Love is a Battlefield

Love is a Battlefield
Part 11
By Sonya-chan

Kurama could hear Kurasu gloating as he felt the transformation changing his body. Only this time, he couldn't control it, he was changing into Youko Kurama. He cursed under his breath, he hoped his mind wouldn't change into that of his old self. Yaten would be...
YATEN! His eyes snapped open in the dense smoke. Yaten... Where was she?... He raked the air next to him, she was just there, next to him, but he couldn't find her anymore. His throat just started to constrict on its own. No... Yaten! If he himself had regressed to the point where he was the Youko... Yaten would have regressed beyond infancy... Was there even a Yaten left?
Kurama fell on all four searching frantically for her. The smoke started to clear when his hand caught something. Something small.
He swapped the mists away and saw a silver haired baby, her green eyes looking at him with a mixed emotion of anger and surprise.
"Ayabluuaaack" She garbled, and looked even more pissed.
"Ya... Yaten?..." Kurama asked. The baby nodded energetically.
Kurama blinked, they both regressed, but they had kept their minds intact. Yaten was now trapped in a baby body and he was in his Youko form. Well at least he thought, until the mist wears off.
"Hahahahaha... So Kurama... How do you like my surprise?" asked Kurasu as the mist cleared. "But now your little lo..." Kurasu glared when he saw Yaten's little form huddled in Kurama's arm. "Curse that Youkai who sold me this Modified Fruit of the Past... It seems unable to dispose of household pests..."
Yaten looked at Kurasu and if a look could kill, Kurasu would be splattered all over the place.
"Kurasu... This battle isn't hers... It's about you and me..." said Kurama.
"Hn! Why bother since you'll be dead anyway..." replied the dark haired Youkai. "I should take her out of her misery... Since the effect of this Fruit of the Past is quite permanent.
WHAT???!!! Thought Yaten. No way, this isn't happening to me...I don't want to go through a second childhood! Oh! This is too humiliating!!!
"At her size..." continued Kurasu, his hand illuminating, indicating to Kurama he was about to create a bomb. "A small one shall suffice..."
Kurama's eyes grew in horror. "You wouldn't dare... " He said between his teeth, baring his fangs to the Youkai.
"You should know me by now, Kurama..." spat the Youkai. "I want to be rid of that little pest you enamored yourself with... Frankly, it's demeaning..."
"It's been seen with you that's demeaning..." replied the Youko. "You won't touch a single hair from her head..."
"Hahaha! When I'm done with her?..." replied Kurasu as he jumped towards his prey. "She'll be lucky if she still has a head..."
Kurama turned his back to Kurasu, while he still kept an ear on his movement. Even if he had to take all the bombs of Kurasu helplessly, he would protect Yaten from him.
Kurama felt the Youkai about to do his move when he felt the brush of a wing. Suddenly, Yaten's little body wasn't in his arms anymore. Kurasu let go of his bomb and it fell to the ground, not harming anyone.
"Who dares?..." growled Kurasu.
"I do... I dare..." said Kuronue, smirking. "Give him hell, Kurama... Don't worry about Yaten..."
Kurama smiled relieved, but it was of short respite when he saw Kurasu, powering up for more bombs.
"KURONUE!!! LOOK OUT!!!!" cried Kurama, a little too late. His old friend saw what his enemy was trying to do, he veered left and right but he couldn't escape all of the bombs. Two hit him in the back and crying out in agony, Kuronue plunged to the streets below with Yaten still in his arms.
Something burned deeply into Kurama, he felt rage like he never knew himself capable of. It's twice now that Kuronue's life was in danger because of him and now Yaten's. No, he couldn't accept that! He started to yell and glow in a greenish glow.
"Nani?..." said Kurasu wide eyed. Did Kurama acquire new powers? He wondered as he felt Kurama's ki change. "Impossible..."
Kurama was about to throw himself to Yaten and Kuronue's aid when he saw three figures jump up and land on a nearby roof. Eternal Sailor Star Maker and Fighter, were holding on to an injured Kuronue while Eternal Sailor Gaia had Yaten in her arms.
Kurama turned to Kurasu, the Youkai summoned an entire menagerie of bomb. He watched helpless as they exploded on the greenish aura around Kurama, leaving the Youko unharmed. The Youkai started to back up as he saw the Youko walk towards him with grim determination.
Kurasu redoubled his efforts and summoned the biggest bomb he could tearing down his mask to suck on the very combustible present in the air. He started to laugh hysterically, putting his arms in front of him, ready to ignite the bomb. He threw himself at Kurama and upon impact, there was a spectacular explosion.
"KURAMA!!!" gasped Fighter. There was a thick smoke for many minutes they couldn't see a thing. Yaten started to wail when she didn't see Kurama emerge.
Kuronue flinched as Maker was taking care of his wounds. He looked to Yaten and said. "Don't cry... It's not over..."
"IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!!!" cried Kurasu. "YOU SHOULD BE DEAD!"
"Shut up..."
"YOU SHOULD BE DEAD, DEAD... NO ONE CAN LIVE THROUGH THAT!!!" yelled Kurasu on the edge of hysterics.
"SHUT UP!" yelled Kurama and suddenly, the floor seemed to come alive under Kurasu's feet. All of the plants that were in the small apartment building had grew to enormous proportions and were now attacking Kurasu.
The Youkai screamed as he felt the sharp plants drill into his body. He made more bomb and exploded some but was soon overwhelmed by the sheer number of the plants. The brutality of the attack surprised, the Senshi but they also knew that this Youkai had to be taken care of... And Kurama was the one to do it.
The Starlights gasped when they saw what happened next. Yaten was looking at the scene wide eyed. Youko Kurama had reached for the necklace he wore and with a swift movement it grew into a large ebony sword unto which green sigil were glowing.
"GALACTIC SWORD BLAST!" Cried Kurama as a blinding greenish light burst forth from the sword. Kurasu yelled, his body being reduced to ashes by the searing purity of this light. But as he died he felt release, the madness which had plagued him ever since he had lost against Toguro unclouded his mind. He was now free.
The wave of the blast shook the entire building. Yuusuke and Kuwabara were afraid the entire building would collapse. But this is when a small miracle happened.
All of the damage that Kurasu's explosion had caused were repaired. Even those felled by wounds were regaining consciousness. The gaping wounds in Kuronue's back were healed under the nose of Maker who gasped in disbelief.
Yaten looked as her beloved shone with a silver glint. She trembled in Gaia's arms, the Senshi though was because she was scared. But Yaten shivered because she realized who was the one who had rescued her from Metalia.
Kurama ceased to glow and the sword went back to his neck in the form of a necklace with a small sword as a charm. Kurama, spent, fell to the ground, exhausted.
Unknowingly both Yuusuke and Fighter breathed at the same time. "Whoa... What happened?..."
Setsuna woke up with a start. She looked around and jumped to her feet. "How did I get here?..." she whispered as she circled to survey her new surroundings.
She was in a dark forest and what surprised her the most was that she was dressed as Sailor Pluto, but her keys and the Time Staff were missing. From the position of the Moon over her head, she knew she was late at night, a few hours shy of the sunrise. In the distance, she could make out the outline of a black fortress.
The construction was weird, kind of like a face with a gaping mouth as a doorway. She blinked, she didn't know why but she had the certainty of not being on Earth anymore.
"Where am I?" She wondered out loud. Her answer came in the form of two figures running towards her. One was a silver haired Youko, she recognized as Kurama. The second was the Youkai which had started to haunt her dreams: Kuronue.
They both stopped in front of her, they seemed unaware of her presence, even though she called to them. Kurama had a strange silver and gold mirror in his hands. Setsuna blinked as she saw something on Kuronue which caught her attention. He wore a necklace and set in the trinket was a garnet stone.
She frowned. Why was that necklace seem so familiar? She never saw him wear it before.
Both men looked at each other with the smug smile of a job well done. With a nod, they both jumped away from her, towards a place only known to them.
"MATTE!" She cried as she ran after them. She heard a clamor behind her. It seemed the proprietor of that mirror had found out it was stolen and now hordes of Youkai of all shapes and sizes were after the thief. "Oh... You have to be kidding me!" She did the only thing that she could do at a time like this: She ran...
She hadn't even worked up a sweat when she saw Kuronue's necklace snug on a branch and breaking. She saw the Youkai twist and try to catch it but it eluded his grasp. She saw it land in the grass and tumble backward.
What she saw next made her stop and gasp. Kuronue twisted his body and using the combination of the bamboo plants around him, his momentum and his wings, he gracefully jumped towards the necklace. As soon as he touched the ground, he ran towards it.
"KURONUE! NO!!" yelled Kurama as he stopped. He would wait for his friend.
"I NEED IT!!!" Kuronue called back as he ran. Setsuna was there transfixed as she saw him look in the grass and recover the necklace.
The dark green haired woman heard something in the branches over head. Kuronue had walked into a trap, she watched helpless as spears rained down on him.
Kuronue had tried to elude them but one pierced his leg and many others slashed his skin. Setsuna gasped in horror.
"NOOOO! KURONUE!!!" She saw Kurama sprang to his rescue, but Kuronue made him stop.
"FORGET ABOUT ME!! SAVE YOURSELF! GO KURAMA GO! GOOOO!!!" Kuronue coughed up blood. She saw the Youko hesitate. "PLEASE GO SAVE YOURSELF!!!" Setsuna could see Kurama was torn and that the guards were getting closer. With one last urging from his friend, Kurama sprung away and disappeared in the night.
Setsuna gasped when the Youkai attacked him. "He's already down!" She said outraged at the way they treated him. She wasn't out of surprises as she found herself transported into a dank and dark room.
It was lit only with a fire where diverse tools were being heated until they were red. Her nose was assailed by the smell of blood and burnt flesh. She could also smell death, so much so she couldn't resist shivers.
In that room, Kuronue was shackled to a wall, most of his clothing had been stripped away. Tears welled up in her eyes when she saw that they had used the red-hot tools to stop his bleeding. They were still torturing him as she watched.
His torturer relented with his whip and another Youkai advanced to him.
"You want the pain to end?... Tell us where your friend went with that mirror..." He asked.
"Hn! What makes you think I'll tell you?" replied Kuronue. He cried out when he felt the whip lick his skin streaking it scarlet. He panted. "Do what you will... I won't betray a friend..."
"A friend?... Hn!" said the man who had questioned him. "As we speak your 'friend' is probably selling that mirror to the nearest seller..."
"No..." replied Kuronue. "Just giving it back to its rightful owner..."
"I'm its rightful owner... It was mine!" Again the whip lashed at Kuronue. In a spasm of pain Kuronue released what he was holding still in his right hand. His questioner took the pendant. Setsuna frowned when she saw the panic in Kuronue's eyes.
"It's mine!... Give it back!" He fought to be free to snatch his necklace back.
"Oh?... You want it do you?... Then tell me what I want to hear and I'll give it back to you..."
Kuronue seemed to consider that. Setsuna was baffled, he valued that necklace over Kurama's life? She saw him close his eyes and come to a decision.
"I will not betray a friend..."
His jailer shrugged. "Very well then..." And Kuronue's eyes opened up in terror as the necklace was carelessly thrown into the fire. He became hysterical.
"NO! NO! NO YOU CAN'T... GIVE IT BACK TO ME..." Kuronue ignored his pain and tried to struggle free of his bounds. But to no avail, Setsuna watched in horror as blood oozed from his wrists and ankles where the shackles bit in his skin.
"He's completely lost it..." said his jailer as Kuronue started to babble about his true form and true love, that he was now doomed and that he would never be able to jar someone's memories. "Take him down... Throw him in the Oubliettes... Watch him closely... If he's insane... leave him there..."
She watched helpless as they dragged him away as he continued to rave about his failed destiny. The torture must have gotten to him, she thought, this happened quite a while ago... It must have taken him a while to be sane again.
She walked towards the fire and tried to retrieve the necklace. It was a futile gesture she realized but... the way he reacted, she couldn't let it be destroyed.
She was able to retrieve it but as she did she saw it start to glow. She gasped when she saw a mark appear in the garnet. It was the sign of Pluto. "How?..." She started to say when a garnet colored beam coming from the necklace hit her brow.
Setsuna sat up on the futon, she looked around. She was back at the shrine, in the room she had fallen asleep in.
"Dream..." she whispered. "No.. a nightmare..." She frowned, then she shivered, was it a dream or was it a vision?...
"Come again?..." said Rei as she looked at Seiya, Taiki and Yuukana. She was blinking, how come they always come here when there's trouble.
"It's like we told you... Our place got trashed by a bomb and Yaten and Kurama got exposed to something that made them... well... regress..." said Taiki.
"Hai and now we need a place to crash, especially Kurama whose stuck into Youko form..." said Seiya as he struggled to keep a hold on Yaten. "Stars! Yaten stop squirming like that!"
"Oh?... And you think a Youko in a Temple is not going to be peculiar?" asked Rei.
"He's unconscious..." said Yuusuke, "We had to bring him somewhere, the cops were circling the place..."
"Hai we didn't want to stick around and try to explain all that happened to the cops." added Kuwabara.
Seiya was still trying to hold on to Yaten, who fussed. Finally out of exasperation he put her on the ground. The silver haired baby then crawled until she reached Kurama and snuggled against him.
"Couldn't she just said she wanted to see Kurama?" puffed Seiya. "She knows how to talk!"
"Hai she knows..." said Ami. "Unfortunately she regressed to a point where her vocal chords aren't quite formed yet... So technically, she can't talk..."
"What about walking?..." asked Seiya.
"Her muscle strength below the waistline isn't strong enough for voluntary movement..." replied Ami.
"When you mean voluntary... I hope you don't mean..." asked Rei.
"Errr... Hai..." blushed Ami. "Do you have any diapers handy?"
Yaten looked back at them with a 'you gotta be kidding' look on her baby face.
Slowly Kurama was coming to and the first thing he saw was Yaten's little face looking worriedly at him. "Yat-chan..." He whispered.
::: Ku-chan!... Oh I hope you are okay... Man this sucks...:::
Kurama blinked. "You talked?..." Yaten looked up to him, surprised.
:: You... heard that?::
"Hai... I did..." replied Kurama, taking her into his arms. She smiled at least he understood her.
"Ano?... Kurama?... Who are you talking to?" asked Rei.
"Yaten... I hear her with my mind..." replied Kurama as he held her.
"That must be because you share a mental link..." reflected Yuukana.
"Hai... well in any case... Who's going to be in charge of changing her?..." asked Rei as Yaten turned an interesting shade of red.
"I'll do it..." volunteered Kurama.
"Uh-uh... No way!" said Seiya.
"Why not?..." asked Kurama.
"ETCHI!" cried out all the girls as Kuwabara elbowed Yuusuke who was fighting not to laugh. Both Yaten and Kurama sweatdropped.
"I'll take care of changing her, Nurse Minako to the rescue!" said Minako taking a cute pose. Everyone facevaulted and Yaten gripped Kurama's shirt with the strength of desperation.
:::ACK! No way, I heard creepy stories about Nurse Minako...:::
"No... Since I'm going to be a Doctor one day... I should take care of her... changing." said Ami.
::: Oh Great! My sister's girlfriend... Hey don't I get a say in the matter?... :::
They all started to argue back and forth for a while. And the more they argued the more Yaten's embarrassment showed in her face.
Kurama bent to her and whispered in her ear. "Well, Koibito... Look at the bright side..."
:::WHAT bright side??? :::
Kurama kissed her small nose. "When we'll have kids... I'll know what to do..." He smiled.
She looked at him with slanted eyes. ::: ... When I'm PHYSICALLY my age... Remind me to bat you with a pillow!...:::
Makoto smiled as Hiei listened to her every word. She was telling a very modified version of sleeping beauty where it was a Princess who was rescuing a Prince from a century old slumber.
"And when the Princess kissed the Prince, he woke up and they both fell in love. They married and had a lot of happy children..."
Hiei frowned. "It's just a story, ne?... People don't fall asleep for hundreds of years like that..."
"Well... Sometimes some people do fall asleep a long time. And for the people who love them, it does seem like a lot of time has passed since they were awake..." replied Makoto as she brushed a few away from his eyes.
Hiei still frowned. "I don't understand..."
"You will... One day..." She smiled. then something tickled her nose, it smelled like something was burning. She looked around frowning it smelled more like food that was overcooked. Hiei gasped.
"No!... Please don't go!"
Makoto lifted her hand and she could see that she was becoming transparent. The burnt smell was becoming more potent. Hiei looked at her with pleading eyes.
"Don't leave me all alone, Mako-chan! Onegai... Stay with me..." said Hiei tugging her sleeve.
"Ano..." She had to think fast. I'm waking up, she thought, no it's too soon... "Hiei-chan... I'll always be there..." She pointed his brow. "And there..." She pointed his heart. "If you feel alone, think of me..."
"But it's hard..." Makoto bit her lips as she saw him cry.
"I promise... I'll come back..." She told him.
"You promise?..." He seemed a little less sad but still there was a fear of being alone.
"Hiei-chan... I know I can't stay. But will you hold on to something until I come back?" Makoto asked, she smiled as he nodded energetically to her. She reached up and took one of her Rose earrings.
"No... Mako-chan... You love those earrings... It was your mama's..." He told her refusing her gift.
"Then you'll know I'll come back for it... Keep it for me Hiei-chan... Until we meet again..."
"Hai Mako-chan... I'll take good care of it..." replied Hiei.
Makoto smiled as she felt herself being floated away. She drifted until she felt her bed. She sat up as the acrid smell of something that was burning fully woke her.
I didn't leave anything on the stove, she thought. What could be possibly burning?
That's when she heard some very unlady like curses come from the kitchen. The second thing she noticed was that her room was in disarray as if a bar room brawl had erupted while she was... away.
She jumped to her feet and facevaulted as Yuki sped right between her legs to seek shelter under the bed.
She quickly got to the kitchen where a girl of about her age was trying to get the smoke out of the room.
"ACK!" She then coughed, Makoto took a good look at that girl who had broken into her house. She was petite about Usagi or Ami's height, short, dark brown curly hair but there was something peculiar about her hair. She had a bright white braid which started at the nape of her neck and trailed down to a little pass her waist, a dainty little pink ribbon tied it. She wore something that looked a little like her own school uniform, even though it was summer time she wore long sleeves. Makoto lifted an eyebrow when she saw that the girl was also wearing only one glove, a la Michael Jackson. The girl obviously didn't know she was there.
"Kuso! How come that little twerp, Ken, makes it look so easy!" she grumbled.
Ken?... thought Makoto, no it couldn't be him.
"He's right... I couldn't boil water without making it stick at the bottom of my pan.... What do I do now?..." whined the girl.
"Ahem... You could start by telling me what you're doing in my apartment?..." asked Makoto who looked at the girl with her arms crossed in front of her chest.
"IIIP!" cried out the girl as she cringed. "Oh no... Neo-Pluto is going to have my head on a spear..." She put her gloved hand to her mouth. "Busted!..."
"Turn around slowly please... And what's that talk about Ken and Neo-Pluto?..." asked Makoto.
The girl slowly turned around, shyly at first she looked down to the ground, blushing.
"Eyes front, young lady!" said Makoto. She gasped when the girl immediately complied. Makoto thought she was seeing things when she saw her eyes. They were just like Hiei's: red... No one could ever have that color of eyes unless...
The girl looked up to her and shyly smiled. "Hehe... Komban wa... Kaasan..."
End of part 11
Note: I forgot to had this last week and I wanted to kick myself for forgetting. I'd like to say a warm thanks to Tenshi who suggested the song at the end of part 10 =) Also for Yaten and Kurama's little discussion about diapers ^^

Love is a Battlefield
Part 12
By Sonya-chan

Outside of the Temple it was a quiet day, birds were singing and the wind was slowly blowing through the leaves of the cherry trees. Inside however...
::: I AM NOT wearing doll clothes!::: Yaten shook her little head and had crossed her arms over her chest.
"She doesn't want to wear that..." said Kurama.
"I could tell... Listen Yaten... We can't carry you around wrapped in your jacket... Now Rei-chan was kind enough to look through her things, find some doll clothes that might fit you and wash them so you wouldn't complain... So stop being such a smart ass or else; I'll let you go around butt naked..." warned Seiya.
Yaten blushed and gathered the too large jacket to her, she shot a glance to Kurama, still in his Youko form.
"She's going to wear the clothes, Seiya..."
"Good! Glad that's over..."
Suddenly, Yaten's eyes darted left and right and she was as red as a beet. She was fidgeting and getting gasps of air.
"Ano... Koibito?... what's wrong?..." Kurama was getting worried. "Is she ill?..."
"She was in perfect health 10 minutes ago... I... OH!" Ami had just found the source of Yaten's discomfort. On the jacket she was wrapped in, a tattletale circle of dampness was appearing.
:::This is... sooo... Embarrassing!!!!!::: Kurama heard Yaten whimper in his mind. He let out a sigh, at least she was all right. But he could understand his Koibito's feeling. He had himself went through that experience over nineteen years ago, when he took his ningen body. To be totally dependent on people around him was a grueling experience for him. And natural needs where the most humiliating.
"Okay, that's it Yaten... You're getting diapers..." said Seiya miffed.
::: Nooooooo... :::
"Koibito..." said Kurama softly to calm her. "It would be less humiliating to have a diaper..." He turned to Rei, Ami and Seiya. "Give me the diaper and the clothes... I'll take care of her..."
They all turned an interesting shade of red.
"No way... I'll do it!" said Seiya as she changed into a girl. Ami and Rei looked at Kurama as though he was the greatest hentai in the world.
"Hey... She's a baby... I wouldn't!... Gods... You really think I'd do that????" Kurama was surprised at their attitude and a little mad as well.
Seiya took Yaten and tried to tickle her. "Aw... Come on, Yaten, quit being such a baby... err... Well you know what I mean..."
::: NO! Don't do this! This is so... humiliating!:::
Seiya frowned. "Why is she fussing?..."
"She doesn't want you to change her..." replied Kurama.
Seiya slanted her eyes and looked down at her regressed sister. "Listen either YOU let me take care of the diaper, it will be quick and painless... or... " She pointed Minako. "I'll let HER do it!"
"Hey!" Minako said. "What's THAT supposed to mean?" Usagi and Ami sweatdropped knowing all too well what it meant to be taken care off by Minako. Even Artemis shuddered.
Yaten's green eyes flew open. "YAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" :::Don't let her near me!!! I'll behave... I'll behave!!!..."
Kurama chuckled. "There won't be anymore troubles Seiya..." But his chuckles were cut short when he heard Yaten say in his mind.
:::But if Seiya tickles me anywhere again!...::: Her little eyes slanted. :::She's going to have to wash her shirt!:::
Kurama facevaulted. "Seiya... NO TICKLING!!!!"
Seiya blinked at Kurama who had a 'don't ask' look on his face. Ami went next to Seiya and gave her what she needed. She also gave her baby powder and a little jar of ointment. Seiya facevaulted.
"I thought I just had to slip a diaper on her!"
"You don't want her to get a rash now do you?..." asked Ami. "The ointment is a precaution... since she... already... you know..."
"Oh Stars..." said Seiya, she had a weird look on her face.
But just as Seiya was about to go and take care of Yaten. Kurama gasped. "Oh no... People..." Without any further due, he hid in the the nearest tree.
Seiya concentrated and returned to his male form. Not a moment too soon. The two women were at the top of the stairs. Yaten went wide eyes again.
:::No... Please not her... Stars... This isn't my day!:::
Kurama frowned. :::What is it, Koibito?...::: He peered through the branches and saw what she was so upset about. "Kaasan..." He croaked.
"Ano..." said Shiroi to her friend. "I think I see some of my Shuuichi's friend. I'll go say hello... I'll be right with you after Shubiya-san..." her friend nodded and Shiroi walked right up to Seiya.
"Well... Konnichi wa... You must be Seiya, Yaten's brother?" asked Shiroi.
"Errr... Hai I am..." replied Seiya a little at a loss. The woman was familiar but he couldn't place her.
"Tanaka Shiroi desu..." she said. "I'm Shuuichi's mother..."
"Ano... K.. Konnichi wa..." replied Seiya. He was frantically trying to figure out how he would get rid of Yaten.
Yaten for her part was desperately trying to figure out how to act like a baby. :::Koibito... What do I do? I can't let her see me like this...:::
::I know...::: Replied Kurama, still hiding in the tree. :::I can't let her see me... Maybe if you start crying, Seiya will have an excuse to go away..."
Yaten thought it was as good an idea as any. She started to fuss then cried really loud.
"Dear me... That poor little baby... You shouldn't carry her around like that, she's going to catch a cold..." said Shiroi.
"Err... She's... our... little cousin!... She err... had an accident... I'll go change her now..." replied Seiya rapidly.
"Have you ever taken care of such a small baby before?" asked Shiroi.
"Well... I..." started Seiya.
:::Come on Seiya... Let's get out of here!!!::: thought Yaten as she garbled and cooed, trying to give a good show for Shiroi.
"I'll do it... It's no trouble..." said Shiroi as she took Yaten and everything Seiya was carrying.
:::Someone must REALLY hate me...::: sighed Yaten as she fought to continue to act like a baby.
Back at Makoto's apartment, Makoto was been jarred awake by the girl she had just found in her kitchen. Her knees had felt weak when the girl announced she was her daughter.
"Kaasan?... Are you okay?..." asked the girl that was shaking the tall brunette, senshi of nature, Sailor Jupiter.
Makoto opened an eye, the girl had a good grip, she smiled, kind of like her. Makoto sat up and looked at her. "What's your name?"
The girl beamed, happy her mother was all right. "Inazumi..." She answered, flicking her braid back. "But you and Tousan always called me Ina-chan..."
Makoto smiled. "Well Ina-chan... What are you doing here?... And why were you trying to start a small fire in my kitchen?..."
Inazumi fidgeted. "I wanted to give you something to eat when you came back... Demo..." She touched her two index fingers together. "I'm not a very good cook..." She sighed. "My bratty brother say I'd burn ice cubes..."
Makoto was about to say that it couldn't be that bad when she looked up and saw the sorry state of her kitchen. It was even worse than when Usagi cooked. "Ano... Is Ken-kun with you?..."
"Iya... I came all alone, Kaasan..." replied Inazumi, then her head hung low. "You would have preferred to see him, ne?..."
Makoto facevaulted. "No... I... I just didn't know I had a daughter. It just startled me..."
Inazumi sighed. "I know I'm not the daughter you wanted..."
"What?... Ina-chan, why would I think that?..." Asked Makoto.
"Because... I can't cook... I hate doing chores... Can't say I'm the ideal daughter..." said Inazumi with her head bowed.
Makoto looked at her and hugged her. "I'm sure me and Hiei love you very much... now, why don't you give me a hand straightening the place... And what happened?"
Inazumi got up and helped her mother and started to tell her what had happened. How she had no choice but to battle the three Youkai who had come to take Hiei.
"Why?" asked Makoto.
"I don't know, all I know is that you asked me to go back in Time and to make sure Mukuro wouldn't do a thing against Tousan..." replied her daughter.
"I see... I hope you haven't lost your Time key..." said Makoto.
"What Time key?... It was Sailor Pluto who sent me... She can send me back when it's finished..." said Inazumi with a smile.
"Ano... Setsuna-san's powers don't work..." said Makoto.
The girl next to her blinked, then broke into a smile. "Then I can stay longer ne?... Can I go to the ball too?..."
Makoto had a small smile. "Hai... You can also take my tickets if you want... I won't be going..."
"No, you HAVE to go Kaasan!" replied her daughter. "I'm sure Tousan will be better..."
"I wish..." said Makoto, looking at Hiei's still form. "What if he isn't?..."
"Kaasan... Right now, Tousan needs to feel you believe in him... Wouldn't you say Yuki?..." said Inazumi.
Yuki looked at both of them. Makoto was surprised. "You know Yuki?... We have pictures of him?..."
"He's still around in the 30th Century... ne Yuki?..." said Inazumi, she facevaulted when the cat turned away to return to Hiei's coffin. She got up angrily and talked to the cat, telling him not to ignore her like that.
That's weird... thought Makoto, it's almost as if she's expecting the cat to answer her.
Setsuna stretched when she heard the gong that announced the new day. Unfortunately, she already knew the sun was up. Ever since her dream, she hadn't been able to return to sleep.
She felt sorry for him, for her.
Why?...
Why do I feel such a longing?
I love him...
And yet, I was forbidden to love...
She put her arms around herself. She felt like crying but what would it give her to do so? My Queen, why did you put such a heavy edict on me?...
"Maybe... All is not what it seems?" An old voice told her. Setsuna lifted her head and saw Genkai, she blinked.
"How did you get in?" Indeed Setsuna hadn't heard the old Master come in.
"Setsuna-san... Maybe it's time for you to awake..." Genkai told her. "Seek what this means..." She drew out Kuronue's necklace and the light flashed into the garnet, blinding her.
Setsuna woke up with a start, she quickly sat up, she had been dreaming? What is wrong with me? I can't see the difference between dreams and reality?... What does it mean?... Why is that necklace so important?... If it's destroyed, what could possibly be done about it?...
She got up and go dressed. She came here to be at peace and to forget him. But Kuronue haunted her dreams. Oh my Queen... Am I wrong to love him?... Am I wrong to turn my back on love?... People turned to me for counsel about their life and I am now so unsure about my own destiny.
Kuronue...
I am lost...
My Queen...
What should I do?...
She looked to the sky as if waiting for an answer.
Maybe, I need to find the answer by myself... But how?...
Setsuna tied her yukata and put geta at her feet and got out. Maybe if she meditated on that, she would get an answer.
Yaten looked up to Shiroi and she whimpered internally. Her future mother-in-law was about to put a diaper on her.
::: My life has been reduced to a caricature... I bet no Manga author was ever this twisted as to invent what's happening to me right now... ::: She blushed a lot when Shiroi took away the jacket. :::Gyah!... Now I'm naked.... Please, please, please, do this quick...:::
"Now little one, let's see if..." Shiroi stopped and examined the baby. It was all red in the face almost as though she was blushing and the way she was avoiding eye contact. Just like Shuuichi when he was a baby, how strange.... she thought.
"What is wrong, sweetie?... Why are you all red?"
Yaten facevaulted, her reaction was not that of a normal baby. Shiroi, turned the little face as Yaten was going completely nuts in her head.
"Those green eyes... that silver hair... Yaten-chan?..." asked Shiroi.
:::OH STARS!!!... Couldn't ANYTHING HAPPEN TO MAKE ME AVOID THIS CRAZY SITUATION???:::
Kurama was trying to see what was going on in the small house, he was getting worried, it doesn't take that much time to change a baby... Does it?
He peered left then right and with a silent grace, he landed on the roof of the small house. He tiptoed to an area of the roof where he thought he could hear better.
Rei looked up to the roof and when she saw Kurama, she told the others.
"I hope Yuushiro had time to..."
There was a loud crash and a scream.
"... fix the roof..." Everyone was staring at the spot where Kurama had disappeared through the roof.
Minako giggled nervously. "Maybe he got lucky and his mother fainted..."
"OUCH!" winced Kurama as he was slowly being helped up. His head was still ringing from the fall he had just taken. And it took him totally by surprise so he hadn't broken his fall at all.
"Thank you..." He said, he thought that maybe Yuusuke or Kuronue was helping him up. He facevaulted when he realized it was his Ningen mother: Shiroi.
"Kaa..." Kurama was able to silence himself before he slipped. He saw his mother was eyeing him carefully, studying his face.
:::Ku-chan... I think she figured out who I was!::: Yaten whimpered in his mind. Kurama reacted as an automatism and went to her.
::: Don't be silly... How could she?::: He asked.
::: She called me by name...:::
Shiroi looked at the exchange, she was sure he was talking to her with his mind. He thought he could fool her, but their body language was betraying them. She coughed loudly.
"Minamino Shuuichi... I have not brought you up to ignore me like that!" She said impatiently. "Now I want both you and Yaten to explain to me what happened."
Kurama and Yaten looked at each other, stunned.
"I'm... sorry... I think you have the wrong idea, I'm not..." started Kurama.
"You will not lie to me, young man... I've been your mother too long to not recognize my son when he's in front of me Shuuichi-chan. And don't look so surprised, you think you could fool me long like that?..."
"I... aaa... I..." stuttered Kurama.
"Now dear..." She said calmly. "Why don't you sit down and be a nice boy and tell me everything..."
Kurama sat down, there wasn't much more he could do. Meanwhile on the table, Yaten was shivering, still naked on the table. She sneezed.
"Ano... Kaasan... Yaten is..." said Kurama.
"Oh my poor dear, I forgot all about you. I'm sorry, Yaten-chan let me dress you up and warm you..." Shiroi set out herself to the task and Yaten was diapered and clothed, she was still shivering a little when Shiroi took her into her arms and warmed her.
:::You know... This isn't so bad after all...::: She sighed. It did feel nice to be in a mother's loving embrace. Kurama smiled, Yaten was experiencing first hand his mother's loving touch.
"Now, Shuuichi... Maybe you could talk to me?..." started Shiroi.
"Kaasan... How did you know?..." said Kurama.
"Your eyes... They may be of a different color and shape but something about your eyes told me it was you. Also the way you hold yourself, just like my Shuuichi... Also... This isn't the first time I see you like this..."
"What?..." Kurama was baffled, he always made certain that no one ever saw him in his true form. "How?..."
"That was when you still lived with me and your step-father... Do you remember that fever you had that made me worry so?..." She paused and looked at him as he remembered. "Now... I was so worried I had decided to stay with you all night. I was putting cold compresses to your brow when you changed...."
Kurama went wide eyed. He had transformed in front of her. Oh god, what must have she been thinking he was.
"At first, I thought I was hallucinating... But then you called me... Kaasan... Kaasan... So thirsty... I gave you something to drink. You looked at me with those eyes I never saw before. But their expression were yours, the way you looked at me when you were sick, a mother remember those things..."
"Kaasan... I'm sorry... I... I never wanted you to know..." said Kurama looking away.
Yaten looked up at her with a sad expression.
"Why, Shuuichi?... Were you afraid I would love you any less?" asked Shiroi. "You're my little boy..."
Kurama looked back at her, should he tell her or not. :::Yat-chan, what should I do?...::: He asked his beloved, reaching out for her tiny hand. :::I don't want her to hate me...:::
Yaten looked at him and had a small smile, she flayed her little hand until it rested into his much larger one. ::: She won't I can feel it... She needs to know Ku-chan... She only wants what's best for you, but I believe she has a right to know...:::
:::You are right, Koibito... Demo... Can you tell me if she doesn't feel good about knowing?...:::
:::I will, Ku-chan...:::
"Kaasan..." He started then shook his head. "I... I shouldn't have the right to call you Kaasan..."
"Shuuichi..." started Shiroi. "This appearance has nothing to due to the fact that you are my son..."
"That's just it... I... I'm not..." replied Kurama.
Shiroi looked at him hesitant. "Why do you say that?... You are my flesh... no?..."
:::I can't continue Yat-chan... She'll...:::
Yaten sat up in Shiroi's lap. :::She'll always doubt, Ku-chan... She needs to know now, not enough has been said for her to know peace of mind. Please, Koibito... Tell her...:::
Kurama took a deep breath. "Some twenty years ago... I was pretty much what you see now. " He started. "But I was also a rather arrogant Youko, fox-spirit and I had made a couple of powerful enemies. One of those enemies had put a high price on my head because of things I had stolen from him. So I was running from the Hunters when one of them injured me..."
"I was able to flee, unfortunately, I was at death's door. The Hunters were closing in and I had little choices... I didn't want to die. So I was able to peer into the Ningenkai and I saw you, but more importantly I saw what you had in your belly... A soulless ningen baby the perfect hiding place, no Hunter would look for me there..."
"Soulless baby?... What does it mean?..." asked Shiroi.
"It would mean... That the baby would be a vegetable from birth or stillborn... It happens sometimes... So I pushed my consciousness into the fetus and started to heal... the healing process was long; slowly inside I was changing the body to suit my needs. But my body wouldn't have been perfect until I would reach ten..."
"Did you plan to leave then?..." She asked tears falling slowly down her face.
"Hai... That was the plan. But... A few months before I was to leave..." He took her hand and showed her the marks on her arms. "Those... Those wounds that would never heal... They were silent reminders of the love you had for me..." Kurama stopped, feeling his throat constrict by the emotions involved. "I couldn't leave... Until I had repaid your kindness... Leaving you to cry for a lost child filled my heart with sadness. I had done nothing but take from you, without thinking about the consequence... But when you dove and saved me from injury, your concern was with me... and not you even though you were bleeding... I felt so ashamed then, my heart was filled with an emotion I had never felt before... Kaasan..."
"Shuuichi..." Kurama felt her hand gently comb his silver hair. "So that's why... As a child you never needed me, you were such an independent child. Sometimes, I was afraid to hold you, because you were not like other children, needing their mother. But I loved you because I was blessed with you. I fell pregnant a few times, but they never went to term..."
She lifted his chin and saw he was crying. "Thank you..."
"I don't understand, why do you thank me?... I took away your true child..." he replied, trying to sound level even if his voice was wavered by emotions.
Yaten was crying also but smiling, she felt what Shiroi felt deep inside for Kurama. Her empathic powers already making her privy to what Shiroi was about to say to Kurama.
Shiroi shook her head, smiling. "No, thank you... For because of you I had a child to call my own... If you hadn't possessed my baby I would have never known the joy of watching him grow into such a fine young man... I am very proud, Shuuichi... I still love you my son and I would be glad if you were to still call me Kaasan..."
Kurama blinked tears and looked at his ningen mother. She always was there for him. If she wanted to drive him away from her life, he would have understood. He expected her to hate him. But she surprised him, yet again.
"Ka... Kaasan..." Kurama fell on his knees in front of her and with her free arm she gathered him to her, just like she did to comfort him as a child.
"My little Shuuichi..." She whispered, crying as she combed through his mane.
On the other side of the door, four girl were sniffing and crying. Luna facevaulted.
"I can't believe you are all eavesdropping..."
"But Luna..." whispered Usagi as she sniffled. "It's so beautiful..."
"Hai... I must say..." added Rei, wiping her tears with her sleeve. "The love of a mother... really is beautiful..."
"Hai..." bawled Minako. "This is better than any Soap Opera..."
Ami discreetly wiped her own tears. "Minna, Luna is right, we shouldn't eavesdrop... But..."
"Kurama is lucky..." sighed Seiya, Yuukana hugged him. "But then again, so were Taiki, Yaten and me... When Kakyoku-mama took us for her own..."
"Hai..." Nodded Taiki. "You know... We should have a shrine in her honor at home... So we never forget all the love she gave us..."
"That's a great idea, guys..." said Rei as she sniffed. "Makes me remember... I could go and burn some incense on Mother's grave..."
Usagi put a hand of support to her friend. "Hey do you mind the company?..." Rei shook her head and smiled as they made their way to the small shrine.
Shiroi couldn't suppress a small chuckle. "My son, the kitsune..."
"I bet you never thought that possible..." replied Kurama.
Shiroi shook her head, smiling. "What's your name?"
"My first name was Ryouko... But I changed my name to Kurama... But you can still call me Shuuichi..." He smiled. "I've grown attached to that name..."
"Kurama... So that's why Yaten called you Ku-chan... Ne, Ya..." She looked down then giggled, Yaten was sleeping in her arms. "Poor little Yaten, she probably was exhausted..."
"Hai... I'm afraid the day was grueling for her..." said Kurama.
"I guess... Now..." She told him. "You mind telling me why she's a baby now?..."
Kurama chuckled then told her what had happened that day.
"Ara... Ruka..." whispered Michiru. "Are you sure he's here?"
"Well..." replied the tall blond. "Kunzite and Zoey called me to tell me he hadn't come back to work today... And after what happened at Kurama and the Light's place. He hasn't been seen, we are just checking if he's okay..."
Haruka tested the door, it was locked. "Let me..." said Michiru.
"Oh?.. You're going to use a hairpin?..."
The aqua haired woman chuckled. "That only works in movies, Ruka... I'll use my skeleton key..."
"Where'd you get that?..." asked Haruka, surprised.
Michiru winked. "Maaa?..." She teased. "And tell you my secrets? I think not..."
Haruka shook her head. Well, she was right, why should I know all of her secrets. She saw Michiru's triumphant smile when the door clicked opened.
They both got into the genkan (*) and they took their shoes off. They were about to get in the small apartment when they heard someone saying: "Kampai!"
The two woman looked at each other and peered at the corner. They gasped when they saw Kuronue sitting in a corner, still in his Youkai form. The only light was that which came from the street. In front of him were two sake bottles and he was taking a swig of a third one.
"Ku... Kuronue?" asked Michiru.
The old Youkai looked at her and took another swallow of sake. "Come on in... Makes yourzelvez at ho-ome..."
"You're drunk?..." frowned Haruka.
"I am?... Gee, thankz... I didn't realize I waz..." He was about to take another swallow when Michiru took the bottle away from him.
"So that's it... You're giving up?" she asked angrily.
He seemed to sober up a little. "She told me herself... She didn't want anything to do with me... I failed to reawaken her memory. Feh, what was I thinking? Without the necklace, it was failed to start with..."
"Okay you make no sense what so ever... Michi, brew some strong tea. I'll be helping Kuronue, get his act together..." As she said that, Haruka grabbed the Youkai but the scruff of his neck and dragged him into the bathroom.
Once inside, Haruka transformed into Eternal Sailor Uranus. She would need the strength to hold the Youkai down. His reaction wasn't long in coming when she took the shower head and splashed icy cold water on him.
"GYAAAAAH!" He yelled. He tried to fight him way out of her grip but alcohol already impaired him. Uranus smirked as the cold shower snapped him out of his drunken state. Kurama was right: Youkai do recover quickly from too much alcohol.
"STOP!" sputtered Kuronue. "I'm better..."
"Good... Now you can make some sense..." smirked Uranus.
"I wonder..." said the Youkai as he wrung his hair.
"What's wrong with you?... Why did you get drunk like that? I thought you had more sense than that!" spat Uranus.
"Why do you care?... I'm a failure..." replied Kuronue.
"Why?... I don't know, because maybe I thought you had feelings for Setsuna. Because, she smiled when she saw you. Because I felt that maybe, you were the guy that could make her life interesting..." She looked him straight in the eye. "And here I find you, calling it quits... I thought you would be more of a fighter..."
Kuronue sighed, Michiru entered the bathroom and gave him a cup of strong tea. "I don't know why I tried... It was doomed from the start..."
"Kuronue... Why do you say that?..." asked Michiru.
"Because it's the truth... I was given one chance to help her recover her memory... And my stupidity made me loose the only thing that might help her remember..."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa..." said Uranus. "What are you saying? Setsuna lost her memory?... When?..."
Kuronue drank some of the bitter tea. "I might as well tell you, it happened so long ago... Even I don't believe it sometimes..."
Both senshi sat down to listen to him. "It all started in the Silver Millennium..."
Michiru gasped. "The Silver Millennium... You... You are a soul reborn from the Silver Millennium..."
"Not really my dear... You see I never died... I'm the last of my race... An immortal..." replied the old Youkai.
"I didn't know Youkai lived this long..." said Uranus.
"If I were a Youkai my young friend... I'd be dead for a long time..." replied Kuronue.
"What are you talking about, Kuronue?..." asked Michiru.
"I am saying that this isn't my first form. This body you see before you, is the punishment for my lack of vision, for my disobedience to my Lord, who cursed me on his dying breath and send me spiraling through time..."
"Whoa... start at the beginning..." Haruka stopped him.
"Then I should start by telling the name I was given when I was born... Akari..."
End of part 12
Yukata: the yukata is a light coton kimono. It is a very simple garment, unlike the 'proper kimono'it is a common sight on a summer evening and at Springs.
Geta: Geta are the high wooden sandals worn by the Japanese.
Genkan: The genkan is a small hall in front of the outside doors where you leave your shoes. Usually it's on the same level as the door. You step up when you enter a Japanese house. Remember all those Sailor Moon shows where Usagi is late and rushes to that place to put on her shoes.

Love is a Battlefield
Part 13
By Sonya-chan

"My first name was Akari... Kuronue is a name I took when I got transformed into this..."
Kuronue got up and using the towel dried himself and his hair as he was explaining his life to the two Senshi.
"Akari... That name... It's familiar..." said Michiru.
"Akari..." Uranus frowned. A memory came back to her, the memory of a tall man, beautiful and with hair as fair as hers. In his back was a pair of white wings. He looked like an angel. "You can't be Akari..." She said.
"Ruka?..." asked Michiru.
"So you do remember Ura-hime?..." said Kuronue.
Uranus gasped. "How?... Only Akari used that nickname..." She shook her head. "No... you can't... He died..."
"I didn't... I disappeared from your sight... Ura-hime... But I didn't die..." replied Kuronue.
Michiru blinked, Haruka, Eternal Sailor Uranus seemed about to cry as if remembering an awful forgotten memory.
"Akari-senshu..." Uranus breathed. She looked up to him and then without warning she launched herself into Kuronue's arms and was crying.
"Shh.. Ura-hime... It's okay, you shouldn't cry... You always were strong... No matter what..." replied Kuronue holding her.
"But... It was so unfair..." Uranus replied as she wiped the tears from her eyes, rapidly.
"Excuse me... but... Would you mind explaining what's going on?" said Michiru.
"Hai... You have a right to know..." Kuronue smiled to Uranus and let her go sit back next to Michiru.
"My race came from the vast reaches of space... And you see we were conquerors. We were all deceivingly beautiful, a practice cultured with infanticide. When a child was born without beauty, he or she was killed without a second thought... We were a vain and deceitful race, our favorite ploy was to send spies to infiltrate a solar system and get close to the chain of command. You see, we were able to manipulate Time itself, our mottus operandi was to arrived at a place and distort time to make us old allies. We were extremely long lived, because of Time manipulation, we didn't care how much time it took. Once we had a monarch's total confidence... we would strike..."
Michiru frowned. "Is that was your purpose was?..."
"Hai..." admitted Kuronue. "I was sent to Moon Kingdom as a spy... On my way there though... My Time shuttle experienced major problems and I was forced to crash land into Uranus... That's when my life changed..."
Uranus continued. "I was riding with my Knights that day... I was about ten. When I saw the shuttle... I ordered my Knights to go get help. They made me promise not to go and wait for their return..." She smiled to Michiru. "But hey you know me..."
"I went there..." She continued. "The shuttle was in fire, I didn't know if there was anyone inside or not... But I had to check... If there was someone I couldn't leave him or her to die... That's when I heard a scream..."
"I don't remember much of the accident..." Admitted Kuronue. "I remember screaming as the feathers on my wings caught fire, I was bleeding, pinned, and I was starting to burn. Suddenly I heard a voice screaming to me, asking me where I was. I screamed, and that's when I saw Ura-hime for the first time. She had beautiful cascade of blond hair. She was young, but she seemed unafraid of the fire."
Kuronue hugged himself remembering. "She ran into the fire to help me... That was the first time I saw someone risk her life to save another. If I had crashed on my home world, I would have been left to die. She lifted the beam that held me... I watched in horror as her hair started to get singed by the fire. As soon as I was freed, I had a reaction I never thought myself possible of... I grabbed her and ran out and rolled her on the ground the extinguish the fire that was on her... I didn't care for myself anymore..."
"I heard a cry and I was doused in water... I felt good at first but I screamed out in pain and fell unconscious..."
"The guards and me brought him back to the Castle where I got scolded by my Mother, the Queen, but she was glad I had saved him." continued Uranus. "She was proud of my courage. I asked her to take care of him..."
Kuronue smiled bitterly. "Hai... I remember... Everyone had lost hope on me because I wanted to die. I was disfigured, scarred, in my race that meant to be either an Outcast or to die. I wanted to kill myself in those days... But I was too weak... And you talked to me all the time. You believed in me... You wouldn't let me give up..."
"Hey... I had saved your life... I wasn't too keen about you wanting to end it... because you had nasty burns..." said Uranus. "I knew you would heal..."
Kuronue smiled. "Hai I did... Eventually, even my feathers grew back... I was a changed man, I was moved by your kindness and the undaunted will that you wouldn't let me end my life... I started to consider you like the sister I never had..."
"Same here..." admitted Uranus.
"To thank Ura-hime, I started to train her... I vowed she would be the best warrior in the Moon Kingdom. I forgot about my race, thinking that if I would never to report they would never attack the Moon Kingdom... How stupid I was..."
"Demo... How did you meet Setsuna-san?" Asked Michiru.
"I met her as I was escorting Ura-hime to the Moon Kingdom Palace, she would soon start her training to become a Sailor Senshi. Already Rhiannon, Shiva and a few more were training. She wasn't a Sailor Senshi yet, at eighteen, she was as beautiful as she is now. But she wasn't interested much in being a Senshi. She pursued Art as he main goal in life... When I saw her... I was smitten..."
"Of course, we fell in love, Pluto wasn't the Guardian of Time then." Kuronue paused. "I came to live in the Moon Palace with Ura-hime for her training, and without neglecting my duties, I saw Setsuna anytime I could... We even planned to get married... But... That's where the fairy tale ends and the nightmare starts."
"One day at a reception Queen Serenity presented her 'dear' old friend Souseki." He closed his eyes. "My heart sank... He may have been able to fool everyone in the assembly, but I was immune to Time flow deceptions. I had to move fast... At first I had no one who believed me and I couldn't go see the Queen with that. But Setsuna believed in me, so did Rhiannon, her best friend."
"I took it upon myself to train Setsuna in the techniques of Time magic, she was skilled apprentice. Soon she saw what I did and knew of the plans against the Moon Kingdom. One night we stole into the Queen's bedchamber and that's when Setsuna used the Portal for the first time. Together we told the Queen what we knew and she was warned of the Danger... We were able to stop the invasion and the Queen with the Ginzousho destroyed all of my people..."
"Upon his dying breath, our Leader cursed me... My hair became black, my ears elongated and my wings became what they are today..." As if to show he deployed his black bat like wings. "And as if it wasn't enough... He cursed me so I couldn't stay with my beloved more than two months before disappearing and reappearing later in the Time stream..."
Michiru and Haruka gasped. "It 's been almost two month now..." said Michiru.
"Hai..." replied sadly Kuronue. "In three days... I will vanish again..."
"I don't understand... Didn't Setsuna recognize you?" asked Haruka.
"She can't." Kuronue told them. "The Queen heard the curse thrown upon me. Now Setsuna was so attuned with the Time Flow that when she heard the curse, she tried to return to stop it from happening, she exhausted herself and tried as she did, she couldn't change what had happened. And she realized that she was endangering the Moon Kingdom with her repeated failures."
"What happened, did and I started to vanish from her sight that faithful day..." Kuronue paused fighting tears. "Curse them... I was still there... I was outside of Time for her and everyone. Even she couldn't see me... She entered a depression that disturbed the very fabric of time, she was so attuned to it, she did it without realizing it... It would have destroyed the Moon Kingdom..."
"I stood helpless, cursing myself to have shown her. And also knew she was now cursed to live Eternally. Eternal and me away it must have been to much for her. I think Queen Serenity understood what was going on. Because one day using the Ginzousho, she came to me..."
"She had a necklace and told me... 'I have come upon a cure for your state, unfortunately, the energies needed will take many Millenniums... Take this necklace, it is now your most prized possession. For within it is hidden Setsuna's memory of you and your love, as well as a mean to free you from your curse...' She couldn't stay any longer..."
"You mean Queen Serenity erased Setsuna's memories? She must have been forced to impose that "You can't love anyone" edict so that when you would find each other... You could be together again..." pondered Michiru. "Then... Where is the necklace?..."
"That's why I meant by I failed..." said Kuronue. "I lost the necklace in the Makai... It's most likely destroyed...."
Back at Hikawa temple, Shiroi was bidding everyone farewell. She kissed her son good-bye even thought she had to go on tiptoes and have him bend to her to do so.
"Take good care of yourself Shuuichi-chan... Come and see me when you and Yaten are better." She smiled and kissed Yaten on the cheek. "Are you sure you don't want to come with me Yaten?..."
Kurama looked down to Yaten. "She would have loved to come, Kaasan, but I think you'd have a lot of problems explaining her to your husband..."
"Too true..." She sighed. "Too bad... It would have been a little like having grandchildren..." Both Yaten and Kurama blushed. They both wondered what she would have thought of Kiku, Bara, Ran, Sakura and the twins: Shiro and Shiroi. Kurama's mother made them facevault and blush when she added.
"Well... I'll just have to wait for my grandchildren ne?..."
The others chuckled at Yaten and Kurama's embarrassment.
"Anooooo... Kaasan..." sweatdropped Kurama as Yaten became even more red.
Shiroi became very serious. "And I won't be satisfied with only one grandchild you know..."
The others all roared out laughing, Kuwabara was laughing so hard he was crying. The laughter doubled when Yuusuke said.
"Oh I wouldn't worry about THAT!"
"Ara?..." said Shiroi. "Was it something I said?..."
Kurama, by then, was so red he looked like he was about to go into cardiac arrest. Yaten was hiding her face out of embarrassment. "It's nothing, Kaasan... They like to JOKE ne?" He turned to his friends and stressed the word joke with a look and a flare of Ki that made them tremble in their socks.
"Ah! Hai... Joke desu..." quickly said Yuusuke.
"It's late, I better go then..." said Shiroi as she waved at them. Kurama was still looking at them pissed.
"Oi... Kurama... Simmer down... We didn't say anything to hint to her that you WOULD have a lot of children..." Yuusuke said not realizing that he was making himself look even more like a fool.
::: Jerks! ::: Thought Yaten.
"I agree entirely with you, Koibito..." added the Youko.
"Gomen ne, Yaten-chan, Kurama-san..." said Usagi. "I know what it is to have your daughter pop-up from the future... And having to hide that from your parents..."
"Hai..." sweatdropped Mamoru. "I think her father would run after me with a loaded gun..." He laughed nervously.
"Ano..." said Minako. "Did anyone check on Mako-chan and Hiei today?..."
All shook their heads. Kurama had an idea. "Maybe Yaten and me could go and check them out. Yaten can feel if Hiei is okay and she can tell me without Mako-chan knowing..."
Rei snorted. "Hai and give her a heart attack... It's not every day a Youko comes knocking on your door..."
"She saw me before..." replied Kurama.
"I think it's a great idea." said Usagi. "Being a Youko, Kurama would sense if something is the matter with Hiei..."
"True..." admitted Rei.
"Well I better get there with..." started Kurama. He blinked and looked at Yaten. "Oh..." He said then he gave Yaten to Seiya.
"What's the matter?" asked Seiya.
"She errr..." started Kurama as Yaten looked at Seiya.
"AGAIN???..." cried out Seiya. "But your mother changed her two hours ago..."
"Now, now, Sei-kun..." said Yuukana. "It isn't like she can control that..."
"Well she has a diaper! Couldn't she wait a little?..." asked Seiya. The others looked at him with huge sweatdrops. But the biggest one was Kurama as he heard Yaten said in his mind.
::: Hn! Let him wear a diaper and see if he can stand it when he gets wet!...:::
Setsuna was in a zazen position, she was looking at the Zen Garden, letting the repetitive pattern help here achieve a trance. This feels familiar... she thought. As the trance deepened she heard a man's voice that sounded to come from a memory.
"Setsuna, concentrate on the ripples... Time is like a lake, each of our actions creates a ripple. You must learn to see those ripple. I know it's hard, the ripples go away fast. But with time you will recognize each ripple and know what they mean..."
Setsuna opened her eyes. Who could have told her that?... Time is like a lake... Or maybe a body of water?...
She stood up and walked to a large fountain of dormant water. She didn't know why but she felt like she would have answers there.
She reassumed position and concentrated on the water. She sat there for a long period and she started to see ripples on the water. But it wasn't the water, it was ripples of Time.
With a swift movement Setsuna grabbed it and gasped. She saw images flashing through her mind, she saw a man's face, Queen Serenity, the same necklace she had dreamt about. This time is was hanging from her neck. A great sadness flowed her heart, then her heart was overwhelmed by love. She was so dizzy by the sensations she let go of the ripple and it flowed back into Time.
Setsuna blinked. What did all that meant?... The necklace again, why did Kuronue had it was it from her?
The images, she had to know what they meant. She had to find that necklace. She did know that part of the answer was with Kuronue. She had to find out. She got up and went to a phone.
Back the Temple, one of the two traveling monk looked suspiciously at the group outside.
"Did I ever tell you I didn't like this?..."
"Many times na no da..."
The tall fiery haired man turn to face his companion. He looked at the other monk who was meditating, he could feel the ki rising. "Ya sure they won't feel it?..."
"Iya... I'm being careful no da..." The blue haired monk replied. "Gen-chan... I'm afraid that I will have to use all my powers in the next few days..."
"Ano?..." replied his companion. "Why?..."
"Because the rift that brought us here is about to be mended... If I don't protect us we'll be brought back... without our mission completed, no da..."
"Are you sure the Gembu no Miko is one of them?..." asked the monk still standing at the door.
"Hai no da..." His companion shrugged and took the small cat that had started to rub against his leg. He took it in his arms and scratched it behind the ears as he watched outside.
Makoto was smiling, she was looking at her future daughter. She could see in her little quirks Hiei had, like the way the tip of her nose moved when she did something she didn't like. She was like a whirlwind, she wanted so much to help her, she ended up tripping on her own feet.
"Gomen, ne... Kaasan..."
Makoto giggled. "Will you relax?... you get as excited as me..." The cleaning up was almost done, she sat down and tapped the sofa just next to her. "Come on... Sit down..."
Inazumi smiled and did as Makoto asked. "Ano, Kaasan..."
"Well... First..." started Makoto. "Stop calling me Kaasan... You make me feel old..." They both giggled. "You call me Mako-chan here, it would be weird if you called me mother in front of people and I'll call you Ina-chan..."
"Hai!" Responded the smaller girl as Yuki decided to sit on her lap.
"I guess he likes you..." smiled Makoto. "He must sense Hiei's blood in you.... Ano... What a minute..." Makoto thought she saw a wound on Yuki's brow. "Oh my... Did those Youkai hurt him?... He's got a wound..."
"Oh... You mean... That's the first time you see it?" asked Inazumi.
"Hai... Oh Poor Yuki... Gomen... I didn't see that... I'll go get some water to take care of that..." Makoto got up and Yuki took off and went to hide under her bed. "Ano... What's wrong with him?"
She tried to reach him, but as she managed to hold on to his fur. She yipped and took her hand away.
"He used his claws on me..."
"Ano... Ka... Mako-chan... Maybe he just wants us to leave him alone... Well check him, if he's sick we can take him to a vet." said Inazumi as Makoto sat back next to her.
"He didn't hurt me much... You're right... But I'm worried about him... And Hiei..." she sighed. "If Yuki is sick too..."
"Ano... Kaasan... I'm sure he's okay..." And as if to prove the smaller girl right, Yuki got out of his hiding place and started to play with one of his balls. "You see?... He's probably a little on edge about those Youkai..."
"Hai... Probably." Makoto turned to her and asked. "So? Any boyfriends?..."
Inazumi blushed. "Well... No... Not really..."
Makoto looked at her. "You do like boys?..."
"Huh?... Of course I do... I'm not like Shiroi-chan..." replied Inazumi.
"I see..." nodded Makoto. "Any prospect?..."
Inazumi blushed even more. "Ara..."
"I know that look... " winked Makoto. "Who is he?... Is he cute?"
"Oh yes..." Inazumi giggled. "He's so handsome... But... I don't know if he ever noticed me..."
"I'm sure he did, you're cute too... Come on, spill the beans, tell me who it is..." Makoto acted as thought she was one of the Inners who was talking to her. That left Inazumi a little disoriented. "You can tell me..."
"I don't know..."
"Please..."
"Okay... But you don't tell anyone okay... Especially Aunt Yaten..." asked Inazumi.
"Why?..." asked Makoto, then it hit her. "Oooh! Is it Shiro?" The way Inazumi blushed and looked away told her she had hit the jackpot. "You're right... He is a cute one!"
"Hai..." sighed her future daughter. "Unfortunately, he's got tons of girls running after him... I don't have a chance... He's got the most beautiful girls standing in line to date him..."
"Don't say that, Ina-chan... Have you ever spoke to him?" asked Makoto.
"Kaasan... We've been all brought up together in Crystal Tokyo, his best friend is Ken and I'm best friend with Shiroi... She grew up so close, I think he sees me as a little sister..."
Makoto smiled. "Well maybe one day, he'll see you differently... You never know..." She got up. "I'm going to make some tea... Want some?"
"Hai..." smiled shyly Inazumi, she got up and petted Yuki who was fast asleep. She frowned, he was hot, maybe he did have a fever. She was about to tell this to Makoto when there was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it Kaasan!"
Yuusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama and Yaten facevaulted when they heard a girl call: "I'll get it Kaasan!" from inside of Makoto's apartment. They gasped when they saw Inazumi, when she saw Kurama she smiled and hugged him.
"Kurama-jisan!" She took a step backward. "Ano... You're not supposed to be a Youko... It's too early..." She facevaulted. "What happened to Yaten-basan..."
They all looked at her a little surprised as she hugged Yuusuke and Kuwabara and called them Jisan.
"Who?" asked Yuusuke.
"Let me guess..." chuckled Kurama. "Ken's imooto?"
"Ken's ONEESAN!... I'm older!" replied Inazumi a little miffed. "I'm Inazumi..."
"What? The shrimp had two kids?" said Kuwabara. He yipped when Inazumi stared him down.
"Ara... Minna..." said Makoto. "Please come inside..." She didn't want any of her neighbors to see this and they were making enough noise to wake the dead.
So they got in and exchanged stories on what happened to all of them. Kurama felt a little embarrassed to ask this since now Makoto's daughter was there.
"So you see since the Three Lights (minus Yaten) will stay at my small apartment. I was wondering if..."
"Ano..." started Makoto. "I have a fold out bed..."
"And I can sleep on the couch... It's perfect!" said Inazumi.
"No, no... Yaten and me will take the couch..." said Kurama.
Inazumi looked at him. "Yeah right... At seven foot... You have trouble SITTING on it..." Kurama sweatdropped.
Kuwabara was coming back from the kitchen with a glass of water, when Yuki crossed his path. Since he loved kawaii cats, he followed Yuki in the bedroom, what he saw made him pause... and yell.
"OH MY GOD!!!"
The other rushed into the bedroom only to see Kuwabara as pale as a sheet.
"What's wrong?" asked Yuusuke, he gasped when he saw the chrysalis.
"It's growing..." whispered Kurama.
"Hai if he continues at that rate..." started Kuwabara hyperventilating.
Inazumi squeezed herself in front of them and pushed them back. "Okay that's it everybody OUT! No one touches my Tousan... And stop yelling, you're sending bad vibes to him!"
Kuwabara calm down but he added. "Why is it growing?"
"Baka... Tousan is growing up... He'll be an adult of course, his chrysalis is growing too!" said Inazumi still pushing them out of the bedroom.
:::Boy...::: thought Yaten. :::What a way to hit puberty!:::
Setsuna was driving, speeding towards Tokyo. When she was about half an hour drive away, she pulled at a convenience store and headed for the pay phone. After inserting her card, she punched a number.
She started to pace as she heard the phone on the other side ring.
"Moshi, moshi..." A deep voice answered, from the intonation of the voice, she could tell that she had woken him up.
"Kuronue..." She started. "We need to talk..."

Love is a Battlefield
Part 14
By Sonya-chan

In Makoto's apartment, nothing was stirring...
Nothing?...
Yaten lifted her head, she thought she felt something. She frowned Makoto seemed to be playing with a child. She looked over to the couch, Inazumi was sound asleep. She looked to Kurama who was all asleep.
She was thankful Kurama had decided to put the mattress on the floor. Since he was taller than the folding bed; it was less painful because his legs stuck out.
Yaten started to crawl to the edge of the mattress. Oi, she thought, I wish my legs were strong enough to walk upright... This is tiring. She was trying to figure out how to get off when Kurama moved in his sleep and unwittingly gave her a push forward. She pirouetted off the mattress and ended up on her back, dizzy.
She sighed, I thought babies had it easy. She was a little winded so she stayed there and rested for a while. While she rested she thought about what she had felt when they first entered the apartment.
Hiei, in his cocoon, was at peace, relaxed. She wasn't expecting that at all. She thought the process he was going through might stress him, but it wasn't the case. She frowned, she wondered why. What she knew about Hiei didn't fit what was going on with Hiei.
She heard a giggle in Makoto's room. "I spy with my little eye... Something that is... red!...." It was Makoto's voice but she spoke softly enough not to wake Kurama and Inazumi. The brunette laughed. "That's right you got it... You're so good at this... Okay, give me a hug..."
I don't know what kind of dream she's having but it's a dozy. Yaten thought now would be a good time to get a move on again. She rolled on her side with great difficulty, her little legs were more a dead weight than a help. She crawled to the edge of the bedroom door. It was held ajar so Yaten could push it a little bit more and she entered. She heard Makoto coo.
"Ahh Hiei-chan... You're so sweet..."
Hiei-chan?... She's talking to Hiei?... Exhausted Yaten lay still and was concentrating. Maybe if she touched Makoto's consciousness she might learn more of Hiei. That was the plan.
It was perfect, just for one problem.
Yaten eyes snapped open when she heard a hiss, then a low growl. She gasped, Yuki was looking at her in such a way, she was getting scared. The black cat's ember eyes were on her, unblinking as he advanced towards her, like a panther closing in on a prey.
Yaten tried to move away from him, but she wasn't strong enough. She started to yell when the cat pounced on her. She yelled on the top of her lung, afraid suddenly for her life. Just realizing how vulnerable she was as an infant.
She felt a tug, she cried louder, screaming in her head for Kurama to wake up and save her from this beast.
Inazumi and Kurama woke up, alerted by Yaten's screams. Kurama heard the urgency of Yaten's pleads, he jumped out of bed and was almost at Makoto's bedroom door when he saw Yuki, dragging a screaming Yaten, by her pajama.
:::KU-CHAAAAN! SAVE ME!!::: screamed Yaten.
Kurama bend down and scooped her up, she was trembling in his arms, crying and bawling. Yuki looked up to Kurama and made a small hn sound by expelling air from his nostrils. He turned around and settled back on top of Hiei's chrysalis, like Cerberus guarding the gates of Hades.
Kurama frowned as he tried to comfort Yaten who was crying a lot. Inazumi took her from him and told him that maybe a bottle of warm milk might calm her down a little. Kurama kept looking at Yuki, there was something about this cat, he couldn't place a finger on it but Yuki was no longer acting like the sweet cat they knew.
And Makoto, she hadn't woken even thought Yaten had been screaming in her room. He turned to Inazumi and Yaten, he used a finger to wipe Yaten's tears out of her face as she drank from the bottle.
:::I was so scared... I thought... I thought he was going to hurt me...:::
"What was she doing there?..." asked Inazumi.
:::I heard Mako-chan talk... I wanted to check if everything was all right... When Hellcat jumped on me... Scaring the daylights out of me.:::
Kurama told Inazumi what Yaten just told him. The small girl was thoughtful. "Maybe Yuki was afraid that Yaten would disturb them..." She took the bottle from Yaten when she was done with it and she gave her back to Kurama while she put the bottle in the sink.
:::Ow... ow... ow...:::
"Koibito... What's wrong did Yuki hurt you after all?..." asked the Youko. Yaten shook her head.
:::No, my belly aches a lot... Owwww...:::
Kurama was at a lost as for why was she hurting. When Inazumi came next to them and read the pain in Yaten's face she gasped.
"Oh no... I totally forgot!... Give her back to me..." She put a towel on her shoulder and put Yaten's upright along her body and held her head over the towel. She gave Yaten a couples of gentle taps.
For a couple of seconds nothing happened, then Yaten made a big "BURP!" Kurama was trying desperately not to laugh but Yaten's face was so indignant he almost burst out loud when he saw her.
"There I bet your belly feels much better now..." smiled Inazumi.
:::I can't EVEN burp by myself... Kuuuuuu-chan... We got to find a way to bring me back to normal!!!!::: Yaten started to cry again and Inazumi gave her back to Kurama.
"We'll find a way, Koibito..." He kissed her little brow and they all headed back to bed. This time Yaten didn't dream of leaving the protective arms of her love.
Kuronue was at the Tea House Setsuna had told him to wait for her at. He was nervous, he always was, with her, even though he tried to hide it behind a devil may care facade. The way he would tell her the truth, he had thought it as many times as there were stars in the Universe. But when she was next to him, his mind was a total blank.
Setsuna, her face and her name had haunted his dreams since the days of the Silver Millennium. When they kissed the other day, he felt alive again, alive for the first time in so much centuries. But when she told him she couldn't love him, he felt his hear had been ripped from his chest.
It's not her fault... he thought bitterly. Queen Serenity, were you punishing me for not telling the truth about my coming to your kingdom? You gave me hope in the form of a necklace, and now I lost all hope...
When Setsuna got in the tea house, she saw him, looking so lonely and miserable. Something deep within her wanted to go to him and hold him. And parts of her told her she must think of her duty first. He had a necklace that might be the key to all those questions she's been having lately, all those uncertainties about her life.
"Kuronue..." she said softly as she sat down. She was surprised at the way she said his name.
He looked up to for a second, she could see the hurt in his eyes which pierced right into her heart. Then he broke into a smile and talked casually.
"Hello, Setsuna-san... You look lovely today..."
The waitress took their order and left them, Setsuna looked him square in the eye.
"Why do you do this?... I can see you're hurting yourself..."
Kuronue looked away. "I have no choice... That's my only way to stay sane..." He shrugged. "Don't mind me... Why did you want to meet with me?" Inside his chest, his heart was beating fast, hoping beyond hope she would tell him she loved him.
"Kuronue... Lately... I've been having disturbing dreams..." She paused and looked at him to check his reactions. "About a necklace..."
Kuronue's heart skipped a beat. "A... A... A necklace?..." He felt dizzy, was she remembering?... He was at a lost as what to do or say.
"Hai... A necklace, you had... Do you still have it?" she asked.
Kuronue's devil may care facade crumpled in front of her face. This wasn't a reaction she thought someone who lost a simple necklace might have. "I..." He shook his head.
She raised an eyebrow, he usually was more talkative than this.
She moved her hand forward and touched his. "Kuronue... What's wrong?"
"I have been forbidden to tell you..." He replied in an voice that fought to stay leveled. "Please... don't ask me..."
Setsuna blinked, just like she had been forbidden to love. She wondered briefly if it was connected as the waitress came back with their tea.
"Is it in the Makai?..." Asked Setsuna.
"It was destroyed..." He replied blowing on his tea to cool it a little.
"Are you sure?..." she asked. "Had you seen it destroyed?"
Kuronue frowned, blinked then looked back at her. He never really saw it destroy, he just assumed it was when the Youkai had thrown it in the fire.
He looked at her. "No... I never saw it... Just..."
"You just saw it being thrown into the fire..." She finished for him.
Kuronue was astonished. "How... How did you know?"
"I told you I had dreams..." she replied softly, taking a sip of tea.
"You... dreamt... about me?..." He asked, he saw the blush creep up on her cheeks. Her hands were slightly trembling, he reached and took her hands in his own. "Setsuna..."
She blinked, that tone of voice, the way he said her name. It felt familiar and yet there was some sort of barrier in her mind. Something was preventing her to fully understand. She hated that barrier, she had to find a way to tear it down.
"Kuronue... We have to go to the Makai... Together..." She frowned, why did she ask him along? she needed him she didn't way her way around the Makai, a little voice in her head told her.
Kuronue nodded. "Hai... You're right, in my despair... I never thought to look for it..." She frowned at the world disappear, why was he so attached to a mere bauble. "There is a nexus near, here... It's a bit far from our objective but the arrival point in the Makai is safe..."
"A nexus?..." she asked.
He smiled at her curiosity, some things never changed. "A portal to the Makai, I was permitted to make..."
"If you can make portals... Why do you need to go using the same one?..." she wondered.
"My dear..." He left a five thousand yen bill on the table for the waitress. "If I made portals like that all the time, I'd weaken this area of Tokyo and Youkai could get through. By keeping only a few and sealing them with spells, insures the safety of the Ningenkai. It's a bit different from your Portals my dear..." He got out of the kammi-dokoro.
She blinked then ran after him. "Hey, what do you mean by that?"
The waitress smiled at them as they got out. "Ah... Young love." She sighed, when she saw the five thousand yen, she thought that if that woman didn't want him, she'd date him in an instant. He had dreamy looks, looked very nice and courteous and he was probably rich.
"This is so fun..." giggled Inazumi. "Reminds me of when I played with dolls and when I helped change the kits..."
Kurama and Makoto were drinking tea while they waited for Inazumi to finish dressing up Yaten. The poor Youko could hear the whimpering of his girlfriend as she made a fuss about the dress she was wearing. He sighed, they had got to find a way to go back to normal. He couldn't stay a Youko and he knew Yaten was tried of being treated like a baby.
"TADAAAAAIMAAAAAA!" Said Inazumi as she presented Yaten to them. Kurama eyes bulged and he choked on his tea. Makoto had a huge sweatdrop on the side of her head.
Yaten looked like a life size doll... A very angry life sized doll. She was dressed in an off-white little dress that was all frilly. The skirt flared at her waist and it had a kawaii little crinoline look. On the dress were embroided flowers with small ribbons and buttons. She wore a matching underwear that hid (not really successfully) her diaper and it had frilly material over the fanny area. She wore matching sox with lace, little white shoes with kawaii little white kitten design. But the icing on the cake was the cap that hid all her beautiful silver hair. It was decorated with more frilly stuff like ribbons and lace.
:::Please, someone just kill me now...:::
"Look how cute she is..." said Inazumi with a triumphant smile.
:::As the sky is my witness, I vow to NEVER, EVER submit my children to this...:::
Kurama let go of his cup. He thought Yaten was just been fussy but she was right... This was horrible.
"Ina-chan..." He finally croaked. "Don't you have anything less... gaudy?..."
"Nani?... She's not gaudy, she's cute..."
:::That girl has no fashion sense whatsoever...::: grumbled Yaten. ::Get me out of this!:::
"It's..." Kurama tried to stay polite. "... V... Very nice. But I think we don't have to dress her like she going to visit... the pope... You don't have something more... casual?..."
"Huh?... This is casual..." she replied.
:::Whoever designed those clothes should be brought out to the streets and shot... No wonder babies fuss so much... You have any idea how much it's hot?...:::
"Yaten feels a little too hot..." said Kurama.
"Well we must keep her warm..." replied Inazumi defensively.
:::Warm yes... Cooking NO...:::
"Maybe if she's outside... She feels too hot, right now..." said Kurama as Makoto wiped the mess he made by dropping his tea.
:::OUTSIDE???::: Yaten shrieked. :::I am so NOT going out in this...:::
Makoto yawned as Ina-chan was walking back to the bedroom to change Yaten. Kurama helped her out with the dishes. He actually had to hunch, Japanese apartment weren't designed for 7 foot tall Youko.
"Tired?..."
"Hai... But, I slept like a rock... I should be awake." replied Makoto.
"OH NO! We're going to be late!!!!" said Inazumi as she grabbed Makoto. And before the brunette could protest they were out the door. Kurama sighed and went to hold Yaten.
The poor girl sighed against her boyfriend. :::Ku-chan... Give me a kiss...:::
Kurama brushed his lips delicately on her cheek.
:::Not like that!!!!::: She whimpered.
Kurama blushed, embarrassed. "Ano... Yat-chan... I can't..."
Yaten sighed totally depressed. :::Here, we are alone and my boyfriend won't even give me a kiss... I want my body back the right size...::: She snuggled in his arms, slowly she lifted her head.
:::Ku-chan?...:::
"Hai?..." Replied Kurama.
:::Do you still love me?...:::
"Koibito... Of course, I do... I just don't feel comfortable kissing you as a baby... It's too weird..." admitted Kurama.
:::What if ....:::
He kissed her brow. "Shhh... Don't think about that, Koibito... We'll find a way.... I promise..." Yaten closed her eyes and took a small nap.
"Good morning, class, today we have a student from another district who has participated in an exchange. Yaten Kou was selected to go at her school while she is here..."
Taiki and Seiya blinked totally baffled, they had come up with an excuse to explain Yaten's absence. They looked towards Makoto, puzzled, since she had come in with the new girl.
Makoto looked at her future daughter and wondered how she could do things like that.
"Good morning! My name is Ryuuki Inazumi, how do you do?" The dark haired brunette bowed to the class. A lot of boys started to whisper she was cute but they found her red eyes to be a little disturbing.
"Ryuuki-san... You shall take Yaten's desk while he's away..." said the teacher.
As she went to sit down, the Inners and the Starlights looked at each other puzzled. Makoto wrote down something on a piece of paper and passed it along. Each of the Inner and Starlights present gasped at what was written.
"She's my daughter..."
Pluto and Kuronue were flying in the Makai. Setsuna had let the wings from her transformation come out and she was now soaring the skies next to him. The Youkai had a strange expression on his face.
"If you keep looking at me..." She pointed. "You're going to hit a tree..."
He smiled and turned his head, he gasped. "DOWN!"
Before she knew what was happening Kuronue had veered their course. They were now heading for the ground. She screamed.
"ARE YOU MAD?"
He didn't reply, he managed to stop their fall and land on the ground. As he was doing that she could see the sky being streaked with red rays.
"How did you know?..." She gasped.
"I got a good eyesight..." He took her hand. "Quickly, they'll be here, shortly, we have to find a place to hide..."
"Who?"
"Mukuro's men... We are on her territory..." Kuronue replied, he folded his wings, he had found a spot. It would be cramped quarters but they didn't have much of a choice. He pushed her in the hole, she wanted to protest but she could hear the Youkai coming closer. He slipped in, surveying their progression.
Pluto didn't feel comfortable to be so close to him. She was pressed against him. It was a good thing, she could make her staff disappear or else it would be even harder to hide here. She gasped when he held her even closer so he could extend his wings, blocking successfully the hole with them.
He winced, she could tell this was hurting him. She could hear them come closer, she held him closer. Strangely, she felt safe and rested her head against his shoulder.
"Where are they?" They heard. "They can be too far... Keep looking..."
They waited in silence and heard they running and searching all over the place. The thumping sound came closer and Kuronue was about to scream. A group were passing them and some had stepped on his wings.
He held his cries at the first two but at the third one the pain was unbearable. If he cried out he would give away their position. She didn't think and did the only thing she thought would silence him.
She kissed him.
That did the trick, he was no longer concerned of the pain he felt as he kissed her back. He was afraid she might stop but she didn't. Pluto felt giddy, she wanted to kiss him back, there was no little voice in her head telling her to stop. She felt good in his arms and hugged him closer.
Neither were aware of the presence that was getting near them, until it was too late.
Kuronue cried out in pain as he felt himself being hoisted up by a strong mechanical arm. Feeling that her added weight hurt him, Pluto let go of him, especially when she heard his wing bones cracking.
As soon as she let go of him, she felt hands grabbing her. Kuronue cried out. "LET HER GO!"
Pluto's heart sank when she heard him cry out in pain. The woman who was holding him was breaking his wings.
"NO! STOP IT!" She cried.
The woman let him go and he fell to the ground, quivering in pain. When Pluto saw the blood on his wings she looked to the woman, defiant.
"Well, well..." The woman said. "Looks like I caught two birds with the same stone... Bring them to the Palace... DON'T harm the woman... nor him... You got that?"
"H... Hai, Mukuro-sama..." replied the Youkai.
Finally the classes ended for that day, Makoto was glad, she would return to see how Hiei was doing.
"Ne... Ne..." said Inazumi. "Do you all have your costume for the Ball?..."
"Oh my!... That's right... Minna... We go shopping!" said Minako.
"You go... I'm not... I have to make sure Hiei is okay..." replied Makoto.
"Demo, K... Mako-chan... I'm sure Kurama and..." she looked left and right and seeing that there were a lot of girls around she added. "You know who... Are watching over him and if Mukuro tries anything funny... Kurama-jisan will make them regret they ever came."
Usagi nodded. "Come on, Mako-chan... You want to be beautiful when Hiei wakes up ne?..."
Makoto blushed as Minako, Usagi and Inazumi were pushing her forward.
"Ara..." said Ami. "What about our studies?"
Inazumi and Minako came back for her and Taiki. "We'll study later!"
"You always say that!!!"
Seiya chuckled and followed them. He used his cell phone to call Yuukana. He was talking to her sweetly as he walked with the others.
"It's so kawaii how they talk on the cell phone like that..." said Usagi, she wished her father had bought her a cell phone.
Rei fumed. "It's unnerving... He's on that phone all the time, when she isn't here..."
Taiki sweatdropped. "You should see his phone bill... Oi... He's worse than Yaten!"
They turned a corner and there was Yuukana. She giggled in her phone. "Oh my... There's this cute Idol Singer Seiya Kou in front of me... Do you mind if I give him a kiss?..."
"Iya..." replied Seiya in the phone. "I see a beautiful woman, I think I shall kiss her..."
"You are in front of each other..." said Rei in a flat voice. "DROP THE DARN PHONES!"
Seiya chuckled and closed his cell phone walked a few steps and kissed Yuukana. They all facevaulted, but Taiki and Ami became red as beets.
"SEIYA!!!!" said Taiki. "You're in public!!! On a crowded street!!!"
Inazumi blinked at him and Ami. "Ano?... What's wrong with that Taiki-jisan?"
"It's not proper!" said Ami.
"Oh yeah, I remember that archaic rule from history class..." she replied. "They're in love... It's normal..."
"You mean in the Future... People can kiss in public?..." said Rei, bewildered.
"Well yeah..." Inazumi still didn't understand why they felt embarrassed.
Makoto took Seiya's cell phone and made a quick call to Kurama to check if Hiei was okay. He was but Kurama also informed her that the cocoon had grown again.
After being able to separate Seiya and Yuukana they headed out to the store that rented costumes. The clerk told them they were in luck, there were still some nice costumes but that the supplies for that night was going fast.
Makoto was looking at a beautiful Renaissance dress, it was called Juliet. The costume of Romeo just next to it was beautiful. Inazumi took something out of her purse and looked at it. "Yatta!" she whispered and she went next to her mother.
"You should try it on... I'm sure you're beautiful in it..."
Makoto blushed. "I could try it..." Inazumi nodded and Makoto took the dress and went in the dressing room. Her daughter looked at the picture again.
Usagi and Minako became very much interested at the picture and took it from Inazumi's grasp. She looked at it as Inazumi panicked and told them not to look at it. Her reaction sparked an interest with the others.
"Kirei... Mako-chan looks good in this dress... Ano... Who's the tall hunk with her..." said Usagi.
They all peered at the picture and gasped.
"That's Hiei?..." gasped Rei, blushing.
"Sekushi na..." cooed Minako.
"Oh my..." said Ami also blushing.
Yuukana looked at the picture and looked at Seiya, he winked at her and took the Romeo costume.
"You can't take it, Seiya-jisan... It's for Tousan..." said Inazumi as she blocked his passage to the cashier.
He chuckled and winked at her. "Hai... I know... I'm leasing it for him. Will you hide it, until he gets out?"
"Hai!" she replied. They were able to lease the costume and Inazumi hid it before Makoto came back. The others told her she should take the costume. Makoto finally gave in and took it. Yuukana discreetly gave Inazumi's picture back.
"Our lips are sealed..." she whispered.
Pluto and Kuronue were taken in some sort of throne room. Pluto helped Kuronue to walk, they had bandaged his wings, but she could tell he still hurt.
"Daijobu... I'll be all right..." He gasped. "Don't worry... I heal fast..."
"Why did she do that?..." asked Pluto. Kuronue was about to answer when Mukuro appeared and sat herself on a huge pile of pillows.
Pluto looked at her. Mukuro had orange hair and half of her body seemed to have been burned off, her right side. Her arm and legs were replaced by mechanical ones. Even her eye and ear had been replaced. She looked at them with a grin that resembled that of a cat before two little mice.
"Now... Why were you coming my way like that Kuronue?... You wanted to steal something from me? And with one of those Senshi at that..." said Mukuro. "First Kurama, then Hiei and you... What is this?... Adopt a Senshi year?..."
Pluto frowned. How did that woman know so much about senshi business?
"I didn't come here to steal anything Mukuro." started Kuronue. "Rather, I came here to see if you had something that might have belonged to me..."
"Oh?" asked Mukuro intrigued. "And what might that be?"
"A necklace... A gold necklace with a garnet set in its center. It's shaped like a tear..." Kuronue replied.
"Necklace, necklace, necklace..." The warrior woman puffed. "Just how many necklaces do I have in my treasure throve, Domo?"
"A good hundred I think..."
"Was there one you found in your..." Kuronue hesitated, then spat the word. "Torture chamber..."
Mukuro frowned. "I never tortured you..."
Kuronue shook his head. "Not you... But the tyrant who lived here before... yes..."
Mukuro smirked. "Well, let's go treasure hunting..."

Love is a Battlefield
Part 15
By Sonya-chan

Inazumi sighed, the others were able to convince Makoto to make a stop to Crown to take a cool drink. The dark haired girl from the future looked around, wondering why her mother talked of this place a lot.
It was quaint, a few very old video games, no VR games. It was really dull for her, sipping silently her lychee drink. She looked at her future aunts, it was a little weird to see them all act like kids. Minako and Usagi looked like twins sometimes as they had the same facial expressions. It was a little disconcerting to see the future Queen Serenity pig out on a sunday that would put Inazumi's father to shame.
Makoto stayed forlorn the whole time, Inazumi understood, she knew her father would be all right. But it was still unnerving, she wished her Tousan could give her a hug like he used to do just before she went to bed.
Motoki's sister, Unazuki, came to their table. She spotted Inazumi. "Hi guys!... Say... Who's your new cute friend?"
"Errr..." started Makoto quickly. "She's... my cousin, Inazumi, she's not from around here... She's on a visit."
The waitress put on her best smile. "Oh... What a cute name! Do you live with Mako-chan?..."
"Ha?... Hai..." replied Inazumi, wondering why this girl was eying her like that.
Makoto facevaulted, she knew that look, Unazuki once had a crush on her. The brunette frowned, was she trying to make a pass at my daughter?. She squeezed the waitress' arm a little. "Don't you have something to do?"
The girl blushed and ran back to the kitchen.
"Ano... Mako-chan... What's wrong?" asked Usagi between mouthfuls. Makoto blushed and assured her nothing was wrong.
Inazumi sighed, she wished she could go play football like Seiya. She frowned, remembering all too well the sexist comments they told her. Even two guys of the team tried to be fresh with her. But before her Uncle Seiya could do a thing, Inazumi had stuffed one of the big guys in a nearby garbage pail and she stuffed the other in his locker. She winced, they had to get pliers to get him out of there.
She sighed miserably, she had done it again. Her temper had had the best of her again. Her reputation was as good as done here too. She was nicknamed 'Osoroshii Ryuuki' back home, 'Scary Ryuuki'. The only ones who didn't call her that were her fellow senshi and direct family.
Not a guy wanted to date her. The rumor was that if anyone wanted to do something serious with her, if she didn't deck you, her father or brother would. Well she thought, I don't need Ken nor Tousan to give me a bad reputation... I'm doing it myself.
She frowned as the senshi were yapping, there was a group of girl behind her yapping even more.
"Did you see that hunk we saw at the mall?"
"Oh, hai... What gorgeous eyes... and that hair!!!"
"Hai... and don't forget his cute tush he had..."
Inazumi looked to the ceiling, grumbling inwardly. That were the same comments she heard about Shiro all the time. She sighed again, Shiro, he was so handsome. But they had grown together. He probably thought she was a like a little sister. He had more girls buzzing around him than Redi had boys.
"Oh! look there he is... Come on girls... Let's follow and ask his his phone number..." One of the girls giggled.
"Hey! His friend is kinda cute too..." They all rushed the exit.
Inazumi resumed to sipping her lychee drink. The poor guy probably won't be able to shake them. Maybe she needed to be more forward with Shiro...
Kuronue was walking down the stairs to Mukuro's dungeons. He shivered, to returned to this place filled him with dread. Mukuro was in front of him, lighting the way.
"Ach... It stinks in here..." the warrior woman spat.
"You talk..." pointed out Pluto as she walked behind Kuronue. "Like you don't use them often..."
"I don't..." replied Mukuro. "Torture isn't a method I approve of... There are other ways to attain information..."
"Oh?" asked Pluto. "Like what?..."
Mukuro turned around and frowned to her. "Listen, you don't have to believe me... But torturing someone isn't my style..."
"Really?..." Pluto spat right back at her. "How do you call what you did to Kuronue's wings then?"
"It's called making sure he won't fly away until I had some answers from him..." Mukuro slanted her eye at Pluto.
"Oh... How convenient..." sneered Pluto.
Kuronue lifted his hands. "Ladies, ladies... Please, don't fight over me." He said with a smile. The two women looked at him irritated then gasped.
"Kuronue..." said Pluto.
"Your right hand..." added Mukuro.
"UH?..." Kuronue looked at his hand. His face drained of all color and his smile crumbled in his face. "No... No... It's too soon..."
Kuronue watched in horror as his right hand was winking out of the Time line. He quickly checked himself and saw that everything was still there.
"Kuronue..." whispered Pluto, baffled. "You're... You're slowly being taken to another time..."
"He's WHAT???" asked Mukuro.
"Hai... That's my curse..." he said, there was no turning back now. He knew once started, the process couldn't reverse itself. His heart sank, he felt all he had done was for nothing. He would disappear on her again. He closed his eyes, he couldn't make her suffer again. "Mukuro... Thank you for your help... I don't think the necklace is here... Let us go Sailor Pluto... HUH!..."
"KURONUE!" Pluto went to him as he sank to the ground.
"What's wrong with him?" asked Mukuro.
"It's the Time displacement... It's very painful when someone disappear this slowly... My God... He must feel like someone is cutting him in tiny little pieces..." Pluto felt a pinch in her heart. Why didn't he tell her, she kept asking herself.
"We better bring him elsewhere..." said Mukuro. "Come with me." the orange haired woman lead the way, soon they were in a bedroom. They both placed him on a bed as Kuronue came to.
"Kuronue... Would the necklace be able to help you?" asked Pluto. Inside her emotion played havoc in her mind, she loved him. She knew it deep inside in her heart. "Kuronue?... Please answer me..."
His voice was hollow and strained by pain. "Nothing... Can help me now, Setsuna... Just, please, just stay next to me as I go away..."
"But... What about the necklace?" asked Pluto. In her mind, the necklace must be the answer, why was he giving up now?
"Forget the necklace... It's no longer important..." He replied weakly as his eyes rolled back in his sockets. Pluto looked at his unconscious form, his right arm was slowly disappearing.
"Mukuro... Take me to that dungeon..." The senshi of Time said with conviction.
Mukuro smiled. "Right this way..."
Kurama was preparing dinner when Yaten felt something in Makoto's bedroom. Someone was in there with Hiei, she could 'hear' thoughts. She quickly told Kurama who ran in the room.
"WHO'S THERE?" he asked menacingly.
There was no answer, Yuki looked up to him and then started to lick his fur. Kurama went to check the closet, he checked under the bed and around the cocoon, nothing. He looked back to Yuki who was pointedly ignoring him.
Kurama went back to the kitchen. "Do you still feel something, Yat-chan?..."
:::No... I don't... I just stopped when you got in... As if the presence just disappeared when you got in.:::
Kurama frowned, he didn't tell Yaten he felt Youki on the cat. From now on, he would watch the cat, very closely.
Pluto was fighting her way into cobweb. "You should do some maintenance from time to time..."
"Hey... Told you before... I don't torture people..." replied Mukuro. "But I should do something else with these rooms... ew... I think I stepped on a squeleton..."
Pluto crinkled her nose and tries to ignore the stench. She made her Time Staff appear and lighted the Garnet Orb. She regretted her actions almost immediately as it casted an eerie glow to the gruesome display of squeletons.
"Anyway... How'd you hook up with him?" asked Mukuro.
Pluto blinked. "I beg your pardon?..."
"Since when are you and batboy an item?..." asked the warrior woman.
"That's none of your business..." spat Pluto.
Mukuro chuckled. "Ah so then, you're not as indifferent to him as you would like everyone to know..."
Pluto stopped and on her cheeks a blush crept. She frowned and tried to regain her composure.
"Then again... Why would you be here in the first place?" continued Mukuro. "He asked you to stop looking for the necklace... And yet you still look for it... You want to save him... Even thought he gave up..."
"I want to know why..." started Pluto slowly. "I want to know why I am blind to Time. Why when I think or am near him, my powers work one more. Why is this necklace so important... Why I can't turn my back to him... Why it hurts so to know he's fading away from me..."
"Hai..." whispered Mukuro. "I know exactly what you mean..."
"You're in love with someone?..." asked Pluto, as she searched in the remains of the fire pit.
"You could say that..." replied the Youkai woman, Pluto noted a longing in her voice. "Unfortunately... He never saw it..." She shrugged as though dismissing the idea. "Men... Youkai or Ningen... Can't live with them... can't live without them..."
Pluto didn't answer, she was rummaging through the ashes. Her white gloves were all getting soiled but she didn't care. She had to find this necklace, she could feel Kuronue's time was running out.
Suddenly, her finger snagged on something, she pulled it up. It was a chain, the metal was unknown to her. It looked like gold but it wasn't because it would have melted long ago. Slowly, she pulled on the chain, she felt a resistance and tugged gently. She face illuminated, she had found it. She found the necklace, it was soiled but she had found it.
"I... I have it..." she said softly.
"That's it?..." asked Mukuro. "What's it supposed to do?"
"I have no idea..." She quickly cleaned it using the upper skirt of her fuku. "But we better take it to him..."
The two women nodded and ran to the room where they had left Kuronue.

Kurama answered the knock on the door. He thought that maybe in her hurry this morning, Makoto had forgotten her keys. But it wasn't Makoto or Inazumi.
"Y... Yuusuke?... Kuwabara?... What are you doing here?"
The two men entered. "We came here to check on you guys..." replied Yuusuke. "We know Makoto's busy..."
"We also came to check on the shrimp..." gruffly replied Kuwabara.
"There's nothing to worry about... Well Yaten think he's rather calm... No sign of insanity or anything like that..."
"If you ask me it's the calm before the storm..." replied Kuwabara. He looked at Yaten. "Are you a 100% sure?..."
Yaten looked at him and frowned, she looked to Kurama. He sighed and replied for her. "She said she can't be a 100% sure. But the feeling she got is that he isn't showing any signs of unbalance."
Kuwabara frowned. "Are you sure your powers are working properly? After all... You're a baby... I mean... Maybe those got regressed too?..."
"Kuwabara!" said Kurama angrily. "This is totally uncalled for!"
"Yeah... You jerk..." said Yuusuke, whacking him behind the head. "How would you like it if you were stuck at her place..."
Yuki sat in the corridor looking at them. his eyes were on Kuwabara most of the time.
"All I'm saying is..." spat Kuwabara. "Is that if Hiei comes out of there and he starts leveling all of the Azabu district. You realize how much death we'll have on our hands?..."
"Hiei... would never do that..." said Yuusuke.
"You're ready to take that chance?" asked Kuwabara.
Yuusuke looked away. "I see your point..."
Kurama stepped forward. "Listen... There's nothing we can do about it..."
"We could take him away to the Reikai... or the Makai until we are sure he's no menace..." said Kuwabara.
"Kuwabara!" said Kurama. "I have to agree with Yaten, this is not the best course of action... He's all right here..."
"Hai... Maybe, but what happens if he goes out raving mad?" said the tall orange haired men.
"I hate to do this..." said Yuusuke. "But I'm afraid we can't risk so many peoples lives... Our best chance to take him away is to do it while Makoto is away..."
"No... She had to know about this first!" objected Kurama. Yaten nodded her head energetically.
"It will be easier on her this way..." said Kuwabara, as he turned to go into the bedroom. Yuki blocked his way.
"That's the closest you'll get to him..." said the cat.
Pluto ran back to the room. If she could just figure it out, she might be able to pull Kuronue back in the current timeline. But when she reached the room, she froze.
Kuronue's wings, arms and legs were already displaced. Her heart stopped in her breast, whoever came up with that curse was a sadist. Kuronue was obviously suffering even though he tried to valiantly smile.
"Kuronue!..." She ran to him.
"I wanted to hold your hand... It's quite impossible now..." He tried to kid.
"How can you joke at a time like this?" she asked.
"Setsuna... Sometimes a joke is the only thing that can keep me sane..." He replied. "At least, I got to see your beautiful eyes again before I vanish... I'll try to bug you... when I arrive, at whatever era I arrive..."
"Don't talk like that!" She said, she showed him the necklace. "I found it... Kuronue, tell me how to use it!"
He closed his eyes. "That's just it... I don't know, how to make it work..."
Pluto looked at him. "You must!... You can't leave me like this!"
Kuronue opened his purple eyes, tears slowly fell form them. "I'm sorry, my darling Setsuna... I only brought you worry..." He wanted to touch her face, but his arms were already gone. "The person who gave it to me... Didn't give me any instructions..."
"Who? Who was it?" Asked Setsuna, she put the necklace around his neck.
"I... I can't tell you..." He replied softly.
"TELL ME! I MUST KNOW!!!!!" she cried, tears flowing from her eyes. "I'll make you tell me even if I have to bug you until you disappear!"
"It won't change a thing..." said Kuronue.
"Fine! In that case, tell me!" replied the senshi of Time.
"Setsuna... If I tell you... You'll be hurt..." He said, sobbing, he felt the pain increase. He would disappear soon.
"I don't CARE! TELL ME!" She sobbed and hugged him. "Please Kuronue... Tell me!"
"I only do this to protect you..." He whispered. How he wished he could hug her one more time.
"Kuronue..." Pluto sobbed, as she looked at him. She gasped he was starting to discorporate. "No... No... Quick... Tell me..."
"Q... Queen Serenity..." He gasped.
"Queen... Serenity... But WHY?... What does it mean?" asked Pluto, looking at him the process almost to an end.
"Setsuna... Keep the necklace... It is yours..." He became intangible, the necklace fell into her hand. He looked at her with such sadness in his purple eyes. "At least this time... I can say good bye to you..."
"No... Kuronue... Fight it!" She cried.
"You know I can't..." He could feel himself fading away. One last time he made a wish he knew would never get. "Farewell... Setsuna..."
"No... Kuronue... Stay... I need you!" She was surprised she was able to grab hold of him with her hand which she held the necklace. "Kuronue... I love you..." Her tears fell on the necklace.
"Setsuna, my darling..." he gasped. "I love you..."
Pluto kissed him, she could still feel him.
Mukuro gasped and looked away as a reddish light exploded in the room.
Kuronue yelled, he was in Limbo now. He was beyond her now. Again, but this time, he didn't know if he could make it. Alone again, to have had hope and to see it crumpled before him like that. There are ways for Immortals to die, it couldn't be more painful than the hurt he felt in his heart.
"Setsuna... My love... Farewell... I know I can never be cured of this curse. I'm sorry I hurt you..."
He opened his eyes. "A portal?..."
Mukuro gasped when she was able to look at the Senshi. Pluto was suspended in midair and Kuronue was nowhere to be seen. But before the dark haired woman the necklace was shinning brightly. The warrior woman bolted her door. She would see where this would lead them.
"Setsuna..."
Pluto opened her eyes. Before her as if coming from the necklace was Queen Serenity. The senshi of Time saw her former liege point a finger to her.
"Setsuna... It is time for you to awaken..." And Queen Serenity gently touched her forehead.
Pluto tumbled through the flow of memories that washed over her mind. She burst into tears, she remembered all, her past which was clouded to her. Kuronue... Kuronue, her first and only love, his real name was Akari. She remembered his golden hair and his white feathered wings. How once they even flew together.
She also remembered Akari's struggle to stop his race from toppling the Silver Millennium. The terrible curse that changed him into what he was now. She remembered him fading from her life, that even with he Time Powers she couldn't track him down.
"You know remember why I took away those painful memories, Sailor Pluto..." said the Ethereal Queen. "I couldn't do a thing for you then... but with the help of Time..."
"There's a way to bring him back?" asked Pluto.
"Hai... Through the Times, this necklace has been accumulating energies. With it and with your love, you both can fight this..." Queen Serenity disappeared.
Pluto armed herself with courage and opened a portal before her.
Taiki sighed ever since he and Seiya were at Kurama's apartment. His black haired brother had been fidgeting. The tall boy sighed and shook his head.
Seiya was worried about Yaten but he was too darn proud to say so. Taiki chuckled.
"Ne... Seiya, want to go see how Yaten is doing?..."
Yuukana had a small smile smile as she saw her boyfriend smiling then regain his composure by saying.
"Er.. well sure... If YOU want to go..."
Both Taiki and Yuukana burst out laughing. Ami lifted her nose from her book as they laughed.
"Nani?"
"We're laughing because Seiya won't admit he misses Yaten..." Taiki explained to his girlfriend.
"I do not..." puffed Seiya.
"Awww... Come on, Seiya..." said Yuukana, touching his cheek. "I know that little blush... It's cute..."
Seiya blushed even more and conceded, hugging Yuukana tightly. "Okay... So I do worry a little..." His girlfriend gave him a sweet kiss.
Ami sighed and closed her books. "In that case... Ikimashou..." She smiled at Taiki. "You are worried too, ne?"
It was Taiki's turn to blush.
Makoto was coming back to her place with Inazumi, Usagi, Luna, Minako and Artemis. She was about to open her door with her key when she heard a cry.
"GYYYYAAAAAAAA!"
It sounded a lot like Kuwabara. She and her fellow Senshi transformed and were about to burst in when they heard behind them.
"NEO JUPITER POWER!... MAKE UP!"
Jupiter was a little surprised, but it was her daughter after all, all right, she was also a senshi. Her sailor fuku looked a lot like Eternal Jupiter, but it was different also, more futurist.
Without waiting any further, Neo Jupiter tore down the door.
"MATTE!" said Jupiter a little too late. "I had my key!... Ow, my landlord is going to be pissed..."
The senshi and the cats sweatdropped.
Neo Jupiter barely had time to catch Kuwabara as he launched himself in her arms. Yuusuke, Kurama and Yaten were torn between looking surprised at the tall orange man or at the cat looking at them which a seemingly wry smile.
"HEY!" said Neo Jupiter, dropping Kuwabara on the ground none to lightly. "Get off!"
Kuwabara backpedalled until he hit Jupiter. She looked down at him angrily. "WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?"
"NE... NEKO... NEKOKOKO...." He babbled.
The Senshi were getting in and closed what was left of the door. They all froze when they hear Yuki say.
"Don't ask me... It's as though he never saw a talking cat before..."
"What?" said Jupiter.
Minako recovered from her surprise to say. "Wow... Cool Mako-chan, you have your own guardian cat now..."
"Ano..." said Luna.
"Well FINALLY!" bursts out Neo Jupiter. "It's about time you talked!"
"Well, EXCUUUUSE ME! Young lady, I couldn't do that before this morning..." replied Yuki.
"Ano?... You couldn't?" asked Inazumi.
Yuki shook his head. "I'm afraid the presence you felt this afternoon was me Yaten... Sorry, I thought it was best if you thought I was still normal... oh... and... Sorry for last night... I didn't want to scare you like that..."
Kurama looked at Yaten. "Oh, it's okay... No harm done..."
"I was still fighting off my protective animal side..." said Yuki. "Couldn't help myself..."
"WAIT A MINUTE!!!" said Jupiter. "TIME OUT! What is going on here?"
"I'm sorry Makoto-sama..." Started Yuki. "Why don't you revert all back to normal and sit down... I'll explain everything..."
"Makoto-sama?" piped Usagi as she was back to normal. She looked at Luna. "How come you never give me that kind of respect?"
Luna slanted her eyes. "I'll give some to you when you act more like it."
Usagi started to cry. Luna sweatdropped. "I give up..."
There was a loud crash behind them, they turned in time to see Taiki with his fist up as if he had knocked on the door. When the Idol singer gently knocked on the door, it toppled and hit Kuwabara square on the head, knocking him senseless. Taiki looked at his hand.
"Ano... I don't know my own strength..."
After taking care of Kuwabara's head, Ami and the others settled into Makoto's living room. The place was getting cramped when Rei, Michiru, Haruka and Hotaru arrived. Hotaru was giggling and Haruka winked at her. The others saw that they were hiding people behind her and Michiru
"Ano..." said Usagi. "Where's Setsuna-san?" She was trying to crick her neck to see who was with them.
"I don't see Kuronue, either..." added Kurama, who didn't notice to busy trying to find a comfortable position for him and Yaten.
Michiru giggled. "I think they went to the Makai together..."
Everyone looked at them shocked. "Ohhhh... So she finally let him close ne?" giggled Makoto.
"Nani?" asked Usagi.
"Don't tell me you didn't realize they were in love?" said Rei.
"Honto????" smiled Usagi. "I thought they were just good friends!"
Everyone sweatdropped, they heard two chuckles.
Haruka said. "I wouldn't laugh too much boys... Considering how you were both lost..."
A voice behind her say. "Awwww... Give us a break... Azabu changed a lot..."
Both Inazumi and Makoto looked up. "Ken-kun??"
"Hai... I mean... It's not like this apartment building is still up in the 30th Century..." said another voice.
Yaten and Kurama looked at each other, they recognized the voice. So did Inazumi who was blushing.
Michiru and Haruka moved away and Ken and Shiro were there.
"Well we wouldn't have been this lost if Playboy here hadn't had all those girls running after him..." snorted Ken.
"Hey! It's not my fault... I didn't HAVE a phone number to give them... They didn't believe me! I gave them a fake one!" replied Shiro.
"Yeah... 911... Smooth, Shiro-kun... Real smooth..." chuckled Ken, teasing his friend.
"Well that was the only number that I could remember..." said Shiro, miffed, he looked at Ken with slanted eyes. "I didn't hear you complain when you got those three brunettes phone number..."
Ken laughed embarrassed, rubbing the back of his head. Yuki jumped in front of them and asked.
"Are you too quite finished?" Yuki eyed both of them, then he jumped at the window and coughed to get everyone's attention. "As I was saying..."
"STARS! KAASAN! What happened to you?" cried Shiro, making his way to his future mother. "And Tousan why are you a Youko?"
Kurama quickly explained to Shiro what had happened as Ken was making his way to his own mother and gave her a big hug.
Yuki cleared his throat once again. "Okay... Is everyone ready to hear my explanation?"
"Hai, I'm curious..." said Artemis.
"So am I." admitted Luna.
"Very well then, you see it all happened when..." started Yuki. Just then Kuwabara screamed.
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!! DINOSAURS!"
They all thought he had had one hit on the head too many. But they could see he was telling the truth when they saw a huge dinosaur head pass in the Living room window behind Yuki.
The black cat sighed. "Crap... This is going to be definitely a big delay..."

On to Love is a Battlefield Part 16
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