired girl, the brunette asked, "Ami-chan? What about you?"

"Sure," she said shyly. When the others had departed, she listened to Shinozaki and Makoto's easy chatter, envying the fact that they could carry on such a comfortable conversation.

When they reached the college dorm, three guys (one blond, two brunets) were already assembled outside, and after a customary back-pounding, greetings, and nudges in the ribs, Ken painfully introduced, "I'd like you to meet my friends, Torit Sukareru, Kumada Yuuichirou, and the aforementioned Urawa Ryo."

More greetings were exchanged and luggage carried up while the other brown-haired boy eyed Ami. The other two watching Makoto. 'Those are the Princesses of Mercury and Jupiter.'

'Shinozaki works fast, doesn't he>' smirked Sukareru. 'I'm betting they know the Princess of Venus–Aino Minako.'

Wishing he had found the Princess of Mars, Yuuichirou glared at him and retorted, 'And she hung up on you the last time you called, remember?'

'Oh, shut up.'
~ * ~ * ~
Just as she finished sweeping the steps of Hikawa Temple, Rei heard rustles in the trees and smiled. "Phobos? Deimos? Is that you?"

"Yes, your highness."

Looking up at the tree, the raven-haired priestess smiled. "There you are, Deimos. I thought I told you not to call me princess! It was a thousand and fifteen years ago."

"More," contradicted a voice identical to the one before.

"And here comes Phobos," another clamored.

"Beware the terrible duo," mumbled another voice, and this one was also unmistakably male.

Suspiciously blowing dark bangs out of her face, she was seized with an evil temptation and poked the bush under the tree gently. The two crows and their mistress giggled as Hokushin and Tansei waddled out, glaring balefully. "Princess, must you do that?" asked the eagle. "I look like an idiot when I walk. At least, in this form I do."

Superciliously, Rei retorted, "Then high and mighty guardians that cannot walk shouldn't be hiding in bushes waiting to tease their friends."

"_Friends_?" asked Phobos and Deimos, watching her incredulously, nearly choking on the words.

"Yes, friends. Contradict me, and I'll drag you along to the Great Fire for meditation... You might even get feather scorching. Are we finished?" Four heads were instantly nodded in compliance. Pausing at the doorway, she turned abruptly. "Where are the others? Not Makoto and Ami, or even Minako and Usagi, I know where they are."

"Shippou and Tokage are spying yet again on the prince's corporation, and Koori and Artemis are checking it out with them. Luna decided to stay in Central Control and get any information exchanges."

As they left, her eyes were caught by a puddle reflecting the sky and leaves above. It reminded her of a dream last night, one that had gradually grown and imprinted itself in her mind, spreading as water did when spilled over a dry substance....especially when using watercolor, the brush sliding easily and almost drawing itself, the watery paints spreading faster.....and faster....and faster until they became out of your control. And the embedded images flashed in her mind again, over and over again, one after another, six in all.

*flash*

Queen Beryl, a redheaded witch, and a black mess named Metallia spread over the horizon, covering all light and hope. The Outers were there, the most powerful warriors in the galaxy–the fight should have been in their favor, but it wasn't at all. Attack after attack was fired:

Mars Flame Sniper
Jupiter Oak Evolution
Venus Love and Beauty Shock
Mercury Aqua Mirage
Neptune Deep Submerge
Uranus World Shaking
Pluto Deadly Scream

Until a last little girl came up, seeing all was in vain. All the planets were overtaken. And this dark-haired little senshi raised the glaive, deadly blade shining ominously. For the first time, the Silence Glaive Surprise had failed....

*flash*

A red-clad senshi, red eyes wavering between their current color and purple trembled, weak at the knees. A blond general, clad in gray and bright, bright blue that hurt her eyes, was laughing at her. Without words, they chose to fight. One that had lost her passion, the other–an empty shell. He fought well, very well, but she fired a lethal Flame Sniper and mortally wounded him. As he lay there, silent and at peace at last, she joined him, feeling the blood and the power of Mars that ran through her leaving. Closing her eyes and sighing, she well-wished the three that were left, and a brilliant red beam shot into the air, signifying her departure.

*flash*

Green clashed with navy blue, as did two swords and two energy sources. A warrior of grays and the dark, dark blue sneered arrogantly, as he had before. So he had forgotten the lessons the other had taught him, after all. She was green-haired and green-eyed, but her eyes didn't waver: she was to stand strong, as the senshi of Jupiter. He was heartless, and that was all there was to it. The battle dragged on until her heart had shattered into thousands of pieces, and those were still breaking. After she had encased them in lightening, frying the both of them alive, tears ran down her cheeks as she listened to a creature's screams. Less than a creature. She hoped the last two were stronger, as she had failed...emerald green blazed strongly upwards.

*flash*

Blond curls waved freely, bound by a mere strip of green, contradicting the sober expression on their owner's face. The cold one, freezing all with callous chinks of green stone for eyes, unfeeling. Dressed in gray and green, as his eyes had diminished too. An ice senshi faced him, energy drained from facing Metallia and helping the wounded. She was the quiet one as well, but their silences differed now. She cried the whole time, which he took as cowardice when he finally killed her. But she had proved to be a good opponent after all. As he bent over to check that she was really dead, fingers reaching towards pale, almost purple eyelids, she stabbed him, a last defiance against evil. And the first words were spoken. "I wasn't strong for you, Zoi. I'm so sorry. I loved you so much. You're the last, Venus–please don't fail Serenity." Blue joined the other two lovingly, peacefully.

*flash*

Gritting her teeth, the one left behind let no tears fall–she had the burden of expectation from queen, princess, and three lost senshi. Venus met a soulless man, evil consuming his soul. The darkness in his rivaled her brightness, the gold on her suddenly seemed dirty and became dirty when splashed with blood. Whether it was hers or his, none of them stopped to find out. Kunzite had always been the most ruthless and stoic, but she had never thought he would do this. She thought Mina had done him a world of good. Perhaps the world had been demolished by one witch and a black pool. Her birthright, the Sword of a weeping Silver Crystal, murdered the silver-haired general. Gold and white, stained scarlet, dropped next to gray and silver as darkness reigned. 'I'm sorry, Serenity. My queen, my senshi. We all failed.' Gold raced to the heavens...a color in her eyes that had only faltered once during the battle. In her staring eyes, they had returned to a pure crystal blue.

*flash*

The bodies of Prince Endymion and Princess Serenity of the past, sprawled on a dias, crimson splashes soaking the alabaster white of the tiles, the gory scene was all color, clashing color. The senshi and the heirs to the next generation were gone, all gone. Unbelievingly, Queen Selenity fell to her knees: it wasn't possible, Ami and Rei had only been sixteen, the others seventeen. They hadn't even had their fourscore and ten...five or six years of training as the defenders of the planets, but those too had fallen. Silence blanketed the field dully after the Silver Imperium Crystal had been used to lock away the last traces of Metallia and Beryl.

And the rest, at the end of the beginning, was known only by two guardians until the secret was to be revealed. Blackness was approaching dully now, not from the bright blazes, but the emotional pain of reliving something as horrifying as that twice. Perhaps a third time was approaching...and no one, not even the Keeper of Time, knew for sure.
~ * ~ * ~
Sleepily following Mrs. Tsukino and the hyper, bunny-like Usagi through the supermarket aisles, Minako turned her mind to what she deemed more important matters. She hadn't heard from Torit Sukareru all that summer and thought that his obsession had stopped, but something in her mind held unease and a caution to wait before celebrating. Now, it seemed, that part of her mind had been right on the money–her first day had boomed with phone calls and messages from the blond-haired, blue-eyed handsome college freshman. Really, she reassured herself, there was nothing _wrong_ with him......just the habit of too much possession, obsession, and perverted thoughts for a girl two years younger than him. Not that she still wanted to be called a girl, but Mina privately admitted that at times, she did act like a child and enjoyed it.

Then, another issue came to mind. Well, more like a person–Seishou Kouseinou, to be exact. It had become a habit of theirs to meet at the Crown Arcade for some type of treat once a week, usually on a weekend after she had senshi training. Strangely enough, it seemed both had excellent metabolism that certain people envied greatly and never gained extraneous fat because of milkshakes or ice cream sundaes. Recently, his appearances had become infrequent, but when he came, Minako felt as though the sun had risen during the night, electrically shocking her. Anything he said, she hung onto like the greatest treasure in the world. Any accidental touches rose goosebumps on her skin. Whenever she was around him, she felt immensely and giddily happy, but afterwards and before, nervous. It had been a month now, and he had missed four visits. Where was Kousei-kun?

Jumping, she realized she had stopped and started breathing again as Ikuko dropped a bag of carrots into the shopping cart, staring at her oddly. "Mina-chan, dajibou?"

"Dajibou, I must have been daydreaming or something," she hastily mumbled. Flushing, she forced the color down so it was almost normal and became composed. Until a lukewarm hand was laid on her shoulder, that is. She whirled around, intent on also pulling her transformation stick, until an eerie laugh met her ears. Usagi also stopped short, but her mother had already gone on to another aisle.

"Konnichiwa, Mina-chan. You must remember me, ne?"

Glaring at the pompous jerk wasting precious oxygen, she sniffed haughtily. "I suppose so. Konnichiwa, Torit-san. Of course I know the–the–" She scrambled for a polite adjective as Usagi sent her a warning glance. "Co-star of Sailor V in London. It's nice to see you again, Torit-san, where have you been? I wasn't aware that you had returned to Juuban for university."

Turning purple, Sukareru knew he was about to explode and forced the angry words down...anything to win his princess. Anything in the world. "It's nice to see you, too, Minako-san." She grinned, but he burst her bubble quickly enough. "Why, Aino-san, I wasn't aware that you didn't know of my arrival. I used to live in Juuban before moving to London shortly for acting. I've been on your answering machine and in your locker."

"Why you–! I can't believe you snooped around my locker!!!!" He blinked as she added, "And you must have seen the picture of Kousei–I mean, of a person I have in there!!"

Suddenly, grim realization dawned on the blond boy. Glowering darkly, he replied, "For your information, I haven't been invading your privacy. There are vents in your lockers, did you know that? I just slipped simple notes there."

Usagi was long gone, having decided some issues were better fought out in private. She had also taken the shopping cart with her. She only hoped Minako wouldn't be kicked out of the store for any profanity or violence.

"So that's why you don't like me, isn't it? You fell in love with Seishou Kouseinou–again."

"Again? I mean, of course I didn't! What are you talking about??"

Gripping her firmly by the rest, he moved so close that none of the other shoppers could see what he was doing. He whispered in her ear, "If you step outside with me for a moment, I'll tell you."

Eyeing him warily, she nodded. Minako went to find Usagi and told her she'd be waiting outside. "Now what? I don't want to associate with you, Torit-san. I don't mean to be rude, but it also has nothing to do with whether or not I like Kousei."

An burning dagger made its way into Sukareru's heart as jealousy, anger, and sadness flared. But unlike some of his friends, he wasn't one to give up. "I don't care if you don't want to 'associate' with me, Aino Minako. The fact remains that _I_ want to. Because you are _mine_, Aino Minako." Before she could get the enraged words out of her mouth, he covered her lips with his hand and asked softly, intently, "Do you think you really love that Kousei? I know who he truly is, you know."

"Nani?"

The blonde smiled, knowing he had gained the upper hand at her slight wavering. Although he was getting vexed that she hadn't vetoed the 'your'. Patiently, he shook his head and corrected, "Ne, Minako-chan. Our friend, Kousei-kun, is the reborn General Kunzite-sama. You remember him, don't you, my dear? The one whose blood you spilled in the Silver Millennium; you died after he wounded you so much. Because of him, you were unable to save Princess Serenity-sama. You failed her, unlike how I never failed you. You fell in love. The end of the Silver Millennium was your fault. We could have been together. But you loved him, not me. Don't make the same mistake, Mina. It'll end up just like last time."

The feverish words from him and thoughts were running through her mind, and Minako ran back into the store, anywhere, as long as she was away from him. The phrases were also speeding through her head...her mind hurt....it hurt so much....."Whose blood you spilled.....you died....your fault...you failed her....I never failed you....in love....end was your fault....together....loved him, not me....don't fall in love again....just like last time.....just like last time....just like–just like last time."
~ * ~ * ~
"Mercury! What's wrong with you, you aren't paying attention!! I can't believe you mastered Aqua Mirage but not the Rhapsody; has any senshi ever skipped an attack? Granted, you've been working on harp lessons, but you just don't seem accustomed to one of your element. Mercury, are you listening to me? Princess Ami! Ami!!"

The blue-haired senshi jolted awake and detransformed suddenly. "Nani?? Oh....gomen nasai, Koori. I was thinking about something."

Watching her closely, the crab asked, "And what might those important thoughts be?"

She blushed and said tentatively, "I met a friend of Mako-chan's friend."

"And might this friend of friends happen to be a guy?"

"How did you know?"

Smiling now, Koori replied, "For me to know and you to find out. Have you gone and fallen in love with him?" Feelers fiddling nervously, she thought to herself, 'If it's General Zoicite, I'll...I'll..."

Flushing a dark red, Ami stammered, "I'm too young to be in love. Fifteen is way too young."

Sharply, her caretaker sighed, "I'm glad to hear that. At least one of the senshi is sensible. I can't believe Luna and Artemis haven't found the Moon Princess yet. But it's not even really Artemis's job. Luna's never failed at a task, and since she was almost as close to Princess Serenity as the senshi were in the Silver Millennium, she should have been able to find her almost immediately. So what about this guy bothers you? What does he look like?"

"I don't know... Not bothers, really, more like...well...his eyes are upsetting. His anme is Urawa Ryo, and he has brown hair and brown eyes. I feel that he's always inspecting me, always watching me. It's making me nervous, and I don't go with Makoto to visit her friend anymore."

"Do you think he likes you?"

The thought was almost incomprehensible to her. "Me? Ryo liking me? Oh, no. No one would like me. Oh, I just remembered...I've got some schoolwork left, two more pages to a seven page kanji paper. Ja ne!"

She winced as her charge left and spoke aloud, "Princess Ami, why does every word out of your mouth seem to be apologetic? ‘Who would like you?' Many people, but not all romantically. There was someone I didn't want to tell you about–I doubt you remember from when you were eleven, four years ago. He was so special to you, Ami, even though I don't think he deserved it. He was a traitor." Before leaving the darkened room, the ice-hued crab shook off the tears angrily and spat out the description and name, "A blond-haired, green-eyed back-stabber, who DID stab you in the back. General Zoicite."

Blue eyes glowed sadly in the other room, all alone. Painfully, the owner whispered, "I do remember, Koori-chan. You look out for me to no avail, because it still hurts, and my memories still love him more than anything. I remember General Zoicite now, and I met him in this life."
~ * ~ * ~
"Setsuna-mama, are those–?"

Wishing that the black-haired child, although at the age of thirteen detested being called a child and passionately declared that she was a teenager, didn't retain so many memories of the Silver Millennium, Meiou Setsuna sighed. Even her cool, logical mind had been backfiring on her recently."Hai, Hota-chan, those are Neptune and Uranus."

Scanning the program, wispy bangs fell into large, eager purple eyes as Hotaru announced, "They're Kaiou Michiru and Tennou Haruka now. It fits, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it does. But please sit back and enjoy the music now, Hotaru." As her charge settled back into the posh yet extremely uncomfortable seats, the Gatekeeper rubbed tired garnet eyes. 'I didn't exactly bring you here to appreciate art. We're going to talk to them, because they have dreams. Important dreams. And we were friends....I'd like friends again. I'd like to be in the past again...before everything changed. I'd like to have prevented everything from happening. But if I could go back now...would I have denied the Inners their love? Serenity her prince?' The truth was, she didn't know. And she was relieved that she would never have to make that choice.
~ * ~ * ~
Makoto grinned, looking over the tapes that Shinozaki had borrowed. "These all look really great! I can't decide which one is best, what do you think?"

Slapping a hand over Ryo's mouth, he smiled back at her, heart pumping vigorously. "I don't know, but don't ask Ryo."

"Um....why not?"

Yuuichirou decided to speak, although no one knew how he could hear with the shaggy bangs falling into eyes, nose, and ears. They hadn't quite invaded the area of the mouth, but it looked like that would happen soon. "That's because Ryo here likes boring things like chess, computers, topics other than 'breaking news,' which usually isn't that important, and all kinds of things geniuses are interested in."

Peeling Shinozaki's now slightly damp hand away from his mouth and feeling it would be uncouth to bite him in front of a lady, the brown-haired knight grimaced and defended his honor by the statement, "Just because you guys are unconcerned idiots doesn't mean you should let the greenhouse effect go by."

"Just shut up, plant boy..."

Laughing, green-eyes showing her amusement, the brunette asked, "You know what? You remind me so much of Ami sometimes, always studying."

At the mention of her name, Ryo turned beet red. The other two men present made "Oooooh" sounds, and only Sukareru didn't join in–because he wasn't there.

"Nani?"

Covering his friend's mouth again, Shinozaki said, "He's in love with your blue-haired friend, Ami. Isn't that right, lover boy–shimatta! Ryo, I can't believe you just bit me!"

Wisely deciding to keep most of her comments to herself, Makoto, as most females do, leaped at the chance to play matchmaker. "So you like her, huh? Ami-chan's a very sweet, very shy girl. Did you know that she doesn't have a boyfriend?"

"Really? I mean, uh..." ‘So I've still got my chance. After all these years...and you can bet I'm going to take it.'
~ * ~ * ~
"Ms. Kaiou?"

The aqua-haired musician, still in her first year of college at Hokkaido University, turned when a gentle hand touched her sleeve. She studied the green-haired woman for an instant, recognizing her from somewhere. Her partner also looked, royal blue eyes uncannily suspicious. "Hai? That would be me."

Until now, neither of the two had noticed the dark-haired girl following Setsuna. "Konnichiwa, Michiru-san! My name is Tomoe Hotaru. And you, Ms. Tennou, you're Haruka-san. Your names are very easy for people to trace, you know that?"

"Nani? Who are you?" A prickle of both fear and warmth was evading the sandy-haired woman. No one had ever guessed she was a girl, she had also been wearing a tuxedo. Even the most eligible women had flirted with her that night.

The Timekeeper smiled slightly and held out her hand. "Haruka, you haven't changed. Uranus of the past. And Michiru is Neptune, of course. You haven't changed much, either. If you take my hand, I can tell you what you're wondering. I can confirm those beliefs."

Warily, Haruka went first, gently shoving the turquoise-haired girl behind her, always protective. "No tricks..."

"Haruka, what's wrong??"

Staggering slightly, she leaned against Michiru. The reborn form of the Outer senshi gasped, "Michi, take her hand. Now! Setsuna, it's great to see you again, really, but I hate the way you have to make entrances. Tell me, what did the Inners say?"

"Actually..."

"Don't tell me you haven't found them yet. No! You, the all-knowing, almighty Timekeeper?"

The green-haired woman scowled at her. "I'm working on it."
~ * ~ * ~

Paths of Thorns