Tension of the Past

Part 2

*~*~*~*

We've passed through ages together, you and I… sharing each other's strength and love. I watch you wilt as I bloom, and a sadness overcomes me… I can't keep on living for you. I can't keep on watching you're life soar with every man you meet, and then hit a new rock bottom three months later…

But what am I to do? You are the foundation of my safety… but you may also be my undoing.

*~*~*~*

Sailor Jupiter and Mars appeared on the far end of the roof behind Sailor Venus, and raced to either side of the blond senshi, ready and able for any action.

"Disturbing the peace of this planet is a one way ticket to hell, Taiki," shouted Jupiter, using as much acting technique as she could muster, moving into a menacing martial arts stance. Anybody who wasn't used to seeing a black belt in a skimpy sailor fuku would have laughed their last laugh.

"Guys," started Venus, trying to get them out of battle mode. It was hard, though, once they got into their monologues.

"Challenging one Sailor Senshi is challenging another," continued Mars, with just as much enthusiasm, bringing out several spirit chants and splaying the thin rice paper like a hand of cards.

"I don’t think you understand--"

"It's all for one and one for all! I'm Sailor Jupiter, the foundation of strength!"

"I'm Sailor Mars, the base of the spirit! Together we will punish you on behalf of Sailor Venus and our queen!"

"WHOA! WAIT A SECOND!" yelled Venus, and stepped in front of the Starlights, blocking their way.

A rush of golden threads slapped Star Healer's face and then… an incredible burst of light. All was silent for a

moment, and Star Healer watched as the girl fell to her death right in front of her, a death that had been meant for herself. And as her life sped away, all that Venus could think of was Star Healer, and how happy she was to give the girl a second chance at life...

"Huh?" Mars and Jupiter looked at her. "What are you doing, Venus? Taiki got out again! We have to put him back

before anybody gets hurt!"

"From what? A cage?" wondered Taiki.

"Again?" said Yaten.

“This isn’t Taiki!” cried Venus.

"Jeeze, girl," reprimanded Jupiter. "Have you been taking something?"

Mars cocked her head to one side and took a good long look at Yaten, long enough to make him turn a deep shade of red.

"What do you think you're doing?" he said a bit flustered.

"Hey now…" said Mars. "Ami-chan never told us she made a YATEN clone."

"Clone…?" asked Yaten.

"Wha…?" Jupiter made a double take on Yaten… and all time seemed to stand still. Until of course, Yaten jumped in front of Venus and started to rant.

"WHAT THE HELL KIND OF PLANET DO YOU RUN AROUND HERE?!"

Jupiter looked at Mars, obviously puzzled. "There's always been time for little dialogues and cute interactions with

the enemy, hasn't there?"

"As far as I can remember… unless it's the boss… that's a whole other story."

"Mm-hmm." Jupiter nodded in agreement.

As Yaten fumed, Taiki closed his eyes and grinned. I had forgotten was bliss was like. Earth has always been different than our own planet. A sense of lightness and purity. We tried to take that back with us… but it faded as time wore on.

Before he left, Taiki had said good-bye to Kakyuu and her consort and saw that same lightness and purity in their

eyes. It radiated from her and Seiya. I almost didn't want to leave.

Taiki came back to reality when he heard the silence. Everybody was staring at him.

"Sorry," he said, blushing. "I was just thinking how great Earth was."

"N-nani?" Mars stopped her observations.

"Oh, yeah. Just dandy," answered Yaten, crossing his arms. "Guardians don't give old friends a warm welcome… they just make clones and lock them in cages, waiting for the angry devils to destroy the world. Things must be really boring these days, huh?"

"Ma-Mako-chan," stuttered Mars. She blinked rapidly.

"Do you think…?"

"They're the real ones?"

"A Taiki 00?"

Venus once more stepped in front of Yaten and said, "Welcome Yaten Kou and Taiki Kou to Earth, guys. It's been a while, ne?"

"Hi." Taiki made a small wave as Jupiter looked from one Light to another. Yaten let his shoulders relax in greeting, and sighed.

"So… if this IS the real Taiki… then where's the other one?"

"Oh no!" cried Sailor Venus. "Back to the palace. Now!"

"Would somebody PLEASE tell me what's going on here?!"

*~*~*~*

He was free. Oh he was free, and it felt superb, as he slipped in between the shadows of the pillars of the palace,

no prison bars holding him back. He had let those annoying women think he had left the grounds (how utterly naïve for guardians of a planet. They had been here for centuries… maybe no excitement got to the head… or those revoltingly tacky outfits), and snuck through the side corridors.

All he had to do was keep away from that damned insane doctor woman and her son who would no doubt grow up to be exactly the same. Hah, and she considered him to be the father. As if it was a possibility. For a child so seemingly intelligent, he turned to mush the moment that Saturn girl entered the room.

No son of his would weaken at the sight of the opposite sex… or to the same either.

Taiki 01 headed for the kitchen, stealthily making sure it was empty for the moment, and slipped through the doors, inching his way to the walls. Bringing out his lock pick set, the man started unlocking the expensive cupboards when he reached them. It had been so hard to get quality food since the princess had been caught getting into the Godiva Chocolates.

He felt the click of the lock and opened to see the caviar. He nearly wept. Delicately jamming the small jars in the pockets of his dressing robe (Chinese silk, of course. Nothing less could touch his body. How gullible those girls were. "I didn't see the DNA for skin rashes!"), he searched the room warily for any sight to "land him back in the slammer". Such disgusting language was required for humorous moments such as these.

This excitement was fantastic. The only thing compared to this sensation was when he had broken out that one time before and took a bath in the royal apartments. Ahhhh… being a prisoner at the palace wasn't so terrible as it looked.

Suddenly, there was a movement at the door, and Taiki 01 swiftly turned, Carr's Table Water Crackers landing on his head, and stared into the deep purple eyes of himself. No, wait. The brat.

Damn.

*~*~*~*

Running and jumping from rooftop to rooftop, Mars and Jupiter tried to explain as best they could.

"About two months ago, we saw probably the most disturbing sight ever. Taiki taking a bath in Queen Serenity's bathing pool."

Star Healer glanced at Star Maker, who blushed furiously.

"So we asked Ami-chan about it… and she confessed to creating a Taiki clone." Maker looked extremely surprised. "Saying that she had wanted a good father figure to Ichigo, and that he was the perfect match."

"What?! Who's Ichigo?"

Mars' eyes glinted like steel when her face turned to him. “Of all the people in this universe, Taiki, you should know who he is."

The tension thickened, and even Venus had an emotionless mask on her face when he looked at her for any hint. Healer rose an eyebrow at Maker.

What? Is it true then…? Ami… why didn't you say anything? I knew something was wrong when you drifted away from me… I would have stayed for you. I would have stayed forever.

"She sped up his growth process, so he was able to mature to a twenty year old man in only two weeks. But this Taiki wasn't the same person as she had hoped. He was cold and cruel… a Taiki of the mind, but not of the spirit." Mars snorted, evidently disagreeing with Jupiter's words. "She couldn't control him. So when he started to insult the king on his taste in clothing, there was nothing we could do. There was a huge chance of him becoming a rebel or enemy.”

“We had to keep him under constant surveillance, but somehow he keeps escaping."

"Oh, they're petty things now," added Mars. "He's just toying with us. But he doesn't have the emotional restraint

like others. Ami denies ever making more than one… but with the way she had acted before gaining some sense…"

"What?" asked Maker, startled. Nobody answered.

"But do you really think he's capable of pure evil?" asked Jupiter. "I mean, I think he's pretty harmless, even if he IS a nuisance."

"I don't know," said Mars. "I really don't. I can't get a reading from him at all."

"It’s just fun for him,” said Venus, stating her opinion. “I don’t think he’s harmless… but I don’t think he’s a threat, either. Who wouldn’t want diversion when they’re locked up for life?”

“HE HAS AN ENTIRE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER!” shouted Jupiter. “Whatever’s on my wish list HE gets!”

“He’s only been alive for three weeks. Don’t you think that’s saying something?” asked Venus. “He’s like a twelve year old spoiled brat.”

“I can’t wait until I get the chance to ring his neck,” sneered Jupiter, her hands tightening into fists.

“Serenity’s taken a liking to him, oddly enough,” said Mars. “I don’t know… I guess we all miss them… uh…” She looked over to the two men, and blushed. “I mean… you guys. Really. You could have at least dropped us a line telling us how things were going.”

“We had no idea things could come this far.”

“Thank Serenity for all of this. I’m so glad I get to keep my beauty!”

“Where ARE you keeping it, Rei-chan?”

“Makoto!”

Star Healer watched Minako through all of this, as the other two senshi bantered playfully. Though she had joined the conversation somewhat, the Starlight could sense her distance. Was being the leader really so hard? Or was something else wrong?

A turn of the corner, and there it was. A shining palace of crystal, breathtakingly beautiful. The inner senshi were

obviously used to it by now.

Huge golden doors marked the entryway, and carved into them were smaller, more usable versions. Venus opened them, while the others rushed inside. Taking one swift look around the area, she walked through, the door quietly closing by itself. They now entered the palace of dreams and awakenings.