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     1.2 +++ b/stories/revelations.txt	Fri Feb 19 06:24:59 2010 -0500
     1.3 @@ -0,0 +1,1290 @@
     1.4 +Hi minna-san! ^-^ Well, we’ve finally finished our newest story. ^^ This 
     1.5 +takes
     1.6 +place a while after ‘Sudden Glimpse’. This deals with who several of the
     1.7 +Senshi have fallen in love with. The plot takes a lot of jumps, but it was 
     1.8 +fun to
     1.9 +write and we really hope you enjoy it. ^-^ This was the first story that 
    1.10 +we’ve
    1.11 +written with Gabi (psychokittensenshi), the newest member of the Amazoness
    1.12 +Quartet.  She’s a great author and she’s a great addition to the Quartet. 
    1.13 +^-^
    1.14 +Hopefully you’ll all be seeing a lot more stories from the four of us soon.
    1.15 +Well, if you have anytime after reading the story, we’d love to hear from 
    1.16 +you.
    1.17 +^^ You can reach us at: amazonessduo@hotmail.com
    1.18 +Actually, we could use your help, too. For a while now we’ve been using 
    1.19 +lover’s
    1.20 +nicknames that both Hotaru & ChibiUsa use for each other like Taru-chan for
    1.21 +Hotaru and Odango-chan for ChibiUsa. We really liked Taru-chan, but its been
    1.22 +used so much lately by just about everybody besides ChibiUsa in fanfics 
    1.23 +lately
    1.24 +(including by Mamoru in a Hotaru and Mamoru fic-_-). So we’re going to keep
    1.25 +using it, but its lost its meaning as a lover’s nickname for ChibiUsa to 
    1.26 +call her.
    1.27 +We need your help to come up with a new lover’s nickname for Hotaru. If you
    1.28 +can think of anything, please e-mail us. ^^ Thank you, everyone. ^-^
    1.29 +
    1.30 +
    1.31 +Revelations
    1.32 +
    1.33 +By The Amazoness Quartet
    1.34 +
    1.35 +
    1.36 +
    1.37 +
    1.38 +	Minako, Ami, Usagi, Rei, and Makoto walked along as soon as
    1.39 +classes had finished. The four girls talked happily, glad that it was 
    1.40 +finally
    1.41 +the weekend, a chance for them to relax. A crowd of students passed
    1.42 +by them, blocking the car that had just pulled up from their view.
    1.43 +The door to the car opened and a woman stepped out, scanning the sea
    1.44 +of students in an attempt to locate a specific girl. "Minako!" she
    1.45 +yelled, finally spotting her. "Minako, over here!"
    1.46 +	Minako slowed when she heard a voice calling her name. The
    1.47 +other four girls stopped as well when they heard. Minako looked
    1.48 +around, trying to find the person calling her name. She saw the lady
    1.49 +standing by a car, waving her over. Minako froze when she realized
    1.50 +the woman was here to pick her up. "I'll see the rest of you later,"
    1.51 +she said quickly. "We'll talk this weekend. I've gotta get going."
    1.52 +Minako waved and hurried to the car.
    1.53 +	"Isn't that Natsuna?" Makoto asked.
    1.54 +	"Yep," Usagi answered. "She's Minako's girlfriend." She giggled
    1.55 +as she watched Minako get into the car with the older woman. "Couldn't
    1.56 +Minako have started going out with her back when we had Haruna for a
    1.57 +teacher? Natsuna is Haruna's little sister, so maybe I could have gotten
    1.58 +through her class easier."
    1.59 +	"I don't think Minako going out with her sister would have made
    1.60 +any difference in how hard Haruna was on you," Ami commented.
    1.61 +	"Probably not," Makoto agreed. "I still can't believe she's going
    1.62 +out with a twenty-eight year old woman."
    1.63 +	"Why, you jealous?" Rei asked teasingly.
    1.64 +	Makoto laughed. "No. Why would I be? I've got Ami."
    1.65 +	Ami blushed when Makoto mentioned her.
    1.66 +	Rei just sighed darkly. "Yeah, that's true."
    1.67 +	"Rei, are you okay?" Usagi asked her.
    1.68 +	"I'm fine. I'm tired, though. I should be getting back to the shrine.
    1.69 +I'll see you all tomorrow."
    1.70 +	"Bye, Rei!" Usagi said as Rei began walking home.
    1.71 +
    1.72 +	Minako rolled down the window to get some air as the car pulled
    1.73 +away.
    1.74 +	"So how was your day?" Natsuna asked.
    1.75 +	"Pretty good," Minako answered. "It was long, though."
    1.76 +	Natsuna laughed. "You would probably think that since its Friday and
    1.77 +all. You just couldn't wait to get out of there."
    1.78 +	Minako smiled at her. "Yeah, pretty much. How was yours?"
    1.79 +	"Not bad," Natsuna replied. "Nothing as exciting as in the life of
    1.80 +Sailor V."
    1.81 +	"I'm not Sailor V anymore, remember?" Minako corrected her.
    1.82 +	"I know. But you made a much better Sailor V than Sailor Venus,"
    1.83 +Natsuna said. Minako giggled. Natsuna still had Sailor V memorabilia around
    1.84 +their shared apartment. It still surprised Minako when she saw them. She'd
    1.85 +tried to get Natsuna to take them down, but the older woman wouldn't listen 
    1.86 +to
    1.87 +her.
    1.88 +	"Do you have any work you had to take home?" Minako asked.
    1.89 +	"Nope. I left Wakagi to handle the rest of it. I didn't want any
    1.90 +distractions once we got home." Natsuna winked seductively at Minako.
    1.91 +	Minako felt her blood boiling when she felt Natsuna's hand rest on
    1.92 +her thigh. She'd never thought that the other woman could do this to her.
    1.93 +She'd just thought that the police chief was strange back when she was 
    1.94 +Sailor
    1.95 +V. "How could you have put up with me for so long? Ever since I was 
    1.96 +thirteen,
    1.97 +when I first became Sailor V."
    1.98 +	"Patience," Natsuna said. "A lot of patience. It was really hard to
    1.99 +get you to take me seriously about being in love with you. But in the end, 
   1.100 +it
   1.101 +looks like my patience paid off."
   1.102 +	"I love you, Natsuna," Minako said happily.
   1.103 +	"I love you, too." Natsuna leaned in and kissed her.
   1.104 +
   1.105 +	Usagi, Ami, and Makoto walked together, talking about the day's
   1.106 +events.
   1.107 +	"Are you and Mamoru going out tonight?" Makoto asked Usagi.
   1.108 +	"No. He's busy tonight studying with Motoki. What about you two?
   1.109 +Are you and Ami-chan going out tonight?" Usagi asked mischievously,
   1.110 +knowing how nervous Ami was about the whole thing.
   1.111 +	Ami blushed a deep crimson and Makoto tried to answer. "Umm...
   1.112 +Well, kinda.." Ami only nodded.
   1.113 +	Usagi laughed. "You guys are so cute together."
   1.114 +	"Thanks, Usagi-chan," Ami managed.
   1.115 +	"We should probably get going," Makoto said after checking her
   1.116 +watch.
   1.117 +	"Yeah. We'll talk to you later, Usagi-chan," Ami said.
   1.118 +	The three girls said their goodbyes before heading off.
   1.119 +
   1.120 +	When Rei got back home to the Hikawa Jinga she headed straight back
   1.121 +to her room and changed into her Miko robes. She was depressed about things
   1.122 +lately. It seemed like everyone had been finding love. Everyone except her. 
   1.123 +Her
   1.124 +love life was in shambles. Yuuchiro had finally left several months ago, 
   1.125 +tired of
   1.126 +waiting for her.
   1.127 +	Rei sat down in front of the Sacred Flame. She tried to relax before
   1.128 +meditating. She wanted to see if she could find out if she'd ever find love.
   1.129 +She started to drift off, her mind floating in a sea of images. After what
   1.130 +seemed like an eternity, things started to coalesce.
   1.131 +	But it had to be wrong. She was seeing the Silver Millennium. She
   1.132 +wanted to see the future, not the past. Jaedite? Was that it? Could that
   1.133 +be why she was seeing the past? No, she knew it wasn't him. There had to be
   1.134 +someone else.
   1.135 +	Then she saw her. She was standing in the shadows on a balcony, the
   1.136 +earth hanging in the sky. Suddenly the figure turned around towards Rei. She
   1.137 +gasped. It was Princess Serenity. Rei knew she had some unresolved feelings
   1.138 +for Usagi, but she knew that anything between them was impossible. Usagi
   1.139 +already had the prince she was destined to be with.
   1.140 +	Memories came flooding back to Rei as the images from the Silver
   1.141 +Millennium surrounded her. Serenity's four Inner Senshi had had Endymion's
   1.142 +four generals as boyfriends at the time. But Rei and another of the Inner
   1.143 +Senshi had longed for Serenity. 'Who was the other one in love with
   1.144 +Serenity?' Rei asked herself. Her memories of the Silver Millennium still
   1.145 +weren't complete so she had difficulty recalling who it was. 'Minako?
   1.146 +That's right. We both fought over Serenity, even though neither of us
   1.147 +ever worked up the courage to tell her how we felt. Minako was going
   1.148 +through a lot back then. She was torn about how she felt about Serenity
   1.149 +and her feelings for Kunzite. And that's exactly why I thought that I
   1.150 +should have been with Usagi. Minako told me she loved both of them. I
   1.151 +liked Jaedite and all, but it wasn't the same as how I felt for Serenity.
   1.152 +Neither of us stood a chance against Endymion, though. He had destiny
   1.153 +on his side. At least Minako seems to have gotten over it. She has
   1.154 +Natsuna now. I still cling on. I’m friends with Usagi’s daughter, yet I 
   1.155 +still cling
   1.156 +on. I can't find love because I can't bring myself to let go of her.'
   1.157 +	Suddenly, everything changed. Rei tried to make out where she was
   1.158 +as she waited for the images to clarify. After a few moments, she realized
   1.159 +that this had to be Crystal Tokyo. She'd only been there once before, when
   1.160 +they'd gone to the future to help ChibiUsa save her parents. Rei saw a
   1.161 +lavishly decorated bedroom, most likely the Queen's room. She could see
   1.162 +Usagi dressed in her royal gown as Neo Queen Serenity. She was laughing
   1.163 +happily. Rei sighed. She was so beautiful. Someone else was there with
   1.164 +Serenity. The two were talking about something Rei couldn't make out.
   1.165 +She tried to tell who the other person was, but the details weren't clear
   1.166 +enough yet. The image slowly became clearer and Rei could finally tell
   1.167 +that the other person sitting with Serenity was her. 'What's going on?'
   1.168 +Rei thought. Serenity leaned towards Rei's future self and the two
   1.169 +kissed passionately. Rei couldn't believe what she was seeing. 'But how?'
   1.170 +Rei asked, trying desperately to come up with an answer as the images
   1.171 +dissolved around her.
   1.172 +	Rei sat in shock as she came out of her meditative trance. What
   1.173 +she'd seen had been her dream come true, but she knew it couldn't happen.
   1.174 +Was it just wishful thinking on her part or did she actually end up with
   1.175 +Usagi? Rei tried to meditate on an answer, but after what she'd seen, she
   1.176 +couldn't calm herself enough to try. She sighed heavily and decided to
   1.177 +give up for the time being. She resolved to try again later, hopefully
   1.178 +with better results.
   1.179 +
   1.180 +	Hotaru was sitting on a decorative stone throne set atop some
   1.181 +large steps. ChibiMoon was at the bottom of the steps, unconscious on an
   1.182 +altar. Energy snaked out from Hotaru, forming a hand at the end. It
   1.183 +headed out towards ChibiMoon and slammed down on her chest. The younger
   1.184 +girl let out a scream of pain as she was dragged back to consciousness.
   1.185 +	"Hotaru-chan... I'm glad to see you..." ChibiMoon managed before
   1.186 +passing out again, her Heart Crystal pulled from her body. Hotaru felt
   1.187 +a surge of terror run through her as the pink haired girl lay deathly
   1.188 +still.
   1.189 +	ChibiMoon's Heart Crystal flew up to where Hotaru was sitting.
   1.190 +After swallowing it, she changed completely into Mistress 9. The
   1.191 +Senshi looked on, unable to stop her as Sailormoon talked futilely with
   1.192 +Professor Tomoe.
   1.193 +	'Even when I was Mistress 9, I couldn't stop thinking about
   1.194 +ChibiUsa. Whatever part of me was still there was so worried about what
   1.195 +had happened to her. Its so life-like. I've had this dream before. And I've 
   1.196 +talked
   1.197 +to ChibiUsa about it a couple times, too. She always tells me that it wasn't 
   1.198 +my
   1.199 +fault, that it wasn't me who did those awful things, like killing Kaolinite 
   1.200 +and
   1.201 +hurting my Odango-chan. It always hurts as it all comes back to me, 
   1.202 +everything
   1.203 +I did as Mistress 9, and I cry. And ChibiUsa holds me, trying to stop the
   1.204 +pain I feel. But she's not here tonight. I have to deal with the dream
   1.205 +on my own. I know it was just that, a dream, but what happened was real.
   1.206 +I lie here for a while, uncertain of what to do. I want to hear her
   1.207 +voice. I want tor hear her tell me everything's all right. I want her
   1.208 +to hold me. I think about calling her, but she's probably asleep now.
   1.209 +She’s spending the night at Momoko’s house.  I could call anyway,
   1.210 +even if it does wake her up, but I'm uncertain. I feel so nervous and 
   1.211 +scared,
   1.212 +alone in the dark. I don't know what to do. I know I can't get back to 
   1.213 +sleep. I
   1.214 +never can after I have that dream.' Hotaru sat up in bed, hugging her knees 
   1.215 +to
   1.216 +her chest. After a couple minutes, she stood up and headed for the door of 
   1.217 +her
   1.218 +room. 'I want to see her,' she thought.
   1.219 +
   1.220 +	Setsuna put down the book she was reading when she heard the
   1.221 +front door open. She looked out her window to see Hotaru hurrying off
   1.222 +to find ChibiUsa. "I hope she's okay," Setsuna said aloud. 'No
   1.223 +one could be happier than I am that Hotaru and ChibiUsa are in love.
   1.224 +I raised Hotaru like a daughter with Michiru and Haruka. I feel like
   1.225 +Hotaru's my own daughter, and in an odd way, I feel the same way about
   1.226 +Small Lady. I got to watch her grow up in the future. She came to the Time
   1.227 +Palace so often, even though she wasn't supposed to. She came to
   1.228 +me with her problems when she needed help. And I actually helped raise
   1.229 +Hotaru. I guess the main difference is that one of them calls me mama
   1.230 +and the other doesn't. I'm glad they have each other. They both mean
   1.231 +so much to me.'
   1.232 +	'I do admit that being around Haruka and Michiru and a love
   1.233 +stricken Hotaru does get a bit depressing sometimes. Its just hard to
   1.234 +see people so in love like that and to not have anyone of my own to
   1.235 +love. And everyone I have fallen for winds up destined to be with
   1.236 +someone else.' Setsuna sighed. 'First Endymion and then Michiru. I
   1.237 +practically grew up with Michiru and Haruka back in the Silver
   1.238 +Millenium. Michiru was my best friend since we were young. It took
   1.239 +a while for me to realize I loved her. I was so down after Endymion
   1.240 +got with Princess Serenity, but she helped me get through it. I
   1.241 +felt differently towards her after that. I wanted to tell her, but
   1.242 +Haruka was too fast for me. Before I could do anything, she was
   1.243 +already with Haruka. Why does destiny always pass me over?' Setsuna
   1.244 +picked up her book again and tried to stop thinking about it. 'I
   1.245 +shouldn't lose any sleep over it, I guess.' She looked out the
   1.246 +window again. 'Wherever you are, be careful, Hotaru.'
   1.247 +
   1.248 +	Yaten walked hesitantly out of her room in a shimmering light
   1.249 +blue dress. It accentuated her soft curves perfectly, fitting the
   1.250 +short girl almost like a second skin. Her hair was up in a high pony
   1.251 +tail that trailed down to the small of her back.
   1.252 +	Taiki looked up from the book she was reading and arched an
   1.253 +eyebrow. "That's... interesting," Taiki said, struggling for the right
   1.254 +words. She hadn't seen Yaten in a dress since they'd all been back on
   1.255 +Kinmoku, before they'd come to earth disguised as the Three Lights.
   1.256 +	Seiya looked over at Yaten from where she was sitting after
   1.257 +she heard Taiki. It had been so quiet for a while that the sudden
   1.258 +noise had startled her. She stared in shock for a few seconds at
   1.259 +Yaten. "Why are you wearing that?"
   1.260 +	"I'm going out," Yaten said defensively. They had been
   1.261 +dressing up as guys for so long that it seemed odd to be in a dress
   1.262 +again. Yaten felt herself relaxing as she got used to it. Kakyuu had
   1.263 +asked her to wear a dress a couple of nights ago when they'd decided
   1.264 +to go out for the night. It had seemed an odd request at first. Kakyuu
   1.265 +had grown up with Yaten as a girl. Kakyuu found it strange to have her
   1.266 +Starlights pretending to be men. Yaten felt more comfortable dressing
   1.267 +in women's clothes anyway, so they went shopping later that day.
   1.268 +Yaten was nervous about what Seiya and Taiki would think, though she
   1.269 +kept telling herself it didn't matter. They were like sisters to her,
   1.270 +so she still felt anxiety wash over her as they continued to stare at
   1.271 +her.
   1.272 +	"But why are you going out in that?" Seiya asked.
   1.273 +	"Because she looks pretty in it." The Three Lights all turned
   1.274 +as the heard their princess, Kakyuu. She was wearing a low cut black
   1.275 +and red dress. Her red hair was done up in elegant braids. She smiled
   1.276 +happily as she walked up beside Yaten.
   1.277 +	"You can't go dressed like that," Seiya said as she turned back
   1.278 +towards Yaten.
   1.279 +	"Why can't I? I am a girl." Yaten could tell Seiya was getting
   1.280 +frustrated. She knew that Seiya was in love with Kayuu as well. To
   1.281 +some extent all three of them loved her. But in the end, she'd fallen
   1.282 +in love with Yaten. Seiya was still a little jealous about that even
   1.283 +though she wanted Kakyuu and her surrogate sister to be happy.
   1.284 +	"It was your idea to masquerade as men in the first place,"
   1.285 +Seiya argued.
   1.286 +	"Well, it was a stupid idea. We've found Kakyuu. There's
   1.287 +no reason to keep pretending anymore. And besides, I don't like pretending
   1.288 +to be a man," Yaten told Seiya.
   1.289 +	Kakyuu giggled. "If you two don't mind, Yaten and I have dinner
   1.290 +reservations." She waved to Taiki and Seiya as she grabbed Yaten's hand
   1.291 +and started walking to the door with her. "We'll see you later!" she said.
   1.292 +	Seiya sat down as the door closed behind the two. "What do you
   1.293 +think, Taiki?"
   1.294 +	Taiki pulled her book back up in front of her. "Yaten did have
   1.295 +a point. There really isn't a reason for us to go around like this anymore.
   1.296 +Besides for the fans. They all think the Three Lights are men, so it would
   1.297 +be a shock to find out we aren't."
   1.298 +	Seiya sighed. "You too, Taiki?"
   1.299 +	Taiki just smiled slightly as she went back to her book.
   1.300 +
   1.301 +*********
   1.302 +        Momoko sat with her legs crossed, Diana next to her with her head on 
   1.303 +her
   1.304 +lap letting Momoko's hands pass through her cute double odangos and soft 
   1.305 +hair.
   1.306 +She was enjoying the motions and attention. She loved being so close to
   1.307 +Momoko, and being able to relax into her . Diana place her hand on Momoko's
   1.308 +cheek, grabbing her attention. Momoko smiled and leaned into a kiss. Then 
   1.309 +she
   1.310 +heard a knock at the door and was ripped from the pleasure. She looked up to
   1.311 +her mother.
   1.312 +        "Yes?" she asked nervously.
   1.313 +        "Honey, ChibiUsa is here to spend the night," she looked to the tiny 
   1.314 +gray
   1.315 +kitten on her daughters lap. "Well Diana sure has been spending quite a lot 
   1.316 +of
   1.317 +time here hasn't she?" The kitten meowed and rubbed up against Momoko's
   1.318 +stomach. ChibiUsa appeared at the door and smiled.
   1.319 +        "Konnichiwa Momo-chan" she walked inside and plopped her baggage on
   1.320 +the bed. Momoko's mother walked out and Diana returned to human form, and
   1.321 +her place next  to Momoko. ChibiUsa smiled.
   1.322 +        "Well it seems you two have grown closer doesn't it?" she asked. 
   1.323 +"Makes
   1.324 +me wish I'd asked Hotaru to come with me."
   1.325 +        "Why didn't you ChibiUsa-chan?" Momoko asked. ChibiUsa just smiled
   1.326 +and shrugged her shoulders.  Just then there was a knock at Momoko's window
   1.327 +and Momoko went to answer it quickly.
   1.328 +        "Hotaru!" Momoko said. The tired raven-haired girl looking at her 
   1.329 +not
   1.330 +answering. She turned to ChibiUsa, still trying to catch her breath.
   1.331 +        "I need to speak with you, odango," she said desperately.
   1.332 +*************
   1.333 +        Makoto walked a little ways into the kitchen seeing Ami at the table 
   1.334 +with
   1.335 +her books sprawled around her. Makoto walked a little further and pulled Ami
   1.336 +into her arms planting a gentle kiss on her mouth. Ami voiced a slight groan 
   1.337 +of
   1.338 +surprise. Makoto just smiled internally, reaching deeper into the kiss. Ami
   1.339 +turned and let Makoto grab her into a warm embrace.
   1.340 +        "I'm so happy to have you with me, Ami-chan," Makoto said kissing 
   1.341 +Ami
   1.342 +again and pulling her into the next room.
   1.343 +        "But I have to study Mako-chan." Ami began to protest.
   1.344 +        "This won't take long Ami-chan trust me." Ami was going to protest 
   1.345 +but
   1.346 +felt Makoto's long fingers unbuttoning the white professional shirt she had 
   1.347 +on.
   1.348 +Makoto pulled it away with expert hands and reaching behind to unclasp the
   1.349 +bra strap. When she had the offending clothing away from her she knew Ami
   1.350 +wouldn't protest any longer. Makoto kissed her again and pulled off her 
   1.351 +shirt
   1.352 +and skirt as well leaving them on the floor next to her. She laid Ami on the
   1.353 +couch and placed Ami's hands on her breasts, sighing at the cooling affect 
   1.354 +they
   1.355 +had on her warm skin. Ami smiled and wiggled out of the pants and undies she
   1.356 +had left on and felt the warmth of her lover's own naked body pulling her 
   1.357 +into a
   1.358 +sitting up stance. Holding the body as close to her as possible, and feeling 
   1.359 +her
   1.360 +lover's body tense at the anticipation.
   1.361 +
   1.362 +************
   1.363 +        "Natsuna..." Minako sighed feeling her lover holding her from behind 
   1.364 +in
   1.365 +the warn bath water. The soapy water seeped into every pore. Natusna smiled
   1.366 +and cupped Minako's breasts, her fingers running over the entire delicate
   1.367 +surface. She whispered a sweet comment and made Minako relax even more.
   1.368 +Minako in turn ran her finger across the inner thighs of her lover,
   1.369 +teasing her slightly. Natsuna knew it would come in it's own time. The wait
   1.370 +was all the thrill, wondering what new feeling that her lover would drench 
   1.371 +out
   1.372 +of her this time. Minako turned facing Natusna and placing her fingers in
   1.373 +between Natsuna's legs.
   1.374 +        "I love you," Minako said  kissing Natsuna deeply pushing her back 
   1.375 +into
   1.376 +the bath until Natusna was totally relaxed against the cold tile behind her. 
   1.377 +She
   1.378 +smiled and knew....this was it. Natusna was all that she wanted.
   1.379 +
   1.380 +**************
   1.381 +	Rei walked down the street to the apartment Usagi and Mamoru
   1.382 +shared knocking on the door. She waited for an answer. When Usagi showed
   1.383 +up sooner than she’d expected, felt flustered. She shifted slightly and
   1.384 +was for once without a quick sarcastic remark.
   1.385 +	"Usagi-chan, may I come in?" she asked. Usagi smiled and moved so
   1.386 +that Rei could enter.
   1.387 +"Rei-chan it's so nice that you could come," Usagi said loudly and then
   1.388 +drew closer so that she could speak to Rei privately. "Rei there's something 
   1.389 +that
   1.390 +I have to tell you..." But before Usagi could finish a male presence entered 
   1.391 +the
   1.392 +room.
   1.393 +              "Rei, so nice to see you again," Mamoru's voice stabbed into 
   1.394 +Rei's
   1.395 +mind. She grew angry and then clamed. She couldn’t show up destiny, Mamoru
   1.396 +always got his princess. She could never have Usagi. And with that she left 
   1.397 +to
   1.398 +the door and the cold. Usagi ran after her.
   1.399 +              "Rei-chan wait! You don't have to leave!"  she said trying to 
   1.400 +stop her
   1.401 +friend.
   1.402 +              "Yes, I do. Usagi-chan, I have to go."
   1.403 +              "But why? It's just Mamoru and me."
   1.404 +              "Usagi you dot understand. It's because of Mamoru."
   1.405 +              "But...why?"
   1.406 +              "You won't understand. Just forget it."
   1.407 +              "No. what's wrong, Rei-chan. Why is it Mamoru's fault?" Usagi 
   1.408 +asked.
   1.409 +‘             ‘Because I love you,’ Rei thought. ‘Because I can't stand him 
   1.410 +being
   1.411 +able to hold you and I can't...' Rei stopped herself and spun on her heel. 
   1.412 +Getting
   1.413 +ready to leave.
   1.414 +	"Rei-chan, why can't you tell me what's wrong?" Usagi asked
   1.415 +worriedly.
   1.416 +	"Would you come in, Rei?" Mamoru asked, worried as well. "I could
   1.417 +make some tea."
   1.418 +	Rei sighed. This was all so hard for her to deal with. Why had she
   1.419 +even come here in the first place? What had she hoped to accomplish? "No.
   1.420 +Thank you, anyway. I should go."
   1.421 +	"Rei, its pretty late. Maybe you should stay," Usagi said. She didn't
   1.422 +know what was wrong, but she didn't want Rei to leave now. She wanted to
   1.423 +know what was going on.
   1.424 +
   1.425 +***********
   1.426 +
   1.427 +	Makoto rolled over to get a better look at the smaller girl lying next to
   1.428 +her. She smiled to herself as she ran her fingers through Ami's short blue 
   1.429 +hair.
   1.430 +She gently kissed the other girls soft lips. She checked to make sure Ami 
   1.431 +was
   1.432 +asleep before quietly getting out of bed. She brought the sheet up higher to
   1.433 +cover Ami. The other girl let out a small sound, startling Makoto in the 
   1.434 +dark
   1.435 +room. Ami shifted around a bit before settling down and clutching the sheets
   1.436 +closer to her. Makoto relaxed as she watched the other girl doze peacefully.
   1.437 +	Makoto silently walked out of the room. She padded across the cold
   1.438 +floor. One of Ami's books lying open on the counter. She tried to read some 
   1.439 +of
   1.440 +it but she quickly decided to leave that to Ami. She slipped a peace of 
   1.441 +paper
   1.442 +between the pages before closing the book, knowing Ami would probably try to
   1.443 +pick up where she left off in it later the next day.
   1.444 +She’d once wondered how Ami could have fallen in love with her. She
   1.445 +knew the blue haired genius was many times over more intelligent than she
   1.446 +was. Makoto had thought she’d want someone who shared her passion for
   1.447 +knowledge. She’d brought it up with Ami, but the other girl had quickly
   1.448 +dismissed her lover’s worries. It didn’t matter to her. She’d said she 
   1.449 +couldn’t
   1.450 +really explain it. It was one of the few times Makoto had been able to catch
   1.451 +Ami without an answer. Finally Ami had said that some things didn’t need an
   1.452 +explanation. Love was one of those things. She loved Makoto. She may not be
   1.453 +able to explain it, but she knew in her heart that she did. Makoto hadn’t 
   1.454 +given
   1.455 +it a second thought afterwards. The blue haired genius was everything to 
   1.456 +her.
   1.457 +	Makoto walked through the dimly lit kitchen, briefly searching around
   1.458 +for the light switch. She winced as the light turned on. She blinked several
   1.459 +times to get her vision to adjust before walking over to the refrigerator. 
   1.460 +The
   1.461 +brunette shivered from the cold air on her bare skin after opening it. She 
   1.462 +smiled
   1.463 +when she saw one of Ami’s sandwiches wrapped up. ‘That girl needs to let me
   1.464 +make her lunch more often,’ she thought to herself.
   1.465 +“Mako-chan?” a sleepy voice said from behind her. She turned
   1.466 +around to see Ami standing with the sheet wrapped around her delicate frame.
   1.467 +“I’m sorry, Ami-chan. Did I wake you?” Makoto asked.
   1.468 +	“I saw the light turn on out here and I noticed you weren’t in bed,”
   1.469 +Ami explained.  “What are you doing up?”
   1.470 +	Makoto smiled warmly and brought Ami into a loving embrace.  “I
   1.471 +was just thinking.”
   1.472 +	Ami tilted her head to one side curiously. “What about?” She looked
   1.473 +deeply into Makoto’s dark green eyes, quickly losing herself in them, almost 
   1.474 +as
   1.475 +if she were still dreaming.
   1.476 +	“You,” Makoto said softly. Everything felt right with the world while
   1.477 +holding Ami in her arms.
   1.478 +Ami giggled. “No, I’m serious.”
   1.479 +The taller girl gestured to the apartment. “It used to be so lonely. I’m
   1.480 +really glad you’re here.”
   1.481 +	Ami smiled up at Makoto and put her hand on the brunette’s cheek.
   1.482 +“So am I.” She brought her lips up to Makoto’s in a soft kiss. “Come on back 
   1.483 +to
   1.484 +bed, Mako-chan. Its lonely there, too.”
   1.485 +	Makoto laughed. “Okay, Ami-chan.” She kissed the blue haired girl
   1.486 +again. She took Ami’s hand and let the other girl lead her back to their 
   1.487 +room.
   1.488 +
   1.489 +*******
   1.490 +
   1.491 +	“Taru, are you okay?”  ChibiUsa asked worriedly. Her reached out
   1.492 +through the open window to grab the other girls hand. Hotaru had a haunted
   1.493 +look in her eyes. ChibiUsa’s heart ached as she looked into those frightened
   1.494 +violet eyes.
   1.495 +	Hotaru started to relax as she felt ChibiUsa’s warm hand against her
   1.496 +own. Seeing the pink haired girl looking back at her soothed Hotaru. She
   1.497 +looked down, feeling foolish. Her pale cheeks flushed red. “I just needed to 
   1.498 +see
   1.499 +you,” she said quietly.
   1.500 +ChibiUsa lips formed a bright smile. It meant so much to her to hear
   1.501 +the other girl came all this way to see her. Her expression became concerned
   1.502 +when she realized Hotaru was worried about something. She blinked with
   1.503 +realization. “Oh, Taru. It’s okay. I’m here,” the future princess said. She
   1.504 +wanted to hold the other girl, to go to her, but she was stopped by the wall
   1.505 +between them. She could only reach the other girl through the open window.
   1.506 +	“Hotaru,” Momoko said besides the dark haired girl, startling her.
   1.507 +	Hotaru clutched ChibiUsa’s hand tightly after hearing the other girl.
   1.508 +She slowly turned around. “Momo-chan, you scared me.”
   1.509 +	“Sorry about that. I talked to my mom. She said you can spend the
   1.510 +night, too. I just told her you can’t be away from ChibiUsa for too long of 
   1.511 +a
   1.512 +time.” Momoko laughed. “Come on in.”.
   1.513 +
   1.514 +A short time later, Momoko lay asleep in Diana’s arms on her bed.
   1.515 +ChibiUsa and Hotaru held each other under the blankets on Momoko’s floor.
   1.516 +Hotaru stared up at the ceiling, trying not to think. The darkness 
   1.517 +surrounded
   1.518 +them, but that didn’t bother her. Not with ChibiUsa beside her. Hotaru felt
   1.519 +ChibiUsa gently stroking her hair. She held the other girl closer, not 
   1.520 +wanting to
   1.521 +be apart again.
   1.522 +“Hotaru?” ChibiUsa whispered to her dark haired lover. “Why did you
   1.523 +have to come see me so urgently?” She smiled and kissed Hotaru lightly. “I 
   1.524 +am
   1.525 +glad you’re here.”
   1.526 +“Thanks. I am too.” Hotaru snuggled closer to the other girl, trying to
   1.527 +forget the horrible dream. “I…” She began hesitantly. “I had that dream
   1.528 +again.”
   1.529 +“Oh, Hotaru, I’m so sorry.” ChibiUsa wished there was some way she
   1.530 +could stop Hotaru from having it, but it was a recurring nightmare for her. 
   1.531 +The
   1.532 +dark haired girl was still tormented by visions from her past.
   1.533 +Hotaru felt foolish. Running to ChibiUsa because of a dream. ‘But
   1.534 +then, isn’t that what being in love with her means? Being able to go to her 
   1.535 +for
   1.536 +comfort? Being able to tell her what frightens me the most? Knowing that no
   1.537 +matter how childish it is, or how foolish, I can always go to her?’ “When I
   1.538 +woke up, I was afraid, but it got worse when I realized you weren’t there.
   1.539 +Everything just started crashing down. I had to see you. I felt that if you 
   1.540 +were
   1.541 +there, it would all seem okay.” Hotaru closed her eyes tightly. The dream 
   1.542 +was
   1.543 +still vivid in her mind. Tears started to well up in Hotaru’s eyes as the 
   1.544 +dream
   1.545 +came back to her.
   1.546 +ChibiUsa gently wiped Hotaru’s tears away with her fingertips. “Its
   1.547 +not your fault. You can’t blame yourself for any of that. It was Mistress 9, 
   1.548 +not
   1.549 +you.”
   1.550 +“But I was there for everything that happened. It was my body,”
   1.551 +Hotaru blinked several more tears away.
   1.552 +“It may have been, but it still wasn’t you. In the end, you managed to
   1.553 +stop her.”
   1.554 +Hotaru sniffled and tried to speak, but ChibiUsa silenced her with a
   1.555 +soft kiss.
   1.556 +“You felt like its your fault because you couldn’t stop her before she
   1.557 +caused so much pain. There was nothing you could do. When I woke up after I
   1.558 +got my Heart Crystal back, you’d been changed into a baby from using your
   1.559 +powers to stop Pharaoh 90. I felt horrible because I couldn’t stop it. I 
   1.560 +felt that I
   1.561 +should have known, that I should have said something when I saw you that 
   1.562 +last
   1.563 +time. It took me a long time, but I realized there are some things we can’t
   1.564 +change. No matter how wrong it is, or how it seems we should have.” ChibiUsa
   1.565 +held the shuddering dark haired girl tightly against her. Her hand lightly
   1.566 +rubbed Hotaru’s back through the cloth of her nightgown. “That’s all in the
   1.567 +past now. We have everything to look forward to. You and me. Both of us.
   1.568 +Forever.” She felt Hotaru’s warm tears on her shoulder. The other girl’s 
   1.569 +sobs
   1.570 +slowly started to lessen. “Its alright, Taru-chan. I’m here.” She held the 
   1.571 +dark
   1.572 +haired girl protectively, wanting to keep away anymore of those horrible
   1.573 +dreams.
   1.574 +“I.. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t let it get to me… like this,” Hotaru said
   1.575 +between sobs.
   1.576 +“Don’t be sorry. I’m really glad you came. I missed you,” ChibiUsa
   1.577 +smiled. “And don’t worry about the dreams. That’s all they are. And you can
   1.578 +always come find me when you wake up. I’m just sorry I wasn’t there this
   1.579 +time.”
   1.580 +“Thanks, Odango-chan,” Hotaru said softly.
   1.581 +“You mean everything to me, Taru. Don’t let those dreams hurt you.
   1.582 +They don’t mean anything as long as we have each other.”  ChibiUsa felt like
   1.583 +she should say more, but she didn’t have to. Her crimson eyes met with
   1.584 +Hotaru’s violet ones. Their lips met in the dark room, conveying more to 
   1.585 +each
   1.586 +other than words could have.
   1.587 +“I love you,” Hotaru whispered to the pink haired girl.
   1.588 +“I love you, too,” ChibiUsa whispered back. She kissed Hotaru once
   1.589 +again before laying her head back on a pillow. “Goodnight, Hotaru.”
   1.590 +“I don’t think I’ll go to sleep just yet. Could you stay up for a little bit
   1.591 +so we could talk?” Hotaru asked.
   1.592 +“Sure,” ChibiUsa agreed. She felt Hotaru’s hand on her own.
   1.593 +“Thanks,” Hotaru said gratefully. She knew ChibiUsa would probably
   1.594 +fall asleep soon, but she didn’t mind. She felt safe now that she was with 
   1.595 +the
   1.596 +one she loved.
   1.597 +
   1.598 +******
   1.599 +
   1.600 +Minako awoke with a start at the constant knocking she was hearing
   1.601 +in her dreams. At first she'd tried to not listen and stay in the warmth. 
   1.602 +But the
   1.603 +constant rapping in her mind made her jolt awake from the annoyance. She
   1.604 +turned all along the bed searching for the source, and found it in Rei. The 
   1.605 +raven
   1.606 +haired beauty was at the window trying desperately to get Minako's 
   1.607 +attention.
   1.608 +She walked all along the edge of the window calling, her voice barely 
   1.609 +reaching
   1.610 +Minako's ears. Minako grabbed the robe beside her and tied a tight knot into
   1.611 +the middle. She motioned for her friend to walk to the door and she'd allow 
   1.612 +her
   1.613 +inside.
   1.614 +	"Mina-chan," Rei rasped and hugged her friend into a tight embrace.
   1.615 +"Oh, Mina-chan I'm so tired. I really need someone to talk to please!"
   1.616 +  "Calm down, Rei-chan," Minako whispered in a soothing voice. "It'll
   1.617 +be okay. Tell me what's wrong."
   1.618 +Rei let out several gasps of air trying to calm her nerves enough to tell
   1.619 +Minako what was wrong but couldn’t. "Mina-chan I'm really scared...I miss
   1.620 +you and the others." she began. "I miss us being a team, and I miss spending
   1.621 +more time together  like we used to. Most of all I miss Usagi. Our princess
   1.622 +doesn't need us anymore and I feel useless. She...everyone is in love and 
   1.623 +I'm set
   1.624 +so far away you have forgotten me."
   1.625 +        "Rei! " Minako whispered in a harsh voice. "I have never
   1.626 +forgotten you and neither has our princess. She needs us more then ever, and
   1.627 +with ChibiUsa on the way and the new responsibilities coming up the senshi
   1.628 +are....”
   1.629 +"That's just it. I don't think I can handle seeing Usagi and Mamoru
   1.630 +together so happy everyday. I just can't Minako! I love her!" Rei clasped 
   1.631 +her
   1.632 +hands around her mouth and gasped. She wasn't supposed to say that, not to
   1.633 +Minako!
   1.634 +Minako just smiled. "We all love her."
   1.635 +"Not like I do Mina-chan. Not like I do."
   1.636 +“ I know,” Minako said simply.
   1.637 +Rei stared at Minako for a moment. “What do you mean?”
   1.638 +“I know how you feel about her. Who do you think you confided in
   1.639 +back in the Silver Millenium?” Minako winked at the raven haired girl.
   1.640 +“Besides, its not like its hard to notice.”
   1.641 +Rei was shocked. “You know? Is it that obvious?”
   1.642 +Minako laughed. “Probably not. I hadn’t really noticed until I started
   1.643 +remembering a few things from the past. Everything fell into place after 
   1.644 +seeing
   1.645 +you around her a couple days later.”
   1.646 +Rei stared at her feet. She hadn’t planned on anyone finding out how
   1.647 +she felt about their princess, but now she knew that Minako had already 
   1.648 +found
   1.649 +out. What did she think of her now?
   1.650 +“Its alright, Rei. I’m you’re friend. So are the others. None of us would
   1.651 +mind. Mamoru might, though.” Minako smiled, trying to help Rei feel better.
   1.652 +“But what would Usagi think?”
   1.653 +              “I don’t know. You’d have to ask her.” Minako said quietly. 
   1.654 +She
   1.655 +needed to talk to Rei, but at the same time she didn’t want to wake Natsuna 
   1.656 +by
   1.657 +being too loud.
   1.658 +              “What can I do? She’s already in love with Mamoru. She marries 
   1.659 +him
   1.660 +in the future and has a daughter with him. If I did manage to tell her how I 
   1.661 +felt
   1.662 +and she felt the same, then I could damage so much in the future. ChibiUsa
   1.663 +wouldn’t even exist. Who knows what else might happen.” Rei sighed deeply.
   1.664 +The whole thing felt so futile. She wanted to tell Usagi, but she couldn’t 
   1.665 +let
   1.666 +herself endanger the future. She was a Sailor Senshi, after all.
   1.667 +              “I’m sorry, Rei. I want to tell you how this can work out, but 
   1.668 +I don’t
   1.669 +know. I wish I did. I just want everything to work out for you in the end, 
   1.670 +but I
   1.671 +don’t know what to do about it,” Minako said sadly. She wanted to help. She
   1.672 +was the Senshi of Love. She felt like she needed to do something to help her
   1.673 +friend.
   1.674 +“I want to tell her, but I don’t want to hurt her. Its probably better if I
   1.675 +don’t say anything,” Rei said sullenly.
   1.676 +“Don’t think like that. Think positively. If you’re ever going to have a
   1.677 +chance you can’t give up now,” Minako said with a determined gleam in her
   1.678 +eyes.
   1.679 +“You’re right, I guess. But I still don’t know what I can do.” Rei
   1.680 +looked up and smiled at her friend. “Thanks, Minako-chan. I feel a little 
   1.681 +better
   1.682 +now.”
   1.683 +“Anytime, Rei-chan.”
   1.684 +“I should be going for now.” Rei hugged Minako again and walked out
   1.685 +the door. Minako waved to her as the raven haired girl started walking home.
   1.686 +Minako waited until Rei was out of sight before slowly closing the
   1.687 +door. She felt so helpless. She hated that feeling. She walked through the 
   1.688 +dark
   1.689 +hallway towards the room she shared with Natsuna. She smiled as she walked
   1.690 +past Artemis, curled up and asleep on the floor. She’d always gone to him 
   1.691 +for
   1.692 +advice. Now Rei had gone to her, but she was afraid she hadn’t been of much
   1.693 +help.
   1.694 +Minako paused at the doorway to their room. Rei had seemed so empty
   1.695 +lately. She was usually so full of life, but seeing everyone else with their 
   1.696 +lovers
   1.697 +really got to her. Minako missed the old Rei and now there was a chance to 
   1.698 +fix
   1.699 +things for Rei, but what could she do about it?
   1.700 +Minako’s head was spinning as she tried to think of what, if anything,
   1.701 +she should do. She sighed before walking into the bedroom. She needed sleep.
   1.702 +And right now, she really wanted to be with the one she loved. She crawled 
   1.703 +into
   1.704 +bed next to the other woman, her soft, reddish brown hair hanging past her
   1.705 +shoulders. She smiled as Natsuna continued sleeping. Minako pulled the
   1.706 +blanket up and around her, snuggling close to Natsuna. She slowly started to
   1.707 +drift off to sleep.
   1.708 +
   1.709 +*   *   *
   1.710 +THE NEXT DAY
   1.711 +	Setsuna picked up her small basket, trying to balance the weight of the
   1.712 +tremendous amount of groceries and her addition to her chocolate stash.
   1.713 +Turning around too fast, three rather large oranges dropped out of her 
   1.714 +basket.
   1.715 +‘I knew I should have gotten a cart,’ she thought.
   1.716 +	She bent down and picked up two of the offending oranges, but her
   1.717 +little sandaled foot knocked the third off balance, and it began to roll 
   1.718 +away.
   1.719 +“Damn,” she exclaimed under her breath.
   1.720 +	Walking at a fast pace, she caught up with the rolling orange, only to
   1.721 +have it roll underneath a display case for some cereal boxes at the end of 
   1.722 +an
   1.723 +aisle.  Setting down her basket very carefully, she got on her knees and 
   1.724 +looked
   1.725 +under the display case.
   1.726 +	“There you are you little…” She exclaimed, reaching for the orange.
   1.727 +	“Setsuna?”  A hand came to rest on her shoulder, making her leap
   1.728 +up…and slam her head on the bottom of the display table.  Holding her head
   1.729 +and whimpering words of anger and embarrassment, she looked up into the
   1.730 +eyes of her offender.
   1.731 +	The first thing she saw, actually, was the nice shoes on small feet.
   1.732 +Eyes travelling up slowly, she took in the tight fitting jeans, stylish and 
   1.733 +trendy.
   1.734 +Her red eyes traveled up the shapely legs to the small, flat stomach, and up 
   1.735 +to
   1.736 +the small breasts.  Her eyes came to rest on the dark ponytail, which came 
   1.737 +to
   1.738 +rest just below her right breast.  Curiosity and familiarity making her eyes
   1.739 +travel still farther, they halted to a stop at the dark blue eyes of her 
   1.740 +offender.
   1.741 +She sank into this deep shade of blue, and began to smile.  “Seiya!”  
   1.742 +Leaping
   1.743 +up from her kneeling position and forgetting about her injured head, she 
   1.744 +threw
   1.745 +her long arms around the taller woman’s neck, laughing slightly.
   1.746 +	Seiya, a little surprised about Setsuna’s attitude, was stunned.
   1.747 +Setsuna, showing emotion?  A lot had changed since she had left Tokyo.  But
   1.748 +the dark green hair brushed against her nose, smelling of forest green and
   1.749 +something else she couldn’t put her finger on.  Closing her beautiful dark 
   1.750 +blue
   1.751 +eyes, she wrapped her arms around the green-haired woman’s waist, leaning
   1.752 +her head to rest on Setsuna’s shoulder.  “Setsuna…” The word was let out in 
   1.753 +a
   1.754 +whisper, almost too quiet for Seiya to hear herself.  Sudden feelings of 
   1.755 +heat
   1.756 +laced with desire invaded her mind, and it was covered in a clear 
   1.757 +transparent
   1.758 +shell.  Sudden memories, or maybe visions, she didn’t know, entered her
   1.759 +mind…of two women, one with long black hair and one with long dark green
   1.760 +hair standing on a balcony in dresses rimmed with gold, kissing and holding
   1.761 +each other, trapped in an embrace similar to this one.  The heads turned, 
   1.762 +and a
   1.763 +hazy Seiya kissed her green-haired goddess, bending her head down and
   1.764 +sweeping her feet off the balcony.
   1.765 +	Setsuna’s heart pounded in her ears.  Why did Seiya say her name like
   1.766 +that?!  That wasn’t expected.  She didn’t think Seiya held affections for 
   1.767 +anyone
   1.768 +but her princess.  Why were Seiya’s arms so warm?  Linked around her waist
   1.769 +and pulling her so close?  What was she doing here in a supermarket, anyway?
   1.770 +And why was her breath so warm against her cheek like that?  Sudden
   1.771 +memories of Seiya in Crystal Tokyo, looking as fine as could be in a long
   1.772 +flowing gown of blue and yellow stars, calling out to her.  It had only been
   1.773 +once, the two had embraced and kissed, but she hadn’t seen Seiya after that.
   1.774 +She should have thought about it more, should have noticed Seiya more,
   1.775 +because then maybe she could figure out her own feelings.
   1.776 +	Realizing where she was and what she’d felt, and thought, and
   1.777 +suddenly embarrassed by it, Seiya pulled away slightly.  Setsuna held on for
   1.778 +another moment, reveling in the warmth of a body beside her, near her, and
   1.779 +with her.  But the feeling suddenly cleared from her passion hazy mind, and
   1.780 +she registered Seiya holding her waist at arm’s length.  Unlinking her arms
   1.781 +from around Seiya’s neck, she realized how awful she must look…jumping up
   1.782 +like that after slamming her head into a table.  Oh, real smooth Setsuna!  
   1.783 +Her
   1.784 +mind shouted at her.
   1.785 +	Red eyes hardened.  Her internal defenses were locked again.  No
   1.786 +more embarrassment.  Not again.  In the back of her mind, something ached.  
   1.787 +It
   1.788 +knew, more then Setsuna herself, that such rejection would harm her heart to
   1.789 +the core.
   1.790 +	“I’m so glad to see you, Seiya.  What brings you back to Tokyo?”  A
   1.791 +forced smile crossed her red lips, not reaching her eyes at all.  Seiya 
   1.792 +cursed
   1.793 +herself in her mind for being so stupid.
   1.794 +	“Oh…um…well, I…decided to come back for a visit.”  She smiled,
   1.795 +forced as well.  She didn’t want to reveal her true intentions just yet.  
   1.796 +She was
   1.797 +planning to come to Tokyo, and stay.  She didn’t want to watch her princess
   1.798 +and sister fall deeply in love.  An aching heart would never heal like that. 
   1.799 +Of
   1.800 +course, the plan had backfired when Kakyuu had thought it a great idea to
   1.801 +move back to Tokyo. Now her two sisters and her princess were right next 
   1.802 +door
   1.803 +from her. She’d been there visiting the night before when she’d seen Yaten
   1.804 +ready for her date with Kakyuu.
   1.805 +	Setsuna knew something was wrong.  Seiya didn’t lie.  Not ever.
   1.806 +Unless something was seriously wrong.  “Oh, that’s nice.”  She bent down to
   1.807 +pick up her basket.  “Do you have a place to stay?”
   1.808 +	“Oh, yes, I rented a place just a few blocks from here.”  Seiya smiled
   1.809 +again, trying to lighten the mood.  ‘Damnit,’ she thought, ‘what have I 
   1.810 +done?
   1.811 +Setsuna, please, don’t be angry…’
   1.812 +	“That’s wonderful!  You should stop by to have dinner with us
   1.813 +sometime.  Which I have to go back and make now, so…I’ll see you around…”
   1.814 +A horrible moment of emotion made her voice crack, and she turned away
   1.815 +quickly, rushing to the check-out stand.  She waited a few minutes, and 
   1.816 +Seiya
   1.817 +didn’t come for her.  A menacing voice in her mind asked her if that was a
   1.818 +good or bad thing.  Leaning on the mechanical food belt, she sighed.
   1.819 +“Always…” She breathed out.  Her red eyes shook suddenly, and she brought
   1.820 +her hand up to cover them.
   1.821 +	Suddenly, two warm arms wrapped around her waist.  Startled, she
   1.822 +tried to turn around, but the arms held her in place.
   1.823 +	Seiya leaned in, placing her head once again on Setsuna’s shoulder.
   1.824 +Setsuna’s lovely back was against her chest now, full of warmth.  A mouth to
   1.825 +an ear, she whispered, “Would it…be alright…if I ate dinner with you
   1.826 +tonight?”
   1.827 +	Setsuna breathed in deeply.  “I think that could be arranged…”
   1.828 +*   *   *
   1.829 +	“Come on, Haruka!  The water’s so warm!”  Michiru splashed about,
   1.830 +waving her long arms around in the water.  Haruka, standing atop a near-by
   1.831 +rock, beamed down at her lover in the quiet stream.
   1.832 +	“I AM coming in!”  Jumping up in the air and tucking her knees
   1.833 +under her chest gracefully, she slammed into the water, waves roaring in her
   1.834 +ears.  She glanced up through the hazy stream water to see little white 
   1.835 +bubbles
   1.836 +surround her and waves roll over her little sea nymph.
   1.837 +	A couple of seconds passed and Haruka shot out above the water, her
   1.838 +head up toward the sun.  She struck such a graceful figure that Michiru 
   1.839 +almost
   1.840 +gasped, streaks of crimson lining her cheeks.  When Haruka looked at her, 
   1.841 +she
   1.842 +turned away, embarrassed.  “That wasn’t the kind of entry I had hoped for.”
   1.843 +She stated, her voice dripping with sarcasm.  She looked over her shoulder
   1.844 +slightly, her hair soaked with the stream water, creating an unearthly look
   1.845 +about her.  Light green eyes pierced into blue ones, and then turned away, 
   1.846 +half-
   1.847 +teasing, half-serious.
   1.848 +	“Michiru…” Haruka called, only to see her little sea nymph swim ever
   1.849 +faster away from her.  “Hey, wait up!”  Awkwardly splashing after her, she
   1.850 +called again.
   1.851 +	Michiru turned only slightly, and began to laugh.  She saw Haruka
   1.852 +struggling to catch up with her, knowing the taller girl was not much of a
   1.853 +swimmer.  She began to slow down, half wanting her lover to catch up with
   1.854 +her.  But the laughing was the main reason her shaking limbs could not keep
   1.855 +up the fast pace she had used.
   1.856 +	Breathless, Haruka finally reached her.  “You…need to…slow
   1.857 +down…girl!”  She exclaimed, her small tongue reaching the edge of her mouth
   1.858 +in exhaustion.
   1.859 +	“Hmm, really?”  Michiru took this chance and wrapped her elegant
   1.860 +arms around her lover’s neck and kissed her slow, hard, and wet.  Haruka was
   1.861 +tall enough to stand on the bottom of the water, but Michiru was not, and 
   1.862 +she
   1.863 +wrapped her legs around Haruka’s waist.  Rubbing her hips slowly up and
   1.864 +down over the taller girl’s mid-section, she let a moan escape through the 
   1.865 +kiss.
   1.866 +Pulling away slowly, she smiled seductively.  “Is it better slow?”
   1.867 +	Haruka looked down at her nymph, eyes wide with desire and surprise.
   1.868 +Finding her words that had been lost in the back of her throat, she 
   1.869 +swallowed
   1.870 +hard.  “It’s always good with you.”  She wrapped her arms tightly
   1.871 +around Michiru’s waist and leaned in to kiss her again.
   1.872 +
   1.873 +******
   1.874 +
   1.875 +Seiya looked in the mirror again and pulled her skirt down.  She
   1.876 +glanced nervously at herself, wondering if she went a little overboard with 
   1.877 +the
   1.878 +make-up.
   1.879 +	Being a Starlight for so long had her comfortable with being a man.
   1.880 +She had always thought she looked better in women’s clothes, but to please 
   1.881 +the
   1.882 +millions of screaming women as fans, she continued to play the part.
   1.883 +But now, that was changing.  Here she was, putting the finishing touches on
   1.884 +herself before she would take Setsuna out to a nice fancy dinner.  Yaten had
   1.885 +helped her pick out an outfit, but was it really appropriate?
   1.886 +	Even Seiya had to admit she looked killer in it.  Short black skirts look
   1.887 +good on almost anyone.  The slit up the right side, however, was what would
   1.888 +knock ‘em out.  Her knee-high leather boots looked perfect with it, and the
   1.889 +cream and black top she had on was perfect to complete the outfit.  But on 
   1.890 +the
   1.891 +first date?  And to a fancy restaurant?  Should she be dressed up in one of 
   1.892 +those
   1.893 +dresses that covered more of herself, like Michiru would always wear on big
   1.894 +outings?
   1.895 +	That wasn’t her style.
   1.896 +	Seiya sighed and looked at the floor.  In her minds eye she could see a
   1.897 +beautiful Setsuna walk before her in a lovely gown, give her one look, and 
   1.898 +run
   1.899 +back inside her house.  Seiya shook her head.  Setsuna wasn’t like that.  
   1.900 +The
   1.901 +sophisticated dark-skinned woman she had always known to be calm and
   1.902 +collected would never do something like that.
   1.903 +	Never.  That was a funny word.  Never.  She would have never
   1.904 +thought about Setsuna as a potential lover.  Never.  But that didn’t mean it
   1.905 +wouldn’t happen.  Not until that day, when she saw Setsuna in the Market,
   1.906 +looking comfortable and sweet.  And when those long arms had come around
   1.907 +her, and she had that forest green hair beneath her nose, her entire thought
   1.908 +pattern changed.  No longer did she feel like she needed to hide from the 
   1.909 +love
   1.910 +of Yaten and their Princess, not anymore.  All she really felt like she 
   1.911 +needed
   1.912 +was to feel Setsuna’s waist beneath her hands, and their lips together, and 
   1.913 +the
   1.914 +moonlight streaming in the window, and…
   1.915 +	Seiya looked back up at herself.
   1.916 +Why not?
   1.917 +
   1.918 +*   *   *
   1.919 +
   1.920 +	Setsuna sighed as she looked in the mirror.
   1.921 +	“You look beautiful, Setsuna-mama!”  Hotaru giggled.
   1.922 +	“I love the skirt!”  ChibiUsa agreed, and turned to Hotaru.  “You and I
   1.923 +should go out like this sometime.”
   1.924 +	“You don’t have enough money to take me out!”  Hotaru laughed at
   1.925 +the expression on her lover’s face.  “We will, Odango-chan.”
   1.926 +	“Come on you two, you’re supposed to be helping me!”  Setsuna
   1.927 +turned around, exasperated.  The entire night the two girls she had always
   1.928 +thought of as daughters had been phasing in and out of attention to her.  
   1.929 +“Are
   1.930 +you really sure this is appropriate?”
   1.931 +	“Oh come on!  You look good in it.  I know Seiya’ll like it!”  ChibiUsa
   1.932 +giggled, blushing a little.
   1.933 +	Setsuna sighed at her reflection.  She was wearing a velvet maroon
   1.934 +skirt that went to her knees, maroon platform sandals (something Hotaru
   1.935 +convinced her into wearing), and a black tanktop with a maroon flowered
   1.936 +design.  ChibiUsa had done her make-up, with a little help from her mom.
   1.937 +That had scared Setsuna at first, knowing that this was Usagi they were 
   1.938 +talking
   1.939 +about, but she was pleased with the results.  It seems that after years of 
   1.940 +practice
   1.941 +Usagi had finally got something down to an art.
   1.942 +	Setsuna turned to the two giggling girls once again, and smiled.  They
   1.943 +looked plenty confident that she was beautiful.  They were happy for her.
   1.944 +Maybe they were smarter for being that way.
   1.945 +	Seiya had always been someone Setsuna had admired, not only for her
   1.946 +continuing courage, but for her love for everything around her.  The entire
   1.947 +ordeal with Usagi had been a hard one for everyone, but Seiya had handled it
   1.948 +rather well, accepting what the future would not change.  Setsuna herself 
   1.949 +had to
   1.950 +come to terms with what was destined too many times.  But when she had seen
   1.951 +Seiya, she couldn’t help but be excited, even if they hadn’t been all that 
   1.952 +close.
   1.953 +And when she had heard her name being whispered into the wind like that, the
   1.954 +way Haruka whispered Michiru’s name, the way ChibiUsa whispered Hotaru’s
   1.955 +name…it made her feel like she was flying.  The realization that someone
   1.956 +could fall in love with her was almost overwhelming.  And now that she was
   1.957 +finally involved with someone, she couldn’t help but feel nervous.  It was 
   1.958 +all
   1.959 +too much of an emotional rollercoaster, but she couldn’t help being the 
   1.960 +first in
   1.961 +line for the dangerous ride.
   1.962 +	“Come on, Setsuna, Seiya’ll be here any minute!”  She heard Haruka’s
   1.963 +call from down the hallway.
   1.964 +	“I’m almost finished.”  Setsuna called back, and reached for the make-
   1.965 +up on the table beside her.  Picking up the eyeliner, she placed two small 
   1.966 +wings
   1.967 +off the edges of her eyelashes, and stood back.  “Perfect.”
   1.968 +
   1.969 +*   *   *
   1.970 +
   1.971 +	Seiya took a deep breath.  She slowly raised her hand to the doorbell,
   1.972 +and then stopped.  She was shaking.  How odd.  She had never started to 
   1.973 +shake
   1.974 +out of nervousness before, even when she had stage-fright.  Maybe that was
   1.975 +because she had always had her sisters for support.
   1.976 +	They couldn’t help her now.
   1.977 +	Seiya took another deep breath and released it slowly.  She pressed the
   1.978 +little lit up button, and then dropped her hand to the side and waited.
   1.979 +	She heard some noise inside, mostly Haruka’s voice yelling.  She
   1.980 +smiled. Good ol’ Haruka.
   1.981 +	The doorknob turned, and she felt her heart rise in her chest.  The
   1.982 +door flung open, and there stood Haruka in the doorway.  Her gaze traveled
   1.983 +over Seiya, who stood her ground, and then back up to her eyes.  With a grin
   1.984 +and a nod of approval, she let out the breath she had been holding.
   1.985 +	“Come mere you!”  Haruka reached out and pulled Seiya close.  The
   1.986 +two women were about the same height, Seiya just a little bit taller now due 
   1.987 +to
   1.988 +her boots.  They pulled out of the friendly embrace and smiled at each 
   1.989 +other.
   1.990 +“It’s been too long.”
   1.991 +	Seiya grinned.  “It sure has.”
   1.992 +	“HAR-UUUKA!”  Came a voice from inside, and the two women
   1.993 +turned.
   1.994 +	“You better come in before Michiru has a baby or something.”  Haruka
   1.995 +laughed, and pulled Seiya inside the house.  “Come on, Setsuna’s just 
   1.996 +finishing
   1.997 +up.”  Seiya remembered the house from awhile ago, when they were just
   1.998 +moving in, and now looked it over with interest.  Walking around toward the
   1.999 +living room, she saw book-cases full of books.  She smiled.  Michiru loved 
  1.1000 +the
  1.1001 +arts, almost as bad as Mizuno Ami.
  1.1002 +	“SEIYA!”  Michiru ran towards her friend and jumped into her arms.
  1.1003 +Seiya, on the other hand, was almost knocked over, and stumbled slightly 
  1.1004 +from
  1.1005 +the awkwardness of her platform boots.
  1.1006 +	“Hey…Michiru…” She ground out, trying to get a few breaths in
  1.1007 +through the squeezing she was forced into.  She glanced at Haruka for help, 
  1.1008 +but
  1.1009 +the blonde woman was just laughing hysterically.  “How’s it…going?”
  1.1010 +	“SEIYA!  You’ve been gone for so long!”  The aqua head looked up at
  1.1011 +her, and the same color eyes stared into hers.  “Why didn’t you visit?”  The
  1.1012 +tone was almost angry.
  1.1013 +	“I’m sorry…” Seiya’s explanation was halted as she heard footsteps.
  1.1014 +Michiru fell out of her arms and walked over to Haruka, and the two women
  1.1015 +held hands and smiled like proud parents or friends.  Seiya’s heart started 
  1.1016 +to
  1.1017 +pound with anticipation.  She held her breath for the second time today and…
  1.1018 +	“Hey Seiya!”  Hotaru walked into the room, and everyone sighed.
  1.1019 +Hotaru looked a little angry.  “What?”
  1.1020 +	“Nothing.”  Seiya smiled and held her arms open.  Hotaru ran into
  1.1021 +them and hugged Seiya’s waist.
  1.1022 +	“You’ve been gone for such a long time!”
  1.1023 +	“I know, I know.”
  1.1024 +	“SSSSEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIYYYYYYYAAAAAA!!!!”  ChibiUsa’s
  1.1025 +squeal rang throughout the room, and Seiya winced.  A pink whir of hair
  1.1026 +suddenly ran into the room and knocked both Seiya and Hotaru over.  “THERE
  1.1027 +YOU ARE!”  She hugged Seiya fiercely, who was trying desperately to not let
  1.1028 +her skirt ride up too high.
  1.1029 +	“Hey ChibiUsa, how are you?”  She smiled once she got up.
  1.1030 +	“Hey you guys…” A soft voice came from across the room.  Seiya
  1.1031 +looked up to see Setsuna standing in the room’s entryway.  Seiya felt the 
  1.1032 +heat
  1.1033 +rising to her cheeks as she took in Setsuna.  The color was perfect on her, 
  1.1034 +and
  1.1035 +long green hair flowed over her shoulders and down to her waist.
  1.1036 +	Seiya found her voice again, and spoke.  “Hi.”
  1.1037 +	“Hi.”  Setsuna smiled, happy with the effect she had on Seiya, but
  1.1038 +almost ashamed with the effect Seiya had on her.  Those long creamy legs had
  1.1039 +her own knees shaking and knocking against each other.  “Should we get
  1.1040 +going?”
  1.1041 +	“Sure.”  Seiya walked the distance toward Setsuna, jut barely aware of
  1.1042 +the other women staring intently at them.  They walked out of the door
  1.1043 +together, hand in hand.
  1.1044 +
  1.1045 +*   *   *
  1.1046 +
  1.1047 +	Setsuna set down her glass of water, the ice rattling together as her
  1.1048 +hand shook.  She swallowed hard.  She hoped Seiya hadn’t noticed.
  1.1049 +	How could she not notice every little tiny thing she was doing?  Those
  1.1050 +dark blue eyes stared at her through half closed lids and never wavered from
  1.1051 +her.  At least, they hadn’t so far.  And she knew, because her own eyes 
  1.1052 +couldn’t
  1.1053 +take themselves of the mighty fine woman before her.
  1.1054 +	Seiya seemed so together.  Like nothing was making her nervous in
  1.1055 +the least.  Of course, she must have women lining up to just see her.  Being 
  1.1056 +one
  1.1057 +of the Lights and all.  In fact, now that she thought of it…Seiya probably 
  1.1058 +dated
  1.1059 +all the time.  Was that what she was?  Just another date?  Maybe another one
  1.1060 +night stand?  Would Seiya forget about her once tonight was done?
  1.1061 +	Setsuna tried to swallow the rising panic in her throat.  Her voice of
  1.1062 +reason came through the horrible questions.  ‘Just ask her’, it said.  ‘Ask 
  1.1063 +her if
  1.1064 +she really wants a real relationship.  Ask her what’s going to happen 
  1.1065 +tomorrow.
  1.1066 +What have you got to lose?’
  1.1067 +	But she knew what she had to lose already.
  1.1068 +
  1.1069 +*   *   *
  1.1070 +
  1.1071 +	Seiya watched Setsuna set down her water glass with grace and
  1.1072 +elegance.  Funny how wonderful traits like these could come out of a little
  1.1073 +motion like that.
  1.1074 +	Seiya tried not to let her knees rattle together any louder.  It was all
  1.1075 +she could do to keep them from knocking the table over.  Setsuna seemed to 
  1.1076 +be
  1.1077 +just fine.  She looked content, just nibbling on the fancy French dinner set
  1.1078 +before her.  Seiya wasn’t hungry all of a sudden.  At least, not for food.
  1.1079 +	Setsuna suddenly went tense.  Seiya felt herself become the same, and
  1.1080 +tried to relax.  Setsuna’s dark red eyes stared up at her, full of 
  1.1081 +questions.  Seiya
  1.1082 +looked at her likewise.
  1.1083 +	Setsuna cleared her throat.  “Um…Seiya…would it be alright if
  1.1084 +I…asked you something…”
  1.1085 +	“Sure.”  Seiya replied automatically and with a smile.  “Anything
  1.1086 +you’d like.”
  1.1087 +	“Um…do you…date often?”  Setsuna’s eyes suddenly went fuzzy, and
  1.1088 +Seiya had the impression that she was going to lose that remarkable control.
  1.1089 +	“No, actually, I don’t.  I’ve stayed away from it because you can’t
  1.1090 +really meet a lot of people if you’re a superstar.”  She smiled weakly.  
  1.1091 +“That’s
  1.1092 +one of the many problems with it.”
  1.1093 +	“So you…don’t have any other…” Setsuna’s eyes darted down to the
  1.1094 +floor.
  1.1095 +	Seiya was quiet for a long time.  When she did speak, the tone was
  1.1096 +mixed with emotions neither woman could place.  “No, Setsuna.  I don’t have
  1.1097 +anyone else.”  Setsuna looked up at her, all her emotions settling down with 
  1.1098 +the
  1.1099 +reassurance.
  1.1100 +	“Mademoiselles?”  The server stood over them, holding up a big tray.
  1.1101 +“Would you two lovebirds like some desert?”
  1.1102 +
  1.1103 +*   *   *
  1.1104 +
  1.1105 +	Usagi walked into the restaurant, holding onto Mamoru’s arm.  The
  1.1106 +server smiled at them both and led them to a table by the window they had
  1.1107 +become accustomed to.
  1.1108 +	Mamoru pulled out Usagi’s chair, then briskly went to his own.  Usagi
  1.1109 +sat down, feeling a little bewildered.  Why hadn’t he touched her?  He 
  1.1110 +always
  1.1111 +did.  Every time he would pull out her chair he would brush her long hair 
  1.1112 +away
  1.1113 +from her neck and kiss her on the cheek.  Every time.  What was so different
  1.1114 +about now?
  1.1115 +	Mamoru didn’t look at her, even as they ordered.  After a long silence
  1.1116 +among the table, Usagi got restless.  “Is there something wrong, Mamo-chan?”
  1.1117 +He didn’t respond.  “You seem angry.  Did I do something to upset you?”  
  1.1118 +Still
  1.1119 +no response.  “Did I step on your foot again?  I’m sorry I…I know I’m 
  1.1120 +clumsy,
  1.1121 +but I didn’t know it upset you this much…”
  1.1122 +	“It’s not that, Usako.”  Mamoru still didn’t look at her.  “Nothing’s
  1.1123 +wrong with me.”
  1.1124 +	“What do you mean?”  Usagi became worried.
  1.1125 +	“I know your secret, Usako.  I know why you don’t see me that often
  1.1126 +anymore.  I know why you find so much time for your friends all the time…for
  1.1127 +her.”
  1.1128 +	Usagi felt anger rise up in her cheeks.  “What the hell are you talking
  1.1129 +about?”
  1.1130 +	“You know what I’m talking about.”  Two angry black beads that were
  1.1131 +his eyes stared into hers.  “I know who you’re in love with.”
  1.1132 +
  1.1133 +*   *   *
  1.1134 +
  1.1135 +	“Hey, isn’t that Usagi-san and Mamoru-san?”  Seiya pointed to a table
  1.1136 +by the window.  Setsuna looked over to the couple and smiled.
  1.1137 +	“It sure is.  I didn’t know they were going out tonight.  I wouldn’t
  1.1138 +have asked Usagi for help if I knew she had to get ready.”
  1.1139 +	“You asked her for help?”
  1.1140 +	“Yeah, with my make-up.”  Setsuna blushed slightly, the little crimson
  1.1141 +streaks clashing with her dark skin.  “I’m not exactly a DiVinci with it.  
  1.1142 +I’m
  1.1143 +more like Piccasso.”
  1.1144 +	Seiya laughed.  “Hey, I know how it is.  Luckily they make you wear
  1.1145 +make-up in music videos and stuff like that, so I wore it the entire time.”
  1.1146 +	Setsuna’s red eyes grew wide.  “Really?  That’s actually really cool.”
  1.1147 +She paused for a second, as if contemplating what she was going to say next.
  1.1148 +“Tell me more about being a music star.”
  1.1149 +
  1.1150 +*   *   *
  1.1151 +
  1.1152 +	“Mamoru…you think I’m in love with…” Usagi’s eyes filled with
  1.1153 +tears.
  1.1154 +	“I don’t think, Usako, I know.  You love her, more then you do me,
  1.1155 +obviously.”  Mamoru rolled his eyes.  “Quit with the goodie-two-shoe thing.  
  1.1156 +I
  1.1157 +know you love her.”
  1.1158 +	“I…I love you, Mamo-chan.  I always have.  I always will.  If you
  1.1159 +don’t believe me, look to the future to tell you!  We’ll be together, you 
  1.1160 +and I,
  1.1161 +and ChibiUsa will be born.  If you don’t believe that, what else can you 
  1.1162 +believe
  1.1163 +in?”
  1.1164 +	“The past?”  Mamoru’s voice almost dripped with sarcasm.  “Sure,
  1.1165 +like the past is any proof.  The past is what it is, the past.  No longer 
  1.1166 +here.
  1.1167 +Your precious little world revolves around her, Usagi, and that’s what’s 
  1.1168 +really
  1.1169 +going on.  I don’t know how I didn’t notice before.  You always running to 
  1.1170 +her
  1.1171 +when you had a problem.  I was so blind…”
  1.1172 +	“You were a selfish asshole, that’s what you were.”  Usagi’s voice was
  1.1173 +full of something that resembled hatred as the crystal tears streamed down 
  1.1174 +her
  1.1175 +cheeks.  “The only problem I ever had in my life was you.  You took away
  1.1176 +everything I had, you and your promises of love ever-lasting.  You pretended 
  1.1177 +to
  1.1178 +trust me.  You say I love someone else.  Fuck you.”  Usagi stood up and 
  1.1179 +raised
  1.1180 +her voice.  “Fuck you, Mamoru.  You don’t disserve to be in my company.”
  1.1181 +And with that, the tiny woman turned on her heel and quickly walked out of 
  1.1182 +the
  1.1183 +restaurant, hearing claps and cheers behind her.
  1.1184 +
  1.1185 +*   *   *
  1.1186 +
  1.1187 +	Setsuna stood up, worried.  “She doesn’t have a way home…”
  1.1188 +	“Come on, we can still catch her.”  Seiya threw down a hundred and
  1.1189 +grabbed Setsuna’s hand.  They ran, somewhat awkwardly, toward the door, and
  1.1190 +outside into the cold air of night.
  1.1191 +	“Oh!”  Setsuna exclaimed as the air hit her skin.  Seiya pulled her
  1.1192 +closer and wrapped her coat halfway around her.  Setsuna felt herself blush.
  1.1193 +	“USAGI!!”  Seiya yelled, and Setsuna did the same.  Finally they saw
  1.1194 +the girl turn around, and ran towards her.  “Usagi, what’s wrong?  Do you 
  1.1195 +need
  1.1196 +a lift?”
  1.1197 +	The girl took a few shuddering breaths before finally speaking.
  1.1198 +“No…it’s nothing.  I…I need to take a walk.  But thank you for…asking.”  She
  1.1199 +spun around and began to run, leaving the two women a little perplexed.
  1.1200 +	“Seiya…it’s really cold out here…” Setsuna shuddered.
  1.1201 +	“You’re right.”  Seiya finally took her gaze away from the retreating
  1.1202 +blonde and back to the woman in her arms.  “Come on, let’s go to the car.”
  1.1203 +
  1.1204 +*   *   *
  1.1205 +
  1.1206 +	Setsuna marveled at the rooms in Seiya’s apartment.  Little gasps
  1.1207 +would escape that long throat and those red lips, leaving Seiya anxious to 
  1.1208 +touch
  1.1209 +them.  To feel them beneath her fingertips.
  1.1210 +	“Oh Seiya, your flat is beautiful!”  Setsuna spun halfway around to
  1.1211 +look at her.  “I love it!”
  1.1212 +	“Thank you.”  Seiya smiled.  “How do you like your coffee?”
  1.1213 +	“Black, one spoon of sugar.”
  1.1214 +	“Figures…” She muttered under her breath.
  1.1215 +	“What?”
  1.1216 +	“Nothing…” Seiya smiled again and began to pour the liquid into two
  1.1217 +cups.  Once she was done, she picked them both up and went into the living
  1.1218 +room.
  1.1219 +	She almost dropped them.
  1.1220 +	There was Setsuna, draped across her dark blue leather couch, looking
  1.1221 +absolutely delicious.  She hadn’t heard Seiya, and moved around a little bit 
  1.1222 +on
  1.1223 +the couch to get comfortable.  The maroon skirt inched higher up her thighs,
  1.1224 +and Seiya had to force herself to keep standing.
  1.1225 +	She walked briskly over to the table and set down the drinks.  Setsuna
  1.1226 +only had a small amount of time to look up before Seiya’s arm came around 
  1.1227 +her
  1.1228 +and their mouths clashed.
  1.1229 +
  1.1230 +*   *   *
  1.1231 +
  1.1232 +	Usagi liked the feeling of the cool air go through her hair.  Her white
  1.1233 +dress didn’t cover up much.  But, somehow, the cold was refreshing tonight.  
  1.1234 +A
  1.1235 +little strange perhaps, yes, but still refreshing.
  1.1236 +	Usagi knew where she was going.  She knew what she had to do.
  1.1237 +Maybe that was what she had needed to do all along.  Every little fight and
  1.1238 +every little emotion she had with him seemed to be swept away so easily now.
  1.1239 +She knew what she wanted.
  1.1240 +	She ran up the cement steps, her little white shoes making small
  1.1241 +clicking noises.  She heard noise already coming from the structure in front 
  1.1242 +of
  1.1243 +her, and saw a tall figure in the shadow of the bamboo door.  She ran 
  1.1244 +towards
  1.1245 +it, stumbling where the stones jutted out from the walkway.
  1.1246 +	The figure must have heard her, and opened the bamboo door.
  1.1247 +“Hello?”  She called.
  1.1248 +	Usagi fell into her arms, crying and sobbing.  “REI!”
  1.1249 +
  1.1250 +*   *   *
  1.1251 +
  1.1252 +Crystal Tokyo
  1.1253 +30th century
  1.1254 +Tsukino-Hino Usagi walked along the marbled floors of Tokyo’s Crystal
  1.1255 +Palace, her heels clicking onto the scratchable material easily. She reached 
  1.1256 +near
  1.1257 +her hand and felt the small promise ring on her wedding finger. The tiny
  1.1258 +diamond that had been her gift from Mamoru. She smiled kindly at the
  1.1259 +memory, not everything she had remembered from her past lover that was so
  1.1260 +terrible. She knew that they had loved each other at the time. It was 
  1.1261 +something
  1.1262 +that their souls needed to play out. Something that had to be finished in 
  1.1263 +it’s
  1.1264 +own course. She heard the playing in Small Lady’s bedroom, and knew that her
  1.1265 +father had come to see the small child. She was, however no longer a child.
  1.1266 +Small Lady. Ten to this day to be precise, and a growing lovely women at 
  1.1267 +that.
  1.1268 +She had been a child conceived in love and devotion, and a child that would
  1.1269 +one day become Queen of the Crystal Tokyo. But, in the end the one that 
  1.1270 +Usagi
  1.1271 +had loved the most had been Rei. No one understood that more then the senshi
  1.1272 +of her court, no one more so than her daughter who would one day also fall 
  1.1273 +in
  1.1274 +love with a woman when she went back into the past. Of course, Small Lady
  1.1275 +didn’t know that yet. There were some secrets the mother still had to keep 
  1.1276 +from
  1.1277 +her daughter.
  1.1278 +	Chiba Mamoru had later married, too. He ruled over Elysion as well as
  1.1279 +any of the senshi or even Usagi herself. He was still king of the Earth, 
  1.1280 +just as
  1.1281 +Usagi was Queen, and his right to rule over his kingdom of Elysion was only
  1.1282 +natural. Usagi never failed to allow his input and decisions to her Queendom 
  1.1283 +to
  1.1284 +not be recognized.  She walked in her bedroom and felt the warmth of her 
  1.1285 +lover
  1.1286 +next to her and smiled slyly.
  1.1287 +	“Usagi-chan?” Rei’s tiny voice mumbled in her awakened sleep.
  1.1288 +	“Yes?” Usagi asked. She felt Rei’s creamy arms wrap around her
  1.1289 +silken clothed breasts, and cooed.
  1.1290 +	“I love you.”
  1.1291 +	“I love you, too.”
  1.1292 +The End.
  1.1293 +