Lines of Destiny

Secrets
Chapter 2 - Life is a Beach

    They made an odd pair, the two women who emerged from the dressing room next to the tennis courts. The first was very tall and lean, with dusky skin and an ample figure. She had a lovely, ageless face with striking red eyes and full lips. Her hair, black with hints of green, cascaded down her back well below her waist. She wore a colourful sarong that nearly went to her elaborate sandals, an embroidered leather vest and a straw hat with a very wide brim and the feathers of all sorts of exotic birds arranged on top of it. She had an oversized tote bag slung over her shoulder. The other was a head shorter than her, a young asian woman with unusually pale skin and short blue-tinted black hair. She had a very cute round face with dark blue eyes. Her slim, athletic figure was emphasized very nicely by the simple light blue summer dress she wore. Her small sun hat, sandles and the sports bag slung on her shoulder were equally simple and functional.
    "What do you say we check up on our friends?" Setsuna said.
    Ami smiled up at her taller friend. "Do you think they'll still be at it?"
    "Yes, I would bet on it."
    "Okay, let's go." They made their way down the wooden boardwalk that went down the length of the beach, separating it from the food stands, shops and other facilities of the resort. It was a lovely day. The sky was dotted with little cumulus clouds, and a breeze blowing in from the ocean kept the July afternoon from being sweltering. Ami was still sweating a bit, perhaps she was still recovering from their earlier exertion. She really loved this place, but there was no getting away from the fact that tropical climates didn't quite agree with her, she tired easily in the heat. Setsuna, by contrast, seemed right at home here.
    "I can't believe you only started playing tennis last year," Setsuna said. "You're already quite good."
    "Setsuna, you beat me in every set," Ami reminded her.
    "Well, you didn't give me an easy time of it. That was the most challenging game I've played in a long time."
    "How long have you been playing?"
    "About two hundred years."
    Ami rolled her eyes. "Okay, I guess I walked right into that one." They both laughed, then continued on in comfortable silence for a while. They took a very leisurely pace, enjoying the air and the scenery. The beach area was fairly busy, with couples and families and groups of friends wandering around the shops, relaxing on the beach or playing in the water. They passed the occasional palm tree, its enormous leaves bobbing in the breeze far overhead. Far out to sea, Ami could see a cruise ship steaming towards the island, bringing another boatload of vacationers.
    She smiled sadly. One island of peace furtively making its way between others.
    "Setsuna, I wonder if I'm getting soft."
    Setsuna raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
    "Wandering around here, I feel as if I would be content to stay here forever. Forget about college and Sailor Senshi and the world and just spend my life on a beach. Do you think I'm getting soft, thinking such a thing?"
    "No, I think you just needed a rest, that's all. Nothing wrong with that."
    Ami smiled. "I suppose. I was going to be doing a special lab project this week, but I'm glad I came here."
    "I'm glad you came too. It's not often we've all gotten a chance to relax together, I thought this was just what we needed."
    "It's definitely what I needed." It hadn't been hard for Setsuna to convince Ami to accept her invitation ... or to convince the others, for that matter. And she was right, it had been a long time since they could all be together.
    Even if they all found different diversions the moment they showed up.
    "You know, we should go for a midnight swim tonight."
    Ami frowned. "You mean, after dark?"
    "Sure. Swimming on the edge of the ocean at night, it looks like an immense event horizon stretched out before you. It's like dancing at the edge of the abyss."
    Ami chuckled. "Setsuna, you have a strange aesthetic sense. But you're right, it might be fun. And it should get dark quickly here, at this latitude I can probably see stars I wouldn't see at home."
    Saying that suddenly reminded Ami of something else. "You know, ever since the Sailor Starlights left, I've been kicking myself for not even asking them which star they're from. It might even be visible, through a telescope if nothing else."
    "Perhaps it's just as well you didn't. The Princess was very fond of Seiya-san. If she knew where his home was, she might be tempted to drag us all over there, just to visit him."
    Ami stopped walking. "Setsuna ... are you serious?"
    "What, about how Usagi-san feels?"
    "No no, about travelling to another star."
    Setsuna smiled. "Well, it's not something I would recommend just to pay a social call, but it wouldn't be all that difficult. It would be just a series of long-distance teleports, much like the way we got to Nomura's Cloud. Ami ... are you okay?"
    "Um ... could we go sit down for a second?"
    "Of course." They walked over to an outdoor cafe that was just next to the boardwalk and picked one of the little round tables. Setsuna steered Ami to one of the seats that was shaded by the umbrella, then sat down beside her. After half a minute, a waiter came by. Setsuna ordered ice tea for both of them.
    Some time after their drinks arrived, Ami spoke again. "Setsuna, why did you never mention this before?"
    "That we can travel between the stars? I'm sorry, I just assumed you would have drawn that conclusion. If the Starlights could do it, why not us?"
    Ami spent some more time staring into space. "You're right, I should have come to that conclusion. So all the Senshi in the Galaxy ... any of them could do the same."
    "Almost certainly. That's the way Galaxia was able to sweep through the galaxy the way she did. The Senshi under her control, boosted by the power of the Star Seeds she had collected, could go anywhere they wanted."
    "Galaxia ..." Ami said. She rested her head on one hand, feeling weary, as if the heat had suddenly become oppressive. "It's something I haven't thought of for a while, but ... I've never been able to get my head around what she did. If we're to believe the story, she practically depopulated the galaxy. Hundreds ... maybe thousands of worlds laid waste."
    "And now she has to try and set it right again."
    Ami looked intently at her companion. "Setsuna, do you think she can really do it? I mean, restore all those people whose Star Seeds she took? Restore their worlds?"
    Setsuna looked out to the ocean. Ami just waited, watching the breeze play with the ancient woman's long hair. When Setsuna spoke, it seemed to be mostly to herself. "I'm not sure the Princess understood what she was asking, when she tasked Galaxia to return all those souls to their own worlds. I'm not sure I understand either. On each world, Galaxia may need to reawaken the Senshi who were born there, use their power to restore the worlds to what they were. It may take millennia. And even then, those worlds might not be what they were."
    "Our world is not what it was," Ami replied after a moment of silence. She was looking in the opposite direction. Setsuna turned around and followed her gaze. Behind the food bar where the cafe's cook worked, there was a television hung from the ceiling of the little wood building. It was hard to see from here, but Ami recognized the CNN logo on the screen. The picture was obviously being taken from a moving vehicle that bounced slowly across a rough road. As it moved, the camera panned across bodies lining the road. There seemed to be no end to them. They were all tied, all lying where they had been shot. Another mass execution. Ami didn't need to read the text in the logo to know that these were more pictures of the ethnic cleansing in east Asia.
    "Ami, that has always gone on. Believe me, I've seen worse with my own eyes. Many times. The only difference is now we can watch it right from our little islands of peace."
    "It's different now."
    Setsuna sighed. "Yes, it's different now." In the past four years, it seemed the islands of peace in the world had grown smaller, weaker, pressed in on all sides by the madness. People in the islands had grown jaded, almost able to ignore the fact that it was only getting worse.
    "Was it our fault?" Ami knew it was an unfair question. Irrational. But it was a question she couldn't help asking herself.
    It was a moment before Setsuna replied. "This all started with Galaxia's foolish attempt to seal away Chaos so long ago. But in her moment of victory, the temptation to make that victory complete, permanent ... I find it impossible to blame even her. But it was inevitable that Chaos would have to be unleashed again someday, nothing and nobody can hold it forever."
    "And now we're paying the price for that."
    Setsuna nodded. "Our world was at ... what is that term they use ... at 'ground zero' when Chaos was set free again. It stands to reason we would feel the worst effects. The demons that we struggle with, that all men and women struggle with all their lives, have been given new strength. So the war with those demons rages all the more fiercely."
    Ami tore her eyes away from the television, resolved not to look at the pageant of death any longer, met Setsuna's eyes instead. "You call it a war, but it's more like a disease. For us, evil used to be monsters and mad sorcerors. We could go fight them and make things right again. But it's like there are no more monsters, there's just this disease eating away at our peace, little by little."
    Ami was surprised by Setsuna laying a hand over hers. She tried to calm herself. She hadn't realized, she had almost been shouting. Her gaze dropped down. "Sorry."
    Setsuna continued to hold her hand, gave her a few moments to calm down. "Ami, peace has always been an elusive thing. It's never more than an island of calm, and it never lasts. I don't know if it can ever be any different, I don't know if we can ever make it any different." She smiled at Ami. "Maybe our Princess can. Someday. She has faith in the Light of Hope, the light that exists in all of us. Maybe all we can do is share her faith."
    Ami smiled. Yes, faith. There was one other who had asked her to have faith, when she was in the midst of utter despair. One whom she loved and trusted just as she did their Princess. "Okay. I think I can manage that. It's just that lately I haven't been able to shake this feeling, like this isn't just more wars ... like it could just fall to pieces, we could lose it *all*. When you just now told me we could go to the stars ... well, I've always assumed we would do that someday. I mean, humanity, in ships we make to sail among the stars. But now I feel as if that may never happen, that we could all fall down a pit and never come out." This time, she had managed to say it without working herself into a frenzy.
    Setsuna had her inscrutable, expressionless look again. "Ami, I won't lie to you. I'm probably in a better position than anybody to judge the health of any human civilization. I've seen so many rise and fall, I've long since learned what to look for. The release of chaos has dealt ours a body blow from which it may never recover. We could very well be facing a new dark age, perhaps a long one. But that danger has always been there. That's nothing new, it's just more obvious now, more out in the open."
    Ami sighed. "So I should just have faith?"
    "That's one thing you can do." Setsuna suddenly smiled again. Ami liked her smile, it could instantly transform her from the immortal warrior to the kind-hearted woman Ami had come to know. "If you want to do your bit, help hold our peace together, then keep doing as you have been and become a fine doctor. I've seen what healers can do, the hope they can bring to people. With your strong mind and warm heart, I really think you could work wonders."
    Ami resisted the urge to lean over and kiss her. "Thank you, Setsuna," she said, her voice slightly husky. "I mean ... for everything."
    Setsuna just nodded. They contented themselves with watching the ocean for a while. When they finished their drinks, they continued their way along the beach.
    Ami spotted them first. "Looks like they're still at it."
    "What did I tell you?"
    Ami watched them as she and Setsuna got closer and closer. Eventually, they came to the part of the boardwalk just a few meters from where their four friends were. She and Setsuna didn't say a word. They just sat back against the wood railing that edged the boardwalk and watched. The other four hadn't even noticed them.
    This morning the white sand around the volleyball net had been perfectly smooth, but hours of play had effectively packed it down. Ami noted that they had brought the oversized cooler down next to the net. No doubt so that they wouldn't have to bother themselves with walking the few meters over to the nearest concession stand to replenish their liquids.
    Haruka and Michiru were to their left. Haruka, with her slim figure, short blonde hair, androgynous looks and mannerisms, was often mistaken for a man, something she did nothing to discourage. Of course nobody would be making that mistake today, like the others she was in a two piece bathing suit that left little to the imagination. For better mobility, she had insisted. Michiru was an interesting contrast to her. She had a similar build, just a slightly fuller figure. Her lovely, elegant face had a look of calm focus, very unlike Haruka's aggressive look if fierce defiance. Her extraordinary turquoise hair was tied back into a loose ponytail, keeping it out of her bluegreen eyes.
    Minako and Makoto were to their right. Minako was shorter than the other three women. Her long blonde hair was tied back away from her eyes with her trademark red ribbon, but otherwise was loose, bobbing and waving about like a cape as she played. Her light blue eyes sparkled with life, her impish smile almost mocking. Makoto had her wavy brown hair tied back in its usual topknot. She was as tall as their two opponents, and more well muscled than any of them. Ami suspected she spent extra time in a gym pumping iron, above and beyond the Sailor Senshi training she did with the rest of them. Her expression mirrored Haruka's. They seemed to be watching each other a lot.
    They all looked like hell.
    Setsuna chuckled lightly. "Haruka and Michiru were probably expecting to have an easy time of it."
    "It looks like they got more than they bargained for," Ami said, also in a low voice.
    The two of them watched the game for a while. None of the women were moving with the same speed and grace they were this morning. But it was remarkable how well they were all holding out, considering how long they had been at it. Minako was clearly the most skilled and experienced player of the four. What her partner lacked in skill, she made up for in brute power. She was tireless, indefatigable. And when set up properly she could deliver a spike ball that was barely subsonic. Their opponents would probably have never had a prayer, were it not that their teamwork was so much better. It was like they were telepathic, they seemed to move as one creature with four arms and four legs.
    When Ami and Setsuna had left them, they were going to just do best two out of three. It had obviously gone far beyond that. It didn't look like anybody was prepared to concede defeat.
    "You've got that faraway look again," Setsuna commented with a sideways glance to Ami.
    "I was just thinking. Except for Hotaru, all of us are past the age where we're going to grow anymore. If things happen the way we think they will ... with Crystal Tokyo and all ... well, the way we look now, that's how we'll all look for at least the next thousand years."
    "Well, Makoto-san won't look like *that* unless she remains in the habit of repeatedly lifting weights heavier than herself."
    "I don't know, with her height I think the extra muscle looks good on her. But standing next to her, I always feel like I'm still a little girl. I was hoping I'd catch up a bit by now but you're all still taller than me. Sometimes I feel a bit jealous."
    Setsuna looked her up and down. "You needn't, you've filled out very nicely since I first met you."
    "Setsuna! Honestly, sometimes you're worse than Mako-chan."
    "And Urawa-san seems to like you quite well the way you are."
    "Stop it ..." Ami could feel a flush come to her cheeks.
    "If you want a second opinion, ask Haruka, she thinks you're very cute."
    "I'm sorry I brought it up," Ami said, exasperated.
    They watched a bit longer, until Michiru scored a point that ended the current game. "What do you say we call them over here and invite them to go for drinks?" Setsuna suggested.
    "Good idea. Otherwise, they'll probably go until one of them collapses from heat exhaustion."
    "Okay. Maybe we could drop a subtle hint, get them to go for a shower first."
    "Oh, I'm all for that."

    **So how did you like the show?** Shoji asked as they walked out of the theatre building.
    **It was really good,** Yui replied, smiling up at him. **I wish I'd seen it on video a long time ago. In fact, I'd like to go pick up the LD, if it's still around.**
    **Well, 'Akira' is one movie that really loses something on video.**
    **Yeah, I guess it would. I'm glad you spotted this revival. I thought the Esper parts were really good, better than Locke. It was almost like they'd seen one of us using our powers.**
    **Well, I've heard stories, about some of the stuff the black sheep of the family do. Anyway, you want to 'port back home?**
    **I'd kinda like to walk.**
    **Okay.** Shoji put his arm around her shoulders, and they walked in the direction of their apartment. At seventeen, Yui was now only a few centimetres shorter than him . But she still wore the same short hair, tight jeans and T-shirts she had gotten into the habit of wearing four years ago. Shoji thought she still looked very cute.
    **Senpai, can we go see the Crystal again sometime?**
    **What, again? We just went last month. I thought grandma Himiko scared you.**
    **She does. But I like seeing the Crystal.**
    A lot of the Ancients liked seeing the crystal these days. Most went there a few times a year now. In a world that seemed to be slowly going mad, it was a great source of comfort. Shoji felt it a bit himself. After four years it was still glowing brightly, as if it would never fade away. Still emanating that lovely image of a great, shining crystal citadel.
    **I suppose we could go next weekend. Maybe we can 'port to the farm too, do some horseback riding.**
    **Yeah, that would be fun.**
    They were walking out of the main entertainment district now, so there weren't as many neon signs and the sidewalks were getting less crowded. They could better enjoy the warm summer evening now. The streets were still damp from an earlier shower, but Shoji could glimpse the occasional star overhead, there probably wouldn't be any more rain. Not that it was ever a problem, if inclement weather caught them by surprise Yui could just 'port them home.
    They passed by an ATM. **That reminds me, we're getting a bit low on cash.** Shoji glanced around, saw that there was nobody in sight. **Take care of it, okay?**
    **Okay.** Yui stepped up to the machine and put her hand against it. Its lights were off, closed down for the night. Shoji could never understand the logic behind shutting them down after hours. He heard that in America, you could use ATMs twenty four hours a day.
    Not that it really made a difference to them.
    After a few seconds, Shoji could hear machinery working inside the ATM. Yui had brought it to life.
    **How much?** she asked.
    **A hundred ... no, better make that two hundred thousand yen.**
    **Coming right up.** There was more clattering, and soon the machine spat out a thick sheaf of bills. Yui took them, rolled them up and put them in her pocket of her denim vest. She winked at Shoji and they continued on their way. Shoji grinned. Kaori had suggested that as soon as Yui moved in with him Shoji should have her handle the household finances. She wasn't his wife yet, but Kaori thought she should learn to take responsibility. Shoji had agreed this was a very good idea.
    It was just as well they didn't know exactly how Yui was handling the finances. Kaori in particular frowned upon this sort of thing.
    They passed by the entrance of a park. The black iron gate was open, inviting them into the woods beyond. It was quite dark, the walkways lighted only by the occasional lamps.
    **Oh Senpaaai ...** Yui said.
    Shoji could sense the playfulness in her telepathic voice. He could guess what she wanted. **Yes, Yui dear?** he said, playing their usual game.
    **I want to go hunting.**
    **Hunting what, Yui dear?**
    She grinned. **Whatever we can find.**
    **Well then, lead the way.**
    She took his arm and they strolled into the park. It looked deserted. The benches were still wet, not very inviting for young lovers looking for a dark quiet intimate place.
    They heard a noise in front of them, and stopped. They waited a few seconds. A cat poked its head out of the bushes, and stepped hesitantly out onto the walkway. It looked at them and meowed again.
    Shoji looked down at Yui and raised an eyebrow. **Start small?**
    **Sure, why not?**
    Shoji took a step forward and went down on his haunches. He held out his hand and beckoned. "Here, kitty kitty. Nice kitty." The cat stood a few seconds, then began to make its way very cautiously towards him. It came up close, sniffing at his fingers.
    Yui stepped forward. Too quickly. The cat turned and bolted. Shoji flicked his hand and a fireball burst into life right in front of the cat, flickering and burning a dull orange red. It lit up the walkway somewhat. Shoji kept it small, not wanting to attract attention.
    The cat was momentarily paralyzed by its instinctive fear of fire. Yui didn't waste the opportunity. She quickly crouched down behind the cat and put her hands over it. It convulsed, then fell down to the ground. Shoji let the fireball fade away. Now the animal was truly paralyzed. The most it could manage was little mewling sounds. Its body quivered now and then. Little spots of light started to form all over its body, like it was being covered with fireflies. They swirled over it, then started to converge on a point in between Yui's two hands.
    The cat lay utterly still now. Shoji stepped over to the other side of the stricken animal, and Yui stood up straight. She still held its lifeforce in between her hands. To Shoji's eyes, it looked like a little nebula or galaxy, countless points of lights all swirling about in a little ball.
    Shoji stared into the meaningless pattern of light, concentrating on what his inner eye was telling him. Yui was concentrating on holding it in place, so it was always easier for Shoji to read it. **Let's see. She's owned by a family living in an apartment. Young couple and a little boy. Seems to spend most of its time there. Maybe they're not supposed to have pets and they have to keep it a secret. She got lured out here by some tomcat, but ended up chasing him away. She was tracking a mouse when she heard us. Thought she would get a handout or something.**
    **Pretty boring.**
    **Well, housecats rarely lead exciting lives. Want to put it back?**
    **Sure.** Yui crouched down and held the cat's lifeforce over it's body. The kaleidoscope of little lights slowly fluttered down, disappearing inside it. When they were all gone, Yui stood up and they both stepped away from it. The cat's eyes came open. It lifted its head, looked around. Slowly, it got to its feet. It looked a little unsteady. It took one look at Yui, and something clicked in its mind. It turned and bolted into the bushes.
    "What are you kids doing?"
    They both turned. Of course Yui could not hear the voice, but she got a telepathic cue from Shoji that somebody nearby had spoken. It was a fat, middle aged woman in a shapeless raincoat and carrying a paper shopping bag. She walked towards them. She didn't look happy. Her face was one that Shoji could not imagine ever looking happy. A true obatarian.
    She strode up to them and scowled at each of them in turn. She was shorter than both of them. "What were you doing to that poor cat? You were kicking it around weren't you? I saw it lying on the ground. I suppose you think it's funny, don't you?"
    Yui looked up at Shoji. **Should I do her?**
    **I say go for it.**
    Yui didn't even bother stepping close to the woman. She just raised up her hands, and suddenly every muscle in her body tensed and her lips curled up into a wolf grin.
    "Wha-" That was all the old woman got out. Her body jerked and a blizzard of little lights shot out of her, straight into a point between Yui's hands. She fell to the ground. Her lifeforce writhed and rippled from the rough treatment, then settled into a gentle, swirling pattern.
    Shoji winced. **Ouch. That was harsh.**
    Yui sniffed. **Stupid old bitch. Should have minded her own business. Funny we didn't feel her approach.** She turned around to face Shoji so that he could get a better look.
    **Well, obatarians are naturally devious, and we were distracted.** Shoji bent close and stared into the lights. Since Yui had discovered this new talent, they had done a fair amount of experimenting on all sorts of animals, both the two legged and the four legged variety. They were pretty good at it now. **Oh my ... she's been a very bad girl. Cheated on her husband a couple of times ... in her younger days of course. These days just some casual shoplifting ... slipping fruits into her handbag and such. Stealing from her neighbour's garden too.**
    **Sounds like a real cow. Plant a suggestion, Senpai.**
    **Sure, why not.** Shoji concentrated, directing his will into the lifeforce floating before him. **Listen to me. When you wake up you are going to run home, tell your husband about all your past indiscretions in as much detail as you can, and then you are going to beg his forgiveness.**
    Yui grinned. **That's a good one. I hope she didn't sprain anything on the way down, I want her to get home while that's fresh in her mind.**
    **Well, the way you ripped out her lifeforce, she could be out for a while. Better put it back, she's going to be in rough shape as it is.**
    **Okay.** Yui walked over to the woman and casually flicked her wrists. The little motes of light spread out and cascaded down on her body. In a few seconds, they were all gone.
    Shoji shook his head. **Man, she's going to feel like shit when she comes to.**
    **Serves her right.**
    **Anyway, we should probably leave.** Shoji put his arm around Yui and steered her towards the nearest exit. Suddenly he stopped. **I sense somebody coming.**
    Yui looked around. **Where?**
    **Not sure. Somebody could find her lying there, it's probably not a good idea to be seen here. We should 'port out.**
    **Okay.** Yui took his hand. In the blink of an eye they were elsewhere.
    Shoji looked around. **Why here?** He had been expecting her to take them home.
    She linked her hands behind her head and backed away from him, smiling. **Oh, I don't know.** She did a little pirouette, which looked like it was helped a bit by levitation, spread her arms out wide then came to a stop again. **I kind of like it here. Somehow it makes me feel warm and cozy.**
    It was a little Shinto shrine they had visited a couple of times before. The grounds were barely big enough to hold the building and a little open space in front of it. The building looked very old, no doubt it had been here long before the city had spread out and swallowed up the land around it. Now it was nestled right in between an office tower and an apartment block. The shrine was still beautiful, but to Shoji it looked silly standing in this concrete jungle. Tokyo city planning, gotta love it.
    **Warm and cozy, huh? I don't know, there are a lot nicer shrines than this.** He casually sauntered across the crushed rock. The area was fairly well lit, just because of the various street and building lights, but of course it was closed and locked up for the night.
    **Yeah, but not too many shrines give me that warm feeling.**
    Shoji knew that Yui was sensitive to some things that he wasn't, but he'd never heard this before. **So you definitely feel something different here?**
    **Yeah, and in a couple of other places. It's like ... I don't know, like the place had a lifeforce of it's own.** She looked towards the building and smiled. **It's almost like when I'm looking at an animal. I feel like I can reach out and touch it's lifeforce.**
    Shoji chuckled. Yui was always more lively and expressive after doing a hunt. He liked it. **A lifeforce, huh?**
    She looked at him suspiciously. **Do you think I'm imagining it?**
    He shrugged. **I don't know. Why don't you try pulling it out and see what comes up?**
    Yui seemed taken aback by his suggestion. She looked back at the building. She didn't say anything. Shoji just stood waiting. He was well attuned to her, could tell that she was concentrating, probing with her inner eye. She looked at him again. **You know, I really feel like I could.**
    Shoji had been joking, but he could see that she was serious. **Yui, are you sure?** Expanding the limits of their powers was one thing that no Ancient ever took lightly.
    **Yes, I can feel it clear as day. It would be just another hunt.**
    Well, except that this prey couldn't put up much of a fight. **Why don't you give it a try?**
    She smiled and nodded. She walked closer to the shrine building and stood before it. She held her arms out before her, palms forward and slightly inward. Shoji stood behind her, watching her. He could feel her aura expanding as she directed it out toward the building. Then he felt something else becoming visible to his inner eye. It was becoming clearer now, just as it always became clearer as Yui was extracting lifeforce from an animal. There was almost a sense of vertigo, as his eyes saw an inanimate building but his feelings saw an animal.
    His eyes went back to Yui. He could see the tension in her body, could feel the effort she was expending. She was crouched down now, completely focused. Whatever she was trying to pull out of there, it wasn't coming easily.
    It was a little while longer before the dull rumble registered in his conscious mind. The ground was shaking. The air around Yui was starting to stir, whipping her short hair around. It was getting worse. She seemed to be oblivious to it.
    *Oh shit.*
    Shoji was balancing the relative merits of interrupting her or allowing her to continue. When an Ancient of her power was this highly focused, interrupting her could cause unexpected side effects. She might end up shooting out a kinetite that would take down a whole building.
    The way things were going, that might happen anyway. He looked around him. At least the effect was strictly localized, she wasn't letting any of the side effects bleed off. That meant she still had good control. Fine, let her continue then.
    It all happened at once. The earth around the shrine building erupted, spewing dirt and gravel into the air. The timbers and logs of the shrine building all shattered at once, and it started collapsing to the ground. A galaxy of dazzling light motes flew out of the collapsing shrine and into the air.
    The building finished collapsing. The lights all drifted together and settled to a point between Yui's hands. The dust slowly settled. Everything was quiet.
    Shoji had come down hard, his ass smarted. It looked like Yui had come down just as hard. But she looked too mesmerized by what had happened to care much. Shoji got up and walked over to stand beside her. She was staring wide-eyed at what she held between her hands. **Senpai ... it's beautiful.**
    Shoji would have to agree. It was many times brighter than any animal's lifeforce had looked. Instead of little blue-white motes, each light seemed to be a tiny little flame, all of different colours. They floated about at a much more leisurely pace than the lively little motes of an animal lifeforce.
    Shoji could hear shouts of alarm from nearby. Better book it. **Yui, we'd better get out of here real quick. Can you put that back now?**
    **Put it back where?**
    Shoji glanced over at the pile of rubble where the shrine building used to be. Oh great. **Yui ... do you think you can 'port us while you're holding on to that?**
    She smiled. She looked a little spaced. **Right now I feel like I can do anything.** She stood up, careful to keep her hands around the floating lights.
    I sure hope so, Shoji thought. He took a hold of her wrist. **Then take us home.**
    Their living room swam around him. Shoji staggered, but managed to stay on his feet. That had been a bad one, Yui was either tired or distracted. She was already sitting down on the couch. Maybe she had just fallen back onto it. **Are you okay?**
    She just nodded. She was still mesmerized by what she was holding. Shoji sat down hard on a chair opposite her. He spent a few minutes letting his head clear and his panic adrenaline bleed away. Then he leaned forward and had a closer look at Yui's prize. He tried reading it the same way he had learned to read the lifeforce that Yui pulled out of animals.
    Yui looked at him. **Do you see anything?** She could guess what he was trying to do.
    **Not really. It feels the same, but there's no memories, no images, no thoughts. It's just white noise, random. Just power, no mind.**
    **Yes, there's lots of power here. It feels all tingly. I like it.** She smiled at Shoji. **Can I keep it?** She acted like they had just found a little puppy.
    Shoji leaned back and sighed. He closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He hadn't thought this far ahead. They'd never had one of these things that they couldn't put back.
    **Senpai, is something wrong?**
    **No, I'm just thinking. We have to do something with this.** He opened his eyes and gestured to the floating kaleidoscope of light.
**After all, you can't keep holding it like that forever. If you just let it go there's no telling what would happen You remember the last time.**
    She nodded solemnly. When they were first experimenting with this she had pulled the lifeforce from a little squirrel. It had died of shock or something. When she let go of its lifeforce it had practically exploded in her hand. It had felt like daggers shooting through their brains, they had both had a headache for hours. And what she held was many, many times more powerful. Yui's face fell. She was beginning to see what a bind they were in.
    Shoji tried to smile. **Don't worry, I'll think of something.**
    Her face suddenly brightened. **I know! We can take it to grandma Himiko. She's got these leaded flask things with wards on them. The ones they use to hold the guardian spirits that protect the house. They would probably hold this.**
    Shoji shuddered. The Matriarch. He could just imagine what she would say about all this. But Yui was right, she would be the one most able to deal with this. Any other option looked too risky. He stood up. **Okay, we might as well get this over with. Listen, when we talk to the Matriarch, try to emphasize that you were just trying out something new with your powers and it got messed up. She's always preaching about us pushing the limits of our powers, and brother you sure did that tonight.**
    Yui frowned. **Nobody can lie to the Matriarch. It can't be done.**
    **There's a difference between lying and putting a spin on things.**
    She thought about that for a moment, then nodded. **Okay, I'm ready.**
    **That last 'port was kind of rough. Are you sure you don't want me to call mom's place and have somebody come help?**
    Yui smiled sheepishly. **Sorry about that. I was a little out of it. But I'm okay now, I feel like I could 'port to the moon.**
    **By the First Ancestor, be careful what you think!**
    She giggled. **Don't worry, I won't do that. But just in case, maybe hold your breath.**
    **That ... is ... not ... funny.**
    Yui winked. **Sorry. I'll be good.**
    Shoji leaned forward and gave her a kiss. **Just get us there in one piece.** He hesitated just a second before taking her wrist.
    Darkness. Shoji had a moment of panic, then spotted the light of a familiar looking lantern. He let out a shuddering breath. After sunset and no electricity, of course it was bloody dark here. They should have turned out the lights in the living room first, let their eyes adjust. Yes, he was doing just a fine job of goal directed planning today.
    "Who goes there?"
    Yui jumped too. The bellowing voice had been accompanied by a sending. Shoji sighed. *'Who goes there' he says. These people are so precious.* He turned in the direction of the voice and waved. **Shoji.**
    **Yui.**
    The man approached them. He was carrying a small lantern. One of the Matriarch's guards, naturally. He became more clearly visible, now that he was in the light emanated by the physical manifestation of the shrine's lifeforce. He looked at the thing, managing to look solemn and disgusted all at once. **What on earth is that?**
    Shoji decided to deadpan. **It is the lifeforce of a Shinto shrine. Yui-san was extracting it with the purpose of letting us examine it and see what we could learn from it. But in the process the shrine collapsed and we were unable to return the lifeforce to its normal place. We are unsure how to dispose of it. We seek the advice of the Matriarch.**
    The man's expression did not change as he chewed on that. **Follow me.** He led them through the garden and to the front doorway. Shoji had to help Yui take her shoes off. She could probably keep the lifeforce stable with one hand if she concentrated, but they didn't want to take the risk. The guard admitted them to one of the sitting rooms where they sat down on cushions. He lit two more lanterns there. Shoji suppressed a smile. The lifeforce was probably lighting this room brighter than it had ever been. Himiko's people were creatures of habit if nothing else. The man solemnly commanded them to wait here and closed the door behind them.
    **You still feeling okay?** Shoji asked. He was very careful to focus his thoughts directly on her. There were people in this house who could pull a casually sent message right out of the air.
    **Yes, I'm fine.** Yui's face had a spooky look, underlit by the glowing lights floating between her hands, but her expression was calm. Her voice was low and flat as well, the sign of a tight sending. Neither of them really had any friends in this household, they never felt comfortable here. They only ever came here to see the Crystal. They were doing things that the Matriarch didn't approve of, some of which she knew about and some of which she didn't. There was plenty of reason to feel paranoid.
    After a few minutes the door slid open again. The Matriarch walked into the room, dressed in a simple, functional kimono. She looked at Shoji and then at Yui. **I have been told what has happened.** Having said that, she sat herself down in front of Yui and examined what she held there. She sat there for about a minute, neither moving nor speaking. Then she stood up again. **Follow me.**
    They followed her through the house and into the back garden. She took a lantern down off one of the hooks, and walked over to the big stone in the middle of the dark little garden. **Into the caves.** She stepped onto the stone and vanished.
    Shoji looked down at Yui. **Want me to go first?**
    **Okay.** She looked nervous. He felt nervous. The Matriarch was inscrutable at the best of time, but Shoji had no idea what to read into her attitude.
    Shoji stepped onto the stone. This stone and its counterpart in the caves were the strongest focus points the Ancients had ever devised. It was one of the few places Shoji could reliably teleport by himself. He concentrated, and was in darkness again. He stepped off the stone. His headache wasn't too bad this time, it would pass quickly. Yui appeared with the lifeforce, bathing the cave with light. Without a word, the Matriarch led them through the tunnels, all the way to the entrance to the cave of the Seed Crystal. It shone brightly as ever, drowning out the glow of the little light motes dancing between Yui's arms.
    The Matriarch reached into the front of her kimono and pulled out a little round milky white crystal. She put it down on the stone floor. She looked at Yui, indicated a place next to the crystal **Sit.** Yui knelt down there, and looked nervously to the Matriarch again.
    **Don't fret, this will be simple, even for a young pup like you. You know how you apply pressure to the lifeforce like a soft PK barrier, keeping it together, keeping it stable?** The young girl nodded. **I want you to put it overtop of the crystal and lower it down until some of the psychoplasm starts bouncing off it. Then I want you to gradually increase that pressure, gradually make your PK barrier harder.**
    **What's going to happen?**
    **You'll see.**
    Yui did as she was told. The motes of light that made up the lifeforce started to press closer and closer together, moving around faster and faster, getting brighter and brighter. Yui moved her hands in. Shoji could actually see the psychokinesis barrier now, like a shimmering transparent bubble held between her hands, confining the little motes of light to a smaller and smaller area.
    The lights disappeared, and suddenly the crystal was glowing brightly. It was all over in an instant. Yui squealed, and her PK barrier collapsed.
    The Matriarch picked up the crystal and walked over to the cave wall. She reached over her head and placed it on a little shelf that had been carved into the wall. Shoji realized that it looked something like the other glowing crystals that used to light up this room before the change in the Seed Crystal made them reductant. But they had never been that bright, this one was almost painful to look at.
    The Matriarch walked back to where Yui sat. The girl still looked stunned by what had happened. Himiko looked down at her, her hands at her hips. **I suppose you're feeling very proud of yourself.**
    Yui looked bewildered. **Matriarch ... ?**
    **You think you made some great discovery, that holy places have souls like living things? You think you're the first person to ever find that out? Why do you think we always tell you to consult your elders before trying something new with your powers? I could have told you exactly what would happen. And believe me, it could have been a great deal worse. If you had lost control of that lifeforce, let it go free right in front of you, it could have killed you.**
    Yui looked down at the ground. **I'm sorry, Matriarch.**
    **That isn't even the half of it!** Shoji and Yui both flinched. Her sending had been like a physical blow. **You tried this damned fool thing right in the middle of a city, with thousands of outsiders around you. What if you had gotten some of them killed? What if you had been hurt and they had seen what you did? You could be sitting in a detention cell trying to explain how you managed to collapse a building all by yourself. And do you know what would have happened then?**
    Yui shook her head, still looking down at the ground.
    **Even if you were in condition to 'port yourself out, I would have to send people in there to kill or mind-wipe anyone who had seen what you did. And if they couldn't do that well then we would have to make you disappear. We'd lock you in a cave you couldn't 'port out of and that's where you'd stay for the rest of your life. We've done it before, done it to stupid young fools who didn't even have the sense not to try out new powers in the middle of a nest of outsiders!**
    Yui was sobbing now. The Matriarch fixed her gaze on Shoji. He had his best poker face on. **I thought at least you would have more sense than this.**
    He lowered his gaze. **I should have taken better care of her, I know that.** He surprised himself by finding that he meant it. Gods, she really *could* have been killed!
    **They'll prepare a room. Take her back to the house and put her to bed. I'll talk to you both in the morning. Make no mistake, I am far from being done with you.** She took her lantern and walked out of the cave.
    Shoji went to sit down beside Yui. He gathered her in his arms and held her. She continued to sob softly.
    **We really blew it, huh?** he quipped. He could feel her head nod.
    Shoji tried to think through what might happen. Yui was of age now, by Ancients reckoning, so she could only be punished for a direct violation of their laws. The destruction of outsider property definitely qualified, but the Matriarch seemed to accept that part as being an accident. Which it had been. One hell of an accident. At worst, they'd be getting the cold shoulder for a while. Which was nothing new, really. A little obsequious grovelling and this would all blow over.
    There was something else tickling at the back of his mind. It was something in the room, he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He looked around. Had they changed something in here? It looked the same. No, it was more a feeling.
    He directed his inner eye at the Seed Crystal. His jaw dropped down.
    **Yui-chan?**
    She sniffed. Her sobbing was pretty much done. She leaned away from him, wiped her tears away and looked at him with her red-rimmed eyes.
**Yes, Senpai?**
    **Have a look at the Seed Crystal's telepathic image and tell me if I'm crazy.**
    She looked. Her mouth dropped open and she gasped. She stared in wonder for a few moments before she spoke. **It's so clear, much more vivid than before. It's like I'm standing right in front of it. It looks like the central tower is a thousand meters high!**
    **So it's not just me. We were here just last month, this must be recent. If it's so obvious just looking at it, why didn't we hear about it? It's the first change in the Crystal in four years, everybody would be screaming about it.**
    Yui thought about that. Shoji was happy to see that this new mystery had taken her mind off the Matriarch's grilling. **Unless ... it started just now. Tonight.**
    **Seems like quite a coincidence, us coming here and ... ** his sending trailed away. He looked over at the crystal set in the wall, the one with the lifeforce from the shrine.
    Yui pointed at it. **Do you think it's because we brought that here?**
    **It makes sense. Think about it. We're always hearing about how certain holy places can enhance our powers. Especially making telepathy and clairvoyance sharper.**
    Yui nodded. She actually looked a little excited now. **Yes! Senpai, maybe all those holy places have a lifeforce like that. When I was holding it I felt ... almost invincible.**
    **Don't be thinking that. Makes it sound too much like a cocaine rush.**
    She smiled. **It's like we've brought a portable holy place right into the Seed Crystal room. A lot of the clairvoyants come here because they say it makes their visions sharper, maybe it will be even better now!**
    Shoji grinned. **You know, I think tomorrow isn't going to go so badly for us after all.**

    "Check." Ami said as she took Setsuna's pawn.
    Setsuna looked at the little chessboard. Her frown deepened. She leaned back and sighed. "That's it, tomorrow we go back to tennis. I concede."
    Ami smiled. "Thank you for the game, you played very well."
    "Ami, you beat me every single game."
    "Well it wasn't easy, you really made me work for it."
    Setsuna's mouth twisted into a smirk. "Ami, haven't we had this conversation before?"
    Ami folded up the little travel chess set. "Anyway, tennis tomorrow sounds great."
    "I'm glad you agree. I was afraid you might want to play Go! next."
    "No, it's not really my game. Ryou beats me at Go! about as often as I beat him at chess."
    "Oh dear, I hope that's not all you two are doing with your time."
    Ami stabbed a finger at her. "Don't start."
    Setsuna put her hands up in surrender. "I hope he doesn't feel too badly, us taking you away from him for a week."
    "No, he understands that this time was for us. It helps, him knowing who I really am. I can tell him about things I can't even tell my mother."
    Setsuna smiled. "Yes, you're very lucky to have him." She looked out over the ocean, smiled wistfully. "Somebody you don't need to keep any secrets from."
    Ami watched Setsuna carefully. She thought she was missing something there, but decided to let it pass. She took another sip of her lemonade, and joined her friend in contemplating the seawater sparkling under the noonday sun. They had been here five days now and she still hadn't tired of the sight.
    "I don't believe you two!" They both looked to see Minako standing over them, hands at her hips. "You must be the only people in the world who would come all the way down here just to play chess!"
    "I think they're the smart ones," Haruka said, coming up behind Minako. "They didn't get pulled into the beach volleyball marathon from hell."
    "Tell me about it," Makoto said. She walked past the other two, pulled one of the empty seats at the table and sat down heavily. "Oof. Yeah, chess is suddenly looking very appealing right now."
    "I'll settle for a drink," Michiru said. She signalled a waiter and gestured to the pitcher of lemonade on the table. He nodded understanding ... refill and more glasses.
    "Wimps," Minako said, taking her seat. "Volleyball is the sport that God made beaches for."
    "Oh, I don't know," Michiru said, looking out over the top of her small sunglasses. "There are lots of other interesting things to do on beaches." Haruka was suddenly looking very uncomfortable.
    "Right," Makoto agreed. "That midnight swim was cool, we should do that again tonight." Haruka relaxed a bit.
    "Fine, as long as Ami doesn't go missing again," Minako said in a huff.
    "I had just gone to do some stargazing," Ami said.
    "Yeah, but we didn't know that, we thought you had drowned or something. That scared the hell out of me!"
    Ami took her hand and kissed it. "I said I was sorry."
    Minako smiled a little. "Well, just don't do it again. Tonight, I'm your swimming buddy and I'm sticking to you like a barnacle."
    "I take it you're done with your marathon," Setsuna said. The four of them had changed after their shower, it was the first time Ami recalled seeing them in anything other than bathing suits since getting here.
    "We negotiated an armistice," Haruka said. "Michiru has to give Minako her firstborn or something, I don't remember the details."
    Michiru took off her shades, regarded her partner. "That's not quite how I remember it. I believe you had to promise to take Minako out on a date ..."
    "Oh, right."
    "... followed by a torrid night of passion at a love hotel of her choice."
    "WHAT?" Minako and Haruka, simultaneously.
    "Uh, guys," Makoto said, "I'll back you up on this, I definitely do not remember that last part."
    Michiru looked thoughtful. "Maybe I'm getting that mixed up with something else."
    The waiter came by with their lemonade, and some of them took the opportunity to order ice cream.
    "Hey, don't forget about us," came a voice just as the waiter was about to leave. "Two more glasses, and an ice cream for my friend," Rei told the waiter.
    Rei and Hotaru looked like their hearts were as full as their shopping bags. They also sported brand new sun hats, shades and souvenir T-shirts. Rei had her long, lustrous black hair tied about halfway down her back, keeping it off her shoulders. She had gotten more well tanned than any of them, right now she was about as dark as Setsuna. Hotaru, like the others, had been diligent in using sunblock, so had kept her pale complexion. The younger girl was almost as tall as Ami now. Ami marvelled at how beautiful she had become. Her hair was almost the same purple-tinted black as Rei's, but despite repeated suggestions to let it grow still kept it cut straight just above her shoulders.
    "I hope you two left something in the shops for us," Minako said. "I haven't done any shopping at all yet."
    "I'm not surprised," Rei said. "This is the first time I've seen you off the beach."
    "Well, the beach is long but time is short, so we have to live each day like it would last forever."
    Rei cocked her head. "Uh ... right."
    "Dear me," Setsuna said, glancing in the shopping bag that Hotaru had set down nearby. "Didn't we overdo it a little?"
    "But there were all sorts of neat things, and lots of bargains," Hotaru said brightly. "Oh right, I got something for you." She reached into the bag and drew out two bright tropical flowers that had been carefully laid on top of her other shopping. She stood up and leaned over Setsuna. "Hold still."
    "I don't know about this," Setsuna said as Hotaru carefully placed one of the flowers in her hair over her ear.
    "I thought of you as soon as I saw these," Hotaru said, ignoring her. She walked over to her guardian's other side. Setsuna obediently sat still, just a hint of a smile on her lips.
    Ami watched as Hotaru carefully adjusted the second flower to match the first. It wasn't "Setsuna-mama" anymore, but you could still hear it in her voice. Understandably, Hotaru was clinging to this small part of her youth, the part that had not been stolen from her by the alien invaders she had saved them all from. And Setsuna looked quite content playing the role of mother for her.
    "Now you really look like an exotic native princess," Hotaru said when she was done.
    "I don't suppose you've got a grass skirt for her in there," Haruka said, peering into the shopping bag.
    Hotaru looked thoughtful. Setsuna pointed at her. "Don't even think about it."
    "I thought Usagi was with you two," Minako said to Rei.
    Rei sighed. "She said something about spotting watermelon for sale. Then I blinked and she was gone, it was the strangest thing."
    "Gee, you don't think she would eat a whole one by herself, do you?" Makoto asked innocently. They all laughed. Having found watermelon, Usagi was very unlikely to stop at just one.
    "Poor Mamoru," Haruka said. "His food budget must have tripled since she moved in."
    "You know, I'm getting very impatient with those two," Michiru said. "Oh, thank you, just leave those." The waiter had just set down a tray with their lemonade and ice cream. He bowed and withdrew. As some of the women around the table reached out and picked up their refreshments, Michiru continued. "For a year now they've been threatening to set a date for their wedding. She must have asked me three times already to be one of her bridesmaids."
    "Four times," Ami said, holding up that many fingers.
    "Five," Minako said, doing likewise.
    "Rei, hasn't she been asking you about what would be auspicious days?" Setsuna asked.
    "Sure, I've got a whole calendar marked up. Gave it to her ages ago. Say, maybe I should start a pool, guess which day she'll pick for them."
    "Five to one odds it's this year," Haruka said. "Three nines in the next year, that doesn't sound very auspicious."
    "Yeah, she is sounding serious now," Makoto said. "I'd bet it's before the end of the year."
    "A royal wedding," Hotaru said wistfully, her chin resting on her linked fingers. "Gee, after they're married, do we stop calling them prince and princess and start calling them king and queen?"
    "Technically, we should," Setsuna said. "When the Princess marries Endymion, that will unite the Earth and the Moon kingdoms. She will then be Neo-Queen Serenity."
    "I wonder if that would mean we've seen the last of Sailor Moon," Rei said.
    "What?" Minako looked shocked at the idea.
    "Well, as far as we know, Sailor Moon was just a legend in Chibi-usa's time," Rei continued. "Maybe when Usagi becomes Neo-queen Serenity, she doesn't need to be Sailor Moon anymore."
    "That would be a shame," Minako said sadly. "I'd miss her."
    "Yeah," Haruka said, "she really looks cute in that skirt."
    "Interesting." They all looked at Ami, who was staring off into space. "That might mean she loses her ability to become a Sailor Senshi after she's married. Maybe we're like valkyries and our strength lies in our maidenhood."
    There were strangled gasps all around the table. An ice cream spoon clattered onto the table. That seemed to snap Ami out of her trance. She laughed nervously, brought a hand up to her blushing cheek. "Ah ... sorry! I was just thinking aloud, that's all."
    Makoto put a hand on Ami's shoulder. "Ami-chan, that's a habit you're definitely going to have to try and break."
    "Minako, did you say something?" Michiru asked, looking out over her shades again.
    Minako blinked, her look of dread evaporated. She had mumbled something that sounded a bit like "A thousand years ..." She laughed, self-consciously rubbing the back of her neck. "Nothing, nothing..."
    Silence descended on the table like a shroud. Setsuna discretely went back to contemplating the rolling surf. Haruka and Michiru exchanged a glance. They both smiled and shrugged.
    "Hey everybody!" came a familiar, cheery voice from far away. Ami silently blessed Usagi for her perfect timing.
    Usagi came jogging down the boardwalk, waving at them, carrying a folded-up newspaper in her other hand, smiling brightly. She ran with somewhat more grace than they were used to seeing back when they had all first met. A few more years of growth and a more serious devotion to her Senshi training had curbed much of her clumsiness.
    Right up to the point where she tripped on the step up to the restaurant patio, sending her sprawling across a table between two startled tourists.
    Rei let out a sigh. "That airhead."
    Ami smiled as she saw Usagi get back up and start bowing repeatedly, putting on her best smile, stammering her apologies. She was switching freely between Japanese and halting English. Ami recognized the couple as people she had spoken with once or twice. Too bad Usagi didn't know they only spoke German ... no wonder they looked so bewildered. Some of it may have been awe over the vision that had come falling down on their table. For Usagi truly was a vision. She had always been pretty, but in the past four years she had blossomed into a stunning beauty. Her golden hair was tied up into the same two round odangos and impossibly long pigtails she had worn since Ami met her, a style that would have looked ridiculous on most anybody else, but was somehow perfect for her. Her eyes were the colour of the sky. Altogether, it was easy to think that she was an angel slumming it down here on Earth ... tonight she would surely trade her shorts and checkered top for robes and wings to go back up and tell the gods all about her vacation.
    Usagi walked over and took her place at the table. "Boy, that was embarrassing." She hissed and pulled up the arm she had just laid down on the table, started rubbing at it. "Really hurt, too."
    "Well, you just need to watch where you're going," Rei said, exasperated.
    Usagi showed her tongue briefly. "I was busy trying to find you after you ran off."
    "*Who* ran off?"
    "I told you I was going for watermelon! Coudln't you smell it?"
    "Usagi, watermelon doesn't ... no, on second thought, you probably could smell it."
    "Well, your loss."
    "I haven't seen a paper since I got here," Ami said. "Mind if I take part of that?"
    "Oh, you can have the front page," Usagi said, unfolding it. "I just wanted to see the restaurant reviews, we need to decide where to eat tonight!"
    Rei had a look at the section of the paper that Usagi handed across to Ami. "Usagi, that's a Tokyo paper."
    "Yeah, I know." Usagi fished out the lifestyle section. "It's the one Mamo-chan gets. So?"
    "We're nowhere near Tokyo."
    "It was the only Japanese newspaper they had."
    Rei opened her mouth to say something, then just slumped down and sighed. "Never mind." She took the local news section and opened it up.
    They all spent the next few minutes variously reading the paper, showing off their shopping, eating ice cream or just chatting. Ami tried to find some news items to read that wouldn't get her depressed.
    "Hey, great timing!" Usagi said. "Suginae Minori wrote another Best Ten Hidden Gems article, and guess what? It's the best ten places to eat!"
    "Great," Rei said, peering over the top of her paper. "Any ones nearby?"
    "Well, the first one's in Shinjuku ...." Usagi's voice trailed off.
    "Finally clicked, huh?" Rei went back to reading.
    Usagi laughed nervously. "Well, I was thinking we should all go out to dinner the day we get back into town, what do you think?" There were a few words of agreement around the table. Usagi folded her paper so that just half of the full page article was visible. "Let's see ... boy, these places are scattered all over ... she must have been to every restaurant in Tokyo."
    Minako giggled. "Usagi, I bet that's a job you'd love to-"
    "NO WAY!" Everybody jumped. Usagi sounded like she had just spotted a UFO. "Mako-chan, this is *your* restaurant!"
    Makoto looked like she had just been struck by lightning. "Huh?"
    "Look, right here!" Usagi plopped the paper in front of Makoto, right on top of her empty ice cream dish. Very hesitantly, Makoto reached out and lifted the paper up a little. Minako and Hotaru had already run over and were leaning on each of Makoto's shoulders, straining to read. Makoto didn't seem to notice.
    After about a minute of silence, Makoto put the paper down. She still looked stunned. "Oh boy."
    "I take it you got a thumbs up?" Haruka asked.
    "Yeah."
    "Congratulations," Michiru said, smiling warmly. "It's well deserved." Her sentiments were echoed by everybody around the table. Makoto smiled, thanking everyone. She was looking a little less dazed now.
    "This is great!" Usagi enthused. "Everyone talks about Suginae's Best Ten lists, I've got a bunch of them in a scrapbook."
    "Yeah, she's very well known," Haruka said. She smiled at Makoto. "Your place is always pretty busy when we go there, but business should really pick up now."
    Makoto's eyes went wide. "Omigosh!" She stood up, looking panicked. "They're going to be *swamped* this weekend!"
    Minako squeezed her shoulder. "Relax, Mako-chan. You've got a great bunch of people working there, they can handle it."
    "But they're going to run out of everything. With me gone, the people who usually go out for stuff will be too busy in the kitchen. Oh jeez..."
    "Not to worry," Setsuna said, catching her attention. "I made contingency plans, in case any of us had to go back early. There's a seaplane that can take you as far as Osaka. If you really think you need to go back, you can be back in Tokyo in a day."
    Makoto looked unsure. "I don't know, that sounds like it would be expensive. You've done so much already, flying us out here ..."
    Setsuna dismissed her concerns with a wave. "They'll be leaving on their regular run later today. I know they've got at least a couple of seats free." She glanced at her watch. "Meet me at our hotel room in two hours and I'll take you to the pier."
    Makoto smiled, looking infinitely relieved. "I can't thank you enough. Um ... I should probably go call them, let them know when I'm coming back. I'm really sorry everyone, I hate cutting out early on you like this."
    "That's okay," Usagi said brightly. "It's so exciting! Now I can brag to everyone that I know one of the famous chefs of Tokyo!"
    Minako steered Makoto back toward her seat. "I think you have time to finish your lemonade first, right?"
    "Right." Makoto sat down, picked up her glass and tossed it back in one gulp. "Well, I'd better go make that phone call." She stood up again. "See you later everyone." There was a chorus of goodbyes as she walked back toward the hotel.
    Minako sighed. "Well, that was quick. I'm really happy for her, but it's such lousy timing. I was looking forward to us all going home together. Now Mako-chan's going to have to make the trip by herself."
    "Well, maybe not," Rei said. "Setsuna, I hate to impose but do you think they'd have room for another on the plane?"
    "Yes, of course," Setsuna said.
    "Oh, not you too," Usagi whined. "How come you have to go back?"
    "I think it's very sweet of you," Michiru said, smiling at Rei. "It will be so much nicer for Makoto, having the company."
    "Well, there's that, yes," Rei admitted. "But I have my own reason for going back."
    Ami caught the undercurrents in her tone. "Rei, is something wrong?"
    Rei made no further attempt to hide her seriousness. "I didn't want to say anything while Makoto was here, didn't want to burst her bubble."
    "Bad news?" Haruka asked cautiously, gesturing to the section of paper Rei had been reading.
    "Sort of. Last night there was some sort of accident at a shrine, somehow the whole building collapsed. I recognized the name, a friend of mine is a shrine maiden there."
    "Oh my God!" Usagi said, bringing her hand to her mouth. "Do you know if she's okay?"
    "The paper says nobody was hurt, so I assume so. But Miho really loved that place, she'll be very upset. I should really go back and see her."
    "Maybe you could put her to work at your shrine," Haruka quipped. She put her hands up defensively against the cold look Rei shot her. "I mean it would be very therapeutic for her, right?"
    Rei smiled, but the look in her eyes was no less dark. "You truly have the heart of a mercenary." She grabbed her shopping bag and stood up. "Well, I'd better get back and figure out how I'm going to pack all this stuff. Setsuna, I'm sorry again for imposing like this."
    Setsuna smiled. "Not at all. I'll see you in a little while."
    "Hang on a second," Usagi said. With practiced ease she wolfed down the last of her ice cream and washed it down with the last of her lemonade. "I'll come with you. I found this little confection stand on the way to the hotel. They've got a cake that's something like kasutera, it's simply to die for! Since you're leaving today, this is your last chance to try it."
    "You've already eaten," Rei protested, not having had any ice cream herself ... or any watermelon for that matter. "I'd feel silly, having you watch me eat."
    "What are you talking about?" Usagi said as they walked away. "I told you they're to die for, I'm having two."
    "Fine, as long as you don't go for a swim until an hour after you've eaten," Rei said sternly.
    "Rei, I'd *never* get to swim if ..." their voices faded out as they walked away.
    "The way that girl puts it away," Haruka said, "It's astonishing her body can still maintain positive buoyancy."
    "Speaking of which, I feel like going for a swim," Ami said. "Anyone care to join me?"
    "Oh, I don't know," Michiru said, sounding a little bored. "I'm getting a little tired of just frolicking on the seashore, it's not really proper swimming."
    Ami raised an eyebrow. "Well, actually I had something a little more interesting in mind."
    "Really?" Michiru took off her shades. "Do tell."
    Ami pointed out towards the ocean. "You see that island out there?"
    "Yes."
    "I was thinking of swimming there and back."
    Michiru looked a little more interested now. "I don't know, I thought it would be more interesting to go around it and swim to the island that's behind it, the one you can't see from here."
    Ami smiled sweetly. "Oh, you mean the one that's only one kilometre further?"
    "Dear me, is it only that far?"
    "I'm afraid so. But actually, if we swim around that one we can go to a sandbar that's on the other side of it. The sandbar disappears when the tide comes it, but if we start now and keep up a good pace, I'm sure we can make it."
    "My, you've done your homework."
    "I always do."
    "Well, that's beginning to sound interesting. I assume you have your bathing suit in your bag?"
    "Naturally," Ami said, indicating the sports bag next to her.
    "Good, then we can go straight to the changehouse." They both stood up. "I should think we'll be back by sunset."
    "Oh, I should think so," Ami agreed. "We'll be a little late for dinner, though."
    "Yes, we will. The rest of you had better make your own plans, we'll just pick something up later."
    There was another chorus of goodbyes, and the two of them headed off towards the changehouse. Everybody at the table watched them until they were out of sight.
    "They really take swimming seriously, don't they?" Hotaru finally said.
    "Somehow, they take it most seriously when they're both swimming in the same water," Setsuna noted.
    Minako took a drink of her lemonade. "Ami sure seems to be getting competitive lately. I wonder where she picks that up from?"
    "Oh brother," Haruka muttered.
    Minako frowned. "What was that?"
    "I said, from her mother."
    "Oh. Yeah, I guess you really need to be the A type personality to make it as a doctor."
    "I forgot to mention," Setsuna said, looking at Minako. "I saw your concert on television last week, you were very good."
    Minako beamed. "Thanks. It wasn't exactly my concert, there were a dozen other singers on the program."
    "But I thought you were a cut above the rest."
    "That's nice of you to say. I didn't think techno-pop was your thing."
    "She was watching with me," Hotaru explained. "I was taping it. A lot of my favourite singers were on that program." She smiled. "I mean you too. I'm your number one fan."
    Minako winked. "Aww, that's what they all say." She suddenly looked around and beckoned Hotaru to come closer. "I'm not really supposed to be telling you this," she said, her voice low, "but, well ..." she leaned even closer, murmured in Hotaru's ear.
    Hotaru gasped and shot back upright. "He's *here*? I don't believe it! He's so dreamy, I have all his CDs, I've got that big poster of him on my wall!"
    Minako was grinning from ear to ear now, very pleased with herself. "So how would you like to go meet him?"
    Hotaru's eyes went wide. "You mean it?"
    "Uh huh. I just happen to have an open invitation to a private party he's holding not far from here right this very minute. Want to head over there?"
    "I don't know, do you think it would be okay?" Hotaru glanced furtively at her guardian.
    "You two go ahead," Setsuna said. She looked at Minako. "Try not to keep her up too late, okay?"
    Hotaru stood, looking both thrilled and terrified. "Gee, do I look okay? Maybe I should go change."
    "You look fine," Minako said, putting her arm around Hotaru and leading her away. "Just leave everything to Minako onesama, we'll have a great time!"
    Setsuna glanced at her watch. "Well, we were all together for approximately five minutes. I think that's a new record."
    Haruka chuckled. She nodded towards the two walking away. "You really think that's okay?"
    "I'm pretty sure I know who they're going to see, you can't walk into Hotaru's room without it being obvious who her latest heartthrob is. He's got a squeaky clean reputation, which is pretty much mandatory for an idol singer."
    "Hotaru seems to go through idols as fast as she goes through boyfriends."
    Setsuna smiled. "I haven't asked her, but it looks as if there's a young man she's quite serious about now. They don't seem to go out all that often, but she gets at least weekly letters from him. Three or four pages, from the thickness of the envelope."
    "And her letters?"
    "She posts them herself."
    "Yes, that does sound serious. Michiru will be pleased, she's been fretting about how all Hotaru's boyfriends have been semi-literate jocks. So, anything else we've been missing out on?"
    "Not much you haven't heard already. I think Rei's grandfather is doing rather more poorly than either of them is willing to admit. He'll probably spend the winter down south, like he did last year. I suspect he only has a few years left at best."
    Haruka's expression darkened. "That's going to be really hard on Rei, when he goes. For all their fighting, we all know she adores him. I guess that would pretty much set her future, I couldn't see her doing otherwise. Unless ... ?"
    "Someone marrying into the family?" Setsuna quipped. "No change there."
    Haruka sighed. "Status quo, huh? Thought as much."
    "Well, be that as it may, there's another relationship that's developing nicely."
    "Our little genius?"
    "Correct."
    Haruka smiled broadly. "Well, what do you know. Sounds like she's coming out of her shell with a vengeance. Didn't I say that year in Germany would do her good?"
    "Did you say that?"
    "I very definitely said that."
    "Well, then I suppose you must have been right. Anyway, I'm just happy to see that she's lost her millennial fever."
    "What, no more sinister experiments freezing poor little animals in crystal?"
    "No, she's already done about as much as she can with that. And her reading material has improved, no more long turgid analyses of the nature of evil."
    "Thank goodness. Half those books would end up in our house, it was pretty grim stuff. After reading some of that, you start to wonder how our species made it this far."
    Setsuna just nodded agreement. They both leaned back and relaxed, watching the ocean for a while.
    "So do you think it's all going to fall apart?" Haruka asked.
    Setsuna didn't look to be at all surprised by the sudden question. "I'd say there's slightly better than an even chance," she said as if they were discussing stock options.
    "Think we ought to be making plans?"
    "I think we're in about as good a position as we can be. We're all together," she smiled, "that is when you two aren't galavanting all over the world. We're staying sharp and focused, honing our powers as best we can. Beyond that, I'm reluctant to have us do more."
    "Reluctant?"
    Setsuna wore that perfect poker face again. "I want you all to be able to enjoy this peace, however short or long it ends up lasting."
    Haruka smiled. "Eat, drink and be merry?"
    "And keep your powder dry, just in case."
    "Good advice."
    "Anyway, you haven't told me anything about your own plans. Is Michiru at least going to do some concerts in town before you head back to Europe?"
    "Yeah, she's already got three nights lined up. Naturally, I've got the advance tickets sitting at home."
    "Always an incentive for us all to get together again."
    "Yeah."
    A knowing smile spread across Setsuna's face. "Haruka, you're a lot like Ami, you answer in monosyllables when you've got something on your mind."
    Haruka chuckled. But there was still a hint of seriousness in her face. It was a moment before she answered. "It may be nothing. I'm only mentioning it because we always said we would tell you, whenever Michiru had a vision."
    Setsuna leaned forward onto the table, looking at Haruka expectantly.
    "It was only once. Two days ago, when she was looking in the talisman mirror, like she does every morning. She said it was very brief, but quite clear. A picture of the Crystal Palace, exactly the way you described it to us."
    Setsuna's face was expressionless. "Nothing more?"
    "No. The palace against a black background. That's all."
    Setsuna pondered that for a moment. "Why now?" she asked softly. She didn't sound alarmed, just puzzled.
    Haruka had a slight frown on her face. "I'm always afraid to ask you anything when you look like that. You've tried to explain it to me so many times. How you know what's to come but not how we get there. How the Pluto who helped raise Chibi-usa is both your past and your future. I still don't get it."
    Setsuna's expression darkened. "Do you want to know something, Uranus?" She leaned forward. Her red eyes burned like coals.
    "I don't get it either."
    She leaned back and laughed softly. "I'm sorry Haruka, have I disillusioned you?"
    Haruka shook her head slowly, her horrified expression changing to one of profound annoyance. "No, you just scared the hell out of me, that's all."
    "Well, quite honestly, I don't know what the vision might mean. I think I'll ask Mars to do a reading when we get back, see if she can come up with anything. If not, then I'll just make a note in the journal and we'll wait and see." Setsuna's tone was casual, with just enough hint of finality to indicate there wasn't much point talking any further on it.
    "Fair enough. Well, since everybody's abandoned us I guess we'll have to keep ourselves amused. Feel like a swim?"
    "I'll pass thank you, I'm starting to feel a bit waterlogged. Besides, I have to meet Rei and Makoto in a little while. In fact, I should call and arrange their seats. Once I've done that, maybe we can go shopping for a while."
    "If you like."
    "Oh dear, does it sound that boring?"
    "No, not that. I was just so looking forward to seeing you in a wet bathing suit."
    "Baka."

End Chapter 2