Straight Tequila Night

"No... no..." Priire sobbed falling to her knees. The sobs racked her body as she buried her head in Tuxedo Jedi's cape. It took a minute before his body disappeared completely. Priire's knuckles were white were she clung to the brown cape. Tears poured down her cheeks, and she trembled. Her entire body seemed to be involved in a personal earthquake. He wasn't gone, she tried to convince herself. He couldn't be... the green-eyed girl held the cape to her chest and looked where her love should have been. Only... he wasn't there anymore.

She suddenly turned her tear-stained face to the heavens and held the cape in front of her. The broken-hearted woman screamed a wordless challenge to the hands of fate that had ripped her beloved from her. As if responding to the sheer pain in her scream, the cape in her hands tore. At the same time, a double set of pure black wings burst from her back, tearing her shirt. Priire's body still trembled with emotion as she bent her head back to the ground. "No..." she whispered one last time.

Priire gasped and sat straight up in her bed. She closed her eyes and brushed her long bangs back. It was only a dream... the girl shivered as she tried to put it out of her mind.

She swung her legs out of the bed and reached for the ring on her nightstand. It was sitting under the two black candles that Xarae had given her for her seventeenth birthday. As Priire slid the ring on, she wondered why it was so cold in her room. She'd have to check the thermostat in case Numako was showing off her mechanical expertise again.

The girl reached for her comforter to make her bed, like usual, and froze. On her pillow were two pitch black feathers. They seemed to be malevolent in their silence. Calming herself from her initial fear, she reached for the feathers, holding the comforter in her right hand. When her hand - bare except for the ring - touched them, the feathers gleamed silver and disintegrated with the echo of a long-forgotten pain.

She screamed.

Easily faking an unconcerned smile, Priire asked, "Where's Kousotsu?"

Numako shrugged. "Know, I do not. But gone I think he is."

Something in her words made Priire shiver. Gone...

"Thanks," the blonde said in a monotone as she walked off.

Numako watched her with a frown. "Wrong, something is," the green girl mused. "Wonder what it is, I do."

Starr pounced on Priire's feet as the senshi walked through. "I'm coot!" the kitten proclaimed importantly. "Wuv me!"

Priire smiled and let the kitten climb up her shoulder. Starr nestled herself under Priire's braids and began purring. "Starr... you wouldn't happen to know where Kousotsu is, would you?"

The kitten stopped purring for a minute to think. "He go to Jai Cou'il fo' some'ing."

"The Jedi Council?" Priire asked, puzzled. "I wonder why."

"Probably to request something."

Priire turned at the surprise voice. "Do you know what, Kleppa?"

The little girl shook her head. "No. He said he would be back." The child's soft British accent made her words seem comforting despite the cold tone.

"Thanks..." Priire's voice trailed off as she set the purple kitten on Kleppa's shoulder. As Priire walked off, Kleppa's eyes glinted. She could sense the impending heartbreak like a vampire could sense blood.

The Temple was so huge, Priire wished she could just zap herself from place to place. "Sure wouldn't hurt to have wings," the blonde girl muttered as she moved carefully through the huge Jedi Temple. She shook her head, suddenly reminded of the all-too-real dream she'd had. "Never mind."

Wings are a curse
And a blessing, it's true.
But double black wings
Aren't the look for you.

Priire grumbled at the pegasus. "Zar, why don't you go creep out the padawans or something?"

The translucent animal nickered at her.

"And stay out of my head," she added.

You can't understand
The things that you've seen.
Are they what are to come?
Or are they what have been?

She turned on him almost instantly, but still too late. He was already gone. The Dark Sailor shivered again. "I don't understand," she whispered to the empty hall. "I just don't understand..." Priire looked around the hall, as if it could give her the answers she needed. Why had the dream affected her so badly? She wanted to push it out of her mind, but with her innate belief in dreams that was impossible.

A chill overtook her body and made her shiver again. She had to find Kousotsu and assure herself he wasn't dead.

Yet.

Priire fortunately met Kousotsu as he was coming out of the Council room. The intense embrace she gave him would have raised more than eyebrows among the distinguished Jedi Masters.

"What...?" Kousotsu asked, looking very confused. "Is something wrong?"

"Not anymore," the blonde said softly, trembling.

Kousotsu, still puzzled, put an arm around Priire and led her over to one of the benches. "Tell me what's wrong."

Usually, Priire didn't respond well to commands. But this was not usually. "I had this horrible dream..." She spoke softly as she told him everything she'd experienced, ending with Zarathustra's mysterious bit of verse. "It was so real... and the feathers... I..."

She didn't say anything more, but just let Kousotsu hold her. He comforted her as best he could without telling her why he'd gone to the Council.

For Kousotsu had also dreamed of death and black feathers.

"I'll kill myself. I swear, I'll do it."

Priire's hands held a beautiful dagger. It was worked all over with designs incorporating the Seijoutai flower. The dagger was turned on her own chest.

"I swear I will. I can't go on without him. You don't understand. You can't understand. I swear, I'll do it."

She jumped slightly as something splashed on the silver blade. A tear. It had forced its way out of her eye. She didn't really want to... but...

"Everyone around me always ends up dead. Maybe if I die, they'll stop."

There was a sudden flash of silver light in front of her. A silver head touched her shoulder and nickered in her ear. Zarathustra nudged her cheek, reminding her of everyone she'd leave behind.

The woman threw the dagger away from herself, and Zarathustra put his hoof on it. It - and he - slowly disappeared. Before he was gone completely, Priire saw a stunned look on his face. Not understanding, she turned her eyes upward and begged just to die. "Just let me die," she cried to whatever being would listen.

She didn't want to open her eyes. Priire knew if she did, she'd have to get up and face the day. Then, after that, she'd have to go to sleep again. That was something she wasn't looking forward to. Her nighttime dreams were more real than her daytime routine.

Hesitantly, she opened first one eye, then the other. At least her room was still the same. The blonde rolled over and almost cut herself on the dagger she found resting on her pillow.

This time, her scream brought someone running.

"What is it?"

Priire turned her wild eyes to the tiny figure in the doorway. The dagger had scared her so badly that Priire had vaulted across the room. The green-eyed senshi pointed to her bed and the dagger resting on her pillow.

The other girl tucked her streak of royal purple hair behind her ear and walked over to the weapon. "There's a bad dream in this," Tanrei commented.

"Thank you for telling me," Priire snapped sarcastically before she could stop herself.

Tanrei raised an eyebrow at her.

"I'm sorry," Priire apologized, sinking into her chair. Then, as if a thought occurred to her, she spoke again. "You're the guardian of dreams - you explain this to me."

The little girl was already fingering the dagger. She held it up to the light and watched, surprised, as it disintegrated. "This is out of my realm," she said softly, staring at where the weapon had been.

"What?!"

She turned her sad eyes on Priire. "I don't think you're dreaming."

Tanrei searched for one of the other senshi and hoped she'd be able to talk. "Kleppa?" the dark-eyed girl called.

"Yes?" The slight British accent on the word identified the speaker as Kleppa.

"I have a question," Tanrei stated. "What are you doing to Priire?"

Kleppa held up the project she was working on. "I'm making her a picture out of uncooked noodles."

Still looking into Kleppa's eyes, Tanrei shook her head. "That's not what I meant. And you know it."

The other child shrugged. "Then what do you mean?"

Tanrei frowned. "I mean the strange dreams that she's been having. I know you're doing it, somehow. What are you doing to her?"

"Nothing she isn't doing to herself," Kleppa said with a shrug.

It was quiet for a moment as Kleppa nonchalantly glued more noodles to the paper. "Don't mess with my guardianship," Tanrei warned. "Understand?"

Kleppa turned her yellow-flecked eyes on Tanrei. "It's not my fault things are working out in the night. Which is one of my elements." Neither spoke as the girl pasted another noodle to the paper. "There. What do you think?"

Tanrei's eyes went wide as she looked at the picture. Somehow, using only noodles and glue, Kleppa had created a picture of Priire crying with a dagger in the background. Tanrei stared at her with an odd expression on her face. "You are so creepy," Tanrei said quietly as she walked off.

Priire shivered. Tanrei's words haunted her like the shadow she knew followed her.

"Momma?" a little voice called.

Looking down, Priire saw Kleppa. With a smile, the senshi scooped up the child. "Hey sweetheart," the blonde said with a grin. "What's up?"

"Do something pretty with my hair," the little girl begged. "Make it look all pretty."

Priire laughed and agreed with the little five-year-old. "I need to get some scrunchies and a hairbrush." Kleppa giggled and produced the requested items. Priire took them from her and sat the girl down. The blonde ran the hairbrush through Kleppa's slightly wavy red-black locks. She smiled, getting an urge to hug the little girl. Instead, Priire brushed all of Kleppa's hair into a ponytail. Carefully, she pulled six locks of hair evenly spaced around Kleppa's face and braided them into small braids. Then, starting with the first two small braids and some other hair, Priire began to braid Kleppa's hair into a French braid. Every time she brought a lock of hair over, she scooped up more of the loose hair on Kleppa's head. The six little braids worked themselves into the design evenly. Priire stopped braiding the child's hair at the base of her head. There, Priire took the purple scrunchie and bound Kleppa's hair in it.

The little girl promptly jumped up and went to look in the mirror. When she came back, she threw her arms around Priire and hugged her. "Thank you, Momma!"

A sappy grin plastered itself over Priire's face as she watched Kleppa run off to go play.

"Someone's a pushover," a female voice commented.

Without turning, Priire rolled her eyes. "Hi, Tashita."

"She looks cute," the brunette commented, perching on the back of the couch. "Why don't you do stuff like that to your hair?"

Priire shrugged. "I don't know. I just don't." With an impish grin, Priire offered to do Tashita's hair.

The brunette shook her head. "No way! Then Hisako would consider me fair game..." she said, referring to the little girl with hairdresser aspirations.

Laughing, Priire rolled her eyes again. "But don't you want your hair up in sixteen interconnected odango?"

"How would I get it down??"

Priire kept laughing. She knew Yukiko's future daughter was great with hair... if a little prone to experimentation.

More serious, Tashita looked at her mom. "Mom... is something bothering you?"

"Lots of things," Priire tried to laugh it off. "Nothing I can't handle."

Tashita had her doubts but didn't voice them as Priire walked off. Tashita knew that haunted look that Priire tried to hide. It scared her a little, but she figured that whatever it was, Priire had Kousotsu to help her through it.

Tanrei sighed and wondered why she'd appointed herself to find out what was going on. It wasn't like there weren't a million people who could worry about Priire and Kousotsu and Kleppa. So why did she have to do it?

Because, the girl answered herself, she was the only one who knew.

"I have a question to ask you," Tanrei said to Kousotsu after cornering him in the kitchen. He'd sensed her coming and had tried to get away. There was something on his mind he didn't want to share, and the Jedi knew that Tanrei was going to ask him about it.

"Yes?" Kousotsu asked.

"You've been having strange dreams." It wasn't a question, but a statement. So Kousotsu didn't respond. Tanrei went on. "About dying. And never seeing Priire again. Even when she's dead. As if the two of you won't be together in the afterlife. Kind of like she does something horrible that can't ever be forgiven."

Kousotsu was a little pale. "How do you know?"

She raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm the guardian of dreams. I have special insight." There was a slight pause. "Priire's been having the same kinds of dreams. Only... she lives on after you and doesn't want to."

"She wants to kill herself?" Kousotsu frowned. "She can't. She just... can't!" He shook his head. "Even if I die, she has to live."

"Why?"

Kousotsu thought about it for a minute. "Because she's in the future. If she died, it would upset the balance of everything."

A slight smile formed on Tanrei's lips. "I know. She knows. But that means little to a grieving heart." The girl pushed on, not letting Kousotsu speak. "And she's scared. You need to talk to her."

The handsome man ran his fingers through his black hair. "How can I? It'll break her heart."

"So will lying to her," Tanrei said very softly.

There was nothing the honest warrior could say to that last accusation.

Priire was doing her best not to let the tears that threatened her eyes spill down her cheeks. She hated crying. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked Kousotsu softly.

The man beside her looked away. "I'm sorry. I... didn't want to hurt you anymore. And I wasn't sure they were real."

She understood and didn't blame him. "I don't think I really wanted to know."

Kousotsu almost smiled. "It's okay," he said, holding her close. A stray tear pushed itself out of Priire's eye, and she furiously started to wipe it away. She wasn't supposed to cry. Ever.

Kousotsu gently stopped her hand and wiped the tear from her eye with his sleeve. "It's okay," he said again. "Even Hawkbats need to cry sometimes."

The phrase was familiar to her; her twin sister had spoken it once before. Just hearing it made the rest of the tears seep from her eyes.

"I'm sorry," Kousotsu said, clenching his teeth together. "I am so sorry."

Priire knew deep inside that he was apologizing for everything he's done in the past... and the future.

There was no one awake at this hour. No one but Priire. The ex-mercenary had her feet propped up on the kitchen table and was flipping sabacc cards into one of Nom's pots. Of course, if Nom found her, Priire would be scrubbing the said pot for hours.

She was counting on it.

Anything to stay awake. Anything to keep from falling asleep and dreaming.

Priire thumbed the top on another soda. Aside from the all-night Hilligan's Island marathon, there was nothing to do. Besides, the couches were too comfortable. It was too easy to fall asleep.

The blonde was used to pulling all-nighters from her previous employment. Sleeping for long periods of time on a lone run could get one killed. And if you were on a stakeout and you dozed off, there went your target.

Priire leaned the chair back and balanced it on two legs. She flipped a card out of the deck and sent the seven of sabers into the pot. Another flip of her hand sent the Idiot card flying. It was the first card she'd tossed toward the pot that missed. It rebounded off the side and slid under the stove. Priire frowned. Now she'd have to go fish it out. Without the Idiot card, you couldn't play sabacc. Without it, a worthless hand was still worthless.

The girl had leaned over to set the rest of the deck down when her chair slipped. Whether it was Destiny or just chance, Priire didn't have time to yelp or anything when her head impacted with the edge of the table.

A few minutes later, Nom herself walked in. The warrior had heard something in her kitchen and had gotten up to investigate. First, she noticed her precious pot littered with cards. Second, she noticed Priire napping on the floor.

Torn between waking Priire up to scrub the pot and letting the obviously exhausted girl sleep, Nom frowned. There was something not right surrounding Priire. Like... Nom was reminded of the time before Yukiko and Kami found out they were destined. There was something horribly unresolved and dark around Priire.

Nom shrugged. Whatever it was, it would resolve itself. After Priire was safely secreted away in her candlelit room, Nom went back to her forested room, leaving Priire to her destiny.

"We gather here today to say goodbye," Mace Windu said softly as he looked out on the faces of the gathered senshi and Jedi.

No one was sure this was a good idea. But it was a way for the rest of the senshi to have closure, Priire tried to tell herself. If it could have been avoided, she would have avoided coming to Kousotsu's... funeral.

Deep inside of her heart, Priire couldn't accept he was gone. It wasn't possible!

Yet, she knew it was. She knew he really was gone. He'd never hold her again or tell her he loved her. Priire closed her eyes against the flood of tears that threatened to burst out.

Someone touched her shoulder and asked if she was the widow. Priire nodded and accepted the words of comfort the person offered. They meant nothing to her. Words were worthless to her broken heart.

Priire clutched the pair of rings that hung on the chain around her neck. The last time she'd told him she loved him was that night. She had vainly hoped that it was the first night of their lives together... not the last.

She closed her eyes against the world around her and remembered waking up next to him. It was so beautiful... Priire tried not to cry again.

Priire cracked one eye and wondered how the Sith she'd ended up back in her bed. And on a side note, she wondered what she was going to roll over and see. If it wasn't so soul-shaking and terrifying, she might think these manifestations of her dreams were getting to be mundane. She shivered. Every time she even thought about the two black feathers or the silver dagger, a shroud of dread covered her and Tanrei's words echoed back. "You aren't dreaming..."

Stealing herself, Priire rolled over. Instead of an object, there was a dark-haired person lying next to her. The blonde backpedaled so quickly that she overestimated herself and ended up on the floor with a sore tailbone.

A pair of pied eyes peeked over the edge of the bed. "Momma?"

"Good morning, sweetheart," Priire greeted Kleppa with a sigh as she collapsed back to the floor.

"Did you have a bad dream?" the tiny girl asked. "I'm sorry." She randomly traced her fingers in the air in front of her.

Priire closed her eyes and smiled sadly. "It's okay. It wasn't that bad."

The small girl's eyes glinted. "Yes it was, Momma."

Something in the child's tone, more than her words, made Priire sit up and stare at her. Before Priire could ask the question on the tip of her tongue, she noticed Zarathustra nudging something away. Another question formed itself. "What are you doing?"

The pegasus nickered at her.

It's not hard to guess
What here I do.
But trust me, please,
It's best for you.

"Who are you supposed to be guarding, anyway?" Priire grumbled, trying not to admit she knew what Zar had been doing. The glint from the items he'd made disappear was enough. Priire sighed and went to find something to wear.

With her arms wrapped around herself, Priire wandered the Temple gardens. They were so beautiful, incorporating plants from every planet even she could think of. Her favorite spot was along one of the walls where - she supposed - there was an intersection between the room of a light-gravity padawan and a high-gravity one. The small field of null-gravity that was created when the two fields merged created the perfect secret. Inside a ring of thorns and twisted trees grew purple flowers. The lack of gravity caused the beautiful plants to twist and form themselves into incredible designs. Priire's favorite of this group was a swirled blossom that had pinched places, making it look almost like a star.

She sighed and leaned over to float on her back. What if Kousotsu really died? It was hard for her to think objectively. She didn't want to. She didn't want to think about it at all!

Priire closed her eyes and frowned unhappily. If he did... then... she'd be left alone. Again. Her family had abandoned her - with good reason, she hated to admit. Her sister had been forced away for a time - by Priire's own past. Her friends... well, they wanted to be there for her, but she wasn't as close to them as she could have been. Friends weren't easy for her to make. She wasn't used to it.

Now the man she trusted most... she rephrased it in her mind. The only man she trusted was going to leave her. Not his idea, she grinned sarcastically. This was why she hated destiny. She hated...

Before Priire could finish her angry thought, she felt something tickle her cheek. The girl opened one eye to see who the Sith it was. Her grin turned genuine, and she opened both eyes. She started to say something, but Kousotsu silenced her with a gentle kiss.

"I've been thinking," he whispered softly into her ear. "Why don't we go get married?"

Priire's eyes got wider and she pushed herself into a sitting position. "What?" she gasped. "You mean run away and get married?"

Kousotsu grinned. "We wouldn't have to run that far."

"Coru would kill us! She wants to be a bridesmaid!" Priire rephrased it. "Maid of honor."

The handsome man smiled a little sadly. "These strange dreams..."

"...aren't dreams," she finished. "I know. But does that mean they have to come true?"

He nodded. "I think so. I can feel it inside of me. And..." He paused. "If I really am going to die..."

"Don't say that," Priire interrupted, her voice harsh with emotion. "Just don't."

Ippin wasn't happy. Not in the slightest. "Hey, has anyone seen Priire?" Ippin shouted. Everyone was so busy bustling around the Room Behind the Waterfall that no one heard her. She shouted again, this time lining her request with a little more of her infamous temper. Everyone froze.

"Thank you. Now, has anyone seen Priire?"

Everyone looked at each other and shrugged. "I saw her yesterday in the garden," Annika offered.

Ippin frowned. "I went to check on her last night and her bed hadn't been slept in." Priire had told her sister about the dreams that had haunted her sleep, and Ippin was worried for her.

"I wonder if she ran away," Aisu gasped. "Cause if she did run away then I want to go play in her room. See she has all of these really, really pretty candles and I..."

Peetie grabbed the talkative girl and offered her a cookie.

Coming out of the kitchen to see what the commotion was about, Nom sighed. "The night before last I found Priire asleep in the kitchen. I took her to her room. Beyond that, I do not know."

Just then, Kami walked in holding his lightsaber. "Has anyone seen Kousotsu? He promised to spar with me."

Ippin started putting two and two together and coming up with odd numbers. "I'll kill her," the redhead growled. "I'll just kill her!"

No one had any clue what she was talking about as the fiery guardian stormed out of the room.

The comm unit by Priire's head suddenly began shouting. "SEIJOUTAI PRIIRE!"

Priire didn't crack an eye. "You know, I have a bad feeling that's Coru."

"Don't answer it then."

Kousotsu's suggestion made sense to her for a minute. Then she shook her head. "Nah. If I don't answer it, she'll trace it and find us. If she hasn't already." The girl fumbled with the comm unit, which was hard to do with Kousotsu playing with her hair. "Priire here." Hearing him and feeling his skin next to hers comforted the girl. This wasn't a dream... she was sure of that.

"WHERE ARE YOU!" her twin shouted. Ippin sounded like she was getting hoarse. It wouldn't be a surprise, considering the volume she was shouting at.

Priire was still half-asleep. "I don't know. Honeymoon Suite or something?" She leaned up on one elbow and yawned. The girl giggled as Kousotsu tickled her back.

"ARRRG!"

"I wish you'd stop yelling," Priire complained. "I'm not going to tell you anything until you calm down." It took a few more minutes until Priire thought Ippin was calm enough. "Now. What did you want?"

"What happened?" Ippin asked, her eyes narrowed.

Priire didn't answer right away. "Well... Kousotsu and I went off and got married." She had a sappy grin on her face. "Sorry we didn't call."

It took most of Ippin's willpower not to start screaming again. "Why did you do this to me?"

"Because," Kousotsu broke in, "we weren't sure how long we'd have."

There was a thudding nose like Ippin was banging her head on something. "Would you please come home so that I can hurt you badly?"

Priire laughed. "Sure, Coru. Suuuuure."

There was muffled conversation in the background before Ippin's voice came back. "On second thought, meet us at the central park. We've got a little disturbance."

As soon as the comm shut off, Priire put a hand on Kousotsu's chest. There was a sick feeling in her heart. "Don't go," she begged.

"How can we not?" he responded. "There are innocent people out there..."

She sighed. "I know. I just..." Her words trailed off.

He kissed the top of her head. "It'll be okay. Trust me."

"I'm afraid to," the blonde whispered softly. "I'm just afraid."

"It's Anakin!" Priire gasped. Her surprise took her mind off where her feet were going, causing her to trip.

"Priire!" Kousotsu shouted, turning back for her.

She waved him on. "Go, I'm following you!"

As he ran, Kousotsu transformed into Tuxedo Jedi. His cape billowed out behind him, revealing the lightsaber that hung at his side. He grabbed it and ignited it as he skidded to a stop in front of Anakin Skywalker.

Obi-Wan's former padawan stood impassively before the knight. Very slowly, the Sith ignited his own lightsaber and let the pair of energy arcs hum between them. By this time, Priire was back on her feet and dashing the long distance across the park to where the two were dueling. Flashing blue and red sabers created beautifully deadly arcs of color. Both men were incredible duelists, parrying and slashing in perfect rhythm.

As she did her best not to trip again, Priire recalled the times she'd seen Kousotsu and Anakin duel in the Room Behind the Waterfall. It had been beautiful then, when Anakin wasn't trying to kill her love.

Suddenly, there was a break in the rhythm. There was no time for her to shout out a warning before Anakin's burning red lightsaber sliced through Tuxedo Jedi's body. Priire's wordless scream turned Anakin's attention to her, briefly. He didn't seem interested in her as he walked off.

Priire ran forward and buried her head in the cape, muffling her cries. She kept saying she was sorry as she wept. A sudden sound of breaking glass went unnoticed by the grieving girl. Sailor Chibi Ayameru had in her hand the remains of a crystal heart. As she held it up to the sky, Zarathustra appeared behind her. The pair was in front of Priire, who had her back to the rest of the senshi. Zar bent his head and spread his silvery wings, making it appear that Chibi Ayameru was winged. For a moment they posed. Then the dark-haired girl held her staff out to one side as she let the shattered crystal spill out of her hand and disappear in the wind. Ippin had been running to her sister when she was stopped in her tracks by Chibi Ayameru. "Let me go!" Ippin screamed at the little senshi who had suddenly appeared in front of her.

Chibi Ayameru shook her head. "I can't. This is my guardianship, Aunt. I can't let you through."

Ippin balled her hands into fists. "Then tell me… is he…"

A sad look came over Chibi Ayameru's face. "Her heart is broken forever," the little girl said in reply.

She'd stopped dreaming at least. Unless this was all some dream she'd wake up from. She picked up the glass in front of her and downed it. Priire didn't even notice her twin sister walk into the cantina.

"No, no, no, you no go over there, " the bartender told Ippin, holding the redhead back.

"Excuse me?" Ippin growled.

The bartender looked intimidated, but kept shaking his head. "No, no. This for your own good," the man insisted.

Annoyed, but curious, Ippin asked why.

"See what she drink?" the man asked, pointing.

Ippin looked, then nodded. "Tequila."

"Straight tequila, it is." The man shook his head. "She only drink that when she in bad way. She in very bad way."

The redhead agreed. "Yeah, she is." The beautiful woman sighed. She'd been looking all over for her heartbroken twin. "Look... let me go over there. I can handle my sister."

He shrugged and shook his head as she walked over to the other girl.

"Hi Coru," Priire slurred as Ippin sat down. "I guesh you don't get to be a brideshmaid, ashter all."

Ippin raised an eyebrow. "First, give me the glass. Second... we've got to get you out of here."

Priire did enough staggering for both of them as Ippin helped her outside. "Thish," Priire announced, "wash why I gave up drinkin'."

"You should have given it up a little longer," Ippin grumbled. "Aster, we're all here for you. You don't have to go out and get drunk. We can help..."

The blonde buried her head in her hands. "But it hursh sho mush," she said softly. "I hate it."

Ippin hugged her sister. "It'll be okay, Aster. Someday, it'll be okay."

A moment of sobriety broke through the haze over Priire's green eyes. Their haunted look told Ippin that Priire didn't believe she'd ever be okay. Ever. Neither twin said anything for long, long moments. A million unspoken heartbreaks passed between them... Riku, Kousotsu, Tanrei, Zarathustra, Ariel... all friends or family who had disappeared or otherwise hurt the pair. "Ish not okay," Priire slurred softly.

"It will be, Aster... really..."

Seijoutai Priire Renjiro shook her head, but went with her twin back to the Room Behind the Waterfall where the rest of the senshi were waiting for her.