A Mother's Love

A pink bunny. A pair of drawing pencils. A stuffed bantha. A little toy horse. And a battle set up between Sailor Jedi Burger Monarch figures and DragonballZ action figures.

Priire gathered all of the toys into her arms so she could deposit them in the appropriate child's room. She knew which chibi belonged to each item... or items. Every time she picked up a toy, she got a warm feeling in her heart.

Today the Room Behind the Waterfall was silent. Tashita and the other older "chibi" senshi had taken the younger ones to the park for the day. Meanwhile, the rest of the senshi were either lounging about in the senshi's home, or honing their Jedi skills. Jedi-chasing skills, in some cases.

Several of the more laid-back senshi were reading or helping Priire clean up.

"Anyone know who belongs to this?" Xarae asked as she held up a purple mouse.

Schylar reached out from the couch and took the toy from Xarae. "It's Starr's," she said around a mouthful of catnip. "I'll put it with her other stuff. I swear, she loses more things!"

"Give it to me," Priire grinned. "I'm going that way."

The calico carefully put the cat toy on top of Priire's pile of people toys. As she walked to the different rooms, the Dark Sailor whistled to herself. Riko followed her, vainly hoping that the blonde pilot would drop something shiny.

Priire had just put the last Trunks action figure on Yuki's shelf when her comm unit went off, intruding on her calm day. "Seijoutai," she answered, hoping it wasn't some kind of emergency.

"I'm looking for a 'Mrs. Renjiro,' " the cultured voice of a woman said with no other introduction.

Just the sound of the voice annoyed Priire. And the woman's lack of courtesy. "In relation to...?" she questioned, trying to keep the annoyance out of her voice.

"In relation," the woman replied, her voice like the temperature outside a Hoth dome, "to a child she adopted named Shitsuren Seiki."

It took Priire a moment to realize who "Seiki" was. From what Zarathustra had told her, Seiki was... "Kleppa?"

Priire could almost feel the disapproving frown. "We have things to discuss with her. If you could tell Mrs. Renjiro to meet us at Ritz Coruscant for dinner, we would appreciate it." The comm clicked off with nothing further.

"Is that a royal we?" Priire sarcastically asked the deadened comm. It was silent to her insult. With a quiet curse, the blonde headed for her room.

"Ritz Coruscant... Ritz Coruscant... Sithspit. I don't have anything nice enough to wear there that I haven't worn before!"

A non-corporeal hoof pointed to a black dress. Priire shook her head. "Nope. I wore that once there twice. And if you wear something more than once, the waiters give you disparaging looks."

She grinned at Zarathustra. "Sorry you're getting the brunt of this. But most of the gals are out shopping. And Kousotsu's on Alderaan." Priire started speculating on the woman who'd called. "Whoever she was, she was serious money. I could tell. Someone I need to impress at the least."

Who was it whom
Riled you so badly
And sent you searching
For finery so madly?

Priire shrugged and pulled out her comm unit. She played with a few buttons, then held it up. "I tape all conversations. Here, listen to her."

In most cases, it was impossible for a translucent ghost to get any paler. Zarathustra, however, managed it.

This can't be good
That's my mother.
Her tone is distinctive,
It could be no other.

Priire cursed. From the things she'd been able to pick up about Zar's family, she could very easily be in a lot of trouble. She kept cursing as she skidded out of her room.

"One last time, 'Nika. No pink!" Priire had scoured several many stores in her search for the shopping senshi. Now that she'd found them, Priire enlisted their help in finding a dress to wear

Annika sighed. "But it would look sooo cute on you!"

The blonde glared at her. "I don't care. I'm not wearing it!"

"What about this one?" Mori offered. The Kashyyyk girl held up a rich red dress that rippled all the way to the floor. It had a string of sparkly stones at the waist almost like a thin belt. In addition to the long ends of the belt, there were stones placed at random, sparkling intervals in the skirt.

"Oh!" Annika squealed as Priire took the dress from Mori. "Try it on! Try it on!"

When Priire came back out, everyone agreed it was perfect. While Annika and Priire browsed through the store's jewelry department, Yuki secured Priire a pair of shoes. The red sequin heels amused the ice senshi for some reason.

The low lighting in the restaurant gave the jeweled choker at Priire's neck just the right amount of sparkle. She'd also let Annika put body jewels at the corners of her eyes to accent them. The effect was perfect.

Priire shifted in her seat and stirred her drink. Zarathustra's parents would be arriving any minute. The pegasus himself was at her shoulder, waiting impatiently.

Neither of the pair was quite sure why the Shitsurens had contacted Priire, but there was a feeling of dread that had been growing in Priire's stomach all day, like the time Tashita and Myra had taken off for two days without informing Priire. Whatever Kleppa's grandparents wanted, it wasn't going to be good.

"Mrs. Renjiro?"

Instead of a woman, it was a cultured male voice that addressed her. The blonde looked up and plastered a smile over her features as she stood and extended her hand. "My name is Seijoutai Priire," the blonde introduced herself. Priire stood and held out her hand, which the man took and kissed lightly. She tried to ignore the pegasus pacing behind her. "You asked to meet me?" Priire could tell the couple was old money. A lifetime ago, she would have marked the couple as a prime target. Now, she just smiled.

The woman sniffed. "We are looking for Priire Renjiro."

Priire smiled. "That's me."

"My name is Shitsuren Zarathustra the fourth, Mrs. Renjiro," the man started.

"Please, call me Priire."

He nodded. "Priire." Then without any more small talk, he stated his reason for being there. "We got word that you are holding our granddaughter. We'd like her returned."

I warned you that something
This meeting would be.
To keep my daughter
Will not be easy!

Zarathustra warned the blonde. Priire was half-tempted to shoot him a glare, but remembered that the couple in front of her couldn't see their dead son-turned-pegasus. "Are you referring to Kleppa Deicembre?" she asked softly.

"Her name," the woman corrected sharply, "is Shitsuren Seiki!"

Despite her best efforts, Priire's eyes narrowed. "The mother of the child gave her that name. I prefer to call her by the name she knows. Kleppa."

Zarathustra nodded triumphantly, although no one could see him.

"You renamed our granddaughter?" the woman exclaimed. "Why?"

Priire shook her head. "I didn't rename Kleppa. I adopted her with that name. It was only later that I realized what her real name was. By that time, Kleppa was responding to her name."

The woman, who still hadn't introduced herself, looked angry. "Her name is Seiki! Are you saying she wouldn't respond the her real name?"

A sigh escaped Priire's mouth. "Somehow, I get the feeling that you didn't come her to argue over her name."

The elder Zarathustra nodded. "To put it simply, we'd like our granddaughter back."

While she seemed to be pondering this on the outside, inside Priire's mind was working with the speed and agility that had made the Hawkbat so dangerous. There had to be some way that she could keep the child and her secret from the Shitsurens.

"You aren't even blood-related to her," the female said, turning up her nose.

Priire smiled slightly, her mind still working. "Actually, I am."

"Excuse me?" the woman hissed.

"I'm Kleppa's aunt, her mother's sister." Priire took a sip from her drink as the woman turned on the man.

"Rue!" she hissed. "You told me this was going to be easy!"

The elder Zarathustra - Rue - shook his head. "I didn't know about this, Nadine. Calm down. We can handle this."

Priire felt a reassuring pressure on her shoulder from Zar's head.

What they don't know
Will be their downfall
They know not the power
Of your friends one and all.

Thanks, Priire thought to him. She gave his non-corporeal nose a rub. "I hate to interrupt," Priire said with a very slight smile. "But there's an easier way to solve this problem. I officially adopted Kleppa. Ask the officials on Agamar."

"There's a funny bit of intergalactic law," Rue told her, "that makes provision for children kidnapped by family members to return to their homes."

Inside, Priire winced. She'd had trouble once with that law before. That time - unlike this - she'd merely killed the people in question. Somehow, she got a feeling that Ritz Coruscant would not appreciate that course of action, to say nothing of her friends. "I'm sorry... how would you go about employing this law without having the mother re-enter?"

"Her mother is dead."

Priire frowned. To the best of her knowledge, Areil was still alive and kicking. "Excuse me?"

"Nadine said that Seiki's mother is deceased," Zarathustra the fourth told her.

"That's not true..." Priire closed her eyes. How did one go about explaining Kleppa? "Her mother is still alive," Priire said very carefully.

Nadine looked down her nose. "Then how did the child end up in a foster home?"

Priire took time to think about her answer. "Mrs. Shitsuren, Kleppa-kam's mother is a part of the underworld. Kleppa was stolen from her mother by another element of the underworld. I discovered her after a third element tried to kill the baby. I adopted her to protect her." Well... it was mostly the truth.

The Shitsurens, however, were not buying it. "We don't believe you." Nadine narrowed her eyes. "And I would like to see my granddaughter. Now."

Priire couldn't think of anything to say, so she pulled out her commlink. "Annika? Can you bring baby Kleppa to Ritz Coruscant?" The Shitsurens couldn't hear, but Kleppa spoke into the commlink. "No, love, you don't have to dress up." The commlink traded hands on the other end again. "Just bring baby Kleppa." Turning back to the Shitsurens, Priire pasted a smile on her face. "Annika's bringing her."

Outside of Ritz Coruscant, a woman was waiting. Despite her braided blonde hair, green eyes, and red dress, this woman was not Priire. Unfortunately, Annika didn't realize this as she handed the baby off and left.

The woman's green eyes faded into yellow and she smiled. "Hello, Kleppa," Mistique said, smiling. Kleppa cooed and tugged on a lock of Mistique's now-red hair.

Just then, Priire and the Shitsurens walked out. "Annika?" Priire called.

Mistique quickly shifted and smiled. "I'm over here, Priire!"

Smiling, Priire started to walk over to where the pink-haired woman was. "Can I..." Priire frowned. Something wasn't right.

"Something wrong?' the other woman asked, her eyes fading from blue to yellow. When Priire realized what was going on, Mistique revealed herself. "I can't imagine what it would be."

Her voice so hard it almost shook, Priire growled, "Mistique. Give me my baby back." The blonde stretched out a hand, pointing at the Sith. "She's not yours."

"Oh?" Mistique laughed and held Kleppa up. "She seems happy to me."

Anger flooded Priire's green eyes. "She's not one of you." Holding a clasped hand to her own heart, Priire continued. "She has a good heart!" Still advancing, Priire spoke again. "I'm not going to lie to you. I'd love to trash your six." She shook her head. "But I can't risk it here."

"I'm calling the cops," Rue said. "Mrs. Renjiro, get away from her!"

That amused Mistique. "Mrs. Renjiro? Who is Mr. Renjiro? Your valiant Tuxedo Jedi? The one who's never around when you need him?"

"Shut up!" Priire shouted. "She's giving away my identity in front of a whole lot of people," Priire muttered to Zar. "Can you... maybe...?" She looked hopeful. The pegasus nodded and began to use the Force to suggest people leave the area. "The Shitsurens too," Priire told him, quietly. He shook his head negatively. Priire cursed.

"Mrs. Renjiro, you could get hurt. Please, leave this to the professionals!" the elder Zarathustra shouted again.

Both women ignored him. Mistique yawned. "I think I'm going to take Kleppa home now."

"Not if I have anything to say about it," Priire shouted. Grabbing the stone around her neck, Priire held it up. "Asteroid Star-Force, Make UP!"

The glow of starlight reflected on the stunned faces of the two Shitsurens. "A... Sailor... Jedi..." Nadine gasped. "I'm going to faint."

Zarathustra materialized and reared with a whinny behind Sailor Asteroid as she posed.

"I am the starbred Dark Sailor of defense and redemption! You are better at breaking hearts than Kleppa, and for that, I will destroy you!" Asteroid glared at Mistique. "Now, give me my daughter back."

Mistique shook her head. "I... don't think so. I'd rather kill her than let you try and corrupt her powers for good."

Shock filled Asteroid's eyes. "No," she growled. The Dark Sailor produced a blaster and aimed it at Mistique. "You know the kind of aim I have. Put the child down."

Mistique laughed. "I'm sorry, Asteroid, but I don't believe you'd shoot me. Not while I'm holding this baby." The woman laughed. "Remember what Syn did?"

Very slowly, Asteroid lowered her gun. "Sithspit." Turning as if she were going to leave, the senshi shot her pegasus friend a look. Suddenly turning back, she shouted, "Now, Zarathustra!"

The human standing next to his wife looked confused. "What?"

Paying no attention to his father, Zarathustra the pegasus reared behind Mistique and crashed down on her. At the same moment, Asteroid dove and caught baby Kleppa. "Gotcha!" She hugged the baby tight to her chest. "I'm sorry, sweetheart." She watched as Mistique disappeared.

Turning back to the stunned couple, Asteroid sighed. "Kleppa, sweetheart, these people are your grandparents - Nadine and Zarathustra. Say hi." The baby cooed and clung tighter to Asteroid's collar.

"Give her to me," Nadine demanded. After securing the child in her grasp, she turned to her husband. "We can leave now."

Asteroid's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

"Obviously," Nadine said arrogantly, "in your busy line of work, you don't have time for a child. And there's the fact that she was almost taken right out from under your nose. If it hadn't been for that horse -" she sounded disapproving "- this baby would be in even more danger."

"Learn some respect, and don't call Zar a horse," Asteroid said very softly. "If you take that child away, she will be in more danger than..."

Before Asteroid could finish a new voice broke in. "I'll handle this, Momma."

Kleppa aged before the surprised eyes of the Shitsurens into a nine-year-old. She held out her hands and produced a crystal heart that looked to be shattered, despite the fact it was still in one piece. With the sound of breaking crystal, the little girl transformed into Silver Sailor Chibi Ayameru. "I am the child of the night and Senshi-Guardian of Broken Hearts! The Silver Sailor Chibi Ayameru!"

"What has Momma told you about transforming in front of people?" Asteroid chided.

"Not to," Chibi Ayameru said. "But this is special! Daddy said..."

Asteroid shot Zarathustra a glare. He said nothing, but put his head on her shoulder.

"Besides. Grandma and Granddad," she said, addressing the shocked Shitsurens, "I can't live with you. I have to stay with the other senshi. They need me."

Asteroid nodded. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Shitsuren. You can't have Kleppa." The little girl yawned and held out her hands to Asteroid. The Dark Sailor caught her as she transformed back into a baby. Asteroid did the same, becoming Priire again.

Nadine held out her arms. "It doesn't matter. You won't ever be able to be a mother and a father to her. Give me the child." The woman held the child and looked at her. "She needs a father." Nadine looked around. "And I don't think you've mentioned your husband." Giving Priire's left hand a stare, she raised an eyebrow.

"That," Priire sighed, "is a complicated statement."

"You aren't married, are you." Priire was cut off before she could respond to Nadine's statement. "I bet you aren't even engaged. I would guess those gloves aren't just fashionable, I bet they are hiding the fact that you've never worn a ring on that hand before tonight."

Outraged, Priire glared at the woman. "My beloved is on Alderaan, taking care of some things. He gave me this -" She held up her ringed hand "- after I had to start wearing gloves. I almost never take it off..." She stopped speaking as the elder Zarathustra held up his hands.

"Nadine, I think that she has a point. She is a Sailor Jedi, after all," he said calmly.

"I am not going to let some random woman take care of my granddaughter, even a Jedi! My granddaughter deserves finery and two parents!"

Nadine started walking away. "Come back here with Kleppa!" Priire exclaimed. "You can't keep her."

Nadine very slowly turned around. "And just why can't we?" Her voice was cold as ice.

There was nothing Priire could say as Nadine walked off. Shitsuren Zarathustra IV put his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry," he told Priire. "If we can't legally keep Seiki, I promise you we'll return her."

That was little comfort to Priire. Turning away from him, she spoke to the pegasus over her shoulder. "Zar... watch over her..." she said quietly, touching the pegasus's cheek. Neither heard the quiet and cruel laughter coming from one of the shadows. The shadow-cloaked form watched Priire with her yellow flecked red eyes for a long time before departing. Everything was perfect.

Minutes later, Priire was alone on the empty street. She collapsed to her knees, uncaring that her dress was getting ruined, and tears began to pour down her cheeks. For the longest time, she cried alone in the street. Then, she felt a pressure on her shoulder. A blue-eyed gaze met her green eyes as she turned. "Koustosu..." she sniffled.

The handsome man knelt beside her in the dirty street and put his arms around her body. "Priire," he said quietly, stroking her hair. "Are you ok?"

"No," she cried. "They took Kleppa!"

"Excuse me, Mrs. Shitsuren?"

Nadine smiled at the woman who was standing outside the door to her hotel suite. "Yes?"

"I... I was wondering if you had a baby here. Shitsuren Seiki?"

Carefully, Nadine examined the woman. She was dressed nicely, with her red-black hair pulled back in a ponytail. The woman's eyes were red and yellow; they looked a little like Seiki's. "May I ask who you are?"

"My name is Areil," the woman said, smiling nervously. "I'm Seiki's mother."