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1 Hi minna-san! ^-^ Well, we’ve finally finished our newest story. ^^ This
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2 takes
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3 place a while after ‘Sudden Glimpse’. This deals with who several of the
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4 Senshi have fallen in love with. The plot takes a lot of jumps, but it was
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5 fun to
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6 write and we really hope you enjoy it. ^-^ This was the first story that
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7 we’ve
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8 written with Gabi (psychokittensenshi), the newest member of the Amazoness
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9 Quartet. She’s a great author and she’s a great addition to the Quartet.
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10 ^-^
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11 Hopefully you’ll all be seeing a lot more stories from the four of us soon.
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12 Well, if you have anytime after reading the story, we’d love to hear from
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13 you.
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14 ^^ You can reach us at: amazonessduo@hotmail.com
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15 Actually, we could use your help, too. For a while now we’ve been using
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16 lover’s
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17 nicknames that both Hotaru & ChibiUsa use for each other like Taru-chan for
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18 Hotaru and Odango-chan for ChibiUsa. We really liked Taru-chan, but its been
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19 used so much lately by just about everybody besides ChibiUsa in fanfics
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20 lately
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21 (including by Mamoru in a Hotaru and Mamoru fic-_-). So we’re going to keep
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22 using it, but its lost its meaning as a lover’s nickname for ChibiUsa to
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23 call her.
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24 We need your help to come up with a new lover’s nickname for Hotaru. If you
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25 can think of anything, please e-mail us. ^^ Thank you, everyone. ^-^
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26
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27
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28 Revelations
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29
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30 By The Amazoness Quartet
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31
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32
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33
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34
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35 Minako, Ami, Usagi, Rei, and Makoto walked along as soon as
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36 classes had finished. The four girls talked happily, glad that it was
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37 finally
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38 the weekend, a chance for them to relax. A crowd of students passed
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39 by them, blocking the car that had just pulled up from their view.
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40 The door to the car opened and a woman stepped out, scanning the sea
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41 of students in an attempt to locate a specific girl. "Minako!" she
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42 yelled, finally spotting her. "Minako, over here!"
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43 Minako slowed when she heard a voice calling her name. The
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44 other four girls stopped as well when they heard. Minako looked
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45 around, trying to find the person calling her name. She saw the lady
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46 standing by a car, waving her over. Minako froze when she realized
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47 the woman was here to pick her up. "I'll see the rest of you later,"
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48 she said quickly. "We'll talk this weekend. I've gotta get going."
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49 Minako waved and hurried to the car.
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50 "Isn't that Natsuna?" Makoto asked.
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51 "Yep," Usagi answered. "She's Minako's girlfriend." She giggled
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52 as she watched Minako get into the car with the older woman. "Couldn't
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53 Minako have started going out with her back when we had Haruna for a
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54 teacher? Natsuna is Haruna's little sister, so maybe I could have gotten
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55 through her class easier."
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56 "I don't think Minako going out with her sister would have made
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57 any difference in how hard Haruna was on you," Ami commented.
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58 "Probably not," Makoto agreed. "I still can't believe she's going
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59 out with a twenty-eight year old woman."
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60 "Why, you jealous?" Rei asked teasingly.
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61 Makoto laughed. "No. Why would I be? I've got Ami."
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62 Ami blushed when Makoto mentioned her.
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63 Rei just sighed darkly. "Yeah, that's true."
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64 "Rei, are you okay?" Usagi asked her.
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65 "I'm fine. I'm tired, though. I should be getting back to the shrine.
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66 I'll see you all tomorrow."
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67 "Bye, Rei!" Usagi said as Rei began walking home.
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68
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69 Minako rolled down the window to get some air as the car pulled
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70 away.
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71 "So how was your day?" Natsuna asked.
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72 "Pretty good," Minako answered. "It was long, though."
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73 Natsuna laughed. "You would probably think that since its Friday and
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74 all. You just couldn't wait to get out of there."
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75 Minako smiled at her. "Yeah, pretty much. How was yours?"
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76 "Not bad," Natsuna replied. "Nothing as exciting as in the life of
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77 Sailor V."
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78 "I'm not Sailor V anymore, remember?" Minako corrected her.
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79 "I know. But you made a much better Sailor V than Sailor Venus,"
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80 Natsuna said. Minako giggled. Natsuna still had Sailor V memorabilia around
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81 their shared apartment. It still surprised Minako when she saw them. She'd
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82 tried to get Natsuna to take them down, but the older woman wouldn't listen
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83 to
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84 her.
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85 "Do you have any work you had to take home?" Minako asked.
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86 "Nope. I left Wakagi to handle the rest of it. I didn't want any
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87 distractions once we got home." Natsuna winked seductively at Minako.
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88 Minako felt her blood boiling when she felt Natsuna's hand rest on
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89 her thigh. She'd never thought that the other woman could do this to her.
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90 She'd just thought that the police chief was strange back when she was
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91 Sailor
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92 V. "How could you have put up with me for so long? Ever since I was
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93 thirteen,
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94 when I first became Sailor V."
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95 "Patience," Natsuna said. "A lot of patience. It was really hard to
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96 get you to take me seriously about being in love with you. But in the end,
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97 it
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98 looks like my patience paid off."
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99 "I love you, Natsuna," Minako said happily.
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100 "I love you, too." Natsuna leaned in and kissed her.
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101
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102 Usagi, Ami, and Makoto walked together, talking about the day's
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103 events.
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104 "Are you and Mamoru going out tonight?" Makoto asked Usagi.
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105 "No. He's busy tonight studying with Motoki. What about you two?
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106 Are you and Ami-chan going out tonight?" Usagi asked mischievously,
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107 knowing how nervous Ami was about the whole thing.
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108 Ami blushed a deep crimson and Makoto tried to answer. "Umm...
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109 Well, kinda.." Ami only nodded.
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110 Usagi laughed. "You guys are so cute together."
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111 "Thanks, Usagi-chan," Ami managed.
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112 "We should probably get going," Makoto said after checking her
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113 watch.
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114 "Yeah. We'll talk to you later, Usagi-chan," Ami said.
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115 The three girls said their goodbyes before heading off.
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116
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117 When Rei got back home to the Hikawa Jinga she headed straight back
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118 to her room and changed into her Miko robes. She was depressed about things
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119 lately. It seemed like everyone had been finding love. Everyone except her.
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120 Her
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121 love life was in shambles. Yuuchiro had finally left several months ago,
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122 tired of
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123 waiting for her.
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124 Rei sat down in front of the Sacred Flame. She tried to relax before
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125 meditating. She wanted to see if she could find out if she'd ever find love.
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126 She started to drift off, her mind floating in a sea of images. After what
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127 seemed like an eternity, things started to coalesce.
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128 But it had to be wrong. She was seeing the Silver Millennium. She
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129 wanted to see the future, not the past. Jaedite? Was that it? Could that
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130 be why she was seeing the past? No, she knew it wasn't him. There had to be
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131 someone else.
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132 Then she saw her. She was standing in the shadows on a balcony, the
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133 earth hanging in the sky. Suddenly the figure turned around towards Rei. She
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134 gasped. It was Princess Serenity. Rei knew she had some unresolved feelings
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135 for Usagi, but she knew that anything between them was impossible. Usagi
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136 already had the prince she was destined to be with.
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137 Memories came flooding back to Rei as the images from the Silver
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138 Millennium surrounded her. Serenity's four Inner Senshi had had Endymion's
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139 four generals as boyfriends at the time. But Rei and another of the Inner
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140 Senshi had longed for Serenity. 'Who was the other one in love with
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141 Serenity?' Rei asked herself. Her memories of the Silver Millennium still
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142 weren't complete so she had difficulty recalling who it was. 'Minako?
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143 That's right. We both fought over Serenity, even though neither of us
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144 ever worked up the courage to tell her how we felt. Minako was going
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145 through a lot back then. She was torn about how she felt about Serenity
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146 and her feelings for Kunzite. And that's exactly why I thought that I
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147 should have been with Usagi. Minako told me she loved both of them. I
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148 liked Jaedite and all, but it wasn't the same as how I felt for Serenity.
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149 Neither of us stood a chance against Endymion, though. He had destiny
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150 on his side. At least Minako seems to have gotten over it. She has
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151 Natsuna now. I still cling on. I’m friends with Usagi’s daughter, yet I
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152 still cling
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153 on. I can't find love because I can't bring myself to let go of her.'
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154 Suddenly, everything changed. Rei tried to make out where she was
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155 as she waited for the images to clarify. After a few moments, she realized
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156 that this had to be Crystal Tokyo. She'd only been there once before, when
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157 they'd gone to the future to help ChibiUsa save her parents. Rei saw a
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158 lavishly decorated bedroom, most likely the Queen's room. She could see
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159 Usagi dressed in her royal gown as Neo Queen Serenity. She was laughing
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160 happily. Rei sighed. She was so beautiful. Someone else was there with
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161 Serenity. The two were talking about something Rei couldn't make out.
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162 She tried to tell who the other person was, but the details weren't clear
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163 enough yet. The image slowly became clearer and Rei could finally tell
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164 that the other person sitting with Serenity was her. 'What's going on?'
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165 Rei thought. Serenity leaned towards Rei's future self and the two
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166 kissed passionately. Rei couldn't believe what she was seeing. 'But how?'
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167 Rei asked, trying desperately to come up with an answer as the images
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168 dissolved around her.
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169 Rei sat in shock as she came out of her meditative trance. What
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170 she'd seen had been her dream come true, but she knew it couldn't happen.
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171 Was it just wishful thinking on her part or did she actually end up with
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172 Usagi? Rei tried to meditate on an answer, but after what she'd seen, she
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173 couldn't calm herself enough to try. She sighed heavily and decided to
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174 give up for the time being. She resolved to try again later, hopefully
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175 with better results.
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176
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177 Hotaru was sitting on a decorative stone throne set atop some
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178 large steps. ChibiMoon was at the bottom of the steps, unconscious on an
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179 altar. Energy snaked out from Hotaru, forming a hand at the end. It
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180 headed out towards ChibiMoon and slammed down on her chest. The younger
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181 girl let out a scream of pain as she was dragged back to consciousness.
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182 "Hotaru-chan... I'm glad to see you..." ChibiMoon managed before
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183 passing out again, her Heart Crystal pulled from her body. Hotaru felt
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184 a surge of terror run through her as the pink haired girl lay deathly
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185 still.
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186 ChibiMoon's Heart Crystal flew up to where Hotaru was sitting.
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187 After swallowing it, she changed completely into Mistress 9. The
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188 Senshi looked on, unable to stop her as Sailormoon talked futilely with
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189 Professor Tomoe.
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190 'Even when I was Mistress 9, I couldn't stop thinking about
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191 ChibiUsa. Whatever part of me was still there was so worried about what
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192 had happened to her. Its so life-like. I've had this dream before. And I've
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193 talked
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194 to ChibiUsa about it a couple times, too. She always tells me that it wasn't
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195 my
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196 fault, that it wasn't me who did those awful things, like killing Kaolinite
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197 and
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198 hurting my Odango-chan. It always hurts as it all comes back to me,
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199 everything
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200 I did as Mistress 9, and I cry. And ChibiUsa holds me, trying to stop the
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201 pain I feel. But she's not here tonight. I have to deal with the dream
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202 on my own. I know it was just that, a dream, but what happened was real.
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203 I lie here for a while, uncertain of what to do. I want to hear her
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204 voice. I want tor hear her tell me everything's all right. I want her
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205 to hold me. I think about calling her, but she's probably asleep now.
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206 She’s spending the night at Momoko’s house. I could call anyway,
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207 even if it does wake her up, but I'm uncertain. I feel so nervous and
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208 scared,
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209 alone in the dark. I don't know what to do. I know I can't get back to
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210 sleep. I
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211 never can after I have that dream.' Hotaru sat up in bed, hugging her knees
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212 to
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213 her chest. After a couple minutes, she stood up and headed for the door of
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214 her
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215 room. 'I want to see her,' she thought.
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216
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217 Setsuna put down the book she was reading when she heard the
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218 front door open. She looked out her window to see Hotaru hurrying off
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219 to find ChibiUsa. "I hope she's okay," Setsuna said aloud. 'No
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220 one could be happier than I am that Hotaru and ChibiUsa are in love.
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221 I raised Hotaru like a daughter with Michiru and Haruka. I feel like
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222 Hotaru's my own daughter, and in an odd way, I feel the same way about
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223 Small Lady. I got to watch her grow up in the future. She came to the Time
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224 Palace so often, even though she wasn't supposed to. She came to
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225 me with her problems when she needed help. And I actually helped raise
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226 Hotaru. I guess the main difference is that one of them calls me mama
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227 and the other doesn't. I'm glad they have each other. They both mean
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228 so much to me.'
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229 'I do admit that being around Haruka and Michiru and a love
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230 stricken Hotaru does get a bit depressing sometimes. Its just hard to
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231 see people so in love like that and to not have anyone of my own to
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232 love. And everyone I have fallen for winds up destined to be with
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233 someone else.' Setsuna sighed. 'First Endymion and then Michiru. I
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234 practically grew up with Michiru and Haruka back in the Silver
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235 Millenium. Michiru was my best friend since we were young. It took
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236 a while for me to realize I loved her. I was so down after Endymion
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237 got with Princess Serenity, but she helped me get through it. I
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238 felt differently towards her after that. I wanted to tell her, but
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239 Haruka was too fast for me. Before I could do anything, she was
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240 already with Haruka. Why does destiny always pass me over?' Setsuna
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241 picked up her book again and tried to stop thinking about it. 'I
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242 shouldn't lose any sleep over it, I guess.' She looked out the
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243 window again. 'Wherever you are, be careful, Hotaru.'
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244
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245 Yaten walked hesitantly out of her room in a shimmering light
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246 blue dress. It accentuated her soft curves perfectly, fitting the
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247 short girl almost like a second skin. Her hair was up in a high pony
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248 tail that trailed down to the small of her back.
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249 Taiki looked up from the book she was reading and arched an
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250 eyebrow. "That's... interesting," Taiki said, struggling for the right
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251 words. She hadn't seen Yaten in a dress since they'd all been back on
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252 Kinmoku, before they'd come to earth disguised as the Three Lights.
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253 Seiya looked over at Yaten from where she was sitting after
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254 she heard Taiki. It had been so quiet for a while that the sudden
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255 noise had startled her. She stared in shock for a few seconds at
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256 Yaten. "Why are you wearing that?"
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257 "I'm going out," Yaten said defensively. They had been
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258 dressing up as guys for so long that it seemed odd to be in a dress
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259 again. Yaten felt herself relaxing as she got used to it. Kakyuu had
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260 asked her to wear a dress a couple of nights ago when they'd decided
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261 to go out for the night. It had seemed an odd request at first. Kakyuu
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262 had grown up with Yaten as a girl. Kakyuu found it strange to have her
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263 Starlights pretending to be men. Yaten felt more comfortable dressing
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264 in women's clothes anyway, so they went shopping later that day.
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265 Yaten was nervous about what Seiya and Taiki would think, though she
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266 kept telling herself it didn't matter. They were like sisters to her,
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267 so she still felt anxiety wash over her as they continued to stare at
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268 her.
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269 "But why are you going out in that?" Seiya asked.
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270 "Because she looks pretty in it." The Three Lights all turned
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271 as the heard their princess, Kakyuu. She was wearing a low cut black
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272 and red dress. Her red hair was done up in elegant braids. She smiled
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273 happily as she walked up beside Yaten.
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274 "You can't go dressed like that," Seiya said as she turned back
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275 towards Yaten.
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276 "Why can't I? I am a girl." Yaten could tell Seiya was getting
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277 frustrated. She knew that Seiya was in love with Kayuu as well. To
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278 some extent all three of them loved her. But in the end, she'd fallen
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279 in love with Yaten. Seiya was still a little jealous about that even
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280 though she wanted Kakyuu and her surrogate sister to be happy.
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281 "It was your idea to masquerade as men in the first place,"
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282 Seiya argued.
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283 "Well, it was a stupid idea. We've found Kakyuu. There's
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284 no reason to keep pretending anymore. And besides, I don't like pretending
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285 to be a man," Yaten told Seiya.
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286 Kakyuu giggled. "If you two don't mind, Yaten and I have dinner
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287 reservations." She waved to Taiki and Seiya as she grabbed Yaten's hand
|
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288 and started walking to the door with her. "We'll see you later!" she said.
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289 Seiya sat down as the door closed behind the two. "What do you
|
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290 think, Taiki?"
|
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291 Taiki pulled her book back up in front of her. "Yaten did have
|
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292 a point. There really isn't a reason for us to go around like this anymore.
|
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293 Besides for the fans. They all think the Three Lights are men, so it would
|
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294 be a shock to find out we aren't."
|
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295 Seiya sighed. "You too, Taiki?"
|
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296 Taiki just smiled slightly as she went back to her book.
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297
|
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298 *********
|
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299 Momoko sat with her legs crossed, Diana next to her with her head on
|
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300 her
|
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301 lap letting Momoko's hands pass through her cute double odangos and soft
|
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302 hair.
|
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303 She was enjoying the motions and attention. She loved being so close to
|
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304 Momoko, and being able to relax into her . Diana place her hand on Momoko's
|
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305 cheek, grabbing her attention. Momoko smiled and leaned into a kiss. Then
|
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306 she
|
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307 heard a knock at the door and was ripped from the pleasure. She looked up to
|
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308 her mother.
|
rlm@2
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309 "Yes?" she asked nervously.
|
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310 "Honey, ChibiUsa is here to spend the night," she looked to the tiny
|
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311 gray
|
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312 kitten on her daughters lap. "Well Diana sure has been spending quite a lot
|
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313 of
|
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314 time here hasn't she?" The kitten meowed and rubbed up against Momoko's
|
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315 stomach. ChibiUsa appeared at the door and smiled.
|
rlm@2
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316 "Konnichiwa Momo-chan" she walked inside and plopped her baggage on
|
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317 the bed. Momoko's mother walked out and Diana returned to human form, and
|
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318 her place next to Momoko. ChibiUsa smiled.
|
rlm@2
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319 "Well it seems you two have grown closer doesn't it?" she asked.
|
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320 "Makes
|
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321 me wish I'd asked Hotaru to come with me."
|
rlm@2
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322 "Why didn't you ChibiUsa-chan?" Momoko asked. ChibiUsa just smiled
|
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323 and shrugged her shoulders. Just then there was a knock at Momoko's window
|
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324 and Momoko went to answer it quickly.
|
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325 "Hotaru!" Momoko said. The tired raven-haired girl looking at her
|
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326 not
|
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327 answering. She turned to ChibiUsa, still trying to catch her breath.
|
rlm@2
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328 "I need to speak with you, odango," she said desperately.
|
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329 *************
|
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330 Makoto walked a little ways into the kitchen seeing Ami at the table
|
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331 with
|
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332 her books sprawled around her. Makoto walked a little further and pulled Ami
|
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333 into her arms planting a gentle kiss on her mouth. Ami voiced a slight groan
|
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334 of
|
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335 surprise. Makoto just smiled internally, reaching deeper into the kiss. Ami
|
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336 turned and let Makoto grab her into a warm embrace.
|
rlm@2
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337 "I'm so happy to have you with me, Ami-chan," Makoto said kissing
|
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338 Ami
|
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339 again and pulling her into the next room.
|
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340 "But I have to study Mako-chan." Ami began to protest.
|
rlm@2
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341 "This won't take long Ami-chan trust me." Ami was going to protest
|
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|
342 but
|
rlm@2
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343 felt Makoto's long fingers unbuttoning the white professional shirt she had
|
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|
344 on.
|
rlm@2
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345 Makoto pulled it away with expert hands and reaching behind to unclasp the
|
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346 bra strap. When she had the offending clothing away from her she knew Ami
|
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347 wouldn't protest any longer. Makoto kissed her again and pulled off her
|
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348 shirt
|
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349 and skirt as well leaving them on the floor next to her. She laid Ami on the
|
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350 couch and placed Ami's hands on her breasts, sighing at the cooling affect
|
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351 they
|
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352 had on her warm skin. Ami smiled and wiggled out of the pants and undies she
|
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353 had left on and felt the warmth of her lover's own naked body pulling her
|
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354 into a
|
rlm@2
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355 sitting up stance. Holding the body as close to her as possible, and feeling
|
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356 her
|
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357 lover's body tense at the anticipation.
|
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358
|
rlm@2
|
359 ************
|
rlm@2
|
360 "Natsuna..." Minako sighed feeling her lover holding her from behind
|
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|
361 in
|
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|
362 the warn bath water. The soapy water seeped into every pore. Natusna smiled
|
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|
363 and cupped Minako's breasts, her fingers running over the entire delicate
|
rlm@2
|
364 surface. She whispered a sweet comment and made Minako relax even more.
|
rlm@2
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365 Minako in turn ran her finger across the inner thighs of her lover,
|
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|
366 teasing her slightly. Natsuna knew it would come in it's own time. The wait
|
rlm@2
|
367 was all the thrill, wondering what new feeling that her lover would drench
|
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|
368 out
|
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369 of her this time. Minako turned facing Natusna and placing her fingers in
|
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|
370 between Natsuna's legs.
|
rlm@2
|
371 "I love you," Minako said kissing Natsuna deeply pushing her back
|
rlm@2
|
372 into
|
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373 the bath until Natusna was totally relaxed against the cold tile behind her.
|
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|
374 She
|
rlm@2
|
375 smiled and knew....this was it. Natusna was all that she wanted.
|
rlm@2
|
376
|
rlm@2
|
377 **************
|
rlm@2
|
378 Rei walked down the street to the apartment Usagi and Mamoru
|
rlm@2
|
379 shared knocking on the door. She waited for an answer. When Usagi showed
|
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|
380 up sooner than she’d expected, felt flustered. She shifted slightly and
|
rlm@2
|
381 was for once without a quick sarcastic remark.
|
rlm@2
|
382 "Usagi-chan, may I come in?" she asked. Usagi smiled and moved so
|
rlm@2
|
383 that Rei could enter.
|
rlm@2
|
384 "Rei-chan it's so nice that you could come," Usagi said loudly and then
|
rlm@2
|
385 drew closer so that she could speak to Rei privately. "Rei there's something
|
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|
386 that
|
rlm@2
|
387 I have to tell you..." But before Usagi could finish a male presence entered
|
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|
388 the
|
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|
389 room.
|
rlm@2
|
390 "Rei, so nice to see you again," Mamoru's voice stabbed into
|
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391 Rei's
|
rlm@2
|
392 mind. She grew angry and then clamed. She couldn’t show up destiny, Mamoru
|
rlm@2
|
393 always got his princess. She could never have Usagi. And with that she left
|
rlm@2
|
394 to
|
rlm@2
|
395 the door and the cold. Usagi ran after her.
|
rlm@2
|
396 "Rei-chan wait! You don't have to leave!" she said trying to
|
rlm@2
|
397 stop her
|
rlm@2
|
398 friend.
|
rlm@2
|
399 "Yes, I do. Usagi-chan, I have to go."
|
rlm@2
|
400 "But why? It's just Mamoru and me."
|
rlm@2
|
401 "Usagi you dot understand. It's because of Mamoru."
|
rlm@2
|
402 "But...why?"
|
rlm@2
|
403 "You won't understand. Just forget it."
|
rlm@2
|
404 "No. what's wrong, Rei-chan. Why is it Mamoru's fault?" Usagi
|
rlm@2
|
405 asked.
|
rlm@2
|
406 ‘ ‘Because I love you,’ Rei thought. ‘Because I can't stand him
|
rlm@2
|
407 being
|
rlm@2
|
408 able to hold you and I can't...' Rei stopped herself and spun on her heel.
|
rlm@2
|
409 Getting
|
rlm@2
|
410 ready to leave.
|
rlm@2
|
411 "Rei-chan, why can't you tell me what's wrong?" Usagi asked
|
rlm@2
|
412 worriedly.
|
rlm@2
|
413 "Would you come in, Rei?" Mamoru asked, worried as well. "I could
|
rlm@2
|
414 make some tea."
|
rlm@2
|
415 Rei sighed. This was all so hard for her to deal with. Why had she
|
rlm@2
|
416 even come here in the first place? What had she hoped to accomplish? "No.
|
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|
417 Thank you, anyway. I should go."
|
rlm@2
|
418 "Rei, its pretty late. Maybe you should stay," Usagi said. She didn't
|
rlm@2
|
419 know what was wrong, but she didn't want Rei to leave now. She wanted to
|
rlm@2
|
420 know what was going on.
|
rlm@2
|
421
|
rlm@2
|
422 ***********
|
rlm@2
|
423
|
rlm@2
|
424 Makoto rolled over to get a better look at the smaller girl lying next to
|
rlm@2
|
425 her. She smiled to herself as she ran her fingers through Ami's short blue
|
rlm@2
|
426 hair.
|
rlm@2
|
427 She gently kissed the other girls soft lips. She checked to make sure Ami
|
rlm@2
|
428 was
|
rlm@2
|
429 asleep before quietly getting out of bed. She brought the sheet up higher to
|
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|
430 cover Ami. The other girl let out a small sound, startling Makoto in the
|
rlm@2
|
431 dark
|
rlm@2
|
432 room. Ami shifted around a bit before settling down and clutching the sheets
|
rlm@2
|
433 closer to her. Makoto relaxed as she watched the other girl doze peacefully.
|
rlm@2
|
434 Makoto silently walked out of the room. She padded across the cold
|
rlm@2
|
435 floor. One of Ami's books lying open on the counter. She tried to read some
|
rlm@2
|
436 of
|
rlm@2
|
437 it but she quickly decided to leave that to Ami. She slipped a peace of
|
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|
438 paper
|
rlm@2
|
439 between the pages before closing the book, knowing Ami would probably try to
|
rlm@2
|
440 pick up where she left off in it later the next day.
|
rlm@2
|
441 She’d once wondered how Ami could have fallen in love with her. She
|
rlm@2
|
442 knew the blue haired genius was many times over more intelligent than she
|
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|
443 was. Makoto had thought she’d want someone who shared her passion for
|
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|
444 knowledge. She’d brought it up with Ami, but the other girl had quickly
|
rlm@2
|
445 dismissed her lover’s worries. It didn’t matter to her. She’d said she
|
rlm@2
|
446 couldn’t
|
rlm@2
|
447 really explain it. It was one of the few times Makoto had been able to catch
|
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|
448 Ami without an answer. Finally Ami had said that some things didn’t need an
|
rlm@2
|
449 explanation. Love was one of those things. She loved Makoto. She may not be
|
rlm@2
|
450 able to explain it, but she knew in her heart that she did. Makoto hadn’t
|
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|
451 given
|
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|
452 it a second thought afterwards. The blue haired genius was everything to
|
rlm@2
|
453 her.
|
rlm@2
|
454 Makoto walked through the dimly lit kitchen, briefly searching around
|
rlm@2
|
455 for the light switch. She winced as the light turned on. She blinked several
|
rlm@2
|
456 times to get her vision to adjust before walking over to the refrigerator.
|
rlm@2
|
457 The
|
rlm@2
|
458 brunette shivered from the cold air on her bare skin after opening it. She
|
rlm@2
|
459 smiled
|
rlm@2
|
460 when she saw one of Ami’s sandwiches wrapped up. ‘That girl needs to let me
|
rlm@2
|
461 make her lunch more often,’ she thought to herself.
|
rlm@2
|
462 “Mako-chan?” a sleepy voice said from behind her. She turned
|
rlm@2
|
463 around to see Ami standing with the sheet wrapped around her delicate frame.
|
rlm@2
|
464 “I’m sorry, Ami-chan. Did I wake you?” Makoto asked.
|
rlm@2
|
465 “I saw the light turn on out here and I noticed you weren’t in bed,”
|
rlm@2
|
466 Ami explained. “What are you doing up?”
|
rlm@2
|
467 Makoto smiled warmly and brought Ami into a loving embrace. “I
|
rlm@2
|
468 was just thinking.”
|
rlm@2
|
469 Ami tilted her head to one side curiously. “What about?” She looked
|
rlm@2
|
470 deeply into Makoto’s dark green eyes, quickly losing herself in them, almost
|
rlm@2
|
471 as
|
rlm@2
|
472 if she were still dreaming.
|
rlm@2
|
473 “You,” Makoto said softly. Everything felt right with the world while
|
rlm@2
|
474 holding Ami in her arms.
|
rlm@2
|
475 Ami giggled. “No, I’m serious.”
|
rlm@2
|
476 The taller girl gestured to the apartment. “It used to be so lonely. I’m
|
rlm@2
|
477 really glad you’re here.”
|
rlm@2
|
478 Ami smiled up at Makoto and put her hand on the brunette’s cheek.
|
rlm@2
|
479 “So am I.” She brought her lips up to Makoto’s in a soft kiss. “Come on back
|
rlm@2
|
480 to
|
rlm@2
|
481 bed, Mako-chan. Its lonely there, too.”
|
rlm@2
|
482 Makoto laughed. “Okay, Ami-chan.” She kissed the blue haired girl
|
rlm@2
|
483 again. She took Ami’s hand and let the other girl lead her back to their
|
rlm@2
|
484 room.
|
rlm@2
|
485
|
rlm@2
|
486 *******
|
rlm@2
|
487
|
rlm@2
|
488 “Taru, are you okay?” ChibiUsa asked worriedly. Her reached out
|
rlm@2
|
489 through the open window to grab the other girls hand. Hotaru had a haunted
|
rlm@2
|
490 look in her eyes. ChibiUsa’s heart ached as she looked into those frightened
|
rlm@2
|
491 violet eyes.
|
rlm@2
|
492 Hotaru started to relax as she felt ChibiUsa’s warm hand against her
|
rlm@2
|
493 own. Seeing the pink haired girl looking back at her soothed Hotaru. She
|
rlm@2
|
494 looked down, feeling foolish. Her pale cheeks flushed red. “I just needed to
|
rlm@2
|
495 see
|
rlm@2
|
496 you,” she said quietly.
|
rlm@2
|
497 ChibiUsa lips formed a bright smile. It meant so much to her to hear
|
rlm@2
|
498 the other girl came all this way to see her. Her expression became concerned
|
rlm@2
|
499 when she realized Hotaru was worried about something. She blinked with
|
rlm@2
|
500 realization. “Oh, Taru. It’s okay. I’m here,” the future princess said. She
|
rlm@2
|
501 wanted to hold the other girl, to go to her, but she was stopped by the wall
|
rlm@2
|
502 between them. She could only reach the other girl through the open window.
|
rlm@2
|
503 “Hotaru,” Momoko said besides the dark haired girl, startling her.
|
rlm@2
|
504 Hotaru clutched ChibiUsa’s hand tightly after hearing the other girl.
|
rlm@2
|
505 She slowly turned around. “Momo-chan, you scared me.”
|
rlm@2
|
506 “Sorry about that. I talked to my mom. She said you can spend the
|
rlm@2
|
507 night, too. I just told her you can’t be away from ChibiUsa for too long of
|
rlm@2
|
508 a
|
rlm@2
|
509 time.” Momoko laughed. “Come on in.”.
|
rlm@2
|
510
|
rlm@2
|
511 A short time later, Momoko lay asleep in Diana’s arms on her bed.
|
rlm@2
|
512 ChibiUsa and Hotaru held each other under the blankets on Momoko’s floor.
|
rlm@2
|
513 Hotaru stared up at the ceiling, trying not to think. The darkness
|
rlm@2
|
514 surrounded
|
rlm@2
|
515 them, but that didn’t bother her. Not with ChibiUsa beside her. Hotaru felt
|
rlm@2
|
516 ChibiUsa gently stroking her hair. She held the other girl closer, not
|
rlm@2
|
517 wanting to
|
rlm@2
|
518 be apart again.
|
rlm@2
|
519 “Hotaru?” ChibiUsa whispered to her dark haired lover. “Why did you
|
rlm@2
|
520 have to come see me so urgently?” She smiled and kissed Hotaru lightly. “I
|
rlm@2
|
521 am
|
rlm@2
|
522 glad you’re here.”
|
rlm@2
|
523 “Thanks. I am too.” Hotaru snuggled closer to the other girl, trying to
|
rlm@2
|
524 forget the horrible dream. “I…” She began hesitantly. “I had that dream
|
rlm@2
|
525 again.”
|
rlm@2
|
526 “Oh, Hotaru, I’m so sorry.” ChibiUsa wished there was some way she
|
rlm@2
|
527 could stop Hotaru from having it, but it was a recurring nightmare for her.
|
rlm@2
|
528 The
|
rlm@2
|
529 dark haired girl was still tormented by visions from her past.
|
rlm@2
|
530 Hotaru felt foolish. Running to ChibiUsa because of a dream. ‘But
|
rlm@2
|
531 then, isn’t that what being in love with her means? Being able to go to her
|
rlm@2
|
532 for
|
rlm@2
|
533 comfort? Being able to tell her what frightens me the most? Knowing that no
|
rlm@2
|
534 matter how childish it is, or how foolish, I can always go to her?’ “When I
|
rlm@2
|
535 woke up, I was afraid, but it got worse when I realized you weren’t there.
|
rlm@2
|
536 Everything just started crashing down. I had to see you. I felt that if you
|
rlm@2
|
537 were
|
rlm@2
|
538 there, it would all seem okay.” Hotaru closed her eyes tightly. The dream
|
rlm@2
|
539 was
|
rlm@2
|
540 still vivid in her mind. Tears started to well up in Hotaru’s eyes as the
|
rlm@2
|
541 dream
|
rlm@2
|
542 came back to her.
|
rlm@2
|
543 ChibiUsa gently wiped Hotaru’s tears away with her fingertips. “Its
|
rlm@2
|
544 not your fault. You can’t blame yourself for any of that. It was Mistress 9,
|
rlm@2
|
545 not
|
rlm@2
|
546 you.”
|
rlm@2
|
547 “But I was there for everything that happened. It was my body,”
|
rlm@2
|
548 Hotaru blinked several more tears away.
|
rlm@2
|
549 “It may have been, but it still wasn’t you. In the end, you managed to
|
rlm@2
|
550 stop her.”
|
rlm@2
|
551 Hotaru sniffled and tried to speak, but ChibiUsa silenced her with a
|
rlm@2
|
552 soft kiss.
|
rlm@2
|
553 “You felt like its your fault because you couldn’t stop her before she
|
rlm@2
|
554 caused so much pain. There was nothing you could do. When I woke up after I
|
rlm@2
|
555 got my Heart Crystal back, you’d been changed into a baby from using your
|
rlm@2
|
556 powers to stop Pharaoh 90. I felt horrible because I couldn’t stop it. I
|
rlm@2
|
557 felt that I
|
rlm@2
|
558 should have known, that I should have said something when I saw you that
|
rlm@2
|
559 last
|
rlm@2
|
560 time. It took me a long time, but I realized there are some things we can’t
|
rlm@2
|
561 change. No matter how wrong it is, or how it seems we should have.” ChibiUsa
|
rlm@2
|
562 held the shuddering dark haired girl tightly against her. Her hand lightly
|
rlm@2
|
563 rubbed Hotaru’s back through the cloth of her nightgown. “That’s all in the
|
rlm@2
|
564 past now. We have everything to look forward to. You and me. Both of us.
|
rlm@2
|
565 Forever.” She felt Hotaru’s warm tears on her shoulder. The other girl’s
|
rlm@2
|
566 sobs
|
rlm@2
|
567 slowly started to lessen. “Its alright, Taru-chan. I’m here.” She held the
|
rlm@2
|
568 dark
|
rlm@2
|
569 haired girl protectively, wanting to keep away anymore of those horrible
|
rlm@2
|
570 dreams.
|
rlm@2
|
571 “I.. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t let it get to me… like this,” Hotaru said
|
rlm@2
|
572 between sobs.
|
rlm@2
|
573 “Don’t be sorry. I’m really glad you came. I missed you,” ChibiUsa
|
rlm@2
|
574 smiled. “And don’t worry about the dreams. That’s all they are. And you can
|
rlm@2
|
575 always come find me when you wake up. I’m just sorry I wasn’t there this
|
rlm@2
|
576 time.”
|
rlm@2
|
577 “Thanks, Odango-chan,” Hotaru said softly.
|
rlm@2
|
578 “You mean everything to me, Taru. Don’t let those dreams hurt you.
|
rlm@2
|
579 They don’t mean anything as long as we have each other.” ChibiUsa felt like
|
rlm@2
|
580 she should say more, but she didn’t have to. Her crimson eyes met with
|
rlm@2
|
581 Hotaru’s violet ones. Their lips met in the dark room, conveying more to
|
rlm@2
|
582 each
|
rlm@2
|
583 other than words could have.
|
rlm@2
|
584 “I love you,” Hotaru whispered to the pink haired girl.
|
rlm@2
|
585 “I love you, too,” ChibiUsa whispered back. She kissed Hotaru once
|
rlm@2
|
586 again before laying her head back on a pillow. “Goodnight, Hotaru.”
|
rlm@2
|
587 “I don’t think I’ll go to sleep just yet. Could you stay up for a little bit
|
rlm@2
|
588 so we could talk?” Hotaru asked.
|
rlm@2
|
589 “Sure,” ChibiUsa agreed. She felt Hotaru’s hand on her own.
|
rlm@2
|
590 “Thanks,” Hotaru said gratefully. She knew ChibiUsa would probably
|
rlm@2
|
591 fall asleep soon, but she didn’t mind. She felt safe now that she was with
|
rlm@2
|
592 the
|
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|
593 one she loved.
|
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|
594
|
rlm@2
|
595 ******
|
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|
596
|
rlm@2
|
597 Minako awoke with a start at the constant knocking she was hearing
|
rlm@2
|
598 in her dreams. At first she'd tried to not listen and stay in the warmth.
|
rlm@2
|
599 But the
|
rlm@2
|
600 constant rapping in her mind made her jolt awake from the annoyance. She
|
rlm@2
|
601 turned all along the bed searching for the source, and found it in Rei. The
|
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|
602 raven
|
rlm@2
|
603 haired beauty was at the window trying desperately to get Minako's
|
rlm@2
|
604 attention.
|
rlm@2
|
605 She walked all along the edge of the window calling, her voice barely
|
rlm@2
|
606 reaching
|
rlm@2
|
607 Minako's ears. Minako grabbed the robe beside her and tied a tight knot into
|
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|
608 the middle. She motioned for her friend to walk to the door and she'd allow
|
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|
609 her
|
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|
610 inside.
|
rlm@2
|
611 "Mina-chan," Rei rasped and hugged her friend into a tight embrace.
|
rlm@2
|
612 "Oh, Mina-chan I'm so tired. I really need someone to talk to please!"
|
rlm@2
|
613 "Calm down, Rei-chan," Minako whispered in a soothing voice. "It'll
|
rlm@2
|
614 be okay. Tell me what's wrong."
|
rlm@2
|
615 Rei let out several gasps of air trying to calm her nerves enough to tell
|
rlm@2
|
616 Minako what was wrong but couldn’t. "Mina-chan I'm really scared...I miss
|
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|
617 you and the others." she began. "I miss us being a team, and I miss spending
|
rlm@2
|
618 more time together like we used to. Most of all I miss Usagi. Our princess
|
rlm@2
|
619 doesn't need us anymore and I feel useless. She...everyone is in love and
|
rlm@2
|
620 I'm set
|
rlm@2
|
621 so far away you have forgotten me."
|
rlm@2
|
622 "Rei! " Minako whispered in a harsh voice. "I have never
|
rlm@2
|
623 forgotten you and neither has our princess. She needs us more then ever, and
|
rlm@2
|
624 with ChibiUsa on the way and the new responsibilities coming up the senshi
|
rlm@2
|
625 are....”
|
rlm@2
|
626 "That's just it. I don't think I can handle seeing Usagi and Mamoru
|
rlm@2
|
627 together so happy everyday. I just can't Minako! I love her!" Rei clasped
|
rlm@2
|
628 her
|
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|
629 hands around her mouth and gasped. She wasn't supposed to say that, not to
|
rlm@2
|
630 Minako!
|
rlm@2
|
631 Minako just smiled. "We all love her."
|
rlm@2
|
632 "Not like I do Mina-chan. Not like I do."
|
rlm@2
|
633 “ I know,” Minako said simply.
|
rlm@2
|
634 Rei stared at Minako for a moment. “What do you mean?”
|
rlm@2
|
635 “I know how you feel about her. Who do you think you confided in
|
rlm@2
|
636 back in the Silver Millenium?” Minako winked at the raven haired girl.
|
rlm@2
|
637 “Besides, its not like its hard to notice.”
|
rlm@2
|
638 Rei was shocked. “You know? Is it that obvious?”
|
rlm@2
|
639 Minako laughed. “Probably not. I hadn’t really noticed until I started
|
rlm@2
|
640 remembering a few things from the past. Everything fell into place after
|
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|
641 seeing
|
rlm@2
|
642 you around her a couple days later.”
|
rlm@2
|
643 Rei stared at her feet. She hadn’t planned on anyone finding out how
|
rlm@2
|
644 she felt about their princess, but now she knew that Minako had already
|
rlm@2
|
645 found
|
rlm@2
|
646 out. What did she think of her now?
|
rlm@2
|
647 “Its alright, Rei. I’m you’re friend. So are the others. None of us would
|
rlm@2
|
648 mind. Mamoru might, though.” Minako smiled, trying to help Rei feel better.
|
rlm@2
|
649 “But what would Usagi think?”
|
rlm@2
|
650 “I don’t know. You’d have to ask her.” Minako said quietly.
|
rlm@2
|
651 She
|
rlm@2
|
652 needed to talk to Rei, but at the same time she didn’t want to wake Natsuna
|
rlm@2
|
653 by
|
rlm@2
|
654 being too loud.
|
rlm@2
|
655 “What can I do? She’s already in love with Mamoru. She marries
|
rlm@2
|
656 him
|
rlm@2
|
657 in the future and has a daughter with him. If I did manage to tell her how I
|
rlm@2
|
658 felt
|
rlm@2
|
659 and she felt the same, then I could damage so much in the future. ChibiUsa
|
rlm@2
|
660 wouldn’t even exist. Who knows what else might happen.” Rei sighed deeply.
|
rlm@2
|
661 The whole thing felt so futile. She wanted to tell Usagi, but she couldn’t
|
rlm@2
|
662 let
|
rlm@2
|
663 herself endanger the future. She was a Sailor Senshi, after all.
|
rlm@2
|
664 “I’m sorry, Rei. I want to tell you how this can work out, but
|
rlm@2
|
665 I don’t
|
rlm@2
|
666 know. I wish I did. I just want everything to work out for you in the end,
|
rlm@2
|
667 but I
|
rlm@2
|
668 don’t know what to do about it,” Minako said sadly. She wanted to help. She
|
rlm@2
|
669 was the Senshi of Love. She felt like she needed to do something to help her
|
rlm@2
|
670 friend.
|
rlm@2
|
671 “I want to tell her, but I don’t want to hurt her. Its probably better if I
|
rlm@2
|
672 don’t say anything,” Rei said sullenly.
|
rlm@2
|
673 “Don’t think like that. Think positively. If you’re ever going to have a
|
rlm@2
|
674 chance you can’t give up now,” Minako said with a determined gleam in her
|
rlm@2
|
675 eyes.
|
rlm@2
|
676 “You’re right, I guess. But I still don’t know what I can do.” Rei
|
rlm@2
|
677 looked up and smiled at her friend. “Thanks, Minako-chan. I feel a little
|
rlm@2
|
678 better
|
rlm@2
|
679 now.”
|
rlm@2
|
680 “Anytime, Rei-chan.”
|
rlm@2
|
681 “I should be going for now.” Rei hugged Minako again and walked out
|
rlm@2
|
682 the door. Minako waved to her as the raven haired girl started walking home.
|
rlm@2
|
683 Minako waited until Rei was out of sight before slowly closing the
|
rlm@2
|
684 door. She felt so helpless. She hated that feeling. She walked through the
|
rlm@2
|
685 dark
|
rlm@2
|
686 hallway towards the room she shared with Natsuna. She smiled as she walked
|
rlm@2
|
687 past Artemis, curled up and asleep on the floor. She’d always gone to him
|
rlm@2
|
688 for
|
rlm@2
|
689 advice. Now Rei had gone to her, but she was afraid she hadn’t been of much
|
rlm@2
|
690 help.
|
rlm@2
|
691 Minako paused at the doorway to their room. Rei had seemed so empty
|
rlm@2
|
692 lately. She was usually so full of life, but seeing everyone else with their
|
rlm@2
|
693 lovers
|
rlm@2
|
694 really got to her. Minako missed the old Rei and now there was a chance to
|
rlm@2
|
695 fix
|
rlm@2
|
696 things for Rei, but what could she do about it?
|
rlm@2
|
697 Minako’s head was spinning as she tried to think of what, if anything,
|
rlm@2
|
698 she should do. She sighed before walking into the bedroom. She needed sleep.
|
rlm@2
|
699 And right now, she really wanted to be with the one she loved. She crawled
|
rlm@2
|
700 into
|
rlm@2
|
701 bed next to the other woman, her soft, reddish brown hair hanging past her
|
rlm@2
|
702 shoulders. She smiled as Natsuna continued sleeping. Minako pulled the
|
rlm@2
|
703 blanket up and around her, snuggling close to Natsuna. She slowly started to
|
rlm@2
|
704 drift off to sleep.
|
rlm@2
|
705
|
rlm@2
|
706 * * *
|
rlm@2
|
707 THE NEXT DAY
|
rlm@2
|
708 Setsuna picked up her small basket, trying to balance the weight of the
|
rlm@2
|
709 tremendous amount of groceries and her addition to her chocolate stash.
|
rlm@2
|
710 Turning around too fast, three rather large oranges dropped out of her
|
rlm@2
|
711 basket.
|
rlm@2
|
712 ‘I knew I should have gotten a cart,’ she thought.
|
rlm@2
|
713 She bent down and picked up two of the offending oranges, but her
|
rlm@2
|
714 little sandaled foot knocked the third off balance, and it began to roll
|
rlm@2
|
715 away.
|
rlm@2
|
716 “Damn,” she exclaimed under her breath.
|
rlm@2
|
717 Walking at a fast pace, she caught up with the rolling orange, only to
|
rlm@2
|
718 have it roll underneath a display case for some cereal boxes at the end of
|
rlm@2
|
719 an
|
rlm@2
|
720 aisle. Setting down her basket very carefully, she got on her knees and
|
rlm@2
|
721 looked
|
rlm@2
|
722 under the display case.
|
rlm@2
|
723 “There you are you little…” She exclaimed, reaching for the orange.
|
rlm@2
|
724 “Setsuna?” A hand came to rest on her shoulder, making her leap
|
rlm@2
|
725 up…and slam her head on the bottom of the display table. Holding her head
|
rlm@2
|
726 and whimpering words of anger and embarrassment, she looked up into the
|
rlm@2
|
727 eyes of her offender.
|
rlm@2
|
728 The first thing she saw, actually, was the nice shoes on small feet.
|
rlm@2
|
729 Eyes travelling up slowly, she took in the tight fitting jeans, stylish and
|
rlm@2
|
730 trendy.
|
rlm@2
|
731 Her red eyes traveled up the shapely legs to the small, flat stomach, and up
|
rlm@2
|
732 to
|
rlm@2
|
733 the small breasts. Her eyes came to rest on the dark ponytail, which came
|
rlm@2
|
734 to
|
rlm@2
|
735 rest just below her right breast. Curiosity and familiarity making her eyes
|
rlm@2
|
736 travel still farther, they halted to a stop at the dark blue eyes of her
|
rlm@2
|
737 offender.
|
rlm@2
|
738 She sank into this deep shade of blue, and began to smile. “Seiya!”
|
rlm@2
|
739 Leaping
|
rlm@2
|
740 up from her kneeling position and forgetting about her injured head, she
|
rlm@2
|
741 threw
|
rlm@2
|
742 her long arms around the taller woman’s neck, laughing slightly.
|
rlm@2
|
743 Seiya, a little surprised about Setsuna’s attitude, was stunned.
|
rlm@2
|
744 Setsuna, showing emotion? A lot had changed since she had left Tokyo. But
|
rlm@2
|
745 the dark green hair brushed against her nose, smelling of forest green and
|
rlm@2
|
746 something else she couldn’t put her finger on. Closing her beautiful dark
|
rlm@2
|
747 blue
|
rlm@2
|
748 eyes, she wrapped her arms around the green-haired woman’s waist, leaning
|
rlm@2
|
749 her head to rest on Setsuna’s shoulder. “Setsuna…” The word was let out in
|
rlm@2
|
750 a
|
rlm@2
|
751 whisper, almost too quiet for Seiya to hear herself. Sudden feelings of
|
rlm@2
|
752 heat
|
rlm@2
|
753 laced with desire invaded her mind, and it was covered in a clear
|
rlm@2
|
754 transparent
|
rlm@2
|
755 shell. Sudden memories, or maybe visions, she didn’t know, entered her
|
rlm@2
|
756 mind…of two women, one with long black hair and one with long dark green
|
rlm@2
|
757 hair standing on a balcony in dresses rimmed with gold, kissing and holding
|
rlm@2
|
758 each other, trapped in an embrace similar to this one. The heads turned,
|
rlm@2
|
759 and a
|
rlm@2
|
760 hazy Seiya kissed her green-haired goddess, bending her head down and
|
rlm@2
|
761 sweeping her feet off the balcony.
|
rlm@2
|
762 Setsuna’s heart pounded in her ears. Why did Seiya say her name like
|
rlm@2
|
763 that?! That wasn’t expected. She didn’t think Seiya held affections for
|
rlm@2
|
764 anyone
|
rlm@2
|
765 but her princess. Why were Seiya’s arms so warm? Linked around her waist
|
rlm@2
|
766 and pulling her so close? What was she doing here in a supermarket, anyway?
|
rlm@2
|
767 And why was her breath so warm against her cheek like that? Sudden
|
rlm@2
|
768 memories of Seiya in Crystal Tokyo, looking as fine as could be in a long
|
rlm@2
|
769 flowing gown of blue and yellow stars, calling out to her. It had only been
|
rlm@2
|
770 once, the two had embraced and kissed, but she hadn’t seen Seiya after that.
|
rlm@2
|
771 She should have thought about it more, should have noticed Seiya more,
|
rlm@2
|
772 because then maybe she could figure out her own feelings.
|
rlm@2
|
773 Realizing where she was and what she’d felt, and thought, and
|
rlm@2
|
774 suddenly embarrassed by it, Seiya pulled away slightly. Setsuna held on for
|
rlm@2
|
775 another moment, reveling in the warmth of a body beside her, near her, and
|
rlm@2
|
776 with her. But the feeling suddenly cleared from her passion hazy mind, and
|
rlm@2
|
777 she registered Seiya holding her waist at arm’s length. Unlinking her arms
|
rlm@2
|
778 from around Seiya’s neck, she realized how awful she must look…jumping up
|
rlm@2
|
779 like that after slamming her head into a table. Oh, real smooth Setsuna!
|
rlm@2
|
780 Her
|
rlm@2
|
781 mind shouted at her.
|
rlm@2
|
782 Red eyes hardened. Her internal defenses were locked again. No
|
rlm@2
|
783 more embarrassment. Not again. In the back of her mind, something ached.
|
rlm@2
|
784 It
|
rlm@2
|
785 knew, more then Setsuna herself, that such rejection would harm her heart to
|
rlm@2
|
786 the core.
|
rlm@2
|
787 “I’m so glad to see you, Seiya. What brings you back to Tokyo?” A
|
rlm@2
|
788 forced smile crossed her red lips, not reaching her eyes at all. Seiya
|
rlm@2
|
789 cursed
|
rlm@2
|
790 herself in her mind for being so stupid.
|
rlm@2
|
791 “Oh…um…well, I…decided to come back for a visit.” She smiled,
|
rlm@2
|
792 forced as well. She didn’t want to reveal her true intentions just yet.
|
rlm@2
|
793 She was
|
rlm@2
|
794 planning to come to Tokyo, and stay. She didn’t want to watch her princess
|
rlm@2
|
795 and sister fall deeply in love. An aching heart would never heal like that.
|
rlm@2
|
796 Of
|
rlm@2
|
797 course, the plan had backfired when Kakyuu had thought it a great idea to
|
rlm@2
|
798 move back to Tokyo. Now her two sisters and her princess were right next
|
rlm@2
|
799 door
|
rlm@2
|
800 from her. She’d been there visiting the night before when she’d seen Yaten
|
rlm@2
|
801 ready for her date with Kakyuu.
|
rlm@2
|
802 Setsuna knew something was wrong. Seiya didn’t lie. Not ever.
|
rlm@2
|
803 Unless something was seriously wrong. “Oh, that’s nice.” She bent down to
|
rlm@2
|
804 pick up her basket. “Do you have a place to stay?”
|
rlm@2
|
805 “Oh, yes, I rented a place just a few blocks from here.” Seiya smiled
|
rlm@2
|
806 again, trying to lighten the mood. ‘Damnit,’ she thought, ‘what have I
|
rlm@2
|
807 done?
|
rlm@2
|
808 Setsuna, please, don’t be angry…’
|
rlm@2
|
809 “That’s wonderful! You should stop by to have dinner with us
|
rlm@2
|
810 sometime. Which I have to go back and make now, so…I’ll see you around…”
|
rlm@2
|
811 A horrible moment of emotion made her voice crack, and she turned away
|
rlm@2
|
812 quickly, rushing to the check-out stand. She waited a few minutes, and
|
rlm@2
|
813 Seiya
|
rlm@2
|
814 didn’t come for her. A menacing voice in her mind asked her if that was a
|
rlm@2
|
815 good or bad thing. Leaning on the mechanical food belt, she sighed.
|
rlm@2
|
816 “Always…” She breathed out. Her red eyes shook suddenly, and she brought
|
rlm@2
|
817 her hand up to cover them.
|
rlm@2
|
818 Suddenly, two warm arms wrapped around her waist. Startled, she
|
rlm@2
|
819 tried to turn around, but the arms held her in place.
|
rlm@2
|
820 Seiya leaned in, placing her head once again on Setsuna’s shoulder.
|
rlm@2
|
821 Setsuna’s lovely back was against her chest now, full of warmth. A mouth to
|
rlm@2
|
822 an ear, she whispered, “Would it…be alright…if I ate dinner with you
|
rlm@2
|
823 tonight?”
|
rlm@2
|
824 Setsuna breathed in deeply. “I think that could be arranged…”
|
rlm@2
|
825 * * *
|
rlm@2
|
826 “Come on, Haruka! The water’s so warm!” Michiru splashed about,
|
rlm@2
|
827 waving her long arms around in the water. Haruka, standing atop a near-by
|
rlm@2
|
828 rock, beamed down at her lover in the quiet stream.
|
rlm@2
|
829 “I AM coming in!” Jumping up in the air and tucking her knees
|
rlm@2
|
830 under her chest gracefully, she slammed into the water, waves roaring in her
|
rlm@2
|
831 ears. She glanced up through the hazy stream water to see little white
|
rlm@2
|
832 bubbles
|
rlm@2
|
833 surround her and waves roll over her little sea nymph.
|
rlm@2
|
834 A couple of seconds passed and Haruka shot out above the water, her
|
rlm@2
|
835 head up toward the sun. She struck such a graceful figure that Michiru
|
rlm@2
|
836 almost
|
rlm@2
|
837 gasped, streaks of crimson lining her cheeks. When Haruka looked at her,
|
rlm@2
|
838 she
|
rlm@2
|
839 turned away, embarrassed. “That wasn’t the kind of entry I had hoped for.”
|
rlm@2
|
840 She stated, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She looked over her shoulder
|
rlm@2
|
841 slightly, her hair soaked with the stream water, creating an unearthly look
|
rlm@2
|
842 about her. Light green eyes pierced into blue ones, and then turned away,
|
rlm@2
|
843 half-
|
rlm@2
|
844 teasing, half-serious.
|
rlm@2
|
845 “Michiru…” Haruka called, only to see her little sea nymph swim ever
|
rlm@2
|
846 faster away from her. “Hey, wait up!” Awkwardly splashing after her, she
|
rlm@2
|
847 called again.
|
rlm@2
|
848 Michiru turned only slightly, and began to laugh. She saw Haruka
|
rlm@2
|
849 struggling to catch up with her, knowing the taller girl was not much of a
|
rlm@2
|
850 swimmer. She began to slow down, half wanting her lover to catch up with
|
rlm@2
|
851 her. But the laughing was the main reason her shaking limbs could not keep
|
rlm@2
|
852 up the fast pace she had used.
|
rlm@2
|
853 Breathless, Haruka finally reached her. “You…need to…slow
|
rlm@2
|
854 down…girl!” She exclaimed, her small tongue reaching the edge of her mouth
|
rlm@2
|
855 in exhaustion.
|
rlm@2
|
856 “Hmm, really?” Michiru took this chance and wrapped her elegant
|
rlm@2
|
857 arms around her lover’s neck and kissed her slow, hard, and wet. Haruka was
|
rlm@2
|
858 tall enough to stand on the bottom of the water, but Michiru was not, and
|
rlm@2
|
859 she
|
rlm@2
|
860 wrapped her legs around Haruka’s waist. Rubbing her hips slowly up and
|
rlm@2
|
861 down over the taller girl’s mid-section, she let a moan escape through the
|
rlm@2
|
862 kiss.
|
rlm@2
|
863 Pulling away slowly, she smiled seductively. “Is it better slow?”
|
rlm@2
|
864 Haruka looked down at her nymph, eyes wide with desire and surprise.
|
rlm@2
|
865 Finding her words that had been lost in the back of her throat, she
|
rlm@2
|
866 swallowed
|
rlm@2
|
867 hard. “It’s always good with you.” She wrapped her arms tightly
|
rlm@2
|
868 around Michiru’s waist and leaned in to kiss her again.
|
rlm@2
|
869
|
rlm@2
|
870 ******
|
rlm@2
|
871
|
rlm@2
|
872 Seiya looked in the mirror again and pulled her skirt down. She
|
rlm@2
|
873 glanced nervously at herself, wondering if she went a little overboard with
|
rlm@2
|
874 the
|
rlm@2
|
875 make-up.
|
rlm@2
|
876 Being a Starlight for so long had her comfortable with being a man.
|
rlm@2
|
877 She had always thought she looked better in women’s clothes, but to please
|
rlm@2
|
878 the
|
rlm@2
|
879 millions of screaming women as fans, she continued to play the part.
|
rlm@2
|
880 But now, that was changing. Here she was, putting the finishing touches on
|
rlm@2
|
881 herself before she would take Setsuna out to a nice fancy dinner. Yaten had
|
rlm@2
|
882 helped her pick out an outfit, but was it really appropriate?
|
rlm@2
|
883 Even Seiya had to admit she looked killer in it. Short black skirts look
|
rlm@2
|
884 good on almost anyone. The slit up the right side, however, was what would
|
rlm@2
|
885 knock ‘em out. Her knee-high leather boots looked perfect with it, and the
|
rlm@2
|
886 cream and black top she had on was perfect to complete the outfit. But on
|
rlm@2
|
887 the
|
rlm@2
|
888 first date? And to a fancy restaurant? Should she be dressed up in one of
|
rlm@2
|
889 those
|
rlm@2
|
890 dresses that covered more of herself, like Michiru would always wear on big
|
rlm@2
|
891 outings?
|
rlm@2
|
892 That wasn’t her style.
|
rlm@2
|
893 Seiya sighed and looked at the floor. In her minds eye she could see a
|
rlm@2
|
894 beautiful Setsuna walk before her in a lovely gown, give her one look, and
|
rlm@2
|
895 run
|
rlm@2
|
896 back inside her house. Seiya shook her head. Setsuna wasn’t like that.
|
rlm@2
|
897 The
|
rlm@2
|
898 sophisticated dark-skinned woman she had always known to be calm and
|
rlm@2
|
899 collected would never do something like that.
|
rlm@2
|
900 Never. That was a funny word. Never. She would have never
|
rlm@2
|
901 thought about Setsuna as a potential lover. Never. But that didn’t mean it
|
rlm@2
|
902 wouldn’t happen. Not until that day, when she saw Setsuna in the Market,
|
rlm@2
|
903 looking comfortable and sweet. And when those long arms had come around
|
rlm@2
|
904 her, and she had that forest green hair beneath her nose, her entire thought
|
rlm@2
|
905 pattern changed. No longer did she feel like she needed to hide from the
|
rlm@2
|
906 love
|
rlm@2
|
907 of Yaten and their Princess, not anymore. All she really felt like she
|
rlm@2
|
908 needed
|
rlm@2
|
909 was to feel Setsuna’s waist beneath her hands, and their lips together, and
|
rlm@2
|
910 the
|
rlm@2
|
911 moonlight streaming in the window, and…
|
rlm@2
|
912 Seiya looked back up at herself.
|
rlm@2
|
913 Why not?
|
rlm@2
|
914
|
rlm@2
|
915 * * *
|
rlm@2
|
916
|
rlm@2
|
917 Setsuna sighed as she looked in the mirror.
|
rlm@2
|
918 “You look beautiful, Setsuna-mama!” Hotaru giggled.
|
rlm@2
|
919 “I love the skirt!” ChibiUsa agreed, and turned to Hotaru. “You and I
|
rlm@2
|
920 should go out like this sometime.”
|
rlm@2
|
921 “You don’t have enough money to take me out!” Hotaru laughed at
|
rlm@2
|
922 the expression on her lover’s face. “We will, Odango-chan.”
|
rlm@2
|
923 “Come on you two, you’re supposed to be helping me!” Setsuna
|
rlm@2
|
924 turned around, exasperated. The entire night the two girls she had always
|
rlm@2
|
925 thought of as daughters had been phasing in and out of attention to her.
|
rlm@2
|
926 “Are
|
rlm@2
|
927 you really sure this is appropriate?”
|
rlm@2
|
928 “Oh come on! You look good in it. I know Seiya’ll like it!” ChibiUsa
|
rlm@2
|
929 giggled, blushing a little.
|
rlm@2
|
930 Setsuna sighed at her reflection. She was wearing a velvet maroon
|
rlm@2
|
931 skirt that went to her knees, maroon platform sandals (something Hotaru
|
rlm@2
|
932 convinced her into wearing), and a black tanktop with a maroon flowered
|
rlm@2
|
933 design. ChibiUsa had done her make-up, with a little help from her mom.
|
rlm@2
|
934 That had scared Setsuna at first, knowing that this was Usagi they were
|
rlm@2
|
935 talking
|
rlm@2
|
936 about, but she was pleased with the results. It seems that after years of
|
rlm@2
|
937 practice
|
rlm@2
|
938 Usagi had finally got something down to an art.
|
rlm@2
|
939 Setsuna turned to the two giggling girls once again, and smiled. They
|
rlm@2
|
940 looked plenty confident that she was beautiful. They were happy for her.
|
rlm@2
|
941 Maybe they were smarter for being that way.
|
rlm@2
|
942 Seiya had always been someone Setsuna had admired, not only for her
|
rlm@2
|
943 continuing courage, but for her love for everything around her. The entire
|
rlm@2
|
944 ordeal with Usagi had been a hard one for everyone, but Seiya had handled it
|
rlm@2
|
945 rather well, accepting what the future would not change. Setsuna herself
|
rlm@2
|
946 had to
|
rlm@2
|
947 come to terms with what was destined too many times. But when she had seen
|
rlm@2
|
948 Seiya, she couldn’t help but be excited, even if they hadn’t been all that
|
rlm@2
|
949 close.
|
rlm@2
|
950 And when she had heard her name being whispered into the wind like that, the
|
rlm@2
|
951 way Haruka whispered Michiru’s name, the way ChibiUsa whispered Hotaru’s
|
rlm@2
|
952 name…it made her feel like she was flying. The realization that someone
|
rlm@2
|
953 could fall in love with her was almost overwhelming. And now that she was
|
rlm@2
|
954 finally involved with someone, she couldn’t help but feel nervous. It was
|
rlm@2
|
955 all
|
rlm@2
|
956 too much of an emotional rollercoaster, but she couldn’t help being the
|
rlm@2
|
957 first in
|
rlm@2
|
958 line for the dangerous ride.
|
rlm@2
|
959 “Come on, Setsuna, Seiya’ll be here any minute!” She heard Haruka’s
|
rlm@2
|
960 call from down the hallway.
|
rlm@2
|
961 “I’m almost finished.” Setsuna called back, and reached for the make-
|
rlm@2
|
962 up on the table beside her. Picking up the eyeliner, she placed two small
|
rlm@2
|
963 wings
|
rlm@2
|
964 off the edges of her eyelashes, and stood back. “Perfect.”
|
rlm@2
|
965
|
rlm@2
|
966 * * *
|
rlm@2
|
967
|
rlm@2
|
968 Seiya took a deep breath. She slowly raised her hand to the doorbell,
|
rlm@2
|
969 and then stopped. She was shaking. How odd. She had never started to
|
rlm@2
|
970 shake
|
rlm@2
|
971 out of nervousness before, even when she had stage-fright. Maybe that was
|
rlm@2
|
972 because she had always had her sisters for support.
|
rlm@2
|
973 They couldn’t help her now.
|
rlm@2
|
974 Seiya took another deep breath and released it slowly. She pressed the
|
rlm@2
|
975 little lit up button, and then dropped her hand to the side and waited.
|
rlm@2
|
976 She heard some noise inside, mostly Haruka’s voice yelling. She
|
rlm@2
|
977 smiled. Good ol’ Haruka.
|
rlm@2
|
978 The doorknob turned, and she felt her heart rise in her chest. The
|
rlm@2
|
979 door flung open, and there stood Haruka in the doorway. Her gaze traveled
|
rlm@2
|
980 over Seiya, who stood her ground, and then back up to her eyes. With a grin
|
rlm@2
|
981 and a nod of approval, she let out the breath she had been holding.
|
rlm@2
|
982 “Come mere you!” Haruka reached out and pulled Seiya close. The
|
rlm@2
|
983 two women were about the same height, Seiya just a little bit taller now due
|
rlm@2
|
984 to
|
rlm@2
|
985 her boots. They pulled out of the friendly embrace and smiled at each
|
rlm@2
|
986 other.
|
rlm@2
|
987 “It’s been too long.”
|
rlm@2
|
988 Seiya grinned. “It sure has.”
|
rlm@2
|
989 “HAR-UUUKA!” Came a voice from inside, and the two women
|
rlm@2
|
990 turned.
|
rlm@2
|
991 “You better come in before Michiru has a baby or something.” Haruka
|
rlm@2
|
992 laughed, and pulled Seiya inside the house. “Come on, Setsuna’s just
|
rlm@2
|
993 finishing
|
rlm@2
|
994 up.” Seiya remembered the house from awhile ago, when they were just
|
rlm@2
|
995 moving in, and now looked it over with interest. Walking around toward the
|
rlm@2
|
996 living room, she saw book-cases full of books. She smiled. Michiru loved
|
rlm@2
|
997 the
|
rlm@2
|
998 arts, almost as bad as Mizuno Ami.
|
rlm@2
|
999 “SEIYA!” Michiru ran towards her friend and jumped into her arms.
|
rlm@2
|
1000 Seiya, on the other hand, was almost knocked over, and stumbled slightly
|
rlm@2
|
1001 from
|
rlm@2
|
1002 the awkwardness of her platform boots.
|
rlm@2
|
1003 “Hey…Michiru…” She ground out, trying to get a few breaths in
|
rlm@2
|
1004 through the squeezing she was forced into. She glanced at Haruka for help,
|
rlm@2
|
1005 but
|
rlm@2
|
1006 the blonde woman was just laughing hysterically. “How’s it…going?”
|
rlm@2
|
1007 “SEIYA! You’ve been gone for so long!” The aqua head looked up at
|
rlm@2
|
1008 her, and the same color eyes stared into hers. “Why didn’t you visit?” The
|
rlm@2
|
1009 tone was almost angry.
|
rlm@2
|
1010 “I’m sorry…” Seiya’s explanation was halted as she heard footsteps.
|
rlm@2
|
1011 Michiru fell out of her arms and walked over to Haruka, and the two women
|
rlm@2
|
1012 held hands and smiled like proud parents or friends. Seiya’s heart started
|
rlm@2
|
1013 to
|
rlm@2
|
1014 pound with anticipation. She held her breath for the second time today and…
|
rlm@2
|
1015 “Hey Seiya!” Hotaru walked into the room, and everyone sighed.
|
rlm@2
|
1016 Hotaru looked a little angry. “What?”
|
rlm@2
|
1017 “Nothing.” Seiya smiled and held her arms open. Hotaru ran into
|
rlm@2
|
1018 them and hugged Seiya’s waist.
|
rlm@2
|
1019 “You’ve been gone for such a long time!”
|
rlm@2
|
1020 “I know, I know.”
|
rlm@2
|
1021 “SSSSEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIYYYYYYYAAAAAA!!!!” ChibiUsa’s
|
rlm@2
|
1022 squeal rang throughout the room, and Seiya winced. A pink whir of hair
|
rlm@2
|
1023 suddenly ran into the room and knocked both Seiya and Hotaru over. “THERE
|
rlm@2
|
1024 YOU ARE!” She hugged Seiya fiercely, who was trying desperately to not let
|
rlm@2
|
1025 her skirt ride up too high.
|
rlm@2
|
1026 “Hey ChibiUsa, how are you?” She smiled once she got up.
|
rlm@2
|
1027 “Hey you guys…” A soft voice came from across the room. Seiya
|
rlm@2
|
1028 looked up to see Setsuna standing in the room’s entryway. Seiya felt the
|
rlm@2
|
1029 heat
|
rlm@2
|
1030 rising to her cheeks as she took in Setsuna. The color was perfect on her,
|
rlm@2
|
1031 and
|
rlm@2
|
1032 long green hair flowed over her shoulders and down to her waist.
|
rlm@2
|
1033 Seiya found her voice again, and spoke. “Hi.”
|
rlm@2
|
1034 “Hi.” Setsuna smiled, happy with the effect she had on Seiya, but
|
rlm@2
|
1035 almost ashamed with the effect Seiya had on her. Those long creamy legs had
|
rlm@2
|
1036 her own knees shaking and knocking against each other. “Should we get
|
rlm@2
|
1037 going?”
|
rlm@2
|
1038 “Sure.” Seiya walked the distance toward Setsuna, jut barely aware of
|
rlm@2
|
1039 the other women staring intently at them. They walked out of the door
|
rlm@2
|
1040 together, hand in hand.
|
rlm@2
|
1041
|
rlm@2
|
1042 * * *
|
rlm@2
|
1043
|
rlm@2
|
1044 Setsuna set down her glass of water, the ice rattling together as her
|
rlm@2
|
1045 hand shook. She swallowed hard. She hoped Seiya hadn’t noticed.
|
rlm@2
|
1046 How could she not notice every little tiny thing she was doing? Those
|
rlm@2
|
1047 dark blue eyes stared at her through half closed lids and never wavered from
|
rlm@2
|
1048 her. At least, they hadn’t so far. And she knew, because her own eyes
|
rlm@2
|
1049 couldn’t
|
rlm@2
|
1050 take themselves of the mighty fine woman before her.
|
rlm@2
|
1051 Seiya seemed so together. Like nothing was making her nervous in
|
rlm@2
|
1052 the least. Of course, she must have women lining up to just see her. Being
|
rlm@2
|
1053 one
|
rlm@2
|
1054 of the Lights and all. In fact, now that she thought of it…Seiya probably
|
rlm@2
|
1055 dated
|
rlm@2
|
1056 all the time. Was that what she was? Just another date? Maybe another one
|
rlm@2
|
1057 night stand? Would Seiya forget about her once tonight was done?
|
rlm@2
|
1058 Setsuna tried to swallow the rising panic in her throat. Her voice of
|
rlm@2
|
1059 reason came through the horrible questions. ‘Just ask her’, it said. ‘Ask
|
rlm@2
|
1060 her if
|
rlm@2
|
1061 she really wants a real relationship. Ask her what’s going to happen
|
rlm@2
|
1062 tomorrow.
|
rlm@2
|
1063 What have you got to lose?’
|
rlm@2
|
1064 But she knew what she had to lose already.
|
rlm@2
|
1065
|
rlm@2
|
1066 * * *
|
rlm@2
|
1067
|
rlm@2
|
1068 Seiya watched Setsuna set down her water glass with grace and
|
rlm@2
|
1069 elegance. Funny how wonderful traits like these could come out of a little
|
rlm@2
|
1070 motion like that.
|
rlm@2
|
1071 Seiya tried not to let her knees rattle together any louder. It was all
|
rlm@2
|
1072 she could do to keep them from knocking the table over. Setsuna seemed to
|
rlm@2
|
1073 be
|
rlm@2
|
1074 just fine. She looked content, just nibbling on the fancy French dinner set
|
rlm@2
|
1075 before her. Seiya wasn’t hungry all of a sudden. At least, not for food.
|
rlm@2
|
1076 Setsuna suddenly went tense. Seiya felt herself become the same, and
|
rlm@2
|
1077 tried to relax. Setsuna’s dark red eyes stared up at her, full of
|
rlm@2
|
1078 questions. Seiya
|
rlm@2
|
1079 looked at her likewise.
|
rlm@2
|
1080 Setsuna cleared her throat. “Um…Seiya…would it be alright if
|
rlm@2
|
1081 I…asked you something…”
|
rlm@2
|
1082 “Sure.” Seiya replied automatically and with a smile. “Anything
|
rlm@2
|
1083 you’d like.”
|
rlm@2
|
1084 “Um…do you…date often?” Setsuna’s eyes suddenly went fuzzy, and
|
rlm@2
|
1085 Seiya had the impression that she was going to lose that remarkable control.
|
rlm@2
|
1086 “No, actually, I don’t. I’ve stayed away from it because you can’t
|
rlm@2
|
1087 really meet a lot of people if you’re a superstar.” She smiled weakly.
|
rlm@2
|
1088 “That’s
|
rlm@2
|
1089 one of the many problems with it.”
|
rlm@2
|
1090 “So you…don’t have any other…” Setsuna’s eyes darted down to the
|
rlm@2
|
1091 floor.
|
rlm@2
|
1092 Seiya was quiet for a long time. When she did speak, the tone was
|
rlm@2
|
1093 mixed with emotions neither woman could place. “No, Setsuna. I don’t have
|
rlm@2
|
1094 anyone else.” Setsuna looked up at her, all her emotions settling down with
|
rlm@2
|
1095 the
|
rlm@2
|
1096 reassurance.
|
rlm@2
|
1097 “Mademoiselles?” The server stood over them, holding up a big tray.
|
rlm@2
|
1098 “Would you two lovebirds like some desert?”
|
rlm@2
|
1099
|
rlm@2
|
1100 * * *
|
rlm@2
|
1101
|
rlm@2
|
1102 Usagi walked into the restaurant, holding onto Mamoru’s arm. The
|
rlm@2
|
1103 server smiled at them both and led them to a table by the window they had
|
rlm@2
|
1104 become accustomed to.
|
rlm@2
|
1105 Mamoru pulled out Usagi’s chair, then briskly went to his own. Usagi
|
rlm@2
|
1106 sat down, feeling a little bewildered. Why hadn’t he touched her? He
|
rlm@2
|
1107 always
|
rlm@2
|
1108 did. Every time he would pull out her chair he would brush her long hair
|
rlm@2
|
1109 away
|
rlm@2
|
1110 from her neck and kiss her on the cheek. Every time. What was so different
|
rlm@2
|
1111 about now?
|
rlm@2
|
1112 Mamoru didn’t look at her, even as they ordered. After a long silence
|
rlm@2
|
1113 among the table, Usagi got restless. “Is there something wrong, Mamo-chan?”
|
rlm@2
|
1114 He didn’t respond. “You seem angry. Did I do something to upset you?”
|
rlm@2
|
1115 Still
|
rlm@2
|
1116 no response. “Did I step on your foot again? I’m sorry I…I know I’m
|
rlm@2
|
1117 clumsy,
|
rlm@2
|
1118 but I didn’t know it upset you this much…”
|
rlm@2
|
1119 “It’s not that, Usako.” Mamoru still didn’t look at her. “Nothing’s
|
rlm@2
|
1120 wrong with me.”
|
rlm@2
|
1121 “What do you mean?” Usagi became worried.
|
rlm@2
|
1122 “I know your secret, Usako. I know why you don’t see me that often
|
rlm@2
|
1123 anymore. I know why you find so much time for your friends all the time…for
|
rlm@2
|
1124 her.”
|
rlm@2
|
1125 Usagi felt anger rise up in her cheeks. “What the hell are you talking
|
rlm@2
|
1126 about?”
|
rlm@2
|
1127 “You know what I’m talking about.” Two angry black beads that were
|
rlm@2
|
1128 his eyes stared into hers. “I know who you’re in love with.”
|
rlm@2
|
1129
|
rlm@2
|
1130 * * *
|
rlm@2
|
1131
|
rlm@2
|
1132 “Hey, isn’t that Usagi-san and Mamoru-san?” Seiya pointed to a table
|
rlm@2
|
1133 by the window. Setsuna looked over to the couple and smiled.
|
rlm@2
|
1134 “It sure is. I didn’t know they were going out tonight. I wouldn’t
|
rlm@2
|
1135 have asked Usagi for help if I knew she had to get ready.”
|
rlm@2
|
1136 “You asked her for help?”
|
rlm@2
|
1137 “Yeah, with my make-up.” Setsuna blushed slightly, the little crimson
|
rlm@2
|
1138 streaks clashing with her dark skin. “I’m not exactly a DiVinci with it.
|
rlm@2
|
1139 I’m
|
rlm@2
|
1140 more like Piccasso.”
|
rlm@2
|
1141 Seiya laughed. “Hey, I know how it is. Luckily they make you wear
|
rlm@2
|
1142 make-up in music videos and stuff like that, so I wore it the entire time.”
|
rlm@2
|
1143 Setsuna’s red eyes grew wide. “Really? That’s actually really cool.”
|
rlm@2
|
1144 She paused for a second, as if contemplating what she was going to say next.
|
rlm@2
|
1145 “Tell me more about being a music star.”
|
rlm@2
|
1146
|
rlm@2
|
1147 * * *
|
rlm@2
|
1148
|
rlm@2
|
1149 “Mamoru…you think I’m in love with…” Usagi’s eyes filled with
|
rlm@2
|
1150 tears.
|
rlm@2
|
1151 “I don’t think, Usako, I know. You love her, more then you do me,
|
rlm@2
|
1152 obviously.” Mamoru rolled his eyes. “Quit with the goodie-two-shoe thing.
|
rlm@2
|
1153 I
|
rlm@2
|
1154 know you love her.”
|
rlm@2
|
1155 “I…I love you, Mamo-chan. I always have. I always will. If you
|
rlm@2
|
1156 don’t believe me, look to the future to tell you! We’ll be together, you
|
rlm@2
|
1157 and I,
|
rlm@2
|
1158 and ChibiUsa will be born. If you don’t believe that, what else can you
|
rlm@2
|
1159 believe
|
rlm@2
|
1160 in?”
|
rlm@2
|
1161 “The past?” Mamoru’s voice almost dripped with sarcasm. “Sure,
|
rlm@2
|
1162 like the past is any proof. The past is what it is, the past. No longer
|
rlm@2
|
1163 here.
|
rlm@2
|
1164 Your precious little world revolves around her, Usagi, and that’s what’s
|
rlm@2
|
1165 really
|
rlm@2
|
1166 going on. I don’t know how I didn’t notice before. You always running to
|
rlm@2
|
1167 her
|
rlm@2
|
1168 when you had a problem. I was so blind…”
|
rlm@2
|
1169 “You were a selfish asshole, that’s what you were.” Usagi’s voice was
|
rlm@2
|
1170 full of something that resembled hatred as the crystal tears streamed down
|
rlm@2
|
1171 her
|
rlm@2
|
1172 cheeks. “The only problem I ever had in my life was you. You took away
|
rlm@2
|
1173 everything I had, you and your promises of love ever-lasting. You pretended
|
rlm@2
|
1174 to
|
rlm@2
|
1175 trust me. You say I love someone else. Fuck you.” Usagi stood up and
|
rlm@2
|
1176 raised
|
rlm@2
|
1177 her voice. “Fuck you, Mamoru. You don’t disserve to be in my company.”
|
rlm@2
|
1178 And with that, the tiny woman turned on her heel and quickly walked out of
|
rlm@2
|
1179 the
|
rlm@2
|
1180 restaurant, hearing claps and cheers behind her.
|
rlm@2
|
1181
|
rlm@2
|
1182 * * *
|
rlm@2
|
1183
|
rlm@2
|
1184 Setsuna stood up, worried. “She doesn’t have a way home…”
|
rlm@2
|
1185 “Come on, we can still catch her.” Seiya threw down a hundred and
|
rlm@2
|
1186 grabbed Setsuna’s hand. They ran, somewhat awkwardly, toward the door, and
|
rlm@2
|
1187 outside into the cold air of night.
|
rlm@2
|
1188 “Oh!” Setsuna exclaimed as the air hit her skin. Seiya pulled her
|
rlm@2
|
1189 closer and wrapped her coat halfway around her. Setsuna felt herself blush.
|
rlm@2
|
1190 “USAGI!!” Seiya yelled, and Setsuna did the same. Finally they saw
|
rlm@2
|
1191 the girl turn around, and ran towards her. “Usagi, what’s wrong? Do you
|
rlm@2
|
1192 need
|
rlm@2
|
1193 a lift?”
|
rlm@2
|
1194 The girl took a few shuddering breaths before finally speaking.
|
rlm@2
|
1195 “No…it’s nothing. I…I need to take a walk. But thank you for…asking.” She
|
rlm@2
|
1196 spun around and began to run, leaving the two women a little perplexed.
|
rlm@2
|
1197 “Seiya…it’s really cold out here…” Setsuna shuddered.
|
rlm@2
|
1198 “You’re right.” Seiya finally took her gaze away from the retreating
|
rlm@2
|
1199 blonde and back to the woman in her arms. “Come on, let’s go to the car.”
|
rlm@2
|
1200
|
rlm@2
|
1201 * * *
|
rlm@2
|
1202
|
rlm@2
|
1203 Setsuna marveled at the rooms in Seiya’s apartment. Little gasps
|
rlm@2
|
1204 would escape that long throat and those red lips, leaving Seiya anxious to
|
rlm@2
|
1205 touch
|
rlm@2
|
1206 them. To feel them beneath her fingertips.
|
rlm@2
|
1207 “Oh Seiya, your flat is beautiful!” Setsuna spun halfway around to
|
rlm@2
|
1208 look at her. “I love it!”
|
rlm@2
|
1209 “Thank you.” Seiya smiled. “How do you like your coffee?”
|
rlm@2
|
1210 “Black, one spoon of sugar.”
|
rlm@2
|
1211 “Figures…” She muttered under her breath.
|
rlm@2
|
1212 “What?”
|
rlm@2
|
1213 “Nothing…” Seiya smiled again and began to pour the liquid into two
|
rlm@2
|
1214 cups. Once she was done, she picked them both up and went into the living
|
rlm@2
|
1215 room.
|
rlm@2
|
1216 She almost dropped them.
|
rlm@2
|
1217 There was Setsuna, draped across her dark blue leather couch, looking
|
rlm@2
|
1218 absolutely delicious. She hadn’t heard Seiya, and moved around a little bit
|
rlm@2
|
1219 on
|
rlm@2
|
1220 the couch to get comfortable. The maroon skirt inched higher up her thighs,
|
rlm@2
|
1221 and Seiya had to force herself to keep standing.
|
rlm@2
|
1222 She walked briskly over to the table and set down the drinks. Setsuna
|
rlm@2
|
1223 only had a small amount of time to look up before Seiya’s arm came around
|
rlm@2
|
1224 her
|
rlm@2
|
1225 and their mouths clashed.
|
rlm@2
|
1226
|
rlm@2
|
1227 * * *
|
rlm@2
|
1228
|
rlm@2
|
1229 Usagi liked the feeling of the cool air go through her hair. Her white
|
rlm@2
|
1230 dress didn’t cover up much. But, somehow, the cold was refreshing tonight.
|
rlm@2
|
1231 A
|
rlm@2
|
1232 little strange perhaps, yes, but still refreshing.
|
rlm@2
|
1233 Usagi knew where she was going. She knew what she had to do.
|
rlm@2
|
1234 Maybe that was what she had needed to do all along. Every little fight and
|
rlm@2
|
1235 every little emotion she had with him seemed to be swept away so easily now.
|
rlm@2
|
1236 She knew what she wanted.
|
rlm@2
|
1237 She ran up the cement steps, her little white shoes making small
|
rlm@2
|
1238 clicking noises. She heard noise already coming from the structure in front
|
rlm@2
|
1239 of
|
rlm@2
|
1240 her, and saw a tall figure in the shadow of the bamboo door. She ran
|
rlm@2
|
1241 towards
|
rlm@2
|
1242 it, stumbling where the stones jutted out from the walkway.
|
rlm@2
|
1243 The figure must have heard her, and opened the bamboo door.
|
rlm@2
|
1244 “Hello?” She called.
|
rlm@2
|
1245 Usagi fell into her arms, crying and sobbing. “REI!”
|
rlm@2
|
1246
|
rlm@2
|
1247 * * *
|
rlm@2
|
1248
|
rlm@2
|
1249 Crystal Tokyo
|
rlm@2
|
1250 30th century
|
rlm@2
|
1251 Tsukino-Hino Usagi walked along the marbled floors of Tokyo’s Crystal
|
rlm@2
|
1252 Palace, her heels clicking onto the scratchable material easily. She reached
|
rlm@2
|
1253 near
|
rlm@2
|
1254 her hand and felt the small promise ring on her wedding finger. The tiny
|
rlm@2
|
1255 diamond that had been her gift from Mamoru. She smiled kindly at the
|
rlm@2
|
1256 memory, not everything she had remembered from her past lover that was so
|
rlm@2
|
1257 terrible. She knew that they had loved each other at the time. It was
|
rlm@2
|
1258 something
|
rlm@2
|
1259 that their souls needed to play out. Something that had to be finished in
|
rlm@2
|
1260 it’s
|
rlm@2
|
1261 own course. She heard the playing in Small Lady’s bedroom, and knew that her
|
rlm@2
|
1262 father had come to see the small child. She was, however no longer a child.
|
rlm@2
|
1263 Small Lady. Ten to this day to be precise, and a growing lovely women at
|
rlm@2
|
1264 that.
|
rlm@2
|
1265 She had been a child conceived in love and devotion, and a child that would
|
rlm@2
|
1266 one day become Queen of the Crystal Tokyo. But, in the end the one that
|
rlm@2
|
1267 Usagi
|
rlm@2
|
1268 had loved the most had been Rei. No one understood that more then the senshi
|
rlm@2
|
1269 of her court, no one more so than her daughter who would one day also fall
|
rlm@2
|
1270 in
|
rlm@2
|
1271 love with a woman when she went back into the past. Of course, Small Lady
|
rlm@2
|
1272 didn’t know that yet. There were some secrets the mother still had to keep
|
rlm@2
|
1273 from
|
rlm@2
|
1274 her daughter.
|
rlm@2
|
1275 Chiba Mamoru had later married, too. He ruled over Elysion as well as
|
rlm@2
|
1276 any of the senshi or even Usagi herself. He was still king of the Earth,
|
rlm@2
|
1277 just as
|
rlm@2
|
1278 Usagi was Queen, and his right to rule over his kingdom of Elysion was only
|
rlm@2
|
1279 natural. Usagi never failed to allow his input and decisions to her Queendom
|
rlm@2
|
1280 to
|
rlm@2
|
1281 not be recognized. She walked in her bedroom and felt the warmth of her
|
rlm@2
|
1282 lover
|
rlm@2
|
1283 next to her and smiled slyly.
|
rlm@2
|
1284 “Usagi-chan?” Rei’s tiny voice mumbled in her awakened sleep.
|
rlm@2
|
1285 “Yes?” Usagi asked. She felt Rei’s creamy arms wrap around her
|
rlm@2
|
1286 silken clothed breasts, and cooed.
|
rlm@2
|
1287 “I love you.”
|
rlm@2
|
1288 “I love you, too.”
|
rlm@2
|
1289 The End.
|
rlm@2
|
1290
|