Cosmic Destiny - CH5 - Dinner

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At the sound of a heavly gong, the group assembled in Charon Castle's grand dinning hall. Setsuna gracefully strolled over to the head of the table, the rustle of her long gown the only sound to accompany her entrance, and sat down. The king, his generals, and the outers all followed in suit and sat down. Nephrite, Michiru, Artemis, and Diana sat on the king's side while Uranus, Jadeite, Hotaru, and Zoisite sat on the general's side. Selene sat opposite of Setsuna, acting as the other head. Empty china plates and high-stemmed glasses were in front of them. The room had a strange air about it, almost like anticipation.

It had the feel like something was going to happen, an electric feeling for some reason. Setsuna felt this very strongly and it caused her to become very alert. The hall was very high and the wall paneled. One wall was lined with tall floor length French style windows. A panel on the wall suddenly sunk into darkness and servants emerged. Setsuna's strange and mute servants handed out food.

They were nothing more than animated bodies that Setsuna had brought back to life with Hotaru's help. Their skin was black, black like the night skin. Light seemed lost in their pitch black skin. Holes with slightly lighter shimmering fire served for eyes on the servants. Hotaru was still young and was not capable of handling her planet's immense power. Setsuna had taken her in and took a majority of her power in order to ease the young senshi's pain. If Setsuna hadn't done this Hotaru's power would've cause her to go mad and go on a killing spree. The servants wore all black, black fitting long shirt and pants, and long hoods that reached over and covered the top of their face, their eyes visible at certain angles. They set out plates of food in front of the group, roasted meats, fruits, bread, and cheeses. Another servant went around and filled the glasses with wine, refilling them as needed.

Kunzite brought his glass to his lips, looking between the king and Setsuna trying to see if there was any hint of something hitting off between them after their 'chat'. He didn't know what had transpired between the two, but he hoped it didn't hurt his chances with the beautiful and mysterious Setsuna. He drained his glass and set it back on to the table. A servant glided over and refilled it.

Setsuna sat tall and straight looking over her guests. "Has anything else come to mind?" she asked her voice rising over the clink of knives.

The guests shook their heads and gave muffled 'no's'. Nephrite set down his glass and spoke up, "I think that there is nothing to ask. I just wish to ask for everyone's vigilance. It seems the only thing to do is to sit and wait. I really don't want to see you outers start a war?"

The table agreed to this. "Yes, I don't want the outers and my daughter to seem like aggravators. One of the most powerful things my wife has at her disposal is her control of the media. She has already filled the streets of Crystal Tokyo with lies about you outers. If you attacked first it would confirm these lies in the mind of the everyday citizen, "the king added, steepling his hands on the table.

"I would like to keep the enviable battles out of the populated planets. If anything we would bring the inners to Saturn and fight there." Setsuna explained with her head held high, surveying her guests again. Her eyes fell on Hotaru. "If that's ok with Hotaru of course?" all eyes fell on the young girl. She blushed, she was not a person who liked attention, and nodded.

Jadeite flashed a smile from behind his wine glass at her shyness. "Yes, I think that's the best thing to do?"

"The pressing matter remains, will you support us?" Setsuna asked and turned to the king, as did everyone else.

The king brought his hand to his mouth and stared at his wine glass, "I? I don't know yet?" Selene felt something inside her break at her father's indecision. "I'm sorry but I can't decide anything yet."

The rising anxiety that Setsuna was experiencing hit its peak. She stood up and her head snapped to the floor length windows in time to see a blur crashing into them. Glass sharps fell all over the floor and rained down on the shocked guests. The intruder climbed to their feet as two other blurs flew in.

"Jupiter!" Haruka yelled at the first intruder. Without even time to transform she ran toward the scout. Jupiter climbed to her feet and with a twisted smiled began to cast. Electricity filled the air and sparks gathered around Jupiter's body. She screamed and launched a hellish attack on Haruka, who because she was not transformed, was thrown against the wall. As Haruka was being tossed around Michiru, Hotaru, and Setsuna transformed. Mercury and Venus rose and were on Neptune and Hotaru before they could react. Pluto's staff materialized in her hand and she disappeared from the hall in a cloud of black mist. 'Mars, she must be the reason they slipped into my palace unknown?. What have you done?'

Protect the Princess, Pluto communicated to the generals.

The generals quickly reacted and moved to the princess's side along with Artemis and Diana. Meanwhile Mercury, and Venus grabbed their scout counter parts and dragged them out the window. Jupiter grabbed a transforming Haruka and joined them in their fall. Because Charon's Castle was beyond time and space gravity didn't apply there and the scouts slowly drifted down, with enough time to right themselves and land on their feet.

Clutching Selene to his chest the king stood at the broken windows edged a peered down at the scout stand off below him. "What is the meaning of this!" he yelled angrily at them.

The inners started up at him. "The queen send us here to retrieve you," Venus replied, her chain in her hands.

"And the generals as well!" Jupiter added as she backed away from Haruka and got into a proper stance.

"Hurry my king, Mars can't hold this barrier open for long!" Mercury called out.

Selene buried her head in her father's chest and held on to him tightly. The king looked down at his daughter tears prinking at his eyes, 'How can I leave her??'

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Setsuna quickly let her mind scan over her castle, looking for a disturbance or a barrier. There you are Rei? Setsuna materialized in a small alcove of her garden. There sat Sailor Mars. Her hands were clasped in prayer and sweat dripped down her forehead with the concentration of the spell she weaved. A portal was visible behind her.

Not looking up Rei responded in her mind. So you found me? it took you long enough she looked up with a smiled on her face. This new power was a success I see?

Setsuna's gripped her staff tighter, and dark mists began to swirl around her. This was just a test wasn't it? Her anger and bitterness communicated through her mind clearly.

Rei smiled wickedly yes.

Just when Setsuna was about to release a dead scream attack the king, his generals, the outers, and the other inners all enter the garden. "Setsuna stop!" Mamoru yelled. Setsuna let her staff drop to her side and walked over to Mamoru, coming to stand at his side. Her crimson eyes meet his deep blue. "I guess you've made your choice? " Setsuna said bitterly before walking past him to stand at the Garden's entrance with her back to him. Selene looks up at her father with tears in her eyes then ran to Setsuna.

Setsuna opened her arms and Selene fell into them. Mamoru concealed his grief and addressed his wife's senshis. "Since it's only me who the Queen wishes to see please allow my generals to spend the night here and arrive in the morning. "

Rei stood up and addressed him, "That's fine, the queen wishes to speak with you immediately, your generals can wait." The king gave his generals a nod and a meaningful look to the outers then stepped into the swirling black portal. He and the inners disappeared into the blackness and the portal faded away.

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Setsuna pulled the covers up to Selene's neck. The little princess had cried for hours until she had no tears left to shed. Her eyes where red and puffy and tear trails stained her face. Shhh? Selene? no more tears now child? Sleep away your troubles she whispered into Selene's mind. She set soothing thoughts into the princess's mind and soon she was asleep. Setsuna sighed, many worries heavy on her, and headed out of the princess's room and onto on of Charon's Castle's balcony.

"Don't stress too much?."

Setsuna turned slowly and found that Kunzite had been waiting for her. He emerged from the shadows and stood at her side. Together the two looked out at Charon's shifting and mystifying night sky. Kunzite came from behind and reached his arms out and wrapped them around Setsuna's waist, pulling her close to him so that Setsuna's back touched his front. Kunzite leaned his head on Setsuna's neck. Setsuna sighs and relaxed in to Kunzite grasp.

"Kunzite? "

"Hm?" He responded, the vibrations from his voice tickling her neck.

Setsuna removed Kunzite's hands and turned to face him, "Kunzite, I'm sorry but I can't?." she said trying not to make eye contact. She tried to move away from him but Kunzite pinned her between himself and the railing. He stepped in close to her and wrapped her arms around her waist again. The bodies pressed against each other, forcing Setsuna to look into his eyes.

"Setsuna? why not? Why can't you be with me?" Setsuna brought her hand to Kunzite's chest and leaned against him. "Is it because of Mamoru?"

Setsuna stared into Kunzite's deep blue eyes. 'He saw us? he must think?' She shook her head, "He's a married man, Kunzite?"

"I see the way you too act together? he may be married but he's falling in love with someone else? you Setsuna?"Setsuna stared off to the side and shook her head. "Do you love him back Setsuna?"

Setsuna felt long repressed tears coming to her eyes, "I don't know? I love him like I love Selene? I love you like?"

Kunzite stared at her, his grip tightened on her waist, "Setsuna?"

Setsuna turned to stare at Kunzite the two looked each other deeply in the eyes. She took her hand and brought it to his cheek. "Kunzite? every time you leave I feel like something inside me is hollow? I love you?"

Kunzite smiled and brought his face in close to Setsuna, "I love you too?" he breathed out. Their lips came to meet and the slowly kissed under the shifting skies of Charon Castle.