I majorly botched posting this last- September? The formatting was so poor *I* couldn't read it, and I had written it! Anyway, here we go again....
I've been having some problems with this, and sometimes it helps to discuss it- anyway, C&C are appreciate.
QS

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standard disclaimers
Do not post this anywhere without permission from the author.
NOTE: Diverges during "Brotherly Love" -aka- "Saffir dies! The Wiseman's trap"

Part One: The Legend of the Virgo
-or-
Judge Not Less Ye Be Judged
~THE LEGEND BEHIND THE VIRGO SIGN~
"Pandora opened her box, and out sprang terrible plagues to haunt mankind forever after: sickness and death for the body; anger, envy, and revenge for the mind. At the bottom of the box lay the one thing that had not escaped, hope.
"During the terrible times that followed, the gods deserted earth one by one and went to live in heaven. The very last to leave was Astraea, goddess of innocence and purity. After leaving the earth, Astraea was placed among the stars and became the constellation of Virgo. The legend is that one day the Golden Age will come again, and Astraea (Virgo) will return to earth."

***

    Mizuno Ami walked through the streets of Tokyo, in the Ward of Juuban, lost in her thoughts. This wasn't all that unusual an occurrence, but her thoughts were grimmer then any fifteen-year-old's should have been.
    The Black Moon Family was out to destroy the world, and there was little she could do about it, even with her much vaunted powers as Sailor Mercury. She believed -had to believe- that somehow, against all the odds, her friends would manage to defeat this evil that was threatening their world.
    The problem with being the most intelligent Senshi was that her mind was never at rest. She could calculate the odds with an ease that was frightening. With each battle the Senshi fought, she nudged her mental calculations a little more in the Black Moon's favor. One day the Senshi WOULDN'T win a battle decisively, and one of them would die. Not Sailor Moon- probably herself or Makoto. Makoto was always the first into the fray, and her recklessness could get her killed. Ami had no illusions about her fighting ability- she was the weakest of the Senshi. Still, the idea was an alarming one. She wasn't even a legal adult, yet she courted death daily.
    Biting her lip till it bled, she stopped in her tracks, clenching her fist. She would be damned if she was going to let the Black Moon walk all over her. She shut her eyes, remembering the looks of ecstasy on the Ayakashi sisters' faces as the energy from the Black Moon Nemesis was cleansed from their bodies. Perhaps we've been going about this the wrong way, she thought. Rather then trying to fight them, we should be trying to heal them. She touched her chin thoughtfully, trying to think of what she could do to make the Black Moon want to accept Sailor Moon's healing. They had refused in the past, but surely they could see the destruction of Crystal Tokyo was counterproductive? They wanted a beautiful home world, yet they were slowly destroying their chance at it.
    The gears of her mind began clicking on the new viewpoint. Try to see the Black Moon as victims, not the perpetrators, she thought.
    Then she thought of Chibi-Usa, and her gentle heart began to harden. By doing THAT to an innocent child, making her believe she was unloved and unwanted, and turning her into the twisted Black Lady, the Black Moon Family had forfeited all right to mercy. How could anyone be that cruel? she wondered.
    She suddenly realized that she was standing in the middle of the sidewalk doing nothing aside from stare into space. The shadows were beginning to grow longer, and she recognized it was well past time for her to be getting home. She was just about to go home to her empty house when she heard a slight groan come from the alley nearest to her.
    She withdrew her henshin stick. If she was a normal teenager, she wouldn't have been stupid enough to walk into a dark alleyway. But she wasn't, so she could. There could be someone in trouble, and thanks to her Senshi powers, she was able to follow her conscience and help.
    Ami�s footsteps sounded too loud to her ears. She heard the sound of someone breathing heavily, in obvious pain. Her eyes grew accustomed to the dimmer lighting, and she gasped in sympathy as she saw a man curled up in a fetal position.
    "Are you O.K.?" Ami asked unnecessarily. The man started, groaning as he shifted his ribs. He looked up at her with beautiful blue eyes. He was very handsome, but that wasn't what got her attention- it was the inverted Black Moon on his forehead.

***
MAGICAL BIRTHSTONE: Sapphire. Sapphires bring tranquillity of mind and protect against illness and injury while traveling.
***

    He opened his eyes to be met by the sight of an angel. His eyelids fluttered a few times, trying to ensure that he wasn't hallucinating; but no, she was still there, a petite woman with blue hair and eyes to match his own. She was looking down at him with concern in her gentle eyes and he felt a wave of regret wash through him. He could have been like her, not warped and twisted. He tried to imagine one of the Family caring about an injured person and came up blank.
    "Are you O.K.?" she asked. Her voice was soft and there was a lilt in it he would have found entrancing if the circumstances were different. If HE had been different.
    He twisted his head to look at her and she gasped lightly, her reaction setting off an internal alarm in him. His eyes narrowed dangerously as he realized that it must have been the Mark of the Black Moon to cause that reaction- but how could she recognize it?
    Her delicate hand reached out to touch his arm. "You're injured. Let me help you," she said.
    "And why would you want to do that?" he shot back angrily. He was angry at everything, yet terrified at the same time. His brother was in grave danger, and there was little he could do to help. It only his brother would LISTEN to him...
    He pushed himself up into a sitting position, ignoring the pain that flashed through his body. "I have to go," he said, biting back a groan.
    "I'm afraid you're not going anywhere," she replied rather grimly.
    His eyes flashed. "Is that a threat?" he hissed. She jerked back slightly in surprise. "No," she replied as though the thought of threatening him had never occurred to her. "You're just in no shape to go anywhere on your own."
    "I have to," he whispered. "I have something I must do."
    "You need medical help before anything else," she replied rather matter-of-factly. "Since I doubt I can admit you to a hospital, you'll just have to come with me."
    "Where to?" he asked suspiciously. He could see the hesitation in her face before she replied. "My house," she said finally. He nodded, not pleased, but unable to see any other option. She wrapped one of her slender arms around his waist and helped hoist him to his feet. He could feel the surprising strength in her lithe body, and he wondered about her. "I'm Saffir," he told her, decided that admitting his name couldn't hurt.
    He wasn't sure if it really happened, but Saffir thought he felt the arm around his waist tighten for a second before relaxing. There was that hesitation again, then she spoke. "My name is Ami. Mizuno Ami."

***
RULING PLANET: Mercury. In astrology, Mercury rules intelligence and reason.
***

    They walked back to her apartment together, Ami's thoughts all ajumble. She looked at the handsome man who leaned heavily on her, almost unable to believe that he was one of the enemy. But if the Black Moon wasn't a dead giveaway, then the name certainly was- Saffir.
    She wasn't sure why she was taking him to her place when, in all good sense, she should be calling the rest of the Senshi to help her deal with him. Perhaps it was something in his eyes, the way there was a desperation that had nothing to do with himself reflected in them. Perhaps, against all odds, one of the Black Moon Family wasn't their enemy.
    She helped him into the elevator that would take them into her place. His breathing was heavy and she didn't like his color- he was far too pale. Then again, it could have been just from his life on Nemesis- the rogue Moon probably didn't get much sunlight.
    With shaking hands she managed to get the dead bolts undone. He leaned against the door as he waited for her to finish. She helped him over to the nearest couch and let him get comfortable. "I'm going to get some medical supplies," she informed him, darting off into her mother's bedroom. She shut the door behind her and clicked her communicator, praying that Saffir wouldn't overhear. Makoto answered almost immediately.
    "What's up, Ami-chan?" the tallest Senshi asked. Unlike usual, her eyes lacked the good cheer Ami had come to associate with Jupiter's Senshi. Chibi-Usa's fate was taking a toll on all the Senshi.
    "Shhhh," Ami whispered warningly. "I have one of the Black Moon Family at my house," she informed her friend and fellow warrior. She prepared to tell Makoto about him, but didn't have the chance.
    "What?!" Makoto replied, stunned. "I'll be right over!" she said as the communicator flashed off.
    "But-" Ami trailed off as only static answered her. She rubbed her forehead, feeling the start of a migraine come on. She grabbed some medical supplies and started to the door, well aware that in a few minutes, a group of frantic Senshi would be arriving, prepared for a battle.
    She pushed the door opened, half expecting Saffir to have left. When she saw him lying on the couch, almost unconscious, she felt a deep desire to start shaking him. He was one of the enemy who had taken Chibi-Usa away, and he deserved to suffer for that. Ami blushed as she realized how uncharitable her thoughts were- she had no clue who he was... perhaps he was just a citizen of the Black Moon Family who desired the healing Sailor Moon was able to perform. She shook her head, denying the possibility. The man had looked at her as though he was used to be in control.
    She walked over to him, feeling his sharp eyes follow her every movement. She knelt down beside him, pulling out the hydrogen peroxide and pouring a small amount of it onto a sterile cloth. "This may sting, but I have to clean you up some," she told him.
    He nodded stoically, seeming to be oblivious to her presence, but she wasn't fooled. She had the feeling that Saffir noticed everything- like her, he was one of the world's observers. She quickly wiped down his face, surprised as blood came away from it. The blood was as red as her own, which was something she hadn't wanted to know. It meant that the enemy was human underneath all their evil. "How did you get injured?" she asked softly.
    He didn't reply, and she felt an uncharacteristic sense of anger. Repressing it, she met his eyes evenly. "We're going to have to remove your jacket so I can tend to your ribs."
    Her hands shook as she helped undo the buttons. He watched her with a slightly cynical smile. It was obvious she didn't have much experience with men, and the way she modestly averted her eyes made him almost want to chuckle- but only almost. He grabbed her wrist as she got ready to clean his battered rib cage. She looked up in surprise, dropping the cloth she had been using. "You're going to have to look at what you're doing," he warned her.
    Her face flushed and she was about to reply when it happened. A loud yell came from near the window.
    "I am Sailor Jupiter!"
    "Sailor Mars!"
    "Sailor Venus! And we shall punish you!"
    The two blue-haired individuals turned to stare at the Senshi who were posing in front of a large picture window. Ami sighed as she felt Saffir's grip on her wrist turn into a steel vice.
    "Leave him alone," she said in her soft voice.
    The Senshi and Saffir looked at her in surprise. "But he's one of them!" the Mars Senshi spat angrily.
    Ami looked at Rei, saddened to hear her previous opinion on her close friend's lips. Judging from the way Jupiter and Venus were glaring at Saffir, they felt the same. "There is no 'them,'" Ami replied. "Since when did we judge someone before they acted?"
     "Since they warped poor Chibi-Usa!" Rei retorted quickly.
    Ami could almost feel the tension in the room peak. She looked at Saffir and watched as the Black Moon on his forehead began to pulse with power. Rei began to summon her fire, and Jupiter started to cry for her thunder.
    Just as Ami was about to transform into Sailor Mercury, in walked Sailor Moon. Ami hated how late Usagi always was, but she had to admit that the girl knew how to make an entrance. "Ai to seigi no, sailor-fuku bishoujo senshi Sailor Moon! Tsuki ni..." Sailor Moon trailed off in the middle speech as a woman flew into the room with a glad cry on her lips.
    Beruche hurried over to Saffir, kissing him warmly on the cheek. He looked up at her in amazement, for once truly stunned. Then his eyes hardened as he remembered that this woman had betrayed the family.
    "You know him?" Sailor Moon asked, hoping, as usual, to avoid battle.
    Beruche nodded. "This is Saffir," she said. Then her face darkened with concern. "He's Demando-sama's younger brother."
    All the Senshi were, quite simply, dumbstruck. Ami looked at the man she had been caring for in a new light. Not only was he one of the enemy, but he was brother to THE enemy. She would have pulled away from him if her hand had been free.
    "We can use him to get Chibi-Usa back," Mars said.
    Silence hung in the room. Then Sailor Moon spoke, her voice soft and commanding. "No. That will put us down to their level. We fight for love and justice- and there is no justice in taking prisoners." The Senshi all bowed their heads guiltily.
    "What are you doing here, Saffir?" Beruche asked gently.
    "I don't talk to traitors," Saffir said, then he went stiff. Here he was, in a room full of his enemies, yet for the first time since overhearing the Wiseman's plot, he felt safe. He looked at the girls in the short skirts and wondered why he, ever the paranoid, trusted them. Ami still was kneeling beside him, and he realized that one of the Senshi was missing- Sailor Mercury. His mind quickly pieced the puzzle together and all of his feelings of mistrust returned. Ami must have noticed the Mark of the Black Moon and decided to take him somewhere where she could keep an eye on him.
    "What is she doing here?" Ami was asking while Saffir entertained his other thoughts. He was able to do both, as multi-tasking was one of his many capabilities.
    "When you said a member of the Black Moon Family was here, Luna insisted that I bring one of the Ayakashi sisters here. Beruche was the only one I could find," she said.
    Beruche nodded. "And since its obvious he's not going to talk to me, I had better be going. But just so you know, I'm not the traitor, Saffir-kun. Rubeus betrayed me and my sisters, leaving us to fend for ourselves. Is that the kind of Family you want to belong to?" she asked, not expecting an answer. "Even though you would find this time period primitive and inconvenient, it is much happier then anything a resident of Nemesis will ever experience at home. You have a place with the Ayakashi sisters should you ever want it." She turned and walked away, tossing her pale braid over her shoulder. She paused at the doorway and looked back at Sailor Moon. "He's not a bad sort, Sailor Moon. Of all the inhabitants of Nemesis, I would say he is the best." Then she was gone.
    The Senshi just looked at him. It was though a bomb had been diffused. The tension was still almost palpable, but the room no longer felt like a powder keg waiting for a match. "What are you here for, Saffir?" Ami asked.
    He looked at the Senshi and wondered if there was any way to escape. He quick mind noted the details of the room, and he finally had to conclude that he was well and truly trapped. "I came here to see someone," he said finally.
    "Who?" Venus asked. "Sailor Moon?"
    "My oniisan, Demando," he said.
    Rei watched as Usagi's expression grew strained. After being captured by the White Prince, the Moon Senshi had become decidedly nervous even thinking about him.
    "You're in no shape to do that," Ami said. "Stay here tonight," she told him. She braced herself for the flood of objections.
    "Ami-chan!" all of the Senshi exclaimed together.
    "You can't have him here by yourself! He's the enemy! He's dangerous!" warned Venus.
    "I can handle it," she said softly. "Besides, where else can he stay? At the temple? Uh-huh... and watch Yuricchiro go after him in an attempt to protect his 'Rei-san'," she said, ignoring the fact she was using the Senshi's real names in front of an enemy. "Jupiter's? I doubt he could manage all the stairs. Venus'? Or, perish the thought, Sailor Moon's?" she said. "It's going to have to be here. I can defend myself well enough. Besides, my house has already been compromised."
    Saffir listened as Ami shot down each possible suggestion before they were even offered. The Senshi argued it out for a few more minutes, but the conclusion remained the same. Finally they prepared to leave. "I don't like you," Mars said to the blue-haired man. "Ami-chan is being nice enough to let you stay here, so you had better not abuse her trust. If anything happens to her, it's going to be your neck," she said warningly. Then she followed the rest of the Senshi out, leaving an uncomfortable silence in her wake.
    Ami looked at him, not sure what to do now. She had an enemy spending the night, and she couldn't figure out why she hadn't insisted at least one of the Senshi spend the night. And Chiba Mamoru would have been useful to invite over as well. Sighing, she bent her head to attend to his ribs, yanking her hand back. He let her go without protest. Saffir wasn't able to make sense of any of it. "Why did you defend me?" he asked.
    Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she continued her efficient movements, binding his ribs tightly. "I don't know, Saffir-san. All I ask is that you don't betray me."
    Saffir almost laughed at that. The Black Moon Family was not known for its loyalty, and now this small girl was blithely asking him not to betray her. "Not this night, Mizuno-san. You are safe from me."
    She caught the qualification to that remark and decided she would have to settle for what she could get. Tonight there was an uneasy truce, and she intended to make full use of it. If she was cunning enough, perhaps she could coax him into letting a piece of vital information slip. "I'm not as weak as I appear," she murmured as she tied off the bandage. He had a nice chest, muscular without being bulky, but he was paler then any human should be. She remembered how Demando looked almost like an albino and decided that white skin must be a family trait.
    "I should say not, Sailor Mercury," he replied with a mocking smile. He recognized her tactics almost immediately and moved to counter without conscious thought. He was a product of a dangerous political system.
    Her flush grew deeper. "I suppose you would pick up on that," she said as she rose to her feet. Her wrist was sore from where he had held onto her, but she refused to rub it.
    "It's rather obvious," he drawled mockingly. "Aside from the fact that Sailor Mercury was missing, you knew Sailor Mars' name and the Senshi all knew you, your costume really doesn't disguise you that much."
    "Most people don't see the obvious," she said. Ami rose to her feet and looked down on him. "Would you like something to eat?" she asked. "I haven't had dinner yet."
    "As long as you promise not to poison me," he replied lightly, even though he was more then half-serious.
    "You are very paranoid," she told him as she headed for the kitchen. "If I wanted you dead, I could have killed you in the alley. The Senshi don't kill, Saffir-san," she finished as she disappeared behind the kitchen door.
    Dinner was instant ramen. Saffir was able to handle his chopsticks, though there was an awkwardness that led Ami to believe he didn't often use them. The silence between them was starting to get on her nerves. Finally finished her dinner, she cleared her throat. "Mizuno-san?" he asked, knowing that she was waiting for a sign of his attention.
    "I'm going to have to ask you to get up for a minute, Saffir-san." She stood and pulled him to his feet, then wrapped an arm around his waist as she helped settle him into an over-stuffed loveseat.
    "What do you need the couch for?" he asked as she began to tug it into the center of the room, away from the rest of the furniture.
    She glanced over at him, trying to send him a friendly smile. "I need to pull out the hide-away bed and make it for you. You need rest," she replied. Ami darted to the linen closet to get the sheets and a few extra comforters. Grabbing an armload, she walked back into the living room and dropped then on the table as she attacked the couch again.
    "You really don't have to do this," Saffir murmured as he watched her rid the couch of its seats.
    She shook her head stubbornly, blue wisps of hair falling into her eyes. "You need a decent bed tonight, and the sofa bed is pretty good," she informed him. She reached into the couch frame and yanked out the bed, grateful for her Senshi strength. The thing was HEAVY. In less then two minutes she had the bed neatly made. She placed the last goose-feather pillow in place and returned her attention to her somewhat unwanted (and unwilling) guest. "Now let's get you in there," Ami stated. Saffir waved away her hands and climbed to his feet himself. He walked over to the bed and sat down on it gingerly, careful not to jar his ribs. She watched him with eyes as calm as the sea, her different emotions flickering through too quickly for anyone to catch had they been looking at Ami. "I'm going to go do some studying," she told him. "I have an exam tomorrow. Try to get some rest." She started to walk towards her room.
    Saffir stopped her. "Won't your parents be in later?" he asked. "How are you going to explain having a strange man in the house?"
    She looked back over her shoulder and gave him a weary smile. "My parents are divorced. I live with my mother, but she's at a medical conference for a few weeks." Then she quit the room.
    Saffir stared thoughtfully at the place she had just vacated. The Mercury Senshi was much more complicated then he had originally thought, which only made her more dangerous. He tried to focus his mind onto this new bit of information, but his activities of the day finally caught up with him. Being attacked by the Wiseman, fleeing into the past and his minor confrontation with the Senshi made for a very long day. He barely managed to slip beneath the thick comforters before falling into a deep healing sleep.

***
LUCKY NUMBERS: 5 and 3
***

    Usagi walked away from Minako, Makoto and Rei after wishing them a good night. The night was dark around her, but she walked with an assurance that would have deterred even the most experienced attacker. Though she was young, her body posture was confident. The last few weeks of her life had matured the future queen rapidly.
    She had a glimpse of the future, and it had terrified her. Usagi believed that Sailor Pluto had been right when she had told them that no one should know too much about their future. Then to lose Chibi-Usa like that... Her face was stony as she thought of Prince Demando. He had much to answer for- how could he take the daughter of the woman he claimed to love and pervert her into the exact opposite of what she had been? If any of the Senshi had seen Usagi's face at that moment, they wouldn't have recognized her. The gentle princess they guarded so fervently was infuriated.
    Without realizing it, her feet had taken her to Mamoru's apartment complex. She climbed into the elevator in a daze, not exactly sure what she was doing there. She knocked on his door, getting the strangest feeling of deja vu. The last time she had come here, Usagi had barely been able to talk him into letting her come in. The door opened and Mamoru stood there, a pair of wire-frames perched on his nose. Usagi thought glasses tended to make people look nerdy (a certain person names Umino came to mind), but on Mamoru, they looked sexy.
    His face took on a slight smile as he saw his soul mate. "Usako," he whispered warmly, grabbing her and dragging her into his apartment, kicking the door closed behind them. He bent his head down to kiss her, but she walked passed him towards his living room. He watched her with a slightly pained expression. Since finally getting back together with her, he was aware of a distance she had placed between them. It hurt him more then he cared to admit.
    "Mamo-chan," she said as he took the seat beside her, "I'm not sure what to do anymore." She turned her body towards him, looking vulnerable.
    "What do you mean?" he asked.
    A single tear slipped from her eye. "Am I such a terrible person?" she asked.
    "No, Usako!" he protested, grabbing her into a tight hug. "Why would you ever say such a thing?"
    "So many things. Look at Chibi-Usa! She's my future daughter and I fought with her like a child- how could she love such a mother? And the Senshi- I can't even get anywhere on time, and I'm suppose to be their leader? And how about us?" she whispered. "You never had a choice about loving me- my mother forced the issue. Sometimes I think the world would be better off without me."
    He grabbed her with the shoulders with strong fingers and shook her, trying to jar her back to reality. "Usako! Never EVER dare think of such things again! Without you..." he shut his eyes, not wanting to think of the possibility, "there is no reason to continue living."
    "Isn't there? You seemed to be doing it well enough a while ago," she replied bitterly, referring to their enforced break-up. "I wish you had trusted me enough to let me know what was wrong rather then just dumping me."
    This was the crux of the matter, Mamoru recognized. Usako thought he hadn't told her the reason behind their break-up because he hadn't trusted her. It couldn't have been farther from the truth. "Usako, I trust you beyond the brightness of the sun," he said. "I knew exactly how you would react to my dream, and I feared it. I love you so much and I couldn't bear to see you hurt." He moved his hands from her shoulders up to her head, entangling his fingers in her blonde hair. He tilted her head back and kissed the tearstain away.
    "As for Chibi-Usa," he said after a moment, "you didn't know. You treated her as a sister, and with that comes fighting along with the love. You are not her mother- at least, not yet. At times, every child feels alone and unwanted. It's a part of growing up. She would have gotten over it if the Black Moon Family hadn't twisted her.
    "The Senshi love you," he said, stilling Usagi's last concern. "And though you may not be the bravest, or the brightest, you are the most beautiful inside. When someone is with you, they just can't help but feel loved." Mamoru hugged his princess gently, relishing the feel of her soft body against his own. "And that is why they follow you."
    Usagi's eyes widened as she suddenly recalled why she had come over to his house in the first place. "I almost forgot to tell you- I'm such an air-head!" she exclaimed. She grabbed his chest and met his eyes, trying to convey her concern.
    "Tell me what?" he asked.
    "That Ami has a member of the Black Moon Family at her house... and he's Demando's brother."     Mamoru's face darkened at the mention of the White Prince. He remembered seeing him trying to force Usako to kiss him... and Mamoru felt a familiar surge of jealousy in his veins. "What is he doing there?"
    She shook her head, her ponytails waving behind her. "We're not sure exactly. What we do know is that he was injured when he came... and he's troubled by something."
    "Who's with Ami?" he asked. "No one. He's not much of a threat right now."
    Mamoru mentally cursed the Senshi's idealism. They all believed there was good in everyone, and were hardly able to conceive of the idea of betrayal. He started to rise to his feet, but Usagi clung to him. He looked down into her clear eyes and was surprised by the wisdom he saw there.
    "It will be O.K.," she said, speaking in a soft voice that didn't seem to belong to her. She buried her face into his chest and inhaled his scent- chocolate and after shave, the combination unique to him. "I'm going to call my parents and say I'm spending the night at Ami's. I'm staying with you tonight." Mamoru knew that he should object, but looking at her, the words just deserted him. His answer was a silent one, but from the way he hid his face in her hair, Usagi got the message loud and clear.

***
POLARITY: Pisces. Virgo is the sign of work and self-improvement. Its natives are perfectionists who dissect facts in order to find the truth and obtain all the information available. Pisces, Virgo's opposite sign, is the sign of illusion and self-deception. Of all the signs, Pisces is the only one who can give Virgo problems (aside from Sagittarius).
***

    His Royal Highness, Prince Demando of Nemesis, sat on the Pellucid Throne appearing as strong as his namesake. Instead of being handsome, he was beautiful like a diamond, and just as cold. Only one thing could warm him to any passion- the thought of Neo-Queen Serenity, the silent sleeper in the Crystal Palace. Beside him sat her daughter, the warped Black Lady. Just as beautiful as her mother, she lacked the purity and love that had touched the heart of the White Prince. Black Lady had the power of the jakokuzuishou flowing through her, and like everything it touched, she had been twisted into a terrible caricature of her former self. Small Lady was gone; all traces of the child beloved by the Senshi had been washed away as though she had never existed in the first place.
    From the floor below him, a swirl of lights appeared. The Prince watched calmly, used to the dramatic entrances of his most trusted advisor. The Wiseman rose from the floor, his face covered, as usual, by the low cowl. His claw-like hands were playing with a crystal globe. "My Prince, I come bearing distressing news from the future," he said. His voice was eerie and entrancing at the same time.
    His face expressionless, Demando motioned for his lackey to proceed. "I fear that Saffir had betrayed us," he stated grimly.
    Demando's world collapsed. Black Lady watched in amazement as, for the first time since she had known him, there was visible emotion on his ivory face. Shock, pain, then finally disbelief. "No, it can't be," he said softly, clenching the arm of the chair tightly.
    "Saffir would never betray me." The Wiseman's eyes started glowing. "He has stolen the control card to the jakokuzuishou. Without it, we cannot harness any more power," he said. "The future is fluctuating."
    The Wiseman had never lied to him before. Demando closed his eyes for a second, trying to regain his equilibrium. "He must have had some reason," he said, clinging to the hope that Saffir was still on the side of the Black Moon Family. Throughout all the battles, Saffir had always been there, his adoring younger brother. He had dreamed of having the Neo-Queen by his side, but Saffir had always been his other self.
    "He does have a reason," the Wiseman returned. "He is jealous of your power," he said, preying on the fears of every reigning head of state. "He wishes to replace you."
    Black Lady smiled evilly and stretched, giggling slightly. "I'll help you, your Highness!" she declared rather grandly. "I'll get the control card back, and punish Saffir while I'm at it!" She rose to her feet, her long legs flashing through the slits in her dress.
    "No! Don't hurt Saffir!" Demando commanded harshly, the old protective urges towards his younger brother welling up inside him.
    "He is a traitor, and thus, no longer part of the family. You know what we do to traitors!" the Wiseman countered. He started to sink into the floor again, but his sibilant his lingered in the air behind him. "Kill him."
    Black Lady laughed and leapt into the air, disappearing.
    The White Prince sat on his hard throne alone, unable to believe that one of the pillars of his very existence had just been turned to sand and washed away. "Ototochan," he whispered sadly. Then he faded from the Palace, hoping to find Saffir and hear his explanation. There had to be one aside from betrayal.

***
COLORS: Navy Blue and Gray- the classic colors of taste and refinement.
***

    Four in the morning.
    Saffir's eyes jerked open as some kind of internal alarm went off. He usually needed very little sleep, but his injuries had changed that. He touched his ribs carefully, testing for pain, and was relieved that there was only a dull ache in reply. The power of Nemesis flowed through his veins like wine, and it had healed one of its children.
    He shoved the covers off and slipped his feet onto the floor, grateful for the thick carpeting. His night vision was decent, so he was able to find his jacket and shoes without too much trouble. Saffir slipped into the thick blue jacket, carefully buttoning it. His hand reflexively went to the upper pocket to feel for the control card. Reassured by its presence, he slid silently across the room towards Ami's bedroom.
    She had left her door opened, obviously so she could check on him without too much effort. He peered in, surprised that she wasn't in bed. Ami sat at her desk, her head resting on an open textbook. Her mouth was slightly open and he could see her chest lift with her light breathing. Some of her hair was covering her face, the brilliant blue a striking contrast to the pallor of her skin. He watched her for a second, his thoughts moving at a thousand miles. She looked so vulnerable, and in her sleep, she was. It would be so easy for him to snap her neck quickly. It wouldn't cause her any pain. His eyes widened as he grasped the possibilities- without Sailor Mercury, the future Senshi wouldn't have the strength to continue the shield, and the Crystal Palace would fall. But if the Senshi never cast the spell, there would no reason for any of the Black Moon Family to go back into the past, and he wouldn't have had the chance. Paradox. He could easily rip the time stream apart with such a careless action. Temporal Mechanics had never been one of his favorite things. There was only one master of that subject, and that was Sailor Pluto. For some reason, he doubted she'd be willing to help him. Besides, he had given his word that he would not harm a hair on Ami's head this night. He remembered the look in Mars' eyes as she warned him he had better keep that promise. He had the feeling that no place or time would be safe if he crossed the Senshi. Anyway, he was a honorable man. He would keep his word.
    He glanced back once before leaving, struck again by how fragile she appeared. It was so hard for him to believe that she was one of the Senshi.
    Ami had the strangest feeling that she was being watched as she slowly surfaced from the clutches of sleep. She raised her head slowly, not surprised to see that she had fallen asleep in the middle of studying. She had so many responsibilities to juggle that she was just waiting for it to all come crashing down around her. Daughter, friend, Senshi, star student- she just hoped she could continue to succeed until... until things changed somehow.
    Shaking herself out of her reverie, she touched her left cheek. It tingled from lack of blood, and she was sure she must have a brilliant red blotch on it where the book had pressed into her skin. It wouldn't be the first time. As she shook the last remnants of slumber from her mind, she remembered her guest.
    Rising to her feet without her usual grace, she stumbled towards the door. As she feared, the bed she had made was empty- Saffir was gone. Without thinking, she clicked her communicator on and waited for someone to reply. After about thirty seconds, someone answered. "Hello?" Her jaw almost dropped in shock. "Mamoru-san?" she asked, surprised.
    He nodded and ran a hand through his sleep-tousled hair. "Hai. Usako decided she wanted to stay over tonight, and the little beep on this thing doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of waking her up." His face lost its smile. "Is something wrong with Saffir?" he asked.
    Ami ignored the implications of Usagi's presence at Mamoru's apartment. "He's gone," she said. "I have the feeling that he went to the Dark Crystal to find Demando."
    "Let him go," he answered. "No. I- we- I think the Senshi are needed with him," Ami answered tentatively. "If we're lucky, he might lead us straight to Chibi-Usa."
    Mamoru frowned. "I thought Rei was the psychic one of you girls," he said. "I'll wake Usako up and get the rest of the Senshi together." He clicked out, grasping at any hope to reclaim his future daughter.
    She stared at her communicator for a second before grabbing her henshin stick. "Mercury Star Power!" she called, beginning her transformation.

***
DOMINANT KEYWORD: I ANALYZE
***

    Saffir stood in an alleyway, trying to catch his breath. His wounds from the Wiseman's attack had been severe, and he really should have allowed for a longer recuperation period. But he didn't have the time, so he was forced to write his body an IOU by tapping into the power of the Black Moon. After a few hours of regular health, he knew he would collapse into a coma-like state for hours, dangerously vulnerable. It would be worth it, though.
    There was no way he was going to let the Wiseman's plans hurt his brother. He hoped that he wasn't too late. There were so many variables that he couldn't possibly account for them all. He had no clue exactly what the Death Phantom was- only that the Wiseman served him. The Wiseman was a powerful creature, and Saffir didn't want to see what the Master of such a servant would be like. It seemed as thought the Dark Crystal was an unreachable goal- for every few steps he took, it appeared to be moving backwards at an equal rate. Finally he rounded the corner of a small street, and the Dark Crystal Palace lay right before him. He steeled himself mentally, preparing for his brother's anger. He had deserted his post in the future, but after he explained, surely Demando would understand. Together the brothers could reclaim the control over the jakokuzuishou and complete the conquest of Crystal Tokyo.
    He stepped out into the street, looking coldly at the policemen who had set up a perimeter around the Crystal. A few hardy news hounds were camped out at the very edge, but aside from that, the streets were deserted. Saffir knew that in such a crowded city as Tokyo, this was a very odd site- almost as strange as having a large black object grow out of nowhere.
    He started to walk through the police tape (which strangely said "crime scene") when one of the officers stopped and confronted him. "You can't go in there! It's not safe!"
    "Can't" was one of the few words no one ever said to Saffir, younger brother to the Prince of Nemesis. His eyes flared and he motioned carelessly, propelling the officer backward about twenty feet. Even though he rarely used his magic combatively, his aim was good. The officer landed in a heap against a building, unconscious. The man wasn't too badly damaged, but he would have a hell of a headache when he woke up.
    "Nice to see you've kept up your magical skills, Saffir," a voice came from above him.
    Saffir summoned a shield as soon as he heard the voice. "Black Lady," he said.
    Black Lady floated about fifteen feet up in the air, her legs crossed. She smiled at him nastily, her red lips cruel. "Hello again to you. And good-bye," she said. She tossed Luna P up into the air and called out for it to change. The cat head turned into an umbrella, which she opened with a flourish.
    Saffir had long suspected that Black Lady's allegiance lay with the Wiseman instead of Demando, and now he had all the proof he needed. Saffir's powers were depleting rapidly, though, and he was well aware of Black Lady's strength. He thought for a second, then decided on a strategy. Fight smarter, not harder. Instead of attacking the pink-haired psycho, he aimed a small concentrated blast at the Luna P-turned-umbrella, understanding that Black Lady liked to channel her attacks through it. The umbrella imploded, returning to its originally form. She cried out in fury. Had anyone been looking at Luna P, they would have noticed that its expression looked slightly dazed. But no one was looking.
    Saffir had begun a mad dash towards the crystal, prepared for a few more attacks. If he could manage to deflect the attacks for the next few blocks, he might be able to get through to his brother... if not, he was a dead man.
    Black Lady whirled towards the blue-haired fugitive, wanted to avenge the damage to her Luna P. Shutting her eyes, she attuned herself with the jakokuzuishou, feeling its power throb through her. Opening her eyes, she sighted Saffir and started to prepare burst of magic that would utterly destroy him.
    "Chibi-Usa!" a voice called, distracting her from her spell. "Stop this! Onegai! This is not you!" It seemed as though the world had stopped. The power Black Lady had been summoning dispelled, and the Senshi stood in front of her. Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen stood together, their linked hands saying so much more then simple words. "We love you," Sailor Moon continued, for it had been she who had spoke. "Come back to us... we miss you."
    Black Lady's eyes flashed longingly, but then her bitterness regained control. "You miss having someone to ignore, you mean," she said. "You'll not catch me in that trap again! I am Black Lady, conduit for the jakokuzuishou!" With a feral howl, she threw out a burst of dark power, scattering the Senshi.
    Saffir, meanwhile, had almost made it to the Dark Crystal.. Black Lady hadn't followed him, and he wasn't about to question his luck. From behind him, he felt a surge of power, and almost unwillingly, turned around to prepare for the attack he was positive was coming. To his surprise, he saw the Senshi being scattered to the winds like leaves. A man in a strange formal outfit slammed into the Dark Crystal itself. Saffir recognized him as the one who had stolen Sailor Moon away from Demando.
    "Shimatta," Saffir cursed in a whisper. What are the Sailors doing here? he wondered. Had Ami heard him leave? He doubted it, but then anything was possible. But why were they here?
    "Now that they're out of the way for the time being, I can get back to the matter at hand," Black Lady said, appearing in front of him. "Give me that control card back, now!" she commanded him.
    "Never!" he spat back.
    "Why not?" a voice said, coming from behind him. Saffir's eyes widened gladly as he recognized the cool tones of his brother.
    "Oniisan!" he cried. Prince Demando stood in the middle of the street, a soft wind lifting his cloak off his shoulders. He looked like the diamond for which he was named, cold and hard and beautiful. Saffir searched his eyes for the trace of gentleness Demando only showed him, but there was nothing there. Obviously the Wiseman had gotten to the Prince already.
    "Why did you steal the control chip?" he asked. Saffir mentally winced at the rebuke, but knew he was doing what was right for his brother.
    "Demando-sama, the Wiseman has betrayed you! He seeks to cause the jakokuzuishou to overflow and open a Gate for his true master- the Death Phantom."
    Demando looked down coolly. "You and your silly jealousy of the Wiseman. He is my most loyal advisor... I trust him with my life."
    Saffir walked over to his brother, picking up the Prince's cool hand, wrapping it earnestly in his own. "Don't you trust me?" he pleaded. "Has all this time together come to mean nothing to you?"
    Something flashed in Demando's face, but it was gone too quickly for Saffir to tell what it was. "Give me the control card back and we'll forget this ever happened." The moment of truth. Saffir longed to fork it over, but he realized that with it, the Wiseman would succeed.
    "I... can't," he whispered, feeling like his heart was being torn out.
    "Very well, then," Demando said. He looked up at Black Lady, who had been observing the entire conversation with fascination. "Get the control chip back," he commanded her.
    "With pleasure," she responded.
    "Oniisan!" Saffir cried, tightening his grip, unable to believe what was happening. Demando, the man who had been his protector his entire life, was deserting him.
    "I have no brother," Demando replied, yanking himself free of his younger brother's hands. He turned around and faded from view, leaving only a heart-broken young man and Black Lady, who was gearing up for another attack. Saffir crumpled to his knees in disbelief, feeling as though he had just been stabbed through the heart. He was completely oblivious to Black Lady's attack. She hurled a bolt of powerful energy at him, and it hit. His shield absorbed most of the energy, but enough of it got through to send him flying into the wall. It was just too much for him- he collapsed into unconsciousness, his body claiming its much-needed rest at the worst possible time.
    "And now to finish it!" Black Lady declared. She retrieved the Luna P, which had recovered from Saffir's earlier attack. She whipped it into a cane (much like the one carried by Neo King Endymion) and pointed it at the unconscious man.
    "We can't let you do this!" Mars called from behind her.
    The Senshi were slowly struggling to their feet, finally recovering from the blast that had been thrown at them.
    "Venus Love-Me Chain!" Sailor Venus called at the same time, shooting out her most recent attack. It wrapped itself tightly around Black Lady's waist. Venus jerked it, causing Black Lady to lose her grip on the cane. As soon as it touched the ground, it turned back into Luna P.
    "That wasn't nice!" Black Lady howled.
    "Chibi-Usa..." Sailor Moon whispered as she pulled herself upright. "Don't hurt anyone- you'll never forgive yourself.... this isn't you."
    "How do you know who I am?" Black Lady returned angrily. The upside-down moon on her forehead began to glow with a weird shimmery light. She touched it with her right hand and moaned as another wave of power was poured into her. "You left me ALONE!" Raising both hands to the sky, the light seemed to run along her body to coalesce in a glowing ball that floated in the space between her hands. "Black Moon Eternal Night!" she called as rays of the dark energy shot forth from her fingertips to wrap themselves around the Senshi, Tuxedo Kamen and the unconscious Saffir. All of their bodies jolted in pain. The Senshi stood weakly, refusing to succumb.
    "Shabon Spray!" Mercury exclaimed, relying on her earliest attack to provide some shelter from Wicked Lady's misguided wrath. The Senshi quickly withdrew, Jupiter remembering to pick up Saffir.
    As the mist cleared, only Black Lady and Tuxedo Kamen remained. "Now is not the time for battle, daughter," he told her softly. Producing a white rose, he tossed it so it landed in her hands. "Know that we love you and miss you... someday we'll make things right again. I promise you that." With a swirl of his cape, he bounded off too quickly for her to follow him. Black Lady stared down at the rose in her hands, wondering.

Up Next:
A Game of Pawns
-or-
The Enemy of My Enemy.....

END PART ONE
Notes and Thanks: So the first part of the infamous Saffir/Ami romance is out. I must extend thanks to Celeste-chan, over at the Bakery and her cybersib Saint Erythros: http://members.xoom.com/cyberpastry/.  Also, my eternal gratitude go towards Bill Harris, the most anal editor a girl could ever wish for. He's a wonderful writer, and specializes in xovers....
My webpage is located at http://www.homestead.com/quicksilverslabyrinth/headpage.htm Take a visit! I tend to post things there before posting to the rest of the archives! QS


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