"God not only plays dice. He sometimes throws the dice where they cannot be seen." Stephen Hawking. ------ Lady Jupiter trudged over to where Pluto and Minerva were holding one another and crouched down next to the Time Senshi. "Sets-chan." she whispered. Pluto looked up as she wiped her eyes, and the future Senshi put her hand on her shoulder, "Sets-chan, I'm sorry to interrupt you and Kiho-chan, but we have a very big problem on our hands." Sailor Pluto nodded ever so slightly as Kihomi continued to cling to her, "I... I know. It's that scientist, isn't it?" "Yes, it is." Lady Jupiter answered somberly, "I'm fairly sure you can already feel the ripples spreading out from the disruptions caused by what she's revealed. We need to salvage the situation while we can. Saeko and I, we need to get back to our time before any more damage to either the present or future can occur, then we'll have to send someone else back to erase the memory of Saeko and I having been here, as well as anything either of us might've revealed about the future. Pluto nodded and reluctantly turned back to her beloved, "Kiho-chan," she said in a soothing tone, "Kiho-chan, Jupiter and I..." Minerva met her gaze and nodded, "I know." she said. She leaned in and kissed the Time Senshi on the cheek, "That's for later." she said, forcing a smile. Pluto stroked her beloved's cheek before getting up to go with the future Senshi. As Setsuna left with Lady Jupiter, Kihomi felt alone again. She looked up at the waning sun and stretched her arms out, trying to soak up every last bit of light and warmth from it. She could hear footsteps coming up behind her, and knew instinctually it was her friends and fellow Senshi. She was about to turn to them, to smile and laugh and hug each and every one of them when she heard it. "Kiho-chan?" The voice immediately sent a chill down her spine as she pulled her arms down and began to shrink inward. She began to shake as fear once again gripped at her. "K... Kiho-chan?" the voice said, "It's me, obi-san. It's Hotaru." Remembrances of nightmares she'd had as a child of cold murderous hands coming from behind to strangle her mingled with the images and experiences she'd been through that day. She turned around slowly, trying to prepare herself for the worse. Sailor Saturn was taken aback by Kihomi's appearance. Her fuku was filthy and torn, dirt and grime covered her body and her eyes were swollen from crying so much, the tears leaving trails down her grimy face where they'd washed away the muck. Standing behind Saturn was Uranus and Neptune, the latter sensing the fear in the teacher. She was about to step forward to pull her adopted daughter away until Kihomi was feeling better when the young Senshi took a cautious step closer to Kihomi. "Obi-san," she began, "I... I know I'm probably the last person you want to see right now after... After what my other self... I, I'm glad you're back though, and that you're safe. If... If you want anything, anything at all, I... Even if you want me to stay away from you, I..." her voice trailed off as she found herself looking down at the ground and away from the teacher's intense stare. Uranus and Neptune each put a consoling hand on the Senshi of Death's shoulder as she turned to walk away. Minerva watched the three begin to move away. "Hotaru-chan." she called. The child turned around, a hopeful look in her eyes. "Be... Before you go, could you help me back up to my feet?" the teacher asked as she reached toward her with her hand. Saturn came forward and took Minerva's hand. As the teacher finally got to her feet, she surprised everyone as she pulled the younger Senshi into a hug. "Hotaru-chan," the teacher said as she held her, "God am I glad to see you again." she said smiling as Saturn hugged her back, "That... That thing out there wasn't you, and I could never want you to stay away. You're as much a part of my life now as your Setsuna-mama, mei (niece)." Hotaru looked up at her with a smile, and Kihomi ruffled her hair a bit with her hand. "Tell you what." she said as she wiped her eyes again, "I know I'm filthy and probably smell pretty ripe right now, but I could really use someone to lean on right now. Know any volunteers?" Saturn didn't answer, she simply turned and pulled the teacher's arm over her shoulder. The two walked over to Uranus and Neptune as Sailors Mercury and Jupiter came over to welcome the Senshi back home. Meanwhile, Sailor Moon, Lady Jupiter and Pluto met in a grove behind the temple where Sailors Venus and Mars were taking care of Hoshi and her parents. Sailor Moon, who was always the most intuitive when it came to noticing things about those she cared about, could see the fatigue in the future Senshi, both in the way her shoulder's were slumped as well as how slowly she moved. The future queen's eyes then wandered to the torn upper arm, the wires sticking out and the fragments of armature visible within the shredded metal paneling. She also found herself noticing how muscular the Senshi from the future's left arm was as she used it to pull a few loose strands of hair back behind her left ear as she turned to Pluto. "Pluto." Lady Jupiter began, "I... I'm grateful for the help back there, but I thought you said it was against the rules for any of your other selves to interfere in each other's timelines." "It is." The Time Senshi answered, "I'm... Not entirely sure how much trouble I'm in actually." she answered candidly. Sailor Moon spoke up, "So what happens now?" "Well," Pluto answered, "First thing's first. Before we can worry about me and what might happen to me, we have to get Saeko and Jupiter here back to their time before anything else happens." Lady Jupiter nodded gravely, "The technology I used to hypnotize Usagi's parents is roughly the same as Chibi Usa used on her first visit to past; unfortunately the device I had was only meant to be used once. Probably the easiest solution is to send back Chibi Usa with her Luna-P and let her erase everyone's memories of our visit and what Saeko has revealed about the future." "But wait a second," Sailor Moon put in, "Why are you so sure this is a bad thing? I mean, what if we were meant to learn this information? Then wouldn't you be mistaken to try to change..." her voice trailed off as her eyes widened in surprise. Lady Jupiter noticed the look in the princess' eyes and looked down. The metal of her artificial arm was slowly turning transparent as the ghostly outline of a flesh-and-blood arm began to appear. Lady Jupiter looked at what was happening, her jaw going slack as tears began to appear in the corners of her eyes. She'd been without her real right arm for so long that she'd forgotten what it was like to look and feel normal. She looked at the phantasm of an arm, at the skin, nails, blood vessels and muscles showing through, and was lost in the feeling of the moment. Could this be a good thing? Maybe, maybe this was all that would be changed. No other repercussions, no cosmically horrifying ramifications to Saeko's rantings, just the return of an arm that was lost in a tragic accident. "Jupiter." Pluto said in a low tone. Lady Jupiter was no longer listening. She began to think of her wife. Lady Mercury had never been able to completely forgive herself for what she did to her. Maybe, if she just did nothing... "Jupiter." Pluto said more forcefully, "Listen to me; I have a fairly good idea of what you're thinking. This isn't right, and you know it. You lost your arm. It was terrible, I'm sure, but it's happened. What's been done must not be undone, and if I have to I'll erase their memories myself." Lady Jupiter glared at Pluto angrily for a second as Sailor Moon looked on anxiously. Finally, the future Senshi closed her eyes as she took a deep breath. "You... You're right of course, Sets-chan." she said, looking once again at the ghostly form of the arm she was about to loose a second time. "Get Saeko." A short time later, Sailors Venus and Mars left Hoshi and her parents in the shrine as they together brought out the scientist, her hands bound in front of her with the Love-Me Chain and her mouth gagged with a handkerchief. As the Senshi looked on, Sailor Mercury turned and let out a gasp of joy as she saw the now transparent right arm of Lady Jupiter. Her joy was quickly extinguished as she saw the look of sadness on her future wife's face. "Everyone." Lady Jupiter said as she looked around, "I... I'm sorry for all that has happened today. Saeko will be going back into the future with me to face judgment, and... And all of your memories of the two of us being here will be erased shortly thereafter." Sailor Mercury's eyes widened at that, "But wait. If our memories are erased, then..." Lady Jupiter met her eyes, then looked down at her slowly solidifying right arm. She looked back up as a single tear traveled down the future Senshi's right cheek. Minerva, who was leaning wearily on Saturn, looked at the bound scientist in front of her with rage, not just for what she did to her but to Setsuna, Hoshi, and the others. Sailor Pluto stepped forward to open the timegate. Sailor Mars seemed to sense the internal struggle within the future Senshi, and let go of the scientist for a second in order to go over to comfort her. It was all the opening Saeko needed. She swung her bound hands up, clipping Venus in the side of the face. As the Senshi of Love staggered back, she pulled the gag out of her mouth, looking angrily at Sailor Moon. "Cunt!" she screamed, "Whore! Fuck you, Serenity! Fuck you, fuck Crystal Tokyo, your matriarchy, your royal court, your bitch daughter, and all your hopes and dreams! Fuck Endymion, but most of all fuck you!" Lady Jupiter, though physically spent from the events of the day, rushed the scientist, her teeth gritted as she reached out for her, "That's enough, damn it!" she yelled, "We're going back to..." she was cut off as Saeko kicked her as hard as she could in the shin, sending her to the ground. "No!" she yelled, "I won't go! I won't!" Sailor Saturn, closest to the scientist, pulled away from Minerva as she now rushed forward along with Mars and Uranus. Sailor Minerva watched as Saturn reached her first. "How dare you?" the girl asked as she tried to grab her, "Sailor Moon is..." The scientist cut her off by spitting in her face, "Fucking freak!" she screamed as she swung up with her arms, hitting the youngest Senshi in the chin. Minerva's eyes widened and her face became red with anger. "You bitch!" she shrieked. It was her fault; Saeko's. She was the one who sent her and an innocent little girl into the darkness, and who caused her and Setsuna so much pain. It was all her fault, and now she had the nerve to hurt Hotaru? She was going to pay. She rushed at the scientist, pushing the equally furious Mars and Uranus out of the way with a strength she didn't have only a moment ago. Her hands gripped at Saeko's throat as they both tumbled into the timegate. She could hear Lady Jupiter follow her in as the scenery around her changed. She found herself on top of Saeko with her hands still wrapped around her neck, a polished marble floor underneath them. She became dimly aware of voices and movement around her, but didn't care as all her attention focused on the woman under her and the neck she was squeezing. "Kiho-chan!" Lady Jupiter yelled as she tumbled weakly from the timegate; her red eyes, ghostly arm and disheveled appearance causing almost as many gasps as Minerva's behavior. She sank to her knees, unable to walk because of the injury to her shin and too exhausted even for a Jupiter Low Shock. She crawled over and grabbing at the War Senshi's left arm weakly, "Don't do this, please!" she begged. Minerva ignored her as she watched Saeko's eyes start to bulge and her face turn blue. "You bitch!" she screamed as footsteps rapidly came up behind her, Do you have any idea what you did to me? Or Setsuna? You..." The now crazed Senshi was cut off as someone grabbed her around the waist from behind and bodily pulled her off the now unconscious scientist. As Minerva thrashed around trying to struggle, she found herself slammed up against a wall in a full nelson while the palace guards took the now unconscious Saeko into custody and to the infirmary. As Minerva continued to struggle angrily against her captor, the person pushed her harder against the wall as a pair of lips came up next to her ear. "Kiho-chan," the voice said in a surprisingly gentle tone given the circumstances, "It's okay; it's over. She can't hurt you or anyone else you love anymore. You're safe, everyone's safe. I know you're angry and hurt, but it's over now. It's over." Minerva finally stopped struggling as she began to relax her muscles, her captor likewise relaxing her grip. Minerva turned around and allowed a soft gasp to escape her as she looked into a very familiar pair of grey eyes. Her jaw went slack; it was her. Her future self, looking back at her. She suddenly began to feel lightheaded as whatever it was that gave her so much strength only moments ago began to leave her. Lady Minerva steadied her past self. "First thing's first." she said, "I'd say you used up the last bit of strength and adrenalin you had just now when you lost it and attacked Saeko. Your sudden dizziness should leave you shortly. Secondly," she said with a smile as she moved away from her, "Welcome to Crystal Tokyo." As her future self moved out of the way, Minerva looked around at a sumptuous throne room. A group of familiar looking faces looked at her dirty form with concern as Lady Mercury ran to her wife kneeling on the floor. They looked like the Senshi Minerva knew, but different somehow; more beautiful, as if they glowed with an inner light. Or reflected the light of another. Minerva felt her breath catch in her throat as an angel seemed to float towards her, beautiful beyond words and a look of unconditional love and understanding in her face. A pair of magnificent cream-white wings spread out behind her, and her golden hair hung down her sides from a pair of odangos. Before she knew what she was doing, Sailor Minerva knelt down on one knee before the heavenly creature standing before her. She didn't even understand why; it just seemed the proper thing to do when coming face to face with a goddess. Her jaw hung open and her eyes stared unblinkingly at the figure coming towards her in her flowing white gown. As Lady Jupiter talked hurriedly with Ladies Mercury and Pluto, Lady Minerva squatted down next to her past self. "Kihomi," she said with a smile, "Let me introduce you to Her Majesty, Neo Queen Serenity." Minerva turned to her future self with a surprised look in her eyes, "Serenity?" she asked, "Then... Then she's..." she turned back to the vision of splendor in front of her, "Usagi-chan?" The queen smiled down on her as she bent down to take the stunned Senshi's hands, "It's been many years since I've been called that." she said as she helped Minerva back up to her feet. As Sailor Minerva watched, her future wife Lady Pluto came forward and began to whisper in Neo Queen Serenity's ear. As she looked on, she saw telltale signs that told her Pluto had been crying only a short time ago. Looking around, she saw it on the others too, on Lady Venus, Lady Neptune, and even surprisingly enough on Uranus' face. She began to become concerned when she felt her future self's hand on her shoulder. "It's okay." she whispered, "There was a bit of trouble earlier before you got here. It's over now." Before Minerva could ask what she meant, the queen and Lady Pluto came over. "Kiho-chan," the queen began, "I wish you could stay longer, but unfortunately it's time to end your visit." "It's time to return to your time." Lady Pluto added, "We also need to erase any memory of Saeko and Lady Jupiter having visited your time. The young princess Usagi II will accompany you with the Luna-P to..." "No." Lady Minerva interrupted, "That can't happen. The princess must stay here, and she must go back alone with the Luna-P." Both Pluto and the queen looked confused. "But why?" Neo Queen Serenity asked, "I don't understand." "Because," Lady Minerva answered, "That's what happened last time." A silence suddenly hung over the hall. "You... You knew?" Lady Pluto asked, "You knew all this..." Lady Minerva shook her head, "Not everything. Keep in mind love, I was in an alternate universe for most of it. I knew Jupiter would eventually end up with an artificial arm and that I would come from the past to visit my present self, but other than that..." Sailor Minerva looked confused, "Wait a second, I don't understand any of this. What are you talking about?" As if in answer to her question, a young lady with pink hair came forward, followed by a black ball-shaped object with a cat's face, "Take this back to your time period," she began, "Then push this button and tell everyone to forget about Lady Jupiter and Saeko. The ball will do the rest." Lady Pluto opened the timegate, "Go." she said as she stroked Sailor Minerva's cheek affectionately, "I'll keep the gate opened. When you're done, just send the Luna-P back into it." Sailor Minerva put her own hand over Lady Pluto's, bringing it over and kissing the back of it. She then entered the gate with the Luna-P, suddenly finding herself in front of Sailor Saturn who was rubbing her sore chin as Neptune wiped the spittle from her face. "Obi-san." Saturn exclaimed, "What..." "Is... Is everyone here?" Minerva asked. The others looked around as Hoshi and her grateful parents came over. Sailor Moon spoke up. "Yeah, everyone's here." she answered, "But why do you have Chibi Usa's Luna-P?" "Good." Minerva said as she held the ball in front of her, "Everyone gather around, I have something to share with you..." ---One Hour Later--- Kihomi erased everyone's memory of Lady Jupiter and Saeko, but left behind the fact that she and Hoshi had dealt with Mistress Nine in an alternate reality. She also allowed them to remember that Jupiter saved them, but not that it was the future Jupiter. She found herself chuckling as Mako-chan found herself the center of attention with everyone hugging her and Hotaru telling her she was her new favorite Inner, which of course set Usagi and Minako off. She'd spent the last half hour showering, the water turned up as hot as she could stand it. She was trying to clean the dirt and dust of the foul place she'd just been to off of herself, trying to let the water wash away the images she'd seen and the anxieties she'd suffered. Every time she closed her eyes though she saw it again; the dark. The bodies. The ruins. The statue. She had to keep opening her eyes, keep reminding herself she was safe. She looked at her hands, noticing how her fingertips were all pruned. She turned the overhead shower off and grabbed a towel. ------ Setsuna walked into her bedroom wearing an off-white blouse and green skirt. As she closed the door, she leaned her back up against it wearily. From what she'd been able to gather from the girl and Kihomi herself, the place they'd come from sounded like hell on earth. Her love was in the shower at the moment, trying to wash the grime of the place off. She knew Kihomi had been through a traumatic experience and was badly shaken, and she wanted to do everything in her power to help her through the healing process. She was snapped out of her worries for her beloved by a disturbance in time. Turning around, she saw a timegate suddenly appear in the room. Setsuna began to tense up; she'd broken the rules, she'd called out to the other Plutos. Apparently, it was time for her to pay for her transgressions. The Time Senshi exited the portal into Setsuna's room, her large feline ears stood up at attention when she noticed the sad and worried look on the woman's face. Setsuna went over to her, her head bent low. "This... This is about asking all of you for help, isn't it?" The Pluto in front of her nodded, her dark green tail draped over the arm holding the Time Staff, "Yes, I'm afraid so." she answered, "It was left up to all of us to choose your punishment, and I was designated to carry it out." Setsuna began to shake, "I... I see, I..." "Hold out your right hand." the Pluto from another world ordered. Setsuna reluctantly complied, expecting the worse. The other Time Senshi reached out, and smacked the back of her hand, causing a small yelp of pain to escape Setsuna's lips. The stunned woman looked over to her catlike self with a bewildered look on her face. "Wha... What was that?" she asked in shock. The other Pluto smiled back with a twinkle in her eyes. "A slap on the wrist." she answered with a wink. At the look Setsuna was giving her, she put her hand on her arm, "Relax. Technically speaking, all of us broke the rules as well by answering your request for help. Besides," she added, "It was for Minerva, after all. I think I speak for everyone when I say any one of us would've done the same for our mates." Setsuna didn't know what to say. She went over and hugged her other self, hearing a purring noise escape from the other Pluto in response. As they parted, her other self smiled at her. "You know," she began, "We're forbidden from interfering in each other's timelines. That doesn't mean we can't play cards or exchange photos of our friends once in a while." she said as the timegate opened behind her and she disappeared into it. Setsuna stared at the space her other self had just left as a smile came over her. "I think I might've started something." she murmured as the doorknob began to turn. As she watched, Kihomi warily trudged in wearing a light blue bathrobe and a towel draped over her hair, covering her features. She reached up and pulled the towel off, smiling as she saw Setsuna. "So." the Time Senshi said as she smiled back, "Now that you're back, what do you feel like doing?" Kihomi smiled wickedly as she draped her arms around her love, "I'm a bit tired to do what I feel like doing now that we're together again." she quipped, "If you don't mind, what I could really use is some rest." "Of course." Setsuna said as she led them both over to the bed. As the teacher lay down on her side, her lover lay next to her, pulling her in tight and spooning the two of them together. Kihomi turned her head and pressed her lips to Setsuna's. Their lips parted as their tongues met, each woman loosing herself in the moment. Finally, they broke the kiss, and Kihomi closed her eyes as she settled into Setsuna's embrace. "I love you." the teacher whispered. "I love you too." Setsuna answered. Moments later, Kihomi fell asleep in her love's arms. ---To Be Concluded---
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