Forever's Not That Long

Not for the first time the Senshi were in trouble. Their numbers had lessened in recent times, some of the Chibi Senshi had returned to the future, and many others were busy with lives outside the realm of the Jedi. A few of the Earthborns had even chosen to return to their own planet.

It didn't help that the Sith seemed to be getting stronger.

Sailor Asteroid swore under her breath as a blast of icy daggers whipped past her - loosing her braids in the process.

"HEY! That takes HOURS to do!" She shouted indignantly at the two-headed dragon-youma they were presently fighting.

Both heads turned to look at her, and her eyes widened.

"Uh oh."

The two mouths opened, one breathing fire, the other ice. Priire stared as the joint attacks raced toward her and found herself unable to move - whether from fear or whether some other force was involved will never be known. The blonde senshi prepared herself for the blow, shielding herself with her arms as best she could.

But the blast never came.

Priire stared up in shock at the floating apparition before her. Star Sailor Yavin smiled and winked at her, before blowing a kiss and vanishing.

Koumi's brow creased in puzzlement. Does this mean she's alive?

Kyoko shrugged. "Well, either that or she's pulling an Obi-Wan."

Annika looked puzzled. "What d'you mean?"

The earthborn Senshi laughed. "Don't worry about it, 'Nika-chan," Kyoko replied, smiling.

Annika shrugged then frowned. "Hey, where'd Priire go?"

The Senshi looked around, but the Dark Sailor had gone. Kousotsu held up a hand.

"She went back to her ship. Probably to try to connect to Ippin through their Force-bond."

Numako gaped. "If do this she can, why do it before now she has not?"

The Tuxedo-ed one shrugged. "Maybe because she thought it wasn't any use. Maybe she was too upset. Or maybe she did try and it didn't work."

Priire had indeed tried it before, but with the thought that her sister was dead. She had tried to connect with the other side; she'd never thought to attempt a connection with a living Ippin.

But now she did attempt it. At first it was weak; it had been so long since a connection was last established - where before it had been continuous - that she had become out of practice of establishing one.

But the important thing was, that the connection was in fact created.

Coru?

Sailor Yavin should have been expecting it - in fact, she had been - but the sound of her twin's voice still made legs go weak, and she sank to the ground - or the cold, solid thing that seemed like ground, she honestly couldn't see it through the fog - and took a moment before she managed to reply with the same weak tremor that her twin's voice had held.

Aster?

Priire's eyes filled with tears that had become all too familiar in recent days, but these were tears of joy and relief.

Coru, you're alive!

As the connection strengthened and their minds connected more securely, instead of simply hearing they got images, they could see each other in their mind's eyes.

The two ghostly images had tear-streaked faces, but they were joyful in their reunion.

>Yes. I am alive, though not in any proper sense of the word. There was a tinge of bitterness in the redheaded twin's voice.

What do you mean?

I'm alive Aster, but yet I'm not. My identity was lost to me - I no longer have the power to become Ippin.

What?! How did that happen?

When I gave up my Staff, I did give up my life, in a way. I literally became Sailor Yavin. I'm more powerful than before, but the Gods won't let me power down. I can't become human anymore.

Oh Coru...

That's why I've stayed here. I'm not really allowed to leave - I'm supposed to be a real Guardian now. Because I lost the Staff, I lost the ability to carry the gates with me.

Couldn't you at least have let us know you were alive? Do you know how much I've been through these past eight months?

Of course I do. I've been watching your every move. Even though I wasn't supposed to. I wasn't supposed to have saved you just now either.

Why did you, then?

Aster...

You hardly need to get in more trouble.

Seijoutai Priire! Do you really think I'm going to let my own twin sister get fried?

Well...

Aster!

Priire giggled. Sorry, Coru. Even when you're dead you're easy to get mad!

Only by you, Aster.

Or any random person that mentions your hair. How are you Coru? Are you alright? They feeding you okay? Do you get a good supply of Anime and all?

Yavin laughed. One track mind. I'm okay - I'd be happier if I was with you guys, I miss you all lots, and even if I do get to watch you, it's not the same. I don't really EAT - it's more of a sustenance stuff, not real food. I don't think anything would have taste here anyway. And I don't get much anime - I don't seem to be able to get the interest anymore. I guess when you're doing something like this you don't really want to do stuff that would distract you, like watch Anime or read Manga. I wish I could leave long enough to get the last Lucy Maud Montgomery novel though - I never did get to read it.

You're kidding, right, Coru? You lost interest in ANIME but you still want to read those boring books?

Yavin sighed dramatically. You'll never understand. She was a story-telling genius.

Priire shrugged. If you say so.

Sailor Yavin's mental image started as if she'd heard a noise. Aster, I gotta go. Sailor Pluto's here, and who knows what will happen if I get caught. But, try and connect again, soon, okay? And tell everyone I miss them like crazy!

Priire wanted to object, demand more time with her sister, but the connection was already severed. "Good-bye, Coru," she whispered.

It wasn't long before Yavin was summoned by the Gods. She was shaking inside, fearing that they had heard of her communication with her sister and that she would be punished.

She was surprised when the only person in the room was an irritated-looking old man.

Master31 glanced up as Yavin entered the room. "Oh, is it time for you already? Irresponsible Guardians," he muttered quietly to himself. "Oh well, I suppose we need everyone we can get right now." He stood up and looked Yavin straight in the eye. "You have violated a term of your guardianship, communication with the outside world. Do you know what the punishment for this is?"

Yavin shook her head miserably.

He sighed and turned away. "You will be sent back to the world of the living."

Yavin gaped wordlessly.

Master31 caught the expression and frowned. "I know, you're thinking that there must be a catch. There is. You will be forced to reach your potential far earlier then you should have - you OUGHT to have had at least three more incarnations before reaching this point. But continued violations have forced us to take action. You will never have another reencarnation."

Yavin frowned slightly. "How many have I had?"

He waved his hand, dismissing the question. "That's irrelevant. The point is - you won't have any more. Of course, you are lucky enough to know enough immortals that this will be easier, I'm sure having Destiny's Phoenix and the others will help you survive the immortality."

Yavin shook her head and puzzlement. "What immortality? Why will Xarae help? What others?"

"All will be revealed in time. Now, you'll be informed of your duties as time goes on - it shouldn't be necessary for you to transform for quite a while, so until then, you can just go along as your normal self."

"Wait a minute! I still don't understand what you're telling me. I'm immortal now, like Xarae?"

"Yes. You are immortal, but not like Destiny's Phoenix. You are immortal because the Five Goddesses of the First Realm need you to join their ranks."

"Halt, back up and pause. I'm a GODDESS?"

"Of course. Isn't that what I said?"

Yavin took a deep calming breath, it wouldn't do to yell at the Master of reincarnation. "Okay, could you perhaps tell me more about these five goddesses?"

"No. Your powers will come to you in time. As it is, you will simply rejoin your friends fighting as Sailor Yavin until the time comes that you need to become Tempestus."

"Tempestus?"

"That is your Goddess form."

Ippin repeated it again then smiled. "Tempestus. I like it."

Master31 frowned at her. "You had better. You will be known by that name for a long time."

It had been two months since Priire had first contacted her twin, and people were amazed at the change in her. She was becoming more like her old self, cheerful and mischievous - much to the irritation of the other Senshi who had to help her out of her messes.

They were just cleaning up one of her more literal messes - she seemed to have coated the entire kitchen with flour - when Annika rushed into the room, jumping for joy.

Nom raised an eyebrow. "What has happened?"

"You'll never guess! But go ahead, try!" Annika squealed.

Priire grinned. "Chikako's getting married?"

Annika shook her head and giggled - Chikako didn't seem to think it was as funny and continued sweeping her area. "No! You're wrong! It's -"

The pink-haired princess was interrupted by the door opening. A very familiar redhead ran into the room, hugging everyone in sight. "I'm here! I'm back! I'm ALIVE!" she shouted jubilantly.

At first everyone could only stare, then in a moment she was surrounded and enveloped in tight group hugs.

"Coru! What - but - you said - you're - IPPIN!" Priire cried.

"Yup!"

"So the gods let you off the hook?" Kairiku asked.

"No… not exactly. I kinda got punished." Ippin bit her lip and looked down. For a moment she was silent then she looked back up and grinned. "But don't worry, it's not a big deal! And I got my Big Time Stick back, so I can carry the Gates!"

Priire hugged her twin tightly, then reached for her hand. "Come on, Coru, we gotta go tell everyone you're back!"

Ippin nodded. "I can't wait to see everyone! Is my room still here? How's the Prism? Is it okay? You HAVE taken care of it, haven't you?"

Priire laughed. "Of course. Almost as good as I take care of the Talon."

Ippin nodded happily. "Then it's probably in better shape then when I was here. How's everyone? I haven't really watched them much, mostly you. Has Mika gotten over her problem with furballs? Is Schylar okay? Has she missed me?"

"Mika's okay - still falls all the time, but okay - Schylar was a little depressed when you died - er, vanished - but she's been doing better."

"Great! And my room?"

"Your room hasn't been altered a bit. Well, your anime collection vanished about three seconds after we came back without you, but other than that it's the same."

Ippin laughed. "Well, I'll have to recover it, won't I?"

"I thought you were tired of anime?"

"That was at the Gates, Aster! EVERYTHING is different there. EVERYTHING. So of COURSE I want my anime back."

Priire nodded slightly. "Oookay. I guess that makes sense." Ippin nodded happily and ran ahead. "Huh. Now who's acting blonde?" the former Hawkbat muttered to herself as she followed her enthused twin.

Ippin smiled blissfully as she entered her old room. She hadn't used it for years - even before she was banished, she was living in an apartment - and returning made her feel seventeen again.

She ran her fingers over the silk drapes and smiled. She opened a drawer and started rifling through her things, wanting nothing more than to feel the comfort of her possessions.

She froze as her fingers brushed an old diary. She pulled it out and sat on her bed. Riku had given it to her when she was sixteen, so he would always know what was going on. She ran her fingertips lightly over its soft leather cover and felt tears fill her eyes. "Riku…" she whispered under her breath, for the first time truly realizing that her husband was gone. She dropped the book and threw herself onto the bed, sobbing.

Priire looked curiously into the darkened room. She hadn't seen her twin in hours, she'd said she was only going to get changed - the maternity clothes she had been wearing didn't exactly fit anymore.

She was surprised to see her sister sitting in a chair in the corner, staring at a picture.

Ippin didn't even look up when Priire approached, having felt her enter the room a moment before. "He's gone, Aster. He's really gone. I… it never really hit me when I was there. I couldn't think about it before. Things like emotion… they don't exist there. It's… I can't believe he's gone."

Priire wrapped her arms around her twin and hugged her tightly. Ippin buried her tear-streaked face in her sister's shoulder, letting the framed photo of a recently-married Ippin and Riku drop to the carpeted floor.

"How will I survive without him?"

Priire couldn't answer, nor would Ippin be able to when a few years later the same question would be posed to her.

Renjiro Kenji looked impatiently past the elfish Jedi Master talking to him. He'd sensed it instantly when Ippin was sent back from the Gates, and had immediately tried to go see her. But Yoda wouldn't let him pass.

Kenji was snapped back to reality by a sharp stinging in his leg.

"Daydreaming you are, pay attention you must!" The elfin Jedi looked annoyed as he stared up at the young man. "See Ippin soon enough you will. With her friends she needs to be."

Kenji started to protest, but lapsed into silence when Yoda waved his gimerstick.

"Need complications she does not. Appear now and hurt her you will. Grieve she must, before see you she can."

Kenji frowned. "Grieve? About what?"

Yoda brought his stick down on Kenji's foot. "Paying attention you are not! Her husband she has lost!"

"But that was a year ago!"

Yoda shook his small head. "At the Time Gates she was. Exist there, emotion does not."

Kenji finally understood. He nodded and turned away. "You're right. I'll come back when she calls me."

Yoda nodded. "Yes, yes. Talk to her someday you will. Away you must now go."

Kenji pursed his lips. "Annoying little elf…" he muttered under his breath as he walked away.

Ippin sat on the floor of her bedroom, wearing a loose white shirt - one of Riku's shirts that had been retrieved from their apartment after his death - and a pair of sweatpants. Her hair was loosely done in two braids hanging down her back. Surrounding her were mementos of her life with Riku. Pictures, gifts, anything that reminded her of him. On a velvet cushion directly before her sat a single gold band. She lifted the ring and stared at it for a moment. Her gaze lowered to her left hand, where a matching ring glittered on her finger. She didn't even notice the flow of tears starting again. She bit her lip and nodded slightly. She stood and went to her closet, retrieving a solid black dress and veil.

She changed her clothes quickly, then stared at herself in the mirror. Her tear-streaked face and dark clothing were contrasted by her shimmering hair. For a moment she felt tempted to cut it again. She'd only regrown it because of Riku's jokes… but her hand froze inches from the scissors. It wouldn't help anything. Instead she pinned her red-gold locks in a tight bun at the back of her head, covering it with a black lace net. She nodded once and placed the dark veil over her face, hiding her features.

She sat at her desk and opened her diary. Riku would never read the final entry, but she felt the need to express herself.

"I never thought when I joined this group that I would be sitting here, in mourning.
"Death is something that happens to other husbands. To the people who deserve it, even to the people who don't. But not to you. It should never have happened to you. I thought I was heartbroken when my parents died. It could never compare to this. Never. You weren't supposed to die. We were supposed to live forever, be immortal together. But instead you died because of me. Because of my SISTER. I will kill her someday. I will strike her down. I feel no compassion for her. Ariel will die, at my hands.
"The Senshi are worried about me. Even Tanrei has gone so far as to ask me if I was all right - to think it takes her father dying to make her talk to me."

Ippin choked as she wrote that sentence. "It's not fair. It's not fair… IT'S NOT FAIR..." She held her head in her hands as she wept.

A moment later she collected herself and took up her pen.

"Since I got back, I've found it hard to do anything. Simple things I used to love have become a chore for me. It's been less than a week, but… I don't know how I'll survive. I don't have my soulmate. My better half - you were my better half, you were always patient with me, despite my temper - is gone. You were always there to keep me sane; you gave me an outlet for my temper. I let it loose on you to keep me from hurting someone else. And you never complained, not even when Aster was trying to kill you.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is… I miss you Riku, with all my heart and soul. Why did you leave me?"

Ippin put the cap back on her pen and stood, silently and calmly. She had poured her heart out; she had nothing left. She felt empty, but it was a welcome emptiness. After days of feeling nothing but pain, the numbness could only be wished for.

Emotionlessly she gathered the wedding rings in her hand. She clenched her fist, ignoring the jewel digging into the soft flesh of her palm.

She dug through her closet until she found the small burner she was looking for. A few hours later, Ippin emerged wearing a newly-fashioned gold necklace.