Iroiro balked. The little girl stared at her wide-eyed, still clinging to Haruka's legs. Child of Haruka Tenou and Seiya Kou? She hadn't even begun to realize...

      "You really are clueless, aren't you?" Haruka snorted. Then, turning gently to her daughter, "Come out, Miyoko."

      Miyoko smiled shyly, slowly shuffling forward. Now that she was in plain view, Iroiro immediately noticed the resemblance to both Haruka and Seiya. She was like two electronic messages, blended in transit. There was Haruka's tawny hair, Seiya's stunning eyes... even the shape of his face. Her stature was already nearing lanky. She was the perfect product of an entirely flawed union...

      "What about Michiru?" Iroiro blurted out. She instantly regretted it as being tactless, but still... She couldn't stand not knowing, would rather appear rude than ignorant. Knowledge was still her lifeforce, would always be, until she stopped being.

      Seiya sighed, while Haruka took Miyoko's hand, glaring silently. "Don't you know?"

      Iroiro heard the unspoken question: don't you know anything? It hung in the air as she fidgeted, trying to come up with an answer. Could she tell them that her ties with Time had been severed? It was not a piece of information she wanted to share.

      "Her head is muddled," Shinju muttered suddenly, paraphrasing her earlier words.

      Haruka and Seiya stared at him, while Iroiro fidgeted some more.

      Miyoko, on the other hand, stepped up to him, putting her small hand on his arm. "But she's good. Like you. Can I help?" She pointed at his bloody shoulder.

      Shinju painfully pushed himself away from Iroiro, and knelt so that he was face-to-face with the girl. "I don't think you can, Miyoko. But thank you..."

      "You'd be surprised," Haruka snorted, then nodded at her daughter. "Go ahead, if that's what you want."

      Miyoko stretched her slender fingers out slowly, her face placid. Shinju gulped, as he felt something stir in his arm. The stirring quickly became a dance; his blood was dancing, radiating warmth, and joy, and such -life-... And just as quickly, the feeling ended, any remnants of pain fading away with it.

      All Shinju could do was stare.

      Iroiro broke the silence with a gasp. "She's one of -them-... isn't she?"

      Seiya touched Miyoko's head, smiling sadly. "Yes."

      "The other part of the prophecy... I had almost forgotten. The children who will change the world. But..." Iroiro shook her head. "You were wrong then, about yourself. You aren't the one I'm looking for."

      Akasia and Daburu had made their way into the servants' corridors, a dank and twisted pathway whose entrance was half hidden by rust and moss colored foliage. After trudging in silence for a few yards, the tunnel abruptly stopped, replaced by a spiraling soaring stairway. Akasia proceeded up it without stopping, while Daburu paused, determined to drill the other Neo-senshi for answers.

      "Akasia... about what you said..."

      The woman halted in mid-step, and snapped, "We don't have time for this!"

      "Tell me!" Daburu insisted. "All these things are happening... and why? For what? I am -tired- of this secretive bullshit!" The palm of her hand slapped the metal rail, her frustration getting the better of her.

      Akasia studied her speculatively. "It's overwhelming, isn't it, Daburu? I've been living with it for most of my life..." She trailed off, her eyes rolling upward, almost beseechingly. "Time doesn't cool the flame. It still burns me as hotly as when I first touched it."

      Daburu sagged against the rail, and slid slowly to the ground, where she pulled her knees protectively against her chest. She supposed it was going to be bad. Akasia wasn't one to exaggerate. But could it be any worse than finding out her mother was a living computer? Her sovereign a monster? Her mentor dead? No, she told herself. Nothing was worse. Not even her own death. "Tell me," she repeated numbly, "tell me what I have to do with Hotaru Tomoe."

      Moments ticked by, as Akasia remained silent. Then, finally, "I suppose you would deal with it better. Accidental child of the practical ones, Ami and Taiki. My mother was not quite so simple-minded... No, she had her damn master plan to think about. Knowing what was to happen--"

      Daburu sharply sucked in her breath, springing to her feet. "How do you know who my father is?" Her boots clanked against the metal steps, as she took them two at a time to get to Akasia. "What are you saying?"

      "Quite simply," the dark-haired woman replied, smiling thinly, "that when this is all over, we won't exist. And that Hotaru Tomoe, my mother, has known that since the day I was born. Is that enough for you, Daburu? Yes? Good. Let's go." With that, Akasia spun around, going up the stairs at the same pace she had started to.

      Daburu gripped the railing, speechless. The information was disorienting, but did nothing to quench her thirst for answers. She had not known anything about her father, the man dead 16 years, hardly even knew his name. Yet Akasia tossed it out like it was common knowledge... And she couldn't fathom the thought of not "existing." The other woman had said it like it was the worst fate imaginable. "Not death then... something -more-," Daburu murmured to herself. "Something more." What did it mean?

      She hurried after Akasia's quickly disappearing back, her legs feeling weighted. She felt something warm on her face, and blinked against the sudden, blinding light.

      "There's a door," Akasia muttered, as Daburu ran squarely into her back. "It leads into the garden. Follow me."

      She complied, nodding numbly, and wondered if she should resent the subservient position she was being put into. But what happened next didn't give her much room for thought, as she and Akasia stepped out into the sunlight. Almost at that exact moment, there was a rumble overhead, and the warmth diminished as the sun was overtaken by angry clouds.

      "I'm surprised..." A conflicted look flitted across Akasia's face, as if her feelings had decided to stage a sudden skirmish. "They're pissed."

      Daburu blinked at her, uncomprehending, and still slightly dazed. "The clouds?"

      Akasia blinked back. "No." She pointed. "Them." Daburu followed the direction of her finger, until her eyes came to rest on an unwelcome sight. Rei Hino, and a small mob bristling with malice, glared collectively at her from across the courtyard.

      "What..." Daburu gasped.

      "They want you," Akasia muttered.

      "Why?!"

      "Faustine has made sure they blame you for Minako's death..." She stared at Daburu, her face set, as if she had finally come to a decision. "I promised I would help you, didn't I? Isn't this the only way?"

      "What are you talking--"

      "Daburu Mizuno!" one of Rei's minions suddenly bellowed. "You have been charged with the murder of Minako Aino, Elder Venus of Crystal Tokyo. Unless you release yourself into our custody, your fate is sealed. What is your decision?"

      "Don't be so overdramatic, Hokuto," Rei said calmly. "Akasia? Give her to us."

      "Elder Mars! It was Faustine--" Daburu started defiantly, trying to gather what was left of her dignity.

      Rei waved her words away. "I don't want to hear your lies. Are you going to make this hard on yourself? Akasia..." She drummed her fingers against her arm. "Well?"

      Akasia said nothing.

      "One big, happy family..." someone called from above. "I just love these senshi picnics, don't you, Hotaru?"

      All eyes turned upward. A scowling face, attached to green fuku clad body hung halfway over the second floor balcony, quickly joined by a pale woman with violet eyes, and the Elder Jupiter, still dressed in her flowing emerald skirts.

      "This has nothing to do with you, Emmeline," Rei said, gritting her teeth. She seemed flustered, but the look passed without much notice. "Nor you, Makoto. Hotaru... Unless you'd care to help us in apprehending Mizuno?"

      "You know why I'm here, Rei," Hotaru answered placidly. "It's almost time... Let her go."

      The sky grew darker, as the wind whipped through the courtyard.

      "It's going to rain," Akasia murmured distractedly.

      Daburu stared.

      "It's wet, and cold, and depressing... but wouldn't you miss it if it were gone? Seeing the rainbow after the storm? Seeing anything... But what if you weren't even able to miss it? See nothing, miss nothing, -feel- nothing. I have never faced the fact that I am absolutely terrified of... nothingness. Which is what we'll become. So I have to..." She returned Daburu's gaze, her face as ashen as Emmeline's hair. "I have to. Forgive me. Or maybe you'll thank me..." She paused, then shook her head. "No. If you knew, you'd be like her... You'd want to fix our broken world."

      Akasia visibly collected herself, and smiled in her sarcastic way. "Sorry." She shrugged, and tackled Daburu to the ground.

      Iroiro, Shinju, Haruka, Seiya, and Miyoko had found shelter in another of the abandoned buildings that littered Crystal Tokyo when the sky began to darken. The little girl had now pressed herself against the large window, watching as the sparse droplets of water made tracks in the dirty glass.

      Iroiro found herself wishing she could do the same.

      "If Seiya isn't the fated one, who is?" Haruka was demanding from across the rickety table they had seated themselves around. "And how the hell do you know?"

      She sighed. "There are only two other possibilities... But it can't be Seiya because his line is already represented in the triumvirate!"

      "Ano..." Shinju interjected, looking confused. "Why this... triumvirate?"

      "The Sailor Starlights of this world have the same type of power of Faustine," Iroiro explained sidelong to him. "Because she is, er, -was- a Starlight. So the trio is all that can hold her at bay..."

      "But how do you know?" Haruka said again, annoyed at having to repeat herself.

      "What happened to the, um, other Starlights? The ones from her old world?" Shinju said a a moment later.

      "Since Pluto and I lost all contact, someone has been feeding me information." Iroiro pulled on her ear absentmindedly. "I don't know who. As for the Starlights on my... her world... all dead. They died a long time ago, before the divergence." She stared at Seiya thoughtfully. "I think that's what changed her."

      "I suppose it did," a voice said from behind.

      They simultaneously stood, the chairs clattering to the floor in their haste. Haruka and Seiya were already halfway to their daughter when they all finally realized who was standing in front of them.

      Yaten Kou smiled at them wistfully. "Hey, Seiya. Long time no see."

      Everyone was silent, until Seiya finally murmured, "It's you, isn't it?"

      He shook out his wet white hair, above ear-length and unkempt, whilst throwing off his dark overcoat. "And here I thought it was damn obvious. Guess I was wrong." His tired eyes rested on Iroiro. "Setsuna. Didn't mean to play games. Hope you found my information useful. I know Hotaru did, whether she liked it or not." He absentmindedly scratched his cheek. "Well..." He glanced down at Miyoko, and smiled again. "Hello, little one."

      Miyoko grabbed his hand, grinning. "Hi!"

      He turned back to Iroiro. "I have the Time Staff. After you speak with Pluto, you can have it... Here." He reached into his pants pocket, and brought out a tiny communicator. "You have five minutes."

      Iroiro took it, shocked. "I... see."

      "Seiya, may we talk?" Yaten questioned abruptly.

      Seiya shared a look with Haruka, and she lightly touched his cheek. "Go. I'll stay with Miyoko."

      They retreated into the back room, Yaten closing the door soundly behind them.

      "Well..." Seiya said.

      "Well," Yaten echoed, turning to face him. He smirked, pointing at the other man's dark ponytail. "I see you've kept it long. I guess there can only be one person with short hair in the family."

      Seiya snorted. "Very funny..."

      Yaten's face sobered. "But you love her, don't you?"

      "I... yes." Seiya sighed heavily. "Do you think that's strange? All those years ago..."

      "It would never have happened." He looked thoughtful. "I think its admirable, Seiya, that you've found happiness."

      Seiya looked down. "And what about you?"

      Yaten's expression turned caustic. "I have no right. Haven't you seen what I'm capable of? Faustine, the white witch. We aren't all that different. Actually, we become more alike as each day passes... It's like I'm being pulled in towards her. Like she's my center of gravity."

      "Why..."

      "Pluto told me that we can't live in the same space for a long period of time. Since, essentially, we are the same person. The weaker persona, me, of course, will eventually cease to exist. Or become one with her, I'm not sure which." He paused, a bittersweet smile gracing his face. "But after we do this, bring the triumvirate together, it won't matter. I won't remember. That'll be the high point in my life. Knowing that I won't. But, isn't it funny... I won't remember the high point in my life, either. Did that make sense?" He laughed sharply, then winced. "Your child..."

      Seiya spoke bitterly, "My sacrifice. But I won't remember -that- either, will I? The regret I'll never have..."

      "Seiya, Yaten?" Someone knocked on the door. "Please come in here. Pluto wants to speak with you."

      "I suppose that's it then. We're almost done." Yaten reached out an arm, and pulled Seiya fiercely into a hug. "This's my goodbye. I'll see you in the past, Seiya-kun."