Kasumi-sama, Aozuki no Hime (Kasumi, the Princess of the Blue Moon)
Part 7: Sousaku no Tamashii/Soul Searching
By: Kitsune-chan (kitsune-chan@trust-me.com)
Official Webpage: http://anime.at/pokemonorg/



	"Deep Aqua Mirror, tell us...who are the 'Stars'?"
Michiru said as she stared into her Talisman. The glass 
began to shift with color as an image began to appear, 
	"Now, now, girls. There is no time to be looking
in mirrors, you look fine dear." said a female judge who
grabbed the mirror out of Michiru's hands, "I'll just take
this. The game needs to begin." the judge added, she 
smiled almost coldly. The sun caught in her hair and made 
it bright red like fire. She took the mirror and set it down 
in a box near her feet,
	"You can pick it up later." the woman said reassuringly,
	"Ma'am, I don't see why you needed to confiscate the
mirror. We could have put it away ourselves if the game needed 
to start." Amisaid standing up, 
	"My, look how defensive you are. You'd think this hand
mirror is the Holy Grail." the woman laughed innocently. Haruka
stared at her coldly, she gripped Michiru's shoulders and pulled
her back.
	"It's just a sentimental item to my friend here. But 
don't worry, we won't forget it." Haruka answered, her lips 
tight. The group got into their positions on the court, Michiru
could swear that she heard the woman murmur, "Good, I hope you 
don't." But when she swirled her head to see, the woman's 
mouth wasn't moving--she was just staring at Michiru, an 
innocent smile dancing upon her face.
	"Oh no, we're playing the psychic." Kasumi said
in disgust, "Playing with fortune-tellers is dangerous, 
minna-san, they're prone to cheat." she added coldly.
Rei's eyes darkened as she stared at Kasumi, 
Sailoraozuki--she thought as her eyes followed Kasumi's 
mocking movements, her hateful actions--just wait...
you'll get yours in the end.
	"Should we kill her now, or later?" Minako 
whispered with a smile as she moved to begin serving 
the ball. 
	"It's probably how they won anyway.." Musashi
declared loudly, seeing that the other team was ignoring 
her.
 	"But cheaters never win in the end. Ugh, I just 
can't stand them!" Musashi cried dramatically. Kanna 
snickered at her mock-hysterics. Atsumi looked at her 
shoes, the expression on her face was shame. 
	"Stop talking and just get to playing." Haruka 
snapped. With that Minako served the ball perfectly over
the net, it went flying towards Atsumi--but then made a
sharp right turn.  Erika bumped the ball to Natsume who
spiked it over the net--it went flying towards Usagi.
	"AAAAAH!" Usagi screamed and ducked--it was the
first time the ball had gone to her so fast.
	"Usagi!" Rei shouted, half in anger and half in 
disgust. She lunged for the ball and sent it over, right 
before it hit the ground.
	It barely made it over the net. The 'Stars' 
however, weren't expecting it to make it that far. 
Natsume stared at the ball as it landed before her feet.
	"That's the ball...you’re supposed to HIT it.."
Haruka said making motions for them. Michiru and Mako 
laughed. Minako smiled over at Haruka and shook her 
head, then served the ball again. Unlike every serve prior 
to this one, the ball flew right into the net. Minako's 
face held a combination of shock and denial.
	"That's never happened to me before..." she 
murmured.
	"There's a first time for everything!" Musashi
called tauntingly, handing the ball to Erika to serve. 
The ball went into the air shakily and was returned
by Haruka to Atsumi. Just as before, the ball seemed 
to defy gravity and rose up into the air. Imite finally 
noticed something strange was happening, she tapped 
the ball lightly. It flew upwards as if it had just been 
shot from a canon. Rei watch the ball as it flew towards 
her--and then a flash of red intercepted the ball and 
it disintegrated in midair,
	"What the he--"
	"Enough with the games, it was entertaining 
for awhile, but now I have what I need." a sharp voice 
said, piercing through the stunned silence.
	"That voice..." Rei whispered, she looked around 
the crowd. Her eyes rested on the woman who took Michiru's 
mirror, "Sasoriza..."

		*		*		*

	"Erebus..." Tartarus sighed as she watched her 
sister from the veranda, Erebus was talking a walk with
Styx in the gardens amongst the dark roses and orchids.
	"She is allowing her affection for my brother to 
hinder her judgment." Charon answered. Erebus was quiet. 
She couldn't let Charon know that she too was being 
distracted by her for another--him.
	"Yes, it's ridiculous how they act about one another.
It's contrary to our code of obedience." Tartarus commented
as she watched her sister and Styx laugh and play. She 
longed to be doing that with Charon, she dreamed that it 
could be herself and Charon walking amongst those roses 
and orchids. That it was Charon who was kissing her 
underneath that tree--
	"Princess?"
	"Hmm?" Sulfiria murmured, snapping back to reality.
Her face flushed slightly, did Charon know what I was 
thinking of? she wondered.
	"Princess, even if Erebus-sama is...busy, we 
still have you. Which is truly a blessing. You are much
more capable and mature than Erebus-sama is, if I
may speek freely." Charon said as he turned away from the
window. He squeezed Tartarus' shoulder comfortingly and 
began to walk out of the room, he stopped right before 
he left.
	"Princess, the entire Black Star Galaxy has the 
utmost trust in you." he added with another smile, then 
exited the room. Tartarus sighed heavily,
	"That's what I was afraid of..."

		*		*		*

	The woman began to laugh and her guise melted off,
standing where the judge was standing before, was now the 
Second Captain of the Berakuu Staa Army. Sasoriza pulled 
the pin out of her hair, her black tresses falling upon 
her shoulders. She was truly a beautiful woman, however 
a cruel smile spread across her face, marring her looks 
momentarily.
	"How do I look?" she asked mockingly, looking 
into the Deep Aqua Mirror as she patted her hair. Without
any sort of warning, she released one of her attacks to 
the crowd. It hit no one, but it was enough to send the 
crowd running away in fear. The 'Stars' were not far behind.	
	"Sasoriza!" Rei cried out, she had been right. 
	"It's such a shame you can't do a damn thing about 
it." Sasoriza said with a yawn. 
	"Like hell there isn't!" shouted a voice from behind 
Sasoriza. She sighed with annoyance and turned around,
	"Oh, dear, it's the Sailor Senshi."
	"Not quite. We are the Rulers of the Celestial bodies,
the Celestial Senshi!" Sailoraozuki cried out, 
	"And we will not allow the villainy of the Berakuu Staa
Galaxy to have one of the Celestial Stars." Sailorkinzuki 
finished.
	"Oh yes, the Celestial Senshi. You are the ones who 
have the Garnet Orb." Sasoriza said she put her hand under 
her chin as if she where musing, and turned her back on 
the others who ran off to transform.
	"Yes, more Senshi. I know what you did to the Sailor 
Senshi, and I warn you we ARE stronger than they." 
Sailorgemini answered.
	"You're just children." Sasoriza said with a roll 
of her eyes and leapt high into the air.
	"Poison Hallucination.." she whispered and extended
her knife-like nails. She directed the red cloud of mist 
towards the Celestial Senshi and as she held her hand 
outstretched to kill Sailoraozuki.
	"Aqua Rainfall!" Sailoraquarius said hastily 
causing the healing blue rain to make the red mist disappear.
Sasoriza stopped in midair and jumped off to the side. She 
had a small, very strange smile on her face.
	"You countered Poison Hallucination? That's...odd.
You're my equals." she murmured, "That's never happened 
before." she added. Gone from her face was the sterness 
from before, her face conveyed genuine interest. Suddenly 
her smile faded and twisted into a grimace of pain. She
instinctively re-extended her claws and spun around to 
face her attacker.
	It was Sailorsaturn. Behind her, a few yards back 
were the other three Outer Senshi.
	Saturn had another glaive with her, it was the red 
glaive. She had thrust the glaive into Sasoriza's back. It was
truly grotesque.
	Sasoriza lunged forward and swiped at Saturn's 
face leaving small, yet bleeding cuts, yet Saturn remained 
calm.
	"Where did...you get another?" Sasoriza choked as 
she fell to the ground.
	"What would you say if I said the Devil?" Saturn
asked icily. There was something very strange about 
Sailorsaturn's demeanor. It was deathly cold. Saturn raised
the glaive above her head and twirled it around in the air, 
before holding in front of her body.
	"Say goodnight." she whispered to Sasoriza, as she 
began to channel her own energy into the glaive,
	"No! Stop!!" someone shouted, a shrill voice cutting 
through the silence. In surprise Sailorsaturn stopped and 
turned around. The Sailor Senshi stood near the volleyball 
net, they all were staring at her with looks of horror
on their faces.
	"No, Saturn don't...you can't kill her. It makes 
you no better than she was. Two wrongs don't make a right."
Sailormercury reprimanded.
	"What are you talking about? We've killed and destroyed
hundreds of people!" Sailoruranus said, stepping forward. "I
would do this myself, but Saturn's got more right than I do."
	"But...Sasoriza is human, we can heal her. We don't 
have to kill her...it's not right...we can't justify murder!"
Sailormercury exclaimed, finally standing up for what she truly
believed.
	"Yes, Mercury is right. I've always tried to heal 
people rather than destroying them. All humans are good at
heart..." Sailormoon said defending her friend. 
	Sasoriza smiled coldly,
	"You are fools..." she whispered, despite the volume
of her voice, she sounded intimidating. With surprising 
agility, she jumped into the air, grabbing the glaive on
the way up. She landed gently on her feet and tripped Saturn
with it, she caught Saturn in her arms before Saturn hit 
the ground.
	"I should have killed you when I had the chance, 
you annoying little rat." Sasoriza spat as she held the
glaive inches away from Sailorsaturn's neck.
	"Deep Submerge!" Sailorneptune yelled and threw
the glowing ball of blue energy  towards Sasoriza. Sasoriza
positioned Saturn in front of her, for the purpose of a
human shield.
	"If you don't use your powers to protect us, you 
are going to be hit by one of your own." Sasoriza 
whispered into Saturn's ear. She delighted in tormenting
this delicate creature that she held in her arms, it was
great fun. Sasoriza smirked when she saw that Saturn wasn't
going to move, she took a step backwards just as the 
attack was about to hit. The glowing blue orb of energy 
struck Saturn squarely in the chest, it barely missed 
Sasoriza.
	Saturn cried out and fell to her knees, her hair
hung in her face. The look in her eyes was that of torment,
she began to laugh.
	"Hotaru..." Neptune whispered, she covered her 
mouth with her hands as her blue eyes stared at Saturn 
with terror.
	"Why don't you just kill me?" Sailorsaturn 
giggled as she turned her head towards Sasoriza. 
Sasoriza stared at her and raised her clawed hand 
in the air, one good slash and I can take her pretty 
head off, she thought.
	"SATURN!!!!!" Sailormars screamed, "What are 
you doing! She'll do it!"
	Before Sasoriza could even attempt to destroy
Saturn, Sailorsaturn's body began to slide on the floor
and then float into the air. Neptune cried out and 
began to run towards her. Saturn floated over the
volleyball net and landed on the ground near Atsumi. 
Atsumi said nothing, her eyes staring at Hotaru .
	"Atsumi-san..." Sailortaurus murmured as she 
stared at Atsumi, was this girl a Senshi? It couldn't 
be--if she were, then she would have transformed
with them. No, she just had amazing powers. Taurus' 
mind wandered from the scene for a moment, Ah yes,
that's why we were so good at volleyball--this girl 
would control the way the ball would fall. I
wonder how Musashi will feel knowing that we cheated?
A smile almost grew on Taurus' face, but the situation
was much too grave to be making jokes. She returned 
her attention to the battle at hand.
	Sasoriza, on the other hand, had been paying
her undivided attention to the scene, 
	"KISAMA! Stay out of my business!" she shouted
and jumped into the air towards the volleyball net. She
flicked her wrist and the volleyball net was in shreds.
She landed for less than a second then was back in the 
air, this time flying towards Atsumi.
	"SHINDE!"
	"World....Shaking!"
	"DEEP Submerge!
	"Dead...Scream.."
	The triple attack.
	Sasoriza fell from the sky and onto the ground
with a thud, she groaned and reached for her head.
	Sailorsaturn stood up slowly and walked carefully
towards Sasoriza. She picked up the Glaive, 
	"I am the NEW face of Death." she said icily as 
she drew closer to the wounded Sasoriza, her face serious
and calm. "Out with the Old and in with the New."
	"Please, Saturn, don't!!" Mercury screamed again,
and once again, Sasoriza jumped up and grabbed the Glaive.
She tripped Saturn just as she had before. She held the 
Glaive to Saturn's neck and stared down at her.
	Saturn began to laugh hysterically. The madness
that had been filling her mind for the past week now 
beginning to truly get to her. All around her she saw 
her Father, Mistress 9, her Dead Mother...all tormenting
her, all wanting her to die.
	Sasoriza was very taken aback.
	"You can't kill me can you?" Saturn whispered
with a smile plastered on her face. She looked thoughtful
for a moment, but her violet eyes showed her true madness.
"Ah, I know! You can't do it. Yes, that's it. As much as 
you want to kill me, you cannot." she concluded.
	"You are insane, child. I have your antagonizing
weapon in my hands and that is why no one has come to your
aid yet. They know that you are literally inches away from
a gruesome death." Sasoriza said matter-of-factly, "But why
is it that you don't fear me?"
	"I do not fear death because I am Death." she said
with a very cold smile.
	Sailorneptune gripped Sailoruranus' arm as chills
traveled down her spine, this look on her face...I've seen
 it before, Neptune thought.
 	"If I die, then I will be reborn, because I am 
Creation as well. Yet, even so, you won't kill me because
you can't. YOU CAN'T!" Saturn said laughing insanely.
	My God, Neptune thought, it's like she's the Silent
Messiah again.
	"You are weakness, Sasoriza. I am strength." Saturn
whispered with a mad smile.
	Sasoriza looked horrified, truly shocked. Her arm 
quivered as she tightened her grip around the glaive. The 
air was tense, everyone was waiting for her to make a move.
	"You already destroyed me. You have ruined me. Why
don't you kill me. There is nothing left of me except an 
empty shell, so just do me a favor!" she screamed and 
grabbed the Glaive. Sasoriza was still holding onto it 
dearly, all it needed was Saturn's slight tug for her to
lose her balance and drive the blade directly into Saturn,
Sasoriza's weight pushing it right through. 
	"Oh my god..." Sailoruranus said and turned away,
	"HOTARU!!" Sailor Pluto screamed, she dropped the
Time Staff and ran to her body, shoving a stunned Sasoriza
aside. 
	"This is all my fault.." Sailormercury mumbled as 
her lip quivered.
	Sasoriza dashed to pick up the Deep Aqua Mirror, 
she held it tightly and glanced into it. She saw her own 
frightened red eyes set on her pale skin, she was trembling.
The mirror's image seemed to fade away and the face of 
Sailorsaturn appeared, staring at her with such intense 
calmness.
	"I didn't kill you! You killed yourself!" Sasoiza 
screamed at the image, but she was screaming at her own 
reflection once again. Her hands began to tremble and the
mirror slipped out of her hand and shattered on the ground.
Sasoriza stared at the shards, each piece had that dreadful
girl's face in. Sasroiza backed away slowly, her hands 
shaking. She called upon the spell to transport her away,
	"I didn't kill her. I didn't kill her. I didn't 
kill her." Sasoriza mumbled as a swirl of red mist surrounded
her,
	 "Did you hear me, Sailor Senshi?!" she screamed 
suddenly as she wrapped her arms around herself. She was 
fading away, but her voice was still sharp, piercing the
stunned Sailor Senshi,
 	"She...it was she who killed herself. Her own will.
Do you hear me? It wasn't me this time...this time...She 
wanted to die...Wanted..."





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Translations
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Atsume = Sissy