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Bon soir, people! Comment allez vous? Gosh, sorry if this chapter took so
long. Well, anyway, enjoy... ^_^

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v*v*v*v* = end of flashback
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*   *   * = separator of past chapter's scenes

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        "Hiei-oniisan," Yukina said softly, like a feather to her lips. "Is
it you?" She put her hand on his cheek, tracing his fine features. She wiped
her eyes, and snifled. "I could heal your body until the others rescue your
soul. I just wish I could do more." Yukina took a deep breath, and placed
her hands on his chest, summoning all her strength to heal the body of her
dear departed brother. She concentrated all her power onto her hands, and a
moment later she passed out, her head falling on Hiei's chest.

                               *    *    *

         A sound escaped Makoto's lips, then a cough. Her body shook
violently from the cold. Kurama gave a sigh of relief. "Bright-Eyes..." He
whispered, a smile forming on his face. He had never felt so relieved in his
life. Now that that was over, he had to get her to a hospital fast before
she got hypothermia. The plant he produced wasn't going to keep her warm for
long. 

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Burning Heart Souls
Chapter 13
                            "Fear Not"

========================================================================

        Thank goodness she was breathing normally now, but she was still
shivering uncontrollably. The nearest hospital was about five miles west.
There was no time. Makoto needed to get warm as soon as possible. Kurama had
to do it himself. He ran as fast he could to her apartment, carrying her in
his arms. 
        Kurama laid her down on her bed, and looked around. Damn, no
fireplace! Where was the furnace? There wasn't even time to heat up some hot
water. Blankets. There were two of them across the room. Makoto probably
forgot to send them to the laundromat. Dirty or not, he had to use them,
although they weren't enough to bring her temperature up.
        He looked down at her, her clothes soaking the sugar-pink-colored
fabric of the bed sheet. He had to get her out of those wet clothes. `Gomen,
Mako,` Kurama thought, as he unbuttoned her slacks, and pulled them off her
long legs. It burned Kurama's hand just to touch her. He didn't want to
violate her in any way. He shook his head to brush the thought aside. This
was Makoto's life we were talking about! He moved his hands up her belly to
her shirt. She was still shaking uncontrollably. That was good. Shivering
was good. Shivering increased heat production.
        She made a sound; a half cry, half whimper. "Kurama-san..."
        "Sshh... I'm here," Kurama whispered in her ear, gently sweeping the
soft strands of hair away from her face with his fingertips. "I'm here,
don't worry."
        "...S-so c-cold..." Makoto said weakly, her voice just above a
whisper. Her eyes remained closed, as Kurama took off the green shirt she
wore. Over and over, he apologized, his heart drumming wildly in his chest.
He shut his eyes tight as his trembling hands moved down her arms, and
fumbled on the clasp of her brassiere, and freed her breasts. Again, he
apologized. He reached for the unwashed blankets, and covered her with them. 
        The blankets weren't enough. Her skin still felt unbearably cold,
and her teeth chattered involuntarily. She kept drifting in and out of
sleep, her breathing growing fast and raspy. Kurama couldn't just stand
there, and do nothing! He had to raise her temperature somehow. He clenched
his fists, then looked at them. Ki. The heat of ki was the answer. But, the
heat from his hands weren't sufficient enough to warm her entire body, and
if he used up his ki, his body would be susceptible to Meikai and the
spirits of Makai. That was dangerous, since Makoto was involved. Kurama
swallowed. He knew what to do, but he would betray her trust in him. For
God's sakes, her life depended on it, dammit! 
        Kurama gathered a bit of his courage. He nervously pulled his damp
shirt over his head, and hastily unbuttoned and unzipped the soaked jeans he
wore. He didn't even bother to fold the wet denim material. He took off his
shoes, and approached the bed where Makoto lay. Every step he took was an
effort; as if there were anvils attached to his feet. Slowly, Kurama lifted
the blanket, and joined Makoto on the bed. It was the only way to thaw her
out of her state... by the use of body heat. 
        "Forgive me, Bright-Eyes," Kurama said softly, his warm breath on
Makoto's neck. "You're going to hate me after this." He wrapped his arms
around her trembling body, feeling the swell of her breasts on his bare
chest. He tensed. To touch a woman as intimately as this was driving his
senses wild. He shook off the feeling. He shouldn't be thinking of such
thoughts! His gaze wandered down her body; it was a masculine instinct he
couldn't fight, he couldn't refuse, and couldn't control. 
        As the fox youkai, Youko Kurama, he would have eyed her hungrily. He
had seen many wenches in Makai. However, this naked human female in his arms
meant something to him. Something special. For once, he didn't know why.
Human emotion, perhaps? Or the fact that her friendly, bright, green eyes
captivated him? No, it was more than that. Or maybe it was because of her
exquisite body... Kurama reddened. He turned his face away, and fixed his
eyes on something else. 

====================================================================== 

        The air had become foggy. Or was it just their eyesight that was
becoming blurry? As the two, Sailorneptune and Sailorstarfighter, were about
to walk through the perillous cloud of mist, they heard two anguished cries.
They stared in horror as Sailorstarhealer and Sailorstarmaker, who were now
Yaten and Taiki, collapsed on the ground, clutching their hearts. The misty
atmosphere vanished.
        "You monster!" Starhealer burst out, looking at Goho with eyes of
defiance. "You killed them!" 
        "That was the idea," Goho replied sarcastically.
        Starfighter couldn't take it. She charged towards him, preparing to
attack. "STAR SERIOUS LASER!!!" A series of laser-like stars appeared, and
was about to hit Goho, when the fog returned.
        "Starfighter!!" Neptune called. "Don't let the mist touch you!"
        But the white smoke was already enveloping Starfighter to her doom.
Neptune rushed to Starfighter's side, and pushed her out of the mist's
reach. The mist swallowed Neptune instead!
        "Neptune!!!" Starfighter lay on her knees on the park's sidewalk,
her blue eyes wide at the sudden rescue. "NEPTUNE!!" She cried, and banged
her fists down on the pavement.

========================================================================

        The sound of her heels was all she heard. Everything else was white,
cloudy. Neptune gasped. This was the mist of doom! She looked from side to
side, and hoped that she wouldn't have to face her greatest fear. She folded
her arms against her bosom, as a chill flooded over her. She didn't feel her
gloves, instead, she felt the cold tingle of her skin beneath her palms. Her
fuku had gone, and she was now wearing a soft sea-green blouse, and a long
grandmother skirt. She was now Kaiou Michiru. `It's happening,` She thought.
`My fear is coming.`
        Michiru heard something behind her, like a motor. She turned, and
saw a race track... and a very familiar face. From the sandy blond hair, to
the sparkling green eyes, to the tall, athletic figure, it wasn't hard to
recognize her. `Him` to those who didn't know hew too well. Tenou Haruka.
She seemed younger, more carefree. Then Michiru realized that she had gone
back in time where Haruka and she had just met. And there stood, from the
corner of her eye, was the young Michiru, standing near the bleachers. She
watched Haruka from afar, admiring her for her skill and strength. It was
rather ironic that two Michirus were eyeing the spirited Haruka, as she
leaned on her race car carrying a shiny, gold trophy, to have her photo taken. 
        Without much hesitation, the younger Michiru approached Haruka,
carrying a bouquet of perfect dark pink roses, and handed them to her.
Haruka nodded in appreciation. The next scene made Michiru jolt. The
photographer pushed the younger Michiru away, telling her not to disrupt the
photo session. Haruka laughed at this. Michiru put her hand to her mouth.
That wasn't supposed to happen. Then again, there wasn't supposed to be any
photographer nor photo session.
        The scene suddenly vanished in a cloud of whitish smoke. The mist
was acting up again. Michiru stood her ground, and was prepared for any fear
to come her way. She put her arms down as the mist cleared, revealing a huge
room, with a wonderfully decorated setting. Haruka's room. There on the
floor, cowering from fright, was Haruka. In front of her was a daimon of the
past. A voice sounded, then a splash, as Sailorneptune's Deep Submerge cut
through the air, and hit the daimon. A younger Sailorneptune stepped forth,
and looked down gently at Haruka.
        Neptune took out a strange-looking stick, which glowed a bright
shade of gold. It floated in front of Haruka's face. Haruka stared at it in
awe. "What's this?"
        The daimon was regaining consciousness. Neptune said to Haruka, "If
you take the stick, you can save yourself and the world, however it'll
change your life forever."
        Haruka swallowed. "It means I can't be a normal person ever again?"
Neptune nodded. Haruka lifted her hand to the stick, but hesitated. The
daimon was already getting up.
        "You must choose your fate," Neptune added. "Quickly."
        Haruka put her hand down. "I do not wish to change my fate. There
are so many dreams I want to fulfill as an athlete, to be the best in motor
sports, to hang-glide every single day of my life, and probably to teach
little kids how to play basketball. I don't need someone nor fate to change
that."
        Michiru fell to her knees. `Haruka didn't say that. She took the
stick, and became Sailoruranus. We became partners. Partners.` A tear
dropped to the floor. This is not real! Before anything else, Michiru was on
her feet. "This is NOT real!! NEPTUNE CRYSTAL POWER, MAKE-UP!!!" Her fuku
had returned, as she transformed once again into Sailorneptune. She heard
faint laughter in the background. Goho's laughter.
        "Goho! Don't you dare twist Haruka's and my friendship!" Neptune
said, her eyebrows lowering. "That's not how it happened, and you know I
know it!" Goho's laughter continued, as the scene changed again.
        This time, Neptune saw herself, Michiru rather, sitting all alone in
her room. A canvas sat near the window sill, its colors were dull and
unrefined. Michiru gazed sadly into the aqua mirror. That was the day she
was leaving for her violin recital in London, the day she was leaving
Haruka. The day she was leaving behind the memories of her beloved family,
Haruka and Hotaru, her only family. Hotaru had grown up. She had Setsuna,
and her real father now; not a girl she called "Haruka-Papa". Michiru didn't
want to speak with anyone. She didn't even want to see Haruka. Instead, she
wanted to paint Haruka's portrait, but she didn't feel the slightest bit
inspired.

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        The rained tapped on the window. It had a nice rhythm to it, like a
happy yet sad song. That was the irony of it. Did rain give a happy or sad
tune? Haruka took a breath. She didn't even bother changing into normal
clothes from her school uniform. She just needed time to think. The last
thing on her mind was people complaining about what her wardrobe looked
like. She leaned against the window pain of her apartment. It overlooked the
city streets of Tokyo. Quite an interesting view, since she loved heights.
She crossed her arms, and watched the rain outside. What was depressing her?
She sighed. The message on her fax and answering machine didn't help cheer
her up either.
        Michiru, who had just come from the indoor swimming pool, walked up
to the machine, and took out a piece of fax paper. On it was a map to a
small island not far away. She continued to dry her hair with the bluish
towel she held, and looked at Haruka.
        "Are we going to go through with this?" She asked Haruka.
        Haruka glanced irritatingly at the machine, then turned away, her
arms still crossed. She closed her eyes. "No choice." Michiru felt the
coldness and the hurt in her voice.
        Haruka looked down at her slender hands. "I can't believe these
hands are capable of killing. I hate these hands!"
        Michiru stepped closer to her friend. A sad expression settled on
both their faces. Michiru put her hand over Haruka's, and ever so gently,
entwined her fingers with Haruka's fingers. "Haruka... I love your hands."

*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v

        That day... Sailorneptune wiped her eyes dry. ...The day they died
to retrieve the talismans, the space sword and the deep aqua mirror. They
promised each other to continue the mission even if it caused one of them
her life. Neptune bit her lip. The deep aqua mirror... Of course! It would
be able to drive away this evil. She took it out, and gazed into it. Haruka...
        Neptune raised her head in determination. It was time to move on.
Haruka had her own life now. She had hers. It wasn't right to depend on
others to make one's self happy. Her hands clasped the mirror's handle, and
lifted it into the air. 
        "SUBMARINE REFLECTION!!!"
        A blast of light encircled the place. Neptune closed her eyes. When
she opened them, she was back in the mist of doom. The mirror worked, but
not entirely. Neptune heard Goho's laughter again. This time it was near. 
        "I admire you for breaking free of my illusions," Goho remarked.
"But now, enough toying around. It's time to finish you off!"
        Neptune turned as the cloud of mist diminished again. She saw
herself as Michiru. She was with Haruka by the window again on that rainy day. 
        "...I love your hands."
        Haruka slapped her hand away. "I don't need your disgusting
emotional plays!"
        Michiru moved her hand away as if she'd been burned. Tears flowed
down her face, as she ran from the apartment and into the street, the rain
pouring down on her. It soaked her hair and her clothes, but she didn't care.
        Neptune sobbed. "No! NO! That's not how it happened!" She fell to
the ground.
        She suddenly heard a voice. "Neptune! Fight it! Don't succumb to it!"
        Neptune's sight was blurry from the tears. "Seiya--?"

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        He presented to Michiru a bouquet of a dozen thornless red roses. 
        "Arigatoo," Michiru sincerely said, and scooped the roses in her
arms. She turned away from him, and walked over to the kitchen.
        Seiya put his hands in his pockets, and looked around the room.
"This is a real nice room you've got here."
        "Yes, it is," Michiru replied from the kitchen. "I was supposed to
have a two-bedroom suite, but I prefered a room with a balcony overlooking
the sea."
        "Why were you supposed to have a two-bedroom suite?" Seiya asked,
and walked over to the balcony window, overlooking the sea. What a beautiful
sight it was!
         Michiru stepped out of the kitchen. "Well," She answered, her voice
growing soft. "Just in case I got lonely. America is a very lonely place if
you don't know anybody there."
        Seiya faced her. Michiru kept her head lowered, starlight shining on
her soft sea-green hair. Seiya placed his hands on her shoulders. Michiru
looked up at him, her ocean-blue eyes meeting with his. Slowly, their faces
inched closer together. Michiru closed her eyes and turned her face upward.
He smelled so masculine. His scent was like fire and roses; so strong, yet
so gentle. Michiru waited, her heart filled with emotions new to her. Seiya
leaned down to kiss her. His hands, which were on her shoulders, moved to
her back. He pulled her closer to him, wrapping his arms around waist. He,
too, closed his eyes, as his lips neared Michiru's...

v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*v

        "Seiya..." Neptune whispered.
        "Neptune... Michiru..." His voice was heard through the mist. "I may
not be Haruka. I may not be able to take her place in your heart, but...
please give me a chance. I loved Usagi once, but she didn't love me back.
After that, I thought I'd never love again. I was wrong. It IS possible to
love again after you've lost someone. Don't be afraid to love again."
        Neptune felt a warm feeling settle in her heart, which gave her
strength and courage. She got up on her feet, and was ready to face her
fears. There wasn't anything to fear because she knew she was loved and
needed. Haruka did have a special place in her heart. But they had gone
their separate ways, and emptiness was all Michiru had ever felt since then.
She knew she was attracted to Seiya a long time ago, but it never did
blossom... till now. It was definitely time to move on. Nothing remained the
same, and change was for the better. It was time to prepare a special place
for Seiya in her heart.
        Goho's ugly presence appeared before her. "I shall have your soul
one way or another. You will not be able to escape this mist!"
        Neptune took out her mirror again. "Wrong! I have had enough of this
evil trickery! Your mist of doom and silly games are over! CRYSTAL...
SUBMARINE REFLECTION!!!" 
        The mist disappeared. With all her energy spent, she collapsed on
the ground, happy to feel the cold cement beneath her knees. When she looked
up, she saw Seiya looking down at her. He had transformed back into his
normal self, so that his familiar male voice would be able to reach her
through the mist. It began to rain.
        "No! This can't be! How did you escape my mist??" Goho stepped back.
A panic-stricken face had never looked so good to Neptune and Seiya.
        "It's time to take out the garbage!" Came a voice from atop the roof
of a building. There stood Sailormoon, her winged figure silouhetted against
the pale light of the night. With her arms crossed, she looked like she
meant business. "By the power of the Ginzuishou and Mamo-chan, I shall right
wrongs, and triumph over evil! The souls of human beings is a sacred thing.
Without it, our hearts wouldn't be whole, and love wouldn't exist! Not even
hatred would exist! I won't forgive you, Goho! I am Sailormoon!" She jumped
off the building, and made a perfect landing on the pavement. Her hair
glistened a shiny golden color from the silver raindrops that fell from the
cloudy evening sky.
        She took off the brooch she wore which contained the Ginzuishou, and
used its power to heal Yaten's and Taiki's body. The wounds on their chests
had vanished. She eyed Goho intently. "Give back their souls!"
        Instead of replying, Goho ran, hoping to escape with the souls of
the victims and Mamoru. Sailormoon chased him. "Oh no you don't! MOON TIARA
ACTION!!!" The tiara sliced through the humid air, passing the droplets of
moonlight rain, hitting Goho's lower ears. His bell-like earrings crashed to
the ground with a tinkle and a shatter, freeing the souls of the innocent
people, including Yaten, Taiki, and Mamoru.

=========================================================================

        The fire blazed its fiery color, cracking wildly, its heat nipping
at their noses. The Shinto priestess clasped her hands together, and chanted
some sort of hymn; some sort of prayer. She knelt there like a lovely witch
concentrating on a spell. Her fingers danced, her voice came out in a hushed
mumble. Her eyes remained closed, as the flames of the fire before her grew
larger. Still, she continued her chanting.
        The floor creaked, as he peeked into the room. Kumada Yuuichirou
sighed. He never got anywhere with Rei. He respected her, he would gladly
die for her... he loved her. But he absolutely did not know if she loved him
back. This were the times he wished he were braver, more determined. He
heaved his chest out, straightening his shoulders. Yes, that's it. He'd be
brave. With all the unusual things happening in the world, he'd do his best
to protect Rei. He grasped the small velvet case in his hand tighter. Maybe
it would give him goodluck. All he needed was guts...
        "Rei-san..." He stepped into the brightly fire-lit room, where in
the air, a haunting essence rung. A chill ran up his spine. The girl beside
her, Ami, turned to look at him.
        "Yuuichirou," She said. "What is it?"
        Yuuichirou lifted his hands, and shook his head. "Uh, nothing,
nothing..." He stepped outside, closing the door behind him, still clutching
the tiny blue container. Nothing went right with him. Again, he sighed. Was
it meant to be, he wondered.

        "...Rin..." Rei repeated the verse again. It was amazing how she had
memorized the finger and hand movements, and the chanting. The fire began to
crackle loudly, making Rei's eyes opened suddenly. That wasn't part of it.
Something was amiss on the grounds of the shrine. She stood up, her psychic
sense trying to point out the direction of the force.
        "Rei-chan?" Ami got up as well. "The enemy?"
        Rei nodded, but kept her face tightly drawn. Her eyes turning to
slits as she kept her guard up. `Such a powerful energy,` She thought. `I
hope we'll be able to stop them.`        
        She stepped out of the room, the wooden temple floor creaking with
each step she and Ami took. `I'd better warn Grandpa. He could be in serious
trouble if I leave him alone.` Rei thought, as she walked slowly down to her
grandfather's room.
        She slid the door open. "Granpa..." And gasped. Her grandfather lay
on the floor unmoving, his fingernails a bluish tint. Someone or something
had cut off his oxygen! No! 
        Rei rushed to his side, and knelt down, taking his head in her arms.
She couldn't stop the tears that touched her eyes. Whoever did this, was
going to regret it! She lowered her dark head onto his forehead, and cried.
Silent weeping. No sobbing, no snifling, no hiccuping. 
        Ami came into the room, and gasped as well. "Ojii-san!!" She clamped
her mouth with her hands. The enemy was definitely going too far! 
        "Rei-chan, let's do it!" 
        Rei wiped her eyes on her sleeve, and nodded. "Right!" But the tears
still flowed down her cheeks. "We'll show those scum balls what we're made
of! I won't forgive them!" She took her transformation stick out from her
gi. "MARS--..."
        Something grabbed a hold of her neck, cutting her off. Its hands
were scaly, fish-like, with claws. Rei tried facing her head upwards to
catch her breath, but the thing only tightened its clawed hand on her. If
the thing didn't let go of her soon, she'd be a goner! Such pain... Rei held
her breath, but it wasn't going to last. `Try. Try!` She ordered herself.
She was already getting dizzy...
        
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