"Is everyone ready!"
Makoto's voice called out excitedly from the kitchen of her apartment.
As she entered the room, there were many gasps of appreciation. She held the turkey, perfectly baked and filled with delicious stuffing of her own devising.
"It's beautiful, Mako-chan," Mina announced, "You are a genius."
Makoto rolled her eyes but took the praise with a flush of pleasure. She carefully set the turkey on the table and handed the knife to Mamoru.
Mamoru muffled a slight yawn, and Usagi noticed the dark circles under his eyes with a worried glance. She hadn't said anything to him about it yet, but after they left Mako's for their own special Christmas time, she was planning on giving him more than an earful about the importance of sleeping. He was getting too thin, too, (his black turtle neck made him seem paler) and so Usagi had asked Makoto for cooking lessons. She had to start some time.
As they ate and chattered together over Christmas dinner, Usagi looked around her and smiled with great contentment. It had been almost three years since they had left off using their Senshi powers. And though Haruka, Michiru, Setsuna and Hotaru were celebrating Christmas in Switzerland this year, she still felt as if she had her whole Senshi family together at last.
"Where are Artemis and Luna?" Makoto asked around a mouthful of wine.
Everyone turned to look at Mina.
"Well," she said, chewing her turkey, "I think Artemis said something about a 'date' - so I assume he took Luna out for Christmas. Knowing Artemis, there's no telling where they went."
"What about your family, Usa-chan?" Ami asked, "What are they doing?"
"Mom and Dad are taking Shingo to see our grandparents in Kyoko," she answered, scarfing down rolls, "I got out of it because of you guys - so thanks!"
Rei shook her head, but Mina and Makoto laughed.
"What about your grandpa?" Ami asked Rei.
Rei smiled demurely as she carefully cut her turkey into small, bite-sized portions.
"He's not feeling well today, so I'll probably have to leave early," she looked at Makoto apologetically.
"We're going to spend a quiet Christmas at the shrine."
The others nodded, disappointed but understanding.
"But what about your Mom?" Rei returned.
"She has to work," Ami sighed, "It happens every so often. So we're going to celebrate tomorrow."
"Lucky you," Mina gulped her wine, "I have to go home to the parents tonight - they'll be feeling the empty nest ache and probably won't let me go until I promise to visit them every day."
"But you're staying with Rei?" Makoto asked.
"Yep," Mina smiled at the priestess who smiled ironically back.
"Oh, that reminds me," she added, her eyes wide.
"The other day Rei and I found something really weird in the sacred flame."
Immediately all the knives and forks stopped. There was silence as everyone turned to look with worried anticipation at Rei.
Rei cleared her throat and gave slightly peeved look at Mina.
"It isn't anything serious, I don't think," she began, "There's no need to worry about it. It's just a little...unusual. That's all."
"Well, what did you find?" Mamoru asked, "Now we're all curious."
"Well," she said, slowly, "I saw a...a thread attached to myself, and Mina and...well, a lot of different people."
"A thread?" Usagi asked, completely bewildered.
"It was red, and seemed transparent - as if it was part of the spirit world. But the strange thing is I can only see it when I touch Mina."
They all looked at Mina in great surprise. She smiled and shrugged.
"We haven't figured out what it means, yet," she said, brightly, "But we think that most people seem to have one, and it's really hard to find the end of the threads."
"A red thread?" Ami murmured. Suddenly she gasped, her eyes grew wide and she alternated blushing and looking extremely interested.
"What is it?" Makoto asked her, "Do you know what this thing is?"
"Well," Ami stammered, "I'm not entirely sure. I don't really understand the spirit world, but - I have read, and it's really just a legend, mind you, but - there's a story about the red string of fate..."
Rei suddenly frowned.
"Of course," she declared, "Why didn't I think of that before!"
"You are talking about the Red Thread of Destiny," she explained, "It is supposedly tied to the pinky fingers of those who are destined to meet. It's said that the other end will be tied to the finger of the person you're meant to be with...um..."
Suddely she broke off and looked at her own pinky finger as her face turned pale.
"No way!" Mina squealed, "You mean that whoever is on the other end of my spooky ghost string is my soul mate!"
Rei didn't seem able to reply as she was too shocked.
Usagi's eyes grew wide with wonder.
"You have to show me this, Rei-chan," she demanded, "Right now!"
"Usako," Mamoru protested, "Don't you think maybe -"
"I really want to see it," she interrupted him, pleading, "I want to see the string tied to our fingers."
Mamoru blushed, but smiled.
"You won't be able to see it," Rei spoke, her voice slightly shaky, "I'm the only one who can - and I can only see it if Mina's with me."
"I am the Goddess of Love," Mina smiled, very pleased with herself.
"This is incredible," Makoto declared, "I really want to see it too."
'Maybe I have a destined person' - she thought with a jolt of hope. She felt too silly to say that out loud, however.
"Well, I can do it now, if it's necessary," Rei said, slowly.
"Just let me get my computer, "Ami begged, already pulling out her glasses in anticipation of the experiment.
"Alright then," Rei sighed.
It was very strange to see Rei kneeling before the fire without her temple robes on, but because they were all in such a hurry to see the phenomenon of the Red String, she had barely had time to prepare the shrine. Luckily the little girls were spending Christmas on a special trip so she didn't have to worry about stirring up their curiosity with her crazy friends.
"Can you see it yet?" Makoto breathed. They were all crowding over Rei's shoulder, except for Mamoru who waited patiently at the back.
"I haven't even started yet," Rei growled, "Now get off of me!"
Everyone knew that tone - they all hastily backed away from her as the sacred flame blazed a bit brighter for a moment. No one wanted to get singed by Rei.
Rei took a deep breath and reached out to grab Mina's hand. She let herself relax, opening her other senses to the world.
And there, flickering in the light of the fire, was the red string. She examined it on her finger, noting again that it stretched out past the shrine grounds and through the streets, and she wondered where it might lead...or to whom.
She quickly stilled that thought.
"I can see it," she said, slowly. Immediately Makoto and Usagi gasped and crowded in to peer at Rei's finger, while Ami took out her computer.
"I don't see anything," Usagi complained after a moment.
"Neither do I," Makoto sighed, disappointed.
"You have one," Rei informed her, gazing at the thick red cord that glimmered on Makoto's finger. Makoto jumped and looked at her hands in excitement.
"Where?" she shouted.
Rei closed her eyes so that she wouldn't be distracted by Mako's antics.
"Do you see mine?" Usagi demanded, holding her hands in front of Rei's nose. Rei leaned away from her.
"Yes. And," Rei followed the thread with her eyes as Usagi, Makoto and Ami followed Rei's look - to Mamoru.
"Well, that solves that question, I guess," Rei sighed.
Mamoru stepped forward and closed the distance between himself and Usagi.
"Incredible," Rei breathed.
"What!" Makoto and Usagi shouted.
"The thread runs between the two of you," she answered, peering at the couple, "And it shrinks and lengthens depending on how far away you are from each other. But it doesn't tighten or break. And it seems to get brighter the closer you are."
"So, there is a thread tying me to Usagi?" Mamoru asked. He gave a doubtful look at his finger. He didn't see anything, but that certainly didn't mean there was nothing to see.
Rei nodded, puzzling it over. Ami continued to try to analyze the incomprehensible with her computer. As she stepped into Rei's line of vision, the priestess blinked.
"You have one too, Ami-chan."
Poor Ami nearly dropped her priceless computer in her shock.
"M-m-me!" she stuttered, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Yes," Rei nodded, squinting, "And so does Mina, of course."
"Of course," Mina smirked.
"Where - where does it go?" Makoto asked, shyly holding up her string.
"I don't know," Rei sighed gustily.
"I can't see the end."
"Can we follow it?" Usagi asked, excitedly.
"But it might stretch on for miles," Rei argued, "There's no way to tell where it goes until you find the person it's tied to."
All of the girls shared a blush at this - some in embarrassment and others in excitement.
"But we will find the person on the other end, right?" Makoto asked, worriedly, "That is the way the legend goes."
"But there's no telling when..." Rei pointed out, and Ami nodded.
"It could be years from now," Ami said, "Or even decades. The only guarantee is that you will meet them someday."
Makoto's shoulders slumped a bit, but she rallied her usual cheerful smile.
"Well, I guess I'll just have to keep my eyes open," she joked.
"I wonder," Rei murmured. She released Mina's hand and shifted onto her side and gazed, pondering, at all of them.
"I have a great many questions myself," Ami spoke up, "For instance, if this thread denotes destiny, then how long has it been tied between Usagi and Mamoru? Was it present in the Silver Millennium's time? Does it force people to meet or does it just indicate that they will meet? And -"
"One question at a time, Ami-chan," Rei interrupted.
"I don't know a great deal about this," she continued, "But it seems to me that these threads are tied between souls, so if that's the case then it would mean that the thread existed before."
"That makes sense," Ami nodded, "Reincarnation would necessitate the thread's existence."
"So, wait -" Makoto held up her hand, "What you're saying is that, in the Silver Millennium - we," here she indicated all the Senshi in her glance, "Were tied to someone?"
"I think so, " Rei answered.
"So, then," Makoto continued, beginning to warm to her subject, "Then that means that whoever these people were, they've been reincarnated too?"
All the girl's eyes widened in amazement. Mamoru and Usagi gasped.
"It seems so impossible," Mina said, "But it must be true."
"But then, if that's true," Ami said, slowly, "Then it follows that they were part of the court of the Silver Millennium - or they were at least present at the last battle on the Moon when the Queen made her last wish - in order to be reincarnated."
"So we must have met them!" Makoto exclaimed, her green eyes shining, "That means we must have known them!"
"Not necessarily," Rei argued, sharply, "It could be that they were present only for that day. Some random soldier who happened to be killed in the invasion."
"But we would still have known them," Makoto argued back, "Because they would have been court members - people we saw and spoke to everyday."
"Well, I don't remember being in love with anyone!" Rei declared, hotly.
Makoto's eyes flashed.
"Well, neither do I," she retorted, "But it's not impossible, is it? I mean Usagi and Mamoru practically hated each other before they remembered the past."
"Or there's something you haven't considered," Ami broke in, somberly.
Rei and Makoto paused their argument to stare at her.
"It could be that whoever our - uh - destined persons were," she said, "They were in the invasion...as the enemy."
There was a brief silence and Mamoru suddenly felt a headache coming on. All of this seemed terribly familiar but he couldn't understand why.
"What do you mean?" Mina asked, half-laughing, "That we loved Beryl's henchmen?"
The phrase 'Beryl's Henchmen' echoed in his mind.
"I'm not saying that exactly, " Ami frowned, "I'm just saying that the Moon's defenders weren't the only ones reincarnated that day."
"Well, that seems too...impossible," Mina ended, uncomfortably. All the girls seemed to shy away from the idea with a shudder.
"In any case," Rei sighed, "It's all useless speculation until we meet the people on the other end of the strings anway. If we ever do."
"You're not the least bit excited about this, Rei-chan?" Makoto asked, giving her friend a doubtful glance.
"Not really," Rei muttered.
Makoto sighed and shook her head. Having been alone for a great deal of her life she had come to have a respect for ties and bonds that was nearly religious. The idea that a person like Mamoru might be waiting for her, somewhere in the world, was already a private daydream, and now to have some evidence, however slight, that it could be more than fruitless was simply too much for her not to be excited.
"Well, I for one am thrilled," Mina declared, putting her hands on her hips.
"I declared that from this day forth I will devote all my energies to finding these lucky men and directing them to the arms of my comrades and sister Senshi!"
"What about your studies?" Ami reminded her, gently.
Mina made a face but amended her statement to include studying.
"And Senshi business?"
""Yes," Mina sighed, "If there is any, Senshi business too."
"But mostly Love," she added.
"Are you alright?" Usagi asked. They all turned to see Mamoru rubbing his head. His face was paler.
"Yes," he said, quietly, "I just haven't had enough sleep."
Usagi was instantly on the alert.
"You are going straight home now," she commanded, "And I am going to make sure you go to bed at a decent time."
"Yes, sweetheart," he answered, with a small smile.
"See you later, ladies!" Usagi called cheerfully, taking Mamoru's arm.
Rei glanced around at the other Senshi. Mina was already yawning, as were Ami and Makoto.
"Would you all like to spend the night?" she asked, suddenly.
They blinked in surprise at this unexpected show of social interest on Rei's part.
"S-sure," Makoto answered, "If we won't be in the way."
Ami nodded.
Rei actually smiled, as she caught Mina's eye.
"I'd really like that," she said, "It's been a while since we had a spend the night, and...I kind of miss it."
Usagi gently tugged Mamoru's shoulder until he slipped his weary head down onto her lap. As he stretched out his long legs along the couch, she began to stroke his thick hair and smooth his forehead. He sighed.
"You should go home soon," he murmured, "Just let me take a quick rest, and I'll take you home..."
"Alright," she soothed, perfectly aware that she would be staying right where she was for the duration of the night. He closed his eyes and relaxed as her fingers rubbed away the pain in his head.
She smiled down at him and gently reached over to turn the lamp off. She heard his breathing slow and deepen, and she shifted to make them both more comfortable, pausing only to take down her hair. In the moonlight is spilled down to the floor, almost white in the half light.
"I love you," she whispered, and listened to him breathing deeply, peacefully. She hadn't really needed Rei's red string to tell her that he was her soul mate; that was something her heart had always known.
Unnoticed by her, as she slipped her head down onto the cushioned couch, her bag began to emit a soft white-silver glow as the crystal inside it began to react to the latent power of her unspoken emotions and wishes.
She skidded to a halt as her Senshi boots slipped on the smooth marble floor. Before she could help herself she felt an arm steadying her, and a she drew back, already feeling the tell-tale flush creeping up her neck and cheeks. Bravely she straightened and looked up into a pair of warm silver eyes. Eyes that were twinkling with amusement.
"We meet yet again," he said. The language was unknown to her, but she somehow understood the words. His voice was low, deep and beautifully sharp.
"Yes," she managed to answer. She struggled to seem as imposing as he did by simply standing quite naturally. It was difficult, at best.
She took a breath to say more, but he held a finger to his lips and beckoned her to follow him. Confused and curious, she did as he indicated and walked a softly as she could behind him, through the column lined halls. She marvelled at his figure - which was a solid as a statue, and yet as silent as a breeze.
He paused at a step that led to the garden and stood aside so that she could peer beyond him. She did so carefully and gasped. Her princess and the Prince were just on the verge of embracing one another, blissfully unaware that they were being watched. She felt her face redden furiously and pulled her head back to give him a disapproving stare.
"This is totally inappropriate behavior," she hissed, accusing him, rather than the couple. He should have known better. He should never have allowed the situation to occur.
He understood her censure, it seemed, and dipped his head apologetically.
"I'm aware of that," he answered.
She sniffed haughtily, glad that his arrogance had finally been properly chastened.
"But then," he added, softly, "I never seem to be able to behave appropriately..."
"...when I'm with you."
Green eyes widened in delighted surprise as lightening flashed across the sky. The rain began to pour in torrents, drops so large they almost hurt as they landed in her hair and on her skin. She tilted her head up to greet the sky, revelling in the storm - breathing it in like life. She tasted it on her lips, and the feel of the electricity in the air almost intoxicated her.
She forgot her mission, momentarily, and ran out into the middle of the field. Throwing her arms up to the sky, as if longing to embrace the heady wind and the churning madness above her, she spun and spun and spun. Her own hair was whipping her now, she could feel the tie loosen and it tumbled down her back, curling, and heavy - almost alive.
The lighting flared down around her, almost dancing with her. She'd never experienced anything like this except at home - as a child. There were no storms on the moon - it was too tame for this wildness she found so overwhelming. If she'd only known...
Suddenly she felt the presence of a stranger. She stopped her spinning, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly open - while the rain soaked through her. She stared into a pair of dark, dark blue eyes - and a face that seemed overpowered by what it saw. Not sure exactly what to do, she continued to stare, panting, not noticing the lighting dancing around her. And he couldn't move for staring at her.
He seemed too shocked to speak. She quieted her heart and the thunder raging around her also muffled itself. She noticed, even in the frantic light, that he was very handsome - noble looking, strong. Unafraid, even with the storm raging around him.
She smoothed her wild hair back, not daring to think about the indecent picture she must be presenting.
As she moved, she noticed him swallow hard. Finally he spoke.
"Are...are you a goddess?" he asked, his low, husky voice awed, and at the same time, almost wistful. It rumbled a bit, like thunder.
She stared at him for a moment, then sucked in a breath too fast and immediately started choking and coughing, ruining whatever immortal image he'd had of her forever.
"Um..." she managed to speak at last.
"Not really."
She watched, confused and yet intrigued, as he smiled slowly.
"Even better," she thought she heard him murmur.
But it might have been the echo of the thunder in her ears.
The frozen ground crunched under her boots as she made her way through the deepening cold to the glass lake with its frosted surface. She caught sight of the flash of white she'd been looking for - and sighed with relief to see that there was no accompanying black shape.
Three steps away from the ice, within sight of the twirling princess, she felt herself suddenly overpowered: there was an arm around her waist, pinning her arms to her sides, and another around her neck, muffling her mouth. She was shocked, but not frightened. Almost carelessly she recognized a faint scent of lavender - clean and sharp. And mint.
"Who are you?" a voice whispered in her ear. Warm breath tickeled her cheek and stirred her hair. She took a small swallow and the arm relaxed, giving her room to speak.
But instead of revealing her identity she called out: "Shabon Spray!"
When the mist cleared her pale blue eyes stared into pale green eyes. Holding her freezing attack close to his chest, she realized that the young man in front of her held a sword to her neck. She noted first his beautiful face, white armor, and most of all the circle with a cross in the center on his uniform, marking his home quite distinctly. Likewise his gaze took in her elfin face, distinctive uniform, and didn't fail to notice the insignia of Mercury.
They straightened and stepped away from each other, embarrassed. He was the first to recover.
"I beg your pardon." She noted that his voice had a pleasant bell-like quality to it.
"No, please excuse me, I didn't realize that...he was coming tonight." she answered, blushing faintly.
"It was sort of a spur of the moment thing," he answered, giving her a crooked smile. It was a smile that seemed to say that a propensity for mischeif was something he and his Prince shared.
She nodded, and tried to keep her mind clearly and sharply focused. It proved to be quite a difficult task when they discovered the prince and princess engaged in more than a simple embrace. The sight of them kissing nearly gave her a heart attack.
"Perhaps, we should -ahem -" he chuckled, eying her flushed face with teasing curiosity, "Give them some..."
She nodded, too flustered and embarrassed to speak and led the way to the edge of the lake to pass the time in conversation.
Red robes flapping, since she'd had no time to change, and she hadn't brought her henshin wand with her, she sped down the Moon Palace halls, passing serene chambers and softly whispering fountains - and making a marked contrast of brilliant color against the pale palace interior - like a drop of blood on snow.
Opening the doors to the chamber rather more forcefully than she should have, she startled the occupants of the room quite a bit. And not a moment too soon.
"Serenity," she hissed, but the sight of the prince rising from kneeling stopped her.
The silver princess promptly burst into tears. But, to Mars' great surprise, these were tears of happiness. Her princess rushed to her and enfolded her into her embrace.
"I'm going to be married," she whispered, over come. Mars felt a shock of pure fear run over her spine. She knew her face reflected her emotions and was only too glad that the princess couldn't see her - but the prince could, and his handsome face darkened.
"I am overjoyed, of course," she lied, "But -"
"I must go tell the others! It's got to be kept secret, though..." Serenity laughed while crying. She turned back to her prince and took his hand, towing him with her; before Mars could utter another word they were both gone.
As she watched the doors close, she balled her fist, and the fireplace behind her erupted into a blaze so fierce it threatened to immolate the entire room.
"Impressive," a light voice said, from behind her.
She whirled, her face no longer a calm mask. Her eyes met the mocking blue eyes of the prince's guard. He didn't seem cowed by her or her unruly emotions. Instead, he was looking at her with...pity. Her temper flared.
"You should have announced your presence earlier." she snapped.
"Quite possibly," he admitted, "But then, I wouldn't have been able to witness that...passionate demonstration. I have to hand it to you, Princess, I never would have thought you -"
"Please leave," she interrupted. She felt her emotions bubbling over, and an Earthen guard was the last person she wanted to see her cry. Especially this one.
"As you wish," he murmured, the mocking tone gone. He flicked his cape aside and bowed low to her. He straightened and passed by her, pausing when his face was parallel with her own.
"For what it's worth.." he began, hesitantly, "I might say...I know how you feel."
She didn't dare say anything for fear of exploding into sobs. He seemed as if he wanted to say more, but suddenly left the room as softly as he'd no doubt entered.
When she was sure he couldn't hear her, she let out a wracking sob.
On a moonlit night, eight pairs of eyes snapped open. Four women, sleeping together in a priestess's crowded room, took deep breaths, slowly thinking over what they'd just dreamt...or remembered.
And in their several bedrooms, from a four bedroom apartment to a high level suite, four men alternately rubbed sleepy eyes and pondered over their strangely lucid dreams.
In an apartment where two people lay peacefully sleeping in each other's embrace, four stones began, just slightly, to crack.