Chapter 14: A Personal Prison

With a sense of foreboding, Celeste entered her hotel room. Ensuring that the door was locked, she crossed the room and threw herself across the bed. After a few minutes, she sat up.

'It’s not going to do you one bit of good to just lay across this bed, Celeste.'

She sat down at the small table by the window. Opening the computer, she waited as the machine slowly came alive. Holding her breath, she opened her mailbox.

The breath was expelled as a disappointed sigh. Without bothering to read the other messages, she shut the computer down. She sat absolutely still for several moments before she realized that she was staring at a dead screen.

Snapping the lid closed, she rose to her feet. She turned to grab her purse and discovered its contents spread across the bed. Growling in frustration, Celeste began to shove the various items back into the handbag. However, when she grabbed her communicator, she stopped to study it.

In all of her incarnations, she had never been considered part of a team. And while she still had doubts about Usagi as a leader, she did not argue when Luna had presented the communicator to her. It could come in handy while she was in Tokyo. She dropped the communicator into her purse and left the room.

* * * * *

Celeste stepped off the elevator, only to halt as she noticed Setsuna crossing the lobby. The Guardian of Time was an impressive person, even if you were unaware of the other life she led. Setsuna smiled when she saw Celeste.

“Celeste-chan, hi. Have you eaten?”

Celeste shook her head.

“Neither have I,” Setsuna replied. “Will you join me for dinner?”

Then, she realized that Celeste appeared ready to go out. “That is if you don’t have other plans.”

Again, the American shook her head. “No, no plans at all. I was just going for a walk. But, now that you mention it, I am rather hungry.”

Celeste forced herself to smile. Setsuna was the closest thing she had to a real friend in Tokyo. “Any place in mind?”

“We could try one of my favorite restaurants, if you don’t mind a little authentic Japanese food.”

Celeste’s smile became genuine. “When in Rome,” she quipped. “Lead the way.”

In improving spirits, Celeste allowed Setsuna to lead her across the lobby and into the busy streets of Tokyo.

* * * * *

Celeste returned to the hotel room, still laughing over some of Setsuna’s stories. While she knew that life with Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru couldn’t be that peaceful, she never dreamed of the on-going chaos that dwelled in that house.

She dug some sleeping clothes out of her suitcase, shucking clothes in the process. Dressed in her favorite pajama set, she washed her face and brushed her teeth. As she came out of the bathroom, Celeste paused and looked at the computer.

‘Rejection should only be faced once a day,’ she thought, as she walked past the copmuter to the bed. She set her travel alarm clock and turned off the light. A few minutes later, she drifted in sleep.

* * * * *

She still couldn’t believe that they had made it. The gray stone structure was far more impressive up close that it had been when she had noticed it all those miles ago. Shivering, she hugged the mug of warm liquid closer to her.

“Tennyo-chan, are you okay?” Charon asked, noticing the shiver.

She nodded. “Fine. Just a reflex.”

Still, Charon wrapped an arm around her, drawing her closer to the warmth of his body. Sighing, she snuggled into a more comfortable position. Almost content, she drank the liquid. However, outside the fortress, the purpose of their mission was looming before her.

“Sleep,” Charon said softly. “We will move in a few hours before dawn. We will need all of our strength.”

She nodded, draining the last of the liquid. Putting the mug a safe distance away, she laid her head against his chest. “I hope we are strong enough,” she whispered, closing her eyes.

He kissed the top of her head. “We will be, Tennyo-chan,” he replied, with much more conviction than he felt. Closing his eyes, he followed her example and drifted into a light sleep.


A Personal Prison With a sense of foreboding, Celeste entered her hotel room. Ensuring that the door was locked, she crossed the room and threw herself across the bed. After a few minutes, she sat up. 'It’s not going to do you one bit of good to just lay across this bed, Celeste.' She sat down at the small table by the window. Opening the computer, she waited as the machine slowly came alive. Holding her breath, she opened her mailbox. The breath was expelled as a disappointed sigh. Without bothering to read the other messages, she shut the computer down. She sat absolutely still for several moments before she realized that she was staring at a dead screen. Snapping the lid closed, she rose to her feet. She turned to grab her purse and discovered its contents spread across the bed. Growling in frustration, Celeste began to shove the various items back into the handbag. However, when she grabbed her communicator, she stopped to study it. In all of her incarnations, she had never been considered part of a team. And while she still had doubts about Usagi as a leader, she did not argue when Luna had presented the communicator to her. It could come in handy while she was in Tokyo. She dropped the communicator into her purse and left the room. * * * * * Celeste stepped off the elevator, only to halt as she noticed Setsuna crossing the lobby. The Guardian of Time was an impressive person, even if you were unaware of the other life she led. Setsuna smiled when she saw Celeste. “Celeste-chan, hi. Have you eaten?” Celeste shook her head. “Neither have I,” Setsuna replied. “Will you join me for dinner?” Then, she realized that Celeste appeared ready to go out. “That is if you don’t have other plans.” Again, the American shook her head. “No, no plans at all. I was just going for a walk. But, now that you mention it, I am rather hungry.” Celeste forced herself to smile. Setsuna was the closest thing she had to a real friend in Tokyo. “Any place in mind?” “We could try one of my favorite restaurants, if you don’t mind a little authentic Japanese food.” Celeste’s smile became genuine. “When in Rome,” she quipped. “Lead the way.” In improving spirits, Celeste allowed Setsuna to lead her across the lobby and into the busy streets of Tokyo. * * * * * Celeste returned to the hotel room, still laughing over some of Setsuna’s stories. While she knew that life with Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru couldn’t be that peaceful, she never dreamed of the on-going chaos that dwelled in that house. She dug some sleeping clothes out of her suitcase, shucking clothes in the process. Dressed in her favorite pajama set, she washed her face and brushed her teeth. As she came out of the bathroom, Celeste paused and looked at the computer. ‘Rejection should only be faced once a day,’ she thought, as she walked past the copmuter to the bed. She set her travel alarm clock and turned off the light. A few minutes later, she drifted in sleep. * * * * * She still couldn’t believe that they had made it. The gray stone structure was far more impressive up close that it had been when she had noticed it all those miles ago. Shivering, she hugged the mug of warm liquid closer to her. “Tennyo-chan, are you okay?” Charon asked, noticing the shiver. She nodded. “Fine. Just a reflex.” Still, Charon wrapped an arm around her, drawing her closer to the warmth of his body. Sighing, she snuggled into a more comfortable position. Almost content, she drank the liquid. However, outside the fortress, the purpose of their mission was looming before her. “Sleep,” Charon said softly. “We will move in a few hours before dawn. We will need all of our strength.” She nodded, draining the last of the liquid. Putting the mug a safe distance away, she laid her head against his chest. “I hope we are strong enough,” she whispered, closing her eyes. He kissed the top of her head. “We will be, Tennyo-chan,” he replied, with much more conviction than he felt. Closing his eyes, he followed her example and drifted into a light sleep.


Chapter 15: Glimpses Resurrection: Sailor Sol Sarah's Sanctuary