*Disclaimer: The title "A Million Doors to
Eternity" is a quote from Sting's song, A
Thousand Years.

*Disclaimer II:  ãSo after the two
fanfiction authors tricked those men in
white suits, they lived happily ever after,
believing that Sailor Moon belonged to
them,ä Kii read, as CP clapped in absolute
glee.  ãThatâs such a wonderful story Kii!
And it was based on a true story wasnât it?ä
ãErr, of course, piepie!  Of course!  Now,
go to bed.ä  CP shuts her eyes and Kii
glances at the white suits outside her door,
sweatdropping.  ÎAt least, I hope itâs based
on a true story·â


Desert Mirage-A Million Doors to Eternity
Chapter 1
By: The Rose Society and Eternal Angel
Rating: R
Email: EtrlSlrMn@aol.com
	stargazing12@hotmail.com
http://www.wishing-blue.net/kii/
http://www.steelpenguin.com/~fromangeltofoes/

	Serenity woke up and stretched,
luxuriating in the feel of sunlight on her
skin.  She let the warm rays dash away the
last dregs of sleep from her body before she
jumped out of bed.  Hurriedly, a servant girl
came up to her, pouring water from a pitcher
into a bowl, so that Serenity could do her
morning abolutions.  After handing her mistress
a towel to dry her face, the servant girl
rush to get Serenity's clothes ready.

	"Mistress, I'm sssorry," the girl
stammered, her cheeks aflame.  Serenity looked
up from the towel, confused.

	"What's wrong, Arsala?"  The servant
girl was new, Serenity's last handmaiden
having gotten married last month.  She was
very nervous around Serenity, no matter how
hard she tried to put the poor girl at ease.

	Arsala lowered her head, her knees
practically quaking.  "There is a hole in your
shirt, mistress.  I'm so sorry, I didn't know.
Please don't punish me, mistress, I'll have
it fixed."  The poor girl was on the verge of
tears.

	Serenity's eyes softened towards the
fearful servant that quivered in front of her.
'What makes her think that I would punish her
for an accident?' Serenity frowned, 'She must
have dealt with my cousin.'  Serenity frowned
at the thought of him.  "You need not worry
about that shirt Arsala.  I mean, I have
many... and... well, that shirt has not been
one that I liked much in the first place."

	"But... but..."

	"Don't worry about it.  In fact, why
don't you mend it and keep it for yourself?"

	Arsala's eyes widen, "But... but
mistress!"

	Serenity let out a laugh.  "Let's not
dwell on it!  Actually, I wanted to ask you for
a favor today."

	Arsala nodded vigorously, "Anything,
mistress!"

	"Take me to the marketplace Arsala,"
Serenity's eyes glowed, "Take me to see the
people.  I grow tired of sitting at home."

***

	Serenity walked amongst the stalls,
gazing at the hustle and bustle with
interest.  How she loved to visit the
marketplace, to see the people interact and
live their lives.  They were so lively, so
animated.  There were times that Serenity
envied the seeming simplicity of their lives.

	She had left Arsala's side, since the
girl needed to go run some errands.  Alone,
Serenity wandered around, greeting a shopkeeper
or shopper by name every once in awhile.  She
stopped at a few shops, now and then, seeing
what new things had been brought by the
merchants.  Oftentimes, a shopkeeper would show
her a new spice or a beautiful piece of
jewelry, for her enjoyment.  Their efforts were
often rewarded with a gasp of amazement from
the young woman.  Then, with a smile and a wave,
Serenity would leave the shop, on to her next
discovery.

	Suddenly, Serenity's eye caught a booth
that she had never seen before.  There, behind a
simple setup, sat an older woman.  Her dusky
skin spoke of much exposure to the sun, not
unusual since they lived in the desert, but she
wore little protection from it, unlike most of
the other women of the city.  Her jet-black hair
was tied back loosely, the dark green cloth-tie
giving her hair a dark-green hue.  Her eyes were
most unusual...they were so piercing.

	As if by magic, Serenity was drawn to
the woman, her eyes pulling at Serenity with a
forceful, almost physical demand.  As Serenity
drew closer to the place, the woman seemed to
stare into the depths of the young noblewomanâs
soul.

	ãDo not fear, my child, I mean you no
harm,ä said the woman, her voice soothing.  ãMy
name is Setsuna.  Please, sit.  Iâve been
expecting you.ä

	As she sat upon the cloth spread
upon on the dirt, Serenity looked confusedly
at Setsuna.  ãYouâve been expecting me?  Iâm
sorry, I donât think weâve ever met before.ä

	Setsuna gave a small smile.  ãNo, weâve
never met, but I know you, Serenity.ä

	With that, the woman began to speak and
Serenityâs life was never the same again.

***

	He felt the desire to wander again, to
leave the place of death and return to his
kingdom and check on his people.  Endymion did
check on them often, making sure that his
people were happy, content and safe, throughout
his lonely years.  They were still his people,
whether they knew it or not and he was still
their Sultan.  He had a responsibility to them
that death had not sundered.

	Entering the busy marketplace, he
glanced with pleasure at the various people
making their purchases and the vendors, vying
for customers.  He was pleased to see that his
kingdom was prospering.  His successors had
done well.  He glanced at a young child, who
was trying in vain to reach a fig high upon a
merchantâs shelf.  Smiling ruefully, he paused
to bring the fig to the child.  But instead of
moving the fig, his hand merely went right
through it, as well as the arm of the child.

	He was dead.  He could no longer truly
affect the world of the living.  And here,
amongst the living, the world he had once
known, he had forgotten this very basic fact.
Something inside him crumbled and turned to
dust.  Why had he returned here?  What was the
point of being here, when he could truly
change nothing, for good or evil?

	Irritated and saddened at the same
time, Endymion turned to leave.  But before he
could head back to the sands, eyes of
blood-red burned into him, catching his
attention.  Rooted to the spot, he stared at
the woman.  Did she see him?  But that was
impossible.  He was dead.  No one had ever
seen him since his death, not even when they
passed right through him.  But yet, here was
a woman, staring straight at him with an
unsettling fixity.  Did she truly see him?
Endymion shook his head.  Of course not, what
rubbish.

	The woman with the blood-red eyes
smiled at him, as if she had heard his unspoken
thoughts and gave a small shake of her head.
ÎI do see you,â her eyes seemed to say.  Her
gaze then turned to the figure beside her, the
figure that was tugging slightly at her arm to
see if the woman was alright.

	Endymionâs own deep blue gaze turned
upon the figure, his line of sight somewhat
blocked by other shoppers in the marketplace.
All he could see were a pair of delicate hands,
with pale skin and slender form.  Looking
around, curious, he felt as if he recognized
those hands.  A woman moved, her purchase made,
and Endymion could see a flash of·

	silver hair·

	·her hair pooled against the pillow,
her heart-shaped face relaxed and peaceful.
Her beautiful crystalline blue eyes were
closed, as she dreamed of places non-existent.

	·silver hair·

	·her gloriously long, silvery hair was
again hidden under her veil, as she writhed
to the beat of the music.  She closed her
eyes, letting the music envelope her.  When
she opened them, they locked immediately upon
his, and kept the connection.  He was trapped,
as effectively as if she had tied him to her.
There was no escape.  Not that he wanted to
escape in the first place.

	It was her!  God in Heaven, it was her.
His beloved.  His siren.  His habibattee.

	His Serenity.

	If he still breathed, he was sure that
he would have had the breath stolen from him.
She was alive!  ALIVE!  As vibrant as the day
he first laid eyes upon her.

	As if people had felt the significance
of the moment, they parted from his sight,
leaving his view of the young woman unhindered.
She was just as he remembered her, as he
envisioned all these years.  Her wealth of hair
was tied into two simple buns, the excess
spilling out in a waterfall of silver light.
Blue were her eyes and yet, that simple word
didnât even begin to describe the loveliness
that were their hue.  She was still petite and
slender, her skin, what he could see of it,
pale and smooth.  She was the same age as she
had been, those many long years ago, the same
age as when he had lost her.

	Surely it wasnât her.  It was just his
wishful thinking.  Perhaps God had decided to
torment him more, to create this mirage for him.
If he blinked, she would be gone, replaced with
a woman with not even a portion of Her beauty.
He stood there, ever frozen in place.  He dared
not move, not even a bit, for fear that if he
did, the illusion would indeed disappear.  But
in the blink of an eye, well, not that he
blinked, but that was the only way he knew of
to describe it, he was before her, watching her
face, her animated, living face.

	He could hear her voice.  God, how he
had longed to hear her voice again, even if
were to condemn him, as it did·no, he did not
wish to dwell on that.  All that mattered was
that she was alive.  Her voice reached his ears,
as he relearned to hear again after his
soul-shaking finding.

	ãAre you alright, Setsuna?ä  Serenity
looked at the woman, who had trailed off and
looked out at the distance in mid-sentence.
This woman was very, very strange.  There was
something about her words, that made Serenity
believe her.  Setsuna could tell her that people
lived on the moon, and Serenity would believe
her, so powerful was this womanâs voice.

	ãI am fine, Serenity.  Please, where
was I?ä

	Glancing at the woman, Serenity
hesitantly replied, ãYou were telling me about
my past life, as the Serenity of legend.ä  Her
face was clouded, her mind torn between
reminding Setsuna of her tale and hearing more,
or telling her to forget about it and leave
this unnerving place as quickly as possible.
But Serenity was no coward, much to some
peopleâs dismay.  She showed an almost
bull-headed need to know things.  ÎThatâs going
to get you in trouble, one day,â her tutor
lamented once after another round of Serenityâs
pestering.  Serenity had merely scoffed back
then, but she was not scoffing now.  There was
something about what Setsuna was telling her
that disturbed, dredged her inner core, and
made her frightened.

	ãAh yes.  You have read the legend
yourself, you know those details that I told
you.  But what you donât realize yet is that
you ARE her.  You are her soul, reincarnated.
In that life, the pain you experienced was so
great, that the heavens themselves strove to
right the wrong.  They are giving you another
chance my dear.  Use it wisely,ä Setsuna said,
gravely.  She looked to Serenityâs side, as if
at another person, then returned her gaze upon
Serenity.  ãHe still searches for you, my dear.
Open your heart, and you will see him.ä

	ãWho?ä  Serenity asked, alarmed at
this as she half-rose from her seat.  ãWho
searches for me?ä  Her eyes then glanced
around, nervously as she couldnât help but
call herself a fool for falling into this trap
that this woman had spun around her.  She
opened herself up too much.  As a daughter of
nobility, she should have known better, seeing
as how ever since she was young she was taught
to be wary of strangers.  Her hand clasped
onto her dagger, strapped against her shin,
but before she could pull it out Setsuna waved
her hand and shook her head.

	ãYou misunderstand me child.  It is HE
that searches for you, HE your beloved,
Endymion.ä  She paused a second, her eyes
slightly unfocused as she gathered her
thoughts.  ãAlthough the past may cause you to
believe otherwise, he means you no harm, he has
never meant you any harm for he loves you, with
all his eternal soul.

	ãBut· child, beware, although he does
not mean you any harm, others do.  Danger does
follow you, like a shadow to your soul.  I see
a terrible thing, coming to you, in the
future.ä  She looked away then, her eyes shut
tightly while attempting to block away the
tears she had for Serenity.  This girl that ran
through time with a broken heart and a
shattered soul.

	ÎWhy is it like this?â  Setsuna
wondered, her mind screaming up to God. ÎDoes
she not deserve to be happy?  Does he not
deserve to be happy?  Why must you play games
with them?  They have already endured so much,
done so much but still·â

	She took a deep breath, composing
herself as she turned her head back at
Serenity, a sad smile on her lips.  ãI am
sorry,  Serenity, that is all I can tell you.ä
And with that, she stopped speaking.

	Their session was over.

***

	Endymion reached out, the desire to
touch his beloved, to make sure that she was
indeed alive, and not a mirage was so great.
Trembling, he raised an arm that suddenly
seemed to weigh five tons.  She was so close,
so full of life, so happy.  He still remembered
those last moments he had seen her·

	She was right there, listening to the
woman with blood-red eyes, whose name was
Setsuna.  She was a bit scared, but she betrayed
none of the emotion on her face.  God, how he
remembered her every expression, her every
gesture, with vivid clarity.  He envied her, the
way she felt things with such abandon, never
feeling a need to bottle things up.  That was
his biggest mistake, never showing her how much
she truly meant to him before she died.  Then
again, he had denied that very fact to himself,
for the longest time.

	He edged nearer, his very soul crying
in the desperate need to touch his beloved one
more.  Just one more time, if God would just
grant him this one wish, the ability to touch
her just one more time·

	His fingers edged nearer her smooth
cheek.  Right before he was to make contact, he
paused, the fear that this was all a dream
gripping him once more.  But his desire to
touch her overwhelmed him, subsumed his fear
and he made that last step.  His fingers gently
caressed the outline of her cheek·

	·but he felt nothing.  As did she.
When she moved slightly in her dialogue with
Setsuna, Endymion watched in dismay as his
fingers passed right through her cheek.  What
cruel joke was this?  He was so near, so close
that he could see every individual eyelash on
her wonderful face.  He could hear her, see
her, feel her tug on his very soul·

	·but he could not touch her.

	With that realization, his very soul
wept.  Torture upon torture wracked upon a man
could not compare to the pain he felt.  He felt
like dying.  Everything was hopeless now, his
life devoid of meaning.

	With a bitter smile, he remembered
that he was dead.  He couldnât be any more dead.
He wasnât alive, he was a ghost, and therefore
had no meaning.  He felt happiness leave him in
a rush of feeling, his form empty.  A million,
tiny slivers of his heart rained down, as he
looked at the one woman he loved, had always
loved, and was forever torn from.

***

	There were long moments before she
could shake herself from her rapture of
emotions.  The feeling of confusion, fear, and
odd curiosity lingered deep inside of her as
she reached into her pockets for a few coins
that she had brought with her.  ãI am sorry
that I havenât more to give you, but·ä

	Serenityâs voice trailed on as a hand
stopped her from taking out her money.
Setsuna looked Serenity straight in the eye.
ãMy dear, I require no payment.  I am merely
glad to speak to you, a soul like my own, a
traveler of time.ä

	The look of sincerity within the
other womanâs eyes made her relent.  With a
polite nod, Serenity got up only to find
herself with an onslaught of emotions hitting
her with a horrid force.  It was an odd
feeling, as if, as if· she was in pain and
despair.  No, that wasnât it· it was
something else, something more distant.  It
was as if someone else was in pain and that
she could feel every ounce of it, every
pulse.  It was as if their pain was radiated
to her, through an unknown bond made between
their hearts.

	Puzzled, she looked at Setsuna who
merely shook her head and smiled as if she
knew what Serenity had meant to ask.

	ÎNo, it wasnât Setsuna,â she
reaffirmed her drifting thoughts.  Serenity
was sure that she felt no connection to the
woman.  No, it was someone else, someone
nearby.  But who could it be?  No one was at
the booth with them.

	Then, she felt it·that strange
feeling was coming from her side, right next
to her.  Serenity turned her head and looked.

	There, next to her, knelt the figure
of a man, but not solid.  She could see right
through him.  He was beset by sadness, his
figure trembling from his sobs.  He was so
faint; she could see no details of his face
clearly.  But she knew that he was there.
His sadness touched her.  She reached out, to
touch the man and help comfort him.  He
looked up at her just as she was reaching out
and she knew that he was shocked.  However,
before she could make contact, he disappeared·

	·as if he had never been.

***

RS: Wow, finally no? I canât write any more
notes, cuz Iâm exhausted ^^; Next time! Soon,
perhaps!
CP:  (sobs) I admit it!  Iâm so bad!  I made
Kii practically write this all by herself!
But I was so busy and uninspired· (pouts) Iâll
attempt to write more next time, yes siree!