Continuing Tales

Full Circle

A Sailor Moon Story
by Meara

Part 5 of 14

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Full Circle

The pictures on the large screen were riveting. There was no sound with the video, but to the dozen men who watched the screen with rapt attention, none was needed. Tuxedo Kamen called the power to his hands and in a sudden burst sent it into the woman he held. They watched as both the figures shone with golden light.

The video ended and the lights came slowly came back up. This gave everyone in the room a moment to take a collective deep breath. What they had just seen was the realization of a cherished dream for some, but for others it was their worst nightmare.

Goruden Kobushi stood up. "Prince Endymion lives," he said to the silent room around him, "And he has been enslaved by the Witch Queen of the Moon Kingdom."

"This has to be some sort of trick," came a voice from the back of the room. "A ploy by the Moon Kingdom to fool us into stopping our efforts to find the Golden Crystal."

"Tuxedo Kamen has the Golden Crystal," Kobushi replied, "and, as evidenced by this tape, he has the old powers. Our own agent on the Moon took this video. It's unedited, just as it came back to us live. There can't be any doubt."

One of the Council Elders nodded his head in agreement. "It is the Prince – Endymion really was reborn as that man, Chiba Mamoru." He paused, sorrow in his voice, "He was right here in Tokyo all that time. How could we have not known?"

"The Witch-Queen of the Moon is very clever. She kept the extent of his power well hidden as she ensnared him once again. She managed to fake her death and that of 'Tuxedo Kamen' after all," Kobushi said. "What matters is that we know now – and what we are going to do to get the Prince back."

"Get him back? The man is in league with the Moon Kingdom," came the outraged voice from one younger man. "He was a traitor then and he's a traitor now. How do we know he hasn't freely given himself to the Witch. I say we kill him and take the Golden Crystal. Surely one us within the Circle of The Chosen will be able to use it once Chiba is dead."

Kobushi crossed the room in two strides. He lashed out, his open hand slapping the man who had spoken across the face. "I should kill you here and now for even suggesting that! Are you so blinded by your own ambitions that you can't see the obvious? The Prince is under a spell – just as he was a thousand years ago. He was seduced by the Moon Queen and bound by her dark magic. Our duty is to rescue him from that Witch."

"I agree with Kobushi."

All heads turned. "I agree with Kobushi," Kunshin Tetsu repeated clearly. "Our first priority is to rescue the Prince. Without him, we can never have the future we desire."

"I suggest that we call a full meeting of the Council to discuss what we should do next." One of the Elders said. A stern look from him silenced the buzz of conversation that sprang up at his pronouncement. "The time we have waited a thousand years for is finally upon us, gentlemen. Our next moves will decide the fate our world. The grand council will convene in one week's time. Stay in Tokyo," he gave the young man who had spoken of killing the Prince a dark look, "And stay out of trouble until then."

Kunshin waited until most of the men had left the small room before approaching Goruden. The look of suspicious surprise on the younger man's face was gratifying to see.

"Thank you for your support, Kunshin-san."

"You seem surprised Kobushi-kun," Kunshin said with ease. "We may not agree on many things but we are all sons of the Golden Kingdom. We were raised to know our duty and do it when the time to act comes."

"It's imperative that we get the Prince back," Goruden spoke in an even tone, but righteous zeal burned in his eyes. "Once he's freed from the influence of that Moon Witch, Endymion can lead us. He can restore the peace that should have been. Earth will be a paradise under his rule, Tetsu-kun."

Kunshin gave the younger man a sincere smile. "I can honestly tell you that having Earth united under the rule of the one, true King is a dream I have come to cherish, Kobushi-kun. His reign is the path to the great future I dream of."

A look of deep longing flickered across the face of Kunshin Tetsu as he spoke. "Nothing will stop me as I pursue that dream. The future cannot be denied."

The great library in the palace of the Moon Kingdom was vast. It contained hundreds of thousands of volumes on every subject imaginable. The library itself was a huge structure with over stuffed chairs tucked into convenient corners. The floor to ceiling windows let in the maximum amount of natural light and allowed the room to retain a warm, cozy feeling despite it's size. Given the time, the library had the resources to answer just about any question a person might have.

The many secluded corners allowed a scholar to sit for hours reading up on a chosen subject. The library was also a wonderful place to quietly brood if you were so inclined. Mamoru was doing some of both as the afternoon light cast long shadows across the polished wood floors. He and Usagi had met Dr. Mizuno earlier in the day. The news she had for them wasn't the best.

The good doctor had handed Mamoru a file containing the written results of the battery of tests she'd insisted Usagi undergo after her near fatal use of the Ginzuishou almost a two weeks ago. As he flipped it open and started to read, Mamoru's heart sank. They knew that going into Balance with the Ginzuishou took a great deal out of Usagi physically and emotionally. What they hadn't known before was exactly what that damage entailed, or that it seemed to be cumulative.

"Usagi, your body chemistry is all over the place," Dr. Mizuno started out. "Not only are you almost perniciously anemic, but your white cell count is much too high. Which leads me to suspect that the strange rash on your neck could be symptomatic of your autoimmune system malfunctioning. The weight you've lost and the intense physical stress you've been putting on your body is playing merry hell with your endocrine systems, too. So much so that you may stop menstruating for a while. You and Mamoru can look over these results at your leisure but I can sum it all up for you. Whatever happens to you when go into the Balance is, quite frankly, pulling the life right out of you."

Usagi was disturbed by what Dr. Mizuno was saying, but also very confused. She had only a vague idea of what her "auto-immune" and "endocrine" systems were. "So how do I make my 'body chemistry' right again? I mean I will get back to normal, won't I?"

"Yes, this time you will," Dr. Mizuno assured her with a nod. "I've consulted with the other qualified physicians we currently have here and they agree with my diagnosis." Looking at Usagi, she had the uneasy feeling that young woman wasn't quite getting her point. "While I don't pretend to understand the 'magical'," Ami's mother made a face at the word, "aspects of all of this, I am very sure of the physical consequences. Usagi you cannot, and I can't stress this strongly enough, you cannot go into Balance with the Ginzuishou again any time soon. If you don't give yourself time to heal I can guarantee only one thing. Keeping on going the way you are and you won't live to celebrate another birthday."

"What's your recommended course of treatment?' Mamoru said in tightly controlled voice.

Ami's mother could see the fear he tried to hide. If Usagi didn't fully understand what she'd just been told her husband did. "That's the strangest part. Using the Ginzuishou may draw the life out of you, but it also allows you to heal at a rate that is nothing short of miraculous or you'd be dead by now. Time, proper nutrition and rest should do the trick. Well, that and the dietary supplements I've prescribed."

"That's it?" Usagi asked. "Eat, sleep and wait to get better? I thought modern medicine had all the answers."

Ami's mother shrugged her shoulders. "Actually, the advice I am about to give you is the same that would have been given a hundred years ago – and just as efficacious. You two never got a chance to go on your honeymoon did you?"

Mamoru and Usagi looked at each other wondering what that had to do with their current situation.

"No…" replied Mamoru.

The look on Dr. Mizuno's face reminded Usagi of Ami when she was trying to patiently explain the answer to a question only she understood. "May I suggest that now would be a good time to do that? Get away from here for a while. The Kingdom is still small and the Advisory Council is more than capable of handling things for a little while. In fact, the destination I have in mind is a place you've probably never even heard of."

"Any luck?"

Atremis's voice snapped Mamoru back to the present. The King grumbled unhappily at the stacks of books around him. "For something that's so vital to the Moon Kingdom there's precious little written down about the Ginzuishou. What information there is, all boils down to the same three facts. It's very powerful, only a female of the Royal Lunar line can use it properly and the Balance usually kills anyone who attempts it."

Artemis sighed, hopping into a chair that was wonderfully warm from the late day sun. "I talked to Luna and she agrees with me. Any specifics about the Ginzuishou were a carefully guarded secret. Most of them were transmitted orally from mother to daughter. Princess Serenity was in the middle of her training when the Silver Millennium fell a thousand years ago. We have no way of knowing what information was lost because of that."

Mamoru removed his reading glasses and rubbed his tired eyes. "One of the most powerful mystic tools in the known universe and there are no instructions on how to use it properly," he sighed. "If that isn't a recipe for disaster I don't know what is."

The white cat settled himself comfortably on the well-padded chair. The exquisite warmth of the sun on his body was making him very drowsy. "Don't worry, we'll figure it out eventually if we're meant to," he yawned and closed his eyes.

Mamoru had been sitting too long in one position and was quite stiff. Standing up he gave a long stretch. "Maybe there's something I've missed in what used to be Queen Selene's private library. I'll go and see what I can find."

Artemis opened one eye at his King. "I wouldn't if I were you. Look at the time. It's a little past four."

That stopped Mamoru in his tracks. "I almost forgot – Rei's wedding shower. That's such an odd name for a party. Do you know why they call it a 'shower'?"

"Mamoru-san," Artemis said solemnly, "There are some mysteries in this universe that the male mind is not meant to know."

The box was large and wrapped in bright gold paper with a red bow on it. Ami watched as the patient, skilled and elegant hands of Hino Rei turned it over once, then twice. She brought it her ear and listened to see if it made any sound.

"Open it all ready!" Usagi shouted, unable to stand the suspense any longer.

Rei raised an eyebrow at Usagi. "This is my shower, so I can take all the time I want."

After all these years, Ami chuckled to herself; Rei still couldn't resist yanking Usagi's chain occasionally. After letting Usagi stew for a minute Rei tore into the gilded paper. The lid was off before anyone could blink.

"Oh my," said Luna from the arm of the chair Usagi was in, "it's very…small, isn't it?"

"Oh yes," called Makoto as Rei held up her present, "That has got be from Minako-chan! It'll go so nicely with the champagne I gave you."

The penoir set was made of silk and colored a rich burgundy. The negligee was very lacy – what there was of it. One by one the women around Rei burst into delighted laughter. It was quickly added to the rapidly growing pile of gifts on the table beside Rei.

"A little something for your wedding night, Rei-chan," Minako laughed. "Hey, I am the Senshi of love, after all."

"My turn, my turn!" Usagi called out. She reached down to rescue the box she had by her chair before Moochi could nibble on the ribbon. A hand shooed the little rabbit away from the present. "Mamo-chan and I hope you get many years of enjoyment from these."

Rei pulled the box open and it took her a minute to realize just what it was. "Flannel sheets?" Rei said confused. "Oh, thank you."

Usagi winked at Ami, then sighed and took Rei's hand. It seemed she was not above yanking Rei's chain a little herself. Usagi slowly ran Rei's hand back and forth over the top most sheet. "See - nice and soft on the skin. I'll let you in on a secret, Rei-chan. Satin sheets are a wonderfully romantic idea, but they just don't work."

"Too slippery," Ami agreed softly, then blushed furiously when she realized everyone had heard her.

"You sound like you speak from experience, Ami-chan," Makoto said as she waggled her eyebrows, "Is there something you aren't you telling us?"

"This is from Haruka, Michiru and Hotaru," Ami said to change the subject.

The simple white tissue paper was removed and Rei gave a small gasp. "Oh Kami-sama," she whispered. In her hands was an oil painting of the Hikawa temple as it appeared before the fire that had destroyed it. Every line, every graceful curve of the buildings Rei had loved was there.

The sun shone overhead in the portrait and so strong were the feelings it evoked in Rei that she could have sworn for a moment she could hear the wind in the leaves of the tree that had sat at the center of courtyard. Rei opened the card that was with the present and read it aloud.

"The name of this painting is 'Life, Death and Rebirth'. The Hikawa Shrine was at the center of all of our lives. We mourn its physical death with you, but also know that the soul of the shrine lives on in you and Yuuichirou. When we go back to earth someday you, or your children, will rebuild. This painting is just to keep your memories of it bright until then."

Uranus and Neptune had offered to cover both Jupiter's and Venus's duty shifts tonight so they could attend Rei's shower (though Ami suspected that attending a bridal shower was not something Haruka thought of as "fun"). Hotaru was at the clinic working in Ami's place today. The sensitive Soldier of Destruction was learning to use her healing gifts and hoped to become a doctor someday. Setsuna and Lorilei were with the technician from the S'Eyre Imperium who had arrived to explore the causes of the Gate accident.

"Think of it as part of the Outers present to Rei," Lorilei told Ami as she handed her the box that contained the gift she and Setsuna were giving to Rei. "It's not that they don't feel welcome, they do. But you five have a rare and wonderful bond between you. Add in Minako leaving for earth once this Gate is up and running and well, I think they wanted to let you all have some time alone together to celebrate one of life's special moments."

Ami felt a bump on her leg and looked down. Moochi was at her feet, round blue eyes plainly asking her to pick him up. The little rabbit quickly settled into her lap. Ami stroked his soft coat rhythmically and Moochi began to softly click his teeth in the rabbit equivalent of purring. She sat quietly for a moment and just watched her friends as they laughed together in a discussion centered on the healing properties of chocolate cake.

Mina would indeed be leaving them for earth once the Gate was working again. Mamoru was more concerned about these "Sons of the Golden Kingdom" than he let on. The name alone gave Ami pause. Could they be connected to the Kingdom Mamoru's family had ruled? From what Lorilei had said these people had a very interesting, if historically inaccurate, view of the events that led to the fall of the Silver Millennium a thousand years ago.

If those questions had cropped up in Ami's mind, she was doubly sure that they had occurred to Mamoru as well. Left to his own devices, Ami was quite sure that the dark haired prince of earth would have brooded about it for days. That was one of the reasons Usagi was so good for him, Ami decided. She was the sunshine not only in Mamoru's life, but in all their lives.

The years had brought changes to Mizuno Ami that were positive for the most part. The elfin teen had grown into a serene, elegant young woman who was at peace with who she was. Ami's clever mind had always been her greatest gift and her greatest burden rolled into one complicated package. It allowed her an insight that, oddly enough, cut her off from most of the people around her. Her world would have been a very lonely one if not for those she watched with affectionate eyes. A memory filled her mind, and for a moment she could hear Rei's voice as Mars had shouted at Fiore.

"Don't you understand? If it wasn't for Usagi, we all would have been alone!"

The vision of Usagi, sprawled on the ground utterly exhausted after her energy had been drained, lingered unpleasantly in Ami's mind's eye. She looked at Usagi who was receiving a lecture from Luna on eating properly while the Moon Kingdom's Queen enjoyed more of the cake Mako had baked. Ami's gaze was drawn to the strange, mottled rash on Usagi's throat.

Fingers – Ami suddenly decided in one of those moments of insight. The mottled rash made it look like someone had bruised Usagi's throat by pressing their fingers into it.

"Ami-chan," came Rei's voice, breaking her out of her thoughts, "You'd better get over here if want any of the cake. Usagi is on her third piece!"

"This is only my second piece," Usagi mumbled through a mouthful of chocolate. "But if Ami-chan doesn't want her slice I'll have it."

"Minako may be the Soldier of Love, but I'm the Soldier of Wisdom," Ami said as she put Moochi on the floor. "And it would be very unwise of me to pass on a piece of Mako's death-by-chocolate cake."

Usagi had finished her cake and was using her index finger to get the last of frosting off the plate. Ami laughed as her Queen did everything but lick the plate clean. She picked up a glass of wine and raised it in a toast.

"Here's to you, Rei-chan. May your life be filled with love as sweet as Mako's cake," Ami said in a clear voice.

The others also raised their glasses at Rei who smiled. "It all ready is. Here's to all of us. To life, love and chocolate!"

Six voices called out together, "To life, love and chocolate!"

Why wouldn't it go away?

Kunshin Tetsu stared at the palms of his hands. On each was a small circle of oddly colored skin. He recognized it as the small kind of discoloration that was on the hands of the being that he called "Wiseman". The patches of mottled skin were oddly cold and they seemed to be slowly growing. The worst of the pain had subsided, but they still throbbed uncomfortably every now and then. He'd didn't mind that too much. It reminded him of the pleasure he's felt when he'd drained away the energy from the Moon Queen.

"Usa," Kunshin mumbled under his breath.

Wiseman had said that her name was Serenity, just as the Book of the Golden Kingdom had foretold, but she liked to be called Usagi. It was easier to think of her as "Usa" rather than as the Witch Queen of the Moon Kingdom. It made her smaller, less formidable in Kunshin's mind and he preferred it that way.

It had been almost two weeks since he the first time he'd "touched" her, channeling her power into himself. The incredible high from it had lasted for days. But when he'd finally come down from it, Kunshin found himself deeply depressed and shivering with the need to take more from Usagi. That was when Wiseman came again and, as promised, showed Kunshin Tetsu a way to get to Usagi and the delectable energy she held inside her.

The method he was now using wasn't as wildly intoxicating as when she'd used the devil's stone, the Ginzuishou, but it still very sweet to him. The main problem with this slow, steady process was that the energy high didn't last nearly as long. Within a day, sometimes within hours, the cravings started again and Kunshin desperately wanted more of what made him feel so good.

"Wiseman," he said as he started at his trembling hands, his need burning inside him, "where the hell are you?"

"Right here."

Kunshin jumped and turned. The being known as Wiseman melted out of the shadows and into existence before him. He was in the position he seemed to favor – sitting a few feet off the ground. The strange, emaciated hands had the ever-present glowing sphere between them. Covered from head to toe in the shadowy robe that obscured him, the Wiseman never the less gave the impression of looking directly at Kunshin.

"All you ever needed to do was call on me. Are you ready for your next lesson?"

The thought of being able to absorb more energy from Usagi made Kunshin start to shake like a junkie in need of a fix. With effort he collected himself. "What kind of lesson? Will it mean I can take more energy at once?"

"Yes," there was annoyance in the tone of the sinister figure. "But because of your greed the first time you touched her time, we will have to proceed at a slower pace than either of us would like. I've told you before, Tetsu, the Moon Queen mustn't die quite yet. I promise that soon the day will come when you can drain her dry, but not now.

"What kind of lesson? What are you planning for me?"

"You seem hesitant. You aren't afraid are you, Tetsu?" He held out his hands, inviting Kunshin to take them. "Power is only for those willing to sacrifice for it."

With only a quick glance at the discoloration on his palms, Kunshin took the cold hands offered to him. The odd mottling slithered to life and moved onto the waiting hands of Kunshin Tetsu. "I'll do whatever I have to, Wiseman. You show me how to do what you promised and I'll pay the price for it."

"I know you will," came the raspy voice. "The future cannot be denied."

The first that thing Mamoru noticed as he entered their bedroom was that most of the lights were off. "Usako?"

"I've been waiting for you, Mamo-chan," came her voice out of the semi-darkness.

Not sure what was going on, Mamoru walked towards her voice. "Did you have a good time at Rei's party?"

Usagi was wearing one of his old shirts he noticed as she strolled up to him. The shirt was unbuttoned and he had a splendid view of the fact that she wasn't wearing anything under it. That view made the blood rush to places other than his brain and Mamoru realized he was staring.

"Mako-chan made her famous death-by-chocolate cake," said Usagi as she reached for the buttons on his shirt and began to undo them. "I had three pieces."

"Someone's flying high on a sugar buzz," Mamoru managed to say as Usagi stood on tiptoes and nibbled at his earlobe. At last finished with the buttons, she pulled the shirt off his back.

"Yes, yes I am! And I'm planning to put this unexpected burst of energy to very good use, too." The shirt fluttered to the floor, forgotten as she whispered in his ear, "Didn't you promise to show me just how shameless you can be, husband?" Her arms slid around his neck and pulled him close for a deep kiss.

He had a wonderfully bemused smile on his face as the kiss ended. "So I did, wife" he managed to say as she took him by the hand and pulled him towards the bed. "But why do I have the feeling that I'm not the only shameless one around here?"

Usagi put her hands on Mamoru's chest and shoved him backwards onto the bed. "I'm sure I have no idea what you mean by 'shameless', Mamo-chan." She laughed loudly then jumped onto the bed beside him, causing them both to bounce.

He grabbed Usagi and with a quick roll tumbled on top of her while she shrieked with glee. A wicked smile came to his lips, which she returned in kind. "Then allow me to demonstrate, my dear," he said as he leaned down to kiss her again. "It goes something like this…"

Her hair was the wrong color and that disturbed him a great deal.

Wiseman had forgotten many details over the centuries, but he could never forget the woman who had ruined all of his carefully laid plans. The moment of his failure burned as brightly in his twisted soul as if it had happened yesterday. All of the darkness, all of the silence he so worshipped had fallen before the unstoppable light of that accursed stone.

He could still see Neo-Queen Serenity, the Ginzuishou burning between her hands. Her hair had very clearly been gold, like the sun. It was the last thing he saw before the light swallowed him, burning him with a purity that threatened to end him forever.

But the hair of the woman called Usagi, who was now Serenity, Queen of the Moon, was silver like the terrible light that had almost totally destroyed him. That his actions had caused changes in the way he remembered things usually didn't bother Wiseman. That was the point, after all. But those changes were beginning to add up in a manner that troubled him.

He clearly remembered that Crystal Tokyo had the four Senshi who guarded the royal family. Venus, Mars, Mercury and Jupiter he'd expected to face. He heard whispers about the possibility of another Senshi named Sailor Pluto. But the other three others, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus were unknown factors in an increasingly complicated game.

The crystal ball between his hands began to resonate. It was the signal he'd been waiting for. Humans had so many wonderful weaknesses to exploit. Kashu Hikaru had been driven by lust – lust for recognition, for power and finally his fatal lust for Usagi. Kunshin Tetsu also had a lethal weakness to take advantage of. Pride and his jealousy of Goruden Kobushi went hand in hand. Even the Moon Queen had a weakness to make use of. Kashu Hikaru had attempted to rape her. The fool hadn't managed to do that, but the scars of that attack ran deep in the young woman.

The images that came from the crystal ball he held were ones he was very familiar with. Usagi ran, the only sound that of her ragged breathing as the nightmare pushed her endlessly forward. She didn't so much as glance over her shoulder, but kept on trying to outrun what was chasing her. Wiseman had to make sure that she didn't have a moment to think or even try to collect herself. If Usagi ever got the idea to turn and fight, his plans would be ruined. Wiseman counted on the fear the dream was evoking to keep her rattled enough for all of this to work to his advantage.

"Now," he said to Kunshin.

Using the new power in the hands the Wiseman gave him, Kunshin closed his eyes and "reached" into the dream to grab Usagi. Her intense fear drew him like a moth to a flame. Wiseman had promised that this time would be different, better. Instead of hiding in the shadows, quietly stealing what power he could, Kunshin would now take control of the dream. He greedily channeled the emotional energy she was producing into himself, giving the body he had in her dream world substance.

His cold arms solidified then wrapped themselves around Usagi, pulling her close. She attempted a strangled scream of fear when he quickly turned her, catching and holding her gaze. Usagi's confused, sleeping mind was no match for the power Wiseman had given Tetsu.

"No," she fought to whisper, "let me go…" His eyes bore into hers, and suddenly Usagi felt him inside her head, freezing her mind and her body. Her struggles slowed then stopped and she went limp in Kunshin's icy embrace, a dazed look clouding her eyes.

"That's it little Usa, sleep," Kunshin whispered, going to one knee while he cradled her in his arms. "You won't even remember most of this when you wake up. After all, its just a dream and dreams can't hurt you can they?"

An arm kept her unresponsive body propped up against him. Usagi was wonderfully warm even in her dreams, Kunshin thought, so incredibly soothing in his arms and against his cold hands. His free hand stroked her cheek once before sliding down onto her neck.

The fingers curled almost lovingly around her throat, finding and slipping onto the places where her neck was marked by the "rash". Kunshin's eyes closed and he began to feed on her life force. The intensity of the available energy was less than when she had been using the Ginzuishou, but it was still very satisfying for Kunshin Tetsu.

"You will give me all that I need," he said as the sweet power started to flow into him. She gave several soft, ragged gasps of pain and he pulled Usagi to his chest, holding her as tightly as he could. That his actions hurt her was of no importance to him. All he cared about was the sensations that swelled inside him. Kunshin was driven by the intense desire to make them go on as long as possible.

"You will give me all that I need, forever."

Mamoru waited until Usagi had fallen asleep in his arms to finally leave. She was so full of life and mischief this evening, so much like her old self that Mamoru had not wanted it to end. Satisfied that she was on the road to recovery, he tucked the covers up around her and made his way to what had been Queen Selene's private library.

Quite by accident, Mamoru had come across a private journal that Queen Selene had kept. He hoped to find some information about the nature of Ginzuishou buried in it. Mamoru was totally absorbed in what he was reading and lost track of the time. In fact, he looked so serious that when Mina found him, she was tempted to leave him alone.

"Mamoru-san?" came Mina's voice as she knocked on half open door. "Is this a bad time?"

The sound of the voice shook the King out of private thoughts. "Not at all, please come in." He pointed to an empty chair across from him.

Mina took the seat proffered, settling into it. "I just spoke to Setsuna and the Gate is up and running again. I can leave first thing in the morning if you want."

"Are you sure you want to try and do this, Minako?" Mamoru asked her. He had reservations about this whole plan. "For all intents and purposes you'll be alone on this mission."

Mina gave him a confident grin. "We have to know more about these 'Sons of the Golden Kingdom' and I'm the logical person to do it. My English and accent is so good that no one could ever suspect that I'm not from Great Britain. Besides, this is the role of a lifetime. You didn't really expect me to pass up this chance did you?"

That caused Mamoru to smile. "I suppose not. Don't take any chances. Get the information we need and come back here – no heroics this time 'Sailor V'. Just be careful, ne? Usagi would never forgive me if anything happened to you."

"You sound just like Artemis. Don't worry so much, I'll be fine." Mina replied with a wave of her hand. "You know, Usagi seemed more like her old self at Rei's party. Maybe by the time I get back she'll be good as new."

Deeply asleep, Usagi rolled on her to side in the large bed. She curled into a ball, fists clutching at the sheets. The deep, steady breathing of restful sleep changed, becoming uneven.

"No," she fought to whisper, "Let me go…"

Usagi gave a series of soft, ragged gasps before her fists slowly unclenched. A tremor ran through her slender frame, and then she lay unmoving once more. In the gloom of the silent bedroom the strange marks on her neck began to smolder with a black fire.

Full Circle

A Sailor Moon Story
by Meara

Part 5 of 14

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