The wood snapped as Taiki blew on it gently, coaxing the small fire to grow. With great care, she added more fuel. Not far away knelt Kakyuu, going through the inventory of food. Her eyes narrowed in the failing light, she lifted a can and eyed it critically. "You would think," the small Princess said, setting aside the can and reaching for another, "that in a castle as large as Dankei, we would have been able to salvage more food." Seeing what it contained, her pretty face wrinkled slightly. "Or perhaps more diversity," she amended, setting the can down next to its twin and reaching for yet another.

Taiki looked at the Princess blandly. "Turnip stew again?" Seeing the slight shudder pass through Kakyuu, she sent her Princess a sympathetic look. "Yaten will be pleased, no doubt."

The petite woman set down what seemed like the millionth can of turnips and returned her gaze to her Senshi. "Indeed," she replied in a serious monotone.

Taiki's lips twitched, suppressing a grin. "Do you want earplugs now or later?"

As the brunette added more fuel to the fire, Kakyuu chuckled softly. "It looks like now would be good." She pointed a slender hand to the distance. Taiki could not help but notice the dirt marring its once-smooth whiteness. The soft, well-manicured hand of a cultured Princess gave way to torn nails, broken skin and calluses. And yet she never complained, the brunette noted, proud. Hime was wonderful to serve - when she wasn't running off to the far corners of the galaxy. Taiki pushed that dark thought aside for the moment; she was sure Seiya would address *that* particular issue later.

As Yaten shuffled over to where Taiki knelt, Seiya smoothly dropped to one knee in front of her Princess, henshining as she did so. The Starlight bowed low, fist over heart, and held the pose, humbled. "My apologies, Princess, for losing my temper yet again. I humbly ask for your forgiveness," Fighter murmured in a low tone, abasing herself before Kakyuu.

As Kakyuu made to reply, she heard a delicate snort from across the fire. "Humble, my foot," Yaten murmured softly to Taiki. "Seiya doesn't have a humble bone in her.." The words stuck in her throat, however, when she saw the glare Kakyuu was giving her.

Kakyuu returned her gaze to Fighter's bowed head. "Oh, dearest one," she murmured softly, folding her hands neatly in her lap to help her resist the urge to stroke Fighter's hair. "I'm sorry this is so hard on you, but you must remember that it's hard on all of us. I think it best you spend some time working on controlling your temper and reigning it in. To that end, I believe you and Healer shall go into town and survey the damage done there." Kakyuu almost laughed out loud at the squak of protest that came from her silver-haired guardian. Leveling a cool look at Healer, she continued. "I think you both need a lesson in humility, and to remember that you are part of a team. So a few days in town surveying the damage and relying on one another exclusively should accomplish the job nicely, don't you think?" She smiled inwardly at the grumble of aquiescence she received in reply. "Good. You leave tomorrow. Stay as long as you need to, but do not return for a week." Kakyuu saw Fighter's shoulders stiffen in response, but the kneeling senshi made no reply. That was a step in the right direction, the Princess thought to herself. "Now, please, rise and help Maker with dinner. Healer and I can clean up this evening."

Making no outward sign of protest, Fighter did as she was bade, dehenshining, moving to Taiki's side and helping with the evening meal. Inwardly, she felt chastened. The young senshi wasn't angry, at least not with Kakyuu. She was well aware that she brought such repercussions on herself. Seiya couldn't help but envy the others' control over their emotions. It was something that she, herself, hadn't completely mastered, particularly after such a long and trying episode. That she would master it, there was no doubt; Kakyuu deserved as much. As the Leader of the Starlights set the pot on the fire to boil, she observed her Princess. She looked tired, Seiya thought, noting the dark circles under Kakyuu's garnet-colored eyes. Those eyes seemed to lack the luster they used to, and her face seemed a bit older, some how. Yes, Galaxia's rampage had taken its toll on everyone.

Settling back into her own spot across the fire from Kakyuu, Seiya pulled her long ponytail over her shoulder and slowly began to work out the tangles with her fingers. While she did this, she noticed Yaten cleaning dishes, occasionally stealing glances at their Princess. For some reason, it made Seiya's stomach knot. Was this jealousy? Before she could think on this further, the youngest Starlight felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning, she saw Taiki crouched next to her, proffering a wide-toothed comb. Wordlessly, she took it and nodded her thanks to the brunette.

Taiki nodded and returned to her station near the fire, picking up a ladle and stiring the contents of the pot. Things were definitely getting interesting around here, she thought to herself. Yaten was watching Hime, as usual. But now Seiya was watching Yaten and Kakyuu. Too bad no one was watching poor Taiki, the brunette thought with an inward, ironic chuckle as she added seasoning to the stew. Ah, well. It was ever thus, was it not? With a soft sigh, she started to ladle out dinner.

* * *

"You animal!" Maker snarled, shaking in uncontrolled fury. "Those were people!"

Heavy Metal Papillon threw back her head and laughed, her long, purple hair rippling with the movement. "So what? They do not have the glitter of a true Star Seed. Why should I care?" Her violet eyes glittered malevolently, more cold than Maker's had ever been - or could ever be.

The tallest Starlight wanted to weep in frustration. On the ground were twenty or so black cocoons - Phages waiting to hatch. And without their Princess....

"I'll kill you!" Fighter roared, launching herself at the Anima-mate. Papillon laughed and dodged Fighter’s attack, then took to the air, her huge butterfly wings propelling her out of harm's way. Or so she thought.

With an almost feral snarl, Fighter launched herself upwards, pure white wings exploding from her back. Taken by complete surprised, Papillon was not prepared to defend herself.

From the ground, Maker smiled in satisfaction as Fighter gave the Anima-mate the beating of a lifetime. That smile was short-lived, however. The cocoons started to hatch.

"Oh Gods," Healer whispered as the Phage emerged. "What are we going to do?"

A shrill scream pierced the air, and as one the Senshi on the ground turned. Papillon was falling from the sky, her magnificent wings torn beyond recognition, her body battered and bloody. Somehow, she had the strength of will to cause the Dimensional Phonebooth to appear, and she fell into it and disappeared. Fighter growled in frustration and landed by her companions, wings vanishing.

"Fighter..." Maker said quietly as the rest of the Phage emerged from their cocoons.

The Leader of the Starlights bowed her head. "There is nothing we can do," she said quietly. Swallowing a lump in her throat, she choked out, "Kill them."

Next to her, Maker felt Healer start to tremble. It took her another moment to realize that she was trembling herself. They all were.

Then the Phage attacked, and there was no more time to think.

* * *

Taiki's violet eyes flew open and she bit back a gasp as the dream finally released her. Sweat soaked her bedclothes and she realized she was trembling. Again. When would the nightmares end?

She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself, but every time she did so, the images came back. As if being forced to slay the Phage wasn't bad enough, the Starlights had discovered that Phage returned to their human form when killed. Taiki remembered vividly the feelings of overwhelming horror that she felt as she and her companions watched the bodies change, one by one, into people - some of them that they even knew.

Tears welled in her violet eyes now as they did then, and the blackness set in. Only this time, Seiya did not come over to comfort her. She remembered that first night, how she spent the evening staring at the fire in the fireplace, willing the tears to stop. And how Seiya simply came up beside her, perching on the arm of the couch and wordlessly wrapped her arms around the tall brunette to comfort her. She remembered how Yaten quietly came in and curled up beside her, laying her head in Taiki’s lap, the three of them taking comfort in one another. It was all that they could do. Never before in her life, in any of her lives, had Maker felt such a sense of despair. Such a loss of hope.

Taiki quietly untangled herself from the bed sheets and stood. It was pitch dark; the small fire they'd set in the center of the room had burnt to embers. Barefoot, she padded across the room to where the patio once was. Lifting the tarp that kept out the cold, she went outside. The wind blew across her sweat-slick skin, drying her and raising goose bumps on her flesh. Again she was filled with the darkness, the memory of the loss of hope.

These things seemed to have made Fighter stronger, Taiki reflected. The worse things got, the angrier she became. And like the Goddess of Destruction she was, the angrier she became, the more viciously she fought. After nearly killing Papillon, the trio had a bit of a respite. Not long, though, as then came Sailor Lethe, followed closely by Sailor Mnemosyne. Of course, with them came the transformations of humans to Phage. The war changed the Starlights - all of them. It had to, or else they would have broken. To see someone who was close to you, a cherished friend, a beloved teacher, lying dead at your feet because you had to kill them; it changes a person. To know that your survival and the survival of those you are trying to protect rest on killing that person, no matter who they once were - it changes a person.

Fighter had taught them early, though, to take the fight to the Anima-mates. Destroy them, and there would be no Phage. Much to Taiki's everlasting regret, they never managed to actually kill an Anima-mate, though she was sure it was close on a number of occasions.

But eventually someone had taken notice of the Starlights' resistance. Someone whose power far outstripped their own. With almost casual ease, Galaxia had tossed the Starlights aside as if they were nothing. Laughing, she told them not to disobey and then disappeared. How could they fight that?

Taiki sighed softly as her eyes drifted heavenward. Even after all this, they still shown down. They were eternal, like Sailor Crystals. If only they had never heard of such a term, the lithe brunette thought bitterly. In Galaxia, they had a foe they simply could not beat, especially with the Princess gone. There was no one to heal the people, to restore their lost glitter. Slowly but surely, the population was declining. They were only three against Galaxia and her minions, and the three were without hope.

Taiki remembered talking with the others late into the night about what to do. They were torn. On one hand, they had their duty. No one had dismissed them. But if they stayed, it would be only a matter of time before they were killed. The thought of death didn't frighten them; they had died before and would die again. That was part of what it meant to be Senshi. But this time when they died, there would be no rebirth. Their Sailor Crystals would go to Galaxia, making her even stronger.

The other option was to find their Princess. Only she could end the madness. Only she could restore a Star Seed's lost glitter. Only she had the power to defeat Galaxia; or, she would if her mission was successful, her letter had said.

A bitter tang filled Taiki's mouth. The fact that Hime had run away without telling them of her plan galled the brilliant woman to no end. In a sense, she felt betrayed. Were they not good enough, that Hime had felt it necessary to flee in the middle of the night leaving only a note as goodbye?

Lost in the darkness within, Taiki almost jumped out of her skin as she felt warm arms slide around her waist. Looking down, she saw Seiya's curly hair as her friend leaned into her, comforting her wordlessly as she had that night so long ago. Fighting back tears, she turned and slid an arm over Seiya's strong shoulders, resting her cheek on the curly mass of her friend’s hair. They stood this way for some time while Taiki recovered herself. When she felt safe enough to speak, she asked Seiya, "How did you know?"

A soft chuckle sounded from somewhere below her shoulder. "I was a awake when you woke up. Cramps," she added after a pause, knowing Taiki would wonder what she was doing still awake at such an hour. "So glad to be a woman again, really," she muttered under her breath.

At that, Taiki smiled. "Oh well, there are worse things I suppose," she shrugged, patting her leader's shoulder in sympathy.

"Like the fact that we don't have any type of feminine hygiene products currently for any of us?" Seiya reminded her tall friend with a snort.

Taiki blinked. She'd been male for so long, she'd completely forgotten the need. "That could be a problem. We could shift..." Taiki felt Seiya shrug and fell silent.

"We can, but Hime can't," the smaller woman reminded her. "No, we have a problem. Not only that, but that little midden I blasted isn't going to be good much longer. We need running water. We need to get the sewer systems operational, otherwise we're going to have more than a hygiene problem. Galaxia may have destroyed most of the life here, but I'm not about to risk us getting sick from some sort of plague."

Taiki felt her shoulders droop. "I should have thought of that," she muttered, silently berating herself. That earned her a poke in the ribs.

"How many times have we had to do without any sort of civilization whatsoever?" Seiya asked. When Taiki gave her a blank look, she continued. "Never. We've always had Dankei, after a fashion. We've always had something. You really can't expect yourself to know everything, Genius Girl."

Taiki gave her friend a bland look and withdrew her arm. "And yet you thought of it," she grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Of course," Seiya smirked. "That's why I'm the Leader."

That particular statement set Taiki's eyebrow to twitching. "Welcome back, Mighty Leader."

***

The quartet rose at dawn, as was becoming their custom. Two of the four grumbled inwardly, and not just because of the early hour. Soon they would be embarking on their latest mission, though punishment was probably a better term. While Kakyuu and Yaten prepared breakfast, Taiki and Seiya went out to locate one of the sewer lines by using one of the brunette's spectral scanners. It was almost comical, Kakyuu thought to herself, watching the pair in the distance. The only scanner Maker had was a small, hand-held unit, which forced her to walk hunched over as she scanned the ground, trying to find where the sewers lay. As if this wasn't bad enough, she was tethered to Fighter, who tagged along behind carrying Maker's laptop. A short, black cord ran from the scanner to the laptop, forcing the two women to stay close together. Kakyuu suppressed a giggle when one would bump into the other, or Maker would accidently rip the cord out of the back of the laptop if she wandered too far.

It didn't take long for the pair to finally work together as a team, the Kinmokuan Princess noted. The inital awkwardness soon flowed into familiarity as the duo moved around the palace grounds. They would consult on the move, speaking quickly and moving on. Knowing the pair as well as she did, Kakyuu assumed that they were looking for one of the larger pipes into the sewers so that repairs could begin as soon as possible.

Once the pair found what they were looking for, the Princess saw Fighter hand Maker the laptop and henshin. Using her Laser, the Leader of the Starlights marked the spots she'd need to cut later on. Once she had things marked to Maker's satisfaction, the pair headed back to the patio to break their fast.

The meal was a quiet one. Taiki poured over data in her laptop while Yaten fiddled with her food. Fighter, not having bothered to dehenshin, scarfed down her meal in record time, then took off to blast her way into the sewers. Kakyuu regarded her departing senshi's back with a bit of sadness. The Princess of all Kinmoku was sorry that she had to send her dear friend away, even if it was in Fighter's best interest. She wondered if pairing the young Starlight with Healer for a week might do more harm than good, but she pushed such lingering doubts aside. Kakyuu believed in her senshi, and she loved them dearly. They just needed a little reigning in from time to time. Tearing her gaze away from Fighter's distant form, the petite woman stood. "I think I shall water the plants a bit," she murmured quietly to the remaining senshi. "I shall be back shortly."

As Kakyuu left, Taiki's soft voice broke through the stillness. "I'll take that if you aren't going to eat it," the brunette said, nodding towards Yaten's barely touched morning meal. Shrugging, the smallest Starlight pushed the plate within Taiki's reach. The taller woman tsched as she noted the contents of the plate. "This will probably be the last decent food you'll get for a week. At least finish your fruit."

"Yes, Mommy," Yaten snapped peevishly, scooping up some berries and standing. "Can I go now?"

Taiki sighed and gave her friend a bland look. "There is no need to get pissy with me, you know. I'm just trying to look out for you."

Seeing the genuine caring in Taiki's amethyst eyes, Yaten relented a bit. "Yeah. I know." She paused a moment, and gave her friend a small smile. "Thanks, Taiki."

Taiki returned the smile warmly. "You are welcome. Now go keep an eye on Hime while I finish analysing this data, ok?"

"Yes, Mommy," Yaten retorted with a chuckle, heading off towards the Eastern Gardens. Taiki was happy to note that the silver-haired woman finished the berries within a few steps of leaving the patio.

***

Yaten looked down at the ribbon in her hand and sighed softly. She would have never thought she'd actually have to get used to being female again. A silvery eyebrow twitched in irritation. It was so good to be rid of that body. It was so foreign, so... disgusting. Running her fingers through her long hair, she sighed again. She felt so much more connected to everything like this; so much more alive. The physicality of the male persona not only disgusted her, but it annoyed her as well. No wonder men were the way they were, when things were so damn prominent every time you even moved!

Shivering delicately, Yaten reached into her pocket and pulled out the small brush she had recovered to groom her hair. It was virtually impossible to do in these conditions, so the petite woman took whatever opportunity she could to rid the worst of the tangles from her hair. Her hand paused part way up to her hair as Kakyuu came out of the hedge maze.

The silver-haired Starlight clutched the brush to her chest as she watched her Princess slowly make her way through the gardens, tending the plants herself. Unmindful of the bristles cutting into her palm, her peridot eyes drank in the slender form in the distance. Her heart ached its familiar pain as she watched Kakyuu take the small canister of water and distribute its contents sparingly. Every gesture was exquisite, regal. Even the simplest of things, her Princess made look beautiful and wholesome.

Unbeknownst to the smallest Light, her trademark silver hair had caught the attention of another. Seeing the glint, Seiya was curious. Besides, the athletic woman knew the pair had to leave soon. The Princess had requested they leave for town today, and the Leader of the Starlights felt it would be best not to push their luck any more than they already had. Seiya's stomach rolled over at the thought of spending the next week alone in Yaten's company. Their relationship had always been unique, a mixture of playfulness and anger, tempered with the strong bond of duty and friendship. Now, Seiya realized, she understood the smaller woman just a little bit better. And with that understanding came... something else. She wasn't quite sure what. Admiration at her resilience? Perhaps. Or maybe misery truly did love company.

Quietly, Seiya stopped behind Yaten. The smaller woman was hidden in the shade of a tree; staring at a figure in the distance, watching Kakyuu. The Leader of the Starlights slid her hands into her pants pockets, understanding immediately. "How can you stand it?" she asked quietly. In many ways, Seiya was glad that Usagi was light years away. It made the healing process easier.

Startled, Yaten whirled around, her unbound silvery hair fanning out around her. She glared up at her taller friend. "Stand what?" she asked, her green eyes flashing in agitation at being caught. Her fist still clenched the brush and ribbon.

Without taking her eyes off Kakyuu's figure in the distance, Seiya nodded towards the Princess. "The pain. After all these years..." Her voice trailed off as she looked down into Yaten's upturned face.

Yaten spun back around, crossing her arms over her chest. The straightness of her stance showed her anger far better than words. "You know nothing of my pain," she snapped bitterly, seething.

This took the taller woman by surprise. Her blue eyes narrowed as she regarded Yaten's back. The silver hair shook as Yaten quivered in suppressed rage. "Don't I?" Seiya queried, her voice almost a whisper. The tone in her voice made Yaten turn and look at her friend sharply. "I think you're wrong." Blue eyes locked with green ones in a contest of wills.

Yaten studied Seiya's face for a moment then nodded at what she saw. "Yes," she said slowly, turning to regard the Princess once more. "Perhaps you do." She stiffened slightly as she felt Seiya's arm go around her shoulder, then she leaned into her friend. There was solace to be had here, with someone who understood the pain of loving beyond one's station - a one-sided love.

As the pair stood together watching their Princess, Seiya smiled softly. It finally hit her - they were home. What a beautiful word: "home". There was so much that word meant, so much that it conveyed, especially now after being gone so long. Seiya felt Yaten shift in her arm and lay her head on her shoulder. A feeling of warmth rushed through her, something she didn't quite understand. How crazy, this warmth, for someone who was at once her dear friend and fighting companion. Perhaps the fatigue was finally getting to her, Seiya mused as she looked at the top of Yaten's head. She followed the soft strands as they fell. The contrast of the silver against her own lightly tanned skin fascinated her, and that fascination irritated her as well. Chiding herself for such foolishness, she gently disengaged herself from Yaten and held out her hand. The smaller woman gave her a perplexed look. "The brush," Seiya answered to the unspoken question. Reluctantly, Yaten handed the brush over.

Seiya gripped the bristles and pulled at the silvery hair imbedded there, cleaning the brush. Carelessly, she tossed the hair to the ground, having no where else to put it. Yaten's eyebrow twitched at that. Then her jaw dropped as Seiya circled around behind her and picked up the ends of her hair and began to slowly work out the tangles. "Just what do you think you are doing?" she asked, her voice going high with a slight hysterical note.

Seiya snorted from somewhere behind her. "Brushing your hair, what does it feel like? You can't reach the tangles back here. I can," she added matter-of-factly.

Yaten felt her eyebrow twitching again. "But, Seiya--"

"Look," she heard Seiya sigh impatiently, "just shut up and hold still. Regardless of what you think, I *do* know how to take care of long hair. I just don't primp as much as you do." The last was said with a chuckle that made Yaten's face go sour.

"I don't primp," she sniffed delicately, to which she was rewarded with a hearty laugh and a swat on the arm.

"Yes you do." Trying to contain her laughter, Seiya ended up snickering instead. As Yaten tried to pull away, she bopped her friend lightly on the head with the brush. "Don't move!" she chided, then went back to work.

Slowly Yaten relaxed as her friend worked on her hair. Strange, yet soothing. It was nice to have someone do this small thing for her, someone she knew rather than a stranger. She closed her eyes and simply allowed herself to enjoy the sensation of her friend carefully brushing out her hair. It was many moments before she realized that she no longer knew where Kakyuu had gone, and that she'd simply stopped watching. Her green eyes flew open wide and she started, which earned her another bop on the head.

"I'm almost done," Seiya snapped, gripping Yaten's shoulder firmly to keep her in place.

Yaten sighed and did as Seiya bade, standing still and looking off in the distance, lost in her own thoughts. In the dim recesses of her mind, she felt someone stroking her hair, holding the silken strands out and letting them fall gently. It was so very soothing. Languidly she turned and saw Seiya staring at her with the oddest expression on her face. Yaten's silvery hair spilled from her fingers to drift downward. She looked at Seiya and Seiya looked at her; how long they stood this way neither could tell. Seiya was the first to look away.

"Done," she pronounced, returning the brush with a flourish. "We need to get going." Then, without another word, she turned and walked back towards their rooms.

Yaten brought the brush to her lips, pressing the back of it to them, thinking. Her peridot eyes stayed glued to Seiya's back until it disappeared. Only then did she realize that she was smiling. Then she followed her Leader back towards the Starlights' apartments.