Wow I can't believe that this is the end, well almost the end I've got the Epilogue to come soon, but for the major part of the story this is the end. I can't believe that it's been six years since I started this, it's seen me through a lot of good, bad, and in between times, and it's seen me through two countries. Anyways I would like to thank everyone for their support and for sticking with me through till the end, I hope all of you have enjoyed this as much as I have and I hope that for all of you it has been a great read and experience. I hope all of you will continue to keep watch on this series, yes if you haven't guessed it by now there will be a sequel, though I'm not sure when it will happen. However it will I want to write it as desperately as you want to read it. Anyways lots of love and thanks for your support and for sticking with me.

Love always

DMA

I do not own sailor moon its characters or blue seed or it's characters.

'The sounds around us make it hard to hear…but one voice is different from those other sounds…it can be heard over noises that bury everything else….even when it's not shouting… it's just a whisper….the lowest whisper can be heard…over the armies...when it's telling the truth.'

As soon as Darien was clear of the bluffs he was almost knocked backwards. Momiji and Hermione stood opposite of each other, the ground around them rippling with the force of their colliding powers. Darien tried to get closer but when he stepped near he was shocked and thrown backwards by a powerful barrier.

"Don't get involved," Hermione's voice was distorted and sounded like it was being echoed by another. She turned to look at him and the group that had arrived, Darien was able to see her fully. Hermione's face was covered in long blue designs running from the crescent mark on her forehead around the edges of her face, around her chest and down her arms. The marks were glowing a faint blue color, as were her eyes, her hair was glowing gold and flying wildly around her.

"I'm sorry," Hermione's voice changed, it sounded familiar but he didn't want to believe it. "Hermione put this barrier up to make sure we didn't harm anyone else…." Hermione smiled at him but he could feel Serena inside of Hermione's body. "Sorry but we don't have a lot of time."

She turned back around; Darien saw a figure lying on the ground about thirty feet away from Hermione. The blonde hair was tangled and matted down but he knew it was Serena, he could see her body breathing and from what he could see she wasn't hurt.

Momiji glared at Hermione, Serena had possessed her and now they had melded their powers. Despite being able to hold her eyes for and extended amount of time Momiji was feeling the strain, she had already used a most of her energy to heal several severe wounds that they had given her, she had copied five of their combination techniques, and she was trying to defend herself at the same time.

She could feel herself weakening, she closed her eyes and tried to focus her energy. Momiji took her defensive stance, her hands crackled with black lightning. She pulled back her hands and pushed them forward sending black lightning directly at Hermione's body. Hermione held out her hand, "Tozansho." A large pyramid shaped barrier surrounded Hermione and Serena's bodies shielding them from Momiji's attack the could see her through the walls of barrier. She did several hand signs to strengthen the attack and blasted it towards the barrier. When it didn't even affect the barrier Momiji began to attempt stronger attacks.

Hermione shut her eyes, 'Serena we haven't much time left.'

'I know…only another few minutes.'

'If we don't stop her now than she'll only continue to kill more people.'

'Despite this power I don't know if we can defeat her Hermione.'

'Could we imprison her?'

Serena was silent, she thought for a moment and allowed her idea's to run into Hermione. 'Hermione there is one spell, and at this level of power we'd be able to do it, and her weakened state it may be the only thing that we can do.'

'The risks with that Serena….'

'We have little choice….and we are running out of time in order to finish and ensure that Momiji can't get back up we have to use everything we have, even the most powerful and most dangerous spells.'

Hermione hesitated and then nodded, 'Tell Darien and the others to leave the area, I don't know how powerful this is going to be.'

The pyramid around them shattered into pieces and disappeared into the atmosphere.

"Have you prepared yourself for your death," asked Momiji, both of her hands held large black balls of electricity.

Hermione/Serna didn't blink they stared at Momiji with blank eyes.

"Darien what are they doing?" Kusanagi stood behind him watching. Darien had not spoken for several long seconds; finally he turned and told the entire group to remove themselves.

"Zoicite, Jadeite help Kusanagi get away from here," he said.

"What are they going to do?" asked Valencia, Darien wouldn't meet his mother's eye.

"A forbidden technique…." whispered Daniel. "They plan to use their combined powers to finish it."

"Yes…." Darien looked from his brother to the rest of the group, "up until now they had just been defending against Momiji hoping to wear her down, but they've both realized that unless they finish it completely they won't be able to stop her."

"Darien what technique are they going to use!" Kusanagi looked past them at Momiji. "Darien!"

"We need to leave or we'll all be caught in the crossfire," Darien said. He grabbed his brother's shoulders, "Don't watch this Mamoru."

"Darien….she's the…."

"I know that's why you shouldn't watch this," Darien whispered.

Kusanagi searched his brother's eyes and finally understood, he gripped Darien's forearms. "Darien…."

"Let's move," Valencia said, she was staring into the sky. Snow had begun to fall again and the clouds were circling like a hurricane. "We shouldn't be here when it happens," she said. Zoicite and Jadeite put one of Kusanagi's arms over either of their shoulders and disappeared in a blur.

"Darien will Serena and Hermione survive?" asked Daniel.

Darien silently stared down at the ground, "Survival at this point isn't the only part of what they are trying to do," said Valencia.

"Mother?"

"They are trying to save someone who is precious to them, save her by ending her suffering. You can hear it can't you the voices inside of her any telepath within a ten miles radius is probably able to hear those voices. I understand now why that girl is so destructive…" Valencia said. "Come we need to leave." Valencia disappeared in a blur, Daniel hesitated momentarily and then he too followed.

Darien looked back to where Serena and Hermione and Momiji stood. He stood there for a moment and waited and then he too disappeared.

Momiji didn't fail to notice the absence of the others; she saw them leave and felt the distance between her and Kusanagi grow. She glared at Hermione/Serena, "What are you doing?"

Hermione lifted her hand, "Kin…" two small black holes appeared on Hermione's palms, Black fabric shot from her hands and flew towards Momiji, it encircled her arms and torso. The Fabric pulled her to the ground, pulled her hands out in different directions, then pinned them to the ground.

"What the hell….what is this!" Momiji yelled at them.

Hermione/ Serena had no emotion on their face they closed their hands and the holes disappeared, "Post quinque pondere ferri." Five pillars materialized from the rocks and sand around them, they hovered over Momiji and then slammed down into her. She screamed out in pain, two had pinned her to the ground at her arms, on in the abdomen, the other two at her knees.

Black electricity shot from Momiji, it split and flew out in different directions, striking Hermione/Serena. Momiji attempted to burn the fabric around her hands and set herself free however it didn't work.

"You can't burn it," Serena's voice came from Hermione's lips. "That fabric is from the Legend that Abby used to tell us."

Momiji smiled, blood oozed down the side of her mouth, "The legend…..about the witch that was captured and mummified alive."

"Yes, it wasn't a legend it was based on truth….there once a witch so powerful that the other members of her coven used all their powers to capture her and imprison her alive within this cloth. There she laid for a thousand days until finally she died and they unwrapped her burning her remains and banishing the fabric into the shadow realm."

"Well well…able to access the shadow realm within the heat of battle…even I have to say I'm impressed…but then you are kind of cheating," Momiji said. "So is that it? Going to bury and imprison me in the shadow realm until I die?"

Hermione's voice was louder than Serena's now, "No despite what you think our goal isn't to make you suffer. But to defeat you….and to save you."

"You can't save me….no one can…." Momiji bowed her head.

"No you're wrong…he could have….if you had let him."

Momiji's head snapped up, "You know nothing."

Serena/Hermione smiled, "We know that one day you'll forgive us…..Kurohitsugi….."

Momiji's eyes widened in fear, realizing for the first time what they were attempting. "Serena…Hermione….wai…." her voice was muffled by four black walls rising from the sand and encircling her like a coffin. The top was covered but from inside they could hear Momiji screaming in pain.

Serena began to mutter spells gathering her power to give to Hermione; Hermione was drawing power from the elements and magic around them. Serena felt it growing like a warmth in her stomach. Her concentration was broken again when she heard another scream from within the coffin. 'Momiji doesn't like small spaces,' Serena remembered that as a child Momiji hadn't liked being locked in anywhere small, even for training. She heard Momiji scream again.

Serena mentally closed her eyes and tried to block out the sounds. She focused instead of their memories. The three of them meeting, their fist impressions of each other, Momiji sticking her tongue out at Serena. Serena and Hermione making Momiji breakfast and burning the pancakes the first morning together. The day they began their training, how Momiji had taught them how to do a back flip. Entering High school together and hating the silly girls who didn't know anything about the real world, skipping classes to go to the beach. Teaching Hermione how to swim, watching Momiji surf, learning how to parasail together. Their first mission together, the first time they almost all died together, lessons with Abby. Being pushed to their limits together and then encouraging each other to go further. Their smiles, their laughs, their happiness, their love, all of it Serena focused on it as she listened to Hermione utter the last incantations, the one that would seal Momiji's fate and perhaps their own.

Serena felt Hermione's spirit take her hand, "its okay….all of it will be okay."

Serena gripped Hermione's hand, "Searing lamina cremationem."

The ground around them began to shake violently, a red ring of fire appeared around the three of them. Hermione gripped Serena's hand and yelled "Danku!" A blast of fire shot upwards splitting the ground and swirling into the sky burning everything around it. There was a great hiss from the ocean as the water boiled and evaporated into the air, the trees around the area were turned to ash, and the sand turned to glass then melted again into black scorched earth.

Across the city Lita felt the release of a great power, it heated her soul from the inside and hurt her heart. She turned and looked out of the window in the distance she saw a bright pillar of fire in the sky.

"Hermione….."

Fei pulled the car over to the side of the road, "Rin what the hell!"

Rin kicked open the door and got out of the car, she stared off into the distance at the giant pillar. "Can't you feel is Fei, that power…..it's….."

Fei stepped out of the car, "Course I can, everyone will be able to feel that release, a forbidden technique like that with that much power. Hell Saya will probably feel it across the ocean."

"It's a like a ripple through the magical world right now, a blazing ripple of heat," Rin said.

"We need to get out of here Rin," he said turning back to the car.

"Do you think they did it….do you think they killed Momiji?"

Fei sighed, "Maybe…we'll know soon enough."

Yoshiki stood amongst the cherry blossom trees; it wasn't their time to bloom but using the last of his strength he made them bloom early. "Sophia….do you feel it even where you are? That power….that was what it took to finish our child…" he tightened his grip on her cold body. He touched his forehead to her own, "A part of me is proud….such strength…such a strong spirit….she inherited it from you…."

Yoshiki collapsed onto the ground, he leaned against the trunk of the tree he and Sophia had planted when they were married. The wind picked up and blew the petals of the trees around them pink decorated the back yard and landed on the roof of their abandoned house.

"Sophia….it wasn't all bad…this house….there were good times here…" he whispered. His grip loosened and his head fell backwards, Sophia's head falling onto his shoulder. He inhaled a breath, "Saya….Momiji….farewell."

Darien watched from a far as the explosion of fire shot into the sky, even from a distance he could feel the rise in temperature and the shaking of the ground. He could taste salt and burnt earth in the air.

"Darien….." whispered Daniel.

"That….that wasn't….how could….they…." stuttered Valencia, who had dropped to her knees.

"What did you expect from them mother, a fireworks display?" said Kusanagi from behind the group, he wasn't looking directly at the explosion but he could feel the heat and see it from the corner of his eye. "Momiji…." he whispered closing his eyes.

There was a bright flash of white light that blinded them all momentarily, then the sky went dark again. The silence around them was deafening, the entire city behind them had silenced and gone dark, even the wind seemed to have stopped. They could all taste it on the air: fire, destruction, and death.

"And so the world returns to ash," said Zoicite.

"Not yet, they might still be alive," said Daniel.

"You saw that display clear as the rest of us, the chances of them…."

"I don't care, every step of our relationship Hermione has beaten the chances, the very chance that we would fall in love with each other….I won't give up until I bury her body." Daniel turned and disappeared in a blur.

Zoicite moved to stop him, "Prince…."

"No let him go," said Darien, "He's right I can't feel Serena but that doesn't mean anything." Darien turned to Kusanagi, "Do you want…"

"Take me to her," he said.

Serena once again felt warm, warm and calm like she had before. She opened her eyes expecting to see the field again, but this time she was somewhere else. Everything around her was dark, like when she had been in Momiji's mind. She tensed ready for the voices again.

"There's no need to be frightened." Serena turned and gasped Abby stood before her young and healthy again, her brown hair blowing gently in the warm wind.

"Tea….teacher?" Serena said then she smiled and let out a small laugh. "I must really be dead again, I guess even being a Vampire didn't save me."

Abby frowned at her, "No Serena you are far from dead…and I….I am dying…."

"You're at the Ambrose mansion," said Hermione, she appeared behind Abby.

"Yes…injured and dying," Abby looked down at her hands and smiled, "This is the last of my strength…I saved it so I could say goodbye to you all when the time came. I kept a part of myself locked away so that I would be able to do this."

There was silence between the three of them until Serena spoke, "You lied to us."

Abby looked up, "Yes…yes I lied about many things…and for that I am sorry, at the time I thought I was doing what was right…I thought that destroying everyone who had harmed me….I thought it would make it all better. By the time I realized that it didn't matter it was too late."

"You and Momiji, you had the same problem," said Serena.

"No Momiji was vulnerable because of me, and that was why Sophia was able to do what she did. She crept into the darkness of her heart and fed that." Abby sighed and looked away from her, "But then Sophia's madness is also my fault. I selfishly desired you girls, the power I saw in you, the power I was told you would possess, I wanted to harness it and use it for my own reasons. I hurt many people in my quest for revenge."

Serena and Hermione exchanged glances, they knew that their teacher had been the cause of much pain, but they also knew that Abby herself had been the victim of great pain as well.

"It's alright…." said Hermione "we don't hold any grudges against you."

Abby looked up at her, tears in her eyes. Serena spoke, "You suffered on your own to. You lost precious people because of someone else's actions. That seems to be the price when you love people, there's always pain."

"It's a never ending circle of injustice girls one day someone will take something precious from you," Abby said with a sad smile. "And one day you'll want revenge too."

"No," said Hermione. "I won't want revenge and hate only breed more hatred. I'll be angry for a while, I'll curse the world, but in the end I know I can deal. The world gave me precious time with wonderful people and even if that is taken from me someday I'll cherish those memories."

Serena smiled at Hermione, "I agree. Instead of hate Momiji I want to remember who she was, who we were together." Serena looked around, "Teacher where is Momiji?"

Abby looked down and then upwards, Serena and Hermione looked up and saw a clear sky full of sparkling stars above them. "Momiji has gone ahead of us," said Abby.

Serena closed her eyes against the tears that were forming, "Well….finally now she'll be at peace."

"Yes….she won't suffer anymore," said Hermione. "Is this real teacher or is it a dream?"

Serena smiled, Hermione echoed her own words; before Abby could speak Serena did. "It's whatever we want it to be. It'll stay with us or it'll fade," she smiled at Abby and Hermione.

Abby gave her a large smile, "I am so proud of you girls, of everything you've done. Always remember that." She embraced them both, "I am sorry for all that I've done….but a part of me isn't….because if I hadn't made the decisions that I had I never would have been given you girls, you or Momiji."

She let them go but didn't release their hands, "I'm going now girls."

"Are we going too?" asked Hermione.

Serena nudged her, "Hey weren't you the one who told me we still have a ton to do yet."

"Well that was before we used a forbidden technique and scorched the earth with our combined power," Hermione said.

"Yeah…well that doesn't change anything in my eyes…" Serena said.

"You girls have a long long life ahead of you," Abby said with slight sadness in her eyes.

"Teacher?"

"The world will not be kind to you for long girls," Abby said. "There is always another obstacle in before you."

"Teacher what do you know?" said Hermione.

"There is still darkness in the world," Abby said, "Darkness much worse than this. Never abandon each other, never forget….." Abby began to fade before them. There was a gust of wind around them and small glowing lights surrounded them. "Never give up….I love you girls…all of you…"

The lights around them began to brighten until finally they had to shield their eyes.

"Serena," gentle arms cradled her against a strong chest. Her leg hurt and felt like it was burned and her body ached but for the most part she didn't feel any bad pain. "Serena…"

"Darien…." Her eyes fluttered open and met a deep blue. "I'm alive."

"Yes you are…." He said with a gentle smile. He pulled her against him, "This is the second time in one night I've almost lost you."

"Comes with the territory, you know saving the family, and the magical world," she said.

He pulled back from her and kissed her forehead, "Serena…."

She placed her fingers to her lips and silenced him. "I know already," she tapped her head. "I understand it all now." He hugged her to him once more; over his shoulder she saw Hermione doing the same with Daniel. They locked eyes and a smile of relief passed between them.

Finally Serena pulled away from Darien and with some help stood. She surveyed the ground around them, it was entirely black and scorched, the trees were gone, and the water line had receded almost 50 feet away from them leaving small piles of ash that Serena assumed were sea creatures who had been the victims of their spell.

Hermione kneeled down and touched the ground, "We hurt the earth badly."

"Your connection with the Earth is a lot stronger than my own, but if there's one thing that I know it's that everything heals with time," Serena said.

The group heard a loud thud from a few feet away from them. They looked up, "Well not everything heals," Serena said.

Kusanagi had taken down on of the walls of the burned coffin, he reached inside and pulled out Momiji's limp body.

"She's not burned," said Jadeite.

"The spell wasn't designed to burn her body," said Hermione. "It was made to burn her soul, and all those souls that were residing within her."

"So what happened to her?" asked Jadeite, "Where did her soul go?'

"That's the mystery….there's no way to actually destroy a soul…but the theory behind that spell is that it burns away the sins of the unclean spirit and allows the soul to enter paradise," said Valencia.

Serena looked at the ragged Queen, she bowed her head in respect. Valencia blinked and then turned to face her and Hermione directly, "You two have….you have done a great service to our coven….and to our family…." She glanced at Kusanagi who was unraveling the fabric from around Momiji's body. She bowed to both women, "I cannot express my gratitude by…." Serena broke free of Darien and strode past the Queen, she touched her shoulder gently.

"You just did," Serena said as she moved past her towards Kusanagi. Hermione bowed her head to the Queen and followed Serena limping as she went.

The both stood behind Kusanagi, who held Momiji's freed body, the wounds on her body were no longer bleeding, her eyes were closed, and her face was serene. "She looks like she's asleep," Kusanagi whispered.

"Naw Momiji always drooled when she slept," Serena said with a smile.

Kusanagi let out a small laugh, he brushed the hair away from Momiji's face. "I can't hear them anymore…those voices…..they're not inside of her now…."

"They're all free," Hermione said, "All of those trapped souls."

"What will you do now?" asked Serena.

"The sun will be up soon," he said looking towards the Eastern horizon, Kusanagi stood holding Momiji in his arms bridal like. Her head resting on his shoulder.

"You should go back to the mansion and get treated Mamoru, you're still weak," Hermione said.

"I'm strong enough to carry her," he said.

"What will you do with her?" Daniel asked walking up next to Hermione.

"I want to bury her somewhere where no one will bother her grave," he said. He rested his head against hers, "I'll take her somewhere…"

"I know where…." said Serena. Hermione looked at her, Serena smiled "We can bury her in the same place we'll burry all of it."

Louis walked into the large circular room where Hermione had experienced her awakening. Lenobia stood in the center staring down at the design on the ground. He looked over into the corner and saw a young dark haired girl playing with a bear in the corner.

"It's done sister, the witch is dead," Louis said.

Lenobia turned around and smiled at her brother, "You bring happy new with such a solemn look on your face dearest brother."

"It brings me no joy to tell you this news," he said.

Lenobia walked over to her brother and touched his face, "You're still angry that Alana was injured in battle. How is she?"

"In a coma for now, healing and alive, but Momiji did significant damage to her brain."

"I am sorry my dearest, I tried to keep her here, but Van….he often asserts his own will and challenges my logic. Oh how I miss the days when he would swallow my speeches about balance and destiny. It's going to become more and more difficult with him constantly interfering."

"My grandson is not to be harmed Lenobia, it was part of your vow," he said pulling away from her and standing near one of the tall columns in the room. "Where is van?"

Lenobia scowled, "Left to help the Ambrose's."

Louis turned back around to face her, "I still don't understand any of this Lenobia. For years you have orchestrated this and yet now when you are so close you take a step backwards."

"Oh my dear brother it's all part of my plan," Lenobia said with a bright smile. She turned in a circle, "all of this everything down to the last detail was shown to me, and my part was shown to me as well. I did what I was supposed to do for now, I sent the old king to the village where Abby's mother lived, I sparked the rift between Sophia and her family, I killed Yoshiki's mother, I brought him and Abby together, I told Kiyaka of her lovers new family, I introduced Kusanagi to spice, I ordered Leah to kill Nephrite, I planted the idea of a virus into Sophia's newly tainted mind, I showed Hermione the way to Delphi, I trained Christopher and fostered his greed and hate, I gave Abby the power to kill the Hunters Association, I plucked Fei's eye from his body, I sent Sam away then brought him into the hands of Sophia, and I gave Elena her vampiric cure. I have plucked every string of every instrument in this tragic symphony." She danced around in a circle again and again, laughing as she did her eyes clouded over white.

"Yes I understand all that my dear sister, what I don't understand is why. You said before it was because that was what fate wanted, but I can see no reason for this other than chaos," he said.

Lenobia stopped and turned to her brother, "Louis when they turned you into a vampire was it your choice?"

"You know I wanted this life, I wanted to be with my first wife," he said.

"Yes a noble reason, love…but it was also love that turned me into this," she gestured towards herself. "It was love of power," she said. "I never wanted to be a servant of Delphi, I never wanted this life. I only wanted to be with my husband and children, to live, grow old, and then die and leave this tragic world behind."

"But the rite…"

"Was not my choice, you know what the Vampires and the Witches wanted, they wanted a Seer, a Seer powerful enough to see everything. They knew of my power of the blood that ran through our veins, we the descendants of Morgana and Merlin. They knew of my unrefined sight, and because of that they used me, like they use everyone."

Lenobia spun around once more and then sat on the floor, her long dress pooling around her. "Against my will I became their Seer, their vision giver, and because I could do nothing against them I remained their servant for centuries. But I never forgot, I never let the memories of what they did fade from me."

"So because of this you wish to eliminate them," he said.

"Oh yes, the Rodericks, the Ambrose's, the Winthrop's, the Takada's, all of them will pay for the blood that spilled and the souls that they cursed for you see brother, I had watched all of their sins, all their wrongs, all of it….they all deserve what's coming to them."

Louis stared at his sister, her laugh echoed around the entire room. "And here all this time they called Sophia insane," said a voice from the shadows. Both siblings looked into the dark and saw Saya appear from the darkness. "You Lenobia, you make Lady Sophia look innocent and childish. You've born a grudge all these centuries….against people who are dead…."

"Not all of them are dead!" Lenobia screamed. "Some of them still live, they sleep beneath the earth and sea and skies, and because they never trusted the power of a Seer they used the most powerful magic to protect themselves. I will find them, I will find all of them, and I will eliminate them."

"Why are you here Saya?" asked Louis.

"My father always told me that you were a powerful ally, and a traitor to the Ambrose family. I used a transportation spell to get here after I had healed myself, I thought if anyone would help me it would be you, but now I see….I see you for what you really are." Saya stared at her, "We trusted you, my father trusted you, our family trusted you."

"What did I tell you when you were a child, always be ten steps ahead of those trying to out maneuver you," Lenobia smiled and stood.

Saya shook her head, then looked to Louis "Have you supported her all this time?"

Louis looked down in shame, "He has, but it's not of his own free will" Lenobia looked at her brother. "A vow sworn in blood, for him it is unbreakable. He serves his younger sister with a cold disposition and an apathetic heart."

"Lenobia isn't you who always said grudges will consume you, that hate is never the path for peace."

"And it is true, this grudge has consumed me, and my hate will never lead to peace, I never wanted peace," she said. "I have always been ten steps ahead of you."

"Apparently not or you would have known that I was coming," Saya said.

"I never said I didn't know," Lenobia smiled.

Saya's eyes widened as she recognized the danger but it was too late, for right as she realized it a long silver blade was shoved into her back piercing her heart. Saya choked on her own blood, she slowly she turned around to stare at the young girl behind her. The child smiled charmingly at her then stepped back and cuddled her bear. Saya fell to the ground dead, blood seeping onto the oozing onto the cold stone floor.

Lenobia smiled at the girl, "Thank you Hotaru," she looked down at the blood spilling over the floor, "Damn now I'm going to have to get someone to clean this all up." Lenobia turned around and walked back to the center of the room.

"It's over for now I suppose," Louis said.

Lenobia looked over her shoulder at him, her eyes clouded white again. "Oh no my brother it's far from over."

One Month Later

Serena watched as a raindrop rolled down the window and onto the car, she blinked and then looked past the droplets of water. In the twilight she could make out Kusanagi's form; the thick cloud coverage was helping to block most of the evening light but Serena's eyes were still sensitive to the sun.

"I think we can join him now," Hermione said from the backseat. Serena nodded and opened the car door, she opened the umbrella and stepped out. Darien opened the driver's side door and stepped out as well. He joined her on the other side with his own umbrella, Hermione and Daniel did likewise their own respective umbrellas.

Hermione and Serena were dressed in black, the official funeral had been a few weeks ago, but they both felt that they would always need to wear black when visiting. The four of them walked towards Kusanagi passing numerous graves as they went. Darien and Daniel stopped and stood at the foot of Rei's grave while Serena and Hermione had continued on.

The graveyard was on the land that had been left behind by Abby's estate. Serena and Hermione had offered it up as a memorial site for those who had lost their lives in the battle. Their one stipulation had been that everyone be buried there, Vampire, Human, Infected, all those who had lost their lives despite race or loyalty. The King and Queen had been hesitant at first but after the new treaty had been signed with the survivors of the Hunters Syndicate they had thought it fitting. Hunters were buried next to Vampires and mortals; Hermione had said it was a step in the right direction, treating everyone as an equal.

Serena saw the meaning behind it and was glad that many had not objected, however there had been one stipulation made by every group involved, Momiji Takada was to be buried separately from the rest of the group. Serena and Hermione had not argued, they had picked out a small private plot for her away from the mass group, in the summer time it would be shaded by trees.

Serena glanced down at Blake and Sarah's graves as they passed by, they had buried their friend under the name they had known her by. But underneath her name in smaller letters was written, 'Nia Roderick'. Serena saw flowers on Alana's grave; Louis had been there. They passed Abby's grave and finally neared Kusanagi.

He stood his back to them, hands in his pockets allowing the rain to fall down upon him. "I think she would have liked to have been buried here," he said to them. "This place it was a big part of her."

"Yeah, and the old Momiji, she would have liked being here with everyone else," Serena said.

Kusanagi nodded, "When are you leaving Hermione?"

"Daniel and I are heading to New York tomorrow, we're going to take over affairs there until you're ready to come back," she said.

"I don't know if I'll ever be ready to…."

"You will, once you learn to live with the pain and begin to live again," Hermione said.

"Living….a funny word…how am I supposed to live without a piece of my soul?"

"We do," Hermione said, "The three of us, we too had a bond, when she died that bond broke and there's a jagged piece there now. But it doesn't stop us from living."

Kusanagi kneeled down, "I wanted to give you the world. Looks like I'll have to wait a while till we meet again."

Hermione and Serena glanced at each other and then back at Kusanagi. He stood and whispered something, despite her Vampiric hearing Serena couldn't hear his words over the wind and then rain. Kusanagi turned and walked to Rei's grave with Darien and Daniel.

Serena and Hermione took each other's hand and stared down at the flat headstone.

Momiji Takada

"There's a legend that when you die

you go up there and join your ancestors ,

all sins are forgiven, all wrongs forgotten."

"Momiji, it's different, before we knew you were in the world, we knew you were alive somewhere and always had this hope that you'd come back to us, now…..it's not possible," Hermione said. "It's like a piece is missing, like a part of the world is a little darker….I hope that the theory about that spell was true, I hope it burned away all the darkness and gave you peace."

Serena tightened her grip on Hermione's hand, Hermione tightened her hold too. "I'm leaving soon, so it'll be a while till I can come back here, but Serena will keep watch till I'm gone. She'll make sure no weeds grow…I love you Momiji….see you later." Hermione let go of Serena's hand and joined Daniel and the other two.

Serena was silent for several minutes, "You know you were always difficult despite everything, you always ran around to your own music. You filled us with it, all of us, Blake, Me, Hermione, Sarah, Abby…you seeped into our hearts and played your song…and now there's a piece of the world that's silent, which sucks because good music, really good music is hard to find."

Serena knelt down in the wet grass, "I know that you never wanted this, never really deep down you never wanted it, in there under all that darkness that had taken you you were still you….and you were a good person…you were a great person….and you were a good friend…and you would have been a great wife, and mother, and teacher…and I wish that you had been given all of that…because you're going to miss some awesome things. But time and life, isn't always fair, we never know how things are going to turn, but like Abby used to say 'Half the fun is not knowing what's going to happen'."

Serena wiped the tears from her eyes, "But you know this….this isn't fun at all…." Serena let her tears fall. "I miss you Momiji….I know this life….this Vampiric life is different and longer than most….and I'm changing…but when I see you again…when I see you again I don't think it'll matter….I don't think any of it will matter….I love you Momiji….and I'll see you again."

Serena stood and nodded once at Momiji's grave then turned to join the others. Kusanagi embraced her, then Hermione, then Daniel, he shook Darien's hand, turned to look his lovers grave once more then went to his car and let.

"Will he be alright?" Serena asked as Darien put and arm around her.

Darien nodded, "Kusanagi's strong, he's lost people before…."

"But not like this Darien, even when his wife and children….died….he wasn't like this," Daniel said. He watched Kusanagi's car in the distance, "Make sure you watch over him."

"Don't worry mother and father are concerned as well," Darien said as they arrived at the car. Serena and Hermione got into the back seat together, Darien started the car, and Daniel turned on the radio. Hermione stared out of her window, never letting go of Serena's hand. Serena watched as they turned onto the road, she watched from her window as the graveyard grew smaller and smaller in the distance. They passed where Abby's house had stood, the tree that had stood in the front yard was still there; 'We used to be so happy,' Serena thought as they passed.

Hermione squeezed her hand, 'We still are.'

Serena smiled and squeezed back, her mother's words running through her mind, 'Just remember the lemons….and the good.'