Knowledge

The Return

Chapter 9: Knowledge

by Richan

Koi waited on the floor patiently, knowing that the two before him would wake up any moment. He sighed and thought about his name. 'Maybe this isn't the right one,' he thought.

<Maybe,> thought his other half.

'What do you think we should be called?'

'Do you know of any other names?'

Silence. <Um...no.>

'Thought so.'

The mental debate stopped as there was movement in front of him.

Clutching her head in her hands, Minerva looked around the dimly lit room where they were. "Uh, what was that?" she asked in a daze. Shaking her head to clear it, she first looked at Ceres, then at the man beside her.

"I didn't know what to call myself," he said.

Ceres sat up and laughed softly. "I agree with you."

Sighing, the man put his head in his hands. Minerva put her hand on his arm, drawing him from his melancholy. "I think I know the perfect name for you," she said. "It's Love."

He could feel his soul sing in harmony with this word. "Love." He nodded, but then started to shake his head. "But, I'm human now. That name is for another."

Puzzled, the two goddesses looked at each other before Minerva's face brightened. "I know!"

Ceres watched her with a confused look. "What? What does it mean by 'name for another?'"

Minerva grabbed her hand with her right hand, and the man's with her left. "I got the perfect name for the one who becomes the god of love himself: Suhai[1]."

Both nodded in agreement. 'That's perfect!'

Suhai watched as Minerva jumped for joy, changing back into her human form. Running her hand over her braid, she tried to calm herself. A huge smile on her face, she looked over as Ceres changed back into Seiya. Kashikoi ran over to him and hugged him. "I am *such* a genius!"

Both men looked at each other and sweat dropped.

"Um, Kashikoi-san," Suhai said.

She ignored him as she continued to hug Seiya, who really wasn't complaining.

"Never mind," he said. He closed his eyes, not wanting to see the two drapped over each other. He could feel another presence nearby.

'Yes, it is.'

"Let's go, shall we?" Suhai rose from the floor and looked over at his companions. Kashikoi was looking away from Seiya, blushing.

"Um, sorry..."

"It," squeaked Seiya. Clearing his throat, he tried again. "It's ok."

Suhai went over to one of the walls. Putting his hand on it, it began to pulse with a soft glow. "I feel the presence of Venus on the other side."

Seiya and Kashikoi walked over to where he was standing, each putting a hand up to it as well.

"Hey," Kashikoi said. "I can put my hand through it!" She pushed her hand further into it, falling into the next room.

"Kashikoi!" Seiya yelled as he pushed through the wall.

Suhai sighed, and followed the two. He found Minako laying in Yaten's arms, sleeping. Motoki was off to the side, staring off into nothing. Yaten was yelling at Seiya to keep quiet, making a racket himself.

"Shh," Minako said sleepily. "'m trying to sleep."

"Minako," Kashikoi said, coming over to her and Yaten. "Let's go home."

"Home!" Minako sat up quickly, banging her head on Yaten's chin. "Itai!"

"Man!" Yaten rubbed his jaw and glared at Kashikoi, who 'eeped' and ran behind Suhai.

Motoki came over after noticing that the group had gotten bigger. "Eros?" he asked the blond man.

Suhai shook his head. "Not at the moment. By the way, it's now Love."

There was a snicker from the middle of the room, and both looked to it, finding the other four looking at nothing in particular.

"Hey, I didn't think of it! It's also Suhai."

Motoki put his hand on Suhai's shoulder. "Never admit that to the others."

"What?"

"That you didn't think of it."

"Hey," Kashikoi complained. "I thought long and hard for both of those!"

"All of two seconds," Seiya muttered under his breath.

"What?!" There was an echo as Kashikoi, then Minako started to chase him around the room. Yaten rolled his eyes, trying not to laugh.

"Oi!" Motoki shouted at the others. "Let's go home already!"

Suhai was nodding his head. "Yeah, let's go."

Kashikoi and Minako looked at each other, each promising that they would extract revenge later on two males. Winking, they turned to the four men. "Ready!" they said in unison.

Seiya and Yaten sweat dropped. 'Kowaii,' both thought.

Holding hands, the six concentrated on the shelter, knowing the others wouldn't have left it yet.

******

Rei couldn't sleep. She could still feel the glitter on her fingertips and see the shimmering figures of Eros and Anteros. She couldn't explain what she felt, though, seeing them disappear. Her chest ached, and she didn't know why. She stepped outside, and looked up at the moon, half hidden by the Earth's shadow. 'Seven days to the full moon,' she thought. She went over to the small brook that bubbled nearby. Putting her hand in the water, she wondered what had happened to her grandfather and Yuuichiro.

Sighing, she rose and headed back to the shelter. She noticed movement in the doorway and found Usagi rubbing at her eyes.

"Usagi!" Rei whispered.

"Rei-chan," was the tired reply. "Daijobu?"

Rei shook her head. "I'm all right, Usagi. Go back to sleep."

"They are coming home," Usagi said softly, turning to go back into the shelter and Mamo-chan's warm arms.

"What?" Rei hissed quietly.

"Don't worry, they are safe, and they'll be here soon," came the answer. Usagi yawned widely, the moonlight reflecting off her teeth. Rubbing her eyes again, she went back into the shelter.

Rei stared into the darkness of the shelter for a moment. 'How did she know?'

Hearing movement, she turned around. Behind her stood the others who had been missing for the last couple of days. Before her stood five she recognized by sight, but her heart knew who the other was.

"Who?" she asked softly, not wanting the others to hear.

"Suhai," he said, taking her hand. "Just call me Suhai."

"Ok, Suhai," Rei giggled. 'What am I doing? I'm giggling at the sight of this stranger?' She took a deep breath and looked up into his face again. She could see the mixture of Eros and Anteros in his face, but she knew he wasn't in god-form at the moment. It clicked suddenly in her brain as she heard Minako complain off in the distance that she needed some sleep.

"Suhai," she breathed.

Both felt a pinch and looked to see Motoki sweat dropping. "Come on love birds. Time enough for that in the morning."

Blushing, Rei and Suhai went into the shelter, laying close to each other.

On the other side of the room, Usagi snuggled next to Mamoru. "Safe and sound," she murmured, falling back asleep.

Mamoru tightened his arms around his Usako. 'Safe and sound,' he thought, before he, too, drifted off to sleep.

******

Deep in subspace, the two Furies that were left were thinking up a new plan. They had felt Megaera's death and vowed revenge. Tisiphone was especially hot under the collar. In a distant corner of their minds, they wondered what had become of the mortal that their master had given power, but they shrugged the thought off. They had work to do.

******

Shingo rose early the next morning. Looking around the shelter, he found that the group had been added to. One part of his brain knew who the stranger was, while the rest demanded something to drink. Shrugging his shoulders, he left the shelter, not noticing that he was being watched.

Hotaru sat up quietly. She saw Shingo go, and remembered what he had done trying to save Usagi what felt like a million lifetimes ago. She looked over at Setsuna, who lay beside her. Making a decision, she rose to follow the young man.

Setsuna smiled in her sleep and rolled over.

Outside, Shingo knelt by the brook, scooping his hands to drink. There was movement on his side, and he turned his head sharply. "Hotaru," he said quietly.

She just nodded shyly, reaching for some water. She tried to get enough up to her lips, but it slipped between her fingers. She let out a noise of frustration.

"Like this," Shingo said, touching her hands.

They jumped back at the shock that ran through them.

Blushing, Shingo reached for Hotaru's hands again. "Here, hold them like this."

In the doorway, Usagi looked on and sighed. Mamoru came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulder. "What do you think," he asked.

She shook her head. "I'm happy for them."

"Do..." Mamoru drifted off, unable to ask the question he wanted to.

"Do I wonder what happened to my parents?"

He nodded.

"I know that whatever happened to them wasn't bad." Usagi touched her heart. "I can feel that they were happy."

Inside the shelter, Makoto lay next to Jadeite, the two quietly talking. "Did you notice that we seem to be pairing up?" he asked.

Makoto blushed. "Um, I think..." She stopped, unable to voice the thought she had.

"You think...what?"

"Nothing."

Jadeite smiled at her. "It can't be nothing if it makes your cheeks so rosy." 'What am I doing?' he thought to himself. 'Am I flirting?"

Makoto was thinking to herself as well. 'Is this really the man that Rei complained was trying to burn down Tokyo?' She blushed, trying to reconcile this man with what she had been told. She mentally shook her head. If Mamoru-san trusted him, she would, too.

She smiled at him all of sudden. Jadeite blinked. 'Whoa!'

******

Sunset found Motoki sitting at the brook. 'Reika,' he thought sadly. 'I wonder what happened to you.' Sighing, he picked up a stone and attempted to skip it across the little brook.

It sank.

'Figures.'

"So," came a voice over his shoulder. "You have lost the one you loved."

Motoki looked up. He was surprised to see Setsuna dropping to sit next to him. "I have to mourn."

She nodded slightly and looked him in the eyes. Her red eyes seemed to be boring into him, and Motoki took a sharp breath, releasing it slowly.

Setsuna turned her head to look at the sunset as the sun fell beneath the horizon. "The night always seems long, but a new day will begin when its over."

There was a snort behind them and the two looked behind them to see Hotaru and Shingo snickering behind their hands. "Setsuna-mama, don't make him more depressed than he already is," Hotaru said, trying not to laugh. Shingo looked at Motoki and shrugged, before bursting out in laughter.

"Gomen," Shingo said, getting a hold of himself. "You just sounded like my mom's soap operas."

Several expressions ran over Motoki's face, too quick to catch. After a couple of seconds, there was a broken laugh, soon followed by a richer sound.

Hotaru and Shingo broke out in laughter again as Motoki continued. Setsuna merely smiled.

******

Taiki watched Ami out of the corner of his eye. Ever since Setsuna had been given Saturn's remaining power, she had been avoiding everybody. He had tried to talk to her several times, but she would find a way out of speaking to anybody. Sighing, he sat down and watched the others. He saw Seiya sitting next to Rei, but not really listening. Taiki laughed when he realized that he was actually watching Kashikoi speak animatedly[1] to Suru, Minako, and Makoto about something. He continued laughing when he saw that Yaten was watching Minako while he was talking to Suhai.

His eyes went around the room, trying to find someone who might be able to tell him what was wrong with Ami. His eyes met up with Nephrite's, who was sitting in the opposite corner from him. Taiki got up and crossed the room, sitting down next to him.

"You can learn a lot by watching people, can't you," Nephrite said.

Taiki nodded, before shifting his gaze back to Ami.

Nephrite chuckled. "I see that everyone has paired up but me."

Whipping his head back at the man next him, Taiki faintly blushed before looking around the room.

Nephrite chuckled some more as he watched the other occupants of the room. He saw Jadeite making calf eyes at Makoto, and he noticed the other worshipers to the group nearby. All four had people looking at them, and they were oblivious. He laughed as he realized that wasn't true, as Minako hauled Yaten over to the group, gesturing madly.

In the middle of the room, he saw his prince with his princess, talking to her younger brother and Hotaru. He could recall some memories from the Silver Millennium, and he had always felt sorry for the senshi of death and destruction. The young woman that she had been reborn as was entitled to love, at least in his eyes.

His mind wandered back to when he was last upon Earth, fighting for Beryl. He could see blue eyes looking at him in concern. "Naru," he whispered.

Taiki caught this and turned his head. He opened his mouth, then closed it when he saw the look on Nephrite's face. Gathering up his courage, he spoke,

"Um...Nephrite-san," he began. He broke off when he caught the other's attention. Blushing again, he continued. "I was wondering, how could I talk to somebody who doesn't want to talk to anybody?"

Nephrite looked over the group quickly, finding Ami over in one of the other corners by herself. "Aa, Mizuno-san. You are worried about her, aren't you?"

Taiki nodded slightly, looking over at the senshi of ice before turning back to his companion. "She won't talk to anybody, not even Usagi-san."

Shaking his head, the general looked over at the young woman. "The only advice that I can give you is to keep on trying to talk to you. She will eventually want to talk to somebody, and if you are that worried about her, make sure that it's you. That way you can be reassured that she's alright, and you won't have to hear about from somebody else."

Taiki looked at his feet for a couple moments. Raising his head, he nodded his thanks to Nephrite and got up. Crossing the room, he sat next to Ami, who didn't notice. He looked at her face, and could see tears at the corners of her eyes. 'She's crying,' he thought, sad. 'How do I cheer her up when she won't talk to anybody?'

******

Ami knew that Taiki and the others were worried, but she couldn't speak. She was terrified that something would happen, and that she would end up giving her life to protect Usagi again. She could feel a cold wind flow through her and she shivered. Ami felt Taiki take one of her hands, and knew that he was talking to her, but she couldn't hear it.

Her mind drifted in the cold, looking for an anchor to hold onto as the winds increased. It felt like she was at the North Pole again, fighting Beryl the first time. Ami no longer felt attached to her body as she floated. There was no awareness of the panic that she left behind as she continued searching.

"Ami!" Taiki yelled as she slumped over. Frantically searching for some sign of life, he couldn't feel a pulse anywhere. The others came rushing over, Usagi the first there. She held her hand up to her friend's forehead, searching for warmth.

"Ami-chan!"

"Ami," Taiki cried. He held onto her as Usagi continued to look for life. "Please come back."

"You have to go search for her," somebody said in the back.

The group turned and found Motoki there.

"This is the work of Tisiphone," Kashikoi said.

Motoki nodded. "She has taken her to avenge something."

"Megaera's death," Setsuna said softly. She transformed into Sailor Pluto. "Come, we don't have a lot of time."

Everybody got ready to go, transforming into their more powerful selves, when the door burst open again.

In the doorway, Beryl stood with more troops behind her. "I will get my revenge on you Sailor Moon," she sneered.

Demeter hung onto Ami's body protectively. Sailor Pluto came over, Juno and Janus close behind.

"This will be enough," Pluto said quietly. The others looked at her, confused, as she waved her staff and they disappeared.

Beryl's troops entered the shelter, and there was mass destruction.

******

In the quiet and darkness of her mind, Ami floated. A part of her knew that she had to find something to hold onto, but she couldn't find anything. A part of her past, her present, even the glimpse that she had seen of the future were nowhere in sight. She felt that she needed something to remind her of herself, but didn't find anything.

There was a soft laugh, but not one of joy. Instead, there was darkness dripping off of it as it echoed through her mind.

"How does it feel to be set adrift, Sailor Mercury?"

Ami shook her head. She didn't know who this person was, or why she was calling her 'Sailor Mercury.'

"I am adrift," the voice went on. "I have lost one of my sisters, and I think that you will be perfect to take her place."

"Sister," Ami whispered.

"Yes, sister. You will become one of us, and be strong once again."

Her mind was flooded with images of battles. She saw herself as the weakest one there, for she knew that she was meant to fight beside the people in the pictures. She saw her attacks were really for defense, not meant to break the enemy.

"How many times have you died for your princess," the insidious voice asked. "How many more times must you die for her?"

Ami shook her head. She didn't know if she could take this, this torture of knowing that she had to die sometimes to protect the one she had to. Her mind's anchor caught on those words. 'Had to' rolled around her mind, thundering like a stampede across the savannah. She *had* to die to protect her princess.

Her mind built up in anger, focusing on the words. She would end up giving her life for her princess, yet again if the battle went on as it did. Ami searched for ways to get out of this as there was more laughter in the background.

Tisiphone was ready to strike. This girl was so easy to confuse, in spite of her intelligence. She rubbed her hands, gleefully, at the thought of destroying those who had killed Megaera.

"Stop," came a soft voice. "Ami..."

Her mind stopped. She knew that voice from somewhere, but couldn't make the connection. Opening her eyes, Ami saw Sailor Pluto, Juno, Janus, and Demeter facing off against Tisiphone. Confused, she put her hand to her forehead and rubbed tiredly.

Demeter came over to her, grabbing her hand and lifting her chin. Directing Ami's eyes at her, she looked in them. "Ami," she pleaded. "Please come back. Come back to me."

She shook her head, distraught. Her heart hurt as she heard Tisiphone talking to her as well. Ami felt the wind get stronger as her heart and mind warred with each other. She could hear Demeter and Tisiphone's voices running through her mind, but she couldn't understand their words. As she drifted off again, she felt a tug. There was darkness again, but each time she tried to float away, she felt a pull on her left hand. She opened her eyes, trying to see through the darkness what was holding her back.

On the pinky finger of her left hand was a series of red strings. Ami stared at them for a couple of seconds before she tugged her hand towards her.

Demeter was pulled over to her, followed by a surprised Sailor Moon, who had been fighting Beryl.

"Ami," Demeter said. "Follow your heart and mind. Please..."

Ami stared into Demeter's purple eyes and felt something click. She could feel her mind set anchor next to her heart, joining them together. She could feel the love pouring from these two people, who didn't expect her to die, but to live with them in peace.

Turning to Sailor Moon, who had tears in her blue eyes, Ami saw the same message. Looking at Sailor Pluto, Juno and Janus, she felt love radiating at her. She looked at Janus, the god of beginnings, and saw that she could begin again, but she needed the past to look back on. She knew that even if she had to die again for her princess, she would find strength in the fact that there will always be more chances to live.

Taking a deep breath she reached inside herself and found the strength to fight, both with her mind and her heart. "Mercury Ice Power, Make Up!"

She transformed and felt the coldness that had drifted through her mind. The group was in a place filled with bone-chilling winds, whipped into a frenzy by Tisiphone.

Sailor Mercury took out her computer, holding it in her left hand. In her right, the harp she used for her Aqua Rhapsody attack formed. She held both with an upraised head, confidant once more in herself. She looked at the two people she loved the most in this world, and vowed to protect them into the next.

******

The group was bewildered when Sailor Moon suddenly disappeared. First those that went to help Ami had disappeared, now their leader.

Endymion knew that she was okay, but still felt anger that she wasn't here. Somewhere in the deep recesses of his mind he knew that she was fighting for Ami, but he wanted her to stand next to him to fight Beryl. He could sense his generals around him, fighting fiercely, but he felt detached from the scene.

Looking across the shelter turned battlefield, he could see the others fighting. Finally, he felt connected as he saw Beryl turn her eyes from the spot where she had been fighting Sailor Moon.

Gazing over the participants, Beryl searched for her prey. She wanted to deal personally with Sailor Moon, and the little brat had disappeared. If that senshi was too much of a coward to fight her, she would do the next best thing--take Endymion from her once more. Gloating, she fought her way over to the prince and his generals, who blocked her way.

"We cannot allow you to take him again, Beryl," Kunzite said threateningly. "You may have gotten us before, but not this time."

"We shall see," was the reply as Beryl raised her hands. Forming the words that would turn them to sleep, she gathered energy. All of a sudden there was a bright burst of light and Sailor Moon and company returned, facing off Tisiphone.

Beryl looked at the Fury, and was startled to find her breathing heavily, but her opponents looked as if they were at the beach. 'Well,' Beryl thought. 'Since the brat is back, I may as well get back to this. I'll wait until they battle Tisiphone, and when they are tired, I'll be back.' Gathering what was left of her army, she vanished.

"Damn," Jadeite said. "Just once I'd like to let her get what's coming to her." He clenched his fist tightly, watching the spot where Beryl had stood.

"Let it go, Jadeite," Endymion said. "We have another to fight."

On the other side of the battle, Sailor Mercury faced Tisiphone.

"I guess I'll have to try this another way," the Fury said.

"You won't get another try," Sailor Mercury said, steel wrapped around the words. "I will make sure of that."

Tisiphone was starting to be afraid. Her plan to attack the weakest of the senshi was starting to backfire big time. She had figured that warping this senshi would give her an edge to get to those that had killed Megaera, but this fight hadn't been expected.

Sailor Mercury looked at the Fury. She didn't need her visor to see the darkness that radiated off of this goddess. The cold whipping through her body got intense, and she felt power coursing along her hand towards her harp. She plucked the strings, aiming the power at Tisiphone, who screamed when it hit.

The power that shot from the harp was enormous. The others watched in awe at the energy pouring from the senshi of ice and knowledge. Mercury's symbol shone brightly on her forehead as the energy attack continued.

Tisiphone grew colder and colder, from the energy and the look in Sailor Mercury's eyes. The look was one that she had seen before. With her last remaining strength, she searched her memories for who had given her the look as well. Her eyes widened as she connected Sailor Mercury with the god Mercury. He had been the one that had been so disdainful of her and her need to avenge humanity taken down by humanity.

The Fury stood stiffly, trying to save what little warmth she had left, but couldn't hold on to it, not with the strength that Sailor Mercury was sending at her. She opened her mouth in a silent scream.

Sailor Mercury looked at her opponent one last time. Tisiphone had wrecked havoc over the world in her bloodlust for revenge. This goddess, this creature, this daughter of the night was no longer needed in humanity, for there was a new age approaching. She felt Mercury guide her to release the final blow.

"May those you have killed in cold blood have mercy on your soul," Sailor Mercury said in a voice as cold as the ice she threw at Tisiphone. The Fury opened her mouth in another silent scream and disappeared, banished to reside in Hades.

"Yeah!" shouted Sailor Moon, rushing over to hug Sailor Mercury. "I'm so proud of you!"

Demeter nodded her head slightly, praising the senshi of ice with joyful eyes.

Sailor Pluto looked almost relieved, as she headed over to where Sailor Saturn was standing. The senshi of death looked over at the stoic woman, surprised to see the look on her face. If any of the group was able to read the senshi of time's face it was she.

As they all transformed, Hotaru took Setsuna over to the remaining corner of the shelter that was left standing. "Setsuna-mama," she said, tugging at her sleeve. "What's the matter?"

Setsuna shook her head, and looked out over the group. "It is nothing, Hotaru-chan. Do not worry about it."

Shingo came over, and shyly nodded to Hotaru, blushing. "Usagi said that we should find new shelter before it gets any darker." He turned around as soon as he said this, not realizing that Hotaru had started to blush when he had approached, watching him shyly.

Setsuna smiled slightly and headed over to the others.

******

AN: I had to stop writing, because I was getting depressed listening to the Soundtrack of Les Miserables. "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" always seems to get me so down in the dumps.

[1] Suhai means admiration or worship (as in love).

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