Author: Deathangelgw

Disclaimer: same as always! Hush up…I know they ain’t mine!

Warnings: a little bit darker…evil on the horizon

Rating: PG-13

Pairings: TK/SM and added hints of SU+OC, SN+OC, and SP+OC

Note: Everyone keeping up? Good! Enjoy and please review!

‘thoughts’

/telepathic speech/

The next couple of weeks passed swiftly yet were disrupted occasionally by Daimon activities. The Inner Senshi found themselves once more confused, wanting to help out the Outer Senshi, but the cold rebuffs were disheartening. They were also becoming increasingly worried about Kinroze, as she seemed to grow almost weaker by the day. The Outer Senshi said nothing about it and neither did Kinroze, yet they had seen her collapse already against a Daimon and worried about their friend.

Genaisa refused to speak about what was wrong with her to the other three, for she didn’t know herself. She knew that her visions were coming more and more often and Haruka had taken to staying over at her place to calm her down out of concern. Setsuna had moved in with Michiru and Haruka, keeping them all close together, so it calmed down Genaisa considerably to have her best friends nearby. Especially after figuring out that the Daimons might already have the Messiah of Silence.

But they tried not to think too much on it, focusing instead on trying to find their Messiah of Light. Thus, they went about as normally as they could, even as Sailor Senshi. Thus were Genaisa’s thoughts as she filed away medicines at the hospital she volunteered at in her spare time. She was deep in thought on her filing, but kept an eye on the clock. She knew Haruka was picking her up at the end of her shift, so she was making sure she was on time. She was just about done and readying the next batch of meds when she overheard some nurses talking.

“Hai…she’s looking for Mizuno-sensei. This young woman collapsed and she should really be looked at,” one nurse said as they looked for the beeper numbers. Genaisa shifted closer, listening intently.

“Oh here it is! What was the young girl’s name?” the other nurse asked as she waved the paper.

“I think her friend said Tomoe Hotaru. I know that name somehow…”

The voices faded to the background as Genaisa looked away, eyes wide with shock. ‘Hotaru?? It can’t be!!’ she thought in shock before pushing from the closet and heading towards the room that the nurses had mentioned. She stopped in the doorway and felt her breath catch as she saw the same young woman she had glimpsed a couple of weeks back before she had mysteriously collapsed. ‘Hotaru…’ she thought, feeling joy in her heart as well as an icy feeling of fear. She sensed darkness within the young girl that frightened her and felt that somehow, Hotaru was connected with the Daimons. She just prayed that it wasn’t as she thought.

She focused as she saw Chibiusa struggle to keep Hotaru laying down, crying softly and hugging her as she cried. She told her she’d been so worried and wanted her friend to get better. Genaisa felt a soft smile cross her lips, happy that Hotaru had made such good friends before hearing Ami tell Hotaru that she should stay. She smirked as Hotaru protested and started getting out of bed, then decided to come in and ‘help them’. “Hotaru…you know you should rest when you are weak,” she chided gently as she came in. The three other girls blinked in surprise at the new voice and looked over.

Hotaru stared at Genaisa, eyes wide as she and Genaisa gazed at each other. “O-oneesan?” Hotaru whispered tremulously as she brought her fist up to her heart, trembling. The others stared at her in shock, then looked over at the stranger that had come in.

“Hai, Hotaru…you should listen to your friends. They just want what’s best for you,” Genaisa replied with a soft smile before coming over to the bed.

With a sob, Hotaru fell forward, hugging Genaisa tightly as she buried her face in the other young woman’s stomach. “Oneesan!! I can’t believe it’s really you!!” she cried out as she hugged Genaisa, shaking as gentle hands rubbed her back soothingly.

“Hai, hai, imouto…calm down and relax,” Genaisa whispered tenderly before sitting down on the bed with Hotaru, next to Chibiusa. She looked over at Chibiusa and smiled. “Arigato, little one…for taking care of her,” she said gently, smiling.

Chibiusa smiled brightly and put a hand behind her head. “It was nothing! She’s my friend and I care a lot about her!” she replied with a nervous giggle before focusing on Genaisa as she soothed her friend. “Are you really Hotaru-chan’s big sister?” she asked excitedly.

Genaisa’s eyes grew sad as she looked down at Hotaru and ran her fingers through the soft raven hair. “Not by blood…she and I are, or rather, were foster sisters. I was taken away a few years back and haven’t been able to see them since,” she answered quietly before smiling over at Chibiusa.

“That’s so sad! What’s your name?” Usagi asked softly as she and Ami came closer as Hotaru sat up and wiped her face.

“Chiba Genaisa. A pleasure,” Genaisa answered amiably, though she sent a soft tendril of thought into their brains to dull the name so they wouldn’t remember it easily. “I have to get going back to work,” she said regretfully and ruffled Hotaru’s hair as she pouted.

“Must you, oneesan? Chichioya would love to see you again,” Hotaru said softly, looking sad.

“Perhaps I will visit later. Be good until then, imouto,” Genaisa replied gently before kissing Hotaru on the forehead and getting up. She stepped out of the room and stopped as she heard Chibiusa and Hotaru talking about going. She frowned slightly, then smirked. Closing her eyes, she searched for Haruka’s mind and gently brushed it with her own. Her smile grew as she felt the responding warm feelings before speaking. /Haruka…I was wondering if you could do me a favor?/

/Sure. What is it?/ Haruka’s voice was as soft and loving as in real and Genaisa smiled more as she leaned against the window.

/A couple of friends could use a ride. I’m almost done so I could take the bus home, if you wouldn’t mind?/

/You sure? I can wait for you./ Haruka’s voice sounded concerned. /Who is it anyways?/

/Chibiusa and a friend. Onegai? I won’t be done for another twenty minutes and I don’t want them going alone,/ Genaisa asked quietly.

/Hai, hai. All right I’ll see you later then. If I see you, I’ll pick you up, ok?/ Haruka said with a sigh.

Genaisa chuckled softly. /Arigato, Ka-chan…I’ll repay you tonight, ne?/ she replied sweetly, then giggled again at the good-natured grumbling that floated into her head before she dimmed the link. She went back to her work, then clicked out and headed for the bus.

She got off at the park that was near their apartments and decided to walk the rest of the way home. She hummed softly as she turned a corner, then gasped softly as she stumbled. She fell against the stone wall, clutching at it as well as her chest as she panted for air through the sudden pain that flooded over her. She sank down to the ground, trying to regain control as a soft white light shot up around her. She suddenly screamed in pain as the power flared up brightly, shooting a column of light into the air.

After a few minutes, it dissipated and she collapsed against the wall, trembling weakly with the pain. She lay like that for a while before the squeal of tires woke her slightly and she looked up weakly to see Haruka running towards her. “Genaisa!!” Haruka cried out as she ran towards her and knelt next to her. “Daijoubu?!”

“H-haru-ka…” Genaisa moaned out in pain before she curled up. She leaned against Haruka as her friend pulled her close, then blacked out once again.

“Genaisa…hold on…” Haruka whispered softly before picking her up and running towards her car, somehow finding the strength to carry her. She drove swiftly home, holding onto Genaisa’s hand as she drove along, her face grim. She finally pulled into their apartment complex and parked, then got out and got Genaisa upstairs. She went into Genaisa’s apartment, stumbling slightly to get the door open then went in.

Michiru and Setsuna looked up in shock and stood up, rushing over with cries of dismay. “What happened?!” Michiru demanded as she put a hand onto Genaisa’s face, flinching at the heat that was coming from her unconscious friend.

“I don’t know. I found her at the park not far from here.  It’s almost like the last time, except she’s so much weaker this time,” Haruka explained grimly as she placed Genaisa onto the couch. Setsuna came back in with a cup of water and they managed to get their friend to swallow some of it before laying her back down.

“She’s been having more attacks since she was revived. I wonder what truly happened,” Michiru whispered softly as she put a cloth on Genaisa’s forehead and wiped away the sweat tenderly.

“Whatever it is, we better find out what it is and soon,” Haruka stated grimly and the other two nodded in agreement before sitting watch over their friend for the night.

*~~**~~*

The next couple of days found Genaisa recovering slowly from her collapse under the watchful eyes of Michiru, Haruka, and Setsuna. Luckily, they had a break from the Daimons, but still found some focus on finding the Messiah of Light.  Their leads pointed at Hotaru, after the strange display of power that Haruka had witnessed from the young woman. Strangely enough, Genaisa stayed silent as she listened to them, though they didn’t push it.

On a whim, Michiru decided that a picnic was needed, so they went to a special garden park outside of Tokyo one day. They all felt themselves relaxing in the beautiful flowers as well as the warm sun. They ate, then looked over in surprise as they saw Usagi, Chibiusa, Mamoru, and Hotaru playing and having their own picnic nearby.

"They look so sweet together. Like a family," Michiru cooed out, smiling softly.

"Hai, demo, I'm still worried about Hotaru's connections with the dark forces," Haruka said darkly, frowning as they watched the happy group. "She has strange powers…I don't trust her at all. I'm sure she is connected."

"Do you think that I am connected with the evil forces, Ka-chan?" Genaisa asked softly as she stared down at the ground, face grim. Haruka looked over at her in surprise, then looked away as Genaisa added softly, "Just because someone is different or has powers they can't control doesn't make them evil." She turned away and went into the greenhouse, ignoring Haruka's call for her.

Haruka looked down sadly, biting her lip. "I didn't mean that she was evil…" she whispered softly.

"And yet your accusation would indeed include her, for she has powers that are uncontrollable for the most part," Setsuna reminded gently as Michiru nodded sadly.

"Go and talk to her, Haruka. Just at least try," Michiru urged with a smile as she patted her friend on the arm. Haruka nodded and got up, heading inside to find her friend.

A storm struck the greenhouse suddenly as they went inside, following Usagi and the others and they tried to find Genaisa as it grew worse. But Genaisa was somewhere else, watching over someone who had also become separated from her group.

Genaisa watched Hotaru as she watched the storm fearfully, then changed and went towards her. "You should go back in, Hotaru-san," Kinroze suggested gently as she came out of the shadows and smiled gently at the startled young girl.

"Who…who are you?" Hotaru whispered softly as Kinroze came to her and knelt down, smiling gently.

"They call me Kinroze Senshi. Or friend," Kinroze answered gently as she held up a golden rose for Hotaru. "I will always watch over you, little one. Now go inside," she encouraged tenderly.

"Arigato. I wish you would tell me who you really are. You…seem so familiar…" Hotaru said with a sad smile as she took the rose and sniffed it. As she walked back into the greenhouse with Kinroze, she looked up at the older woman and suddenly blinked. As she gazed at her 'guardian', she realized she *did* know who the Senshi was and felt warm inside. As they parted ways, she looked back silently. 'I'll keep your secret…oneesan,' she thought firmly, then went back inside in time to help the owner with the windows.

Kinroze smiled gently as she went inside as well, then stopped, trembling. She sank to the ground, holding her chest as the white glow returned around her. 'Not…again…Uranus where…are you?' she thought desperately, then sobbed in pain as she curled up on the ground. With a scream, she arched nearly double as the power exploded upwards, shattering several of the windows around her before she collapsed to the ground, shaking in her pain as the glow dissipated once again.

*~~**~~*

Uranus stopped as they walked away after Sailor Moon had defeated the Daimon Ubara. They had been searching for Genaisa when Mimete had attacked once again. They had watched, worried and concerned at the power that Hotaru had exhibited. What worried them more was the fact that it felt almost connected to Genaisa. Shaking her head with that thought, Uranus focused again on the call she had heard in her heart. 'Kinroze…doko?' she wondered in fear as the other two watched her.

"Do you think she's ok?" Neptune asked in worry, then gasped along with the other two as they found Kinroze lying in the middle of the hallway, surrounded by glass and bleeding from the shards that had cut her.

"Kinroze!" Uranus cried in horror as they ran over and she gathered their friend close to her. "Kinroze…Kinroze?! Daijoubu?!" she cried fearfully as she shook her friend.

Kinroze opened her eyes slowly as she transformed back and trembled in pain. "Ha…ruka…" she whispered weakly before falling unconscious again.

"We have to get her back to our place," Setsuna ordered softly as Haruka nodded and held Genaisa close to her before standing up. Setsuna helped Haruka carry her while Michiru went ahead to get the car ready. None of them saw the feline eyes watching them as they took their friend home to safety.

Luna frowned in worry as she watched the four older Senshi leave. 'If Kinroze is having these attacks, I hope that nothing is truly wrong…' she worried before going back to be with Usagi and the other three.

*~~**~~*

The Inner Senshi soon became as scared as the Outer Senshi as they heard what had happened to Kinroze. But Mamoru told them what he'd learned from the Outers and warned them that they should, for now, not work with the Outer Senshi. Saddened, the Inner Senshi agreed, though they all prayed silently that Kinroze was all right.

They weren't the only ones praying for that, but for now, the Outer Senshi put their worries aside as Genaisa got better slowly and they continued their quest to find the Messiah of Light and to fight the Daimons.  But again, another attack hit Genaisa when they were watching over a track star when he was attacked by the Daimons. They started growing suspicious along with her as they saw that, when she had an attack, it was around the same time as when Hotaru's strange powers revealed themselves.

Haruka started becoming more adamant that Hotaru should be destroyed, even saying she hoped that she didn't escape when Hotaru and Chibiusa were trapped in Hotaru's home one day after a strange time/space shift occurred there, placing it into another dimension. But she didn't voice it loud enough when she saw Genaisa's worry and hurt, silencing her friend in apology as they had waited for the others to succeed.

When the Inner Senshi had come out finally, the three Outer Senshi were both relieved and worried. None of them noticed Genaisa as she watched Hotaru and Dr. Tomoe intensely. She silently sent her thanks to the Inner Senshi before they left to go back to what they had been doing, hoping that they would get a break and that the upcoming silence wasn't what they were sensing.

*~~**~~*

But their fears were not to be allayed as their dreams finally came to a clear light one night. While overlooking the city, Haruka, Michiru, Setsuna, and Genaisa discussed how clear the visions had become. They knew that Rei had been seeing them just as clearly, but were loath to actually tell her what was happening.

"In the vision, there is a woman with a staff…I see it is the Silence Glaive. Only one planet can hold that Glaive," Michiru stated quietly as she sat on the railing with Setsuna near her as Haruka and Genaisa faced them solemnly.

"Then the Messiah of Silence must be the Senshi of Destruction…Saturn," Setsuna added softly, shivering in both apprehension and cold as the wind picked up around them.

"Hai. Demo…the Senshi of Saturn hasn't been found yet," Haruka murmured as she tapped her arm pensively, glancing over at Genaisa, who was looking down and away from them. She frowned slightly before looking at the other two Outer Senshi. "Is there any clue?" Haruka asked worriedly.

"There is a face that passes briefly…it was unclear at first, but now I think it is clear," Michiru answered softly as she gazed back at two of her friends.

"Hai…and that was Hotaru Tomoe!" Setsuna exclaimed in horror as they realized what they had seen. None saw Genaisa close her eyes tightly and clench her fists in fear.

"Poor Hotaru…we need to change her destiny," Michiru decided as she looked up at the stars. "Saturn is drawing closer and the silence is welling up. Darkness falls over the Earth and the Messiah of Silence comes forth."

"Darkness, you say? Well get this then, there is an eclipse coming…Saturn's eclipse," Haruka commented wryly before glancing at Genaisa again. "I won't allow Saturn to come out. We have to stop this once and for all," she declared firmly as she looked at the other two.

"Hai…we need to save our world," Michiru stated sadly as she looked down. "I just wish there was another way," she whispered sadly.

"You will be with us, ne, Genaisa?" Setsuna asked their silent friend and she looked up slightly, nodding before turning away and leaving silently. Haruka turned to follow her, but Setsuna stopped her and went instead. Haruka and Michiru looked at each other in worry as the wind blew up ominously around them.

*~~**~~*

Setsuna silently went into the apartment that Genaisa was currently sharing with Haruka and felt a strange foreboding wash over her as she saw her dear friend sitting at the window seat, watching the cloudy night. She went over and stood next to her friend, silently watching the clouds roll by. "Genaisa…won't you talk to me?" she finally asked quietly after a few minutes of silence.

Genaisa gazed out at the night sky before asking softly, "Setsuna-chan…what would you do if you had people you loved on opposite sides? Would you try to save one over the other? Or would you try to save both?"

Looking down, Setsuna closed her eyes sadly. "It would depend on what was at stake," she replied gently as she looked over at her friend. She saddened even more as she saw tears trailing down her friend's face.

"I love Haruka, you, and Michiru…you are everything to me. And yet, my past comes to the fore and I must protect my old family, for I love them as well. Yet, everywhere I look, there may not be a way to save everyone and I might lose people who are dear and important to me," Genaisa explained softly before looking over at Setsuna. "I…don't know anymore what to do. Everything is so confusing now. And I find myself losing hope that there will ever be a happy ending," she added quietly before looking out again.

"No matter what happens, be true to yourself, Nai-chan. Everything *will* work out," Setsuna declared firmly as they locked eyes again.

"I don't think they will, Suna-chan. I have a feeling…that our paths will split soon. All because of the past," Genaisa answered bleakly before looking out at the night again, tears of fear rolling down her cheeks as they watched the clouds roll in.

*~~**~~*

The next day brought them and the Inner Senshi with Hotaru to the planetarium. The Outer Senshi were pleased to see Mimete there, but Setsuna was troubled. As she walked off to explain some things to the Inner Senshi, Haruka and Michiru tried to find Genaisa, who had disappeared.

They found her sitting silently near a window, holding her chest in pain as she tried to get the pain under control. "Genaisa? Daijoubu?" Haruka asked softly as they ran over in concern to their friend.

"H-hai, Haruka…daijoubu. It's fading," Genaisa replied shakily as she tried to smile up at her friends, but it was a sad smile.

The two didn't have time to question further as they heard screams and yells from the show room and rushed over after transforming. They didn't see Kinroze go to the other side, fighting her rising pain as she watched the Daimon below attack the audience as well as the target along with Mimete. She watched silently as the Inner Senshi came to attack, then gasped in pain, curling up as power radiated around her. She looked up to see the two cats watching her, but she couldn't stop as they came over to try and help her in worry.

She cried out in pain as power shot up…right at the same time that Saturn was awakened within Hotaru. Luna and Artemis stared in horror as the power dissipated around the Guardian, but they couldn't react out of shock as the Daimon was destroyed after Hotaru had frozen it for Sailor Moon.

But the spell was suddenly broken in horror as three cries rang out.

"World…Shaking!"

"Deep…Submerge!"

"Deato…Scream."

"Yada!!" Chibimoon cried out in horror as she ran and tried to protect her friend. Sailor Moon cried out and ran towards them, then blinked in shock as she grabbed Chibimoon. She locked eyes briefly with a pair of pain filled blue eyes, then felt a strong hand push her and Chibimoon to safety as the three attacks hit.

"Sailor Moon!!" the Inner Senshi cried out in shock as they ran over to the two that had been pushed to safety.

"Hotaru?! Doko?!" Chibimoon cried out as she looked around wildly, then gasped in shock at what they all saw.

"What are you doing?! Get away from her so we can destroy her!" Uranus shouted out angrily as she pointed accusingly at Kinroze.

Kinroze looked up, shaking as she held Hotaru to her, her eyes filled with pain and sorrow. "Iie, I can't do that, Uranus. There has to be another way," she replied softly, trembling as she saw the rage within Uranus' eyes. Rage…and betrayal.

"There is no other way!! If we let Saturn awaken then nothing will be able to stop the Silence! She'll wield the Silence Glaive and bring destruction to us all!!" Uranus shouted angrily, hurt and betrayal making her almost sick as she stared at the one she had thought she loved.

"Yada!! Hotaru is a good person! She'd never do that!!" Chibimoon cried out as she stood up, glaring at the trio.

"That may be what you think, but if she becomes Sailor Saturn…" Pluto responded sadly, sighing. She should have known…

"There just is no other way, little one," Neptune added sadly.

"She may be the Sailor Senshi of Destruction, but we can't hurt Hotaru," Sailor Moon urged gently, trying to reason with them.

"Iya! We have to destroy her to protect us all!!" Uranus growled out.

"You don't even know her!" Kinroze cried, then looked down as the others gasped in shock. Hotaru shimmered, then disappeared, leaving her arms empty. Kinroze closed her eyes in pain as she hugged herself, then got up as Uranus cursed.

"Now her Guardian has taken her and we may never find her in time!" Uranus snarled, glaring in rage at her best friend. "How could you?!"

"How can you blame a child when you don't even know her?!" Kinroze demanded angrily, holding herself up barely as she wavered. Sailor Moon moved to come to her aid, but received a warning look from Kinroze before the older Senshi focused on her comrades. "Do you know she wants to be a nurse?! That she wishes to be able to just run freely and be healthy?! That she loves her family and only wants happiness?! No!! You don't know this because you think she is evil! All because she has strange powers that she can't control!!" she shouted angrily, stunning the group into silence with her words.

"How do you know this, Kinroze-san?" Tuxedo Kamen asked softly as they watched her face off against the Outer Senshi.

Kinroze closed her eyes and looked away. "Because…even family must watch over their own," she replied softly, not looking at them as they gasped in horror. She looked up, her face hard as she walked slowly past them. "Sailor Senshi…for now, our paths are no longer one. I will see you around," she declared painfully as she walked away.

"Fine then!! Leave us to betray those who trusted you!!" Uranus' shout of rage stopped her abruptly, but she didn't look back.

"Sayonara…Uranus," Kinroze replied softly, then left, not seeing the mirrored tear that rolled down her best friend's cheek as they parted ways, ignoring the cries of shock from the Inner Senshi as they tried to get their friend back.

TBC