----------

Crow wasn't sure if she was just imagining it, but at that moment, with this other girl's arms tightly wrapped around her, her face pressed to Crow's nearly-bare chest, she thought she felt just a little bit of warmth, even though they were both deathly cold. She relaxed.

"Well, come on. I'll show you to your quarters." Seiren reluctantly let go and followed Crow down the hallway. They reached a tall staircase of black marble and marched up into the higher chambers of Galaxia's castle. It seemed to Seiren that they had been walking for ages when Crow stopped in front of one of the many doors in the corridor and led her inside.

"Here we are," Crow said. She allowed Seiren a moment to soak in her surroundings.

The room was nice enough--marble floors and walls, a lovely fireplace set into the wall, bay windows, and a four-poster bed layered with blankets and sheets of pale blue satin. As nice as her appointments were, Seiren shivered. Her new room had the same cold, lonesome feeling that plagued the rest of Galaxia's castle. She had the sudden urge to crawl into bed and light a fire. But she knew that temperature wasn't the problem.

Crow turned to leave. "If you have any questions, or you need anything, I'm five doors down on the other side. You are to report to Galaxia-sama first thing tomorrow morning. I'll come get you then, so be ready."

"Don't leave."

"What?"

"Please. Stay with me?" Seiren managed to conjure up her best watery puppy-dog eyes. "I bet you could use the company, too."

Crow turned away sharply. "I don't need any companionship at the moment, thank you."

"Please! I-I know you're probably just as lonely as me right now! And this room is so cold! I...I...I don't want to be alone in here!" She clutched the other Senshi's arm pleadingly.

"Galaxia-sama would be furious..."

"Just for a little while! What's the harm in that?"

Crow turned around and looked into Seiren's eyes, which seemed to be on the verge of bursting with tears. God, is she really that afraid of this place? After a moment her shoulders dropped in defeat. "All right. Just for a short while."

"Whoo hoo!" Seiren grinned triumphantly, her tears magically gone, and dragged Crow to a nearby pair of overstuffed lounge chairs. "See? Galaxia-sama wants us to spend time together. Why else would there be two chairs in here?"

"So..." Crow shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "What should we..."

"I don't know." Seiren bit her lip. "I'm sorry. There's not much for us to do, is there? Maybe...maybe you should just go."

"Are you sure, Seiren?" Crow was, for some reason, feeling reluctant herself now. I don't know...it doesn't feel right, just leaving her here alone...

"...Yes. I don't want to bother you."

Hesitantly, Crow stood up to leave. As she approached the door, she heard a muted cry of "wait" behind her.

"What is it?"

"Well, I just had something to ask you...you'll think it's stupid..."

"And?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Well, um, how do we...take this off?" She gestured to her fuku. "I can't imagine sleeping like this."

"You will have to, I'm afraid," Crow replied. "As far as I know, it cannot be taken off."

"You've gotta be kidding!" Seiren could already feel her various raiments digging into her skin. God, how uncomfortable... She suddenly turned her attention back to Crow, and again noticed the other Senshi's great black wings. She touched one of them gingerly. "So you...sleep with...these?"

Crow flinched a little at her touch. "Yes."

"But...how...?"

"What do you mean, 'how?'" Crow snapped. She felt tears welling up in her eyes. "Do I deserve a comfortable night of sleep after what I've done? Do you?"

Seiren hung her head in shame. "Oh...well, you're right. I'm sorry..." It's true. Mermaid-sama is gone...Umi-chan and Mother and Father are gone...and all I can think about is being uncomfortable in bed... "Sorry. That was selfish of me." She turned away to hide her tears.

Crow felt a pang of guilt. "It's...it's okay, Seiren." She reached for the smaller girl's shoulders and turned her around. "It's just...when I think about it...things like sleep seem insignificant."

"I know how you feel...it's hard, Crow-san."

"It is..." She softened a little. "You know, there may be a way..."

"Really?"

"I don't know for sure, but I have heard that Galaxia-sama removes hers when she's alone...maybe we can do the same."

Seiren cocked her head. "But we still don't know how."

"I know. Onee-sama did it all the time in front of me, but I never knew how she did it...one moment she would be wearing it, and then the next it would be gone." Onee-sama... Strengthened by the thought of her sister, she steeled herself and smiled at Seiren. "I don't know if this will work, but I'll try." She closed her eyes.

She figured she just needed the right mental frame to shed her fuku. One thought ran through her mind--I want to be Akane again. I want to be myself again. And to Seiren's great surprise, Crow's fuku simply melted from her body. Crow looked down at herself and noticed that she was wearing the same black gown that she had on the day she became a Senshi. It reminded her achingly of her sister, and the white dress she wore.

"Crow...san..." Seiren breathed. "You did it."

"I suppose I did, didn't I...?" She smiled a little at Seiren. "Now you try."

"But what do I do?"

"Just concentrate," she replied calmly. "Think of Reiko. Think of your former self."

"Okay." She closed her eyes and heeded Crow's words. I want to be Reiko. I am Reiko. And her own fuku faded, leaving her in the sea-green nightgown she had worn the night Galaxia came to her in her bedroom. Crow blushed and turned away. "Seiren! That was the last thing you were wearing?"

Seiren then noticed that her gown was completely sheer, and hurriedly crossed her arms over her chest. "S-Sorry, Crow-san! I forgot!" They both stood blushing in an uncomfortable silence.

After a moment, Seiren dropped her arms and stretched. "It feels much better, doesn't it?"

"Yeah." Crow was still blushing. Why do I feel like this? She noticed Seiren eyeing her quietly. "What?"

She blushed again, embarrassed that she'd been caught. "Oh...well...nothing. It's just...you're very pretty, Crow-san."

"What...I mean, do you really...think so?"

"Yeah." She smiled. "I'm sure plenty of people have told you that before."

"Not really, no." Before she realized it she had started giggling.

"What's so funny?"

"Well, to be honest, you're the first person who's ever said that to me." Her laughter died down and she took a deep breath. "You're very beautiful yourself, Seiren."

"...Thank you, Crow-san." Seiren inched a little closer to the taller girl. "Say...you're not Crow-san right now...should I call you something else?"

Crow frowned. "I don't know..." She fingered her hair nervously. I know what I would like to be called, but...

She looked away, avoiding Crow's pensive gaze. "Well, it's okay if you don't want to--"

"Call me Aka."

"What? I mean, are you sure about that?" Seiren stammered. "That's what..."

"I know. And I miss it. I miss her." Her voice shook a little as she said that. "Would you use that name? Please, Seiren?"

She still looked unsure, and Crow--Akane--reassuringly put her hands on the girl's frail, pale shoulders. "It's all right. I wouldn't ask otherwise."

"Well...all right. For you. Aka."

Akane was surprised at her own reaction, as heat flushed her tan cheeks. The sound of her name from Seiren's lips echoed softly in her ears. "Thank you," she blurted out. Her hands were still touching Seiren's skin. She suddenly grew conscious of it and withdrew them to her chest. Seiren let out a cry of surprise.

"Aka! I mean...it was okay. I didn't mind that." She reached out and touched Akane's fingers with her own. "I thought it was...nice..."

Akane was silent. She didn't know what to say.

Seiren was silent for a moment, too. She moved closer to Akane and leaned her head against the girl's chest, their fingers still touching.

"Seiren--"

"Call me Reiko."

"Reiko--"

As if in a daze, Reiko spoke, not exactly knowing where her words were coming from. "I'm sorry if this makes you uncomfortable. I don't think it does, though, because it makes me feel good, to touch you like this. I don't know why...I feel...drawn to you, Aka. I feel like, maybe if I can stay with you, just like this, then this whole thing won't be so bad. Maybe I can survive." She paused. "Do you...know what I mean?"

Akane found herself speaking without thought. "Yes...I think I know what you mean. There's something about you...Reiko...you make me realize how lonely I've been all this time. I don't like feeling like that."

"If we have each other we don't have to be lonely. Right?"

Akane nodded, feeling Reiko's breath on the tops of her breasts. She took one arm and wrapped it around the other girl's waist. This is a new feeling...

"Aka..."

"What is it?"

"Have you ever...you know..."

"...No. Never. Have you?"

"No." Akane felt Reiko's heart start to beat considerably faster.

"I never felt this way before. I don't know what I should...do..."

Reiko steadied her nerves and, eyes wide open, slipped her free hand around Akane's neck, and pressed their lips together. I don't even know what I'm doing! This is nuts!

"Reiko!" Akane tried to say, but was muffled to near silence. After a moment she closed her eyes and relaxed, allowing her body to respond to Reiko's kiss. Her face--her entire body--felt warmer. Her finely-manicured hand slid below Reiko's nightgown and under it, caressing the bare skin of her back. Akane heard a low moan rumble from Reiko's throat.

Together they fell back onto the satin-covered bed, still locked in embrace, kissing more and more passionately. Akane gasped as Reiko's lips trailed down her throat and shoulders and stopped at the neckline of her dress. She looked up uncertainly.

Akane smiled at her. "Go ahead. Please."

Reiko grinned back and untied the dress at the back, finally pulling it away to expose Akane's naked torso. She shivered from the sudden exposure, but soon warmed up as Reiko lay on top of her, her pale blue hair tickling the tip of Akane's chin. She felt Reiko's mouth on her collarbone, her stomach, and finally her breasts. She moaned and arched her back. Is this really right? Is it really me feeling this way?

She didn't know that Reiko was thinking the same thing as she wrapped her lips around one of Akane's hard nipples. If I don't...have a soul...

Her head moved farther down Akane's lithe body. The madder-haired girl gripped the sheets as she felt a soft kiss on the inside of her thigh. If the real me is dead...

Reiko felt a thrill run through Akane's body as she plunged her tongue inside. If I can't feel or be alive...

As Akane came closer and closer to her climax, the same thought shot through their minds and hearts.

Then how can I feel like this?

~***~

Akane leaned back against her pillow, careful not to disturb Reiko, who was fast asleep in the crook of her arm. I don't know why she's so tired, Akane thought with a yawn. She was spent, at least. She had never been that spent in her short life.

Reiko suddenly snored loudly, and Akane gently turned her on her side. She was tired, but she couldn't sleep. She wondered if she and Reiko were really the soulless monsters Galaxia had told them they were. If they had really lost all connection with their former selves. After all, love and sexual desire were strongly connected to a person's soul. So what they hell did we just spend the last half hour doing?

Looking at Reiko--who was drooling slightly--she decided to put off thinking about the ramifications of their actions for a while. At the moment she didn't care and she was getting sleepier. She scooted down under the blankets and turned on her side, draping her arm over Reiko's stomach. She lightly kissed the sleeping girl on the forehead.

"Good night, Reiko."

Reiko stirred a little. "...Good night...Aka."

~***~

Late the next morning Reiko awoke with a start. She immediately noticed that she was alone--Akane had left already. She thought for a moment that she may have dreamed the entire thing, but could still smell the other girl's scent in the room. And after getting up she found a note on the mantle.

Reiko,

You had better not sleep in! I tried to wake you this morning but you didn't respond at all. Hurry and transform to meet with Galaxia-sama! I'll already be there when you arrive. And DO NOT be late! Galaxia-sama does not tolerate any kind of tardiness!

~Aka

Suddenly a frightening thought overcame her: What if I can't transform? I don't know how, and Aka's not here...what do I do? She tried to remember what Megumi had done to transform into Sailor Mermaid. Didn't she say some words or something?

Say "Mermaid Star Power Make Up."

What?

Use those words to transform, Reiko-san, Megumi's voice said.

Mermaid-sama? But...how...?

That's my Sailor Crystal, Reiko-san. I'm INSIDE you. If you want to use the power of my Crystal, say those words.

But, but...I can't! How can I impersonate you?! I've done so much harm already...

Reiko-san! Now is not the time for apology! Please, just do what I say!

Reiko was still reluctant, but she silently thanked her friend and obeyed.

"Mermaid Star Power Make UP!"

Back in her fuku, Seiren opened the door and ran down the corridor toward Galaxia's chambers.

~***~

She rounded the last corner before coming into the throne room when she heard a terrifying sound--the smack of a whip, and a girl's scream. Crow's scream. Seiren gasped in horror as she peered through the portal.

Sailor Galaxia, in the same golden armor Seiren remembered, stood over Sailor Lead Crow, brandishing a brown leather whip. Crow's wings were bloody and battered from lashes. She was on all fours before Galaxia, trying to withstand the pain and keep from crying.

"Galaxia-sama...please..."

"Silence!" Another crack of the whip echoed through the chamber. "Of all my Animamates, I never expected insolence from you!"

"I apologize...I'm so sorry, Galaxia-sama..."

Galaxia would no longer listen. She seemed to want to beat Crow into a second death. "How dare you behave that way in my castle! Are you stupid?!"

"Leave her ALONE!"

"Reiko...please don't..." Crow begged feebly, as Seiren rushed to her side.

She saw Crow's blood dripping onto the floor, and looked up with unbridled rage at the woman holding the whip. "Galaxia! Why have you hurt her like this?! WHY?!"

She was answered by the whip slashing into her shoulder. She fell back with a cry on top of Crow.

"Why? Why, because of you, Sailor Aluminum Seiren," Galaxia said flatly. "Or is it Aya Reiko? From what the two of you did last night, I could have sworn I didn't kill you."

"You...you saw?"

Galaxia lashed her again, in the back. "This is my castle, you little fool! Did you think you could do something like that and I wouldn't find out?!"

Seiren was speechless. Crow lay under her, trying in vain to conceal her bitter weeping.

"But that doesn't matter now," she said at last. "Just remember, Sailor Aluminum Seiren, Sailor Lead Crow"--her bracelets began to flash--"that you are MY servants, and you are only alive to do MY bidding! NEVER forget that!" Before either could speak a massive ball of golden energy blasted them out of the throne room.

~***~

A short while later the two Sailor Senshi sat in Seiren's room, tending to each other's wounds. Their Sailor Crystals sped up the process but occasionally a black crackling bolt of energy from their bracelets would jolt them horribly.

"It seems that our punishment is long from over, Seiren," Crow said sadly. They still donned their fuku, and didn't dare remove them anytime soon.

"You're probably right," Seiren, too, was listless and depressed. After such a night of overwhelming emotion she now found herself unable to show any emotion at all. "I suppose we were stupid to do that...I'm sorry, Crow-san."

"It's all right." Crow took Seiren's hand in hers. "I was thinking about it, though...remember what you told me, about Sailor Mermaid talking to you?"

"Yeah...what about it?"

"My mother told me about Sailor Crystals once. They are tied eternally to their owners, their true Sailor Senshi. Mermaid herself said that's why she could connect with you, right?"

"That's true, I guess." She didn't much feel like talking about Sailor Mermaid right then. She frowned.

"Well, my mother told me that Sailor Crystals aren't just connected to Senshi. They connect with everyone and everything on their planets--the plants, the birds, and the people. Even you, Aya Reiko."

"What...is that true?!"

"Yes. Part of you is in Mermaid's Sailor Crystal, just as part of me is in Coronis' Crystal." She paused and looked out the window. "Last night...I wondered how we could feel the way we did for each other. Was it just the Sailor Crystals reacting to each other?"

"I wondered, too. I thought, maybe it was Mermaid-sama and your sister feeling those things. Not us." She choked a little on her last words. "I didn't want to think about it that way, but..."

Crow smiled. "I don't think it was like that. I think that our Crystals allow us to connect with ourselves. So maybe...maybe that was genuine. Maybe it still is genuine."

Seiren squeezed the hand she was holding. "Crow-san..."

"Hey...Seiren...may I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

"Do you regret it?"

Seiren's eyes widened a little at the question. "You mean, what we did?"

"All of it. Joining with Galaxia-sama. Helping her destroy your planet. Coming here and meeting me. If you could go back and do it again, would you?"

"Crow-san...I don't know. I miss everyone. I know I--we--did something horrible. I still can't think about it without crying. But..."

"But?"

She took a deep breath. "But...when I think about you, and how I felt when we...did what we did...and how I felt when I saw Galaxia-sama hurting you..." She started to cry, and Crow wiped the tears away with her finger. "I know that I don't regret it. I couldn't regret meeting you." She broke down sobbing into Crow's arms.

Crow held her and shed a few tears of her own. "I couldn't either, Seiren."

~***~