The battle was over and Starlights, with princess Kakyuu, were going home at sunrise. They agreed to meet with Sailor Senshi at the school roof early in the morning for final goodbye. The fight was exhausting and they needed night to rest and regenerate.

Just when princess Kakyuu fell asleep, Seiya decided to sneak out of the apartment and head towards Usagi's house. He needed to see her and talk to her. Privately. He knew that when they will meet in the morning, there will be no time for private goodbyes.

When he was leaving the apartment, he saw that Taiki also was gone, which surprised him a little bit. He suspected that he probably went to see Ami but still, Taiki was always so reserved that Seiya thought he wouldn't bother with private goodbyes. However, what surprised Seiya even more was that Yaten wasn't going anywhere. He saw his shoes and jacket in the hall (while Taiki's were gone), and quietly opened the door to silver-haired brother's room. Yaten was laying in his bed with his back to the door. Maybe he was asleep or maybe he heard Seiya but didn't turn to look at him. Seiya shook his head and closed the door. He wondered why Yaten always had to be so stubborn. There was something between him and Minako, and it must have been something serious because Yaten never acted like that towards any other girl. Why didn't he want to see her?

Seiya looked at his watch and decided that it was time to go. He had enough of his own problems to think also about Yaten's.

''Thank you for meeting,'' Taiki said, as he walked up to Ami after spotting her waiting in front of the school. ''I know it's late and you're tired but tomorrow morning my mind will be on Kinmoku, and tonight I'm still on Earth.''

''It's ok,'' Ami said, glad that he wanted to see her. ''Why did you wanted to meet.''

''Right,'' he started looking through his bag and pulled out a familiar book. ''First of all, I wanted to return it to you.''

Ami smiled, taking the book from him. ''I completely forgot about it. I lend it to you so long ago, last year in October if I remember correctly.''

''Yes, and somehow I forgot to give it back,'' which was very strange of him because he rarely forgets anything.

''Did you read it?'' Ami asked sceptically.

''Of course I did, I finished it in a week. Good book.'' Ami nodded and Taiki cleared his throat. ''Now, I wanted to apologize for how I acted sometimes.''

''Apologize?'' Ami asked surprised, looking into his violet eyes. Yes, he often was very cold but he did it because of the mission and their princess, and she understood it.''

''Yes, we should have trust you earlier. I wish we did.'' He looked around, breathing in fresh night air. ''I must admit that Earth is an interesting place,'' he looked back at Ami, ''and people are also very interesting. It was pleasure to meet you Miss Mizuno,'' he took her hand and kiss it gently. ''Maybe we will meet again one day.''

Ami blushed when he let go of her hand. She didn't know what to say, except one thing. ''I'll miss you Taiki-san.'' She stood on her toes, gave him chaste kiss on his cheek and quickly run away before he had a chance to say anything. Taiki stood confused for a moment before he reached up to touch his cheek; small smile tugged at his lips.

It was late evening and Seiya hoped that Usagi wasn't asleep yet. When he reached her house he wondered if he should ring the bell. After a moment of hesitation he decided that it wouldn't be a smart idea; her parents probably wouldn't be happy. He started pacing around, thinking how to get inside when he heard some noises from the garden. He walked around the house and found Usagi sitting with Rei on a bench. They were talking quietly. Usagi was in her pyjamas and pink cardigan, with her hair loose. Seiya starred at her, forgetting why he came; she looked beautiful although he could see that she was still tired after the battle. His own body was complaining and wanted to rest in a comfortable bed, but before that, Seiya needed to be here.

Rei said something and Usagi looked at her, she gave a small nod and smiled sadly. She then turned around and her eyes caught Seiya's.

''Seiya?'' Usagi said quietly but loud enough for him to hear. Rei looked up and also saw him.

Seiya cleared his throat. ''Hi, I came to see you,'' he looked at Usagi and then at Rei trying to let her know that he wanted to be alone with Usagi. Rei looked between Usagi and Seiya and then nodded. ''Ok, I think I should go now. I'll see you' tomorrow'' she hugged Usagi and got up. While she was passing Seiya she gave him a meaningful look and left.

Seiya looked after Rei, a little bit confused, and then back at Usagi; her eyes were red from crying and he would do anything to make her smile again. He walked up and sat down, next to her.

''I know we'll see each other tomorrow, but ...'' Seiya started.

''I'm glad you came,'' Usagi looked at him and he knew she was honest.

''I wanted to make sure you're ok.''

''I'm not,'' she looked at her hands and shook her head,'' and I won't be for a long time, but today, during the battle, you taught me that no matter what happens I can't give up, as long as I have something worth living for, my friends and my planet. I have to be strong,'' she sounded more mature than ever.

''You are strong,'' Seiya said quietly and covered one of her hands with his. Usagi looked up into his blue eyes and regretted she have to lose him too. ''I wish you could stay longer,'' she whispered. ''Everything's happening too fast.''

''I know,'' Seiya nodded, ''I would like to stay longer but our time on Earth is coming to an end.''

''I'll miss you.''

''You know I'll miss you too.'' He leaned in and kissed her forehead. Usagi stiffened for a moment but quickly relaxed and wrapped her arms around his waist, her face hid in his shirt. Seiya pulled her closer and kissed her temple. ''I'll never forget you.''

They sat like that for awhile before Seiya finally headed back to the apartment. Now he had to think about the future, his princess and Kinmoku, but some part of him will stay on Earth forever.

Minako got up at unbelievably (at least for her) early hour, before sun started rising. She took a quick shower, although she showered twice in the evening, after the battle. She still could feel that she wasn't clean enough, like something from the previous horrible afternoon stuck to her skin and didn't want to let go. She closed her eyes as hot water run down her face and could see all happening again; Galaxia raising her arms ready to kill Sailor Moon and Starlights, she and her friends jumping to protect them, and a knife-like stream of energy piercing her body. She opened her eyes instantly at the memory, suffering all over again the excruciating pain of that moment. She barely slept during the night because of the hunting memory.

She got dressed in yellow dress and combed her hair, thinking about the meeting. They're just going to say quick goodbye and then they'll be gone. Will Yaten say at least a word to her? Will he at least look at her?

She couldn't look him in the eyes after the battle, she wasn't strong enough, she was still trembling after what had happened. Deep inside however, she wanted him to hold her and tell that everything will be alright. She had tiny hope that he would do something, but it wasn't like him. She accepted that everything between them ended the night before the battle, but when last evening she found out that Taiki wanted to meet with Ami and Rei told her that Seiya came to Usagi, slight pain tugged at her heart. She was hurt but decided that maybe it was better that way, maybe she will suffer less when he'll be gone.

Yeah, right. Who was she kidding?

She put a short denim jacket on her dress, changed her slippers into white flip-flops, and quietly went down the stairs, trying not to wake up her parents. She went out of the house and closed the door after her. The sun started rising but still was very low and the sky was grey with a tinge of orange and yellow. Luckily, it wasn't cold. Minako turned from her house and took a few steps forward before she looked up and stood abruptly at the sight in front of her.

Yaten was leaning with his back against a tree, his eyes closed, hands in his pockets. Her heart leapt in her chest as he opened his enticing eyes and noticed her. They were starring at each other for a moment, his gaze lingering on her, before he moved really quickly and a second later was next to her. He grabbed her wrist tightly and pulled her after him.

''What..?'' she started, trying to free herself but he suddenly pushed her against the side of the house. He left her wrist and rested both of his hands on the wall, at the level of her head, trapping her inside. He looked at her closely.

''Why did you do that?'' she could feel anger in his voice.

''Excuse me?'' she asked confused.

''You know what I'm talking about!'' Yaten stormed and she turned her head, not to look at him. Why he had to talk about THAT of all things?

He looked at her hard and then slowly leaned back, taking his hands away and giving her some space. ''What you did back there was stupid.''

Minako looked back at him. ''Saving your life was stupid?''

''Sacrificing your life for me was stupid. I didn't ask you for it!''

''Like I would listen,'' she turned, wanting to move away from him but he grabbed her arm, forcing her to look at him.

''I don't want to talk about it,'' she said through gritted teeth. He didn't let go but was starring at her, trying to understand. Minako felt her eyes stinging and before she could help it a single tear escaped her eye. All pain she suffered yesterday came back to her. Yaten's grip loosened a little but he still held her close, afraid that she may run away.

''What do you want to know?'' she asked weakly, her mask disappearing completely. ''I did it for you. I couldn't let her kill you. I wouldn't bear see you dying, and in so much pain'' she felt more tears running down her face.

Yaten looked at her puzzled, his gaze was so intense that she could almost feel him reading her emotions, her physical and mental pain. There was nothing she could do to hide it from him.

Yaten leaned in; her sweet raspberry smell teasing his senses. ''Don't you ever try to do something that reckless again,'' he said, pronouncing each word very clearly, hoping that he would reach her.

Minako held his gaze. ''Like you'll be here to stop me.''

Yaten was starring at her, wanting to say something more, but there was nothing he hadn't said before. Minako, never leaving his eyes, took a deep breath as burning hold on her arm loosened even more; she was mad at herself for needing his touch so much, for needing him so much.

She wasn't sure who did the first move but suddenly their lips met and they were kissing. Yaten let go of her arm completely as his hands found their way to her head and laced through her silky hair. Minako gasped at his touch and clung to him as close as she could, desperately savouring and trying to remember every second of this moment.

Yaten pushed her against the wall and she arched her body willingly into his. He could feel salty tears on her lips as she kissed him senseless. Her hands found their way under his jacket and shirt, and up smooth skin on his back. She used the moment when he slightly parted his lips and swept her tongue inside his heavenly mouth. Tongues seeking, hands caressing; lost in each other, for a moment they forgot about the whole world.

Definitely too quickly Yaten pulled away and stepped back; his chest heaved, eyes wide and lips as swollen as hers probably were. Minako's arms suddenly felt terribly empty, and from the look on his face she could tell that he was mad at himself for letting this to happen. Naturally, she thought sadly, he came here not to kiss her but to scold her for saving his life. How typical of him.

''You have to forget,'' Yaten said firmly. ''Forget and go on with your life.''

Minako shook her head. ''I can't, I won't.'' As Yaten's brows narrowed at her answer she realized that it wasn't what he expected to hear. She could see a flicker of emotion in his eyes before they turned completely cold. ''I can, and I will,'' he said icily and she looked at him in shock. Did he really mean it? She didn't get the answer because he turned and walked away, leaving her alone.

Minako shut her eyes tightly and rested her head on the wall of the house; her heart was still racing after their kiss. She took several breaths, brushed her tears away and composed herself. She was stronger than that.

A little bit later, five girls were standing at the top of the school building with the Three Lights and their princess. The girls felt rather sad at the thought of Seiya, Yaten and Taiki finally leaving, but they had to let them go.

Princess Kakyuu smiled at the girls. ''I'm glad that my Lights and I had a chance to meet you. It was an honor to fight by your side, but now we have to go back home where our friends are waiting. It's time to rebuild Kinmoku now that evil powers are gone and we're safe.''

''We won't forget you,'' Seiya stated surely but Minako wasn't so sure about that. She glanced at Yaten but he avoided her eyes. She titled her chin up, not showing how hurt she was.

Usagi nodded. ''We'll be friends forever.'' She was trying to show that she was strong, she'll have time for grief later.

''Protect your princess,'' Seiya said to other girls.

''We will,'' Rei nodded.

The Three Lights instantaneously transformed into the Starlights in order to use their power to go back home.

''Thank you for everything,'' princess Kakyuu said gratefully. ''Goodbye Earth Senshi.''

''Bye,'' the girls whispered as the Starlights and the princess turned from them and faced the sunrise, each of them silently saying goodbye to Earth before they turned into four lights and shot up in the sky.
''They're really gone,'' Ami whispered, looking up at the sky.

''They found their princess and finally can be back home,'' Makoto stated. ''We should be happy for them.''

Hotaru, Setsuna, Haruka, Michiru and two cats were sitting by the ocean looking up, as the shooting stars went across morning sky, which was an unusual view.

''The shooting stars,'' Hotaru whispered.
Michiru smiled, ''They're going home.''
''They aren't shooting stars,'' Haruka spoke up. ''They are great stars that shine in the sky.''
''I hope they will be happy now that they found their princess and can go back home,'' Luna said, looking at the sky and then turned to look at the others, ''but what will happen with us?''

Artemis nodded. ''Now that our prince is dead our future is uncertain.''

''Future is always uncertain,'' Setsuna said calmly, her eyes focused on the sky. ''Our prince is dead but we are alive again, and our future has changed. Whatever will happen we'll face it as long as we stay together.

I am Aino Minako, the goddess of love. My life never was normal, I never was a normal girl, like my four friends. But everything complicated even more about a year ago. The day They appeared in our live they changed it forever.

I was suppose to never find happiness in love and always be alone. That's my curse.

But I felt love and for this short time, for the first time in my life, I really felt alive.

But it's over now. I guess I will stay under the curse for the rest of my life.

Minako closed her diary and looked through the open window of her room. She took a deep breath and fresh morning air filled her nostrils. New day has come.

New future is waiting.

There's no looking back.

AN: Now that the story is completed, a few words from me (I hope I won't bore you to death!).

I can't believe that I've started writing this story over two years ago, and that it's finally finished. I wanted to thank all of you that read, reviewed the story, and supported me when I wasn't sure that I will continue it. I'm so happy that I managed to complete 'Save Yourself' that I could start dancing now! I really wanted to show you the whole story and now at least one of my small dreams has come true.

I also wanted to say (or rather write) why do I ship Minako and Yaten and why did I decided this story to be about them.

Not to mention the incredible chemistry between the two, in my opinion, they are so different and so similar at the same time that they complete each other perfectly. Minako is cheerful and crazy dreamer while Yaten seems to be always annoyed, impertinent and rude. Complete opposites but both have this depth, this side of them that they hide from the world. For both of them it's hard to admit that something trouble or hurt them, it's hard to open up and show this hidden side of them because they're afraid that they would be hurt or misunderstood. Minako prefer to hide behind cheerfulness, Yaten behind rudeness. While they're surrounded by their friends, deep inside they're really lonely. Especially Minako, who built around herself solid walls of false happiness behind which there's a little, scarred girl hidden. Yaten, as an empath, is the only one who can truly reach her and see through her defensive walls. That's also the reason why he would be the only one who can truly hurt her.

I wish there was more of Minako and Yaten in the anime because they would be amazing together.

Don't be mad at me about how the story ended because we all knew it had to end the way it did. To be honest, I prefer hurt and angst than happily ever after... Ok, I like happy endings but only when the characters have been through a lot because, for me, the story is real then. Life isn't always all that colourful.

Now, I must admit that in my mind it's not the end of the story. Since I started writing 'Save Yourself' I have been thinking about the sequel. It's just hard to leave the story like that. I have some ideas but I don't know if I'll have enough patience, strength and time to spend on writing. It's nothing for sure, but I just wanted to let you know that it's not a definite end of their story. Well, I guess much depends on you...

Meanwhile, I'm working on another Yaten/Minako story, but this time a shorter one. I should post it soon!

One more thing, the title of the story was inspired by the song 'Save Yourself' by Sense Field. It's a good song and I was listening to it a lot before I started writing.

Ok, I guess it's enough from me. Now I would like to hear something from you! I didn't write all those chapters for myself;) Let me know what do you think about the ending and the whole story. This is your last chance!

Thank you!

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