Author's Notes: Okay, the blame for this crossover idea can go to His
Lordship Chaos, author of the "Curse of the Fanboys" series, for spouting silly
fanfic titles at the drop of a pen. Then my sick, twisted mind got involved. 
Well, let's see if I can bring a measure of respectability to this crossover .
. . 

And, just as a side note: Yes, the Asteroid Senshi are part of the
Sailor Moon world. They exist in the manga as Senshi, with powers probably 
greaterthan the Inners or the Outers. In the anime, they're known as the 
Amazoness Quartet. I'm afraid I'll have to warp them a bit here, though to 
fit into the role I've given them.

"Sailor Moon" characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi. "Vampire Princess
Miyu" concepts belong to Narumi Kakinouchi (Thanks, Chaos). I'm just 
borrowing them without permission and praying I don't get sued. But I'm
not making any money off this. If I was, I probably wouldn't be having so
much fun. ^+^ C&C credit: JackAcid, Blazej, and of course, His Lordship 
Chaos.

- - - -
Vampire Princess Michiru (Prologue)
- - - -

From gold to green. Then gold again. Green again. A reflection gazed out, unblinking,
from the depths of the Mirror. Gold. In a heartbeat, back to green.

Michiru set down her Deep Aqua Mirror and sat back in her chair
with a quiet sigh. A war raged within her body as one strain of blood fought against
another. She knew which one would win. The Mirror had already shown her what was to
come, what she had to do.  She looked outside at the dark sky, then back at the fire
in the hearth. Once again, she ran her tongue over her teeth, tracing the two small
fangs in the corners of her mouth.

She had been a Senshi all her life, earning respect as a soldier of
the Moon Kingdom. She had fought alongside many other Senshi, most of them close
friends. Now, after all these many years, just three of them stayed on Earth. With
the last battle over and the last of their enemies butchered into history, the other
Senshi had moved on, retreating from the world they had protected with their lives.
Crystal Tokyo had yet to come and while they waited for it, the rest they so richly
deserved had been granted, a place made for them in the depths of darkness. There
they would lie, until the time when they would be needed again. To ensure that their
slumber would be undisturbed, some had to remain  on Earth as a guard. Those who
carried the Talismans had been chosen:  herself, Haruka, and Setsuna. They would
observe the darkness, letting nothing break their friends' sleep. And when the time
came for others to  awake and replace them, the three would be allowed their own
rest. That had been a few years ago. And events had conducted themselves with an
unusual calm. Then something went wrong.

-----
Michiru had become sick, badly enough that she had to be taken to the hospital. The
doctors had been at a loss to explain what her illness
was, until Setsuna had paid a quiet visit. Her own diagnosis had been 
short and to the point: A blood disease, hereditary in Michiru's family, 
that weakened the person and caused the cells to regenerate more slowly than normal.
To cure it, Michiru would have needed a blood transfusion. Then Setsuna had indicated
another problem with that.  The blood of a Senshi was different from that of a normal
human, and Michiru was a Senshi of water. Only another of her element would have been
able to match her blood type. Haruka was Air, while Setsuna was a Senshi of  Fire. To
find another Water-based soldier, they would have had to
disobey their orders and break into the sealed darkness where their companions slept.
The three of them knew what punishment they were to mete out to those who disturbed
the sleep of the Senshi. But what if it was one of their own? 

Would their leaders look the other way, or would there be a price? To Haruka, it
hadn't mattered. Her Michiru was in trouble and she wouldget her out of it, judgement
be damned. If blood was needed, blood she would get, and Haruka hadn't cared who she
would have had to go through.
-----

Her violin in her hands, Michiru softly ran the bow over the strings. Notes tumbled
forth, forming into the tunes she knew so well. Tonight they were soft and slow, with
a shade of wistfulness. She wanted to remember the days with her good friends, rather
than looking ahead at the difficult task set for her. And as the memories came, she
closed her eyes and smiled fondly at the faces of those she loved and knew so well.
All of them were now at rest, while her soul was still deep in turmoil. And the
memories came back again . . . 

-----
A healthy Michiru was sitting up in her hospital bed, Haruka at her
side. A Senshi donor had been found and awakened, the blood given, and the
transfusion had been a success. But the price was about to be exacted. At the
doorway to the room stood both Queen Serenity and King Endymion. The two of them
looked grave. Reaching over, Michiru took Haruka's hand in hers and squeezed it
tightly.  The two would not abandon each other, whatever their rulers decided their
punishment would be.

Serenity stepped forward. "Uranus, we understand your reasons for
breaking the seal and disturbing our rest. If we had been in the same
position, we would have done the same. But, the simple fact remains that you
disobeyed your orders and released some sleepers before their time. For this, you
must be disciplined." Haruka bowed her head. "I understand, my Queen. What must I
do?" Serenity cocked her head on one side. "It is not what you must do, Uranus. But
it is what the two of you must do together. The four Asteroid Senshi have left their
rest and must be returned. Your intrusion woke them early and they believe that they
are once again needed to fight. Unless you bring them back, they will throw this city
into chaos. That will be the task for you both." Michiru lowered her head, as well.
"We accept gladly, my Queen." A pained look crossed Endymion's face. "You may not be
so glad of it in a moment, Neptune. There is more. Since Uranus broke the seal and
entered the darkness, she must pay her own penalty on top of this." Serenity nodded.
"Her voice and face will be sealed away. You will not be able to see them again,
Neptune. That is her penalty. And as for yours, the new blood that now flows in your
veins is cursed. From now on, you will  continue to need blood to survive, becoming
like the Shinma, the vampires themselves."

Both Senshis' jaws dropped as they heard their ruler. They looked
at each other in shock, unable to say anything. Serenity moved closer to them,
reaching out to take their clasped hands in her own, dropping her formal tone of
voice. "However, since this whole act was done out of the overwhelming love the two
of you have for each other, I will show you mercy. When you are done your task of
returning the four Asteroids to the darkness, I will lift both curses from you. And,
I will allow all three of you to join us in our rest below. Others will take your
burden of  guardianship."

Haruka finally managed to find her voice. "What about Setsuna? Don't
drag her into our punishment too, my Queen. She had nothing to do with
this!" Endymion stepped forward then. "Your loyalty, despite that lie,
Uranus, does you some credit. Pluto is guarding the seal now. That is her newtask and
it is not a punishment. With some of our power to aid her, she is more than capable
of watching over us. You two must now concentrate on finding the others, once you
have fully recovered, Neptune." Serenity sighed as she looked at the two young women.
"I'm sorry, but you  two had best say one last goodbye to each other. Uranus' penance
must begin soon."

Michiru reached over to Haruka and wrapped both arms around her. 
Resting her aquamarine head against her partner's neck, she tried to
hold back the tears. "I'm really going to miss you," she murmured.
She felt Haruka's hands rub the backs of her shoulders gently. 
"I'll still be here for you, [baka]," the other Senshi replied softly, 
"It won't be the same, but if I had a choice, I'd do it all over again."
"I know you would," Serenity interrupted softly, "Now, if you
wouldn't mind?" Haruka moved back and looked into Michiru's green 
eyes, then leaned forward to plant one last kiss on the bridge of her nose. "Talk to
you later,lover."

Unashamedly, Michiru kissed her back full on the lips. "I'll be
waiting," she promised. Queen Serenity pulled out the Ginzuishou. 
"Now, hold still. This won't hurt." A flash of light lit up the room. 
When the glare faded, Haruka's head snapped back violently. As she 
lowered it slowly, her features were hidden behind a mask of steel. 
Her eyes gleamed through two sockets, but those were all that could be seen.
Silently, she traced the edges with her fingers. At the same time, Michiru gasped as
she glanced at the mirror on her bedside table. Her once-green eyes had turned a
bright golden color. Raising a hand to her mouth in sudden pain, she blinked at the
sight of blood on her fingers. Her bottom lip was cut in two places from the new
fangs that jutted from her top row of teeth.

Serenity nodded as she replaced her silver crystal. "Your cursed
blood has asserted itself for now, but it will be a while before it is fully in
control. Perhaps this may be a blessing in disguise for you, Neptune. The Asteroids
that have left the darkness are strong. But you are now stronger. Good hunting. And
we will see you when you come home."

With that, she and Endymion turned and left the hospital room.
The masked figure and the newly-created vampire girl looked at each
other. Their tasks had begun.

-----

~When the dark wood fell before me,
And all the paths were overgrown,
When the priests of pride say there is no other way,
I tilled the sorrows of stone . . . 

Cast your eyes on the ocean,
Cast your soul to the sea,
When the dark night seems endless,
Please remember me . . . ~

"Dante's Prayer", Loreena McKennitt, "Book of Secrets" album, 1997


Author's Notes: I should point out now that this story will not remain faithful 
to the plot line from either of the series. This is an original crossover which
will fuse both of them. So don't expect Exorcists, demons, or Negaverse youma.
 This time, the battle is a little different. If you don't like it, I really
can't say I'm sorry. I'm working on a creative license here. Comments can go
to cadz0001@algonquinc.on.ca Assuming, that is, that my college knows how to keep a
server running. C&C credit: Greenbeans, Blazej, and of course, His Lordship Chaos.


- - - -
Vampire Princess Michiru (Part 1)
- - - -

"Haruka?"
Silence greeted her question.
"Haruka?"
More silence. Not even a rustle.
Michiru sat up on the couch, twisting around to look across the
living room.
Her partner was gone from her spot in front of the fire.
Something prickled at the base of Michiru's spine. In a blur of vampiric
speed, she was across the room and melting into the shadows, completely
immersing herself in the blackness. Wrapping her red and white kimono
even tighter around her body, she crouched and waited. Ever since their punishment
from Serenity had begun a couple of days earlier, the two Senshi had discovered their
respective curses brought new abilities. New aids in finding their four missing
allies, the Asteroid Senshi.

Haruka was unable to become Uranus, since she could no longer speak, but
she was being resourceful, helping Michiru recover from her operation by
testing her reactions. Even with her face and voice sealed away behind the steel
mask, Haruka still had strength and speed matching, if not exceeding, that of her
Senshi form. Michiru's abilities had also increased; her own speed nearly tripled if
she wished. Also, with her body cursed to seek new blood to survive, she had
found other skills to aid in the hunt.

Now she scanned the room more closely, waiting for Haruka to appear. 
There was very little she could hide behind. . . . Then her sharpened hearing caught
the faint whisper of clothes. Right above her.

Reaching up, Michiru saw the dim image of a metal face gleaming at her before the
weight slammed into her arms. Normally, a body blow like this one would have knocked
her down, but her own body had changed, adapted so she withstood the shock. With
almost no effort, she tossed Haruka away from her and into the middle of the room.
Her partner twisted in midair and landed just as effortlessly on her feet. Michiru
moved forward like liquid, trying to slip behind her, but Haruka spun away, sweeping
her own backhand through the empty space.  Silently, her chest heaved as her masked
face stared into the now-golden eyes.

Michiru grinned, showing her new fangs. "Nice try. You had me worried for a few
seconds."

Dressed in black jeans and a loose black dress shirt, Haruka nodded once,
then wrote something quickly on a pad and turned it around.
*Thanks. You're feeling better, I take it.*
She nodded back. "Almost."
Haruka sat down on the couch, crossing her legs.
*Hungry?*
Slowly, she nodded again. "I . . . don't know what to do. As soon as I bite
someone, they may either become immortal or die, depending on my wishes." Going 
over, she sat and leaned against her partner's side, closing her eyes and giving 
a tired sigh.
She felt Haruka put an arm around her and she nestled closer. "What can
we do?" she murmured, "The Asteroids are out there, hurt and confused. We
have to find them and help send them back to their sleep. But how?"
The sound of pen scratching on paper reached her ears. Then she reopened one
eye to stare at the pad in front of her nose.
*I don't know. But I know one thing: I won't let you go hungry.*
She looked up. "I don't understand."
Removing her right arm from Michiru's shoulders, Haruka pushed her left sleeve
up. Then she reached into subspace and pulled out the Space Sword.
Michiru's eyes widened as she saw what her partner planned to do.
"Haruka, no!"
Ignoring her, the Senshi of Uranus raised her bare arm and pressed the edge
of the sword against her wrist. Almost instantly, a thin line of red welled up
around the blade.
Michiru grabbed her other wrist and yanked the sword away. "What are
you thinking?"
Quickly, Haruka took up her pen and jotted something down. Tearing the
paper off, she handed it to the shocked Michiru.
*No bite, no problem. Ne?*
"Haruka. . . ." Looking into the steel mask, she could almost swear she saw
her partner's eyes sparkle. "Thank you, you silly, silly, girl." She kissed the
cold metal forehead, then gently took Haruka's wrist and bent over it, her
aquamarine hair hiding her face as she fed.

-----
As quietly as she could, Michiru eased their bedroom door shut and
returned to the living room. After Michiru had drunk her blood, Haruka hadn't 
been able to keep her eyes open and the Senshi of Neptune had insisted that
her lover go to bed.
She had stood over the silent form of her partner, watching the one she
loved more than life itself sink into the comfort of sleep. And it had 
started her thinking about the task set for them.
Michiru opened the doors to the patio and stepped out into the night air. 
With the new blood coursing through her system, she felt more energetic than
she had in days. Sleep would come later.
With the slightest of movements, she sprang onto the roof, kimono flapping
in the breeze. There she sat, staring into the distant lights of Tokyo, hoping to
somehow find the Senshi she had to collect. She glanced down at her hands,
where she had a picture of the four Asteroids: PalaPala, CereCere, JunJun,
and VesVes. Sailors Pallas, Ceres, Juno, and Vesta.
They were supposed to be the guardians of Small Lady. Yet, at the same
time, they considered themselves above the Inner Senshi and even disdained
the presence of the Outers. Their loyalties were to the Kingdom and to each
other. And woe betide anyone who got in the way of either, even another Senshi.
Michiru sighed. The four of them were still young, in their late teens, and
convincing them of anything was a challenge. And she had to find them while
they were in a fighting mood?
She put the photo away again, then glanced down at her own bare arm. On
a sudden whim, she placed a finger over the soft flesh of her other palm, just
beneath her thumb. And waited.
Seconds ticked away. Still she didn't move.
Faintly, beneath the now-flushed skin, she could feel the slow pulse of her
blood.
Michiru let her breath out in relief. She had wondered if she was dead, 
but her heart still beat. That showed her that Serenity had not fully turned her
back on her now disgraced soldiers.
She thought she understood why Queen Serenity had imposed the
punishments on them. It was definitely an encouragement to complete their
task quickly, but it would also stand as a warning to the guardians to come. 
Breaking the darkness, even to save a life, carried a penalty.
On a sudden impulse, she raised her eyes again to look at the city. Lights 
from buildings, streets, and cars all called for her attention. The soft
sounds of night life reached her newly improved hearing.
Then, off to one side, a dark shape caught her eyes.
Getting slowly to her feet, Michiru peered into the blackness. The shape
seemed somehow . . . familiar. Then her eyes focused on the tall spires of an
ancient church rising above the lights.
Another tingling ran across her shoulders. Something in that building held a
clue to her search. She could *feel* it. "Answers . . . " she murmured. With a
swirl of her kimono, she ran to the edge of the roof and leapt off, heading for
the cathedral.

-----
High above the city, bats fluttered in the two belfry towers. Michiru
found herself eyeing them, wondering if she could become one. The image of
a kawaii little bat with turquoise hair perched on Haruka's shoulder flashed
through her mind and she chuckled.
Leaning on the railing of the roof, she peered down, watching the people
leaving the church. She didn't recognize any of them, but that meant nothing. 
The feeling of this place's importance still gnawed at her. She had already
checked both belfries and found nothing, which meant her answers lay inside
the cathedral. So she made her way down to the street.
As she climbed the steps to the front doors, Michiru watched as other
people walked past her. None of them stood out to her senses as important.
Few paid her any attention, except for a couple of the older ladies, who smiled 
at her. She nodded back, not trusting herself to smile and show her fangs. 
The dears would probably faint away if she did that.
At the doors, she hesitated, wondering if she could even enter the building.
According to popular myth, vampires were not allowed to enter churches.
Finally, she surreptitiously inched her foot forward. It crossed the threshold
without incident. 
Letting out a small sigh of relief, she stepped inside and quietly looked
around. The narthex was nearly empty. Only a few people remained, talking
amongst themselves. Michiru moved past them into the nave and leaned
against the back wall, waiting for them to leave.
She let her gaze roam over the magnificent architecture of the building
while she waited. From where she stood, she could see that the dark windows
were made of stained glass; she wondered what they looked like in the
bright daylight. The vaulted ceiling arched high overhead. Candlelight
reflected from the various holders around the church.
Shifting around, she accidentally bumped against the small font beside her,
sending some droplets splashing onto the back of her hand. The cold shock of
the liquid against her skin made her recoil, then she raised her hand and sniffed
it cautiously.
"Holy Water," came a soft voice from the corner. "It purifies whatever it
touches, making it acceptable to God."
Michiru turned to see a nun step out of the shadows, her black and white
habit blending into the background. "I see. So, am I acceptable?" 
"We all can be. God will be faithful, even when we are not." She moved
closer. And as she did, a shock of recognition ran through Michiru.
Years earlier, while the Dead Moon Circus still hung over Tokyo, Tiger
Eye had chosen the same young nun as a target for the Golden Mirror and had
attacked her while she was praying. Her mirror had not held the Pegasus
and he would have killed her had not the Inner Senshi shown up in time to save
her life.
Were the scars of that attack still in her heart? Did she remember *anything* 
from that time? Michiru mentally squared her shoulders. Only one way to know for 
sure. . . . 
"You talk about your God to many people, don't you?" she asked softly, 
"How many of them can you remember?"
"A few stay in my memory," she replied, smiling back. "They are the ones
who have heard His Word and obeyed."
"And the ones who refuse? What about them?"
Now she shrugged. "I don't know. Once they leave this place, I have very
little chance of seeing them again. They fade with time."
Michiru slowly walked to the back pew, sitting down on the end of it. 
"Would this one have faded? Four or five years ago, a man asked you for your
God's love. Then he betrayed, attacked, and injured you."
A frightened look appeared on her face. "Nothing like that . . . ever
happened to me," she stammered.
"Didn't it?" Michiru asked quietly, "I'm afraid I don't believe you." With a
flourish, she produced her Deep Aqua Mirror from inside her kimono. "He
was after a mirror like this, a mirror for your dreams. Yours was not the one
he was seeking, so he was prepared to kill you." Holding the Mirror in her lap,
face up, she cocked her head to one side. "See for yourself." She lifted the
mirror up to face the Sister.
As the nun stared, the Deep Aqua Mirror cleared to show the truth of that
day: Tiger Eye standing in front of her as she was manacled to the Dream Table. 
Her own Dream Mirror was shining brightly in front of her body and she was
helpless before him.
Quickly, she looked away from the scene in the Mirror. "No. . . that never
happened," she whispered, hands at her head. "I've never told anyone about
that. No one knows!"
Slowly, Michiru lowered it again. "I'm afraid it did happen, Sister. There
was no one else there that day, except for those who saved you. Do you
remember that?"
The nun's eyes were unfocused, but she blinked a few times. "Girls. . . I
remember there were girls there." She looked up at Michiru. "You?"
"Associates of mine," the vampire girl admitted, "Friends I haven't seen in
years."
"Who. . . who are you, then?" she asked softly, "You see things none of us
can. What do you want here?"
"First of all, I wouldn't mind knowing who I'm talking to," Michiru said,
holding out a hand. "My name is Kaioh Michiru. And I've come for your help."
Hesitantly, the nun reached out. She lightly touched Michiru's fingertips,
then drew back, afraid. "My name . . . is Sister Mary Therese. The other sisters
just call me Therese." A little more boldly, she took Michiru's hand in her own. 
"If you did save my life all those years ago, I owe you a debt of gratitude."
Michiru smiled slightly. "In that case, I've come to collect. It's a
matter of life or death, in more ways than one. And something tells me that you
can help."

-----
Mary Therese tilted the photograph slightly. "So, these four girls are
missing?"
Michiru nodded, crossing her arms and leaning back. The two women were
sitting in the front pews as she filled Therese in on her task, leaving out several
minor details about her powers and her curse, of course. "They were lost during an
accident. Normally they would return on their own, but they could be hurt or
confused. So it's fallen to my partner and I to bring them back. The trouble is,
we have no idea where they are."
"And what makes you think I would know?" Therese asked, "I don't leave the 
church very often, you know."
The vampire Senshi shrugged. "Your order is known, though, for its
charities. They serve in hospitals, in soup kitchens, and in other places. Places
where our missing girls are more than likely to turn up, ne?"
"Why not just go to the police? Or are you afraid of something?"
Michiru sighed. "If the police get involved, it will not be good for their
health. Our friends don't care much for authority, honestly, and I'll consider
myself lucky if they even listen to me. Bring in police and they'll have to
start demanding hazard pay, if you understand me."
Therese narrowed her eyes. "Interesting. So, what do I do if I hear about
one of your girls?"
"Call me." Michiru scribbled down her phone number and handed it over. 
"Haruka and I will take care of things from there. I would strongly suggest that
whoever sees them not approach them. It could scare them into reacting. And
we do not want that."
The nun hesitated, then accepted the paper. "All right. I'll do what I can to
help. I suppose it's the least I can do for the ones who saved my life."
Michiru smiled. "How do you know I'm telling you the truth about that?"
Therese smiled back.
Michiru did a double take. It was not a reaction she had expected.
The nun smiled even wider at her expression. "Ah, you forgot that some of
the people in this religion can see the struggle between good and evil all too
well. I knew you were telling me the truth. I felt no evil or malice in your heart
when I first met you." Then she paused again. "But there is something about
you that I can't quite understand. Power. . . of some kind?"
She waited expectantly, but Michiru stayed silent.
Therese sighed. "I figured it was worth a try." She stood up. "Then I'll
start with my sisters tomorrow morning before we go about our duties."
Michiru stood as well. "Thank you, even if we do not find them." She
slipped out of the pew and began walking back down the aisle.
"Michiru. . ."
She spun back around.
Therese walked out of her pew and faced the Senshi. "The man who
attacked me. Whatever happened to him?"
Michiru's lips twitched. "He failed in his mission and died. Before he did,
though, he managed to save my friends, the ones he was supposed to kill."
"You don't feel sorry for him?"
At that, she hesitated . . . but only for a second. "I never had that luxury," she
retorted. Then under her breath, she added, "I was too busy feeling sorry for
the world I was defending." With a jerk, she swung back around and walked
out.

-----
The silence was shattered by the loud shrieking of the alarm.
In the artifical darkness, a figure stirred. From the warmth of the covers, a
hand emerged to slam down onto the clock, rendering it as quiet as she who had shut 
it off.
A groan from the other side of the bed, as Michiru rolled over and nestled
her chin on her partner's shoulder. "What time is it?"
The hand picked up the clock and passed it over.
"That early? I had thought I'd at least wake up after the sun went down. 
But that's just another myth." With a snort, Michiru tossed the clock over her
shoulder and onto the floor, then she slowly sat up and rested her chin on her hand,
wincing at a brief, stabbing pain behind her eyebrows. "Not that myth ever
worked on me before, ne?"
She received no answer. Not even a nod. Haruka had already gone back to
sleep.
Michiru sighed and went into the bathroom to wake herself up. She couldn't
blame her lover for being so tired. Four days had passed already and they still
had yet to find a single Senshi. It was as if they had vanished into thin air. 
Beneath the hot, pulsing spray of the shower, she leaned her head against the
wall and sighed again. Serenity's punishment was beginning to wear on
her. If results were not produced soon, she could find herself doomed to
this form for eternity. And Haruka couldn't afford to lose too much blood. Soon she 
would have to find another source.
The cool tile against her aching forehead made her feel a little better, a little
more focused. She still hadn't heard from Therese, she realized, and made up
her mind to call on the sister that night.
But she didn't have to.
Out of the shower, she had just tucked the edge of the towel underneath her
arms and begun wrapping a second one around her wet hair when the telephone
rang. She hurried to the living room to answer it before it could ring a second 
time and wake Haruka up.
"Moshi moshi?"
"Kaioh Michiru? It's Sister Mary Therese . . . ."
As she listened, Michiru clenched one fist in triumph. Her first break had
just come.

-----
She ignored the people walking past the mouth of the alley, going out for the
evening. They were unaware of all she had done for them in her life. Even now, 
they couldn't see the danger heading their way.
Unfortunately, neither could she. Which was unusual. Her senses
could find nothing in the air that suggested an attack, and it bothered her. Why
had she and her sisters been awakened, if not to defend this little planet?
VesVes gave a small groan as she placed the last crate on the loading
dock and straightened up, rubbing the small of her back. The four of them had
been split up when the darkness had flung them out into the world once more. 
She didn't know where the others were, but knew they were all still alive. No
matter. When the attack came, they would all know where to meet.
Until then, she was doing her best to blend into this world. In order to
live, she had taken a job in the local vegetable market. She didn't mind. 
Anything was better than going back into the darkness.
"Some reward. . . " she muttered, "I'll bet no one else had the same
nightmares I did." She winced uneasily as the images flashed through her mind
again.
Shaking her head to dispell them, VesVes turned to go back inside. 
Then she paused, frowning. The unease refused to leave her. She shook her
head again. Still, it persisted.
Behind her, she could hear the wind blowing the garbage in the alley
around. A piece of newspaper flew by her, followed by a few leaves.
Then a few cherry blossoms.
VesVes stiffened as one of them landed on the back of her hand.
Slowly, very slowly, she turned around.
The girl with the aquamarine hair bowed her head with a small smile. 
"Hello, Vesta."
"Neptune," she sighed, "I was wondering when the guardians would
come for us." Reaching up, she touched her flare-tailed reddish hair. "I guess I
wasn't too hard to find, ne?"
Michiru stepped forward. "It took a bit longer than expected."
"Ah, well. I suppose you're here to tell me about the fight, huh? Who
do I have to kill?"
"Vesta. . . ." Something in Michiru's soft voice made her look up. 
"There was a mistake. There's no attack, no danger to the Earth. Haruka broke
the darkness to save my life and she accidentally woke you up."
VesVes felt her legs begin to waver, so she sat back against the loading
dock. She knew what the Outer was going to say next.
"I've come to take you back home, Vesta. You can rest again."
"No."
It was only one word, spoken softly, but it stopped Michiru cold. She
paused, studying the girl dressed in jeans, red shirt, and working apron. The
answer was completely unexpected and she couldn't understand it.
"No?" she asked, "Why not? There's no one to fight here."
VesVes did her best to keep calm. The mere thought of returning to the
darkness below frightened her. The nightmares would come over her once
again and she would be helpless, alone, and scared.
"Sorry, Neptune. You may see it as a reward. To me, it's nothing short
of a curse." She turned away. "Now, if you'll excuse me. . ."
"You want to talk curses?" The voice was almost a whisper.
She half-turned. Michiru had bent her head forward, shoulders
rising and falling with each breath. Then, in a sudden blur of motion, she shot
forward. VesVes found herself pinned against the dock, bent over backwards
with a hand at her throat. Flat on her back, she stared up into the golden eyes,
now shining with an inner light. 
The wind blew around them, lifting Michiru's shoulder length hair off her 
neck. As it swirled around her face, she bared her fangs and hissed defiantly,
features contorted in rage.
"You want to talk curses?!" she snarled, "Take a good, long look Vesta!
This is *my* curse, placed on me by our Queen! Until you four are returned, I
can't rest! I can't live as normally as you have! I can't even. . . see my Haruka's
face. . ." Choking off a sob, she let the stunned Asteroid Senshi go and stepped
back.
Wiping angrily at the tears on her cheeks, Michiru glared at the girl. "Like it 
or not, Vesta, you have to come back with me."
Rubbing her sore neck, VesVes stared at her in fright. "Neptune, what's happened
to you?" she whispered.
"I told you, Haruka broke the seal to save my life. This is the penalty we had 
to pay for doing that. This and returning you Asteroids."
"Neptune . . . Michiru . . . I'm sorry. But I can't go back. You don't 
understand. . ."
"I understand my duty, Vesta. And I *will* fulfill it." She moved forward, 
hands clenching into fists.
VesVes seized a nearby crowbar and lifted it. "Forget it, Neptune. I've just
begun to sleep well again. I'm not going back to those nightmares!!" She swung
the metal bar in a wide arc, forcing Michiru to stop. As she slashed through the
air on the backswing, a sharp pain stabbed into her wrist and she came to a
sudden halt.
Haruka kept a tight grip on VesVes' arm and used her other hand to wrench
the crowbar away. She loomed over the smaller girl, blue eyes boring into her.
"If she could speak right now, she would be telling you not to try anything 
foolish," Michiru said, "And since Queen Serenity sealed her face and voice
away, she's been rather testy. I wouldn't try her patience."
Still restrained, VesVes spat into the ground at Michiru's feet. "You don't
know what it was like down there! That precious sleep you revere so much was
nothing but one long, neverending seige of horror for me!"
"Michiru, what are you doing?!"
The Senshi of Neptune spun around. There, at the mouth of the alley, stood
Sister Mary Therese, her habit fluttering in the wind. She clutched her rosary in 
one hand as she stared, wide-eyed, at the three girls in front of her.
Haruka's arm slackened a bit at the intrusion and VesVes took full
opportunity. With a twist, she freed her arm from the iron grip and climbed the
stack of crates like a ladder. Another leap and she was on the roof of the market.
The two Senshi exchanged glances, Haruka's surprised one with Michiru's
startled one. Then the vampire girl gestured upwards. "Go after her. I'll catch 
up."
The masked figure nodded and jumped straight up to the roof, ignoring the
ladder of crates. With a last swirl of her black trenchcoat, Haruka vanished into
the night after her target.
Mary Therese moved forward. "I'm disappointed in you, Kaioh Michiru. 
I thought of you as more than a bully. Just how honest were you being with
me?"
She brushed the question aside. "As honest as I could be, under the
circumstances. Now, I have my own question: How much did you hear?"
"I didn't have to hear anything. What I saw was cause enough to be worried. 
You don't really care about those girls, do you?"
That stung Michiru. "They are my allies, or at least, are supposed to be! We
all have a job to do. Whether or not I care about them . . ."
"Makes all the difference in the world." Mary Therese finished softly. 
"Does it?" she snapped back, "I told you the truth, Sister. Haruka and I have
to bring those four girls home, no matter what. If we don't, we pay the price."
"And if they don't want to go back, as that girl seemed to be saying?"
"Our. . . superior doesn't take no for an answer." Michiru answered, more
calmly. "We all took an oath to obey her, them included. They just have a
problem taking orders from others. I told you I'd be lucky if they'd listen."
Mary Therese came right up to her. "Maybe you're not talking to them in the
right way. Are you going to drag them back against their will, kicking and
screaming?"
"If necessary, yes."
"After this, I'm going to have to reconsider the help I've given you, Kaioh
Michiru, if this is the way you conduct yourself. Don't call me; I'll call you."
As the sister walked away, Michiru stared after her. Then she shook herself
and took off after Haruka and VesVes.

-----
Leaping from wall to rooftop to railing, VesVes was trying her best to shake
the black figure that dogged her. As she ran across a ledge, she risked a look
back over her shoulder to see Haruka soar across the street behind her, coat
flapping like a cape.
"Geez, Serenity must have really come down hard on them," she mumbled,
dropping down onto a flashing neon sign. "Remind me never to get Her Royal
Highness too mad. She'd probably turn me into a mouse or something and sic
the cats on me."
Jumping down to the street, she dodged into another dark alley and breathed
a sigh of relief. Haruka couldn't have seen that last sequence of moves from the
back of the building.
Reaching up, she whipped the bands out of her hair, letting it fall loose down
her back. The apron went next, leaving her in denim jeans and a red shirt.
Going down the alley, she checked the rooftops before stepping out into the
crowded streets. She hated to leave Tokyo now, but having two extremely
outraged Outer Senshi on her tail would definitely put a crimp in her work
schedule.
Suddenly the world went black around her and she smashed into an invisible wall. 
Cursing at the pain in her shoulder, she whirled around to see Michiru standing
not ten feet away. The two of them were closed off from the outside world. The
sidewalk was still solid beneath her feet, but it was like a black dome separated
them from everything else.
"I should have done this sooner," Michiru said quietly, "But I hadn't expected
that little turn of events. Now, VesVes. Where were we?"
Moving her shoulder around gingerly, the girl still managed a wry grin. "I
was about to leave you guys in the dust. I told you, I hated the darkness. I
don't mind the idea of having a rest and all. Hell, give me a nice pillow and a
broken alarm clock on most mornings. But the nightmares were killing me down
there, Neptune! That's why I was actually glad to find myself back here, as
weird as that may be. My dreams are better here!"
Michiru looked uncomfortable. "So we can't convince you to return
willingly, can we?"
VesVes moved closer and peered into the golden eyes once again, this time
seeing the pain within them. "I. . . damn, Neptune. Serenity really let you two
have it, didn't she? Haruka must've gotten her up on the wrong side of her royal
bed when she broke the seal, huh?"
At that, Michiru covered her mouth and chuckled softly. "Our Queen is
worried about you, Vesta. That's why she wants you home. Just leaving you
here on Earth is dangerous, for both you and the normal humans."
Taking her hand away from her shoulder, VesVes waved it around. "Yeah, yeah. 
I know. Listen, if I go . . . can you promise me that I won't have the nightmares
any more? That's all I want, Neptune. To have that peaceful sleep that I
couldn't have before. You give me that, I'll go back to the darkness."
The vampire girl sighed. "I'll do what I can. That's all I can promise right
now, Vesta. But I won't send you back if it's going to cause you that much pain. 
Is that good enough for you?"
She nodded. "It is."
"Excellent." The space around them opened up once again, sending VesVes
stumbling backwards, only stopping when she fell into another body.
A gleaming sword came down in front of her face and the flat of the blade
tapped her on the nose. Attached to it was a note: *I hate chases.*
VesVes tilted her head back and looked up into the metal mask and the now-angry
eyes. "Hey, Uranus. Serenity finally got tired of looking at that ugly mug of yours,
huh?"
Michiru caught Haruka's upraised arm. "Be nice, dear. She's our guest, for now."

-----
Less than an hour later, VesVes sat meekly in front of the fire as Michiru
inspected her shoulder. "So what happened back there, Neptune? One minute
you were all set to rip my head off; the next, you're negotiating. And who was
that woman in the penguin outfit?" Then she winced. "Ow, that hurt."
"It's only bruised," Michiru stated, "And that woman helped us find you. 
Although, after our little display, I think I lost her support."
VesVes nodded knowingly. "You got shamed into talking to me. Not too
fond of your methods, was she?"
"Pretty much," Michiru admitted. "But let me worry about that. Tell me 
about your nightmares. Why are they so bad down there?"
The Asteroid Senshi drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. 
"The Dead Moon Circus, maybe? Most of my nightmares are about my days in
the Circus. All that time spent under Zirconia's power really can't be removed in
one shot, Neptune. Or have you forgotten what it's like to be under the control
of evil?"
Leaning on the doorframe to the kitchen, Haruka smacked her fist into her
palm.
VesVes tilted her head. "Oh, you've done your best to shrug it off. But
what's going to happen when it's your turn to sleep in the darkness? Are those
little memories of Galaxia going to come back and haunt you? Deep down, I
hope they do, Uranus. Then you'll understand what I went through."
Michiru rubbed a hand across her forehead, feeling tired. She hadn't fed for
nearly a day. "I might be able to remove those memories from you, Vesta, or at
least dull them. Queen Serenity made me like the Shinma, able to bring
immortality and eternal happiness to those who wish. But I don't know the
extent of the effects on another Senshi. I could cover over those nightmares,
replacing them with happier dreams. But I could also end up killing you. You
could be sleeping forever, trapped in that dreamworld. Or the dreams would
control your life."
VesVes shrugged. "Right now, any option sounds better than going back
to the darkness alone. Uh, Serenity is gonna be really mad if you kill me, right?"
Haruka flipped her pad up. *Who knows? She never said. It would
probably save us the trouble of fighting with you again, though.*
"Cute, Uranus. I like you much better this way, you know. You're much
easier to talk with."
Haruka gestured at her in annoyance.
"Eh, you and what army?"
Michiru shot a glare at Haruka, stifling any further charades. "If you two are
finished insulting each other, I'm anxious to try this. The sooner it's over with,
the sooner we can take you back. That, and I'm hungry." She flashed her fangs,
bringing a scared look to VesVes' face.
"Whoa, whoa! You didn't say anything about biting me!"
"What did you think," Michiru asked, "That I was going to do all of this
through some telepathic link? I told you I was like Shinma. I must enter your
dreams through your blood for this to work."
The Asteroid Senshi looked uneasy. "It's not going to hurt, is it?"
She shrugged. "I wouldn't know. You would be the first person I've bitten. 
Haruka's been cutting herself for me, but it can't go on."
Taking a deep breath, VesVes stared at the floor. "Looks like I really don't
have a choice, huh?" Reaching back, she bound her hair into a long ponytail,
baring her neck. "Hey, Uranus? Don't get too jealous when she bites me, huh? 
I'm sure your turn will come."
Haruka stiffened, but subsided after another glance from Michiru, who put her
arm around VesVes' shoulders and gently leaned her back. "Thank you, Vesta. 
If this doesn't work, I'm sorry."
"Not as sorry as you will be," she retorted, relaxing in the embrace, "Because
if I die, I'm going to come back and haunt the two of you crazy."
Michiru smiled. "I'll be waiting, then." With that, she bent her head to
VesVes' neck, bared her fangs, and sank them deep into the soft flesh. The girl
stiffened, then her whole body went limp as they pierced her skin. Her head
lolled to one side and she let out a deep sigh before losing consciousness.

As Michiru pressed her mouth to the two puncture wounds and began
drinking VesVes' blood, images overwhelmed her mind.
She was attacking person after person, knocking their dream mirrors out of
their bodies. Always afraid of failing, yet unable to stop. Intoxicated by
the power she received from Zirconia, then from Nehelenia, she was always
on the edge of losing it. As the images passed through her mind, the feeling 
of helplessness persisted, the knowledge that she was not doing what she was 
supposed to. The longing for escape was there, but she had nowhere to turn. 
She was trapped.
[I've found them,] she realized, [But what should I do with them? We all 
have nightmares that we want to forget, but they also help shape our lives. If I
destroy all these memories, VesVes may change.]
Then she took a second look at the images and saw others.
The camaraderie of the Quartet as they plotted behind Zirconia's back, their
talents in the circus as they practised and performed, the joy the four of them
had in playing their games and the tricks they played on each other.
[I might not be able to erase her memories,] Michiru thought, [But I can
certainly change what she remembers. All she needs is a new focus.]
She began clearing the emotions that had tortured the young woman for so
long. All the fear and hate that she couldn't get rid of were shoved aside. The
memories that had haunted her dreams were torn asunder and scattered. Fragments 
would always turn up once and again, but they would not have the same chilling 
impact that they once did.
In their place, Michiru placed the memories worth remembering and prayed that 
her new dreams would be filled with peace rather than agony.

Carefully, she withdrew her fangs from the side of VesVes' neck. As she did,
the girl arched her head back and groaned softly.
Michiru placed one hand over the marks and cradled VesVes with the other. 
"It's okay, Ves-chan," she whispered, "It's all over. Your dreams will be quiet from
now on, I promise."
She looked up to see Haruka kneeling beside them both, note held out.
*Did it work?*
Michiru nodded. "It did. I think we can take her home."

-----

As the three figures approached the cliffs, Setsuna stepped out of her hiding
place, Time Staff at the ready. "Ah, the hunters return at last! Michiru, Haruka,
it's wonderful to see you again!"
"It's only been a week!" Michiru laughed as she and her partner took turns to
hug their friend.
"Yes, but the first time since we ruffled Serenity's and Endymion's royal
feathers. Are you two all right? I heard about your punishments."
Haruka and Michiru looked at each other.
"We're managing," Michiru admitted, placing a hand on Haruka's shoulder. 
"It's hard, Setsuna, but punishments are never supposed to be easy. How about
yours?"
Setsuna shrugged. "It's bearable. I wouldn't have enough strength to guard
the darkness myself, but Queen Serenity was kind enough to up my powers as
long as I stand guard here." Then she looked past them. "Finally found one, did
you? Hello, Vesta. We've been waiting for you."
VesVes grinned. "I'm sure you have."
The Senshi of Pluto reached out a hand to her. "I'll take you down myself. 
I'm sure that you're anxious to get back to your rest."
"You don't know the half of it," VesVes mumbled. Stopping by Michiru's
side, she held out her hands. "Thanks, Neptune. And good luck in finding my
sisters."
"You don't have any idea where they are, do you?" she asked, taking
the hands in her own and squeezing them lightly. "It would save us a lot of
trouble, you know."
"I wish I did. All I know is that they're still alive." Dropping Michiru's
hands, she elbowed Haruka lightly in the ribs. "Take care, Uranus. And don't
talk too much, or you might lose that great voice of yours."
Haruka's hand twitched and began reaching for the Space Sword, only to halt
at another glance from Michiru.
Grinning evily, VesVes moved forward and took Setsuna's outstretched hand.
"Ready when you are, Pluto."
Setsuna lifted the Time Staff and waved it over the rock face. With a
shimmering, one section of the cliff faded away to reveal a passage leading
into the depths of the earth.
VesVes turned around just inside the entrance, lifted her hand once more, and
smiled, then allowed Setsuna to guide her into the blackness.

-----

~I did not believe because I could not see,
Though you came to me in the night,
When the dawn seemed forever lost,
You showed me your love in the light of the stars . . .

Cast your eyes on the ocean,
Cast your soul to the sea,
When the dark night seems endless,
Please remember me . . . ~

"Dante's Prayer", Loreena McKennitt, "Book of Secrets" album, 1997

     Incredibly, I'm having a great time with this series.  When I
first read the title in one of His Lordship's "Curse of The Fanboys"
series, my mind refused to leave the idea of a vampiric Michiru
alone.
     Now, thanks to the kindness of His Lordship Chaos, our fanfic
host Greenbeans, and my friend Blazej, this little fanfic set is
alive!  To the three best editors I could have picked, I raise my
caffeine!  And to Mark Page, whose "Usagi Is Dead, Usagi Is Dead, Hip
Hip Hip Hooray" series brought a new insight into the Asteroid
Senshi.
     Comments can always go to cadz0001@algonquinc.on.ca
     That is, unless my college again feels that E-mail isn't
important for me to receive.  I pay them enough money.  Why do we
have so many problems?

     A word about "Dante's Prayer."  The instruments listed for it in
the "Book of Secrets" album are: piano, violin, keyboards, and
acoustic bass. But all I can hear in that song is the piano and
violin, along with Loreena's stirring lyrics.  She's a fellow
Canadian and that's a reason I chose this song, along with the dark
feeling of The Divine Comedy that it portrays.  If you can ever find
this song, listen to it while reading these chapters.

     Finally, thanks go to the God I worship, who gave me the talent
of writing and is an encouragement in my life.  Thanks, Jesus. ^_^.


- - - -
Vampire Princess Michiru  (Part 2)
- - - -


     The room was clothed in blackness.  Then, from somewhere up
above, a single spotlight burst on, its light streaking across to
shine on the velvet drapes that covered the far wall.  With a soft
hissing, the drapes parted, revealing the tiny stage and  elegant
backdrop of a classical banquet scene.
     Two marionettes shambled onto the stage from the wings.  One had
long blond hair and was dressed in a white and orange Sailor fuku.
The other was also a blond, but wore its hair in two ponytails and
sported a blue-skirted fuku.
     "Can you feel it, Usagi-chan?" the first one asked in a high
voice, striking a fashionable pose.  "Something is different today!"
     Puppet Usagi nodded and replied in the same high-pitched tone.
"Hai! Something's missing, Mina-chan!  What could it be?"  She tried
to strike her own pose, but instead tripped over her strings and
sprawled on the boards. "Ittaaaaiiiii . . . "
     "Baka Usagi," the Minako puppet sighed, not helping her up.
"One of our wonderful, talented, and lovely sisters is what's
missing!  We can't feel her anymore, can we?  The attack must have
started already!"
     Puppet Usagi scrambled back to her feet, her arm and leg strings
tangling even more.  "Whoever killed her, I'll punish them in the
name of the Moon, most severely!  OH-HOHOHOHOHOHO . . .  Awwwk!"  As
she attempted to pirouette while laughing maniacally, the threads
twisted around her body and neck, lifting her off the ground.
     The two little wooden legs kicked the air futilely for a few
seconds as soft choking sounds could be heard, then they slowly
quieted and the Moon Princess marionette hung lifelessly in the glare
of the spotlight.
     Off to the side, Puppet Minako shook her head, tiny wooden jaw
jerking up and down as she spoke again.  "Well, whoever's responsible
for the loss of my sister, I will gain my revenge!  And I'll cut
their life short, just like that pair of scissors up there . . .
nani?"
     As the little puppet looked up into the rafters, a hand wielding
that pair of scissors descended and cut.
     Puppet Minako collapsed to the floor, legs and arms at skewed
angles as its strings fell loosely around it.  The tiny head hit the
stage with the sharp bang of wood meeting wood.  Both figures lay
still.
     Then, from above, came the sound of girlish laughter.  "Another
happy ending, just like always!"
     The curtains slowly slid shut.
     The spotlight snapped off, plunging the room into blackness once
more.

-----
     Michiru stood at the glass doors and watched the sun sink below
the horizon.  The sky was the colour of Small Lady's hair and the
clouds shone with silver and gold halos.  She could see the trees
ruffled by the evening breeze and a few cherry blossoms were blown
off to land on the patio.
     Behind her, she felt her partner and lover approach.  "Good
evening, Haruka," she murmured, "It's going to be another clear
night.  That's good for us."  She turned away from the view and went
to the bookcase to pick up her violin.  "We have some time, too.
Care to practice?"
     If she could have seen beneath Haruka's steel mask at that
moment, Michiru knew that there would have been a smile on her
partner's face.  There was still one way the two of them could talk
with each other: through their music.
     Sitting down at the piano, Haruka flexed her fingers and nodded.
Michiru picked up her bow and drew it carefully across the strings,
listening for the tones.  She stopped to adjust a string, tried it
again, then nodded back in satisfaction.  "Ready."
     At the first touch of Haruka's fingers on the keys, Michiru
closed her eyes, concentrating only on the music.  She wanted to
forget for a little while: forget that she was under a penalty,
forget that she was hunting other Senshi, and forget that, deep
within her, the hunger was beginning to build once again.
     Listening to the piano, she chose her entrance carefully, moving
effortlessly into the framework Haruka had set up.  Her own fingers
slid along the carved neck of her instrument, selecting the notes and
blending them easily into the song.
     She opened one eye to watch her partner play, smiling as she saw
the determination in the blue eyes.  Haruka was putting forth one of
her better efforts tonight.  The mask meant nothing as the piano
spoke volumes in its place.
     The music slowed.  It became softer, notes tumbling forth in a
gentle melody, one Michiru had never heard before.  She was drawn
instinctively to it, shifting her own music to fit.  Her bow rose and
fell, sending the new tune out to weave together with Haruka's.
     Together they played a song they didn't know, pouring aching
hearts and troubled souls into the improvisation.  All the unspoken
thoughts and worries about their plight went into their music now,
pushing it beyond a simple practice.  It became a release of the
emotions that they couldn't express, a catharsis.
     Finally, Haruka looked up from the keys and heaved her shoulders
in a sigh.  Her hands came off the piano and she rested them on top
of it as she looked off into the distance.
     Michiru also silenced her instrument and leaned against the
piano, staring into nowhere.  Finally, after a few minutes of
silence, she spoke.
     "We should have recorded that.  There is no way we will ever be
able to play that song again."
     Haruka shook her head and stood up, lifting up the lid of the
bench.  With a flick of the wrist, she tossed a sheaf of papers on
top of the piano.  Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she saw the
surprised look she was given.
     Michiru picked up the sheet music and blinked at it.  "When did
you write this?  I never heard you play it before."  
     A note was offered and she took it.
     *When you were in the hospital.  I needed something to pass the
time while I waited for you.*
     Michiru looked up and smiled.  "So you sat at my bedside night
after night while I was in intensive care, trying to come up with a
song for me?"
     Even behind the mask, Haruka managed to look embarrassed.
     "Haruka, have I ever told you how much I love you?"  Smiling
even more broadly, she moved forward and hugged her partner tightly.
"Thank you.  I love it."  She was about to say more, but a knock on
the front door interrupted her.
         Stepping back, Michiru glanced at the door.  "We aren't
expecting company, are we?"
     Haruka shook her head and moved quickly, taking up a position
just beside the archway to the front hall.
     The Senshi of Neptune crossed the room and turned the knob.
With a quick backwards glance, she opened the door.
     "Hello again, Michiru."
     Sister Mary Therese stood on the front porch, the late evening
breeze ruffling the hem of her black and white habit.  "I figured
that since you came to me so late, this would be the best time to
find you.  I hope I'm not intruding."
     With mixed emotions, Michiru shook her head.  She knew she
needed the nun's help to find the Asteroids, but the woman's rigid
insistence grated on her 
own ideals.  "Did you have trouble finding where I live?"
     A small smile flittered across the Sister's face.  "None to
concern you.  May we talk?"
     "Of course."  Michiru stepped aside and allowed her in.  "May I
get you anything?  Tea?"
     "Please."
     Painfully aware of their stilted conversation, Michiru led the
Sister into the living room.
     Haruka, fortunately, had discerned the situation and left her
post when she had heard Mary Therese being invited in.  Now she
looked up from the couch, where she appeared to have been sitting and
reading.
     Michiru motioned at Haruka as she continued toward the kitchen.
"This is my partner, Haruka Ten'oh.  She lost her voice recently and
is unable to speak. Haruka, this is Sister Mary Therese."
     The masked face nodded silently.
     Therese, for her part, peered carefully into Haruka's eyes.
"You're no ordinary person, either," she said quietly, "Not after
that jump I saw the other
night."
     Haruka crossed her arms and shot a glance at Michiru, who
shrugged.  "I know.  Nothing I can do about it, either.  Just
remember that it was her help that led us to Vesta."
     Therese frowned as she sat down, arranging her robes.  "Ah yes,
the girl that didn't want to return."
     Michiru paused again as she entered the kitchen.  "You'll be
happy to know that she did go back home of her own free will, Sister.
We didn't have to force her."  She disappeared from view.
     "I see."  The nun looked at Haruka.  "What changed her mind?"
     Rolling her eyes blatantly in exasperation, Haruka snatched up
her pen and wrote.  With a flick of her hand, she tore the paper off
and handed it over.
     *Michiru says your advice gave her the help she needed.*
     Now Therese smiled.  "I'm glad to hear it.  Does this mean I'm
going to get some answers?"
     Haruka shrugged expansively and jerked a thumb at the kitchen.
     "I know, but I want to hear it from you.  You don't like me, I
see.  Why?"
     The Senshi of Uranus stiffened and glared, but subsided again,
putting a hand to her throat and looking down at the carpet.  Tears
of frustration stung her eyes as she was unable to bring out the
words she wanted to say.  Serenity's curse had silenced every sound,
be it breath or voice, for as long as the mask was over her face.
     Breathing deeply, Haruka tried to control her emotions.  There
was no telling what would happen if she began crying right now.
Being unable to clear her face of the tears would be bad enough.
Hearing the rustle of cloth, she glanced up to see Therese kneeling
in front of her.
     "So it's true," the nun said softly, "You really can't say
anything, can you?" She lifted a hand up while Haruka watched her
warily.  Her fingers touched the steel of the mask lightly, as if
seeking a clue to the young woman locked away beneath it.  Looking
directly into the blue eyes, the Sister could see every emotion
expressed in them, feelings that couldn't be communicated.
     "Pain . . . " Therese continued, "Frustration, and something
else.  Worry?  For Michiru?"  She smiled as Haruka's eyes widened.
"Don't look so surprised.  I've learned over many years to see the
truth behind peoples' faces, even when they try their best to
disguise it.  And despite what you may think, I *can* be trusted."
     Just as she was getting up, Michiru came back in with the tray.
The Senshi looked quizzically at the two of them.  "Is everything all
right?" she asked.
     Therese nodded as she sat back down.  "I was just asking Haruka
how she had lost her voice.  She seems to communicate rather well,
even without it."
     Michiru nodded as well and set a teacup in front of the nun.
"She does, but I'll be more than happy to hear it again when it
finally comes back.  It's something I've grown to miss."
     Therese picked up her tea as Michiru went to sit beside her
partner.  "Aren't you having one?"
     The vampire girl shook her head.  "Unfortunately, no.  I found
recently that I've become . . .  allergic to a lot of things.  Now,
you wanted to talk to me?"
     "My, eager to get down to business."
     "I have to be, Sister.  Three more Asteroids are out there and
Haruka and I do not have much time to find them.  The girls are still
unpredictable and the sooner they return home, the happier we both
will be."
     Therese took a sip of her tea.  "So I've seen.  Well, I am still
willing to help you locate these girls, Michiru, but only on one
condition: that I come with you when you find them.  I want to assure
myself that I'm not doing the wrong thing by turning them over to
you.  As it is, I have only your word that Vesta went back of her own
will."
     The two Senshi exchanged glances.  "You don't believe us?"
Michiru inquired quietly.
     "I never said that.  I believe that you are telling the truth
about the first time, but I want to be there for the others.  Like it
or not, that is the condition for my helping you."  Therese leaned
forward, cradling the warm cup in her hands as Haruka and Michiru
looked at each other once more.

-----
     The room lay in blackness once again.  In a moment, it was
pierced by another spotlight.  This time, instead of the harshness of
white light, the warmer green tones bathed the miniature stage.  As
the drapes swished aside, the background of cardboard waves began to
roll.
     Two marionettes rowed onto the stage in a small boat.  The one
with short blue hair and a matching blue sailor fuku wiped her
forehead as she pulled on the oars.  "I don't see why I have to row."
     The other, a brunette with a long ponytail and pink and green
fuku shrugged. "You know lightning and water don't mix, Ami-chan.
Besides, I'm on the lookout for whoever kidnapped our sister!"
     Puppet Ami shielded her eyes as she peered out into the light.
"Have you found them yet, Mako-chan?"
     The Makoto marionette scratched her head.  "Well . . . no, but I
know who could!"
     "Who?  Who who who?  Tell me, Mako-chan!"  Puppet Ami jumped up
and began clapping her hands.
     As the boat rocked back and forth dangerously, Puppet Makoto
waved her arms.  "Be careful!" she snapped, "The Guardians can help
us!  They're still here. All we have to do is get their attention."
     "Of course!" the Ami marionette cheered, doing a little dance.
"And I know just how we can do thaaaaaaaaaaat!"
     *SPLASH!*
     As the rowboat tipped over, the two puppets were thrown into the
waves.  A small spray of water flew up from behind the backdrop as
they landed.  Then the two heads appeared on the top of the
still-rolling waves.
     "Good one, Ami-chan."
     "Hey, at least we can swim."
     Just then, at the far side of the stage, a large fin appeared in
the middle of the water and began moving toward them. 
     The two puppets looked over at the fin, then at each other.  
     "Uhhh-ohhhhh. . . ."
     As the curtains closed, the sound of screaming could be heard
from behind the crushed velvet.

-----
     As she looked over the city's night life once again, Michiru
drew a deep breath and sighed.  "So, we don't really have a choice,
do we?"
     Beside her on the roof, Haruka shrugged.
     "I know you don't like it.  I don't either.  But without her,
we'd never have found Vesta, let alone the other three."  Michiru
sighed again and ran her tongue across her fangs.  "We'll just have
to make sure that she doesn't get hurt."
     Haruka shrugged again.
     "I know it's easier said than done, but I feel responsible for
her now."
     Haruka shrugged a third time.
     "I know it's my own fault, dear.  Now please stop arguing with
me and let me think for a little while."  Michiru leaned back against
the roof tiles, feeling a little better after having fed earlier in
the night.
     While out looking for the other Asteroid Senshi, she had broken
up a mugging, purely by accident.  The victim had escaped and Michiru
had exacted her own revenge on the would-be mugger, sinking her fangs
into his throat to drink his blood.
     When the police found him, he would be locked away in a hospital
for the rest of his immortal life, forever asleep in a world of
dreams.  No doubt they would wonder at the marks on his neck and,
over the years,  his longevity, but nothing would come of it.
     That was the difference between human and Senshi, Michiru
realized.  Vesta had recovered after a night of sleep, with no ill
effects from being bitten. She had not received eternal life either,
since that was something no Senshi could accept. The Moon Kingdom
kept careful rein on those sorts of things.
     Right in the middle of her musings, Michiru was startled by a
sudden flash of colour over her head.  A loud thump sounded beside
her, and she sat up.
     Haruka was on her feet, Space Sword in one hand.  The other hand
rubbed the back of her blond head as she glared across the roof into
the night.  Not seeing anything, she then looked down to see what had
hit her.
     Michiru leaned down and picked the ball up before it could roll
off the sloping roof.  It was about the size of a melon and made of
thick blue rubber.  Strangely, it felt light in her hands.
     "Are you all right?" she asked, moving over to examine her
partner's head. Her fingers probed Haruka's scalp gently, finding a
small lump but no bleeding. "No damage," she pronounced, stroking the
blond hair.  "That hard head of yours comes in useful, Haruka."
     As her partner tried to come up with a suitable response to her
jibe, Michiru turned to look at the trees across the street from
their house.  "It looks like someone wants our attention," she
murmured, "Well, whoever you are, you've got it."  Then she peered a
bit closer at the ball.  "Wait. . . ."  She passed the ball
to Haruka.  "Do you see it?"
     The masked woman nodded, then hefted the Space Sword and tossed
the ball in the air.  As it came down, the Sword came down as well,
cleaving the rubber in two.
     The two halves fell apart, revealing a piece of paper tucked
into the hollow center of the ball.  Michiru, who had spotted the
line marking the new join right off, plucked the paper out of the
air.  "It seems to be an invitation."
     Putting the Space Sword away, Haruka tilted her head in
confusion as her partner continued to read.
     Michiru looked up again.  "It's from Pallas.  She wants to see
us tomorrow evening." 
         If she could be bothered making a face, Haruka would have.  To
her, PalaPala was the most childish person she had ever met,
including Small Lady.  She wondered if time had improved the Asteroid
Senshi's immature disposition any.
     Then her partner frowned.  "And she signed it, "In the name of
Pallas, Tag-You're It"."
     Why, Haruka wondered, did she even bother asking?

-----
     Michiru stepped back into the shadows of the alleyway as she
carefully watched the old warehouse across the street.  The address
matched that on Pallas' letter.
     "I wouldn't be so worried if I didn't know Pallas as well as I
do," she murmured to Haruka, her gaze never leaving the building.
"She just loves her games a little *too* much, even to the point of
torturing people."
     Her companion nodded.  Then her head came up as she spotted a
figure walking down the sidewalk.  She tapped Michiru on the shoulder
to catch her attention.
     Leaning out, the vampire girl saw Sister Therese heading their
way.  "Good, she didn't have any trouble finding us."  Lifting her
hand slightly, she beckoned the nun in their direction, then ducked
back in.
     As Therese joined them, Michiru nodded in greeting.  "Hello,
Sister.  Pallas is waiting for us inside, I believe.  Before we go
anywhere, though, I should give you fair warning.  Pallas is
considered the most . . .  unbalanced of the four Asteroids, let
alone all of us.  She favours rather cruel tricks for her own
amusement and cares little for other people besides her sisters."
     The nun simply looked at her.  "That may be what you see, Kaioh
Michiru,
but I prefer to make my own conclusions.  Shall we go?"
     Stung, Michiru glanced over her shoulder at Haruka, who could
only shrug and move past the other two.
     The door opened easily enough under her touch and she slowly
opened it, peering inside.  Looking back, she gestured helplessly.
     "She says that it's pitch dark in there," Michiru quietly said
to Therese as they crossed the street.  "I wouldn't expect anything
else from Pallas."
     "You certainly don't seem to trust this girl too much."
     "It's all from experience, Sister.  Before they were our allies,
they were our opponents.  Our friends fought against the four of them
when the girls were with The Dead Moon Circus."
     "The *what*?"
     "I'll explain later."  Michiru looked into the dark interior
then nodded to Haruka.  "We go in."
      As soon as they had all crossed the threshold, the heavy door
closed behind them, sending echoes up and down the length of the now
dark building. Startled, Therese clutched the arm of Michiru's
kimono.  "What's going on?"
     The Senshi of Neptune shuffled back, feeling for the back wall.
"Pallas is determined to play her little games.  Just keep your back
against a wall and you should be all right.  Haruka, you with us?"
     She reached out and caught her partner's hand, moving her back
until they were pressed against the wall.  "Be patient," she
murmured, "She'll show herself soon."
     Then in the blackness, the solid wall rippled beneath her spine.

-----
     With a shriek of surprise and fear, Michiru let go of her
companions' hands and whirled around, ready to face whatever was
attacking.  Haruka, however, beat her to it.
     Beams of golden light shattered the darkness as the Senshi of
Uranus raised her arm into the air, power pouring from her clenched
fist.  And their opponents were caught in the brightness.
This chapter has taken an extremely long time to do, with ideas being
tossed away left, right, and centre.  I'm starting to think that I'm
just my worst critic.  Well, at least my editors are supportive.
Thanks to Chaos, Blazej, and Beans  for their own editing selections
(especially to B for his no-nonsense attitude for criticisms and
"I'll get around to it sometime"motivation) and to the members of 
the Circle of Time project for their support.

And a side note, which two out of three editors recommend: In the SM
manga, Michiru knows a bit about Tiger Eye, or so I'm told.  However,
in the anime, the Outers were not around for the SuperS season, and
would have no knowledge of the Dead Moon Circus, save what the Inners
would tell them.

At the same time, "in the manga, Tiger Eye and his other two
compatriots are  indeed killed and nothing more is said of them.  In
the anime, the Trio use the last of their power to restore Usagi's
dream mirror before they return to their animal forms. However the
Pegasus shows up and takes the three animals into his homeworld of
dreams, Illusion. There the fish, hawk and tiger are given a 
second chance at life." Thanks to His Lordship Chaos for that
information.

- - - -
Vampire Princess Michiru  (Part 3)
- - - -

     A tired sigh broke the silence.
     Flat on her back on the couch, Michiru stared up at the ceiling.
"Halfway there, Haruka," she murmured.  Then she closed her eyes as
her partner's hand began brushing her hair back.  "Oh, this feels
lovely . . ."
     Haruka nodded and kept stroking Michiru's forehead as the
turquoise hair spilled over into her lap.  The two of them had been
up early, having taken PalaPala back to the darkness that morning.  
     "Soon we can take our own rest," Michiru continued, "Queen
Serenity will lift our curses from us . . ."  Opening her eyes again,
she looked into the steel mask that hid her lover's face.  "And most
importantly, I get to see your face again."  Smiling, she shut her
eyes once more, letting her mind wander as she enjoyed Haruka's
soothing touch.
     Two Asteroid Senshi were down, two left to go.  Thankfully,
Vesta and Pallas had returned home with remarkably little struggling.
Michiru hoped that Ceres and Juno would go the same way, but she knew
the Asteroids could be extremely headstrong.
     Just then, the phone rang, jarring her out of her reverie.
     Haruka snatched the receiver up and held it to her ear.  She
listened for a second or two, then looked at the ceiling in
resignation and pressed the headset against the side of Michiru's
head.
     "Kaioh-san, it's Sister Mary Therese.  I hope you haven't
forgotten our appointment tonight."
     Drawing in a deep breath, Michiru let it out slowly,
exasperated.  "I haven't forgotten, Sister.  I'll be there, don't
worry."
     "I'm not worried, Kaioh Michiru.  Oh, and feel free to bring
Ten'oh-san with you too, if you like."
     "Thank you.  I'll be sure to tell her.  See you in a little
while."  She made a quick motion to Haruka, who hung up.  "Guess
who?"
     Behind the mask, Haruka's blue eyes rolled expressively.
     "Good guess.  A little reminder of our meeting for tonight, and
you're invited."  Michiru chuckled lightly at the expression the eyes
held now.  "Oh, you don't feel like seeing her again?  Well, you
don't have to come if you don't want to."
     Haruka's body sagged in relief.  Lifting her other arm off
Michiru's stomach, she tapped the face of her watch.
     "What time?"  Michiru pulled Haruka's arm down and squinted at
the hands of the watch.  "Not for another hour or two.  Just enough
time for a nice quiet nap, ne?"
     Haruka nodded in agreement and pulled an afghan off the back of
the couch.  Covering Michiru up to her chin, she dimmed the light
beside them and resumed the gentle head massage.
     Another deep sigh from the Senshi of Neptune.  "Haruka, you are
far too wonderful to me, did you know that?"

-----
     Sister Mary Therese nervously clutched at her rosary beads as
she watched the last of the parishioners leave the sanctuary.
Michiru had occupied her thoughts for most of the day, and even
through much of the service, as she sought to understand the mystery
of the young woman.
     Kaioh Michiru.  Who was she?  Therese still didn't have an
answer for that and she didn't have too much to go on, either.
     From what she could see, though, Michiru had a great deal of
both power and pain.  Whether the one had been the cause of the other
she couldn't say, but she wanted to know more about both.
     As Therese walked down the aisle to the back of the church, she
found herself wondering about the four girls that she had promised to
watch for. Michiru and Haruka were quite eager to retrieve them.
What was their rush?
     She pulled the wooden doors shut and bolted them for the night.
The other Sisters had already extinguished the candles and tidied up
for the cleaners. Turning off the lights in the entryway, she went
back into the sanctuary to head through to the convent.
     Then Therese stopped dead in her tracks as she saw Michiru
sitting in the last pew.  She knew that the girl hadn't been there
when she went out.  "You move fast, Kaioh Michiru.  Yet another
puzzle for me."
     The aqua-haired woman didn't look up.  "Why must everything be a
problem for you to solve?" she asked softly, thumb and forefinger
toying with the edge of her black and red kimono. "Why must you
question the things I do, demanding answers that I may not be able to
give?  Is this the way your God is, intrusive and demanding?"
     Hesitantly, Therese moved forward and sat down.  "Sometimes,
yes.  He does demand to be in every part of our lives.  And many
times He is not shy in getting our attention.  I question what you do
because I have to know who or what I am returning these girls to.  Is
it in their best interests?  What is happening to them when they
return?  And, most importantly, who are you that possess these
strange powers and behave as if humanity is below you?"
     Stung, Michiru raised her head, her golden eyes alight with an
inner fire.  "We have saved this world countless times from
destruction by other forces," she replied in a low voice, "I have
fought against friends, faced death more times than I care to
remember, and have seen the end of Earth approach again and again.
But no one on this planet has known this, since it all happened
away from your little everyday lives.
     "Your kind worries about simple things, such as work, food, and
money.  We had to worry about youma, the Silence, the lives of our
companions.  Yet we still managed to keep humanity out of most of our
battles.  No one ever thanked us for risking our lives or saving
theirs.  Few  even knew that we had done it.  If I behave as if
humanity is below me, Sister, then I do so because I've been
defending you for far too long.  That is why I hunt the Asteroids,
because they do not belong here with you.  Their powers are such that
having them among you is dangerous for your kind."
     "Who are you, Kaioh-san?  And who are they?  Why are you so
afraid to tell me?"
     "Who am I?" Michiru repeated, "I was a warrior.  A soldier of an
old Kingdom.  Now I am simply a guardian.  I wait for the time when I
can leave this world and rest with my friends.  But before I am
allowed to do that, I must return the Asteroids to that rest which I
was supposed to keep safe."
     "Supposed?" Therese prompted, sensing the emotion behind the
last sentence.      Michiru lowered her eyes.  "I became ill.  Haruka
and another Senshi, Setsuna, disobeyed our orders and broke the
darkness of our comrades' sleep to save my life.  It was then that
the four Asteroids left.  They thought that they had been awakened to
fight, but it was just Haruka being her usual determined self."  She
touched her lips lightly.  "As punishment, we were both cursed and
sent to bring the girls home.  When we are done, we can join the
sleep of our Kingdom.  Others will watch the seal in our place."  She
looked back up.  "There's your truth, Sister."
     "That's not the whole truth, is it Kaioh-san?"
     "No.  But it is all I will tell you and all you need to know,"
she replied, "Now, are you satisfied that our precious Asteroids are
in no personal danger from me?  Because the sooner that they are back
in our care, the sooner I can see my companion's face again!"
     The nun got to her feet and stepped backwards out of the pew.
"Then don't let me keep you."
     Michiru inclined her head.  "Thank you.  I'm sorry if I seem to
be in a bad mood, Sister, but it may be because I'm tired.  Will you
continue to help us?"
     "Perhaps.  If I find out anything, I will consider passing it on
to you.  But I still don't know if I can fully trust you.  And
tonight's conversation has shown that very clearly.   Remember that."
     "I'll do my best," she said dryly.
     As the Senshi began walking away, Mary Therese raised her voice.
"Michiru, about that man you talked about when we first met, the one
who attacked me . . . What was his name?"
     She half-turned.  "You want his name?  Why?  To make him seem
more human to you and less of a monster?  Or perhaps you wish to pray
for the animal soul that was doomed the moment he began that harvest
of mirrors?"
     Therese shook her head slowly.  "You have no compassion for your
enemies, do you?"
     "Like I said last time, Sister, I never had that luxury.
Instead, I had to stop him and his compatriots from killing innocent
people every day of the week." Michiru looked as if she wanted to say
much more, but swallowed her words and sighed.  "His name was Tiger
Eye.  If he went by anything more personal than that, I never knew
it."
     She nodded.  "Thank you."
     Michiru faced her down the aisle.  "Don't worry about Tiger Eye.
He's gone.  Worry about what could happen if I don't find Ceres and Juno
before they start trying to look for Vesta and Pallas.  Asteroid Senshi have
always beena touch on the deranged side.  And their powers are greater than mine
or Haruka's. If it comes to a fight, we may be in trouble.   That's what you
should worry about." Turning on her heel, Michiru strode out.  She didn't look back
again.

-----
     As Michiru alighted on her roof, she sighed and sat down right
where her feet had landed.  Many of Therese's words had bothered her.
Of course she had never had any compassion for her enemies.  They had
been killers, the Dark Armies of the galaxy.  It was hard to feel for
someone who insisted on ripping your starseed out of your head and
your head off your shoulders.
     And she couldn't understand the nun's worries about the Asteroid
Senshi. Why couldn't she see that no harm would come to the girls?
They weren't going to be punished for leaving the darkness.  She and
Haruka were already living *those* punishments for all of them.
     Growling in both frustration and weariness, Michiru clambered
off the roof and slid the patio door aside.  "I'm back, Haruka."
Then, as she raised her head to look over the living room, her eyes
widened in horror.
     Beyond overturned chairs and broken glass, she could see the
Space Sword rammed deep into the brick of the fireplace.  The whole
front of the fireplace was blackened, as if scorched.
     Kicking debris out of the way, she stumbled over to the Sword to
pull it out.  Being unearthly sharp, it could cut through almost
anything, but to be driven that deeply into material such as brick
took tremendous strength.
     As she grasped the hilt, it crinkled beneath her hand, startling
her.  Then she noticed the paper wrapped around the grip.

      **Hey, Neptune.  I wish I could say it's nice to see
you and Uranus  again, but we've got business to discuss.  And since
Uranus wasn't feeling up to talking to me, I've decided that I need
to see you.  If you want to find the two of us, let's just say that
the circus is back in town and leave it at that.  You're smart, I
know you'll figure it out. 
              Ta-ta!
              
              Juno
              
              P.S.  Oh, sorry about the mess, but Uranus didn't feel
like moving. I had to . . . convince her.**
       
     Feeling a rush of anger, Michiru planted her feet and yanked on
the Sword. It came loose with a rasping and crumbling of mortar.  She
kicked cushions aside until she found the sheath, then slid it over
the Sword.
     Two steps and she was outside.  Another and she landed on the
roof again.
     Tying the sword and sheath to the belt of her kimono, Michiru
turned around and glowered out at the night.  "You think you were
hunted before, Juno?  Just watch!"
     With a leap aided by her vampiric strength, she vanished into
the blackness.

-----
     High above Sister Mary Therese's head, the bells tolled six
times, signalling the end of her morning devotions.  As she walked
down the halls of the convent, she paused in front of an archway to
watch the sun rising.  She decided the weather was too good to
ignore, so she stepped out into the small courtyard to bask in the
light.
     Although she hadn't admitted it the other night, she was worried
about Michiru and her partner.  The two of them seemed to have turned
their backs on the world, seeking solace in each other while they
waited for their "rest".
     Therese had no doubt that Michiru had been telling her the
truth.  After the aqua-haired girl had left, she remembered where she
had heard of the "Senshi" before.
     Only a few people hadn't heard the rumours of the girls who
appeared and fought monsters in the streets of Tokyo all those years
ago.  The police had never identified them and one day, all sightings
had just stopped.  The stories died out and the memory of those girls
had faded from the public consciousness. Except for the ones whose
lives had been saved by those girls.
     Therese knew that she had met the Senshi who had been called
Neptune.  And she could believe that girl had seen all those battles
and deaths.  It was evident in her eyes.
     "So," she said to the air, "You don't wish to face my world, but
you can't return to yours just yet.  Now what do I do with you,
Kaioh-san?"
     "For starters, you could come on up and enjoy the view," came a
quiet voice.
     She whirled, but the courtyard was empty.  Only the small beds
of flowers waved in the morning breeze.
     "Up here, Sister."
     Lifting her gaze to the sloping roof, Therese found Michiru
lying on her stomach, head pillowed on her arms.  Michiru looked asleep, but then
one golden eye slowly opened and she smiled slightly.  "If you think the sunrise
is beautiful down there, see it from here."
     Therese looked up at her, then went over to a ladder that was
leaning against the roof.  Hitching her robes, she climbed up and eased herself
across the shingles until she was sitting beside the younger woman.
     Michiru carefully pulled herself up into a sitting position as
well, then indicated the orange sky.  "This is my first sunrise in a long while.  I'm
gladit hasn't changed 
much since last time."
     The nun nodded slowly, not saying anything.
     "Now, since you took my last suggestion, how about understanding
that I want nothing to do with people?  I will leave them all behind
when my Queen calls me back, so I don't want to cause them any
trouble when it happens.  Is that so wrong?"
     Therese opened her mouth, but closed it again.  Then she shook
her head.  "I don't want to argue with you, Kaioh-san.  It seems
we've been doing a lot of that lately.  What are you doing back so
soon?"
     Michiru looked down and lifted the Space Sword off her belt.
"Haruka is missing.  Juno got her last night and I've spent hours
looking for them, with no luck.  I've been sleeping here since about
three this morning.  I couldn't stay home and  . . ."  Her voice
caught in her throat as she cradled the Sword in her arms.
     "You need help," Therese finished.
     "Please."  All her amusement was gone and the pain and worry for
her lost partner was plain on her face.  "I'm not used to being
without her, Sister.  We've fought together for years, even when we
were forced into betrayal to save this world.  I can't go and face
Juno alone like this.  I *need* someone with me."
     Gently, Therese took the Sword from her and lifted the sheath.
Even in the brightness of the morning, the metal still shone strongly
enough to make the eye hurt.  "What kind of weapon is this?"
     "A Talisman," Michiru replied, reaching into the neck of her
kimono and pulling out the Deep Aqua Mirror.  "Just like this one.
They nearly cost Haruka and I our lives once, so we're very
protective of them.  That's why I'm so worried about her, since it
was left behind when she was taken."
     The nun carefully replaced the sheath and handed it back to her.
"Do you know where Ten'oh-san is?"
     "No.  I searched for hours last night . . . . " Then she sat
bolt upright and stared out across the rooftops.  "Sister, tell me
you see that shelter over there."
     "What?"  Therese squinted a bit, trying to block some of the
sunlight from her eyes.  "That circus tent?  I see it.  Why?"
     "Juno left me a note saying that the circus was back in town.  I
had thought it was a joke, a reference to her days with the Dead Moon
Circus, but she is an acrobat of high degree.  Perhaps she joined a
real circus while she waited.  I must have missed it in the dark last
night!"
     Therese laid a hand on the younger woman's shoulder.  "Slow
down, Kaioh-san.  What do you plan to do, jump in and wave that sword
around?  You asked me to help you and I will, but my way.  Now let me
get to the ladder, since I can't jump around like you can."
     Impatiently, Michiru sighed and tried to calm herself.

-----
     The gates were closed and locked and a extremely large man in
black jeans and shirt was doing his best to discourage any company.
He peered over the top of his sunglasses at the two women as they
approached.  "Sorry ladies," he said, leaning back against the metal
bars.  "Can't let you in during rehearsal times.  Kind of throws the
performers off a bit, you know?"
     Michiru fought the urge to bare her fangs at him and simply
throw him out of her way.
     Therese seemed to sense her agitation and laid a hand on her
arm.  "We're not here to watch the show.  We're looking for an
acrobat named Juno, if she works here."
     He frowned and lifted his shoulders, stretching the fabric of
his shirt even more.  "Don't know a Juno.  You sure she's with us?"
     Michiru patted her head.  "She has green hair, usually done in
three tails, acts a bit oddly, and detests taking orders from
people?"
     "Oh, her!  Yeah, she calls herself JunJun, though.  Hell of a
temper, that kid, if you get on her bad side.  Sorry, Sister."
     Therese waved it off.  "We'd like to see her.  She might be
expecting us, if you could please check?"
     "Sure thing.  Just wait here a sec."
     As soon as he was out of earshot, Michiru sighed, feeling
aggravated.  "So much for the element of surprise."
     Therese shrugged.  "What do you want, Kaioh-san?  Your partner
back or a fight on your hands?"
     "Right now, both might do me a lot of good."  Then Michiru
slapped her forehead and sighed again.  "Oh Kami, I'm starting to
sound like Haruka."
     "She's the one with the quick temper?"
     "More than somewhat.  Maybe that's why she had the Sword and I
had the Mirror in our heart crystals.  They would match our
personalities."
     "I'm not going to ask," the nun murmured.  Then, after an
awkward pause, "The other day, when I came to your house, I heard the
two of you playing.  You're extremely good, you know."
     Michiru looked up disbelievingly.  "You heard?"
     "Yes, well, it was hard not to with your window open.  You
performed publicly, didn't you?"
     "At times, yes," she admitted, "But that was before our battles
became more serious.  I do miss the stage to some degree, but it is a
small price to pay for our safety."
     "Would you consider one more performance?" Therese asked,  "For
my convent?  I haven't heard music like that in years and I'm sure
many of the others would love to hear you play."
     Michiru smiled, bowing her head in acknowledgement.  "I'm
honored for you to say so, but it may not be possible.  As I said
earlier, when the Asteroids are returned, my Queen has promised to
take us below for our own rest. We've been waiting many years to hear
her say those words and now she has."
     Then they both turned as the security guard reappeared and
lifted the gate up.  "She's just going in for her training, but she
said to let you in."  He nodded at Therese respectfully, standing
aside to let her in.  "You'll find her out back."
     Michiru smiled at him as she went through.  "Thank you."
     "No problem.  Just don't let the director know.  He doesn't care
much for free visitors."  At that, he grinned, winked, then lowered
the gate back down and resumed his intimidating stance.
     As the women walked around the main tent, Therese spoke again.
"What do you plan to do now?"
     Michiru shrugged, stepping over a puddle.  "I'll have to tell
Juno that there are no more attacks coming.  That's probably what she
wants to see me about. She'll get upset, yell at me a bit, then we'll
talk seriously.  I just have to let her
get her yelling out of the way first."
     The two of them came in sight of a large structure with a
trampoline in the middle.  A girl in her late teens had just stepped
up from the crash mats onto the trampoline and was adjusting her
balance.  Her green hair was in a ponytail reaching down to her waist
and she brushed her bangs back as she tested her legs.
     Then she began jumping.  With each leap she gained a bit more
height until she was more than fifteen feet in the air.  While
Michiru and Therese watched, she executed flips and twists in nearly
impossible combinations.
     Michiru smiled at Therese's expression and leaned over.  "That
is a lifetime of practice coupled with the power of an Asteroid," she
said as JunJun did a double backflip with a twist, landing perfectly
on her feet and rebounding into the air.
     "Can she still crash?"
     "Of course.  The power that we have doesn't prevent us from
being injured.  Look at her left arm; it's wrapped up.  I wonder if
that's from last night."
     The two were leaning on another barrier that separated the
practice area from the rest of the field.  As they talked, Michiru
watched JunJun carefully.  Vesta and Pallas had been willing to
listen to her before, but she knew that the Senshi of Juno wouldn't
be as easy.
     Then JunJun landed and froze her momentum, bouncing to a stop.
Her head came up and she stared at Michiru, straight into her eyes.
She tilted her head forward, acknowledging the presence of the elder
Senshi.  Then she resumed her routine.
     At that, Michiru snorted softly.
     Therese glanced at her.  "What's wrong?"
     Michiru shook her head, hair swinging around her ears.
"Nothing.  I'm sorry."
     The nun moved closer to her.  "Tell me about Ten'oh-san.  You
two are more than just close friends, aren't you?"
     "Haruka is . . . all I have.  She is my companion, my partner,
and my friend.  And I love her so deeply that I can't even begin to
describe it.  Once, I remember saying that a world without Haruka
would be hardly worth saving.  That is more so now.  When I was sick,
she didn't even think about the punishment for disobeying our orders,
but went and took the blood I needed.  And now, even with her face
and voice sealed away as punishment for that, she continues 
to care for me as only she can.  I want her back.  Then I will send
Juno back to  the sleep where she belongs."
     "Before you do all that," Therese cautioned, "You're going to
have to talk to Juno, remember?"  At Michiru's sour look, she frowned
back.  "You asked me for my help, Kaioh-san.  If you dislike the way
I do things, then I shouldn't be here.  You can handle things
yourself, just like you handled those monsters years earlier."
     "If I was dealing with youma and demons, my job would be much
easier," Michiru replied softly, "But to be facing other Senshi
again, I must have a balance.  Facing the Asteroids . . . brings back
memories.  Unpleasant ones of another fight I was in.  One day I
might tell you of it, too.  But for now, I admit I do need your
help."
     Therese watched as JunJun landed upright in a spectacular
finish.  "That will be good enough for me, Kaioh-san, despite your
impatience and doubts. And it looks like your friend is ready for
you, too."
     Moving quickly through the gate, Michiru strode towards the
trampoline and the people around it.  As she came closer, JunJun
nodded again in greeting as she sat on the metal edge, wiping her
face with a towel.
     "Care to give it a try, Neptune?  Or do you just reserve that
kind of exercise for special occasions with Uranus?"  She grinned at
that, gesturing to dismiss the others around her.
     Michiru walked right up to the Asteroid Senshi.  "If you wanted
my attention, Juno, you have it.  Now, let Haruka go."
     "Hold on, Neptune!  I *know*."
     "You know?" Michiru asked, frowning.
     Juno rolled her eyes.  "That there is no surprise attack coming!
Geez, it's not hard to sense absolutely *nothing* is happening out
there.  Coupled with the fact that now I can't feel two of my
sisters' presence any more, I'd say that you're trying to gather us
back in.  What went wrong?"
     "My health," Michiru replied quietly.  "I was sick and Haruka
woke you by accident when she went into the darkness to save my
life."
     "Oh, is that it?  Sorry I forgot to send flowers or something,
but I've been a little busy as of late.  Feeling better?"
     "Not quite," she said, ignoring JunJun's biting sarcasm.  "But
enough about me.  Why did you attack Haruka?  What do you want?"
     JunJun shrugged.  "Not much, really.  I guessed you'd be coming
after me, but I wanted to talk to you before you tried to send me
back to the darkness. Uranus wasn't in much of a talking mood when I
went to your house, so I had hoped that I could talk to her here
instead.  But she hasn't woken up yet."
     "She won't be talking any time soon, either," Michiru said, "Not
since Queen Serenity sealed her voice in punishment for breaking the
darkness." 
     "Then let me tell you, Neptune.  I'm not ready to go back yet!"
     "Resisting again, Juno?"  Michiru hitched up her kimono and
carefully sat down beside her.  "What's wrong with being able to rest
from our fights?"
     JunJun twisted her towel in her hands.  "Nothing!  But there's
just . . . something I'm worried about.  You probably can't do
anything about it, but I want someone else to know about it, just in
case I lose it in my sleep down there!"
     Michiru nodded, glancing back at Therese.  "All right.  But we
should talk privately, then.  Not here in the open."
     JunJun looked up.  "My trailer's just over there.  Follow me."

-----
     As JunJun walked into her trailer, she turned on a small floor
lamp. "Wakey-wakey, Uranus.  You've got company."
     "Haruka!"
     Michiru rushed in, brushing past JunJun and leaping into her
partner's arms.  The masked Senshi carefully sat up on the bed,
leaning against the wall as Michiru snuggled into her embrace.
     JunJun chuckled.  "You'll have to excuse them," she told
Therese, who had entered behind her, holding the Space Sword.  "They
do so hate being apart."
     "So I've noticed," came the amused reply.
     "Hey, who are you anyways?  Neptune doesn't seem the type to be
needing spiritual guidance."
     Therese smiled.  "Just think of me as Kaioh-san's last link to
her own humanity.  She seems to have left that behind a long time
ago."
     Nodding, JunJun lowered her voice.  "Unfortunately, Sister,
almost all of us have.  It's part of being who we are, you
understand.  Then again, I don't really think I was ever human to
begin with.  Hey, Neptune!  You want her to stay for this?"
     Michiru looked up from her talk with Haruka.  "She's been
worried about you for ever since I first asked her for help.  I think
she should hear you, just so she can understand my position better."
     "All right," JunJun shrugged, "Then listen carefully.  I don't
know if my thoughts will survive after I'm put back to sleep, so I'd
like you to know them.  And, if for some reason my fears come true,
Neptune, remember me to Serenity, would you?  Remind her of all I've
done."
     Michiru frowned as she leaned back against Haruka and her
companion wrapped her arms around her waist.  "Juno, what are you so
worried about?" 
     "It's quite simple, Neptune.  Frighteningly obvious, too.  We
Asteroid Senshi have always been the wild cards of the Senshi deck.
Whenever there was a task that Queen Serenity didn't want her
precious normal Senshi to handle, she'd send us.  To be honest, we've
done things to protect the Moon Kingdom that would make even you
shudder.  It's our style, really.  But most of that vanished when we
fell asleep."
     "Then you joined Nehelenia when you woke again," Michiru said,
golden eyes narrowing.
     "Let's just pass over that, shall we?  That's not my concern
right now, Neptune."
     "Then what?"
     "I'm afraid of what's going to happen to us when Serenity
creates Crystal Tokyo!  When she brings peace to the Kingdom, what
will happen to her wildest fighters?  Are we going to be forgotten
and tucked away somewhere safe?  Or is she going to send us into
battles far away until people forget us and we die alone?"  JunJun
shook her head, long green hair swinging.  "Don't get me wrong,
Neptune.  I don't mind the idea of peace.  It's the problem of living
with it for too long that I don't like.  When peace comes, soldiers
are always looked at with scorn.  And with our records . . . ."
     Michiru sat silently, knowing that JunJun was right.  Crystal
Tokyo would still need warriors, but ones it could control.  Even
though the Asteroids answered only to the Queen, their radical
approach to things would make them undesirable.  The Outer and Inner
Senshi would be safe, due to their planets' status and their own
proven loyalty, but the Asteroids had no such guarantee. Senshi that
held as many secrets as they did would be more of a liability.
     "Juno . . . ."
     "Scares you, doesn't it, Neptune, that something like that could
happen?  Well, if it does, remember what I told you here.  Because
they won't listen to us once their minds are made up."  JunJun heaved
a deep sigh and rested her chin on her hands.  "Okay.  You want me to
come home now, right?"
     Nodding, Michiru broke Haruka's embrace and knelt in front of
the Asteroid  Senshi.  "I wish I could say you had a choice, but you
don't.  If the curses laid on us are to be lifted, you four have to
sleep again."  She gently took JunJun's hands in her own.  "I promise
you, I won't forget what you told me.  And, if you need help when the
time comes, both Haruka and I will support you."  She felt the girl
squeeze her hands tightly.
     "Thanks, Neptune.  I'll come to your house tonight after the
show.  It's our last booking in Tokyo and I'll just tell them I have
business here.  If they don't let me go, I'll yell at them a little."
For the first time in a while, a smile appeared on her face.  "But
I'll see you this evening and that's my promise."
     "All right."  Michiru pushed herself to her feet and gestured to
Haruka and Therese.  "We should go, then.  Both Haruka and I need our
own rest."

-----
     "Your prayer was answered, Kaioh-san.  You did quite well."
     Michiru shook her head.  "I was very lucky, Sister.  Juno is
quieter than she used to be, less arrogant.  She's so worried about
what may happen to her that she can't even assume an attitude.
Perhaps that will temper her personality in the future."
     "Do you believe she will show up tonight?" the nun asked.
     "Asteroid Senshi may be many things, but their promises are
good.  I believe her.  We'll let her stay with us for the night, then
take her back to the darkness tomorrow.  Forgive me, but I can't
allow you to accompany us for that.  Some secrets must be kept.  But,
thank you for your assistance."
     Therese nodded.  "I understand.  I was glad to help, Kaioh-san,
and I hope to find you your fourth friend soon.  Tell Juno that I
will include her in my prayers tonight, if that makes her feel
better."
     "I will, Sister," Michiru said, putting her arm around Haruka's
waist.  "Now, if you'll excuse us, we should get home before too many
people see us.  Haruka's mask does tend to draw attention."
     Smiling mysteriously, the nun tilted her head in agreement, then
turned and walked away.
     Michiru chuckled and poked her partner in the ribs.  "Come on.
We've still got that mess to clean up from your little fight with
Juno.  I made sure to leave it just for you."  As she helped Haruka
along, she looked over her shoulder at the back of Therese.  "She
helped me a lot this time, Haruka.  More than I ever expected her
to."  Looking back up, Michiru recognized the doubt in her partner's 
blue eyes.  "Yes, I still think we can trust her.  We may have to if
she finds Ceres before we do."

-----
     JunJun sighed and brushed a tree limb out of her way.
"Serenity's probably going to mess with my head as soon as I'm
snoring," she muttered.
     Michiru shook her head as she guided the Asteroid Senshi towards
the cliffs at the edge of the forest.  "Juno, please stop worrying
about it."
     "It's my right to worry, Neptune."
     "Fine.  Then do it quietly for just a few more minutes.  And no
bothering Setsuna, either.  She has enough on her mind as the Senshi
of Time."  Michiru winced as she glanced up into the early-morning
sun.  "And you know I offered to try and ease your mind."
     "Thanks, but no thanks, Neptune.  I'm kind of squeamish about
teeth and my skin, you know."
     Shrugging it off, Michiru saw the Senshi of Pluto step out in
front of them. "Setsuna, don't you ever sleep?"
     The green-haired Setsuna leaned on her Time Staff.  "Once in a
while.  Too much sleep, though, and I miss something important.  You
all set for a nice long nap, Juno?"
     "More than I am for a rude awakening," JunJun muttered beneath
her breath, only to receive a gentle elbow from Haruka in her ribs.
"Oof!  Okay, Uranus!"
     She moved forward to take Setsuna's outstretched hand, but
paused. "Uhhhhhh . . ."  JunJun's face turned pale and she clutched
at her chest as she
stumbled and fell to her knees.
     Immediately, the three Senshi were kneeling around her.  "What's
wrong, Juno?" Setsuna asked.  "Are you all right?"
     "Ceres . . ." JunJun gasped, "Neptune, you have to hurry and
find her!  Something's wrong!"  Staggering, she tried to get back to
her feet.  "I changed my mind.  I'm not going back!"
     Michiru didn't hesitate.  "Setsuna."
     The Senshi of Pluto nodded and grabbed JunJun's arms, holding
her back.  "Let them take care of it, Juno.  You have another
appointment."  She managed to slam the butt of her Staff into the
ground, causing the cliffs to crack open and reveal the path to the
darkness.
     Struggling, JunJun tried to get out of Setsuna's grip as she was
dragged back.  "Let me go, Pluto!  You have no idea . . . I need to
go to her. . ."
     Michiru looked anxiously at Haruka as the rockface sealed behind
the ranting Asteroid Senshi and their third partner.  "We'd better
hurry.  If something happens to Ceres before we find her . . . . "
-----

               ~Though we share this humble path, alone,
                 How fragile is the heart,
                 Oh give these clay feet wings to fly,
                 To touch the face of the stars . . . .
                          
                 Cast your eyes on the ocean,
                 Cast your soul to the sea,
                 When the dark night seems endless,
                 Please remember me . . .  ~
                          
"Dante's Prayer", Loreena McKennitt, "Book of Secrets" album,   1997

 What's that you say?  The series can't be over?  Well, there are only
four Asteroid Senshi and there is such a thing as pushing my luck. 
     Thanks as usual to my editors, Blazej, Beans, and Chaos.  And to
Mark Page, who knows more ways of killing a Senshi than any other SM fan.
     Comments can, of course, go to cadz0001@algonquinc.on.ca

- - - -
Vampire Princess Michiru  (Part 4)
- - - -

<<<<>>>>
Flashback
<<<<>>>>

     In the dimness, Michiru leaned her head on Haruka's shoulder.  "You
know, I never went to the circus as a child.  You?"
     Her silent partner shook her head and offered a bag of popcorn.
     Michiru chuckled.  "No, thank you."  Then she gestured toward the
centre ring.  "There she is.  And she looks quite elegant tonight."
     Far below them, JunJun had stepped into the spotlight.  Her long
green hair was back in its triple tail braid and her costume sparkled
with sequins. Nodding at the applause, she gestured to her fellow
acrobats, suggesting the crowd include them.
     The small group clustered together for a few seconds, then boosted
JunJun up onto their hands.  From there, she leapt onto the trampoline
and bounced a couple of times as her partners moved into place.
     Once she was sure of their positions, she began her routine in
earnest, her body flipping up and around in the air.  The awed murmurings
of the crowd grew louder as she gained height with each jump.  The braids
of her hair flew around her during her spins and rolls, winding close to
her body, then flying out again.
     Bending her knees, JunJun came to a halt and steadied herself while
the audience cheered.  Then they stilled as she held up a hand.  Leaning
over to a male acrobat, she motioned for him to ascend another trampoline
beside hers.
     She looked to the audience and grinned wickedly as she stood back up
and centred herself.  Raising her hand, she counted down to one, then she
and her partner began bouncing in synch.
     Awe gave way to astonishment in the crowd as the two of them
mirrored each other's tricks, twisting and tumbling together in a nearly
flawless pattern. Then, in the space of a heartbeat, they hit their
trampolines simultaneously, soared into the air, and arced across the
space that separated them.  JunJun twisted her body agilely, matched by
her partner, and they landed on each other's trampolines.  Both snapped
their heads around and raised their hands to the crowd in triumph.
     Michiru made a small noise of admiration as, all around her, people
shouted their approval.  "Impressive, ne Haruka?"
     Haruka nodded, somehow able to hear her over all the noise.
     "She seems to quite enjoy her work.  Just like we used to."
     Haruka turned her head.  The steel mask hid all her features, but
her blue eyes held a trace of wistfulness.
     "I miss it sometimes, too.  But sacrifices had to be made."
     Another nod.
     "We changed, didn't we?  We gave up our lives to save this world,
then we couldn't go back to them."
     Haruka produced her pad and wrote something down, then passed it
over.
     *You don't believe that, do you?*
     Michiru sighed and tucked the paper away in her kimono.  "I don't
know, but I desperately want to prove it wrong."  Her eyes followed the
tumbling JunJun as she and her partners executed many more daredevil
tricks.

<<<<>>>>
-----
     Michiru leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees.  Her
fingers massaged her temples and forehead as she considered the problem
that lay in front of her.  With Juno returned, Ceres was the last
Asteroid Senshi left.
     But something had happened, that she knew.  The pain on Juno's face
as she was going back to the darkness confirmed that Ceres had run into
trouble. The desperation in the green-haired Asteroid Senshi as Setsuna
hauled her away, preventing her from breaking loose and going after her
sister.
     Looking back on it, Michiru was regretting her order to remove Juno
to the darkness.  Her help would have been invaluable in finding Ceres.
Now, nearly two days later, she and Haruka had searched for their last
target with no success.
     Michiru lifted her head and let her breath out slowly.  She was so
close to being finished, so close to having her curse lifted and her rest
in the darkness confirmed.  Just one more girl to bring home . . . one
more girl that seemed to have vanished off the face of the earth.
     There had been no word from Sister Mary Therese, either.  Michiru
had stopped by the convent earlier in the night, but had been told that
Therese wasn't in.  The other Sister she had talked with had been
extremely pleasant and caring, which had only made Michiru more anxious
to leave.  The last thing she wanted or needed was another person to
become attached to.    
     She glanced over her shoulder at the front window, then started as
she saw the sky beginning to pale.  Dawn was coming and it was time for
her to sleep. With all the time she and Haruka spent at night searching
the city, they had to sleep during the day.  Haruka had gone to bed a
little while earlier, leaving Michiru sitting up and thinking.
     Slipping into the dark bedroom, she unbelted her kimono and shrugged
it off, carefully folding it away.  Slowly, so as not to wake her
partner, she slid beneath the covers and cuddled her front deeply into
Haruka's back, wrapping her arms around the older girl's stomach before
fully relaxing.
     "Oh, Haruka," she whispered, feeling her fangs brush against her own
lips, "It can't be much longer.  Fate can't be so cruel as to hide Ceres
from us forever."
     The masked figure stirred in her sleep and her hands slid over
Michiru's, comforting her.  
     Closing her eyes and heaving a soft sigh, Michiru nestled her face
against Haruka's neck one last time before letting her partner go and
rolling over to her side of the bed.

-----
     Elsewhere, in another bed, another figure lay unmoving.  Her pink
hair framed her pale face and her breathing was short and full of pain.
Her eyes stared out the window at the sunrise, searching for some relief
from her suffering.  
     Around her, machines clicked and beeped as they monitored her body,
doing their best to keep it from shutting down.
     The girl closed her eyes as a spasm of pain shook her, then her
bandaged hand slid out from beneath the covers.  Weakly, she raised her
fingers and gestured into the slowly dissipating blackness of her room.
     From beyond her bed came the warm scent of flowers, bathing her in
their fragrance.  Her eyes closed in silent rapture as her body's tension
eased, the pain vanishing for a short while.  Her breathing deepened as
she inhaled the aroma.  Fingers curled slightly, as if she was holding a
stem in her hand.
     "Where are all of you?" she whispered, her voice rough.  "I can't
feel any of you.  Oneechan, help me . . . " She turned her head away from
the window and blinked tiredly at the tubes piercing her body.  "I don't
know how much longer I can last, either.  Wherever you are, I need your
strength now."
     The silence was matched only by the heaviness of her soul.  "Where .
.?"

-----
     " . . . am I?" Michiru asked, spinning around, kimono flaring
loosely around her body.  She was standing in the aisle of a church,
centred in the pattern from a giant stained-glass window over the altar.
     As she looked about her, she recognized the sanctuary as the same
one where she met Therese.  So this was how the place looked in the light
of day.
     Idly, Michiru swung her hand out through the beams of light, her
palm becoming green, then red, then yellow.  She looked up the stone wall
to the high window, the only source of light in the place, and marvelled
at the brilliant floral pattern.
     "It is beautiful, isn't it?" someone behind her asked,  "Flowers are
her favourite, Neptune."
     Michiru turned, expecting to see Therese standing there.  Instead,
the stern features of VesVes confronted her.  "Vesta?  What's happening?"
     "She's in terrible pain, Neptune.  Even through our sleep, we could
feel her call for our help, but we can't answer it.  You can, and must do
so in our places."
     The Senshi of Neptune moved closer to the first Asteroid she had
returned to the darkness.  "Where is Ceres, Vesta?  I can't help her if I
can't find her!"
     "That nun of yours will find her before you will, Neptune.  Follow
her."
     With the second voice in her ears, Michiru spun again to see
PalaPala sitting on the steps that led to the altar.  "Pallas, I don't
understand."
     "Of course you don't.  You're not an Asteroid Senshi."
     "My job is to return her to the darkness, nothing more!"
     "It's become more than that now.   Queen Serenity didn't anticipate
this, you know."
     VesVes took over, coming up to lay a warm hand on Michiru's
shoulder. "Show her the same compassion you showed me that night," she
said quietly. "She's hurt, scared, and in need of a Guardian Senshi.
It's time to stop hiding behind duty and order and think for yourself,
Neptune."
     "And become like you?" Michiru demanded.
     PalaPala tossed her long blue hair to one side.  "Perhaps it would
do you more good than you think to take a different look," she said,
"Blind obedience can only go so far, as we all found out."
     "That's why we became the radicals that you so despise some days,"
came a third voice.  "You had the strength to think like I did a little
while ago.  Surely you haven't forgotten how?"
     Clenching her teeth, Michiru saw JunJun sit up from a nearby pew.
"Are you saying that I must disobey Queen Serenity to bring Ceres home?"
     "Not just bring her home, Neptune, but perhaps save her life.  Right
now, you worry about her location, not her health.  You worry about your
life, not hers, when hers is the more fragile.  She may not survive much
longer."
     Michiru moved away from VesVes, out of the light of the stained
glass.  "What will I have to do?"
     PalaPala leaned forward, resting her arms on her knees.  "Don't be
too hasty in your decisions, for a start."
     JunJun nodded.  "Remember what your illness was like, Neptune. 
Remember being near death, just like our sister is."
     "And," VesVes added, "The words of your friend, Therese, will become
very important to you through all this.  Listen to her.  She may not know
much about the world, but she knows about suffering."
     Slowly, Michiru nodded.  "Is that all?"
     "Don't harden your heart to her, Neptune," VesVes told her, "We know
you want to go home, but don't make CereCere pay the price for your
selfishness."
     "Strange words coming from one who didn't want to go back when she
was supposed to," Michiru retorted, taking a step forward.  "I had paid
the price already for your release and you wanted me to continue paying
while you lived on."
     VesVes lowered her head.  "Touche."
     PalaPala moved between the two of them.  "Again, you blame us for
your mistakes," she snapped, "When will you admit that your curse was not
our fault, but the result of your partner's careless actions?"
     Smarting, Michiru clenched her fists and spun away from the two
Asteroids, only to come face-to-face with the green haired JunJun.  "And
what are you going to say to me?" Michiru growled.
     "Just that I know you'll do almost anything to restore yourself,
both in your own eyes and those of Queen Serenity.  Only this time, look
beyond your actions and see what is really needed.  You may be
surprised."
     Then the ringing of a bell interrupted their conversation.
     JunJun smiled and nodded toward the front of the church.  "It's for
you, I believe."
     Turning, Michiru saw a telephone sitting on the altar.  As it rang
again, she stepped forward, then hesitated, looking back to the three
Asteroids.  But the sanctuary behind her was empty.

-----
     Michiru sat up as the continued ringing of the phone woke her.
Reaching over to her bedside table, she quickly lifted the receiver.
"Moshi moshi, Sister?"
     "Hello, Kaioh-san.  I think you can guess why I'm calling."
     "You found Ceres, didn't you?  How badly is she hurt?"
     Surprise registered in Therese's voice.  "How did you . . . never
mind, I don't believe I would understand.  Sister Mary Catherine was
visiting a hospital and thought she saw a girl that looked familiar.
Ceres is in the intensive care unit, but Catherine is no doctor.  She has
no idea of your friend's condition."
     Closing her eyes, Michiru took a deep breath.  "We'll be down when
we can. Which hospital?"  She listened as Therese told her the specifics.
"All right, Sister, thank you."
     She put the phone down and leaned over her partner's still-sleeping
form.  "Haruka?  We've found her."

-----
     Although she kept her face expressionless, Michiru was frowning
inside as she and Haruka stepped out of the elevator.  Hospitals were not
her most favourite of places.  Doctors she could stand, but the sterile
environment, smelling and feeling so different from true air, bothered
her.
     Still, seeing all the people who were ill or dying stirred her
kinder instincts, ones that she knew she hadn't been using for a long
while.  
     Moving away from Haruka's side, Michiru touched the shoulder of an
old woman who was shuffling down the hall with a cane.  "You have great
strength," she whispered, smiling softly.
     The lady smiled back and lifted her own hand to frailly squeeze
Michiru's. Then she resumed her slow, but determined journey.
     Haruka stood against a nearby doorframe, tapping her foot as her
partner rejoined her.
     The aqua-haired Senshi blushed slightly.  "Yes, I am trying to put
myself in a kinder mood for Ceres.  Her life is weak right now and if she
dies before we can return her to the care of the Moon Kingdom. . . . "
She glanced up at the number over the door.  "I take it this is it?"
     Turning the knob, Haruka pushed the door open and guided Michiru
through, then followed her in.
     The room was white, with cold metal machines whirring and a small
fan spinning away in one corner of the room.  The window was closed and
the blind partway drawn to keep out the bright sunlight.
     Bending down, Haruka picked a rose petal up off the floor and looked
around.  There were no bouquets in the room but a scent was in the air .
. . the fullness of a greenhouse stuffed with blooming flowers.
     "You smell it, too?" Michiru murmured, "That's the source of Ceres'
power, Haruka.  She's the magician of flowers."  Quietly, she moved
closer to the girl's bedside.
     CereCere lay with her eyes closed, long pink hair cushioning her
head on the pillows.  An oxygen mask was over her nose and mouth and
various tubes protruded from her arms.
     Michiru looked over at Haruka, who was reading the chart at the foot
of the bed.  "Well?  What's wrong with her?"  She was handed the folder
silently.  "Incredible.  With these kinds of injuries, it's a miracle
she's still alive."
     "Do you . . . have any idea how . . . often I've heard that?"
     Michiru smiled as she sat on the bed and stroked CereCere's hair.
"Hello, Ceres.  I would ask you how you're feeling, but considering the
circumstances. .
. . "
     A coughing chuckle came from CereCere.  "Cute, Neptune.  Why are you
here?"
     "Queen Serenity sent me to you," Michiru told her, "When you're
better, Haruka and I have to take you back to the darkness.  There is no
danger to the Earth, merely Haruka's impulsiveness.  She woke you four by
accident."
     CereCere blinked slowly.  "Ah, so you found the others already?"
     "They're all safe at home, waiting for you to join them," the elder
Senshi said cheerfully.
     "Curse you, Neptune.  All this time I've been calling for my sisters
and you've been taking them away from me!"
     Recoiling from the smaller girl's quiet, but fiery, anger, Michiru
tried her best to hold CereCere's gaze.  "Queen Serenity asked me to
return you.  And you'll be with them all again soon enough, Ceres."
     CereCere tried to sigh, but a wracking cough shook her body.  Just
as quick as her outburst had been, it was gone again.  Her eyes shifted
away from both Outers to stare at the window and her hands shook as she
tried to lace them together.  "There's only one miracle here, Neptune:
that I've lasted this long.  I'm almost out of time."
     Michiru frowned.  "Then we should try and return you to the care of
the Moon Kingdom right away.  There might still be a chance. . . . "
     "For you to get me back before Serenity comes down on you for
letting me out in the first place?"
     Letting her breath out in frustration, Michiru raised her hands into
the air. "Ceres, you're not normally like this.  Why are you arguing with
me?  I'm trying to do what's best for you!"
     "I'm sorry, Neptune," came the quiet reply, "How about I make it
clearer?  I heard about Galaxia, you know.  I don't have time for
traitors like you or Uranus.  And I'd rather die alone here than save
your necks from Serenity."
     Michiru went white.  She turned slowly and walked out of the room,
brushing past the nun who had been standing in the doorway.
     Once in the hallway, her slow tread quickly became a full run.

-----
     Therese watched Michiru move past her.  To her, the girl looked as
if she was in a state of shock, so distant were her eyes.  And judging
from the conversation she had heard, Therese knew she had just found the
key to Michiru's soul.
     She felt the other one, Haruka, moving toward the door.  Turning,
she faced the masked figure, seeing extreme anger and worry in the blue
eyes. "And just what are you going to say to her?"
     Haruka's head snapped up and her hands gestured aimlessly for a few
seconds.  Then she subsided and rested her hidden face in her hands,
shaking her head slowly.
     Therese nodded.  "You love her too much to *not* do anything.  I
understand."  Moving forward, she rested her hands on the sandy blond
hair. "But I've been placed with the two of you for a reason, and I think
that reason has just made itself known.  Will you trust me with her heart
for a short while? If I break it, then you can use whatever powers you
have against me in revenge."
     Lifting her own hands, Haruka gently grasped Therese's, removing
them from her head.  Then she nodded back and let the nun go.
     "Thank you, Ten'oh-san.  I know the wait will be agonizing for you,
but this is where trust is most important.  Have faith."  With that,
Therese left the room.
     Haruka turned again and stalked silently toward the bed, eyes
narrowed.

-----
     The door flew open, banging against the tiled wall and echoing
loudly.  As it swung closed again, it bounced off Michiru's shoulder, but
she ignored the pain.
     Chest heaving, she leaned over a sink, hot tears pouring down her
cheeks. Her head rested against the cold glass of the mirror as she
choked out her sobs. Then, slowly, she looked up at her reflection,
gazing into her own golden eyes.In their depths, she thought she could
see a pair of starseeds glimmering, mocking her.
     Behind her reflection, though, stretched the long aisle of the
church sanctuary, complete with stained glass window.
     Frightened, Michiru glanced over her shoulder at the interior of the
bathroom, which was as normal as it should be, then looked back again.
     In the mirror, VesVes had appeared just behind her shoulder.  "I'm
sorry, Neptune.  We didn't tell you that CereCere never quite . . .
understood what you did."
     Michiru closed her eyes as her body shuddered.  "Why should I help
her now?" she asked through clenched teeth.  "I can't bring her back
without having her die on me.  Then I'll never get rid of this curse . .
.  "  She paused as she looked up, realization dawning.
     VesVes nodded.  "You're hardening your heart, Neptune.  I know
CereCere just slammed a hammer into it, but she can see right through
people's little illusions about themselves.  That's why she did that.
Normally, she would be a great deal calmer about this . . . but she is
dying.  So. . . . "
     "Who is Galaxia, Kaioh-san?"
     In a blur of vampiric speed, Michiru spun around, fangs wide and
eyes glowing.  Hissing in fear and anger, she confronted the calm figure
of Therese, whose arms were folded serenely inside her habit.
     To her credit, Therese didn't react.  "Enough, Kaioh-san, in the
name of  God," she said, stepping forward and placing her palms on
Michiru's head.  "I know you aren't feeling too well right now but
Ten'oh-san was kind enough to let me come after you.  So you will talk to
me."
     Michiru felt the power within herself dwindle and she slumped back
against the porcelain.  As she tried to compose herself, she cast a
glance over her shoulder at the mirror, which was reflecting normally
again.  "I . . ." she began, then shook her head.  "What did you do?"
     Therese merely shrugged.  "Whatever spirit you possess inside is
still under authority.  And it will obey when commanded.  Now, who is
Galaxia and why does that name haunt you so?"
     "Galaxia: A Senshi like us, yet the most powerful," Michiru said,
sitting back against the wall.  "She fought the great entity known as
Chaos, finally absorbing it into her own body to save millions of lives.
As the years went on, it warped her to its will, turning her against the
universe.  She became determined to rule this galaxy, but had to get past
its defenders first.  We fought youma after youma until Galaxia herself
dared to come down and face us herself.  The battle was ugly."
     "As are most."
     "You have never seen a fight for the fate of your world, let alone
your galaxy, have you, Sister?  This isn't the same kind of war that
humans wage, but a war that reaches right through into your heart.  To
those we fought, victory was the same as destruction of this world.  They
were content to rule a wasteland, gaining nothing but power.  What they
would have used it on, I have no clue, since nothing would have remained
had they won."
     "We're still here, so I'm assuming you won," Therese said.
     Michiru heaved a deep, shuddering, sigh.  "Our side won, yes."
     "However . . . ?"
     "The Inner Senshi were dead.  We didn't know if we could trust the
Starlights.  And we four Outer Senshi were facing Galaxia head-on.  She
offered us the chance to join her in exchange for our starseeds, which
are the source of our life.  We would become her servants, able to live
on, and she would have no opposition.  Setsuna and Hotaru refused,
naturally.   However . . ."
     Therese didn't say anything.  Instead, she reached into her robes
and clutched her rosary beads tightly.
     Michiru's voice caught in her throat.  "Har . . . Haruka and I
joined her, under the pretense that we would be her servants.  The
betrayal was a ruse, of course.  We intended to destroy her from the
inside.  Yet, to convince her of our "intentions", we had to kill our
friends in front of her."
     "Kaioh-san . . ."
     "We did so.  We did it to save this world and all its people.  Then,
when we had her trust, we attacked her directly . . . and failed."
Michiru wrapped her kimono around her body more tightly.  "She took the
bracelets she had given us, forcing us to die slowly in the middle of the
battlefield.  We had just enough strength to touch one last time. . . . "
     "Then how are you here, if you died?" Therese asked.
     "After Usagi, our leader, defeated Galaxia, our starseeds were
released and we were returned to life.  Setsuna and Hotaru knew why we
had done what we did and were forgiving, as were all the others.  But I
don't know if I've ever been able to forgive myself.  And, as you've
seen, Ceres certainly hasn't.  She and her sisters weren't part of the
battle, which is why she can lecture me like that."
     Therese shook her head slowly.  "Five years ago, I would not have
believed a word of this.  I've seen too much since then, I'm afraid."
She looked down at Michiru and crouched in front of her.  "Kaioh-san, I
can't even begin to understand the things you may have done in your life,
but there is no guilt for your actions.  Those whom you betrayed forgave
you long ago.  As for the young woman in that bed; she's extremely
frightened of dying, which is why she lashed out at you like that."
     She reached out and took Michiru's limp hands in her own.  "Look at
me, Kaioh Michiru."  Therese waited until the younger woman had raised
her head, showing a tear-streaked face.  "Your pain will be removed, if
you have faith. But first, I believe that you have another's pain to
remove.  Will you help her like you helped her sisters?"
     Wiping her eyes, Michiru smiled wanly and nodded, then let Therese
help her to her feet.

-----
     Upon stepping back into CereCere's room, Michiru was surprised to
see the pieces of paper that littered the bedsheets.  "Haruka?"
     Her partner looked up in the middle of scrawling a response on her
pad, eyes wide.
     Michiru blushed as she came up to the side of the bed.  "Yes, I'm
fine. Ceres, I see you're finally listening to one of us.  Are you
willing to talk to me?"
     The girl, still beautiful despite the machines invading her body,
drew a shallow breath and looked up.  "It seems I was wrong about you,
Neptune. Uranus has been explaining it all to me.  I've said things I
shouldn't have and I'm sorry."
     Bowing her head, Michiru smiled.  "I've been close to death before,
Ceres.  I should have been more understanding, as well.  And I apologize
for earlier. Your sisters charged me with choosing your life over your
safety in the Moon Kingdom and I ignored them."  She shook her head
slowly, chuckling.  "Juno told me I have to start thinking like her if
I'm to bring you back."
     CereCere stiffened as pain shot through her body.  "It's no good,
Neptune.  I'm dying, and I don't want to be lying alone in that darkness
when I go.  You can't take me back, no matter how many notes Uranus
writes."
     "Ceres, whatever you want, whatever it takes, I promise you I'll do
my best." She leaned in, her mouth brushing the edge of CereCere's ear.
"Just like an Asteroid Senshi," she whispered.
     A smile flickered across the girl's pained features.  "[Arigato],
Neptune."

-----
     Therese nodded to the two Outer Senshi as they stepped out of
CereCere's room.  "Did it go well?"
     Michiru smiled.  "Haruka and I have some things to discuss, Sister.
Would you mind keeping Ceres company?"
     "Not at all."
     Going in, Therese gathered her robes around her and moved to sit
beside the bed.  "I believe I've had the pleasure of meeting one or two
of your sisters," she told the girl.  "Could you answer something for
me?"
     As dim as CereCere's eyes were, they forced themselves open.  "I
could try," she murmured.
     "Juno, the one with green hair, mentioned that many of you Senshi
had left your humanity behind.  What did she mean?"
     "Simple, really . . . we've fought . . . we've killed . . . we have
even destroyed worlds . . . all to keep our Queen safe."  CereCere's
breathing was still shallow, but she forced the words out.  "To Senshi
like me . . . rules meant nothing. Only the end mattered, no matter . . .
what the means.  And for all that . . . this is my own end . . . and I
regret it."
     Therese clasped the girl's hand in her own.  "Many people have
regrets when they approach Death's door.  Tell yours to me, Ceres, and
allow me to give you the peace you've sought for so long.  Let yourself
become human again."

-----
     Michiru embraced both Haruka and Therese.  "Best of luck, you two."
     Haruka looked at the ground, shaking her head slowly.
     "Yes, Haruka.  Queen Serenity will probably have our heads for this,
but I don't think I could live with myself otherwise."
     "Such a change from our first encounter," Therese broke in, "You
seem to have found a bit of that compassion you were so reluctant to use
before." 
     Bowing her head in acknowledgement, Michiru smiled.  "I have been
near death before, Sister.  I just had to be reminded of that fact."  She
turned to the bed.  "Ceres, are you sure that you want Therese to stay
with us?"
     "Quite sure, Neptune," came the reply.
     "Then we'll be off," Therese said, moving toward the door.  "I hope
you know the way, Ten'oh-san.  Oh, and please let me try to keep up with
you." She lightly swatted the masked Senshi on the shoulder as she moved
past.
     On her way out, Haruka had already begun to furiously write a
response down on her pad.
     Chuckling softly, Michiru sat back down beside CereCere.  "I think
the two of them are beginning to get along quite well, don't you?"  She
patted the back of the girl's hand.  "It won't be long now."
     "I know," CereCere said, letting her head fall back against her
pillow.  "And, Neptune, whatever happens with Serenity and your
punishments, I want to thank you again.  I never knew you had it in you."
     "You can thank your sisters for that," Michiru told her.  "I had to
learn a few things in dealing with them during the last two weeks.  They
taught me that maybe, just maybe, that my redemption in Queen Serenity's
eyes wasn't as important as I had thought.  What Haruka and I are about
to do could well seal our fate in the Moon Kingdom, but it doesn't matter
anymore.  I just may decide to become an Asteroid Senshi like you."
     CereCere laughed at that, then groaned as pain kicked in.  "Neptune,
can I ask you one more favour before we leave?"
     "Of course."
     The Asteroid Senshi turned her head to one side.  "I can't dull the
pain with my magic anymore.  I just don't have anything left in me.  If
you could use your own powers?"
     Michiru nodded.  "All right."  Leaning in, she brushed the long pink
hair away from the far side of CereCere's slender neck.  Michiru then
bared her fangs and sank them into the pale skin a little below the
girl's ear.
     CereCere moaned softly and went limp as her blood flowed out of her
body.  For the first time in days, her breathing became full and easy and
the pain began to diminish.  She could feel Michiru's warm breath on her
neck and the tickle of the aquamarine hair against her throat.  It was so
comfortable, too. .  CereCere's eyes slowly closed.  She felt so peaceful
and relaxed . . .
     She awoke to being gently nudged.  "Mmmmph . . . Neptune?"
     "Right here, Ceres.  It's time for us to go."  Hands touched her
face and neck
softly, slipping the oxygen mask off her head.  "Are you feeling better?"
     "A little," she sighed, feeling an arm slide behind her back and
helping her sit up.  "How long was I out?" she asked, wincing at the
soreness of her body.
     "Long enough," was Michiru's enigmatic reply, "Let's just say that
the hospital staff was glad to see you in a painless sleep for once."
     CereCere reached down and yanked a tube out of the back of her hand. 
"We should get out of here as quickly as possible, then.  Odd thing about
hospitals around here.  They don't like you leaving if they haven't
charged you enough.  Of course, since I haven't paid them yet . . . "
     "I'll have Queen Serenity send them the bill," Michiru deadpanned,
gently pulling the rest of the tubes and wires out of CereCere's body.
"Now, let's get you changed so they won't raise the alarm."  From inside
her red and white kimono, she produced a second kimono, this one black
and red.  "I think this is more your colour scheme than mine, ne?"
     CereCere had barely enough strength to put the robe on.  Michiru had
to help her slip her arms in and belt it up.  Then, putting the younger
girl's arm over her shoulders, Michiru eased her out of the bed.
     "Good," she encouraged, "Now, I know you're tired, but you may have
to walk a little bit until we're out of sight.  Can you manage that?"
     "Hai," came the weak reply.
     With Michiru half-supporting, half-carrying her, CereCere stumbled
out of the room and down the hallway.

-----
     At the edge of the trees, Michiru knelt and slid the Asteroid Senshi
off her back to the ground.  CereCere's strength had given out right near
the beginning, so Michiru had carried her the rest of the way.  "How are
you feeling?"
     CereCere coughed weakly.  "Not too good, Neptune."
     Feeling a pang of fear at what she was doing, Michiru peered into
the younger girl's eyes.  "We still have time, you know, to get you into
the darkness.  You won't feel any pain there, you know."
     "And just let me die by myself, to be found only when everyone wakes
up God-knows-when?  No thank you.  If I'm going to die, Neptune, it's
going to be with my sisters around me."
     Michiru sighed.  "Very well.  Hold on tight."  Hefting CereCere onto
her back once more, she headed off to the cliffs that held the sleeping
Moon Kingdom and the other three Asteroid Senshi.
     It wasn't long before a woman with dark green hair stepped out from
behind a tree.  "Michiru, what's happening?" she asked, "Haruka came out
of nowhere with this nun, then . . . "   Setsuna's voice trailed off when
she saw the slumped figure of CereCere on her friend's back.  "Ohhhh, no.
No, no, no. . . . " 
     "We're almost out of time, Setsuna," Michiru told her, shifting the
nearly dead weight she was carrying.  "Haruka came for the others, to let
them see her."
     Nodding, Setsuna went over and lifted the barely conscious girl in
her arms.  "Queen Serenity won't be happy."  She looked at Michiru and
saw the determination in the golden eyes.  "You don't care, do you?"
     "Not anymore," the Senshi of Neptune said quietly, "I didn't bring
her back to get my curse lifted or because Queen Serenity commanded, but
because it's right."
     As the two of them came into the clearing where Setsuna kept guard,
Michiru saw the dark rift in the rocks.  "They went in already?"
     "Ten'oh-san did."  Across the clearing, Therese got to her feet from
the base of a tree.  "She went down there a little while ago.  Ceres?"
     Michiru shook her head.  "Not good, Sister."
     Setsuna eased CereCere down, cradling the girl's head and shoulders
in her lap.  "Hang on, Ceres.  Just a little while longer. . . . "
     "CERECERE!"  A blue streak erupted from the darkness, turning into
PalaPala.  "Neptune, what did you do?" she gasped, wide-eyed.
     "Everything I could, to be honest," she replied, "But it was all too
late, Pallas.  I've granted Ceres her last wish, which was to see you all
again."
     Dropping to her knees, PalaPala lightly touched her sister's
shoulder.  "This isn't fair," she muttered, tears forming in her eyes.
     Michiru looked up to see VesVes and JunJun step out of the tunnel.
"I'm sorry . . . " she began, only to be stopped by JunJun, who silently
shook her head.
     CereCere coughed again and her eyes fluttered open.  "Neptune . . .
?" she mumbled, "I think . . . oh Kami, I'm so warm . . . " She sighed
heavily as Setsuna brushed her pink hair back off her face, then she
looked up at her three sisters.  "You guys . . . sorry I'm late."
     Choking back her own tears, VesVes took her sister's hand and held
it. "We kept your spot for you, you know."
     "[Arigato]."  CereCere's face crumbled.  "I don't want to die,
Ves-chan, I really don't."
     "I know," VesVes murmured, "We can't stop it, though.  Be strong,
Cere-chan, go out proudly."  She embraced her now-shuddering sister,
speaking to her in low, soothing tones.
     Finally, CereCere's shaking eased and her body went slowly limp, her
breathing slowing.  As VesVes let her sink back into Setsuna's arms,
Therese shouldered her way into the group.  "If I may?"
     Recognizing her from their earlier meetings, the three Asteroids
nodded.
     Therese knelt down and touched CereCere's forehead, chest, and
shoulders in the sign of the cross.  "{Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.
Et lux perpetua luceat eis . . . }"  As her voice went on, CereCere's
eyes closed and her breathing stopped altogether.
     PalaPala covered her mouth, her own body racked with sobs.  JunJun
did what she could to comfort her sister, but she was weeping as well.
Michiru felt tears running down her own cheeks and turned away, burying
her head in Haruka's shoulder.
     Then Setsuna looked up and used her Time Staff to pull herself to
her feet.  "Queen Serenity."
     At those two words, everyone turned around to face the entrance to
the darkness.  Queen Serenity stood there, white dress cutting a slash
against the blackness of the tunnel.
     Stepping out, she embraced each of the remaining Asteroid Senshi.
"Forgive me," she said softly, "That I, your Queen, could not save your
sister."  She held PalaPala especially long, stroking her blue hair as
the girl continued to cry.  "I promise you all that the Moon Kingdom will
honour her with the proper ceremonies when the time comes.  But that will
be discussed later.  Right now, I want you three to return below, if you
would."
     VesVes and PalaPala bowed low to Queen Serenity before letting
Setsuna guide them back into the tunnel.  JunJun hesitated, looking over
her shoulder at Michiru.  The aqua-haired Senshi stared back, knowing the
younger Senshi's still feared for her life and memories.
     "Juno," came the quiet rebuke.
     Nodding, JunJun moved forward, allowing Setsuna to take her arm and
help her below.
     Watching them go, Michiru sighed and entwined her fingers with
Haruka's.  "I love you, you know." she murmured to her partner.   She
smiled slightly through her tears.  "This may be the last chance I get to
tell you that for a while."
     Then she looked over at Therese, who had finished her prayers and
joined them.  "Sister, I want to thank you for everything you've done for
us these last weeks.  Both in finding the Asteroids and helping us find
ourselves."
     Therese nodded.  "It was my duty, Kaioh-san, and my pleasure to do
it.  And my offer is still open to you, too, if you remain here."
     Michiru bowed slightly in acknowledgement, then saw Serenity kneel
beside CereCere's body.  "Excuse me, Sister."
     Queen Serenity looked up as Michiru knelt across from her.  "Well
done, Neptune.  You brought the Asteroids back, just as I commanded you."
     "It hardly feels like "well done," my Queen," she replied, "And
bringing Ceres back here to die was not your command."
     Serenity looked back down and cupped her hand against CereCere's
cheek. "I can see how you would feel that way.  Now, about you breaking
the darkness once again. . . ."
     Michiru didn't bother staying silent.  "I did what was right, even
if you don't approve, my Queen.  I promised Ceres she would not die alone
and I kept that promise to her."
     "You're quite right that I don't approve of your actions, Neptune.
Do you honestly think you are able to second-guess my decisions or
consider that another person's wishes should take precedence over my
orders?  Despite that, you showed the compassion I expect of my
followers.  Well done."  Then her expression grew more serious.  "I see
the Asteroids have been having an
influence on you as well, which also concerns me.  They are wild and
unpredictable, Neptune.  I don't hope to see you learning their ways, as
the 
role of an Asteroid Senshi is not for everyone."
     Flinching slightly beneath Serenity's gaze, Michiru nodded.  "I
understand, my Queen."
     "Good."  Serenity looked less stern.  "Leave the workings of the
Asteroid Senshi to the ones who were trained for it, Neptune.  As for
you, I feel it would be better if you, Uranus, and Pluto came home.  That
way, I know where you are at all times."
     Michiru looked over her shoulder at Haruka, still masked and silent. 
"There's nothing we've wanted more, my Queen, than to hear you say that. 
Only . . . ."  She hesitated.
     "Is there something wrong, Neptune?"
     "I just wish our good fortune didn't have to come at the expense of
Ceres' life."
     Queen Serenity didn't blink.  "Would you choose one over the other,
as if that is even your right to choose?  You would choose her life,
wouldn't you? And if Ceres ever learned about it, she would demand the
curses I placed on you be lifted in place of her life.  I will only do
one, Neptune, and I have made my choice.  Three of you are worth more
than the one, even if the one is an Asteroid."  Lifting the Ginzuishou,
she raised her face to the heavens.
     With the brilliant flash of light, Michiru felt a terrible pain in
her mouth. Liquid welled up and she found herself spitting red as two
sharp, bloodied fangs fell into her lap.  Probing with her tongue, she
felt no spaces, only her normal teeth.
     Feeling a touch on her shoulder, she looked up to see a still-masked
Haruka standing over her.  In one smooth motion, Michiru was on her feet
and reaching up to her lover's face.  "Hold still," she whispered, "I'll
do it."      Her fingers gently traced the edges of the steel mask, then
dug in and slowly pulled the metal away, revealing a face she hadn't seen
in weeks.  The mask hit the ground with a dull thud as Michiru embraced
her partner.   
   "How's your voice?" she asked, smiling.  Then her eyes closed as
Harukaleaned in and kissed her passionately.  "Mmmmm.  Then again, you
don't need to say anything," she murmured, breaking apart and nestling
her head into Haruka's neck.
     Queen Serenity cleared her throat.  "I do, though.  Uranus, the next
time you breach the darkness, you had better be returning for your rest.
Otherwise, your punishment will be more than a simple mask.  I hope I'm
making myself clear."
     With her arm around Michiru's shoulders, Haruka bowed her head in
acknowledgement.  "My Queen, I understand.  Thank you for your kindness
in releasing us."  Her voice was rough from days of being unused, but was
still steady.
     "Both of you should prepare for your rest, as well.  How soon can
you be ready?"
     Michiru looked down at the ground.  "There is . . . one bit of
business left for us to do here, my Queen."

-----
     As the voice of the choir quietly faded away, the first few notes of
a piano echoed in the warmth.  The violin wove its own notes in and out,
blending into the prayer that had become a song.
     The audience was silent before the two musicians, letting their ears
and their souls be refreshed by the melody that washed out from the front
of the sanctuary.  To them, emotions in the music were evident.  But
rather than the troubled souls and aching hearts of the previous time,
the musicians held the feeling of hope and redemption, and not just for
the living. 
     When the last note had faded away into the echoes of the sanctuary,
the two stood and acknowledged the applause.  They exchanged a glance,
then together turned and looked up at the floral pattern of the
stained-glass window.
-----

               ~Breathe life into this feeble heart,
                 Lift this mortal veil of fear,
                 Take these crumbled hopes, edged with tears,
                 We'll rise above these earthly cares . . .  
                          
                 Cast your eyes on the ocean,
                 Cast your soul to the sea,
                 When the dark night seems endless,
                 Please remember me . . .  ~
                          
"Dante's Prayer", Loreena McKennitt, "Book of Secrets" album,   1997