Chapter 3

The mountains reached high into the evening sky, the suns rays just peeking out from around it. The city appeared to be on fire, cast in a glow of red and orange. Seiya turned her attention towards the training halls it's copper roof shining bright. How many times had she stomped through those halls, heels clicking on the wooden floor, everyone gazing at her in awe wanting nothing more than to be trained by the best. How many things would she miss here? Was this all worth it? The bells of the students hall chimed in the distance, the smoke billowed out of the bakeries stove tops. A few people could be seen heading towards the various taverns. She shook her head, but this was for Sailor Moon, and as much as she would miss and cherish her memories in Kinmoku she couldn't help the pull she felt to Earth.

"I'm going to miss it too." Taiki's calming voice came in close behind her. "It's beautiful, but duty calls."

"Come on you two!" Yaten walked forward, grinning wickedly, "lets get this show on the road."

"Why are you so chipper?" She stared back at her sister in disbelief, "I didn't think you would be fond of going back to that 'boring dusty place'" The phrase had been a signature of hers when Earth was involved.

The silver haired starlight scowled back. Taiki gestured dismissively at their ensuing argument, pulling her communicator out of her pocket, after a few moments of contemplation she nodded satisfied before returning her compact to her pocket.

"It's time…everyone join hands." All three nodded to each other before standing in a small circle.

This was it, the moment she had dreamed and waited for. Butterflies rose through her core, as she reached out. The moment their palms touched they were linked, as if they had done this a million times before. As the ground beneath them disappeared, a fierce wind blew, threatening to rip them apart. With focus and determination they continued. As they soared through the endless constellations, the Raven haired woman couldn't help but chuckle. Usagi would have loved this, most likely going on about the children stories of Peter Pan.

"I can't believe it" Yaten's voice broke the trance. "Were here."

Seiya nodded slowly, a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Everything looked exactly the same. Currently they were a short ways outside Tokyo. A small hill giving them the perfect view. Were they wrong? She honestly didn't know what she had expected. The whole city in flames maybe, instead the lights just winked happily at her from afar.

"I advise we de-transform…" Taiki gave a cough before Star maker's form disappeared.

"No way!" It was Yaten who snapped Seiya from her thoughts. "You never said anything about having to be a boy again." She was crossing her arms over her chest, eyes blazing.

"Yaten, in this world you can't just roam around as Star Healer. What did you think this meant? The male forms gifted to us by our princess will have to work. I honestly don't understand your problem with them."

"Easy for you to say! You always de-transformed on Kinmoku. I just…I don't feel the same, that's all." she was fidgeting with her compact, until now Seiya had never realized how much of a problem she had with her male counterpart. It was true, when they first arrived on Earth it took a while to get used to the fact that they were males, but honestly she didn't find a problem with it. Either form she was in would be fine to her.

"She could always just change Taiki, I'm sure she packed plenty of clothes." She winked at her little sister, trying to relax the tense situation. It was rare for the two of them to quarrel.

"She won't be properly disguised, she would constantly be in her transformation. That's just asking any enemies to know exactly who we are. Yaten de-transform now." His face grew softer after a moment, "Once we get settled, and we have a handle on things we can always work something out. You don't have to be in that faux body around the house either. Whatever your comfortable with, but for now…could you please."

"Fine…but I'm not happy about it." She pouted while her female form disappeared, "I feel so…squished in here." She pulled at her skin trying to make a point.

Seiya on the other hand was already walking down the path towards the city, his boots clicking along the pavement. He stopped, eyes wide as he took in the road to what felt like a dream. With a sigh he began the long walk ahead, "I'm home."

"Wow…not much has changed since we've left." They had luckily caught a bus into town, and found themselves walking towards their old apartment building. "Think Leopold will die when he sees us?" Yaten's spirits seemed to have risen as they chatted. Seiya snorted, the caretaker had always hated them.

"He probably threw a party the moment we didn't come back. 'Just to loud', 'to young'…" His impression of the haughty man made the other two chuckle.

"I saw a few new bookstores…" Taiki nodded at one as they passed by, "I think we should unpack first, then try and get into contact with one of the scouts. It doesn't look like anything strange is happening, but then again they were always good at keeping the innocent ignorant to threats."

They all agreed, as Seiya pushed open the glass door leading into their old home. To say they made an impression was an understatement. Although the streets were to busy for anyone to notice them, the high-rise was not. As a group they walked casually over to the main desk, Taiki waving over one of the woman working there.

"Hello…I don't know if you know who we are."

Her eyes sparkled as she giggled and tugged on her hair, "I of course…I mean…I think." Her eyes rushed over to Yaten whose mood had soured at the girls inability to form a complete sentence. "I thought you were the…wait. You are right?" She waited, expecting them to answer her. When she didn't get a response she must have remembered her job and continued, "How may I help you." She bowed letting her blonde hair fall in front of her crimson cheeks.

"We seemed to have misplaced our keys." Taiki was cool and collected, as if this was the most natural reason to be gone for six years. Yaten doubled over trying not to laugh. "Do you have a copy? Top floor, the Kou residence."

"Yes of course Mr. Kou. Please excuse me for a moment." She rushed past the desk, and into a back office. A few moments later she returned, but not alone.

"Ahh so the famous starlight's have returned." The older man had slicked back white hair, his nose a bit to large for his face, and his frame was thin and lanky. "We thought you had moved on. Or are you here to finally move your things out of your old apartment."

"So then our apartments still here? Good." Taiki shrugged, "Just a key will do then." He glanced at his nails as if he was bored with the conversation, a ghost of a smile was on his lips as he questioned the older man.

He seemed to think it wise not to comment, "Just as you left it all is in order." He scowled as he checked over the bills on the computer. "All up to date with payments too. How fortunate. Fine then, here we are. Three keys, and will you be needing assistance with any luggage?" He glanced around them, waiting to see a trolley, eyes narrowing in suspicion when he didn't catch one.

"No we shall do fine on our own. Thank you." With that the brunette took the keys, and walked towards the nearest elevator. His younger siblings in tow.

"I thought he was going to have a heart attack, hahahaha. The look on his face was priceless though."

"Shut it Yaten."

"What did I do!"

"Did you still have the maid set up?" Seiya tried to break up the argument before it begun, the floors seemed to tick by.

"Maybe, in all honesty I don't know, and even if we did I couldn't be sure how well cleaned it would be. She had to have noticed that we were gone." With that the bell chimed and they were presented with a set of double doors.

It was uncanny how their old home was perfectly preserved. It was as if they had never left. The counters were sparkling, the pillows fluffed, even the toilet rolls were folded on the ends. Seiya quickly ran to his room, throwing the double doors open and leaping onto the bed. He had expected it to be filled with spiders and cobwebs, but apparently Taiki had thought of everything.

He rolled off the four poster, and almost skipped into his private sitting room. God how he missed this place. The area was used as his music room, and still held his first big Earth purchase, a black upright piano. The walls were littered with hanging guitars, each from a different location they had toured. A small fortunes worth of instruments were displayed proudly from a saxophone to a violin although some were never touched.

Without hesitating he sat down on the slick piano bench, noting the old sheet music still begging to be played. He took a moment to read through his old work, clicking his tongue at a few mistakes. It felt as though he was back, five years prior, writing the piece for the very first time. Soon his finger tips were caressing the ivory keys, and the whole room was alive. The melody was soft and light, and the images of the moon princess came to mind as he hummed along. He sighed as the piece came to an end. He had originally written it for Usagi, before everything had happened. He had hoped to play it for her one day, and now he had another chance.

"What am I doing…stop that." He scrambled to his feet, before collapsing into a nearby sofa. "It's been five years Seiya. She probably doesn't even think about you." He frowned, "she has her prince charming."

Pushing himself up he rose with new found determination. Stalking back to the bed, before taking out his transport device. At once the objects he had selected appeared. In an effort to clear his mind he grabbed the first thing he saw and begun the long task of unpacking.

Hours seemed to dwindle by, and the only reason he stopped was the persistence of his stomach needing food. The last item left was a picture of him, back when he lived in Kinomku. At that time, her friends had insisted on building the biggest and greatest sandcastle anyone had ever seen. He smiled at the image, her and Kurami standing in front of a rather poorly shaped mound of sand. He set the picture on his night stand, before heading towards the kitchen.

"Okay so who wants to order the first pizza?" He yelled, two responses came at once.

"NOT IT!" he chuckled to himself, yep things had definitely not changed.

After rummaging through a lot of old pockets to find money, they were finally gifted with one of the prized delicacy's of Earth.

"So, bank first thing in the morning, then we find one of the scouts." Taiki grabbed the closest slice to him, "I'm thinking of contacting Ami, then I can get a quick synopsis of the happening around here."

Yaten nodded in agreement, her male form had been dropped, and she was enjoying laying around in a halter and skirt. "Well guys…here's the ultimate question. If were going to be here for a while, should we maybe." she glanced between the two of them, "Should we start back up our music career?"

A silence fell over them, "I don't know, we don't really need to anymore. The purpose behind it was to search for the princess."

"Well we could always use the money, and being popular did help get us in a lot of doors. If I've learned one thing it's in this world money and influence are everything." Yaten flipped her hair over her shoulder.

"You would say that…with your taste in clothes we'll be broke by morning." Seiya laughed, while Yaten tossed a pillow at him.

Taiki adjusted his glasses, "I don't see why we couldn't do a reunion show and see how it goes, but first we have to find out what dangers are lurking. If any."

"It all looks so peaceful, do you think we were wrong?" Yaten finally said what they must have all been thinking.

"Well were here now, and for a while no need to think about what's right and wrong"

Seiya glanced out to the balcony, the moon was bright and full. It's glow oddly warming his heart.

"I think its time to call it a night." Taiki rose from his seat, glancing at Yaten to do the same.

Yaten's eyes widened, "Um." she quickly jumped to her feet, "Yeah super tired…a lot to unpack."

Seiya didn't respond, he hardly noticed the doors click behind him and the lights dim. This whole journey was becoming a rollercoaster of emotions, one minute he felt completely okay and the next he just wanted to jump off the balcony of his 30th story apartment. He sat there staring at the moon for hours, until his eyes just couldn't stay open. Finally, he forced himself from the couch and back to bed, not even bothering to change before wrapping himself up in the comforters sweet embrace.

The next few days had been relatively simple, for how long the three had been gone. Taiki had gone over their financial situation. Everything was fine when they were gone, no groceries, transportation or phone bills to pay. Now he estimated they could live in their current status for three years before they would be out on the streets. They knew there mission could take anywhere from a week to several years, so to have finances keep them from having what they needed they would have to work. Their old manager was astonished when she received the phone call from Seiya. She had assumed they just wanted a break from the lime light and had picked up and moved to some unknown continent. She was happy to represent them again, and would call them with the dates for their reunion show.

Seiya spent the day mostly in the apartment with Yaten. When they were alone they seemed to be a bit closer than in public. Currently they were flipping through the different news channels trying to find anything odd. Yaten curled up on his feet her hair sprawled out around her. Absentmindedly he begin to braid it back for her. It reminded him of when they were children.

"Do you remember when we first came to the castle Seiya?"

"How could I forget…" He combed her hair with his nails, cleaning out any knots.

"Yeah…me to, my family was so happy to see me go. It was an honor." she sighed happily, "What was it like for you?" Her shoulders tensed a bit waiting for a brushed off reply.

"It was like one of those fairy tales you know, poor farmers son becoming a Senshi." He sighed.

"What happened? You never told us." Yaten didn't move, just stared blankly at the monitor in front of her. She knew better than to push her brother to far.

"That was the last day I saw them, I was never anything much when I was a child. Just a boy who couldn't even farm. My brother, the eldest, was a teacher and made more money than the family could pull together in one year. My sister married a sheep herder down the road." He shrugged, "When the princess came, they honestly thought she had the wrong house. First off me being a boy didn't help. Finally she presented me with my compact. The moment I touched it I felt complete…." He sighed, "and then it happened I became Star Fighter. After that moment, they broke off all ties with me. You know how the rules go." He patted her pleated hair to show he was finished.

"Yeah…I know." Yaten frowned, he wasn't telling her something. "They could have written, or come for the family gatherings."

"Honestly I didn't want them too, you guys were my family at that point." He stood up and stretched, causing a startled Yaten to plummet forward.

"Thanks for the warning jerk…" She quickly jumped up and brushed off her pants, the door to the apartment opening moments later. Spinning around they expected to see Taiki but instead were greeted with a warm smiling sailor Mercury. She gracefully walked through the door, taking her shoes off in tradition.

"You can leave them on Ami-san, but only if you like." Taiki was behind her.

"It's so great to see you all." She bowed to them, before she was crushed by a earth shattering hug. Seiya had never been close to Usagi's guardians, but seeing her made everything better. It meant that his Oodango was safe.

"Seiya…please." Taiki coughed behind him, "I think Ami would like to live another day." He realized his hold on her was a bit more forceful then he had intended. Jumping back he threw both hands in the air.

"Sorry Ami-chan…I just…" a nervous laugh escaped him.

A rather red faced Ami just nodded back, overwhelmed by the sudden display of affection. After a moment she cleared her throat, "Well…I'm so glad you are all doing well." She glanced more at Taiki with this statement, "but, I won't lie. Your appearance makes me nervous. Taiki why didn't you send me a message before coming here?"

"So nothings wrong?" It was Yaten this time, she was leaning over the couch's back to watch the scene before her.

"First off Ami-chan." The blue haired goddess's face lit up at the expression, "Would you like to come in and sit. I'm sure all of this can be discussed in good time over some tea." Taiki was always the one to be more formal than the rest. Seiya busied himself in the kitchen grateful for the convenience store trip he had made earlier that day. Setting down a few cups and a plate of cookies he prepared himself for the worst.

Taiki pulled out a notebook flipping through a few notes he had jotted down here and there.

"How is Kinmoku?" Ami took a small sip of her tea, watching each of them intently. She had a bad feeling. Was the planet destroyed? Were they attacked? Her eyes looked over each of them for injury. She blushed a bit when her gaze landed on Yaten's form.

With a smirk healer answered her question, "Doing great. Everyone is happy, and the planet is finally at peace. Well most of it anyway."

"Most of it?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Our planet is fine, but yours was our top concern. That's why we have returned. Under orders from the Princess." Maker took back over the conversation catching everyone's attention. "Are you familiar with the Chronos visions?"

"Of course, it was a form of communication. It was a gift from the gods to help keep the Royal families along the right path." Taiki smiled at the small girl next to him, she really was one of the most intelligent people he had ever met.

"Yes. I have a few noted down here. Some dating back to what I believe to be the beginning of a few planets, including Earths existance."

"Really?" The scout leaned over the table to get a better look at the small notebook. "Most fascinating, I would enjoy seeing them, but I'm assuming you didn't come here to deliver me fine reading material." She gave a tight lipped smile.

"I would be happy to share, but as always your right." He pointed to the book, "Do you know of the premonition when the Earth and Moon united?" She shook her head, ebbing him on to continue, "Records show the whole Universe could see the couples love and the peace that would ultimately come, that is once the prince and princess were to be wed. A vision of the wedding day, and a peace to follow."

"When we were younger, Usagi recovered her memories of Serenity. I assume that's when it happened, but wait…what the date on that?" She frowned, "That can't be right. That would have been during the Silver Millennium.."

"I noticed that too. It seems the premonition was before you were all reincarnated." He sighed, making a small mark on the page, "Another record shows a vision being brought forth when the Moon kingdom was destroyed. The universe was in shambles, the world shaken. It gave way to the universes end. Then once more, another document shows the world at peace…."

"So the premonitions were resolved." Ami put a hand thoughtfully on her chin, "They are more warnings than anything else. Almost as if they were calls for help to different parts of the Galaxy."

"My thoughts exactly. I have records of other planets, and the same things happening. That's what leads me to the more recent events." He held his breath for a moment sliding the book over so she could clearly see.

"Whose handwriting is this?" The penmanship didn't match the others.

"The princess wrote this after she was touched by the gods." He waited while the inner scout scanned the page.

"This isn't good." A worried crease appeared on her face, she leapt up suddenly from the table. "How could this happen? Sailor Moon…dead." Her face was pale. Taiki placed a gentle hand on her shoulder giving it a squeeze.

"Obviously nothing has come to pass. You said yourself no enemies have even shown themselves, and I'm hoping it's just another warning."

Seiya watched the intimacy between the two, Taiki had never put so much care into another persons feelings before. Although, it didn't surprise him in the least, only one other person had ever compared and challenged his brothers intelligence before.

"Is Usagi okay?" Seiya's question seemed to break the connection the two had, both instantly jumping away from each other. Yaten snickered.

"Of course she's great…" She glanced around taking back her seat. "I just saw her before I came here, she was getting out of class. She had a date with Mamarou. I can call them if you would like."

"NO" Seiya jumped up, "no…thanks though. I would rather her not know I'm here." Although he was dying to see her, he just wasn't sure he was ready, and when he was he definitely didn't want Mamarou around.

Ami smiled softly at him, "I won't say a word, but I also won't deny it if I'm asked."

"If we do need to contact her, is she still with her parents?" Taiki was getting all business like again. His cell phone out in a instant. "I'll need everyone's contact information, for now we can lay low, but just in case."

"I agree." She opened her small computer, and the two began typing in unison. "Everyone is pretty much in the same places as before, except for Minako and Usagi." Yaten glanced over at the blue haired girl, eyes a bit wider than normal.

"As they like to announce constantly, they have officially become an adult." Ami chuckled at the thought. "Usagi has an apartment, in the same building as Makoto." Seiya perked up for a moment, as if almost hearing his internal question Ami continued, "She lives alone. Should we put watches up around her?"

"I can take care of that, between the three of us we can keep an eye out for her and the others. That shouldn't arise any unnecessary worry from the rest of the Senshi." Mercury nodded.

"I think that is for the best. We all have enough to worry about these days." Ami smiled, and tried to cover up her thoughts, "Plus finals will be coming shortly."

Yaten let out a good laugh, before jumping up from the table. "Well you guys, it's been great. Since we are no closer to figuring out what's going on, I say we call it a night." She hesitated, looking as though she wanted to ask Ami something before she left.

"Minako is fine…she lives on campus for the performing arts school." Ami smiled prettily back at her.

A red faced Yaten marched towards her door, "Didn't ask…don't care!" She slammed the door shut before disappearing into her room.

Seiya smiled, "Thank-you Mizuno. I know she doesn't show it…but she was worried."

"Ami-chan, I'm sorry that you have to worry now." Taiki and her were back in their own little world. Seiya had enough for tonight. Taking healers unspoken advice he jumped up from the table.

"Alrighty…I'm out of here. I've been cooped up to long in this place. You two have a good night." He grabbed his jacket off the coat rack at the door before giving mercury a wave goodbye.

As he pressed the elevator doors button he couldn't help but slump against the wall. So everything was fine. No one was hurt, and Usagi was with her future husband. He didn't know what he had expected. It was a good thing, right?

"At least Taiki's happy." He scowled at his brothers fortune. "Never fall in love with a princess…they always have a prince." The elevator doors rang, and the cool night air washed over him pleasantly as he took to the streets. He knew they only had a few weeks before the Senshi knew they were here. The career they chose would see to that, but until then he could still hold onto his fantasies.

His phone rang a few times, but he didn't bother answering it. It was most likely the scouts information being sent over to them. His feet carried him to the park, and he found himself sitting alone on one of the benches. Would Usagi be happy to see him? What if she wasn't? He chuckled at himself. Of course she would be, sweet, innocent Usagi without a care in the world. Something moved out of the corner of his eye. In the dark he could just barley make out a female figure running. Glancing around he felt his heart quicken. Was she in danger? He placed one hand in his pocket preparing to transform. The figure stopped at the rivers edge. He didn't see anything around him, no pursuer nothing. He could hear muffled crying, and decided he should leave who ever be. They were obviously trying not to be seen. He started to walk back to the apartment.

"CHIBI-USA!" He froze. That voice. In a instant he was running to the fallen figure, her shape taking form as he approached. Her body was trembling, her legs buckled beneath her. The beautiful guardian of the moon was before him, and her painful cries were tearing him apart. He found her in his arms before he could think.

"Odango?" His voice was filled with raw emotion. "Odango?" She flipped in his arms, and he was finally sure of who it was. Her arms grabbed at his jacket pulling it close to her. "Usagi…what happened?" He gently rubbed her back in soothing circles. Tilting her chin up only caused her to cry out more.

"Your not real….none of this is real." She tried to pull away from him. Her hands hitting her head as if she was seeing things. Slowly he pulled her arms away and embraced her once more.

"It's okay Odango...I'm here...I'm really here..."

Her body went limp after a moment, and he swooped one hand under her legs.

"What had happened?" He gingerly took out his phone, flipping through a few messages till he found the addresses sent to him. He knew he should call mercury, but for just this moment, before it all went back to hell he was going to be the savior. He was going to be her prince, just for tonight.