The Paradise Army
4th Sign: Halcyon
Rated R


     Every year another promise is made
     A pint of beer raised towards a better day
     Let's find a star
     A star to call our own
     And make a wish
     Maybe we can make it home
     Ain't it good to be alive?

          -Edwin, "Alive"


     At the turn of the century, life on Earth ceased to exist.
     The natural world was turned to desert and dust.
     Humanity was all but extinguished.
     Out from the ashes arose Neo Queen Serenity. Like a phoenix in
full flight beneath a crescent moon, she was able to save the city
that was her home. Her magic had barely protected Tokyo and its
inhabitants from total destruction--but not death. 
     The Earth was restored to an Eden state, though it remains for
the most part uninhabited. The planet has become a garden paradise.
And in a strange if not ironic twist, there was a consensus of
keeping it this way. 
     Yet when the survivors awoke from their dark and dreamless
sleeps, they had forgotten almost everything that once was. It was
left to Neo Queen Serenity and her Senshi to rebuild what had been
torn down. Crystal Tokyo has become more than a utopia: it is the
new sanctuary, a second beginning. 
     But not all have forgotten what once was.
     I am His lordship Chaos.
     Let me welcome you to the future that Naoko Takeuchi has seen,
the future that is Crystal Tokyo. So much of it is known yet
unknown. So much is hoped for, but has yet to come. And so much has
yet to be destroyed....

                         -His lordship Chaos
                              hislordshipchaos@hotmail.com



     Shadows. Always in the shadows.
     To make plans.
     And plan a conspiracy.
     Here in one of the city's many outdoor gardens they would
remain undisturbed. The first one sat upon the wooden criss-
crossing framework of a trellis, green vines and leaves dangling
down near the head of the second. The first one leaned back on her
arms, her body stretched out, one leg crossed over the other. The
second one merely stood with his hands in his pockets, leaning a
shoulder against the side of the trellis.
     "I was not impressed," the first one said with a scowl. "You
told me the Outers would not a problem for the ceremony. Yet they
almost caught us."
     The second one nodded. "It couldn't be helped. We have to
throw the watchdogs a bone every now and again, or else it doesn't
become fun anymore. The more secretive we become, the more
suspicious they will get. Dangling the ceremonies in front of their
eyes blinds them from the other methods we are currently
employing." He chuckled to himself. "Besides, it's not like our
dear supplicant was unable to stand against them."
     "How long until the temple is completed?"
     "The crystalline architecture may shield the core of my work
from any scans, but we still have to exercise caution. After the
next ceremony, it should be ready."
     The first one smiled and started to giggle. She looked up to
the half moon in the darkened heavens above. "We wait, as always,"
she said. "And once she is reborn?"
     The second one flashed a vicious grin. "She already has;
that's why the Sanctuary was at last set into motion. Our task now
is to find her. Then the real fun begins."
     "Have you found a new initiate to replace Asahina?"
     "I have a good idea of who to start with. She's already very
fond of Serenity; it won't be too hard to alter her way of
thinking. Sometimes it's so easy to turn the Serenity worshippers
into our puppets that it insults my true skill."
     The first one shrugged. Rolled onto her stomach, an arm draped
down against her lover's face. "That doesn't mean they still don't
see you as a messiah," she purred, her palm cupping his cheek.
"'The devil hath many forms which are pleasing to the eye', ne?"
     The second one stepped out from beneath the shadows of the
trellis. "But that is the problem with the world today," he stated.
Hands were open, palms facing each other and cupped as if trying to
hold thin air. Suddenly there was a flash of light between his
palms, barely managing to illuminate a face. But it was just enough
to light the tip of the hand-rolled cigarette held loosely between
his lips. "Nobody cares about making a good villain anymore."
     He took a deep drag from cigarette and looked out at the city.
The Crystal Tower's spires glowed in the midst of the darkness of
night. He pursed his lips. Blew out a cloud of grey haze.
     "We'll have to change that, won't we?"



                        THE PARADISE ARMY

                            -halcyon-


     Haruka gave a final tug on her jacket before appraising
herself in the mirror. As always she wore a man's tuxedo. Black and
smooth like silk. A white, collarless dress shirt ensured no
choking bowtie. The cummerbund was another matter to contend with.
But Michiru always enjoyed seeing her wear that particular item, so
she had no reason to complain. Small uncomfortable things like this
were worth enduring when it came to Michiru's happiness.
     "You look dressed to kill," Michiru remarked as she sauntered
up behind the tall, sandy-blonde.
     Haruka cracked a dry grin. "I didn't think it was that sort of
event. Maybe I should carry my Talisman after all."
     "Now now, we'll have none of that." The tip of Michiru's
finger reached around and touched Haruka's lips as if that might
silence her lover. Haruka only nipped playfully at the fingertip.
"We're supposed to enjoy the masquerade. The Mugen will be paranoid
enough to compensate for our leisure time; we only have to worry if
the occasion presents itself."
     The Moonlight Masquerade was meant to be a time for the Senshi
more than anyone else to take a break and enjoy themselves. The
only one who wouldn't be really relaxing tonight was Makoto.
Despite wearing a stunning emerald dress for the masquerade, she
would be in a soldier's frame of mind. This was one of the only two
nights a year when the queen mingled with a large crowd. The
chances that someone might attack her were high.  Even with the
Mugen operatives acting as the ballroom's secret guard patrol,
Makoto refused to abandon her duty to protect Serenity. The tall
brunette would never be seen far from the queen on this night.
     Michiru stepped back and then slowly turned around so that
Haruka might be able to appraise her sleeveless dress. As befitting
a soldier of the sea, her gown was long and flowing like the ocean
tides themselves. Aquamarine in colour, silken and luxuriant to the
touch, they revealed so much in drifting against the contours of
her body--yet left so much up to the imagination when those silken
tides receded and billowed out with each movement she made.
     "I just might not let you leave our room," Haruka said with a
wolfish grin.
     Michiru chuckled and played along. "Ara, then what will do at
the masquerade all by yourself, love?"
     "Whoever said I'd be down at the masquerade, away from you?"
Haruka replied, gathering Michiru up in her arms as they stumbled
through their private chambers.
     Their dwellings in the palace resembled more an art gallery
than an actual bedroom. It was one of the largest state rooms for
the Senshi, mainly because it was made to accommodate two
occupants. Picture windows lined the outer walls, giving way to a
breathtaking spectacle of cityscape beyond. 
     The interior was intentionally as open as possible, with few
dividing walls inside the chambers. A jacuzzi bathtub made for two
was given its own corner and surrounding wooden deck, unimpeded by
any enclosing walls. Opposite that on the far side was their queen-
sized bed. Scattered around the area were various small endtables,
pedestals and couches built for two. Many of Michiru's paintings
were hung with care and consideration for the surrounding furniture
and lighting. Another corner alcove featured Michiru's art studio,
kept immaculately clean.
     A grand piano, its form sleek and black, was the suite's
centerpiece. Not too far away from it was the Lady Rose violin,
resting peacefully upon its stand. The crystalline walls helped
soundproof their suite, in case they wanted to do any impromptu,
midnight duets.
     Michiru felt the temptation to play a few notes on her violin.
But then she might not want to leave after all and play throughout
the night. It was unpleasant to consider that someone they might
talk to, or even brush up against, could be a Sanctuary member. A
perfect stranger held the possibility of being someone they were so
obsessed with catching.
     Her lover must have sensed her momentary trepidation. Haruka
wrapped her arms around Michiru's shoulders. "Let's just forget
about everything tonight," she said quietly. "That we're Senshi,
that we have a duty. Tonight let's just be Haruka and Michiru, two
commonplace citizens. No one has to notice us in a crowd this big."
     "I like the sound of that," Michiru agreed.
     They kissed deeply before leaving their chambers, walking hand
in hand towards the elevator lift.


     The grand ballroom was an epic in architecture. Once the few
hundred attendees came in, the appearance of its immense size would
only dwindle slightly. But now, when there was barely anyone
present, it loomed dauntingly huge. To have to cross from one end
to the next seemed an indomitable task. 
     Its structure was a marvel of both clear and opaque crystal,
of silver and gold, of black and white and many other vibrant
colours in between. Grand crystalline archways supported the
framework of an exquisite glass dome over the masqueraders' heads,
but without being in the way of everything else. The dome itself
was further detailed with elaborate metalworks and designs, as if
the frame had turned to curving ivy and lovingly wrapped itself
around the glass.
     The ballroom itself was open on all four sides to each of the
five floors that came together to create its full height. People on
the topmost level could look down and marvel at the sight of
masquerade below. Floors were of coloured marble that could change
their colour, but not their seemingly rough-yet-polished texture.
With each shift in the musical style, the tiles would shift hues to
further accommodate the mood.
     In its own alcove (which was still enormous) was the tiered
stage for the various bands to play on. Across from them on the far
end of the ballroom was an army of tables displaying the buffet for
the evening. Between the two was the ample space of the dance
floor, ringed and given the chance to expand or contract as the
masqueraders so desired.
     The rear of the grand ballroom, as well as the smaller atriums
& corridors that led up to all five levels of balconies and
walkways, was meant for the people to simply interact and talk with
each other. Many smaller fountains and patio tables were scattered
throughout this area. The ballroom, meant to accommodate the bulk
of the crowd, had only one type of table: raised with a
transparent, circular tabletop made of crystal. There were no
chairs or stools, but a central pedestal holding the table up.
     If one was awe-struck by the sheer size of the grand ballroom
alone, they would have been even more amazed by the intricate mazes
of levels, rooms and corridors that stretched out beneath the
masquerade floor. Here was where the caterers worked their magic in
keeping the buffet tables overflowing with culinary feasts; where
the various musicians, bands and orchestra members waited for their
turn to take the stage, set the mood and show the city how good
they were; where the near hundred assistants and waiters raced
through to help with cleaning spills, fetching various items,
replacing dirty plates and glasses with fresh ones, or performing
any other immediate task; where the police would take a break from
their work in maintaining crowd control.
     Fortunately for the Mugen, the underground would be one place
they wouldn't have to see tonight unless extreme circumstances
warranted it. They would all remain in the grand ballroom.
     "You know," Aoshi remarked scathingly as he tugged on the
lapels of his black suit. His feeling of being uncomfortably
overdressed couldn't have been more obvious. "This wasn't in the
job description when I signed on. Total memory erasure, I knew
about. But they could have warned us about this."
     Enishi's shark-like gaze continued to do careful sweeps of 
the majestic and empty ballroom. For the time being it was
practically deserted, and where they stood beneath one of the
archways seemed to be an eternity's walk away from the nearest
other person. "What's so bad about being on guard detail for the
masquerades?" he said. "We're the only ones who get to attend these
fancy balls every single time."
     "Hai hai, but it's not exactly like we can mingle and enjoy
ourselves. You said it yourself: we're on guard detail."
     "You get used to it, eventually."
     They weren't the only ones around, though. The regular police
were doing a lot of the more formal (not to mention menial) work
like checking invitations and keeping some rowdy revellers in line.
Mugen operatives got to be the undercover agents discreetly on the
look-out for potential threats. One or two always stuck close to
the royal family--though they made sure to keep their distance from
Sailor Jupiter. It wasn't in anyone's best interests to have them
interfere with each other when they had a common goal of protecting
the Queen.
     "Rin's the lucky one," Aoshi added. "He gets to spend the
entire night with his wife and kids, all on the pretence of being
on duty."
     "Are you complaining?"
     Aoshi shrugged indifferently. "Not really. But he'll get to
interact more than us. We are more relegated to walking around on
our own, skulking in the shadows." He paused in consideration
before asking, "Should I dance with a stunningly beautiful woman
tonight, could I claim that I was investigating a suspicious
person?"
     For once Enishi cracked a broad smile. "You pull that off, and
I'll personally notarise your excuse."
     "What's so amusing?" Aoshi asked when he noticed that his
commander's smile wasn't going away anytime soon.
     "I just remember when I was young and idealistic like you,"
Enishi answered. 
     Aoshi smirked and retorted, "I'm sixty years old, Commander."
     "I'm over a hundred."
     "Touch‚."
     They both laughed, enjoying the moment of relief in what
always proved to be a night of mixed stresses. Pretty much everyone
in the Mugen wanted to forget about their struggles with the
Moonlight Sanctuary tonight. This was their best chance to escape
from reality and thrive on the magic Neo Queen Serenity seemed
capable of producing with a mere sleight of hand.
     "So I remind you of you when you were more or less a rookie,"
Aoshi drawled. "What happened to your exuberance of doing the job?"
     Enishi's smile faded. "Experience. And the Storm." He glanced
over his shoulder as a number of the regular officers started
racing around. "Looks like they'll be opening the doors shortly.
Where will you start out?"
     "Near the orchestra stage. And yourself?"
     "At the buffet tables." Enishi didn't seem fazed by Aoshi's
stunned expression. "I missed dinner," he stated simply.
     At that Aoshi chuckled, "We're even then. I'll sign your
excuse for personally checking to see if omochi were poisoned."


     Yanigata stood in wait amidst a long line-up of people itching
to get inside. The suit he wore was uncomfortable. A loan from
Seki, he was required to wear it for two reasons: he had no decent
formalwear of his own (being an instructor in a dojo meant his
wardrobe was simple and limited, and he preferred it that way), and
Seki insisted he dress a certain way.
     This all returned to Yanigata's impending contact.
     Seki had waved aside any concerns that Yanigata wouldn't be
able to find the courier, saying that all he had to do was just
walk around. The courier would find him; Seki promised to see to
that. And so, as an extra measure, a purple orchid was tucked into
the outer pocket of Yanigata's jacket.
     But he was sorely tempted to forego his service to Seki as he
found himself buried somewhere in the middle of this human ocean of
invited guests--and he had shown up an hour early too. How many
people had been waiting here all day just to be among the first to
enter the palace?
     It bordered on disgusting.
     Already the conversations he discreetly listened in on were
boring and repetitive. Excited people exchanging stories about the
troubles they had to go through in getting their outfits. About
what they thought the grand ballroom would be like. About what they
might do if they met the Senshi and/or the royal family.
     The Senshi would be attending in formal gowns and not their
traditional sailor fuku. That would make them blend in a lot
easier; Yanigata grudgingly respected them for that. They were
human after all, and he suspected they didn't want to have groupies
tagging along after them the whole night.
     But therein lied his problem: the Senshi weren't elitists. If
they were it would have made it a lot easier for him to dislike
them and their city. But they were all too human regardless of how
elevated they were by the public. It showed many times.
     For Yanigata, they were too distant for him to be comfortable.
They had created the city that was devouring his only purpose left
in life, leaving behind emptiness. On the other hand, they were
also too close for him to regard them coldly as personal enemies.
     Someone from behind bumped into him, and he was caught
offguard momentarily. Jostled forward from the collision, he slowly
turned his head and stared at the young woman responsible. In the
arms of her boyfriend or lover, she sheepishly mumbled an apology
and turned away from his stern gaze.
     Yanigata let out a defeated sigh. "I don't think I'll ever get
used to this place."
     "Really?" a voice dared to challenge him. "I always thought
that if we're to continue into the future, we should never get used
to the life we find ourselves in."
     Half surprised and half unimpressed to hear someone joining an
otherwise private conversation, Yanigata turned to find the person
who had spoken. He found himself standing beside a not surprisingly
youthful man who was almost as tall as he was.
     "After all, life is always changing; standing still while
everyone else moves is as good a change as any," the stranger said
with a knowing smile. He ran his fingers through his hair, pushing
back strands of faded copper hair behind his ears. "It all depends
on one's perception."
     Yanigata nodded slightly and looked away. He wouldn't feel
guilty about ignoring someone he didn't want to talk to.
     "If you're trying to ignore me, I'm afraid that's quite
impossible," the stranger said. That he said it so matter of factly
managed to get Yanigata to turn back--if only to give him a
threatening glare. 
     "Whether or not you like to admit it, you're intrigued by
someone who shares a similar outlook on life," the youth continued.
He then bowed his head in greeting. "I'm Asaba. I'd extend my hand
to you, but we're rather crammed as it is. And you don't strike me
as the kind of person who'd shake it."
     Yanigata's lips curled ever so slightly into a dark smirk.
"And what would give you that impression?"
     The young man who called himself Asaba shrugged. "You're not
the only one who's had trouble fitting in. I can see it in your
eyes, in your body language. You're not too thrilled with what you
see, but you're not sure what else there is to possibly look at."
     Yanigata didn't turn away, but didn't say anything either. It
was an impressive feat for a complete (not to mention brazen)
stranger to keep his attention for this long. His silence showed
how much he was listening.
     "I've seen more than people today can dream of," Asaba said.
"And you, my friend, would probably be surprised as to who pointed
me in that direction."
     The line started to shift.
     And then abruptly advance forward.
     "I guess they've decided to let us in after all," Asaba
remarked. He glanced over to Yanigata as the crowds started pushing
them away from each other. "If you're ever in Edgetown, look me up.
I'm not a regular, but I'm a familiar face around there."
     Asaba gave a small playful salute and then disappeared into
the mob of anxious people. Yanigata moved his feet in accordance to
the pace, but his eyes lingered at the last place he had seen that
copper-haired stranger.
     That man knew about Edgetown.
     More than that, he'd been there.
     From his own talks with Seki, Yanigata knew enough about the
name and what it meant. Only those who could not handle Crystal
Tokyo journeyed there. He'd also sworn to only go that place if the
dojo finally closed its doors. Yet that stranger, Asaba, spoke of
it intimately.
     As the line steadily pushed to the looming open doors of the
ballroom, Yanigata highly doubted he'd made a friend a few moments
ago. But at the very least, they seemed to share the same spirit of
unrest.


     They were waiting together in the main foyer of the palace,
where only the Senshi and royal family were permitted access. A
towering set of double doors stood before them, sealed shut. The
doors would react to their presence and will; it would recognise
any Senshi, and they would trigger the doors to open if they so
wished for the doors to open.
     Behind them was the open ceiling some three storeys above.
There were lifts on either side of the atrium, but a more
traditional and healthier means of getting to both the second and
third floors in this area was to take the spiral staircases. This
entire area was forged of subtle crystal, its shimmer resembling a
polished white pearl. Some murals and frescos (courtesy of
Michiru's artistic talent) decorated the walls and pillars. Like
most of the domes overhead, it was one of solid glass that looked
up to the heavens beyond.
     Four Inner Senshi awaited the opening of the ballroom's doors
to those invited. That would be their cue to make an appearance:
quiet, unnoticed, enabling them to move around with some degree of
freedom.
     Each woman's dress went according to her favourite colour, her
aligned element.
     Rei in crimson.
     Ami in sapphire.
     Makoto in emerald green.
     Minako in...something unexpected, even for Minako. Namely a
beautiful white kimono, her blonde hair pulled back in la belle
‚poque style.
     "That's a new look for you," Rei remarked as she appraised
Minako's choice of wardrobe for the evening. "But it certainly
works."
     "Oh, this won't be the only thing I'm wearing today," Minako
replied. "This is more appropriate for the induction ceremony. The
interesting dresses come later tonight."
     Ami detected a slight hint of excited weariness in her
friend's voice. While she could only guess as to why, past
experiences were on her side when she asked, "When did you last
sleep?"
     Minako grinned impishly and flashed them the V-sign. "Two days
ago. Last night there was a pre-masquerade rave party I wanted to
check out. And I've been busy all of today helping with the final
preparations for the entertainment."
     "So you're essentially running on chocolate, coffee and
adrenaline?" Makoto said, unable to keep from smiling in spite of
the focus she was trying to keep on tonight's duties. Minako's
enthusiasm was always a contagious thing.
     "Hai!" Minako agreed. "Tonight I'm going to eat all I want,
drink whatever I want, dance with whomever I want, and live to
regret it all tomorrow. What will you being doing, Mako-chan?" 
     The tall brunette was playing with a choker around her neck,
momentarily preoccupied with the rose pendant hanging from it.
"Serenity and Endymion will be down in an hour. I'll disappear
around then so I can escort them around."
     It was expected of royalty to appear sometime when the party
was in full swing. It was also expected that Neo Queen Serenity and
King Endymion would have the most bravado entrance possible. No
doubt Makoto's nerves would be the worst at that moment.
     A small imageviewer above the door flickered to life.
     They recognised the face as the leader of the enigmatic Mugen
forces. Even though, as Senshi, they were appraised of every
operation the Mugen ever made, Commander Enishi was the only one
they ever had communications with. He usually conferred with the
Outers.
     If the commander ever did meet with them outside of nights of
the Moonlight Masquerade, it was either on their initiative--or the
situation was that severe.
     Enishi bowed from his side. "Ladies, the guests are starting
to enter the ballroom. You can come in anytime."
     The transmission ended there.
     Reacting to their desire, the doors before the four females
swung open with incredible and silent speed. Upon command those
doors could slam shut just as fast. Physically opening the doors
was near impossible for anything short of a very tenacious tank. It
made for a security precaution to be reckoned with. No one would
get past the doors and into the Senshi's inner sanctum unless they
permitted it.
     "Are we ready?" 
     It was Minako who asked that.
     They nodded in accord, and ventured out towards the ballroom.


     The sounds of a string quartet greeted the invited guests as
they made their way down the expansive corridor which led into the
ballroom. Already a large number of people were standing around and
talking, or else sampling the food and drink.
     As he entered beneath the towering archway, Rin discreetly
nodded to a fellow Mugen operative standing offside of the influx
of people. He was pulled back into his other life as Reina wrapped
her arm around his and led him towards the buffet tables.   "The
gourmet in you wants to see and sample as much food as you can
hold?" he inquired, stealing a kiss from her cheek.
     Reina responded with the same sentiment. "If I like the recipe
enough, I'll have you provide a distraction while I attack the
cooks for the ingredients."
     "I think Shuichi might be better suited to give you a
distraction," he countered, glancing her his shoulder at his son.
Shuichi was busy gawking at the surroundings, an equally awe-struck
Hotaru being held in his arms.
     "I'll stun them all with my flawless Tai Chi," Shuichi
retorted in a distant voice, barely keeping in touch with his
parent's conversation.
     That got both his parents laughing.
     Shuichi just shook his head in utter amazement as he caught
sight of the overhead dome.
     "Come on, Shuichi, hurry up," Reina said over her shoulder.
"You and Hotaru keep staring at the ceiling like that, and everyone
will think you're statues."
     Shuichi tore his enthralled gaze away from the architecture
and caught up with his parents. "I just never thought it would be
so...." He tried groping for a better word, but all he could come
up with was, "Big."
     The buffet table they stopped alongside had yet to garner a
large line, so they could leisurely take their time and talk while
sampling the food...or just piling it on the small silver napkins
at each table corner. Those silver napkins also had the words
'Moonlight Masquerade' fancifully monogrammed in blue, as well as
the season and date to commemorate the event. 
     Rin idly wondered how many of these would wind up as personal
momentoes and collector's items before the night was over.
     "Maybe we should get a picture of the four of us now, before
we all scatter," Reina suggested.
     Rin nodded his agreement to the picture.
     It wasn't too hard to make the request of a roving party-goer
to take the photo with the digital camera Reina had brought in with
her handpurse. The young lady was very energetic and all smiles as
she got the family to line up with the buffet tables and the
expansive ballroom in the background. Shuichi hoisted Hotaru back
up in his arms to allow for a better angle with the ceiling in
view.
     A momentary flash later found the image digitally developed.
The digicam gave them an instant picture of what was now stored on
a small disc that would later become a personal photo album. The
images could kept safely kept on the disc, or downloaded to their
family's Datapond for faster reference.
     "How does it look?" Reina asked.
     The three eldest members of the family looked like they were
enjoying themselves, with pleasant smiles and elegant clothes. But
the kimono-clad Hotaru more than anyone else looked to be living it
up. Her expression in the photo was one of innocent surprise, half
a shrimp sticking out of her mouth. Shuichi had to set her down,
unable to stop laughing when he saw the image.
     "This is what memories are made of," Rin said, kneeling down
to look eye level at his daughter. Hotaru seemed more bewildered at
what had gotten into her older brother. Rin stroked her hair a few
times and warmly showed her the photo. She couldn't understand why
it made Shuichi laugh so much.
     Rin stood up and let Reina look after their daughter for a
moment. "Look for us at over by that archway right before the
fireworks go off," he said to Shuichi, pointing to the desired
location. "You can have the digicam until then, so get as many
pictures of you and Hotaru as you want. Your mother and I will have
exclusive use of it afterwards."
     "I doubt Hotaru will be very active that early in the
morning," Shuichi replied with a grin, pocketing the thin slender
frame of the digicam. "But I'll make sure to capture as many
memories as I can."
     That wouldn't be enough for some, Rin knew.
     He tried not to roll his eyes at the sight of some guests with
a special compact video camera on their shoulders. Some might be
doing live transmissions to their friends and family back at home.
Ideally they wouldn't have to worry about annoying running
commentaries.
     Of course, attending the masquerades was a regular thing for
him. For everyone else, it still remained a once or twice in a
lifetime event. Had he grown that indifferent about the entire
event?
     Shuichi grabbed an appetiser for himself and winked at Hotaru.
"Ready for a night on the town?"
     She enthusiastically nodded and held out her arms. As always,
Shuichi obliged her and picked her up in his own arms, bouncing her
a few times to earn a giggle from her.
     "You'll be sure to take Hotaru to the bathroom if she asks,"
Reina added. Her tone wanted a final reassurance before letting
both her children go.
     Shuichi glanced over at Hotaru, who was busy leaning over to
grab at some of the hors d'ouvre. He readjusted his grip around
Hotaru's waist so she wouldn't topple onto a shrimp platter.
     "Hai," he answered dutifully to his mother. "I'll make sure to
find out where the bathrooms all are too. And I'll be sure to see
that she hits the buffet tables whenever she gets hungry. And I'll
meet you two later beneath that pillar just before the midnight
fireworks display."
     Shuichi had already cajoled his way into taking care of Hotaru
while off on his own for most of the evening. Both parents trusted
their son enough to allow it; if there was anything Shuichi knew,
it was the discipline and responsibility drilled into him by Kunio-
sensei. And besides, this was the sort of 'parents night out' that
Rin and Reina had been wanting for a while.
     "Think she'll last long enough to enjoy the fireworks?" Rin
asked.
     Shuichi considered the excited little girl wriggling around in
his arms, and then set her down. "I'll wake her up if she falls
asleep. Other than that, I can carry her around on my back. She's
lighter than some of the loads I've had to work with during
training."
     After kissing her little girl on both cheeks, Reina somewhat
reluctantly let the two wander off to somewhere else in the grand
ballroom. "They grow up so fast," she sighed.
     "Were you referring to Shuichi or Hotaru?"
     "Both, I think."
     One of Rin's eyebrows went up as he saw his wife discreetly
slide a napkin into his tuxedo's inner jacket pocket. "I like the
word font," she said after seeing his expression.
     He laughed, and drew out his small, black eyemask from another
pocket of his jacket. Reina took out a crimson eyemask from her
handpurse to match her scarlet cheongsam.
     "Alone at last," she sighed, taking one last glance at Shuichi
as he tried to keep Hotaru from grabbing at all the food on the
buffet tables. 
     "It's been a long time, hasn't it?" Rin agreed, taking up two
slender champagne glasses for them. 
     In the past it was a challenge to come up with new excuses as
to why he always had to disappear on the two nights a year when the
Moonlight Masquerade took place. To avoid Reina (more than anyone
else) noting the coincidental dates of his absence at home, he
usually stayed late the Mugen offices for a few days beforehand. It
was easy to claim that an unexpected report had come up that would
make him late for the next few nights.
     And he was certain Enishi had pulled a number of strings to
help him out too; for one of the two annual masquerades, he was
left off early, relieved of duty for the night at around ten in the
evening. That always gave him enough time to arrive home in time to
watch the midnight fireworks display with his wife and kids.
     Many families held their own celebrations even if they weren't
invited this time. The whole city became a massive jubilee once
every spring and fall. And since the fireworks filled the entire
midnight sky, no one really felt left out. He knew from personal
experiences that sometimes the view he had with his kids, sitting
atop the roof of their house, gave them a better vantage point of
the fireworks than in being in the palace ballroom.
     But this year was different for him. Now he was escorting his
family, and would be allowed to stay with them while doing his
subtle patrols. Well...he'd be with Reina anyways. 
     Rin lifted his champagne glass, lightly striking it against
his wife's glass. 
     "To the masquerade."


     Overwhelmed.
     That embodied what Asahina felt as she crossed beneath the
first archway and into the extravagant beauty of the grand
ballroom. The midnight black hair that draped down her back was
decorated with gold and silver ribbons carefully woven in with her
braid. The edges of her dress drifted around her high heels, an
attractive hyacinth blue. She could smell a faintest hint of a rare
perfume on her skin.
     As she looked at herself, at this ballroom, that Asahina truly
found herself believing she could be a princess. Alas, a princess
without her prince.
     It was with some sadness that she had come alone tonight.
Shingo hadn't received a formal invitation, and she knew it would
be near impossible to somehow arrange him to receive one. The
Senshi didn't want the invitation system to be abused; some people
became very obsessive about wanting to go as many times as they
could to capture that elusive taste of perfect magic.
     All around the city, there would be celebrations.
     Just beyond the outer perimeter of the palace, a large street
party was in full effect. The revellers there were as close to the
real masquerade as they could get, even if they weren't actually in
the ballroom.
     "It's just as well I didn't get an invite this year," Shingo
had remarked when first learning of her invitation. "I'm working
the night shift that date anyways. But if you can, smuggle me back
some desserts or something."
     His ease at shrugging off the masquerade had helped. And
Asahina was determined to not let his absence ruin such an
incredible memory. One of her last before she took her place as the
new Chosen One.
     Asahina adeptly snatched a champagne glass from a roving
waiter's tray, her eyes soaking up the empyrean scenery. This
masquerade was all she had ever imagined, and more than she could
have ever tried to imagine. This would be a night to never forget.
And she would treasure always.
     The city was offering this to her.
     And in return she would offer her life to the city.


     "Minna-san?"
     The crowd abruptly quieted as they heard a familiar voice echo
across the open ballroom. Heads turned towards the stage at the
front, and many craned their necks to see. Those on the balconies
of the higher floors had a better vantage point; Shuichi and Hotaru
were among them. Sakura, just entering the ballroom for the first
time, was transfixed where she stood.
     From his position near the buffet tables (sampling some of the
dim sum), Enishi let his eyes momentarily fix on the front stage
before resuming his roving gaze. Aoshi, on the other hand, remained
a lot more alert as he stood near the corner of the raised dais.
     Asahina looked up from her champagne glass. The other Senshi,
scattered in the crowd, smiled as they watched their friend and
fellow soldier take the stage. And as he leaned against the base of
one of the towering columns, Yanigata turned his head and watched
with detached interest.
     The surrounding lights in the ballroom slowly faded into a
nothing that was replaced by darkness. In the darkness came the
hauntingly beautiful melody of a lone flute, piping an old Japanese
folk song. A white spotlight came to lift, revealing upon the
centre stage Minako, dressed in her kimono.
     She smiled to her audience and bowed deeply.
     A few shouts and cheers of "Sailor Venus!" went out.
     "On behalf of the palace, and of Neo Queen Serenity and King
Endymion, we welcome you all to this Moonlight Masquerade. It is
our hope tonight to share with you some of the magic that has
enchanted this city and its people. Make tonight a night to
remember forever."
     The spotlight on Minako petered out into darkness.
     The last note from the flute lingered in the air.
     It's gradual fading signalled the beginning of the adrenaline-
powered fury of the numerous taiko drummers who began to perform.
The lights went up to display the men and women who were
rhythmically if not ferociously beating a myriad of drums, some as
large as they were.
     A loud show of applause welcomed the drummers' panache.
     With this inauguration, the masquerade had begun.


     Far from the loud music and pleasant socialising of the
palace, Seki sat alone in a darkened room before his Navi. All the
illumination he desired was provided for naturally with his fusama
screens left open, allowing the moonlight to pour in. The scattered
outdoor garden lights added to the nocturnal mood Seki wished to
invest in tonight.
     The city was in the throes of celebration.
     It was something tangible in the very air he breathed. While
he was a significant distance from any street party or gathering of
friends, the tingling in his skin and excitement in his every
thought was far from going unnoticed. The Moonlight Masquerade,
like their queen, had a way of making its presence felt everywhere.
     For a moment he wondered how Yanigata was surviving the
masquerade. No doubt cringing at every minute of it, and the mental
image made Seki smirk. He reached over for the tea cup standing
next to his Navi, and took a sip of the hot liquid within.
     In many ways he sympathised.
     Yanigata Kunio had only one thing left to hold onto from the
past. Memories before the Storm were a precious commodity, but what
Yanigata had was something almost no one else wanted.
     Seki himself was frequently at odds with what Crystal Tokyo
was supposed to be. He dealt with the past, and most of those
dealings were black-market in nature. But what he had from the past
were things the future wished to use quite readily, and he was able
to make use of many others who wanted what he could offer.
     Yanigata had only a style of fighting.
     But the future had changed.
     As for himself, Seki reflected, he'd had the fortune of being
able to change with it, yet stay the same. All one had to
understand was where to look for a demand. His own resources left
him with many avenues to take. And that made him who he was now.
     Seki set the teacup back down, adjusting where he sat on the
floor cushion. The table the Navi sat upon was low to the ground,
making it at a perfect writing level should the writer in question
be seated on the floor. Such was customary of traditional Japanese
interior design.
     His blue eyes continued to read the data scrolling down the
screen, pausing it a few times to collate and compare notes. It
paid to read through the underground news links--though again, one
had to know where to dig first in order to find them.
     But even the underground links failed to give him the
information he so desired. "Damn," Seki muttered, turning his eyes
to something less frustrating. Namely the shadowy beauty of the
outdoor gardens. "They're like a bunch of ghosts."
     This Moonlight Sanctuary cult...they moved like winds unseen.
Here one moment and then gone before you could even realize where
they had been a heartbeat ago. Even he, a master of the underground
and armed with a web of informants, could do nothing as each and
every member slipped through his fingers. 
     This impenetrable veil of secrecy was perfect.
     That's what Seki found himself disliking.
     It hinted too much of smokescreens, conspiracies and ulterior
motives. But that same veil which revealed so much still served to
shut out everything else. Seki knew that unless he could break
through, he'd never be able to find out what the Moonlight
Sanctuary was hiding, and what its true intentions were.
     He forced himself to look back at the Navi's screen, and
caught sight of his reflection in it. "Keigo-san," he remarked to
the reflection. "You're getting too old to chase after ghosts just
to impress a young lady."
     A yawn escaped his mouth.
     It was time to try something less frustrating.
     His finger reached to turn off the Navi when a new window
appeared on the screen. An incoming transmission. Data packet from
the looks of it. A brief scan of the transmission turned up a
firewall of the nastiest breed: three separate encryptions, and the
last one bore a strange energy reading that looked like it was
magic-encoded.
     Royalty's eyes only.
     There was no possible way to hack into something like that
when a hacker lacked the use of magic.  
     Intrigued, Seki leaned forward and decided to meet the
challenge this enigmatic transmission had thrown down. His fingers
moved rapidly across the keys of his Navi, drawing upon the
resources at his disposal.
     According to the carrier, this signal came from halfway around
the world. Officially there was no one out there halfway around the
world; it was just the world and that was it. But he'd been
watching these sorts of transmissions for the past few years. They
came from various locations, always on different days of the month.
     The spacing was perfect, their cover flawless.
     Only because he knew what to look for did he find the origin
of the transmission. "Europe, somewhere," Seki remarked to himself,
working with the interface. He paused to take another sip of tea,
though his one hand continued to nimbly dance across the keyboard
in typing commands. 
     An hour passed.
     Its end was marked by the final encryption code, the one that
was said to be unbreakable by all other would-be hackers, being
cracked. Seki laughed to himself, knowing full well no one else
knew that he could break the encryption, or how he could accomplish
a seemingly impossible task.
     Luckily for him, these exploration transmissions held DNA
passcodes for all the Senshi, and not just the royal family. There
were naturally messages that could only opened by one or two Senshi
in particular; something about an organisation named Mugen was
limited to only Endymion and the Outers, but for the life of him,
Seki couldn't crack those.
     Yet for this transmission, once all the regular walls were
broken down, all Seki needed was a partial genetic code of a
Senshi. Any one would do. And it so happened he had a sample of
Minako's blood; she had cut it about two years ago during the
chaitsu. An innocent mistake, she assumed--but a deliberately
subtle action done on Seki's part.
     As a result, he could easily read any general messages for the
palace. Of course, he could also read Minako's mail. Even then he
only had managed to compile half a list of her connections. Most of
the people she had in her network she saw in person and never
talked with over encoded transmissions.
     With the firewalls broken apart, Seki sat back and savoured
the taste of victory by reading what the latest Edenstate survey
had to offer. This sort of information always proved rather helpful
in locating a number of the herbs, exotic animals, and venoms he
either kept for himself or sold on the underground markets.
     "So, we're in Ireland now, are we?" he remarked with an
approving nod. An eyebrow went up as he saw some of the pictures of
the landscape. "Nice scenery, but nothing I can really work with in
terms of acquisitions."
     He made a mental note to alert his friends on the outside
about progress in the formerly British Isles. No matter where it
came from in the world outside Crystal Tokyo, it all had to pass
through one station before being transported to Japan. In return
for the information he gave them about potential places to scout in
the Edenstate, the reward was usually a significant discount for
anything he ordered.
     There were rumours of a colony built somewhere on the
coastline of eastern China. Possibly where Hong Kong once stood. If
there was any truth to the rumours, the colony was made up of
individuals or families who felt they couldn't get along well with
Crystal Tokyo. Neo Queen Serenity's heart had gone out to them, and
when she realised she could not convince them to stay, she quietly
arranged as much as she could for their departure.
     Seki knew enough to say nothing when asked.
     Edgetown existed.
     Odds were in constructing Edgetown, Serenity and Endymion saw
the vision and need for scouting out other sites for future cities. 
     Edgetown was totally self-sufficient, but if they ever asked
for something (within reason), the palace more often than not sent
them whatever they needed. But that didn't mean Edgetown was unto
itself a different version of paradise. They were in fact one of
the main pipelines for black-market and underground shipments into
Crystal Tokyo. 
     He'd suggested that Yanigata try going to Edgetown for a few
months to get a taste of civilisation outside of Crystal Tokyo. But
the Yanigata had politely refused, because of possibly having to
train Shuichi as an apprentice. Now that it appeared Shuichi might
decline from becoming his prot‚g‚, Yanigata might very well become
a ronin and venture to Edgetown.
     Seki hoped the future wouldn't play out like that.
     He enjoyed the sensei's company immensely.
     Seki found his teacup empty when he moved to take another sip.
A quick command stored the files into his private memory banks
(separated from the city's numerous Datapools, lest Cyberus decide
to try and take a peek at some rather incriminating evidence), and
then Seki rose from the floor.
     He stretched his back out and headed for the kitchen.
     Soon it would be time to watch the fireworks.
     And even if he wasn't in the mood to join a street party, he
certainly wasn't about to miss the fireworks for anything the
world. Well...almost anything. Kaio Michiru could easily entice him
to miss any fireworks display.


     An hour or two into the masquerade found the dance floor alive
with gowns and suits, with masks and laughter, and something else
that couldn't be fully grasped. But whatever it was that worked
itself on the people, it was certainly potent. Everyone seemed to
be enjoying themselves. Crowds mingled together around the tables
to share life stories, while couples and complete strangers were
dancing together in the middle of the ballroom.
     The eclectic musical repertoire was proving to be immensely
popular, some couples not leaving the dance floor at all.
     Ami watched the twirling blur of bodies, if anything living
vicariously through them. Her own wandering movements through the
crowds went virtually unnoticed. She tended to be one of the less
visible Senshi, attributed to all the time she spent alone with
Cyberus. Thankfully that meant not too many people recognised her
in the dress.
     It was her chance to socialise without having the 'Sailor
Mercury' title put a damper on the conversation. Not to mention the
last thing she wanted to do tonight was sign autographs.
     "May I be so bold as to ask the favour of a dance, Milady?" a
voice from behind suddenly asked. "Just one for a man who has been
so blinded by your soldier's beauty."
     The brazenness of the request didn't surprise Ami at all. It
could have been that the young man standing just behind her didn't
recognise her as a Senshi. Yet this was not the case; he did know
who she was. That made her smile all the more as she turned around
to see blonde hair and blue eyes.
     "Lieutenant Kigai," she said formally.
     Yuto got a little flustered at that, his cheeks showing the
faintest signs of pink. "How can you act so cold and formal to a
guy like me?" he lamented.
     "You're on duty, aren't you?"
     The Mugen operative held his index finger in front of his
lips. "Shhh. I'm supposed to be on duty right now, but for you I'd
be willing to break protocol for a dance or two."
     His rakish smile hadn't changed since the last masquerade.
     Or for any of the past twenty masquerades since he'd first
smooth-talked her into dancing with him.
     Ami found his persistence endearing, especially how he was
always ever the gentleman around her. She wondered how poor Yuto
would react if he found he had competition with an evolving
computer intelligence.
     "I'm just glad it's not my turn to wear a mask," Yuto
admitted. Half of the Mugen were required to be masked, this being
a masquerade and all. Usually the costumed operatives stayed closer
to the dance floor. "On the other hand, it'll be easier for my co-
workers to spot me talking with you."
     He extended his hand, his eyes asking her to place her palm in
his. "Unless, that is, we decide to disappear amidst all the other
dancers."
     Ami couldn't help but laugh at his charming demeanour. She
delicately placed her hand atop Yuto's. A silent acceptance of his
request to a dance. 
     The music abruptly changed, and with it the style of dance.
     Ami looked to the ceiling as she listened to the upbeat
rhythm, and then laughed and groaned all at once. "Oh no."
     "What is it?" Yuto asked.
     "Tango."
     He didn't seem to fully understand the reference, but Ami led
the Mugen agent by the hand to the dance floor. "Trust me," she
reassured him. "You'll want to see this."
     And somewhere else amidst the crowd, Haruka turned to Michiru
with a coy smile. "They're playing our song."
     Many of the dancers had stepped back to form a ring of
spectators around those who could effectively dance the tango. The
two unrecognised Outer Senshi made their way through the crowd and
onto the dance floor, immediately launching into their own
passionate rendition of the dance.
     Very quickly they became the only dancers in the circle.
     The dethorned rose tucked into Haruka's jacket was removed,
set in between Michiru's teeth. They danced, spun, bent over, and
Haruka tore the rose away from Michiru with her own teeth. Michiru
never failed to raise one of her legs and slide her thighs along
Haruka's pants. The slit in her dress gave a number of males quite
the show.
     Haruka grabbed hold of Michiru's waist, and pulled her lover
and dance partner across the floor. Her one leg still raised,
Michiru held on and let Haruka take control.
     A final spin and forceful pull brought Michiru hard against
Haruka's chest. The final note sounded as they gasped for air,
looking into each other's eyes with a fierce excitement. The
applause for their performance was resounding. The cheers
deafening.
     Clasping each other's hands, Haruka and Michiru bowed before
exiting through the thinnest part of the circle of spectators. They
found Sakura among them. To say she was left breathless was an
understatement as she tried to fumble for words to express her awe. 
     "I...um...wow."
     Haruka smiled warmly at the mechanic. "It's good to see you
again, Sakura."
     Sakura's eyes widened. "You remember me?"
     Haruka nodded. She then realised she had never introduced
herself to Sakura. "By the way, I'm Haruka. And you look very
beautiful in that dress."
     Sakura blushed at the attention as she tipped her head
downwards and appraised the gown she wore. But her face mirrored
concern when she saw Michiru. "You dance wonderfully, Miss...?"
     "Michiru," the aqua-haired woman replied, shaking Sakura's
hand.
     "You must be thrilled to have a boyfriend who can dance like
Haruka can," Sakura continued, trying not to look so crestfallen.
It didn't surprise her that a guy like Haruka would be taken, but
she had hoped to at least have a chance.
     "Actually, I'm just a dance partner," Michiru cut in, flashing
Haruka a devilish grin.
     Sakura looked very surprised.
     Haruka even moreso.
     "Oh," Sakura said, casting a glance over to the dance floor as
it filled back up with dancers. "From the way you two danced, I
would have thought you were a couple."
     Michiru chuckled and demurred. "Perish the thought. Haruka and
I just work together."
     Haruka shot her lover another incredulous expression, trying
to both stop herself from laughing and keep Sakura from noticing.
She was being set up; Michiru was enjoying this game, and of course
she had no qualms about playing along.
     "So tell me about yourself," Haruka drawled, looking at
Sakura.
     Sakura shrank a little, looking from one woman to the other.
     "How about I find some champagne for the three of us," Michiru
suggested, briefly giving her partner a knowing look.
     Haruka nodded in acknowledgement. "Yes, why don't you do
that."
     Michiru sauntered off, thusly making her presence and inviting
figure more than known to a number of the men around her. Haruka
had to smirk at how easy it was for Michiru to manipulate anyone,
even on a playful basis.
     "I'm sorry for what I said," Sakura said once Michiru was out
of earshot, trying to apologise a second time. "I thought you were-
-"
     Haruka cut her off. "It's in the past, and doesn't matter
anymore." She motioned for them to walk over to one of the
corridors that would lead them into the courtyards. It was
surprising at how cool the night air was as it rushed to greet
them, as they stepped out from beneath the crystal archway.
     Sakura wanted to say something. Anything. Just to start a
conversation--but this hardly seemed the place
     "I didn't expect to see you so soon again," Haruka said. "This
makes for a pleasant surprise."
     Sakura felt her cheeks burn again, and shyly studied the
cobblestone beneath their feet. This dress made her feel so self-
conscious; it was too loose and open, a far cry from the coveralls
she was perhaps much too used to wearing. This entire situation was
something she'd never experienced before. Mechanics Guild affairs
were never this elaborate...or this upperclass.
     "This is awkward for you, isn't it?" Haruka said.
     Sakura's face flushed even more. "Is it that obvious?"
     "You don't strike me as the type of woman who's used to this
sort of social event." A warm smile appeared on the tall sandy-
blonde's face. "Neither am I, to a large extent." 
     She motioned for Sakura to take a seat at a vacant patio
table. Where they sat offered them a view of the sprawling lake and
dense clusters of trees that laid in behind the palace. This was
where a number of the Senshi went boating in privacy--herself
included.
     Sakura strained her neck to see over the railing from her
chair, overwhelmed by the scenic beauty of the waves catching the
moonlight. Out here the music was noticeably quiet, and even the
scattered conversations of the people around them never seemed to
rise above a chorus of constant whispers.
     "Let's change the subject to something we both prefer over
large formal parties," Haruka offered. "You ever figure out the
problem with that gearbox?"
     Sakura found herself smiling, the nervous knot in her stomach
beginning to loosen. It became comfortable to sit at the patio
table across from Haruka and talk shop. Very quickly she forgot
about the rest of the Moonlight Masquerade.


     "Sakura?"
     The way Enishi said it with such surprise caused a fellow
Mugen operative to forget about giving her patrol report for a
moment. "Who?" she asked.
     Enishi nodded towards a young woman at the patio table with
Haruka. "She's my mechanic. Fixed my motorcycle a few weeks back;
something about a sticking gearbox. Purrs like a kitten now."
     He had been busy making the rounds with each Mugen agent to
get a progress report. Thus far, as was expected, the masquerade
was pretty quiet and uneventful--by their definition of the word,
anyways. The last one on the contact list was Aki.
     But now their report had gotten unexpectedly side-tracked.
     "I didn't know she knew the Outers," Aki remarked, her long,
dark hair shimmering like ice in the moonlight.
     "I don't think she knows who they are."
     Aki's lips curled into a smile. "A thousand yen says she
thinks Haruka is a guy."
     "She wouldn't be the first," Enishi agreed, turning to look
elsewhere. "Let her have her fun tonight. We're on duty, remember?"
     Aki waved it aside. "You're the one who pointed her out, my
friend. Don't try to pin this on me. I'll start working my way up
the various balcony levels. Where can I find you?"
     "Somewhere out here in the back courtyards for the next twenty
minutes. Keep your eyes open."
     "We Mugen always do."


     Luna was lying on her chest, using her arms as a pillow for
her head. The quiet firelight danced across her human form, naked
amidst a wanton tumble of sheets. Artemis had one knee on either
side of her, expert fingers kneading her muscles and working to
give her a memorable body massage. Every now and again his long
silver hair would brush along her skin, sending a delicious shiver
down her spine.
     "This feels exquisite," she purred. "I'm glad you talked me
out of attending tonight's masquerade."
     "There will be others in the centuries to come," Artemis
replied, still heavily focused on rubbing her shoulder blades. "And
we've been to enough in the past already."
     They could hear an almost inaudible din of the music from the
ballroom, which in a peculiar way added to the mood. This was one
of only a few quiet moments between them, and the two Maus were
doing everything they could to enjoy it.
     It was hard to find peace and quiet.
     Perhaps because they were more advisors and thusly overlooked
by the general and adoring public, they were able to sneak away
from their public duties more easily than any of the Senshi could.
     Artemis let his eyes trace the curves of her body, the
flickering glow from the multitude of candles surrounding their bed
making her look like an angel.
     "You are so beautiful," he whispered into her ear.
     Luna smiled as she heard his voice so close, and slowly rolled
onto her back, Artemis still straddling her. Her fingers combed
through his hair. "You're not too bad yourself."
     He laughed at that. "'Not too bad'?"
     "There's always room for improvement, Artemis."
     "Tease."
     "Oh, are you tired of being teased?" she inquired with a hint
of playful innuendo.
     Artemis trailed his fingertips along her sides, making her
shiver again. "I thought I was the one doing all the teasing so
far."
     She held out her arms invitingly, enticing him to come
forward. Her curling tresses of long indigo hair flowed around her
body. "Well then, you've done such a good job so far, why stop
now?" 
     Artemis lowered his head. Let himself be drawn towards her
breasts as she guided him down with her palms on his cheeks. He
licked and sucked at her nipples, enjoying the sounds of her
pleasured moaning.
     The dimness of the world around them faded away to oblivion.
And they made love together, completely ignorant of the
masquerade's existence.


     The musicians changed, from ballroom orchestra to an upbeat
techno mix. This had been pre-planned by Minako: the lights in the
grand hall lowered for a creation of darker ambience. Smaller
bursts of rainbow colours flashed across the dance floor. It would
remain so for about fifteen minutes before the music and mood
changed again. The revellers were thrilled in drinking up the
euphoria. A congregation of gowns and masks and souls had assembled
into the centre of the grand ballroom to lose themselves behind
their facades. Many of those who went to dance were couples who had
arrived together. Even more were couples who had only just met.
     He was one such person: dancing with a woman he'd just met.
She'd pulled him onto the floor and was now dancing just a few
inches away from him. Arms over her head, hips swaying
hypnotically, eyes closed, long hair of shimmering silver draped
over her back taking on a life of its own. Every note seemed to
trigger a sensual arousal in her.
     He certainly wasn't complaining.
     Hair once brown was now dyed black, and cut short--and it
actually looked good on him. He had forgone the usual tuxedo that
most other guys would have worn. That wasn't his style. His suit
was a tight-fitting black shirt and black dress pants. His mask was
a pair of tinted, coin-sized lenses.
     And not surprisingly, no one thought anything of his wardrobe.
He was, in fact, more moderately dressed than some of the
outrageous masqueraders here.
     He kept himself close to this stranger dancing before him.
Letting his movements start to echo hers. Push forward where she
pulled back. She was more than familiar with the motions to go with
such music. Maybe she'd attended last night's pre-masquerade rave.
     Someone else abruptly caught his eye.
     Amidst the blur of colours and electronic symphony, a man
without a mask was cutting his way through the crowd. Not stalking
as if there were a target to accost. But there was something he was
waiting for, and that was his reason for being here. In not, he
would be gone. It wasn't often that someone came to the masquerade
and didn't enjoy themselves.
     So Crystal Tokyo had lions in winter after all.
     His eye caught sight of a purple orchid on the lapel of the
man's jacket. That only clinched what he had suspected: this man
was his contact. Best to meet before they lost track of each other
in this ever-shifting crowd. He moved to pull away but she forbade
him to. 
     "Keep dancing with me," she purred, her fingers wrapping
around the base of his neck. Enticing to draw closer to her crimson
lips.
     He smiled and with deliberate slowness leaned forward to kiss
her forehead. "Save your lips for another dance," he murmured in
her ear to be heard through the pounding bass. "I'll be back in
five minutes."
     "Hai." Her tongue snaked out and licked the side of his neck.
"I'm Melissa."
     He doubted they'd be leaving this masquerade alone. Sailor
Venus had been right: some kind of magic was weaving its
enchantment tonight. Who was he to pass up on its offer? And so he
gave his own name in return. "Yuichiro," he whispered to her.
     As he'd been taught, he faded into the crowd without any
disruption. Without a trace. The man with the orchid was taking his
time moving between the laughing guests, the standing spectators
and the romantic lovers. He was smart to know that walking any
faster would make him the centre of unwanted attention.
     Yuichiro made himself as unnoticed as possible. Weaving
different routes but following in the stranger's general direction.
And then he suddenly lost the man with the orchid. That surprised
him. He quickly cut through...only to find someone waiting for him.
     The man with the orchid was standing at one of the raised
round-tables. A few forgotten glasses of liquid stood between them
on the crystal tabletop. "Any particular reason you're following
me?" he inquired darkly.
     His attitude only made Yuichiro even more convinced. "Yanigata
Kunio?" he inquired, removing his shades.
     The stranger's eyes registered momentary surprise, then
realisation. "You're my contact."
     Yuichiro nodded. "I was told to be watching for someone
wearing a purple orchid on their jacket." And with a wry smirk he
added, "Seki also told me to find the only person who didn't look
like he was having fun. It wasn't too hard to find you."
     He slid forward a package the size of a paperback book,
wrapped in an opaque, silver-coloured paper. It resembled a lot of
those small presents that were circulating through the crowd;
slipping out with whatever was inside would be a childishly simple
task.
     "This is the package," Yuichiro said. "And tell Keigo-san that
a Mister Smith has enjoyed his patronage once again."
     Yanigata grunted an acknowledgement. He discreetly reached out
and placed his hand over the item before slowly sliding it back to
himself. The package (which was heavier than he'd expected) was
then tucked into an inner jacket pocket.
     "Any idea what's in that?" he asked.
     "You're definitely new to this," Yuichiro remarked in
amusement. "It's not as cloak and dagger as you might think--but we
do have a safeguard policy: no questions. The less anyone,
especially a courier, knows then the safer they are if the police
come calling."
     Yanigata glanced out to the dance floor. Everything was moving
in a blur of rainbows, laughter and digital instruments flooding
his ears. All foreign noises. So different from the clatter of
wooden or metallic weapons in his dojo. "So you don't know."
     "It's not my place to ask."
     The sensei was quiet for a moment. And then said, "You make a
good courier."
     Yuichiro smirked. "That's just one of my jobs. You'd be
surprised how much underground there really is in this city." He
gave Yanigata a quick physical appraisal. "You'd be quite the asset
to the underground too. Just make sure you get the right
connections when you start. Then again you have Seki. That alone
guarantees your success."
     The two paused and cast a sideways glance at a man in black
who was obviously patrolling this part of the ballroom. The guard
was merely scanning; he had enough distractions to worry about. A
harmless glance in their direction and the potential danger was
gone.
     "I guess this is 'sayonara'," Yuichiro remarked, taking a step
back. "I have a young lady waiting for me on the dance floor."
     Yanigata rolled his eyes in obvious distaste.
     Yuichiro didn't take insult to it. "To each their own, Kunio-
san," he stated. "Enjoy that while you can: it's the only reason
guys like us still exist in a place like Crystal Tokyo."
     And then Yuichiro walked away, filtering into the crowd. At
one point in time he stopped and slowly turned his head as a gut-
churning sense of deja vu resonated on the verge of his
consciousness. Eyes focused on a young woman with long black hair
and a stunning crimson dress.
     "Do I know you?" he asked.
     She only stared at him in stunned disbelief, her eyes wide. He
never noticed her trembling hands, or that she somehow knew his
name and whispered it in a voice no one else could have heard.
     Recognition took hold. "Oh, my apologies, Sailor Mars," he
said, formally bowing. "I'm not used to seeing you in something
other than a sailor fuku. But you look stunning never the less."
     She managed a weak smile, eyes brimming with tears.
     Yuichiro sensed the awkwardness of their encounter. He nodded
to her and then departed, vanishing somewhere into the dancing
forms of the masqueraders.
     Rei stood and stared at where she had last seen him. Then she
turned and tried to leave the ballroom as quietly as she could, so
no one would see the tears falling down her cheeks.


     Much to her chagrin, Asahina knew it was somewhat her fault
when she bumped into someone. The ballroom was filled with ever-
moving people and ever-changing whims. She had found herself caught
up in taking in every last detail of this grand celebration--and
had taken two steps backwards without really looking.
     A hand reached out and caught her before she would have
tripped on her high heels and toppled down.
     "Arigato," Asahina said, thankful to have been saved from
potential embarrassment. She turned around to see the other person,
and hoped she hadn't knocked them over.
     Much to Asahina's surprise, the girl she had run into was the
one who had stopped her from falling. Asahina's eyes widened as she
saw who it was, and she could have sworn that her heart skipped a
beat.     
     "Daijobu?" Minako asked.
     Mutely Asahina nodded. 
     Her first instinct was to bow down, but her place in the
Moonlight Sanctuary made her mindful to hold back. She couldn't put
them all at risk, not when the honour of being the next Chosen One
was hers. Their persecutors were relentless, and Asahina refused to
be the one to let them get a foot in the door.    And so she
restrained herself, excited never the less.
     "I'm sorry, that was my fault," Minako apologised. "I got a
little carried away with the jazz music." She flashed Asahina an
incredibly disarming smile. "I guess I should take my dancing a
little closer to the dance floor, ne?"
     Asahina was still rooted in surprise.
     "Um...hello?" Minako ventured. Usually she didn't receive such
a lack of response.
     "I...I'm sorry," Asahina said, finding her voice again. She
added quietly, "It's just that I've never been this close to a
Senshi before."
     Minako's eyes widened in alarm and she immediately shhh'ed
Asahina, quickly moving them both to another area. "Try not to say
that so loud; I'm trying not to be noticed. Call me Minako
instead."
     While it made sense in Asahina's mind, she still wondered at
how the most prolific of the sailor soldiers could try to achieve
that. Sailor Venus had even led the opening ceremony for tonight's
masquerade too. It was then that Asahina noted the absence of the
kimono.
     "You changed," she remarked with some degree of unrestrained
surprise.
     Minako laughed, turning a full 360 degrees to allow Asahina a
complete look at her new outfit: a dazzling silver top, and a set
of dark but elegant dress slacks. "The kimono may look beautiful,
but I don't recommend it if you actually want to get down and dance
on a night like this."
     "I know what you mean." Asahina lifted up her dress to reveal
her shoes. "These high heels are lethal to walk in."
     The jazz session came to its end with a rousing trumpet solo.
During the brief interim, Minako led Asahina over towards the
buffet tables. "I haven't eaten all night; been spending most of it
dancing," she explained amidst wolfing down some of the desserts.
     Asahina couldn't keep herself from giggling. Here she was,
close to the legendary Sailor Venus, and they were acting like they
were old college roommates as opposed to soldier and citizen. All
the glorified tales and inspiring paintings melted away with only
one of Minako's honest smiles. But although she didn't openly voice
it, Asahina liked this vivacious, down-to-earth Venus.
     It was as if the Senshi weren't the distanced soldiers placed
upon unreachable pedestals. For all their powers, despite all their
accomplishments, they were still just as human as she was. And
because of that Asahina could identify so readily with the blonde
woman standing before her.
     Everything became so clear to Asahina in that moment, and she
treasured the encounter all the more. This was what the sacrifice
of her life would be protecting: the life of the city, and the
chance for the Senshi to be a part of it as people, and not merely
its guardians.
     They talked through the next set of songs. Asahina shared some
of her stories from the hospital, while Minako talked about life in
the palace and what the others did. When hearing about Cyberus,
Asahina was overcome with an incredible surge of curiosity. To be
able work with something as advanced as that, even just for a few
minutes....
     A new band started up, and it echoed of Crystal Tokyo's newest
pop music. As she listened to the first few notes of the band's
first song, a devilish gleam appeared in Minako's eyes.
     "Did you want to dance?" she asked.
     Asahina was dumbfounded. "Me? With you?"
     Minako nodded. "Just toss your shoes on a table and come on
out. I can lead if needs be." She saw the hint of reservation in
Asahina's face. "Don't worry; I won't bite. Come on."
     Before Asahina could register what was happening, or even
protest to it, she found herself whisked onto the dance floor, led
by someone she now thought of as Minako and not Sailor Venus. No
one seemed to care that they danced together. A number of impromptu
groups had already formed from single people just wanting to enjoy
themselves. For ten minutes Asahina found herself swinging her
arms, hips and legs across from Minako.
     And Minako was a frighteningly good dancer, even when it
looked like she was making each move up as she went along. When the
session ended, a tired but thoroughly pleased Minako admitted the
need to take a break and find something to drink.
     "It was good to meet you," she said, shaking Asahina's hand.
"You're a terrific dancer."
     Breathless from the dancing, Asahina nodded. "And you're just
incredible."
     Minako gave her new-found friend a wink before parting. "Comes
from sneaking into all the midnight raves. Ja!"
     Asahina seemed to float away from the dance floor, lost in her
own cloud of smiles and bliss.
     Minako found herself admiring the woman's tact; she obviously
was enamoured with the Senshi, but had acted with incredible
restraint when faced with talking to one. At first Minako had
wondered if she was connected to a Serenity church, but they always
acted so formal all the time. But Asahina had been different. And
it was a good kind of different. 
     Hopefully, over time, most other citizens would be as
respectfully casual with her as Asahina had been.


     Someone else found reason to disagree with Minako.
     Yanigata's eyes followed Asahina as she collected her shoes
and still blissfully floated over to the buffet tables. Once he
gauged her general direction, he discreetly stepped away from his
table, picked up his champagne glass and followed her.
     He knew Minako well enough, having seen her dressed casually
once before when she inquired in person about his written decline
from the masquerade. Even with the dress and hair change his eyes
were able to pick her out with ease.
     But that other girl, the one with the blue dress and black
hair...something in Yanigata's gut churned when he had first caught
sight of her dancing with Minako. The look in her eyes indicated
she knew exactly who Minako was. And there was something else.
     An eerie feeling Yanigata couldn't shake the more he watched
her. With Seki having warned him about this Moonlight Sanctuary
group, he was starting to wonder if he hadn't found a member. The
odds were completely against the woman in blue being a member. But
at least it gave him something to do for the remainder of the
evening.


     With the end of the music, no new band, singer or orchestra
took to the stage. The lights dimmed enough to grab the
masqueraders' attention. The taiko drums that had christened the
start of the Moonlight Masquerade returned with their fierce
rhythms to herald the much-anticipated entrance of the masquerade's
primary hosts.
     Spotlights trained upon the stage to reveal Makoto standing
there in her emerald dress. The smile on her face was strained from
what she was about to say. From the duty she was about to assume
responsibility of.
     "The king and queen of Crystal Tokyo," she stated, her voice
echoing across the expanse of the ballroom. "Lord Endymion, and Neo
Queen Serenity."
     Arm in arm they emerged from an obscure shadow behind Makoto,
smiling and waving politely to the people. Anything they might have
tried to say was drowned out by the thunderous applause and
cheering they received.
     Endymion looked out to the sea of facades, lights dancing
across the costumed faces of virtually every soul he laid eyes on.
He wore his own eyemask and lavender tuxedo. A gentleman's cane
clutched in one hand, he turned and smiled to his wife.
     Neo Queen Serenity was beaming at the sight of her subjects
enjoying themselves. Long blonde hair flowed down to contrast with
her silken lace gown.
     "Are you ready, my love?" he asked quietly.
     She nodded, and they began to descend down the front steps of
the dais. The applause slowly but noticeably faded, disappearing
from the front of the ballroom and working its way back, as the
revellers closest to the stage ceased clapping. Reverently they
parted to make a path for the royal family, either kneeling or
bowing as the king and queen passed them by.
     For a time the only sounds heard were the taiko drums as the
two made their way across the ballroom. But a new band took to the
stage and started to recapture the attention of those present.
Gradually the mood lightened to the way it had once been. The
people never fully forgot that the royal family was now in the
ballroom. But the focus had changed, the king and queen happy to
slip back and let the celebration continue.
     After their grand entrance, Endymion and Serenity had little
to worry about that night. Most people showed them a great deal of
respect and kept their distance, knowing how much Serenity and
Endymion wanted to enjoy tonight as much as everyone else. Besides,
the masqueraders had enough distractions to keep them busy. That
and the fact that Sailor Jupiter, despite being in a dress, had a
way of making her presence more than known without actually doing
anything.
     Over the course of the night, only two devout Serenity
worshippers would prostrate themselves reverently before the queen.
There was no real harm done, and both had not argued when Makoto
quickly and quietly led them to another part of the ballroom. This
sort of thing was to be expected--but that still didn't stop Neo
Queen Serenity from blushing in embarrassment when the incidents
arose.
     "My dear," Endymion quietly teased her as the night wore on.
"Is there any particular reason you're staying close to the buffet
tables tonight?"
     Neo Queen Serenity blushed a little.
     He chuckled and then escorted her over to the nearest table.
"Eat to your heart's content. We're paying the caterers, after
all."
     After seeing Makoto's eyes give the desserts a more than mere
passing glance, he waved her over to join them as well. Serenity
was busy sampling some of the strawberries, alternating between
dipping each individual one in chocolate or whipped cream.
     Endymion managed to steal a strawberry from her. She pouted a
little until she saw him offer it to Makoto. "Better grab them
while you can," he said. "Serenity will clean out the entire bowl
at this rate."
     Surprised, Makoto wavered in making a decision. Her eyes
darted around to some of the scattered onlookers.
     "Just because you're on duty doesn't mean you can't enjoy
yourself, Mako-chan," Serenity said, urging her on. "It doesn't
make you any less my guardian if you smile and join in."
     Makoto considered her options. Then willingly lowered the
walls of duty. After that it was hard to identify her with the
person she'd been five minutes prior. The effort the queen made in
prying a Senshi out from her shell seemed childishly simple. Makoto
and Serenity excitedly talked about the foods and what ingredients
had gone into them, sharing samples with each other.
     A few daring masqueraders stepped forward and joined in,
offering their own ideas on the food and what to try next.
     Endymion had to stand back as Makoto playfully wiped a
fingertip of whipped cream onto Serenity's nose. The surprised look
on the queen's face was priceless; he wished he'd smuggled a
digicam in his tuxedo. Fortunately, a few of the people there at
the buffet table took some pictures to capture the event in
immortality.
     "Usagi-chan," he laughed, shaking his head. In that moment,
she reminded him so much of the odango atama he'd fallen in love
with so long ago. He moved to sweep her up in an unexpected kiss.
     And then he froze.
     Dark blue eyes glimpsed a face moving through the crowd. A
young man with short black hair, and a lithe young woman in his
embrace. 
     Yuichiro.
     Endymion felt a chill involuntarily run down his spine. Did
Rei knew Yuichiro was here? He feared what might become should the
two encounter each other. And concern was more directed towards
Rei; she was the only one of the two who remembered the history
between her and Yuichiro.
     Momentary fear seized him, memories of a past where he and
Usagi had been torn apart returning to haunt him. Casually Endymion
moved forward and then stole Serenity away from Makoto and the
others, bending her back and then tenderly kissing her. Her arms
quickly reached up around his shoulders, her lips returning the
favour.
     An awed murmur ran through the nearby crowd, a few people
applauding.
     Endymion brought her back up.
     "What was that for?" she asked.
     "Sometimes reason escapes my desire to kiss you," he whispered
in reply. 
     The moment was one he refused to destroy moments later with a
misplaced question or exit. And though he could feel his stomach
knot itself progressively tighter, he smiled and bided his time.
Five minutes passed. And the five into ten. By that time the urge
to check on Rei had consumed any other thoughts; he wouldn't be
able to enjoy any more of the masquerade unless he knew for certain
first.
     "My love, do you know where Rei is?"
     His tone was perhaps a little darker than he should have
allowed it to be.
     She shook her head, a look of worry working its way into her
expression. Serenity's eyes were pleading with him to explain it,
to tell her what he knew. But he couldn't bring himself to tell her
here. Later, when the truth wouldn't kill the euphoria and joy she
was experiencing. 
     "I'll be back soon, I promise," he reassured her quietly,
kissing the base of her neck. "There's someone I need to check on
first."
     "I'll be waiting for you," she said as he turned and left as
discreetly as he could.
     Endymion first made his way over to Makoto and asked if she
knew Rei's whereabouts. He turned up a negative response there too,
and for some reason that made him worry all the more. The last
thing he wanted was to further aggravate Rei and drive her away.
This called for his best diplomacy.
     Yuichiro was a melancholy subject for her. Rei's silence on
the matter only served to confirm rather than deny it. And thusly
he had told not her nor anyone else (save for Haruka and Michiru)
that he had recruited Yuichiro into the Mugen. The young man had
lost his past and left the temple. But then the daimon incident had
occurred; for a second time Yuichiro found his pure heart being
viciously extracted.
     The event had proven too traumatic for him to handle. Knowing
the consequences of his request, he still asked to leave the Mugen.
His mind had been wiped clean. Yuichiro was returned to a state
that he had only known in the aftermath of the Silence. Out of
sympathy for a friend, Endymion had ensured Yuichiro's name would
not be changed.
      And so Yuichiro had awoken one morning with no recollection
of who he was. Awaking inside a well-off bachelor's apartment,
apparently a musician who played the electric guitar.
     Trying to subtly walk through the crowds proved a useless
attempt. Endymion's royal robes betrayed his identity to everyone.
Heads turned and continued to watch him even after he had moved
past. Some of the odd smiles and giggles he got from the younger
women unnerved him, to say the least.
     He moved into the shadows. King Endymion was momentarily
swallowed up, lost from sight for but a fraction of a heartbeat.
And out from those same shadows emerged a different Endymion. This
one wore the darkened suit not unlike that of Tuxedo Kamen. Eyes of
ocean blue were left unhidden from behind a mask, and his hat was
auspiciously absent.
     Yet now it was harder for people to realize who he was as he
moved past. The last thing he wanted to do was garner unwanted
attention if he met Rei in a crowded part of the ballroom--provided
she hadn't already been accosted by fans who recognised her.
     For a brief moment he stopped moving, and closed his eyes.
Focused his mind. And somewhere on the edge of consciousness he
could sense every one of the Senshi. Vague empathic projections.
Laughter. Enjoyment. And then suddenly a tearful silence that
caused his gut to twist.
     Rei was gone from the ballroom, hiding beyond the borders
where only the Senshi were allowed. But Endymion felt her none the
less. He knew where she was. And realised that he was already too
late.


     The queen watched her husband slip away through the crowd,
melting amidst the colourful masks and personas. For a fleeting
moment she was tempted to chase after him. But she chided herself
for being so selfish. Endymion was never the type to break a
promise, or break her heart.
     When he returned, she would let him explain.
     For now she had to trust in him.
     The ballroom was again filled with momentary silence as the
musicians changed. Then the haunting notes of a piano resounded
across the archways and columns. It was unlike anything the
masqueraders has heard, shattering any mood that might have been
already created or desired. The music defied being left alone and
ignored. It called everyone to attention.
     Serenity was among the first to take notice. The rest followed
quickly. Dancers slowed their pace, and then stopped altogether.
Couples engaged in conversation found their voices drifting away
into silence. People watching the lake found their gazes being torn
away, drawn towards the performer atop the stage.
     Nagisa Shiatori.
     The fourteen year-old girl remained oblivious to a crowd. She
would only see the piano with her grey eyes, be possessed by a
melody that would refuse to leave her mind unless she indulged
those demon-like memories to the furthest extremity.
     Bangs of moss green hair clung to the sweat on her face. Her
fingers danced a melody only she knew. It would be a work she would
never write down, only play. Sometimes for but a few moments. Other
pieces she would never cease playing over and over for days. 
     Not even Serenity knew what to expect from the Newtype savant
tonight. But what she now heard far exceeded any possible
expectation she might have once had. She could only hope that
Nagisa would somehow remember this night; there wouldn't be many
left.
     The quieter, darker side of Newtypes was that none lived to
see Ascension. Even a Newtype in prime physical condition would
just stop breathing one night in their sleep. Longevity was never
an option. No one could explain it, and the Silver Crystal was
powerless to intervene. The people of Crystal Tokyo never really
seemed to notice that prolific Newtypes disappeared at a certain
age. If they did note otherwise, they said nothing about it.
     The truth that death still prowled was an unpleasant one.
     Yet Nagisa would be one of the few who never cared about
death. Only the music mattered. The young girl continued to play,
her pace quickening. Her expression was frighteningly blank and
passive, though her entire body jerked with each frantic movement.
She was racing to purge herself of the only thing that mattered to
her in life.
     The only thing that possessed clarity beyond clarity.
     A joy from sadness.
     A pleasure from pain.
     And more than anything, a taste of two lives bound into one.
     It was slowly, gradually, noticeably building towards a
climax. The black dress Nagisa wore rippled in waves of darkness.
It made her all the more alluring and beautiful. And yet she didn't
care about it as her fingers slammed down in a successive order
only she knew.
     Something echoed within the piano's notes. And it sounded like
the haunting ghosts of a choir. Serenity found a chill running down
her spine, frightened and excited all at once. She was getting
caught up in something, a thrill of the unknown that she might have
once known but now forgotten.
     But there was something else.
     Something else....
     Abruptly Nagisa ceased to play. She sat there, leaned over the
piano, eyes vacant as she stared down at the black and white keys.
Her breaths came out in slow, laboured pants for air. Her energy
had been spent, and her passion had abated.
     The demons left.
     Nagisa then leaned back on the piano bench, almost collapsing.
Her own rite of purification was complete. The young Newtype would
not be performing any more tonight.
     Her mother and father, eloquently dressed, quietly but quickly
joined her on the stage. From a distance one could see their mouths
move. They were asking their daughter if she was all right. Much to
their surprise, Nagisa rose from the stool and walked away from the
piano.
     A second glance back at the instrument was never made.
     Minutes passed before someone dared to make a noise. Then
someone began to put their hands together and clap. Another joined
in. And then another. Soon enough, the ballroom was alive in
applause. There were no cheers; no one was entirely sure of what
they had felt as the piano solo was played. 
     For those who'd lived through the Storm, something within each
note had called to them. The others who'd been born since could
only sense the presence of a past they never knew.
     The mood lightened significantly afterwards.
     A toned-down but soulful repertoire began as a new band took
to the stage and began to play. One by one the masqueraders
returned to the celebration which let them forget everything but
the moment of 'here and now.'
     Serenity never did turn back to the buffet tables, a lingering
apparition staying by her side. Her own interests and desire to
help the Newtypes had left her with a wide range of experiences, of
samples and glimpses into the mind of these children. Each one had
their own signature style, but together possessed a strange harmony
in echoing the past.
     But Nagisa's piece held something else.
     Changes.
     Dark changes.
     A part of Serenity feared a subtle warning, of a danger
perhaps not even Nagisa herself was aware of. The queen was so lost
in such thoughts that she did not sense someone sauntering up to
her. The result was a stifled cry of surprise when a young man
suddenly appeared in her vision.
     "Komban wa, your Highness," he said pleasantly, unfazed by her
reaction. A few loose and uncooperative strands of faded copper
hair were pushed behind his ears. "I see you're thrilled to see me,
as always."
     Somewhat flustered, she regained her composure. "Gomen, Asaba.
You startled me, that's all."
     "I do see to have that effect on people," he remarked with a
nonchalantly shrug. "Especially people I walk up to while I'm right
in front of them."
     Asaba laughed upon seeing her cheeks go pink.
     "Hey, nothing to worry about, Highness. I'm sure you've got
enough things to think about as it is. And odds are hosting this
masquerade isn't one of the top concerns."
     Makoto instantly recognised him and therefore hadn't moved to
intercept him.
     Asaba flashed her a disarming smile and offered her a glass
filled with champagne. As a survey explorer of the Edenstate, Asaba
had had enough private contact with them in the past to not feel
intimidated by walking right up to Serenity and start talking as if
they'd known each other for years. 
     In fact he had known her and Endymion for years, sine Asaba
was among the very first explorers sent out.
     Asaba raised his own champagne glass and surveyed the parades
of masked revellers. "This is more of a christening to my next
voyage," he remarked. He paused momentarily to take a sip. "I leave
with the next outbound transport in six hours. And I must say this
is a hell of a send-off."
     Serenity cautiously glanced around them, making sure no one
was in earshot. Right now the safest thing was to keep the survey
teams active, but their explorations quiet. Fortunately, no one
seemed to want to come near her--more than likely because they were
assuming Asaba was a high government official of some kind,
speaking to her of important business.
     The intimidation factor again.
     "Forgive my forgetfulness," she apologised, though not in a
formal way. Asaba was a very informal man who seemed to take
virtually everything in stride. "Where will you be going?"
     "I'll be hitting China, following the Yangtze River for about
two months." Asaba downed the rest of his champagne before asking,
"How's good ol' Seishiro doing?"
     "I'm not really sure," Serenity sighed with a helpless shrug.
"According to his transmissions, he's loving his time abroad. Just
like everyone else we've sent out. I wish we could visit them on
location once in a while--"
     "But your duties keep you here," Asaba finished for her. "I
sympathise with you, Serenity, I really do. You and Endymion have
to stay back on the sidelines while we explorers get to see the
world."
     The queen's expression was unreadable in that moment. "Sending
people like you out has its own rewards for Endymion and I," she
answered.
     She recalled her meeting with Otomo, and a sly smile made its
way onto her face. "Ne, Asaba, would you be willing to take on a
student in the near future?"
     "Funny you should mention that," he remarked. "I met a man in
the line earlier tonight who seems more inclined to something other
than life in the crystal city. Intense gaze, not much for
conversation. Never caught his name though, but if I see him I'll
try to point him out."
     They talked for a few minutes more, and Asaba didn't object in
the slightest to the possibility of taking on a prot‚g‚. After
assuring Serenity that they could talk specifics once he returned
in two months, Asaba excused himself. Not surprisingly, the next
person he drifted to was an attractive young lady.
     Serenity rejoined with Makoto, checking the time.
     Another five minutes until midnight.
     The fireworks would be commencing soon.
     And for the first time she would not be watching them
alongside the man she loved. A pang of sadness touched her heart,
unaccustomed to such an event. For a moment it felt foreboding,
like an omen. But she quieted the doubts and fears, determined to
enjoy herself. She trusted Endymion just as much as she trusted her
friends.
     The worry in his voice when he'd asked about Rei had betrayed
the purity of his motives. That in turn had given her reason to
worry. Though not for him, but for Rei. Endymion would tell her
later why he had left, of what had happened.
     With the end of the music for a while, people began to gather
in excited clusters. The anticipation of the midnight hour became
almost tangible amidst their anxious whispers.
     She turned to the tall brunette.
     "Mako-chan, would you do me the honour of watching the
fireworks with me?"
     Makoto smiled and nodded, slipping her arm around Serenity's
waist. The queen nestled her head against her Senshi's shoulder,
feeling safe and secure. They both lifted their eyes to the skies.
     The lights in the ballroom dimmed.
     Darkness beyond the dome above suddenly exploded into colours.
Each detonation of rainbows looked as if a star had smashed itself
to pieces that were now dancing across the heavens. Trails of blue,
red, green and yellow all floated down towards the dome, caught in
the whims of the midnight winds.
     A hushed awe fell over the crowd.
     The entire city could watch the fireworks from a distance. But
here in the palace, each firework displayed its glorious raptures
of light directly over their heads.
     "It's beautiful, isn't it?" Makoto said quietly, unwanting to
break the stillness and childlike wonder around them.
     Serenity nodded. "Hai."


     Ruri stared out at the distant beauty of the Crystal Tower, a
shimmering mirage in the depths of the night. The temptation to
sketch and paint this scene was ever present. Ever enticing. But
she'd seen enough sketches of the palace from the academy studios.
She doubted there was any angle of viewing the castle that had
somehow managed to evade being used for an artwork.
     From her bed she could see it perfectly through the bedroom
window. She lived with her family in the sixth storey of the luxury
apartment complex--and the apartment was hers alone tonight. She
was an only child as it was. And her mother and father were gone to
celebrate at a nearby street party.
     She could hear the loud echoes of the music from her window.
     They had shown concern that she wished to stay at home, by
herself when the rest of city came together in festivities. It was
the first time she wasn't dragging her parents out the door to get
to the street parties. But tonight was different from all the
others. Tonight found her restless yet unable or unwilling to
venture out into the city. All because of a face. A name.
     Shuichi.
     He was somewhere inside that ballroom right now. 
     She doubted he would be one to try and dance with a girl; odds
were he'd be looking after his little sister most of the time. Ruri
found herself strangely pleased in this knowledge. It unnerved her
to puzzle over why. At best their lives were along different paths.
At worst their futures would diverge in radically opposite
directions.
     She drew her knees up closer to her chest. If only she could
have gone to the masquerade tonight; she had yet to be a part of
the palace festivities at all. But tonight was a different night.
Shuichi was there. And Ruri realised just how much she wanted be
there too. Not within the walls of the palace. But to be there with
him.
     Abruptly the sky was deluged with a hundred sparkles of red
and blue, as if the rains had stolen a rainbow and possessed its
colours. A circular display was created. Moments later Ruri heard
the noise from the skyward explosion. Another eruption of colour
sounded off along the dwindling tails of the first, this one a
radiant green.
     The fireworks had begun.
     Ruri continued to watch the skies dance, as quiet as before.
But now a weak smile managed to find its way onto her face as the
rest of the world was forgotten.


     She sat upon the highest step of a large and winding spiral
staircase. Frosted glass marked the frame and railing, while
beautiful and transparent panes covered each step. To look down to
the floor from the top of the staircase resulted in a dizzying
view. But dark, vacant eyes looked down to the floor far below, and
still saw nothing.
     When clouded in sadness, eyes cannot see anything but pain.
     Overhead the bangs and pops of the fireworks could be heard.
Even though in this corner of the palace, where no ceiling domes
could be found, she found herself cast in the hauntingly majestic
auras of each colour. For where glass did not exist overhead, it
compensated by stretching from floor to ceiling along the walls. 
     Her crimson cheongsam clung to the contours of her body as she
shifted around, the slip reaching almost up to her hips. Yet like
the spiral staircase and the fireworks, its beauty was forgotten.
The Chinese dress shared the same fate with all things looked at
through tears.
     She wanted to stay alone, to suffer quietly through this.
Better to share the pain with someone you were most familiar with,
than bring such pain upon your friends. More than anything she
didn't want them to see how much seeing him had gotten to her.
Everything about her life came unravelled in the span of a few
heartbeats.
     And then he was gone.
     Vanished into the crowd.
     And she had done nothing.
     Rei buried her head in her hands softly wept again. Lost in
her own melancholy, she could barely hear the quiet footsteps to
mark someone drawing up behind her. She suddenly realised she was
in the presence of another when a shadow blocked the shimmer of the
fireworks from glowing against her skin.
     Her heart seemed to sink when she saw Endymion kneeling down
next to her.
     "May I sit?" he asked.
     She nodded, looking away. Trying to hide her eyes, red from
her crying.
     Endymion reached into his jacket and pulled out a small,
silver handkerchief. "Here, take this."
     After a moment of hesitation, Rei took the handkerchief and
dried the tears staining her cheeks. Her companion sat down next to
her on the edge of the staircase, looking out the window at the
resounding display of fireworks.
     "You saw Yuichiro, didn't you?" he said.
     She froze. Her entire soul went cold and her mind refused to
function. All logical thought came to a grinding halt. She could
recall a time when Endymion had been Mamoru, when she had to and
for a short time found comfort in his embrace. Rei managed a
bittersweet smile at the memory. Innocence of youth and the bliss
of love. All too quickly it had ended for her. 
     "Nothing serious happened between us," she told him. "It was
like with you and me: you saw it as only a girlish crush, and
eventually so did I."
     They both had truthfully reassured Usagi in the past that
nothing had occurred between them. That had proven to be quite a
feat, involving lots of reiterated statements, and ice cream as
bribery.
     Yet right now, he couldn't afford to pull any punches with
what he had to say, or else she might deny and retreat even further
into her despair. But to say it too bluntly would only get her hand
slapping his face.
     "But something happened ever since you discovered that Usagi
and I were destined to be together," Endymion countered softly.
"You've shied away from romance, Rei. Even when you seemed to have
an affection for Yuichiro."
     Her dark eyes widened.
     He knew....
     "We've been working side by side for more years than we'd care
to count, and I'm worried about what I've seen," Endymion
continued.
     "H-How can you be so sure of yourself?" Rei stuttered, her
voice quivering with anger.
     Endymion turned, his ocean blue eyes penetrating into her very
soul. And for a moment Rei was frightened by the clarity in those
eyes. "Because I've been there, Rei. After my parents were killed,
I didn't want to get close to anyone. I was afraid I'd lose them
like I lost my parents, and I'd have to suffer through the pain all
over again. For a long time that fear manifested itself by callous
solitude. I only worried about myself, for if I lost myself I was
dead anyways. 
     "Then I met Usagi. The world changed, and for the better. I
dared to worry about her, even if many of those reasons were
selfish. I risked losing everything I cared about, because she had
become everything I cared about. And because she cares about all of
you, I care about you too, for if I lose Usagi I lose myself. And
that means I'm dead once more."
     Another fireworks display went off.
     Chain reactions of colours erupting around them.
     Light dancing on their faces.
     Endymion paused long enough to allow for the sound of their
explosions to fade into obscure silence. "I can see that same fear
in your eyes now, Rei, though it's taken on a different form. Fears
of being left behind again, lost in the wake of the romance Usagi
and I shared, were disguised by your sharp tongue and verbal barbs.
To keep your distance from Yuichiro from the start ensured you
wouldn't get hurt if he left you. But ever since you saw Yuichiro
walk away, you've regretted that you never let him in."
     Rei's eyes were trembling, her heart chilled by the truth in
those words. Suddenly she never felt so alone before, lost in a
chasm fashioned by her own hands. As if she was tainted.
     She wanted to cry again.
     Endymion caught her up in his arms, holding her close to his
chest as her tears started to flow. "If you're willing to take the
risk, I'll help you," he whispered, staring up at the fireworks.
"Ami can use Cyberus to find him, and I'll be here by your side in
whatever choice you decide on."
     Overwhelmed, Rei could say nothing.
     For a long time she just cried.
     And for a long time as she cried, Endymion held her in his
arms. Saying nothing. Being there for her, and letting the final
wall be broken down. The fireworks came to a bravado climax around
them, the night sky turned to a veritable day as multitudes of
colour explosions detonated as one giant entity.
     In the dissipating haze of smoke and light, Rei lifted her
head from his jacket, smiling gently at him. And before Endymion
could stop her, she delicately pressed her lips against his. It was
a chaste kiss, one of platonic affection. 
     "I can see why Usagi-chan loves you so much," she said, almost
sad in admitting to what she did not have. And in many ways by her
own devices. "She's lucky to have a husband like you."
     "And she's lucky to have a friend like you," he said.
     She felt safe in his arms, a nostalgic comfort that she would
never take any further because of her love for Serenity. She would
never betray her friend's trust. Yet right now, the warmth from
Endymion's body soothed her better than any thousand words. "Do we
have to go back to the masquerade so soon?" she asked quietly.
     Endymion shook his head. "You can go back when you're ready.
Until then, I'll stay here with you. No one deserves to be alone on
a night like tonight, Rei." He looked out the glass windows, across
the expanse of the city. "No one does."


     It was an hour past midnight.
     For many of the families with young children, it was swiftly
becoming time to leave the masquerade and return to their homes.
Either that, or carry their exhausted and sleeping kids for however
long they desired to remain. Yet that only counted for a third of
the people there in the ballroom. For the rest, the celebration
still had hours to go before it would find something to call an
end.
     At such times, the masquerade grew all the more a surreal
fantasy by moonlight.
     Makoto glanced over her shoulder as she sensed someone draw up
behind her. A familiar young man presented himself, smiling with a
pleasant fatigue she both mirrored and understood. "How goes the
battle?" Aoshi inquired.
     "It goes."
     He offered her a glass of something that definitely wasn't
champagne. "Here, I thought you might want something to drink."
     "What is it?" she asked, taking a brief moment to study the
watery red liquid inside.
     "Some kind of fruit cooler, I think. No alcohol, though." With
a wry grin, he added, "This is what most of the children are
drinking. But it has enough caffeine to kick us back to the levels
we were at about two hours ago."
     Makoto nodded and graciously accepted the drink. Aoshi was
certainly right when he had warned her about the cooler; it was
incredibly sweet as it touched her lips. That sweetness flowed down
her throat and seemed to coat her entire mouth. Her body reacted
within seconds at such a bold spike of energy, causing Makoto to
cough.
     "Maybe I should just stick with coffee," she joked weakly.
     Yet in light of their mutual situation, they both laughed. It
served well to relieve their stress. Makoto's emerald eyes never
rested upon Aoshi's form. She continued to listen, vaguely aware of
the nuances in his voice and body language. Her eyes continued to
watch Neo Queen Serenity.
     The buffet tables were far behind them. The dancers belonged
to their own little universe amidst the music. Right now the Queen
was busy talking with people outside in the courtyard. The night
winds blew her blonde hair back, and she paused to close her eyes
and savour the scent of the lake.
     Neo Queen Serenity could afford to enjoy herself.
     She earned the freedom tonight.
     Makoto silently knew that she would be forever bound to be a
guardian. Even here in the future nothing was for free. The
founding of Crystal Tokyo was paid with by the blood of the Silence
and its victims. Tonight, the Queen's moments of freedom came at a
cost. But it was a sacrifice Makoto was willing to make if it made
her friend happy.
     "How are you holding up?" Aoshi asked. His gaze traced the
lines of stress on her face. The tenseness amidst her assumedly
relaxed demeanour. When she didn't answer, he knew well enough not
to repeat himself. He may not have been a Senshi--never would be--
but he understood them enough because of his own responsibilities.
     "This must be murder on you," he said, his own eyes darting
from one person to the next. Every wary. These hours would be prime
ones for any to try and attack, when the rest of the world was
lulled into the masquerade's euphoric trance. "It may only be for
two nights a year, but this always manages to fray my nerves. And
I'm just a Mugen. You're a Senshi; the queen's safety is your
personal duty and then some."
     The Queen abruptly laughed as she played with a young boy who
constantly stared at her in rapt fascination. Someone so young who
could appreciate her as a friendly playmate, and not a lofty ruler.
     "It's worth it just to see her smile," Makoto answered
quietly.
     Aoshi nodded in agreement, then cleared his throat. The
dryness of his speech was washed away by another sip of the cooler.
"If you're not busy later," he ventured. "When this is all over, I
know of a few places we can slip away to and just relax. No strings
attached."
     "Are you trying to pick me up?" she asked as she finished the
last few drops of her drink. Her amusement came out more than her
surprise at the guts he displayed by the innuendo alone. He might
have been a Mugen operative, but it was still a Senshi he was
talking to. Or was he asking Makoto and not Jupiter? 
     She suddenly became unsure of whom he was asking, and who
would respond.
     "Depends." With a playful smirk Aoshi hazarded a glance in her
direction, making eye contact. "Is it working?"
     As a soldier, she was already exhausted tonight. And she was
still subject to the same feelings as anyone else in the ballroom
around her. Makoto looked back to Serenity. "I don't think I'll
have the strength to say 'no' later," she conceded. "What did you
have in mind?"
     "Your call," Aoshi replied. "If you want to just sail to the
middle of the lake and stare mindlessly at the stars, I can do
that. If you want to be insane like I'm sure Venus will be, and go
out to find another party...well, you're on your own for that one,
admittedly."
     His dry humour made her smile again.
     Maybe forgetting she was a soldier after being one this
intensely would be the best (and perhaps, only) way she could
unwind after tonight. It was a risk. One she now wasn't wholly
objecting to taking.
     "All right," she agreed softly. "It's a date."


     Shuichi flopped down on one of the benches lining the atrium's
central fountain. To his left were the large arches that would lead
him back into the ballroom's frenetic pace of life. The digicam was
now with his parents, and Hotaru remained with him. And defying all
logic she was somehow still running at full power, as rambunctious
as she had been at the start of the masquerade. Which wasn't a good
thing, given how tired he was feeling.
     "Shuichi onii-san," she insisted, tugging on his arm. "I wanna
dance again!"
     He remained like a lead weight, refusing to budge. "Can you
give me five minutes?" he asked before yawning. She'd been easy to
coerce into leaving the ballroom for one of these smaller courtyard
areas. Of course, that was before she realised they were coming
here to just sit down and relax.
     With an impatient sigh Hotaru climbed onto the bench and sat
down next to him. From there on she continued to sulk, giving him
a pouty expression.
     "Don't look at me like that," Shuichi said. "I've had to carry
you around for half the night as it is."
     "I didn't who pigged out with the food," she retorted,
crossing her arms over her chest.
     Shuichi leaned back in surprise. "I was hungry!" he defended
himself. "And I seem to recall someone grabbing handfuls of
chocolate when we hit the dessert table."
     The cheeks on Hotaru's face went flushed at that.
     He laughed and tousled up her hair a little. "I'm just
impressed you haven't fallen asleep yet. Must be all that sugar."
The idea to carry Hotaru around on his back and get her angelic
face to attract some cute girls had occurred to him. But given his
little sister's energy, it looked to be an idea that would remain
just a wishful thought.
     Shuichi didn't object that much.
     Hotaru always made for great company.
     Five minutes later he kept his promise to her and led Hotaru
back out into the ballroom. They had spent most of their time
before the fireworks exploring what they could of the palace. Now
Hotaru had wanted to be like all the adults she saw around her.
Much to his chagrin, she pointed out on more than one occasion on
how he couldn't dance.
     'I was trained to fight, not dance' was his sole defense.
     "You want to get something else to eat first?" he asked as
they cut through the buffet area.
     Hotaru shook her head, skipping a step or two in front of him.
Abruptly she stopped and spun around on her heels. "Not hungry,"
she said, looking up at him. With that she spun back around--and
ran right into someone else.
     She let out a startled squeak as she fell backwards. Shuichi
moved fast enough to catch Hotaru before she collided with the
floor, sliding across the tiles on his knees. His swift reflexes
garnered an enthused response from the spectators around them.
     "Baka Hotaru-chan," he sighed as he helped Hotaru back up to
her feet. "Don't forget to look before you move."
     "Hai," a thoroughly embarrassed and chastised Hotaru replied,
shuffling her feet.
     Shuichi flashed her a reassuring smile to show he wasn't
angry, and then directed his attention to the woman Hotaru had run
into. "I'm really sorry about that," he apologised with a bow. "As
her elder brother and guardian, she is mine to watch over. I hope
we have not ruined your evening, but if there is a problem I will
take personal responsibility for it."
     His time under Kunio-sensei had left him with a very
entrenched sense of formal apology. But that wasn't what left the
woman and her partner utterly speechless.
     Haruka and Michiru sucked in a joint breath as they saw the
child who was now shyly clinging to Shuichi's leg. "Impossible,"
Haruka whispered. "Hotaru...."


     The Hundred Gate had lost its enigmatic charm. Everything
reflected held ominous undercurrents, shadows lurking beneath every
last ray of light. Mirrors hovered and leisurely rotated. Some
moved as if caught in orbit around an unseen central force.
     In the beginning there had been only one to sound the warning.
And what the glass revealed was but a momentary glimpse. What her
magenta eyes had seen was barely anything. Seemingly trivial.
Something to be given a sideways glance and no other notice. Yet
that was always how the most frightening and epic of wars began for
the Senshi.
     The mirrors started to chime again.
     One after the other.
     Now three more were sounding off-key, not longer in harmony
with the greater whole. Four mirrors in total echoed a haunting
premonition. The future was changing. Something was orchestrating
the change. And Setsuna found herself still at a loss to determine
what that cause was.
     The mirror before her drifted by as if carried by wayward
currents of water. Oceans of time passing her by, letting her
glimpse the dancers of the Moonlight Masquerade. Whether it was the
latest masquerade or one past, she couldn't be sure. Yet it felt
like tonight's celebration. Whichever 'tonight' that happened to
be.
     Everyone there, adorned in their costumes and masks, looked as
if there were no more worries with the world. Not one of them was
aware of what was creeping along the horizon of dark uncertainty.
     Setsuna turned and looked away, the Timestaff resting in her
hand like a walking stick. "Where are you?" she murmured to the
myriad of reflections around her. "Where are you hiding?"
     Her eyes focused on another mirror.
     Nothing by primeval forests.
     Suddenly she heard a voice that chilled her blood. Chilled her
entire body. She shouldn't have been able to hear any voices in
here other than her own.
     "Now what are we up to, hm?" a foreigner inquired.
     She whirled.
     Caught sight of a mirror, and somewhere lurking beyond the
glass a human silhouette. She could make out partial colours and
contours of his clothes, but nothing more. Yet his eyes shimmered
in the dark. A haunting silvery-grey.
     And then he was gone.
     The mirror reflected a fruit orchard somewhere in the
Edenstate.
     "You'll never find it," the voice echoed again across the
Hundred Gate.
     Setsuna turned her head.
     Caught sight of another shadowy reflection.
     It vanished, the eyes lingering long enough in her memory to
further taunt her.
     "What won't I find?" she challenged.
     Laughter was the response. "Now now, one must not try to fuck
with someone who's played these mindgames before."
     Setsuna growled, forced to step back and widen her field of
vision. To think the soul behind the voice held enough power to
manipulate the mirrors; she chose to ignore the implications in
that moment. Now was not the time to show fear, for it would be
exploited. Her magenta eyes searched out any unusual reflection. 
     He was jumping from one mirror to the next.
     On moment he was reclining against the pillars of the
Parthenon in all its ancient glory, Greek scholars and worshipers
walking by without noticing his presence. He looked at her and
said, "You simply--"
     He stirred from the silken covers of a four-post Victorian
bed, a woman sensually writhing beneath his form and urging him to
continue. Curtains obscured the features of his face.
     "Simply." 
     He stood as a mere silhouette against the shadows once more.
     "Simply need to ask." 
     Setsuna adjusted her stance to stand before the mirror he now
decided to rest within. The stranger remained in darkness, as
casual in confrontation as if they were friends. The amber glow
from his cigarette lit up just enough of his face to allow Setsuna
a glimpse of his dark and vicious smile.
     "Well?" he inquired. "Are you going to play, or will you go
back and sulk in your floating castle?"
     Her eyes narrowed. "What is the Paradise Army?"
     Now the stranger in darkness chuckled all the more. "So you're
not just the Soldier of Time because of your good looks and tanned
skin after all."
     The mirror was slowly arcing through the air, and Setsuna
found it necessary to slowly shift her feet in order to continue
looking at the reflection. "You haven't answered my question," she
stated.
     "I never promised you an answer, Sailor Pluto. It would serve
you well to realize that we are only having this conversation
because I decided to initiate it. You would not have found me by
yourself, not eventually, not ever."
     "Then why did you come here?" she retorted.
     He inhaled the smoke from the cigarette, then breathed out a
grey haze while letting the cigarette remain tucked at the corner
of his mouth. And his form stepped forward, palms pressing against
the surface of the glass. Yet for all the light that should have
been able the penetrate through the portal, on his side of the
mirror there was only darkness.
     "Because it makes the game more interesting."
     She stepped towards the mirror until she was face to face with
her intruder. Her adversary. A thin pane of glass and magic
separated their worlds. 
     "I'll stop you," she said quietly. Determined.
     She could see him sneer in cruel amusement. "Really?" he
inquired. "What makes you believe that? Make no mistake: you move
now to stop my Paradise Army, and you will not live to regret it.
You won't live at all. And neither will Crystal Tokyo's near two
million citizens."
     Darkness swarmed out to envelop him and draw him back into a
midnight womb. His laugher echoed across the Hundred Gate. One
final taunt.
     Setsuna bit her lip.
     Forced herself not to swear aloud.
     She had been watching the skein in the hopes of unravelling it
before the passage of time crossed paths with it. So much was still
unknown; she would be unable to leave the portal in case a stray
mirror gave her another glimpse into the identity of their new
enemy. And all too quickly she knew that this would get worse
before there was any hope of it getting better.
     But there were other ways to stop a conspiracy.
     She just hoped she could employ those methods in time.


     The Moonlight Masquerade was beginning to wind down.
     And many of the revellers felt the call to return home, as
euphoria became overpowered by the need to sleep. Around 1am the
first people began to trickle out of the ballroom and journey
towards an inviting bed.
     Among those departing early were Asahina and Sakura.
     Asahina paused and looked back at the towering archways above
her as she left. It felt as if the broad smile on her face would be
permanently etched there now. She had been able to attend the
masquerade, and meet a Senshi. She had danced with Minako, Sailor
Venus.
     Sakura walked past her, oblivious to the thrill of the woman
she brushed shoulders with. She had her own pleasant memories; she
and Haruka must have talked automechanics for over an hour before
that woman, Michiru, returned and dragged him off to meet some
other friends. A part of her wasn't sure if those two had a
relationship going, but it was good that they didn't seem bothered
by someone as intrusive as she tended to be.
     Neither woman was aware of the shadow following them, and then
turning where Asahina turned to now watch her. Yanigata kept his
watch; for now he'd acquire her home address. That much was enough
for the time being. Then he would have to find out what else Seki
knew of the Sanctuary cult. Perhaps then he could show that a
malcontent's instinct still served a purpose.
     By 2am, the Arisugawa family had regrouped. Shuichi gently
slid the sleeping form of his little sister off his back, and into
Reina's arms. Hotaru looked like an angel as she slept; one last
photo was taken.
     "Did you enjoy yourself tonight?" his mother inquired.
     Shuichi nodded though with a furrowed brow, troubled by
something he wasn't about to voice unless prodded first. 
     "What is it?" Rin asked.
     Shuichi looked to his father, still mulling it over. "Nothing.
Maybe. I'm not sure." Blue eyes glanced back at the sleeping form
of Hotaru. The kid had finally managed to wear herself out about a
half hour ago. On the downside, that meant he had to carry her for
a while until he'd met up with their parents. "We bumped into some
couple a while ago. They took one look at Hotaru, and...I don't
know. They stared at her like they'd seen a ghost."
     That suddenly had Rin concerned, especially in light of
Hotaru's healing powers. "What did they look like?"
     "I can't really remember. The guy was tall and had dark blonde
hair, I think. And all I remember about his girlfriend was that she
was really cute."
     "Shuichi," his father sighed. "You just described half the
people here."
     Shuichi bit his lip. "I know, and that's what I don't like,"
he agreed. Those two had looked at Hotaru differently from anyone
else. It was an expression he had seen only a few times before, one
he had possessed himself once. That had been when he'd first
witnessed Hotaru's power to heal.
     That couple could have sensed it. Such empathic abilities were
not that uncommon in Crystal Tokyo. But Shuichi found himself
dismissing the idea; those two had stared at Hotaru and saw
something else. Something that he didn't even see.
     Shuichi glanced uneasily over at his sleeping sister. 
     What secrets were she hiding, even from herself?


     Endymion's return to his wife's arms was a welcomed one, and
though she didn't immediately ask why he'd left he knew she
expected an answer. All through the last few hours of the
masquerade they had toured, talked and danced together. All through
those last few hours Endymion hadn't seen Rei. She had asked to
miss the remainder of the night. He didn't try to stop her, letting
the soldier retire to her bed and her thoughts.
     Serenity was told everything when they disappeared from the
masks and music. She listened in solemn silence as Endymion laid
Rei's doubts and fears out--though he did not tell her what had
once become of Yuichiro. The Queen had yet to learn that the man
was once a Mugen operative.
     Ami was the only Inner Senshi who was aware of Yuichiro's role
in the daimon incident, and that was because of how closely she and
Cyberus worked with the organisation. Yet at his request Ami kept
this knowledge to herself.
     When Endymion spoke the final sentence, he sighed as he felt
his own burden for Rei's well-being lift. Now the concern was being
shared by another; the load would be bearable between them, and in
time with the other Senshi.
     "I never knew," Serenity said quietly afterwards. "She never
told me."
     She was sitting on their bed, laid back amidst the throw
pillows and silken sheets. Her blonde hair and white dress flowed
like rivers of gold and ice around her face. The worry on her face
likened her to a tearful angel.
     "She didn't want to burden any of us," Endymion answered. 
     But ultimately the weight Rei had left on her own shoulders
was crushing her spirit. For now Rei didn't want any help. It was
a matter of discerning when to extend a helping hand, in a moment
where it would not be pushed aside. The needed to help before Rei
slipped further down into a depression they could not raise her
from.
     "What can we do?" Serenity asked.
     He shook his head as he walked across their master bedroom,
removing his jacket and resting it on the back of a desk chair.
"I've done all I can. For as much as I know Rei-chan, there is
someone she knows and trusts deeper than me."
     Ocean blue eyes fixated upon the queen of Crystal Tokyo.
     And so much more, for she was his wife.
     His beloved.
     "I trust your judgement, Usa-ko. And I'll stand behind you in
whatever decision you make in helping Rei."
     A gentle, grateful smile appeared on Serenity's face. She
nodded and sat up, her arms reaching out and beckoning her lover to
approach the bed. He obliged, crossing back through the room, yet
stopping at the floor of the bed.
     "It's been a long night," he said quietly as he undid the
buttons of his white dress shirt. "Shall we?"
     Serenity smiled and began to disrobe. "Hai."


     Ami shook her head as she stood at the doorway of Minako's
stateroom. Inside, the long-haired blonde was busy changing clothes
yet again. This time to find another party that would only quit
when the first rays of the setting sun poured over the darkened
horizon line and touched the city. It would only end with the
moonlight.
     A ponytail of blue hair draped over her shoulder, she found
herself unable to fathom the exuberance her long-time friend still
possessed. "Maybe it has something to do with the Silver Crystal,"
she absently remarked.
     That received a playful wink from Minako, busy working with
the buckles of a black vest. "I'm sure you'll be up all night
yourself now, researching the possibilities of that."
     Ami's cheeks flushed in slight embarrassment. "Not tonight.
The masquerade takes more out of me in an hour than an entire night
I spend with Cyberus."
     Maybe it was the lifestyle one was accustomed to. That was the
most obvious and plausible means of explaining the vitality Minako
exercised even when pushing the limits of her endurance for so
long.
     "I've been up for two days, Ami-chan," Minako replied as she
checked her hair in one of her mirrors. "I don't think being awake
for a few more hours will kill me."
     What she said next was almost a muttering to herself, but one
Ami's ears picked up regardless: "There's not much out there that's
really lethal anymore, for that matter."
     "Be careful," the blue-haired genius cautioned. "A man named
Berlioz once said 'Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it
kills all its pupils.' He proved no exception."
     And she doubted that even they would be exceptions themselves.
Their lifespans were guaranteed for another 900 years. Beyond that,
the future was shrouded in secrecy. And those secrets whispered of
an end.
     Death was a scent that could linger in the air long after it
had been forgotten. But now with the Moonlight Sanctuary, that
familiar smell was growing all the more noticeable.
     But that was a concern for another night.
     Right now she was too tired to care.
     Bidding Minako a good night, and an enjoyable time at whatever
street party she managed to locate, Ami turned and shuffled off to
her own chambers. The doors opened up automatically for her, and
the lights came on at her preferred setting. Yet even at half their
intensity, the illumination was harsh on her sore eyes.
     "Deluminate," she said.
     The lights complied.
     Minako had been right in what she'd said. Had she the energy,
Ami would have visited Cyberus tonight after the masquerade. She
found it a small miracle that she could crawl out of her dress,
leaving it crumpled on the floor at the edge of her bed. From there
she collapsed onto her covers and lapsed into a deep sleep.


     The exterior courtyards were almost deserted now, a few
scattered couples still savouring the last few droplets of the
masquerade's intoxication. Somewhere on the other side of the
archways and walls, the orchestra was playing a final set of
pieces. The last songs of the night.
     Emerald green eyes looked up to the stars. Makoto saw
twinkling beacons amidst the darkness, and hidden amongst their
light the celestial designs of constellations. So many old ones
remained, and a new series had also arisen. With a mix of emotion
she picked out the series of seven stars which made up her own
constellation.
     Sailor Jupiter.
     Like the stars, she felt so near yet so far away. To be dreamt
of and never touched. Her eyes lowered to the waters, where the
murkiness of the night obscured a clear reflection of the sadness
in her face. Better to avoid such feelings, on tonight of all
nights. She didn't want to ruin the mood.
     Her hands upon the balustrade, Makoto dared to look out across
the private lake of the Crystal Palace. A brazen voice within
wanted to leave this place behind, even if for a short while, and
forget everything that made her a Senshi. She would always be there
to protect Serenity.
     But she was still as fragile as any other soul.
     She was joined by another, who leaned against the same
balustrade and looked out across the same lake. There were no
obligations in the way he stood or the way his eyes studied the
ripples of the water. He seemed as content as she was to slip into
the momentary bliss of forgetfulness.
     "I trust I didn't keep you waiting?" Aoshi inquired.
     Makoto shook her head. "Endymion and Serenity retired into the
palace about twenty minutes ago. I'm free for the remainder of the
night, or what's left of it."
     "Just because everyone else left the dinner table doesn't mean
that only unwanted scraps remain." The calm, philosophic air in his
voice caused her to look at him in mild surprise. "Buddhist
saying," he explained.
     The night, like most everything else in life, was what they
made of it. Regardless of everyone else's actions and reactions.
     She nodded, and went back to watching the hypnotic dancing of
the water as it was caressed by the wind.
     "Have you decided what you want to do?" Aoshi asked.
     Makoto found herself drawn to the waves of the lake yet again.
To be so close to the palace, yet so far away. That was where she
wanted to be right now. "You had mentioned something about a
sailboat earlier...."


     A clock chimed the third hour of the early morning.
     The Moonlight Masquerade had come to an end, marked by the
last of the guests to drift out from the palace and into the
darkness. The usually serene nights of the city were tonight
punctured by laughter, romantic whisperings, and revellers telling
others tales of their time in the ballroom.
     Two of the Mugen stood back from the departing crowds, content
to no longer worry about said crowds. Enishi yawned, his eyes still
trained on the stragglers in the ballroom.
     "The biggest consolation is that we get the next two days
off," he remarked. "After that, we're back on duty. But the
reprieve was good while it lasted."
     Alongside his Commander, Yuto sighed and stretched out his
arms. "It's always good to have a vacation like this."
     Enishi nodded as he took a sip from one of the unused
champagne glasses lying around. Tonight, like all the other
masquerades before it, had been wonderfully uneventful. A part of
him was disappointed to be denied some excitement. The rest of him
cringed at what such excitement might detail had it occurred.
     "So," he casually inquired. "You manage to score a dance with
Sailor Mercury tonight?"
     Yuto rolled his eyes upon hearing that. "Please!" he
exclaimed, waving the question aside. "For starters, you know full
well that we were on duty, and all the Senshi weren't officially
Senshi tonight." His lips curled into an unmistakable grin. "I
managed to get a full three dances with Ami-chan."
     "Still one less than the current record."
     "I'm working on it, Commander. It takes time to slowly wear
down their defenses. Even if they're not fully aware of it, all the
Senshi are somewhat reserved when it comes to dating."
     "I had noticed," Enishi agreed. "But it comes with their rank
and territory. We have it to a certain degree too."
     There was a duty that came above all else.
     "We'll get them," Yuto stated quietly, looking down into his
own champagne glass. "It may take us a little while longer, but
we'll stop the Sanctuary."
     He raised the glass in a toast. "To the end of the ordeal."
     Enishi solemnly nodded and tapped rims with his own glass. "To
an end."
     They drank.
     Remained quiet for a little while longer.
     "I know I'm the newest member at eleven years since joining
the Mugen," Yuto said. "In a lot of ways, the Moonlight Sanctuary
is the first real assignment I've had to work on. But after this,
what else is there?"
     "There's always something," Enishi answered. He gulped back
the remainder of his drink. "One of the primary functions of the
Mugen is that of a preventor. Tonight's an example of that. Letting
our guard down amidst times of peace is a luxury we can't afford.
There were assignments before this one; there will be assignments
to follow. And none of them will be very pretty."
     That caused Yuto to smile in a rather cynical manner. "I
wasn't recruited because I was a dainty little soul, Commander."
     "I know," Enishi agreed. "I was the one who first thought you
would show promise as an operative."
     "What promise was that?"
     Enishi chuckled. "The fact that you weren't a dainty little
soul."
     The two men grinned and shared a mutual laugh.
     "What was your first assignment, Sir?" Yuto asked. 
     He'd looked at a number of the various cases and files in the
Mugen Datapool archives, but that only happened when he had free
time at the office. That was a rarity these days. And most of
anything that was archived was in relation to smaller surveillance
reports on Serenity cults, and Edgetown's underground activities.
But the way Enishi had spoken earlier intimated of something far
darker than he was aware of.
     When asked the question, Enishi grew deathly sober. "Running
the worst kind of damage control ever," he said. "A Newtype's
genius gave her insight into creating some kind of compound. That
compound gave a rebirth to a daimon."
     Yuto scowled, at a loss for the name. "Daimon?"
     "Before your time. Pre-Storm. Underling creatures the Senshi
always had to fight."
     Yuto nodded, and then froze as he suddenly understood the full
implications behind that sentence. "If daimons were wiped out
before the Storm, how'd a Newtype know how to create those things?"
     Enishi scowled. "Damned if I know. But we lost an operative
because of that incident. It's not my intention to lose anyone else
the same way." 
     Fact was, he'd seen some of those daimons in action around the
old Tokyo. Strangely comical yet frightening when their gruesome
task was considered. What Enishi didn't like was knowing that in
the past, the Senshi had destroyed the daimon army. How could one
resurface when the technology to build a daimon had been wiped out
by the Sailor Soldiers years before?
     The nature of the daimon itself was only partially documented.
Aside from some old accounts in Cyberus' mainfraime, everything
else had either been classified or deleted. Senshi eyes only.
Enishi understood better than anyone the security concerns the
Senshi must have had in order to limit the information on daimons--
but it was a bitter pill to swallow to know that he wasn't in on
the secret. 
     It meant they still didn't trust him enough.
     Or else that the daimons were that dangerous.
     He believed in both those possibilities.
     Yuto awkwardly looked around, sensing the dour mood that now
hung over them. His mind searched for a way to lighten the mood. "I
know it's three in the morning," he said. "But I know this all-
night coffee shop that's about a twenty minute walk from the edge
of the palace. That is, if you're up for it."
     "Ami turned you down, didn't she?" Enishi inquired.
     "Give me another few years and I'll talk her into having
coffee with me after the masquerade. But in the meantime, I suppose
you'll have to do."
     Enishi slowly turned his head. One of his eyebrows was raised
in playful indignity. "'Suppose', Lieutenant?" He sighed and
glanced up at the night beyond the glass dome. "I have to make sure
a few final things have checked out first. Can you wait a half hour
longer?"
     "I'm part of the Mugen," Yuto replied with a smirk. "If you
want, just order me to stay around until you're done. But if you
ask me as a friend to stay, I might consider it."
     "Somehow I think I'll hold better luck with the latter."
Enishi pushed away from the base of the pillar and headed across
the ballroom for his final inspection.
     Yuto drank the last of his champagne as he watched the Mugen
Commander leave. "I'll be waiting here, Sir."




     My indebted thanks to the authors and contributors
     of "Crystal Tokyo for the Baka", whose discussions
     shaped a lot of the smaller details seen here in
     Crystal Tokyo. Without their debates and speculation,
     the future wouldn't be half as interesting.






                    tomorrow's another future


                  the paradise army: conspiracy