A gentle breeze trailed behind a troubled soul, rustling the leaves and branches in its wake.  Anybody that could have interrupted its pilgrimage down the darkened paths would have long since left the gardens for the night. The person was left to contemplate its problems, alone, as the setting autumn sun cast long ribbons of light through the amber clouds.  A solitary bird flew across the sunset's sky to gaze down upon a lone shadow working its way down twisting paths too familiar for it likes.

 “This place brings back too many memories,” the figure said sadly. “Too many with that person and when we...” It paused and shook its head, “Too many. Far, far too many memories.”

     The paths were all too familiar to it. ~How could it have happened? It seemed like just yesterday that we were together with not a care in the world~ The person sighed and stopped a scant few feet from an all too familiar patch of bush.  ~Just past those bushes is where the one that took away my innocence lives. That person changed me, whether for the better or worse, I'm no longer sure.  It has been such a long time since I've had a friend. Someone I could trust to talk to. What good is power when there's nobody the share it with? All I know is that I wouldn't have made it this long without their help.  I just wonder if its all been worth it~

    The person shook its head  “Why I've found myself talking to myself like an idiot once again,” the person chided itself, “I've gotta stop standing here and giving myself counseling sessions. I've come down this path millions of times and just once Id like to know I made it without stopping to chat with myself.” The figure mentally kicked itself and sighed. “I really should stop doing this but I've come too far to stop now.  I cant just turn tail and run away from my problems again or… ~Or I might lose my chance to redeem myself with that person~

Steeling its courage, the figure took the final steps into the clearing.

     A gentle breeze fell down from the crisp blue sky and through the empty grounds of Suishou Hoshi Private school. It danced down the many paths winding through the campus and tussled the leaves of the swaying trees in its wake. The sun streamed through the windows and shone upon a lone girl with long dark lavender hair. Oblivious to the world surrounding her, the silent girl gazed out the window with sad amethyst eyes.

“AMEFURI! Are you listening to me? AMEFURI!” A dark haired, and obviously upset, woman yelled at the girl for what was probably the 20th time.

 “Hnn..." the purple haired girl finally replied after a few moments of silence. "Yes Ms. Machiko?”

“What do you think you're doing? This is a room for learning, not a place to sit around and stare into space!”

“I suppose so…” Amefuri replied in a distant voice and continued to stare out the window.

Ms. Machiko slammed her hands down against Amefuri's desk.  “PAY ATTENTION!”

Amefuri sighed and slowed turned to give her furious teacher a sad look with eerie crystalline eyes. “Yes?”

Amefuri's teacher couldn't help but shudder slightly as she stared into her student's distant eyes.  ~They seemed far too old for somebody so young. Almost as if she knows more than she's letting on~

“Amefuri, I know you're a good student but unless you start to pay attention in class, you're going to have a detention! I don't care how many A's you get, unless you change your attitude about school, you're going to get in BIG trouble!”

    She then spun around and her heel and stormed back to the front to the room to continue the lesson on history. The class, now accustomed to the spats between Amefuri and the teacher, turned around and waited to continue the lesson.  Ignored by the class once again, Amefuri turned and stared out the window at the swaying trees.

     A shrill bell rung announcing the end of school.  The room was empty in a few moments as the students quickly filed out of Ms Machiko's classroom.  The buzz of conversation filled the air as they hurried to meet their friends. Cheerful conversations and laughter of friends could be heard through the halls of the school.

     Amefuri stood up and walked slowly out of the room. She walked past the laughing groups of friends and down the stairs.  Her gossiping classmates were no doubt talking about her again.

~I’m not surprised the least bit~

Amefuri continued silently out the doors of the school and down the paths spider webbing through the campus grounds.  ~Just once I wish that they would leave me be.  I've never done anything to them~

    Sighing, Amefuri walked down the path leading into the small grove of trees on campus. In a few minutes, her quick measured pace took her far into the trees and away from the school grounds. Amefuri paused beneath a tall oak tree and and leaned up against it.

"Why do I even bother coming here? I'd much rather be back home sleeping or something. Coming here is such a waste of time... I've got better things to do with my time."

    She reached beneath the collar of her uniform and pulled out her necklace.  She knew that students weren't allowed to wear any jewelry but not like she listened. Suddenly, Amefuri's head snapped up a distant sound.  She got to her feet and looked around.

"What was that?" Amefuri paused and sighed. "Probably my imagination, or the voices in my head."

"AAH! Help me!"

"Okay, maybe it's not the voices today." Amefuri turned and sprinted in the direction of the screams.

"I don't know why I even bother with these people." Amefuri sighed. She ran faster and down the paths back to school. "At least it's more entertaining than History."

    A girl with long blonde hair was sprawled on the grass beside the main doors to the academy. She turned and stared wide eyed up at the horrendous demon looming over her.  She opened her mouth and let out an ear piercing scream.

"AHHH! SOMEBODY HELP ME!!"

"Bwarrrgh!" The demon bellowed and grabbed for the girl.

    At that moment Amefuri ran around the corner and stared at the huge demon. "Stop right there demon! You have no right to attack this girl on school grounds!" Amefuri yelled at the demon.  "You'll damage our school's spotless reputation!"

**giant sweat drops appear on the girl and demon's heads**

With a bellow the demon threw the girl away and charged a stunned Amefuri. "BWAARGH!"

"hnn...that wasn't very smart." Amefuri quickly side stepped the demon and took off like a shot with the demon in hot pursuit.

    Amefuri skid around a corner and stumbled to the wall gasping.

"Good, I think I finally lost it," she said softly and slumped against the wall. "But why did I stand up to that thing? It's not like me, especially with the odds against me like that."

     ~I can't just let that demon get away with attacking that girl, even though I don't like her, I can't let this happen~ Amefuri lay her head against the wall sighing ~but how can I ever fight again~

    She tossed her head, flipping her hair over her shoulder and heard a SNAP.  Suddenly, her neck felt lighter. She looked down and dove for her falling pendant with a startled gasp.  She hit the ground and skid to a halt with the pendant safely clutched in her hands.

Amefuri looked into the depths her amethyst crystal for an answer.  A familiar glow pulsed from within the crystal like it was marking the beat of a silent song. She could see the familiar symbol of Epsilon glowing dimly from within the depths of the pendant.  Amefuri narrowed her eyes as she came to her decision.

"Okay, no more running, time to fight!" Amefuri's eyes narrowed and straightened herself as familiar words sprung to her mind. Raising the pendant above her head and yelled,  "Epsilon Light! MAKE UP!"

    As if the pendant broke, glittering shards of amethyst crystal burst from the pendant and fell upon her. She spun around holding the crystal above her head and traced a circle around her. The shards fused into twirling strands of dark purple crystal that spiraled around her body. An aura came from the pendant as she curled up hugging her knees as the crystal encased her.  Then, a light shone from within as the crystal shattered and Sailor Epsilon stood place with her silver staff in hand.

~I'm sorry, but I have to break my promise... I have to fight again~

She lowered her head for a moment and sighed sadly. "Okay, there will be time for sentiment later. I have a job to do."

Gripping her staff Sailor Epsilon ran to confront the demon.

    The Nega monster, who had long given up on Amefuri, had cornered another victim.  It growled and grabbed the at startled girl. The girl opened her mouth to scream as a voice interrupted the demon's attack.

"Stop! Put that girl down!" Sailor Epsilon pointed her staff at the demon with an icy glare. "I am the Soldier of Solitude, Sailor Epsilon!"

    Unimpressed, the demon threw the girl away and charged at her with a furious bellow.  Sailor Epsilon jumped out of the way and slashed at the demon with her staff in one smooth motion.  Unfortunately, the demon dodged her swing and jumped back growling.  It lept and grabbed she staff and swung her into a wall.  Epsilon cried out in pain and looked up at the demon approching her with a ugly hungry grin.  The demon came closer and Epsilon narrowed her eyes.

"You'll never win little girl..." the demon growled out barely intelligeble reaching out the pick her up.  "You'll make a nice meal...I've never eaten a Sailor Soldier before..."

"And you never will!" Epsilon swung her staff the back of it's knees knocking to the ground.  She jumped to feet and gripped her staff tightly. "Prepare to die unholy demon!"

    She held her staff at arm's length and closed her eyes.  Calming her mind, Epsilon called forth the power from her crystal.  ~I hope I remember how to do this properly~ Epsilon prayed silently, ~it's been so long~

With a roar of fury the demon leapt up and charged her like a mad bull "BWAAARRRGGH!"

Suddenly, her eyes snapped open blazing with an angry violet light.  She raised the staff above her head as a bright light shone from the crystal on the end of her staff. ~Please don't fail me now~

"Crystal..." Glowing threads of violet spiraled around her as she twirled the staff above her head.

"Soul!" The crystal strands fused together into crystal strands that flew toward the demon.  The crystals pulsed while an eerie aura surrounded Sailor Epsilon. She slashed her staff at the demon in a quick motion causing the crystal to explode into a million shards showering the demon.  The crystals sliced deep into the demon while the aura engulfed the demon.

    Screaming from the rage the demon managed to stare into her eyes.  Raw fury flashed in it's eyes as Epsilon stared back into it's eyes. ~I'll kill you before I die Sailor Epsilon~ It lunged towards her roaring in a final attack. Epsilon's eyes blazed with fury as she glared at the demon

"STORM!" As soon as the final word rang out the shard pelted the demon.  The crystals embedded in the demon shone with an eerie light and exploded. The body of the demon  shuddered and convulsed one last time before falling to the ground.

    Epsilon stared at the mangled body of the demon.  Slowly the impact of her actions sunk and she slowly sunk to her knees dropping her staff on the ground.  ~I've killed again~ A choked sob escaped her as she stared at the demon's disintegrating body.

~How could I have become a soldier again? After I promised that I would never fight again.  After what had happened, why do this? Why?~

    The approching sounds of a siren interrupted Epsilon's train of thought as she looked back in the direction of the siren.  She grabbed her staff and ran around the corner of the school as an ambulance pulled up to the school ~I can't let anybody catch me.  Nobody can find out.  This will be my final battle.~

She faded back into the shadows of the school and started down the path to the grove of trees. Silently, she began to cry as she knew she was going to have to break her promise again.

~The end~