The Garden Of Glass Hearts

Breathe. Breathe deeply, my children. Breathe the air of change that is upon us and you shall be enlightened. Again a rebirth is drawing near. Can you sense him, my children? The next Paradise Master? Feel him, we all do, I know. What's this, my children? His heart of weakness? His heart of desires? The flame of passion that burns within him? Ah, his destiny tolls loud! Cower not, my children! This dark cloud on the horizon brings love and beauty. The pangs of its lightning will strengthen us. Although it will rain glass, our destines will be reflected in the shards. What of him? Listen here, my children, hear the beat of the Phoenix's love. The love that will fall as healing teardrops upon his chest. Do you see, my children? The light of the Phoenix will illuminate the galaxy!

Xarae sat bolt upright in bed. Outside, fierce winds hammered rain against the windows. She glanced over at her husband, who lay beside her.

"Khameir? Do you feel that?" Two golden eyes gleamed from the darkness and locked with hers.

"What is it?" Khameir sat up.

"It's... something big." He narrowed his eyes before climbing out of bed. "No, no. You can't stop it. It's... not something to be afraid of." She put her hands to her head and squinted her eyes shut. Something was happening. Destinies were being altered, thousands of destinies.... and she felt them all screaming within her. Yet... at the same time, their screams were such a beautiful melody... Suddenly, she had a vision. A man, with beautiful lavender eyes, stood at the Nineteenth Gate. He was alone, his deep purple cape blowing in the wind. He looked... so alone...

"Xarae, stop it, you're scaring me." The Guardian Of Destiny snapped back into reality as her husband took her into his arms. "You're shaking! Xarae?" Khameir looked sadly into her deep blue eyes.

"I think we have to go to Master19." Khameir gave her a concerned look.

"How?" he asked. Xarae removed her hands from her head to reveal a brightly glowing sign of the Phoenix. Khameir cursed quietly and looked away. "Why? What's happening now?"

"I think Master19 is dying."

"Xarae, I'm so glad you came..." The silvery, mysterious woman squeezed Xarae's hand.

"Master19, tell me what's going on. Please, let us help you." Xarae looked deep into her icy blue eyes. Master19 sighed sadly and turned away.

"My body is dying. My soul is being reborn into the body of the next Master."

"No! You can't be dying! Where..." Xarae furrowed her brow. "Will I ever see you again?" Master19 frowned.

"I will always be with you in spirit."

"NO! You can't!" Xarae cried out as tears welled in her eyes.

"If you need me, just look within your heart..." Master19 reached out and touched Xarae's cheek. "I'll miss you too." She wiped the salty tears from Xarae's cheek. "Now please go, I cannot bear to watch you cry... My successor will be here soon. I feel him."

"When will we be able to meet the next Master?" Khameir spoke up from where he was standing quietly in the corner of Master19's mirrored room.

"He will come to you when the time is right." She blinked her silver eyes, and glittering tears fell down her face. "Now please, go..." Xarae closed her eyes and nodded before speaking her last words to her mentor.

"I'll never forget you."

Khameir ran his hand over Xarae's hair.

"It's alright, Xarae." Another hot tear fell onto his bare chest. "Everything's going to be alright..."

"She was such a good person... She did so many things for us both..." Xarae sniffled.

"We're all going to miss her very much." He began to rub her back. Xarae took a deep breath.

"I need something to drink." Xarae got up off from where she was lying on Khameir and walked to their small kitchen.

"Xarae?" Khameir got up and followed her. He walked into the kitchen to find Xarae pouring herself a generous glass of white wine.

"Would you like some?" she offered. Khameir shook his head. Xarae shrugged and took a sip of the beverage. "I'm going to miss her so..." Khameir came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He ran his hands up and down her torso, feeling the soft silk of her nightgown between his fingers. Gently he kissed behind her ear.

"Stop, Khameir. I'm not in the mood." She broke away from his arms.

"Fine..." he said, already walking from the room. Xarae sat down on a stool at the counter top, sighing heavily. Sometimes life was so sudden... too sudden for her tastes. Sometimes she really longed for a slow, simple life. She put her head down.

"Don't despair, my lady. Vidna is at peace." Xarae jumped up, knocking her wine to the floor in the process. The delicate glass she had received as a wedding gift shattered on the tile, sparkling bits of glass scattering themselves across the room. She whirled around to find a man standing at the other end of the room. "Destiny's Phoenix, I presume?"

"Yes... Are you the next Master?" The man smiled and walked to her. He was so young and handsome! The way he walked... like he was floating on air...

"Master21. It's a pleasure to meet you." To Xarae's surprise, he bent down on one knee and gently kissed her hand. She turned a bright shade of red. Master21 looked up into her eyes and returned to his feet. Xarae looked him over quickly. Frankly, she wasn't expecting a man. Before now, all the Masters of the Nineteenth Gate had been women. And she wasn't expecting someone this young. He looked only twenty or so years old. And how handsome! He had fairly long, light lavender hair which blew in wisps over his purple eyes. He wore a white suit decorated with blue accents and deep purple cape.

"I..." Xarae stopped mid-sentence to smile at him. He smiled back shyly, blushing. No one had told him the Phoenix was so beautiful! He looked her over once more. She wore only a short silk nightgown that hung lightly on her delicate shoulders. Her skin looked so smooth... He restrained himself from reaching out and touching her arm, her shoulder, running his hands down her back and around the gentle curves of her body.

"Xarae? I heard a crash..." Khameir came into the room. He stopped when he saw Master21.

"Oh! Khameir! This is Master21."

Master21 shut the door to his bedroom quietly that night. He undid the clasps to his cape and flung it over the back of a tall chair in the corner of the room. With hesitation, he sat on the large bed. But not to blame him - not an hour or so before, a dying woman had laid on it. But soon he had forgotten about the depressing parting of Master19.

He laid back on the bed and thought of her. How gorgeous her eyes were... the way they sparkled. Like shards of a mirror. She enchanted him, from the moment he laid eyes on her. The way she moved, the way she spoke, the way she smiled... how blessed mortals were with her presence! How blessed her husband was to be able to hold her beautiful body in his arms.... Master21 rolled onto his side and sighed.

"Xarae?" The dark-haired woman whirled around at the mention of her name.

"Master21! What are you doing here?" She wiped her dirty hands on her pants.

"I... just wanted to see you." He smiled.

"Well, I was just pruning my roses..." Xarae grinned and tucked wisps of loose hair behind her ear.

"They... look beautiful." The lavender-haired man took a hand out of his pockets and cupped a white rose in his hand. He bent down to smell it. "Do you... like to garden?" Xarae shrugged at his question.

"When I have free time. But I only like it for the flowers, I think." She laughed.

"Ah... so you like flowers?"

"Very much so."

"I see..." He gazed at the senshi flower gardens. "Well, I really must be going. I have business to attend to. Maybe I'll see you later tonight." Master21 turned back to Xarae and smiled.

"Goodbye then." And with that, he faded away as quickly as he had appeared. Odd, Xarae thought. That he should come and see me like this... Well, it was only two nights ago that we met, maybe he is trying to become friendly with me.... Take the place of Master19 in my thoughts...

"XARAE!! Who was that dreamboat you were talking to!?!" Chikako, Annika, and Ippin came running up to her.

"Oh... Master21?" Xarae responded. Chikako's eyes turned into hearts.

"Is he Master19's replacement?" Annika asked.

"Why, yes, but..."

"Ooooh, he has such gorgeous eyes!" Ippin swooned.

"And he must have a GORGEOUS body too!" Chikako feigned a faint.

"He likes you, Xarae," Annika said matter-of-factly, crossing her arms.

"What!?" Xarae turned a bright shade of red.

"Of course! Why ELSE would he come to see you for no reason at all? And did you see the way he looked at you? He was so nervous!" Ippin poked Xarae. "It looks like you have a secret admirer!" Xarae giggled a little.

"He's gonna start getting you flowers and chocolates!!" Annika laughed nervously. "Um... can I have the chocolates you don't like?"

"I've only known him for a few days! Just because he wants to become a little closer to me..."

"I'm sure he wants to get REAL close..." Chikako winked at Xarae, who bit her lip and blushed.

Two months later...

Master21 gently brushed Xarae's hair behind her ears as he carefully closed the clasp on the thin necklace. His cold fingers made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.

"Master, you really shouldn't have done this..."

"Please, call me Shitsuren." Xarae smiled and walked to the mirror hanging in the small dining room.

"It's so beautiful..." She fingered the bright green jewel that hung on her chest. He had given her gifts since he had arrived; a music box, a small zither to play, a pair of champagne glasses to replace the ones that had broken... but nothing like this.

"It really was nothing..." Master21 blushed and ran his hands through his hair nervously. Xarae turned and smiled at him. She let her gaze wander to his eyes... And suddenly, it seemed like each second was a thousand hours, staring into those beautiful lavender eyes. They reflected so many emotions... like a mirror of the soul. But of whose soul? Did the flame of passion she saw burn in his heart or in her own? Her breathing quickened as he put his hands on her arms. She didn't know what she was doing. Before Xarae could even react, Master21 had placed his lips on hers gently. She couldn't even protest. She closed her eyes and let him kiss her. The few seconds felt like an eternity until finally she opened her eyes, and Shitsuren was gazing sadly at her. Xarae felt her cheek flush with heat as she turned and walked into the kitchen.

"I'm sorry... Shitsuren, but I have things to do..." She smiled at him over her shoulder. The young man felt his already shaking legs turn to liquid.

"I'll leave if you have things to do. I don't want to be a pest." He brushed his hair out of his face.

"Thank you again for the necklace." Xarae said quietly as Master21's young form faded away.

"Where did you get this necklace?" Khameir unlatched the thin gold chain that hung gently on Xarae's neck.

"That? Oh..." She frowned. "Just something Shitsuren brought me today." Khameir sighed and placed the jeweled necklace back into Xarae's hand before walking from the bathroom into the adjoining bedroom. Xarae watched him sadly and grasped the emerald charm in her hand tightly. Khameir was.... misinterpreting the new Master's affections. It had been over two months since Master21 had arrived. He was a very sweet young man, kind, considerate. Xarae felt so much older than him, for reasons she didn't know. And from the beginning, it was obvious how he felt about her, even more so after their 'incident' that morning. He brought her gifts and visited her almost every day. It felt so odd to have someone around her all the time. Like he was always standing in her shadow, watching her. But she felt so badly for him. How hurt he must feel, watching her with Khameir... Lately, Xarae had tried to avoid Khameir when Shitsuren was around, if only to protect his delicate feelings. She smiled when around him, if only out of sadness. She accepted his various gifts, if only out of pity. Xarae kept telling herself she shouldn't lead him on, but his eyes wouldn't let her. The way he gazed into her, as if staring into her soul... Now, Khameir was catching on. They hadn't talked about it... but for some reason he thought that she was being unfaithful with the young Master. As of that morning, she almost was. This whole situation seemed both right and wrong at the same time. Xarae sighed and gazed at herself in the mirror.

"Xarae? Are you coming to bed? Or are you just going to stay in the bathroom all night?"

"I'm coming," The dark senshi replied as she turned out the lights.

Shitsuren sunk to the ground, his back against the wall of his dark bedroom. He put his head in his hands and ran his hair through his fingers. Taking a deep breath, he let his bare chest rise and fall slowly. Ever since he had came to the Nineteenth Gate, ever since he had met Destiny's dark angel, everything had been so hard... Every day, every waking moment, images of her floated through his mind. It made it so hard to concentrate... Now, after today, he had a taste of the forbidden fruit. And how sweet it was... He'd be dreaming about it for weeks. And what was harder than all of this, was seeing her with... HIM. The devil the dark angel called her husband. He made him so angry... and yet, at the same time, filled him with relief. With the former Sith, she was happy. Shitsuren worried about her happiness. He valued nothing more than to see her smile sincerely. Slowly, he closed his eyes.

"Good gods, I can't TAKE it anymore!" The glass of liquor the young man was drinking from shattered against the far wall. Thick amber-colored liquid dripped down to the floor in tiny rivulets. Shitsuren stood up and walked to the window. He picked up the small statue of an angel that stood in the windowsill.

"Why does everything here have to look like her, DAMMIT!!" The tall window shattered as the porcelain statue flew through it. A loud thunk sounded as the statue landed in the gardens below. Master21 watched as the small remnants of the window fell to the floor. So beautiful... the glittering shards of glass... sparkling... like her eyes. Shitsuren dropped to his knees and took handfuls of the shards into his palms. He made his hands into fight fists. Blood seeped out, running over his alabaster-white knuckles. The young Master watched the blood drip onto the ground. Red... like her lips.... He put his hands flat up against his chest, and slowly traced a path of blood down himself. Almost dreamily, Shitsuren laid himself upon the bed of glass. Freely his tears fell, mingling themselves with the glass and blood.

"Xarae..." He needed her... he needed her so badly now. He no longer cared about anything more. He needed her...

"Xarae... Xarae wake up." The long-haired senshi opened her deep cerulean eyes slowly.

"Shitsuren?" She sat up and put her hands on her head. Where am I? The last thing she remembered was falling asleep in her own bed... not in this strange room. Looking around, she realized where she was. She sat on an extremely large bed with wispy silver curtains around it. She couldn't see much; the only light was from a few candles in various places around the room. Above them, the ceiling was covered in mirrors. "Where am I? Is this your bedroom?" Master21 nodded, smiling slightly, and put his hand on her exposed leg.

"Yes." Much to Xarae's discomfort, he began to run his hand up and down her smooth skin.

"Why are we here?"

"Shh... That doesn't matter now." He put a cold finger against her lips and looked into her eyes. Without breaking eye contact with her, Shitsuren reached over to a nearby bed table and picked up a tall glass of bubbling, yellowish liquid. "Here, your throat sounds dry. Drink this." Xarae took the glass from him and gazed into it. "Drink." Hesitantly, she took a small sip.

"Please, tell me why we're here. Has something happened?" Master21 showed no expression on his face but leaned closer to Xarae. Just then, her heart began to race. Something wasn't right. The Force was calling to her, telling her that she shouldn't be here. Telling her that Shitsuren had his own intentions. And then, Xarae was afraid. She began to look around the room frantically. Xarae realized that Khameir couldn't get to her. No one could get to her here. Her eyes nervously flew around the room, searching for something, anything... Her ring. Her ring was gone. She couldn't transform. Xarae looked up into Master21's eyes and gasped. They had a fire in them... a deep purple flame. Passionate.

"We have... things to discuss." Xarae took a deep breath as Shitsuren tipped the glass to her lips again. "Drink."

"Listen, Shitsuren... I..." Suddenly, Xarae's vision became blurred. She grabbed onto Master21's arm.

"Dizzy?" He heard her breathing quicken as she became more and more disorientated. Shitsuren frowned. "I really hate to have to do this to you... If only there was another way, we wouldn't have to go through this..." He pried Xarae's fingers off his arm and gently laid her back down. "Go to sleep."

Xarae moaned loudly. Shitsuren lifted his head from his pillow, and turned his eyes to Xarae's moving fingers.

"Waking up?" He propped his head up on his arm and brought himself closer to where Xarae was laying. He took her hand in his own, and she intertwined her frail fingers with his.

"Oh... I love you so much..." She moaned softly. Master21 was shocked as Xarae took his hand and pressed it to her cheek. "I love you so much..." Shitsuren melted, and tears came to his lilac eyes.

"I love you too, angel." He lightly laid his head on her chest and listened to her heart beating. A tear slid down his cheek, and he sighed contentedly.

"I love you so much, Khameir..." Master21 was taken aback. The sound of his heart cracking into two echoed through the empty room. Quickly he lifted his head off her bosom and took his hand from her face. He sat up and wiped the tears from his eyes before leaning over Xarae once again.

"Xarae, Xarae, wake up," he whispered. Slowly, Xarae opened her blue eyes.

"Shitsuren?" she asked weakly.

"Shh... It's alright. Everything is going to be alright."

"Everything's all blurry... I'm so dizzy..."

"It's alright, everything is going to be alright." He laid down beside her and began to stroke her hair.

"I... Did..."

"Shhh... Don't try to understand it all now. I'll explain later," Shitsuren's silky voice whispered. Xarae closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Everything was so confusing. She no longer had any idea where she was or how she got there. And where was Khameir? She could hardly even call the Force to her aid. She sighed and tried to relax...

Xarae jumped as a pair of warm lips kissed behind her ear.

"Shitsuren?" Xarae opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. In the reflection, she could see herself and the shirtless Shitsuren. He was almost on top of her, laying soft kisses up and down her neck. "No... Shitsuren, I..." Xarae tried to protest, but her mouth couldn't form the words.

"Shh. Just be quiet." He climbed up her to place a finger on her lips. "I'm not going to do anything to you. Don't worry." He kissed her forehead, and Xarae shut her eyes. He must have taken this as an invitation to kiss her, for before she knew it, Xarae felt his lips on hers. He attempted to deepen the kiss, but Xarae wouldn't have it. She laid there like a cold fish, her muscles stiff and unyielding to Master21's advances.

Shitsuren sat up. Xarae squinted her eyes and glittering tears fell down her cheek. He frowned sadly and got up off the bed. He couldn't do it. He just couldn't do it. How could he even THINK of violating such a beautiful woman? And the trouble he would cause between Xarae and Khameir... He didn't even want to think of the pain Xarae would go through. Gods, he felt like crying.

"Go back to sleep. You need your rest." Shitsuren climbed off the bed and exited the bedroom altogether. Xarae opened her eyes and blinked, shocked. She tried to comprehend the situation but couldn't at the moment. Closing her eyes, she fell quickly asleep.

The next morning...

Khameir walked into the dining room of the Room Behind the Waterfall to find Annika, Numako, and Kairiku sitting at the table, playing some form of cards and betting with cookies.

"Have any of you seen Xarae?" The three senshi looked up from their game.

"Seen your wife, I have not." Numako shook her head.

"Me neither," Kairiku responded.

"Why? Is she missing?" Annika asked, worry in her voice.

"I woke up this morning, and she was gone. I have no idea where she is, and I can't feel her with the Force. I have a feeling something bad happened to her." He sighed.

"We'll help you look for her." Annika offered.

Xarae opened her eyes. The first thing she saw, above her, was the reflection of Shitsuren lying beside her, nearly naked. Shocked, she screamed loudly.

"Xarae!?!" The young man was jolted out of his gentle sleep.

"Shitsuren!?! Why were we sleeping together?! And exactly HOW did I get here!?" He sat up and sighed, wiping the sleep from his beautiful lavender eyes.

"It's a long story..."

"We didn't..." Xarae gestured at the bed with her hands. "...Did we?"

"No."

"Thank the gods..." She climbed out of the bed. "Bring me back to my husband! Right now!" Shitsuren frowned.

"I'm sorry you're so angry... I never wanted..." He crawled across the bed to her.

"No! Stay away! I don't ever want to see you AGAIN! Do you hear me? Now take me back to my home RIGHT NOW." She narrowed her eyes and glared at him angrily. Shitsuren's heart shattered.

"But, Xarae, I..."

"Stop! I don't want to hear it right now! Just send me home." He looked down.

"Fine." He waved his hand in the air, and Xarae was sent home. And once again, he was left alone.

Khameir stopped suddenly in the middle of the hallway. The line of senshi following him came to a screeching halt.

"What's wrong?" Annika asked.

"She's here... I feel her," he said quietly.

"Returned, Xarae has?" Numako inquired. "Sense her, you can?" He nodded slightly and closed his eyes.

"She's in our quarters." He took off down the hallway, leaving Annika, Numako and Kairiku standing there. Using the Force to quide him, Khameir hurriedly entered the bedroom he shared with his wife.

"Xarae...?" He ran to Xarae, who was curled up on their bed. "Xarae, where were you?" She looked up at him, her eyes red from tears. "What happened?" Khameir put his arms around her.

"I yelled at him... I didn't mean to! I just... kind of blew up at him..."

"Calm down... Just tell me what happened." Xarae sniffled at Khameir's question, then began her story.

Shitsuren laid his head down on the table. He stared straight out at the blank wall, eyes reddened and unblinking. The glint and glitter of his eyes had faded away. The fire that burned within them was extinguished.

"She hates me," he said to no one. "She hates me because I love her." The words hurt so much. Each one was a punch in the stomach for him. But it didn't matter. His heart was already in pieces. Small, glinting shards, scattered across the floor. I don't ever want to see you AGAIN! Shitsuren winced at the all too recent memory.

"She hates me... She hates me so much..." He sat up and wrapped his arms around himself. Tucking his head to his chest, a tear fell from his cheek. "What does he have that I don't?" He thought about Khameir. Shitsuren didn't know him very well... He had tattoos and horns... But Shitsuren was sure that wasn't it. He was strong... both physically and in the Force. And forceful too. He wasn't afraid to use his strength to get what he wanted. It's not fair, I'm just as strong as he is... He started to compare himself to Khameir. But I'm certainly more passive than him... And he's so confident... Shitsuren thought about this. Is that what she wants? A man who is forceful? He stood up.

"I can be forceful if that's what she wants... I will do anything to get to her!!" And the fires in his eyes burned once again, black and clouded with the blinding heat of desire.

"...And then he sent me here... I feel so guilty. And I have this feeling. I have this terrible feeling, Khameir. He's going to do something drastic, I can forsee it." Xarae frowned as she concluded. In the doorway, Annika, Numako and Kairiku were speechless.

"Everything's going to be alright. Xarae..." Khameir took her into his arms once again and began to rock her back and forth. Suddenly, from the far side of the Room Behind the Waterfall, a hair-raising scream sounded. The three senshi in the doorway took off immediately towards the scream, and Khameir and Xarae - who was still in her nightgown - followed. When they came to the Room of a Thousand Waterfalls, they all gasped. Annika screamed loudly.

"What happened!?" Xarae yelled, running over to the bystanding Suta. She shook the girl. "What happened to Ciel and Nom?" Xarae gestured at the unconscious senshi on the ground, who were being shaken by Annika and Kairiku. Suta couldn't even speak. All the sailor did was gasp and point to the shadowy corner. Xarae whirled around.

"Shitsuren..." The man walked from the shadows at the mention of his name. "What did you do to them!?" Xarae screamed at him.

"When I want something, I WILL get it." He narrowed his eyes in Xarae's direction, and suddenly Suta fell to the floor, dead.

"SUTA!" Xarae fell to her knees and took the girl into her arms. "Wake up!" Xarae growled angrily and set the girl back down.

"Iridonia Eternal, Make UP!!" In a flash of light, Xarae transformed into Eternal Sailor Iridonia. Kairiku, Numako and Annika followed suit, transforming into Sailors Bakura, Dagobah and Chibi Naboo. "Shitsuren, please, don't make me have to attack you." Master21 walked to Sailor Iridonia confidently, his shoes making echoes on the floor, and lifted her chin with his fingers. He looked into her eyes. They were... different. Glaring with anger, burning with contempt.

"So beautiful..." he whispered. Suddenly, almost violently, he pulled her face to his, slamming their lips against each other. Xarae grasped onto his suit and tried desperately to push him away, but his hold around her head was too strong. She felt his fingernails digging into the back of her neck. Eventually, he pushed her away. Sailor Iridonia cursed loudly, wiping her lips with the back of her hand. A streak of blood stained the pure white of her glove.

"You..." Khameir growled and took a few steps forward. Shitsuren turned to him.

"Not another step." he warned. Khameir stopped, and Master21 smiled.

"Bakura...!" Eternal Sailor Bakura began to attack, but Master21 was too fast. He whirled around to face her and reached out in her direction.

"NO! Sailor Bakura!" Sailor Chibi Naboo was too late. The winged soldier fell to the ground as the wave of energy hit her, dead like the others. Xarae stared, her mouth wide open, at her dead comrades. Master21 smirked and Xarae turned to him.

"Please, Shitsuren! I'm begging you! Stop! There's no need for this!" The smile on his face faded at Xarae's words.

"If only that was true." He closed his eyes, and a bust of power emanated from him. It hit Sailor Dagobah, Sailor Chibi Naboo, and Khameir. They fell to the ground. Eternal Sailor Iridonia gasped in disbelief. From behind her, Shitsuren wrapped his arms around her waist. "Now we will have no interruptions..."

"NO!" Xarae tried to pry his arms off, but he was too strong for her. "NO!!! KHAMEIR!!" The silent body of her husband stayed still on the ground. "NO!!" Again, tears streamed from her eyes. "Shitsuren, please, let me go!!" She struggled with Master21, but he refused to let her out of his arms. Suddenly, from behind them, a very familiar voice began an attack.

"Asteroid Shower....!" But once again, Master21's ring of energy blasted the two senshi, Asteroid and Yavin, and they fell to the ground. Around Xarae and Shitsuren, the ground and surroundings started to disintegrate.

"Where are we going!? NO!"

"Sh! Don't fret your pretty little head... We're returning to the Nineteenth Realm. Don't worry." Xarae stopped her struggle with Master21, out of energy. "Finally gave in?" He kissed behind her ear. She paid no mind to him, but silently wept. This was all so sudden... It was her fault they all died... She had to find a way to bring them back! She had to become the Phoenix.

Xarae had time to calm down. Once back in the Nineteenth Realm, Master21 had left her alone in his bedroom for a while to relax. It looked so different. The lack of light was extreme. Even though she knew the sheets on his bed were pure white, they appeared a stark, stormy black. As did everything. Even the mirrors above her reflected only darkness.

Now, he was there with her. Sitting, staring into her eyes. His eyes... They were so different... the gentle, rolling lilacs she used to know had somehow transformed into blazing purple infernos. He was almost possessed by his desires. Xarae knew in her heart that Shitsuren was a kind person; he would never do this on purpose. At least, that's what she wanted to believe. And she had to bring him back. She needed the old Shitsuren back before she could do anything, or guilt would weigh her heart down like an anchor.

"Shitsuren... Why did you kill them?" His serious expression didn't falter.

"I do what I have to do to win you over. Xarae, I love you so much. I need you more than anything." Xarae frowned.

"Shitsuren..." She reached out and took his hands in hers. "We... are given these lives in this universe. And in our lives, we may reach sadness. But these feelings within your heart, this sadness, will blossom into a flower of bright joy. Life is about the path to happiness. Life would be nothing without the paths we take to achieve joy. To grasp our goals without strife and sadness, to merely speak the word and have your life's goal... defeats the purpose of living!" She paused to let Shitsuren take her words in. She saw the change in him; she saw his eyes lighten to the warm color she knew. He squeezed her hands. "I guess what I'm trying to say here... is that... not all sadness is worth this kind of suffering. Sadness is a bump in the path to bliss. And... I want you to remember that when you think of me." She smiled gently at Shitsuren, who was also smiling softly.

"I understand." Xarae sighed happily at his response. His eyes, light shades of violet, shined in the light, full of emotion and feeling.

"I want you to know, I will never ever hold any of this against you. Please, find in your heart a way to forgive yourself. I feel that you hold guilt within you. I understand, things like this happen. Passion clouds our judgment at times. Desperation makes us do horrible things, both to ourselves and to others. When you become desperate, remember what I told you. All sadness will give way to brighter and better things. And if you really love me, just wish for my happiness." Shitsuren turned away from Xarae, his light hair falling in front of his face.

"I'm so sorry..." he whispered. Xarae reached across the bed and held him to her.

"Don't be."

"I... don't know what came over me. Thank you for doing this." He held her away and looked deep into her eyes. "Thank you for being here. Thank you for smiling, and laughing, and trying, and being you, being here in this life for me. I realize now why I love you." Xarae smiled, and a tear fell down her cheek.

"I love you too." Once again the two embraced, Shitsuren holding his love close to his heart. "And always remember... that the love you give to the world always comes back hundred fold in the end." Shitsuren smiled. He felt it, inside him, his heart of glass being woven back together with the thin golden thread of trust and love.

"Sword Of Fate!" Destiny's Phoenix held her broadsword high in the air. "Protect Love and Happiness!" A blinding white light pulsed from the shining metal. Master21 shielded his eyes. The light spread itself over the Room of a Thousand Waterfalls, its shimmering magic falling to the ground and collecting in pools around the fallen senshi. The light slowly faded away, revealing Sailors Bakura, Chibi Naboo, Dagobah, Yavin and Asteroid, and Suta all staring in disbelief at themselves. Xarae smiled happliy when she saw Khameir sit up.

"Khameir!" Floating back to the ground, Destiny's Phoenix ran to him.

"Xarae!" She fell into his arms. "I missed you." He smiled and took her head in his hands for a gentle yet passionate kiss. Against the wall, Master21 smiled.