Chapter 2: The Night's Consequences

Setsuna stared blankly into her cup, oblivious to her surroundings. Noting the other woman’s unusually disheveled appearance, Michiru exchanged a worried glanced with Haruka. The blonde nodded put looked pointedly at Hotaru, indicating they should be silent for the girl’s sake.

“Are you ready for school, Hotaru-chan?” Michiru asked. “We’ll need to leave soon.”

The girl nodded. “Setsuna-mama, are you ready?”

Setsuna jerked her head up at the mention of her name. “Nani?”

“Are you okay, Setsuna-mama?”

The older woman smiled as she nodded. “I’m fine, Hotaru-chan. Better finish up or you will be late for school.”

“Maybe Haruka-papa can take me,” the girl said, her big eyes hopeful.

Haruka grinned. “Sure. Go grab your school bag.”

The girl ran to retrieve it, leaving the older three women alone. Michiru cleared her throat. “Setsuna-chan, are you truly fine?”

“Yes, I'm fine.” the Time Guardian stated. “I just didn’t sleep well.”

Hotaru returned with her schoolbag. Michiru pursed her lips, wanting to question the Guardian of Time further. But she didn't want to worry Hotaru either. She glanced at Haruka, who merely shrugged.

“Get some rest,” Haruka said gruffly before herding Hotaru and Michiru towards the door. “I'll bring dinner home tonight.”

"Domo arigato." Setsuna managed a wave as the others left. The front door finally closed and the house fell into complete silence. She stared into the cup, wanting some kind of sign.

“I hope I’ve made the right decision,” she murmured. “Just once.”

* * * * *

“Knock, knock,” Jonathan called, entering the apartment. “Hey, I brought pizza.”

Closing the door with his foot, Jonathan scanned the living room. “Celeste? Mara? Anyone home?”

Hearing a noise in the kitchen, Jonathan walked slowly into the next room. He paused and then chuckled silently at the sight in front of him. Celeste was asleep, sprawled out across several textbooks.

“Celeste,” he called, setting the pizza on the counter, “wakey, wakey.”

His girlfriend moaned but remained asleep. Leaning beside her, he kissed her cheek. “Celeste, come on. Time to wake up.”

Her eyelids finally began to flutter. Yawning, she moved to sit up, but the open textbooks’ pages stuck to her cheek. Celeste winced as the pages peeled off her face.

“Jonathan?” she asked in sleepy confusion. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m providing a study break,” he stated. “Did you get a lot done?”

“I think so." She shoved the textbooks away. "What kind of study break do you have in mind?”

“Well, I have two large pizzas and a couple of movies.”

“You’re wonderful.”

Jonathan smiled. “I think you are, too.”

“Get a room already,” Mara moaned, shutting the apartment door behind her.

Celeste grinned at Jonathan before turning to her roommate. “Hello to you, too. Did you have fun shopping?”

“Yeah, I guess,” the girl replied noncommittally. “How’s the studying going?”

“I’m ready for a break. Jonathan brought some pizza and a few movies. Want to join us?”

“And be a third wheel?”

Jonathan laughed. “No, Mara, you won’t be a third wheel. You’d be very welcome. I’m sure your guardian won’t mind a chaperone.”

Mara grinned. “All right, where’s the pizza?”

For the next few minutes, the trio grabbed slices of pizza, cans of soda, and fought over the movie choices. They settled in the living room with Celeste and Jonathan on the couch and Mara in the nearby armchair. After more arguing, the group finally decided on a movie.

Mara grabbed the selected video. As the television flickered to life, the anchorwoman for the six o’clock news appeared on the screen. As related pictures to her story materialized, Mara stumbled back from the TV.

“What’s wrong?” Celeste asked. "Mara?"

“Police are baffled by the series of murders,” the anchorwoman stated. “So far, six bodies have been founded scattered in an area just west of the old port area. All the victims were young women with short, dark hair and of medium height. If you have any information about any of these cases, please call . . .”

Jonathan turned the television off, glancing from Celeste to Mara. Both women wore similar expressions of horror as they continued to stare at the now blank screen. Selene rubbed against the girl's ankle, trying to offer some comfort.

Hugging herself tightly, Mara managed to sit down. “They look like me. They all look like me.”

“It could be just a coincidence,” Jonathan stated,

Mara shook her head. “No, that woman is still looking for me. She’s not going to give up.”

“She won’t find you.” The certainty in Celeste’s voice took both Jonathan and Mara back. “Mara, I promise.”

Mara sighed. “I know, Celeste, but it doesn't help those other girls.”

Celeste rose from the couch and put on her shoes.

“Where are you going?” Jonathan asked.

When she turned back, Celeste was holding her transformation pen. “For a walk.”


The Night’s Consequences Setsuna stared blankly into her cup, oblivious to her surroundings. Noting the other woman’s unusually disheveled appearance, Michiru exchanged a worried glanced with Haruka. The blonde nodded put looked pointedly at Hotaru, indicating they should be silent for the girl’s sake. “Are you ready for school, Hotaru-chan?” Michiru asked. “We’ll need to leave soon.” The girl nodded. “Setsuna-mama, are you ready?” Setsuna jerked her head up at the mention of her name. “Nani?” “Are you okay, Setsuna-mama?” The older woman smiled as she nodded. “I’m fine, Hotaru-chan. Better finish up or you will be late for school.” “Maybe Haruka-papa can take me,” the girl said, her big eyes hopeful. Haruka grinned. “Sure. Go grab your school bag.” The girl ran to retrieve it, leaving the older three women alone. Michiru cleared her throat. “Setsuna-chan, are you truly fine?” “Yes, I'm fine.” the Time Guardian stated. “I just didn’t sleep well.” Hotaru returned with her schoolbag. Michiru pursed her lips, wanting to question the Guardian of Time further. But she didn't want to worry Hotaru either. She glanced at Haruka, who merely shrugged. “Get some rest,” Haruka said gruffly before herding Hotaru and Michiru towards the door. “I'll bring dinner home tonight.” "Domo arigato." Setsuna managed a wave as the others left. The front door finally closed and the house fell into complete silence. She stared into the cup, wanting some kind of sign. “I hope I’ve made the right decision,” she murmured. “Just once.” * * * * * “Knock, knock,” Jonathan called, entering the apartment. “Hey, I brought pizza.” Closing the door with his foot, Jonathan scanned the living room. “Celeste? Mara? Anyone home?” Hearing a noise in the kitchen, Jonathan walked slowly into the next room. He paused and then chuckled silently at the sight in front of him. Celeste was asleep, sprawled out across several textbooks. “Celeste,” he called, setting the pizza on the counter, “wakey, wakey.” His girlfriend moaned but remained asleep. Leaning beside her, he kissed her cheek. “Celeste, come on. Time to wake up.” Her eyelids finally began to flutter. Yawning, she moved to sit up, but the open textbooks’ pages stuck to her cheek. Celeste winced as the pages peeled off her face. “Jonathan?” she asked in sleepy confusion. “What are you doing here?” “I’m providing a study break,” he stated. “Did you get a lot done?” “I think so." She shoved the textbooks away. "What kind of study break do you have in mind?” “Well, I have two large pizzas and a couple of movies.” “You’re wonderful.” Jonathan smiled. “I think you are, too.” “Get a room already,” Mara moaned, shutting the apartment door behind her. Celeste grinned at Jonathan before turning to her roommate. “Hello to you, too. Did you have fun shopping?” “Yeah, I guess,” the girl replied noncommittally. “How’s the studying going?” “I’m ready for a break. Jonathan brought some pizza and a few movies. Want to join us?” “And be a third wheel?” Jonathan laughed. “No, Mara, you won’t be a third wheel. You’d be very welcome. I’m sure your guardian won’t mind a chaperone.” Mara grinned. “All right, where’s the pizza?” For the next few minutes, the trio grabbed slices of pizza, cans of soda, and fought over the movie choices. They settled in the living room with Celeste and Jonathan on the couch and Mara in the nearby armchair. After more arguing, the group finally decided on a movie. Mara grabbed the selected video. As the television flickered to life, the anchorwoman for the six o’clock news appeared on the screen. As related pictures to her story materialized, Mara stumbled back from the TV. “What’s wrong?” Celeste asked. "Mara?" “Police are baffled by the series of murders,” the anchorwoman stated. “So far, six bodies have been founded scattered in an area just west of the old port area. All the victims were young women with short, dark hair and of medium height. If you have any information about any of these cases, please call . . .” Jonathan turned the television off, glancing from Celeste to Mara. Both women wore similar expressions of horror as they continued to stare at the now blank screen. Selene rubbed against the girl's ankle, trying to offer some comfort. Hugging herself tightly, Mara managed to sit down. “They look like me. They all look like me.” “It could be just a coincidence,” Jonathan stated, Mara shook her head. “No, that woman is still looking for me. She’s not going to give up.” “She won’t find you.” The certainty in Celeste’s voice took both Jonathan and Mara back. “Mara, I promise.” Mara sighed. “I know, Celeste, but it doesn't help those other girls.” Celeste rose from the couch and put on her shoes. “Where are you going?” Jonathan asked. When she turned back, Celeste was holding her transformation pen. “For a walk.”


Chapter 3: The Arrival of Dawn Sailor Sol: Battle Against the Winds