Tempting Fate

Author: araya

Rated: PG13

Written for SM_Monthly.

Disclaimer : Sailor Moon is unfortunately not mine. :( However, this story is. Enjoy!

Also, special thanks to Loki for pointing out my silly mistakes on LJ. :)

She glares at him with eyes cold like frozen fire. She is far beyond angry, she is down right pissed, and it is all evident in the way she holds herself. Her stance is poised for battle, assertive and in control like a lioness about to pounce, and her large key-shaped staff is pointed dangerously at his heart. She does not relax her posture when the mist clears around him revealing his dark features, but instead narrows her eyes in fury.

"None may cross the path of time." Her voice is as cold as her eyes and a shiver rolls down his spine but he does not relent. He attempts to take a subtle step forward, hands raised in surrender, but the brunt of her staff is pushing harder into his chest before he could even move. Of course, she would have foreseen this.

"You know why I am here." He says and she is quiet for a moment. She is no more relaxed but he is starting to feel the tranquility he always experiences in her company.

"Yes." She finally answers, pulling her body into an upright position. She is still tense but her eyes seem almost possible of human emotion. "I will not answer any question you ask of me."

He nods before shoving his hands into his slacks and walks slowly around the room, taking in the sights. It is empty save for the gate she spends eternity guarding and a large oval mirror hanging mysteriously in the mists. She watches him curiously as he approaches it and runs his hand over an ancient language carved deep into the sides of the mirror. "What does is say?"

She walks beside him and too studies the lettering. "It says, ‘Thou may see yet not perceive, lest thou sees what thou desires.'"

He nods, mulling it over silently. "And how do you interpret that, Setsuna?"

She bites her lip. "I believe it is a warning that we may not always like what is to come and thus should never seek out the future." She gazes at him, her eyes filled with ancient sadness. "It is very easy to deny what I see in this mirror. There are many paths that this universe may take and it is my duty to make sure that it flows uninterrupted, no matter the outcome." She is instantly reminded of the fall of the Silver Millennium and represses a shudder.

"And what is it that you see?" His voice quivers and it is barely above a whisper. He searches her eyes eagerly but she purses her lips and turns away.

"I am sorry, your highness. Those are not my secrets to tell." Her voice is distant again as she begins to pace around the room. "You must leave now."

But he doesn't, Mamoru approaches her, and awkwardly shifts his weight from foot to foot. He gazes at her and she can't help but gaze back, mesmerized by the passion igniting in his cobalt eyes. He is indecisive, and she knows it, but she won't pressure him. He will begin when he is ready. "There is one thing I must know, Setsuna." He takes her face gently in his hands. "I need to know if there.." He pauses. "I need to know if there is a chance."

Her heart quits beating in her chest and though she has replayed this day over and over again in the mirror, it has no less of an impact on her. She shifts her eyes to look around the room, anywhere but at him, and shakes her head. She is working tirelessly to hold up this façade, but she is failing. "This conversation is inappropriate, highness. You will be married in a few days and become king of all Crystal Tokyo. Leave now," She repeats. "Serenity awaits your return."

He closes his eyes and takes a deep intake of breath. "There is a companionship between you and I, something that I have felt is much deeper and more understanding than the way I feel for Usako. Our bonds were forged by our past selves, and while I can never rid myself of the feelings Endymion harbors for Serenity, I, Mamoru, feel something much more with you."

The last words escapes as a whisper and Setsuna can not believe what she is hearing. It is everything she has always wanted to hear him say. It is her every hope, dream, and wish come true. But he is not her soul mate, he did not love her in his past life. "I can not give you what you seek." Her lip trembles and she feels as if her heart will shatter.

But he is stubborn and with a pace quicker than she would have anticipated, Mamoru has her up against the gate, his breath hot on her face. And when he closes the gap between them, electricity flows as if they've been struck by lightning. His lips are soft and warm and form perfectly over hers and when he slips her his tongue, she tastes him and it is intoxicating. She mistakenly lets out a soft moan and then his hands are wrapping themselves in her hair, pulling her closer to him. Her body ignites with passion but there is still that little voice in the back of her head screaming at her that this is wrong, and Setsuna breaks free of his grasp.

"This isn't right, Mamoru." She pants and her lips feel frigid without his covering them. "We cannot.."

He cuts her off. "We can leave here together. You do not have to be chained to this fate. Neither of us do." Mamoru leans down and trails kisses from her jaw line to her ear and whispers, "We can have a little house in the country and children. I can be a doctor and you a fashion designer. All of our dreams can come true and we can be together." She actually debates about leaving this all behind. That is until he says, "She wouldn't blame us. She just wants us to be happy."

With that, guilt comes at her full force, like waves crashing onto the sand. Serenity. Sweet, loving, understanding, Serenity. How could Setsuna ever betray her queen? The woman who has brought love and justice to this world and sacrificed her own dreams to lead it all?

Setsuna, no Sailor Pluto, pushes him away, much gentler this time. "I'm sorry Mamoru." She stares deep into his eyes, swallowing the lump building in her throat. "I do not feel the same. My duty is here and to my queen. I am sorry." It is a blatant lie and he knows it. But Mamoru can not deny the fierce loyalty that lies within her eyes. He nods once, a lone tear trailing down his cheek, before giving her a quick peck on the cheek and leaving her to the silence of the mists.

She knows who she is and where her priorities lie. She is Sailor Pluto, Keeper of Time, and it is her duty to ensure the future progresses smoothly. Meioh Setsuna does not exist, not in this time period, not in any. She can only hope that perhaps, someday, she will exist again.