rlm@0: Hi minna-san! ^-^ Well, we’ve finally finished our newest story. ^^ This rlm@0: takes rlm@0: place a while after ‘Sudden Glimpse’. This deals with who several of the rlm@0: Senshi have fallen in love with. The plot takes a lot of jumps, but it was rlm@0: fun to rlm@0: write and we really hope you enjoy it. ^-^ This was the first story that rlm@0: we’ve rlm@0: written with Gabi (psychokittensenshi), the newest member of the Amazoness rlm@0: Quartet. She’s a great author and she’s a great addition to the Quartet. rlm@0: ^-^ rlm@0: Hopefully you’ll all be seeing a lot more stories from the four of us soon. rlm@0: Well, if you have anytime after reading the story, we’d love to hear from rlm@0: you. rlm@0: ^^ You can reach us at: amazonessduo@hotmail.com rlm@0: Actually, we could use your help, too. For a while now we’ve been using rlm@0: lover’s rlm@0: nicknames that both Hotaru & ChibiUsa use for each other like Taru-chan for rlm@0: Hotaru and Odango-chan for ChibiUsa. We really liked Taru-chan, but its been rlm@0: used so much lately by just about everybody besides ChibiUsa in fanfics rlm@0: lately rlm@0: (including by Mamoru in a Hotaru and Mamoru fic-_-). So we’re going to keep rlm@0: using it, but its lost its meaning as a lover’s nickname for ChibiUsa to rlm@0: call her. rlm@0: We need your help to come up with a new lover’s nickname for Hotaru. If you rlm@0: can think of anything, please e-mail us. ^^ Thank you, everyone. ^-^ rlm@0: rlm@0: rlm@0: Revelations rlm@0: rlm@0: By The Amazoness Quartet rlm@0: rlm@0: rlm@0: rlm@0: rlm@0: Minako, Ami, Usagi, Rei, and Makoto walked along as soon as rlm@0: classes had finished. The four girls talked happily, glad that it was rlm@0: finally rlm@0: the weekend, a chance for them to relax. A crowd of students passed rlm@0: by them, blocking the car that had just pulled up from their view. rlm@0: The door to the car opened and a woman stepped out, scanning the sea rlm@0: of students in an attempt to locate a specific girl. "Minako!" she rlm@0: yelled, finally spotting her. "Minako, over here!" rlm@0: Minako slowed when she heard a voice calling her name. The rlm@0: other four girls stopped as well when they heard. Minako looked rlm@0: around, trying to find the person calling her name. She saw the lady rlm@0: standing by a car, waving her over. Minako froze when she realized rlm@0: the woman was here to pick her up. "I'll see the rest of you later," rlm@0: she said quickly. "We'll talk this weekend. I've gotta get going." rlm@0: Minako waved and hurried to the car. rlm@0: "Isn't that Natsuna?" Makoto asked. rlm@0: "Yep," Usagi answered. "She's Minako's girlfriend." She giggled rlm@0: as she watched Minako get into the car with the older woman. "Couldn't rlm@0: Minako have started going out with her back when we had Haruna for a rlm@0: teacher? Natsuna is Haruna's little sister, so maybe I could have gotten rlm@0: through her class easier." rlm@0: "I don't think Minako going out with her sister would have made rlm@0: any difference in how hard Haruna was on you," Ami commented. rlm@0: "Probably not," Makoto agreed. "I still can't believe she's going rlm@0: out with a twenty-eight year old woman." rlm@0: "Why, you jealous?" Rei asked teasingly. rlm@0: Makoto laughed. "No. Why would I be? I've got Ami." rlm@0: Ami blushed when Makoto mentioned her. rlm@0: Rei just sighed darkly. "Yeah, that's true." rlm@0: "Rei, are you okay?" Usagi asked her. rlm@0: "I'm fine. I'm tired, though. I should be getting back to the shrine. rlm@0: I'll see you all tomorrow." rlm@0: "Bye, Rei!" Usagi said as Rei began walking home. rlm@0: rlm@0: Minako rolled down the window to get some air as the car pulled rlm@0: away. rlm@0: "So how was your day?" Natsuna asked. rlm@0: "Pretty good," Minako answered. "It was long, though." rlm@0: Natsuna laughed. "You would probably think that since its Friday and rlm@0: all. You just couldn't wait to get out of there." rlm@0: Minako smiled at her. "Yeah, pretty much. How was yours?" rlm@0: "Not bad," Natsuna replied. "Nothing as exciting as in the life of rlm@0: Sailor V." rlm@0: "I'm not Sailor V anymore, remember?" Minako corrected her. rlm@0: "I know. But you made a much better Sailor V than Sailor Venus," rlm@0: Natsuna said. Minako giggled. Natsuna still had Sailor V memorabilia around rlm@0: their shared apartment. It still surprised Minako when she saw them. She'd rlm@0: tried to get Natsuna to take them down, but the older woman wouldn't listen rlm@0: to rlm@0: her. rlm@0: "Do you have any work you had to take home?" Minako asked. rlm@0: "Nope. I left Wakagi to handle the rest of it. I didn't want any rlm@0: distractions once we got home." Natsuna winked seductively at Minako. rlm@0: Minako felt her blood boiling when she felt Natsuna's hand rest on rlm@0: her thigh. She'd never thought that the other woman could do this to her. rlm@0: She'd just thought that the police chief was strange back when she was rlm@0: Sailor rlm@0: V. "How could you have put up with me for so long? Ever since I was rlm@0: thirteen, rlm@0: when I first became Sailor V." rlm@0: "Patience," Natsuna said. "A lot of patience. It was really hard to rlm@0: get you to take me seriously about being in love with you. But in the end, rlm@0: it rlm@0: looks like my patience paid off." rlm@0: "I love you, Natsuna," Minako said happily. rlm@0: "I love you, too." Natsuna leaned in and kissed her. rlm@0: rlm@0: Usagi, Ami, and Makoto walked together, talking about the day's rlm@0: events. rlm@0: "Are you and Mamoru going out tonight?" Makoto asked Usagi. rlm@0: "No. He's busy tonight studying with Motoki. What about you two? rlm@0: Are you and Ami-chan going out tonight?" Usagi asked mischievously, rlm@0: knowing how nervous Ami was about the whole thing. rlm@0: Ami blushed a deep crimson and Makoto tried to answer. "Umm... rlm@0: Well, kinda.." Ami only nodded. rlm@0: Usagi laughed. "You guys are so cute together." rlm@0: "Thanks, Usagi-chan," Ami managed. rlm@0: "We should probably get going," Makoto said after checking her rlm@0: watch. rlm@0: "Yeah. We'll talk to you later, Usagi-chan," Ami said. rlm@0: The three girls said their goodbyes before heading off. rlm@0: rlm@0: When Rei got back home to the Hikawa Jinga she headed straight back rlm@0: to her room and changed into her Miko robes. She was depressed about things rlm@0: lately. It seemed like everyone had been finding love. Everyone except her. rlm@0: Her rlm@0: love life was in shambles. Yuuchiro had finally left several months ago, rlm@0: tired of rlm@0: waiting for her. rlm@0: Rei sat down in front of the Sacred Flame. She tried to relax before rlm@0: meditating. She wanted to see if she could find out if she'd ever find love. rlm@0: She started to drift off, her mind floating in a sea of images. After what rlm@0: seemed like an eternity, things started to coalesce. rlm@0: But it had to be wrong. She was seeing the Silver Millennium. She rlm@0: wanted to see the future, not the past. Jaedite? Was that it? Could that rlm@0: be why she was seeing the past? No, she knew it wasn't him. There had to be rlm@0: someone else. rlm@0: Then she saw her. She was standing in the shadows on a balcony, the rlm@0: earth hanging in the sky. Suddenly the figure turned around towards Rei. She rlm@0: gasped. It was Princess Serenity. Rei knew she had some unresolved feelings rlm@0: for Usagi, but she knew that anything between them was impossible. Usagi rlm@0: already had the prince she was destined to be with. rlm@0: Memories came flooding back to Rei as the images from the Silver rlm@0: Millennium surrounded her. Serenity's four Inner Senshi had had Endymion's rlm@0: four generals as boyfriends at the time. But Rei and another of the Inner rlm@0: Senshi had longed for Serenity. 'Who was the other one in love with rlm@0: Serenity?' Rei asked herself. Her memories of the Silver Millennium still rlm@0: weren't complete so she had difficulty recalling who it was. 'Minako? rlm@0: That's right. We both fought over Serenity, even though neither of us rlm@0: ever worked up the courage to tell her how we felt. Minako was going rlm@0: through a lot back then. She was torn about how she felt about Serenity rlm@0: and her feelings for Kunzite. And that's exactly why I thought that I rlm@0: should have been with Usagi. Minako told me she loved both of them. I rlm@0: liked Jaedite and all, but it wasn't the same as how I felt for Serenity. rlm@0: Neither of us stood a chance against Endymion, though. He had destiny rlm@0: on his side. At least Minako seems to have gotten over it. She has rlm@0: Natsuna now. I still cling on. I’m friends with Usagi’s daughter, yet I rlm@0: still cling rlm@0: on. I can't find love because I can't bring myself to let go of her.' rlm@0: Suddenly, everything changed. Rei tried to make out where she was rlm@0: as she waited for the images to clarify. After a few moments, she realized rlm@0: that this had to be Crystal Tokyo. She'd only been there once before, when rlm@0: they'd gone to the future to help ChibiUsa save her parents. Rei saw a rlm@0: lavishly decorated bedroom, most likely the Queen's room. She could see rlm@0: Usagi dressed in her royal gown as Neo Queen Serenity. She was laughing rlm@0: happily. Rei sighed. She was so beautiful. Someone else was there with rlm@0: Serenity. The two were talking about something Rei couldn't make out. rlm@0: She tried to tell who the other person was, but the details weren't clear rlm@0: enough yet. The image slowly became clearer and Rei could finally tell rlm@0: that the other person sitting with Serenity was her. 'What's going on?' rlm@0: Rei thought. Serenity leaned towards Rei's future self and the two rlm@0: kissed passionately. Rei couldn't believe what she was seeing. 'But how?' rlm@0: Rei asked, trying desperately to come up with an answer as the images rlm@0: dissolved around her. rlm@0: Rei sat in shock as she came out of her meditative trance. What rlm@0: she'd seen had been her dream come true, but she knew it couldn't happen. rlm@0: Was it just wishful thinking on her part or did she actually end up with rlm@0: Usagi? Rei tried to meditate on an answer, but after what she'd seen, she rlm@0: couldn't calm herself enough to try. She sighed heavily and decided to rlm@0: give up for the time being. She resolved to try again later, hopefully rlm@0: with better results. rlm@0: rlm@0: Hotaru was sitting on a decorative stone throne set atop some rlm@0: large steps. ChibiMoon was at the bottom of the steps, unconscious on an rlm@0: altar. Energy snaked out from Hotaru, forming a hand at the end. It rlm@0: headed out towards ChibiMoon and slammed down on her chest. The younger rlm@0: girl let out a scream of pain as she was dragged back to consciousness. rlm@0: "Hotaru-chan... I'm glad to see you..." ChibiMoon managed before rlm@0: passing out again, her Heart Crystal pulled from her body. Hotaru felt rlm@0: a surge of terror run through her as the pink haired girl lay deathly rlm@0: still. rlm@0: ChibiMoon's Heart Crystal flew up to where Hotaru was sitting. rlm@0: After swallowing it, she changed completely into Mistress 9. The rlm@0: Senshi looked on, unable to stop her as Sailormoon talked futilely with rlm@0: Professor Tomoe. rlm@0: 'Even when I was Mistress 9, I couldn't stop thinking about rlm@0: ChibiUsa. Whatever part of me was still there was so worried about what rlm@0: had happened to her. Its so life-like. I've had this dream before. And I've rlm@0: talked rlm@0: to ChibiUsa about it a couple times, too. She always tells me that it wasn't rlm@0: my rlm@0: fault, that it wasn't me who did those awful things, like killing Kaolinite rlm@0: and rlm@0: hurting my Odango-chan. It always hurts as it all comes back to me, rlm@0: everything rlm@0: I did as Mistress 9, and I cry. And ChibiUsa holds me, trying to stop the rlm@0: pain I feel. But she's not here tonight. I have to deal with the dream rlm@0: on my own. I know it was just that, a dream, but what happened was real. rlm@0: I lie here for a while, uncertain of what to do. I want to hear her rlm@0: voice. I want tor hear her tell me everything's all right. I want her rlm@0: to hold me. I think about calling her, but she's probably asleep now. rlm@0: She’s spending the night at Momoko’s house. I could call anyway, rlm@0: even if it does wake her up, but I'm uncertain. I feel so nervous and rlm@0: scared, rlm@0: alone in the dark. I don't know what to do. I know I can't get back to rlm@0: sleep. I rlm@0: never can after I have that dream.' Hotaru sat up in bed, hugging her knees rlm@0: to rlm@0: her chest. After a couple minutes, she stood up and headed for the door of rlm@0: her rlm@0: room. 'I want to see her,' she thought. rlm@0: rlm@0: Setsuna put down the book she was reading when she heard the rlm@0: front door open. She looked out her window to see Hotaru hurrying off rlm@0: to find ChibiUsa. "I hope she's okay," Setsuna said aloud. 'No rlm@0: one could be happier than I am that Hotaru and ChibiUsa are in love. rlm@0: I raised Hotaru like a daughter with Michiru and Haruka. I feel like rlm@0: Hotaru's my own daughter, and in an odd way, I feel the same way about rlm@0: Small Lady. I got to watch her grow up in the future. She came to the Time rlm@0: Palace so often, even though she wasn't supposed to. She came to rlm@0: me with her problems when she needed help. And I actually helped raise rlm@0: Hotaru. I guess the main difference is that one of them calls me mama rlm@0: and the other doesn't. I'm glad they have each other. They both mean rlm@0: so much to me.' rlm@0: 'I do admit that being around Haruka and Michiru and a love rlm@0: stricken Hotaru does get a bit depressing sometimes. Its just hard to rlm@0: see people so in love like that and to not have anyone of my own to rlm@0: love. And everyone I have fallen for winds up destined to be with rlm@0: someone else.' Setsuna sighed. 'First Endymion and then Michiru. I rlm@0: practically grew up with Michiru and Haruka back in the Silver rlm@0: Millenium. Michiru was my best friend since we were young. It took rlm@0: a while for me to realize I loved her. I was so down after Endymion rlm@0: got with Princess Serenity, but she helped me get through it. I rlm@0: felt differently towards her after that. I wanted to tell her, but rlm@0: Haruka was too fast for me. Before I could do anything, she was rlm@0: already with Haruka. Why does destiny always pass me over?' Setsuna rlm@0: picked up her book again and tried to stop thinking about it. 'I rlm@0: shouldn't lose any sleep over it, I guess.' She looked out the rlm@0: window again. 'Wherever you are, be careful, Hotaru.' rlm@0: rlm@0: Yaten walked hesitantly out of her room in a shimmering light rlm@0: blue dress. It accentuated her soft curves perfectly, fitting the rlm@0: short girl almost like a second skin. Her hair was up in a high pony rlm@0: tail that trailed down to the small of her back. rlm@0: Taiki looked up from the book she was reading and arched an rlm@0: eyebrow. "That's... interesting," Taiki said, struggling for the right rlm@0: words. She hadn't seen Yaten in a dress since they'd all been back on rlm@0: Kinmoku, before they'd come to earth disguised as the Three Lights. rlm@0: Seiya looked over at Yaten from where she was sitting after rlm@0: she heard Taiki. It had been so quiet for a while that the sudden rlm@0: noise had startled her. She stared in shock for a few seconds at rlm@0: Yaten. "Why are you wearing that?" rlm@0: "I'm going out," Yaten said defensively. They had been rlm@0: dressing up as guys for so long that it seemed odd to be in a dress rlm@0: again. Yaten felt herself relaxing as she got used to it. Kakyuu had rlm@0: asked her to wear a dress a couple of nights ago when they'd decided rlm@0: to go out for the night. It had seemed an odd request at first. Kakyuu rlm@0: had grown up with Yaten as a girl. Kakyuu found it strange to have her rlm@0: Starlights pretending to be men. Yaten felt more comfortable dressing rlm@0: in women's clothes anyway, so they went shopping later that day. rlm@0: Yaten was nervous about what Seiya and Taiki would think, though she rlm@0: kept telling herself it didn't matter. They were like sisters to her, rlm@0: so she still felt anxiety wash over her as they continued to stare at rlm@0: her. rlm@0: "But why are you going out in that?" Seiya asked. rlm@0: "Because she looks pretty in it." The Three Lights all turned rlm@0: as the heard their princess, Kakyuu. She was wearing a low cut black rlm@0: and red dress. Her red hair was done up in elegant braids. She smiled rlm@0: happily as she walked up beside Yaten. rlm@0: "You can't go dressed like that," Seiya said as she turned back rlm@0: towards Yaten. rlm@0: "Why can't I? I am a girl." Yaten could tell Seiya was getting rlm@0: frustrated. She knew that Seiya was in love with Kayuu as well. To rlm@0: some extent all three of them loved her. But in the end, she'd fallen rlm@0: in love with Yaten. Seiya was still a little jealous about that even rlm@0: though she wanted Kakyuu and her surrogate sister to be happy. rlm@0: "It was your idea to masquerade as men in the first place," rlm@0: Seiya argued. rlm@0: "Well, it was a stupid idea. We've found Kakyuu. There's rlm@0: no reason to keep pretending anymore. And besides, I don't like pretending rlm@0: to be a man," Yaten told Seiya. rlm@0: Kakyuu giggled. "If you two don't mind, Yaten and I have dinner rlm@0: reservations." She waved to Taiki and Seiya as she grabbed Yaten's hand rlm@0: and started walking to the door with her. "We'll see you later!" she said. rlm@0: Seiya sat down as the door closed behind the two. "What do you rlm@0: think, Taiki?" rlm@0: Taiki pulled her book back up in front of her. "Yaten did have rlm@0: a point. There really isn't a reason for us to go around like this anymore. rlm@0: Besides for the fans. They all think the Three Lights are men, so it would rlm@0: be a shock to find out we aren't." rlm@0: Seiya sighed. "You too, Taiki?" rlm@0: Taiki just smiled slightly as she went back to her book. rlm@0: rlm@0: ********* rlm@0: Momoko sat with her legs crossed, Diana next to her with her head on rlm@0: her rlm@0: lap letting Momoko's hands pass through her cute double odangos and soft rlm@0: hair. rlm@0: She was enjoying the motions and attention. She loved being so close to rlm@0: Momoko, and being able to relax into her . Diana place her hand on Momoko's rlm@0: cheek, grabbing her attention. Momoko smiled and leaned into a kiss. Then rlm@0: she rlm@0: heard a knock at the door and was ripped from the pleasure. She looked up to rlm@0: her mother. rlm@0: "Yes?" she asked nervously. rlm@0: "Honey, ChibiUsa is here to spend the night," she looked to the tiny rlm@0: gray rlm@0: kitten on her daughters lap. "Well Diana sure has been spending quite a lot rlm@0: of rlm@0: time here hasn't she?" The kitten meowed and rubbed up against Momoko's rlm@0: stomach. ChibiUsa appeared at the door and smiled. rlm@0: "Konnichiwa Momo-chan" she walked inside and plopped her baggage on rlm@0: the bed. Momoko's mother walked out and Diana returned to human form, and rlm@0: her place next to Momoko. ChibiUsa smiled. rlm@0: "Well it seems you two have grown closer doesn't it?" she asked. rlm@0: "Makes rlm@0: me wish I'd asked Hotaru to come with me." rlm@0: "Why didn't you ChibiUsa-chan?" Momoko asked. ChibiUsa just smiled rlm@0: and shrugged her shoulders. Just then there was a knock at Momoko's window rlm@0: and Momoko went to answer it quickly. rlm@0: "Hotaru!" Momoko said. The tired raven-haired girl looking at her rlm@0: not rlm@0: answering. She turned to ChibiUsa, still trying to catch her breath. rlm@0: "I need to speak with you, odango," she said desperately. rlm@0: ************* rlm@0: Makoto walked a little ways into the kitchen seeing Ami at the table rlm@0: with rlm@0: her books sprawled around her. Makoto walked a little further and pulled Ami rlm@0: into her arms planting a gentle kiss on her mouth. Ami voiced a slight groan rlm@0: of rlm@0: surprise. Makoto just smiled internally, reaching deeper into the kiss. Ami rlm@0: turned and let Makoto grab her into a warm embrace. rlm@0: "I'm so happy to have you with me, Ami-chan," Makoto said kissing rlm@0: Ami rlm@0: again and pulling her into the next room. rlm@0: "But I have to study Mako-chan." Ami began to protest. rlm@0: "This won't take long Ami-chan trust me." Ami was going to protest rlm@0: but rlm@0: felt Makoto's long fingers unbuttoning the white professional shirt she had rlm@0: on. rlm@0: Makoto pulled it away with expert hands and reaching behind to unclasp the rlm@0: bra strap. When she had the offending clothing away from her she knew Ami rlm@0: wouldn't protest any longer. Makoto kissed her again and pulled off her rlm@0: shirt rlm@0: and skirt as well leaving them on the floor next to her. She laid Ami on the rlm@0: couch and placed Ami's hands on her breasts, sighing at the cooling affect rlm@0: they rlm@0: had on her warm skin. Ami smiled and wiggled out of the pants and undies she rlm@0: had left on and felt the warmth of her lover's own naked body pulling her rlm@0: into a rlm@0: sitting up stance. Holding the body as close to her as possible, and feeling rlm@0: her rlm@0: lover's body tense at the anticipation. rlm@0: rlm@0: ************ rlm@0: "Natsuna..." Minako sighed feeling her lover holding her from behind rlm@0: in rlm@0: the warn bath water. The soapy water seeped into every pore. Natusna smiled rlm@0: and cupped Minako's breasts, her fingers running over the entire delicate rlm@0: surface. She whispered a sweet comment and made Minako relax even more. rlm@0: Minako in turn ran her finger across the inner thighs of her lover, rlm@0: teasing her slightly. Natsuna knew it would come in it's own time. The wait rlm@0: was all the thrill, wondering what new feeling that her lover would drench rlm@0: out rlm@0: of her this time. Minako turned facing Natusna and placing her fingers in rlm@0: between Natsuna's legs. rlm@0: "I love you," Minako said kissing Natsuna deeply pushing her back rlm@0: into rlm@0: the bath until Natusna was totally relaxed against the cold tile behind her. rlm@0: She rlm@0: smiled and knew....this was it. Natusna was all that she wanted. rlm@0: rlm@0: ************** rlm@0: Rei walked down the street to the apartment Usagi and Mamoru rlm@0: shared knocking on the door. She waited for an answer. When Usagi showed rlm@0: up sooner than she’d expected, felt flustered. She shifted slightly and rlm@0: was for once without a quick sarcastic remark. rlm@0: "Usagi-chan, may I come in?" she asked. Usagi smiled and moved so rlm@0: that Rei could enter. rlm@0: "Rei-chan it's so nice that you could come," Usagi said loudly and then rlm@0: drew closer so that she could speak to Rei privately. "Rei there's something rlm@0: that rlm@0: I have to tell you..." But before Usagi could finish a male presence entered rlm@0: the rlm@0: room. rlm@0: "Rei, so nice to see you again," Mamoru's voice stabbed into rlm@0: Rei's rlm@0: mind. She grew angry and then clamed. She couldn’t show up destiny, Mamoru rlm@0: always got his princess. She could never have Usagi. And with that she left rlm@0: to rlm@0: the door and the cold. Usagi ran after her. rlm@0: "Rei-chan wait! You don't have to leave!" she said trying to rlm@0: stop her rlm@0: friend. rlm@0: "Yes, I do. Usagi-chan, I have to go." rlm@0: "But why? It's just Mamoru and me." rlm@0: "Usagi you dot understand. It's because of Mamoru." rlm@0: "But...why?" rlm@0: "You won't understand. Just forget it." rlm@0: "No. what's wrong, Rei-chan. Why is it Mamoru's fault?" Usagi rlm@0: asked. rlm@0: ‘ ‘Because I love you,’ Rei thought. ‘Because I can't stand him rlm@0: being rlm@0: able to hold you and I can't...' Rei stopped herself and spun on her heel. rlm@0: Getting rlm@0: ready to leave. rlm@0: "Rei-chan, why can't you tell me what's wrong?" Usagi asked rlm@0: worriedly. rlm@0: "Would you come in, Rei?" Mamoru asked, worried as well. "I could rlm@0: make some tea." rlm@0: Rei sighed. This was all so hard for her to deal with. Why had she rlm@0: even come here in the first place? What had she hoped to accomplish? "No. rlm@0: Thank you, anyway. I should go." rlm@0: "Rei, its pretty late. Maybe you should stay," Usagi said. She didn't rlm@0: know what was wrong, but she didn't want Rei to leave now. She wanted to rlm@0: know what was going on. rlm@0: rlm@0: *********** rlm@0: rlm@0: Makoto rolled over to get a better look at the smaller girl lying next to rlm@0: her. She smiled to herself as she ran her fingers through Ami's short blue rlm@0: hair. rlm@0: She gently kissed the other girls soft lips. She checked to make sure Ami rlm@0: was rlm@0: asleep before quietly getting out of bed. She brought the sheet up higher to rlm@0: cover Ami. The other girl let out a small sound, startling Makoto in the rlm@0: dark rlm@0: room. Ami shifted around a bit before settling down and clutching the sheets rlm@0: closer to her. Makoto relaxed as she watched the other girl doze peacefully. rlm@0: Makoto silently walked out of the room. She padded across the cold rlm@0: floor. One of Ami's books lying open on the counter. She tried to read some rlm@0: of rlm@0: it but she quickly decided to leave that to Ami. She slipped a peace of rlm@0: paper rlm@0: between the pages before closing the book, knowing Ami would probably try to rlm@0: pick up where she left off in it later the next day. rlm@0: She’d once wondered how Ami could have fallen in love with her. She rlm@0: knew the blue haired genius was many times over more intelligent than she rlm@0: was. Makoto had thought she’d want someone who shared her passion for rlm@0: knowledge. She’d brought it up with Ami, but the other girl had quickly rlm@0: dismissed her lover’s worries. It didn’t matter to her. She’d said she rlm@0: couldn’t rlm@0: really explain it. It was one of the few times Makoto had been able to catch rlm@0: Ami without an answer. Finally Ami had said that some things didn’t need an rlm@0: explanation. Love was one of those things. She loved Makoto. She may not be rlm@0: able to explain it, but she knew in her heart that she did. Makoto hadn’t rlm@0: given rlm@0: it a second thought afterwards. The blue haired genius was everything to rlm@0: her. rlm@0: Makoto walked through the dimly lit kitchen, briefly searching around rlm@0: for the light switch. She winced as the light turned on. She blinked several rlm@0: times to get her vision to adjust before walking over to the refrigerator. rlm@0: The rlm@0: brunette shivered from the cold air on her bare skin after opening it. She rlm@0: smiled rlm@0: when she saw one of Ami’s sandwiches wrapped up. ‘That girl needs to let me rlm@0: make her lunch more often,’ she thought to herself. rlm@0: “Mako-chan?” a sleepy voice said from behind her. She turned rlm@0: around to see Ami standing with the sheet wrapped around her delicate frame. rlm@0: “I’m sorry, Ami-chan. Did I wake you?” Makoto asked. rlm@0: “I saw the light turn on out here and I noticed you weren’t in bed,” rlm@0: Ami explained. “What are you doing up?” rlm@0: Makoto smiled warmly and brought Ami into a loving embrace. “I rlm@0: was just thinking.” rlm@0: Ami tilted her head to one side curiously. “What about?” She looked rlm@0: deeply into Makoto’s dark green eyes, quickly losing herself in them, almost rlm@0: as rlm@0: if she were still dreaming. rlm@0: “You,” Makoto said softly. Everything felt right with the world while rlm@0: holding Ami in her arms. rlm@0: Ami giggled. “No, I’m serious.” rlm@0: The taller girl gestured to the apartment. “It used to be so lonely. I’m rlm@0: really glad you’re here.” rlm@0: Ami smiled up at Makoto and put her hand on the brunette’s cheek. rlm@0: “So am I.” She brought her lips up to Makoto’s in a soft kiss. “Come on back rlm@0: to rlm@0: bed, Mako-chan. Its lonely there, too.” rlm@0: Makoto laughed. “Okay, Ami-chan.” She kissed the blue haired girl rlm@0: again. She took Ami’s hand and let the other girl lead her back to their rlm@0: room. rlm@0: rlm@0: ******* rlm@0: rlm@0: “Taru, are you okay?” ChibiUsa asked worriedly. Her reached out rlm@0: through the open window to grab the other girls hand. Hotaru had a haunted rlm@0: look in her eyes. ChibiUsa’s heart ached as she looked into those frightened rlm@0: violet eyes. rlm@0: Hotaru started to relax as she felt ChibiUsa’s warm hand against her rlm@0: own. Seeing the pink haired girl looking back at her soothed Hotaru. She rlm@0: looked down, feeling foolish. Her pale cheeks flushed red. “I just needed to rlm@0: see rlm@0: you,” she said quietly. rlm@0: ChibiUsa lips formed a bright smile. It meant so much to her to hear rlm@0: the other girl came all this way to see her. Her expression became concerned rlm@0: when she realized Hotaru was worried about something. She blinked with rlm@0: realization. “Oh, Taru. It’s okay. I’m here,” the future princess said. She rlm@0: wanted to hold the other girl, to go to her, but she was stopped by the wall rlm@0: between them. She could only reach the other girl through the open window. rlm@0: “Hotaru,” Momoko said besides the dark haired girl, startling her. rlm@0: Hotaru clutched ChibiUsa’s hand tightly after hearing the other girl. rlm@0: She slowly turned around. “Momo-chan, you scared me.” rlm@0: “Sorry about that. I talked to my mom. She said you can spend the rlm@0: night, too. I just told her you can’t be away from ChibiUsa for too long of rlm@0: a rlm@0: time.” Momoko laughed. “Come on in.”. rlm@0: rlm@0: A short time later, Momoko lay asleep in Diana’s arms on her bed. rlm@0: ChibiUsa and Hotaru held each other under the blankets on Momoko’s floor. rlm@0: Hotaru stared up at the ceiling, trying not to think. The darkness rlm@0: surrounded rlm@0: them, but that didn’t bother her. Not with ChibiUsa beside her. Hotaru felt rlm@0: ChibiUsa gently stroking her hair. She held the other girl closer, not rlm@0: wanting to rlm@0: be apart again. rlm@0: “Hotaru?” ChibiUsa whispered to her dark haired lover. “Why did you rlm@0: have to come see me so urgently?” She smiled and kissed Hotaru lightly. “I rlm@0: am rlm@0: glad you’re here.” rlm@0: “Thanks. I am too.” Hotaru snuggled closer to the other girl, trying to rlm@0: forget the horrible dream. “I…” She began hesitantly. “I had that dream rlm@0: again.” rlm@0: “Oh, Hotaru, I’m so sorry.” ChibiUsa wished there was some way she rlm@0: could stop Hotaru from having it, but it was a recurring nightmare for her. rlm@0: The rlm@0: dark haired girl was still tormented by visions from her past. rlm@0: Hotaru felt foolish. Running to ChibiUsa because of a dream. ‘But rlm@0: then, isn’t that what being in love with her means? Being able to go to her rlm@0: for rlm@0: comfort? Being able to tell her what frightens me the most? Knowing that no rlm@0: matter how childish it is, or how foolish, I can always go to her?’ “When I rlm@0: woke up, I was afraid, but it got worse when I realized you weren’t there. rlm@0: Everything just started crashing down. I had to see you. I felt that if you rlm@0: were rlm@0: there, it would all seem okay.” Hotaru closed her eyes tightly. The dream rlm@0: was rlm@0: still vivid in her mind. Tears started to well up in Hotaru’s eyes as the rlm@0: dream rlm@0: came back to her. rlm@0: ChibiUsa gently wiped Hotaru’s tears away with her fingertips. “Its rlm@0: not your fault. You can’t blame yourself for any of that. It was Mistress 9, rlm@0: not rlm@0: you.” rlm@0: “But I was there for everything that happened. It was my body,” rlm@0: Hotaru blinked several more tears away. rlm@0: “It may have been, but it still wasn’t you. In the end, you managed to rlm@0: stop her.” rlm@0: Hotaru sniffled and tried to speak, but ChibiUsa silenced her with a rlm@0: soft kiss. rlm@0: “You felt like its your fault because you couldn’t stop her before she rlm@0: caused so much pain. There was nothing you could do. When I woke up after I rlm@0: got my Heart Crystal back, you’d been changed into a baby from using your rlm@0: powers to stop Pharaoh 90. I felt horrible because I couldn’t stop it. I rlm@0: felt that I rlm@0: should have known, that I should have said something when I saw you that rlm@0: last rlm@0: time. It took me a long time, but I realized there are some things we can’t rlm@0: change. No matter how wrong it is, or how it seems we should have.” ChibiUsa rlm@0: held the shuddering dark haired girl tightly against her. Her hand lightly rlm@0: rubbed Hotaru’s back through the cloth of her nightgown. “That’s all in the rlm@0: past now. We have everything to look forward to. You and me. Both of us. rlm@0: Forever.” She felt Hotaru’s warm tears on her shoulder. The other girl’s rlm@0: sobs rlm@0: slowly started to lessen. “Its alright, Taru-chan. I’m here.” She held the rlm@0: dark rlm@0: haired girl protectively, wanting to keep away anymore of those horrible rlm@0: dreams. rlm@0: “I.. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t let it get to me… like this,” Hotaru said rlm@0: between sobs. rlm@0: “Don’t be sorry. I’m really glad you came. I missed you,” ChibiUsa rlm@0: smiled. “And don’t worry about the dreams. That’s all they are. And you can rlm@0: always come find me when you wake up. I’m just sorry I wasn’t there this rlm@0: time.” rlm@0: “Thanks, Odango-chan,” Hotaru said softly. rlm@0: “You mean everything to me, Taru. Don’t let those dreams hurt you. rlm@0: They don’t mean anything as long as we have each other.” ChibiUsa felt like rlm@0: she should say more, but she didn’t have to. Her crimson eyes met with rlm@0: Hotaru’s violet ones. Their lips met in the dark room, conveying more to rlm@0: each rlm@0: other than words could have. rlm@0: “I love you,” Hotaru whispered to the pink haired girl. rlm@0: “I love you, too,” ChibiUsa whispered back. She kissed Hotaru once rlm@0: again before laying her head back on a pillow. “Goodnight, Hotaru.” rlm@0: “I don’t think I’ll go to sleep just yet. Could you stay up for a little bit rlm@0: so we could talk?” Hotaru asked. rlm@0: “Sure,” ChibiUsa agreed. She felt Hotaru’s hand on her own. rlm@0: “Thanks,” Hotaru said gratefully. She knew ChibiUsa would probably rlm@0: fall asleep soon, but she didn’t mind. She felt safe now that she was with rlm@0: the rlm@0: one she loved. rlm@0: rlm@0: ****** rlm@0: rlm@0: Minako awoke with a start at the constant knocking she was hearing rlm@0: in her dreams. At first she'd tried to not listen and stay in the warmth. rlm@0: But the rlm@0: constant rapping in her mind made her jolt awake from the annoyance. She rlm@0: turned all along the bed searching for the source, and found it in Rei. The rlm@0: raven rlm@0: haired beauty was at the window trying desperately to get Minako's rlm@0: attention. rlm@0: She walked all along the edge of the window calling, her voice barely rlm@0: reaching rlm@0: Minako's ears. Minako grabbed the robe beside her and tied a tight knot into rlm@0: the middle. She motioned for her friend to walk to the door and she'd allow rlm@0: her rlm@0: inside. rlm@0: "Mina-chan," Rei rasped and hugged her friend into a tight embrace. rlm@0: "Oh, Mina-chan I'm so tired. I really need someone to talk to please!" rlm@0: "Calm down, Rei-chan," Minako whispered in a soothing voice. "It'll rlm@0: be okay. Tell me what's wrong." rlm@0: Rei let out several gasps of air trying to calm her nerves enough to tell rlm@0: Minako what was wrong but couldn’t. "Mina-chan I'm really scared...I miss rlm@0: you and the others." she began. "I miss us being a team, and I miss spending rlm@0: more time together like we used to. Most of all I miss Usagi. Our princess rlm@0: doesn't need us anymore and I feel useless. She...everyone is in love and rlm@0: I'm set rlm@0: so far away you have forgotten me." rlm@0: "Rei! " Minako whispered in a harsh voice. "I have never rlm@0: forgotten you and neither has our princess. She needs us more then ever, and rlm@0: with ChibiUsa on the way and the new responsibilities coming up the senshi rlm@0: are....” rlm@0: "That's just it. I don't think I can handle seeing Usagi and Mamoru rlm@0: together so happy everyday. I just can't Minako! I love her!" Rei clasped rlm@0: her rlm@0: hands around her mouth and gasped. She wasn't supposed to say that, not to rlm@0: Minako! rlm@0: Minako just smiled. "We all love her." rlm@0: "Not like I do Mina-chan. Not like I do." rlm@0: “ I know,” Minako said simply. rlm@0: Rei stared at Minako for a moment. “What do you mean?” rlm@0: “I know how you feel about her. Who do you think you confided in rlm@0: back in the Silver Millenium?” Minako winked at the raven haired girl. rlm@0: “Besides, its not like its hard to notice.” rlm@0: Rei was shocked. “You know? Is it that obvious?” rlm@0: Minako laughed. “Probably not. I hadn’t really noticed until I started rlm@0: remembering a few things from the past. Everything fell into place after rlm@0: seeing rlm@0: you around her a couple days later.” rlm@0: Rei stared at her feet. She hadn’t planned on anyone finding out how rlm@0: she felt about their princess, but now she knew that Minako had already rlm@0: found rlm@0: out. What did she think of her now? rlm@0: “Its alright, Rei. I’m you’re friend. So are the others. None of us would rlm@0: mind. Mamoru might, though.” Minako smiled, trying to help Rei feel better. rlm@0: “But what would Usagi think?” rlm@0: “I don’t know. You’d have to ask her.” Minako said quietly. rlm@0: She rlm@0: needed to talk to Rei, but at the same time she didn’t want to wake Natsuna rlm@0: by rlm@0: being too loud. rlm@0: “What can I do? She’s already in love with Mamoru. She marries rlm@0: him rlm@0: in the future and has a daughter with him. If I did manage to tell her how I rlm@0: felt rlm@0: and she felt the same, then I could damage so much in the future. ChibiUsa rlm@0: wouldn’t even exist. Who knows what else might happen.” Rei sighed deeply. rlm@0: The whole thing felt so futile. She wanted to tell Usagi, but she couldn’t rlm@0: let rlm@0: herself endanger the future. She was a Sailor Senshi, after all. rlm@0: “I’m sorry, Rei. I want to tell you how this can work out, but rlm@0: I don’t rlm@0: know. I wish I did. I just want everything to work out for you in the end, rlm@0: but I rlm@0: don’t know what to do about it,” Minako said sadly. She wanted to help. She rlm@0: was the Senshi of Love. She felt like she needed to do something to help her rlm@0: friend. rlm@0: “I want to tell her, but I don’t want to hurt her. Its probably better if I rlm@0: don’t say anything,” Rei said sullenly. rlm@0: “Don’t think like that. Think positively. If you’re ever going to have a rlm@0: chance you can’t give up now,” Minako said with a determined gleam in her rlm@0: eyes. rlm@0: “You’re right, I guess. But I still don’t know what I can do.” Rei rlm@0: looked up and smiled at her friend. “Thanks, Minako-chan. I feel a little rlm@0: better rlm@0: now.” rlm@0: “Anytime, Rei-chan.” rlm@0: “I should be going for now.” Rei hugged Minako again and walked out rlm@0: the door. Minako waved to her as the raven haired girl started walking home. rlm@0: Minako waited until Rei was out of sight before slowly closing the rlm@0: door. She felt so helpless. She hated that feeling. She walked through the rlm@0: dark rlm@0: hallway towards the room she shared with Natsuna. She smiled as she walked rlm@0: past Artemis, curled up and asleep on the floor. She’d always gone to him rlm@0: for rlm@0: advice. Now Rei had gone to her, but she was afraid she hadn’t been of much rlm@0: help. rlm@0: Minako paused at the doorway to their room. Rei had seemed so empty rlm@0: lately. She was usually so full of life, but seeing everyone else with their rlm@0: lovers rlm@0: really got to her. Minako missed the old Rei and now there was a chance to rlm@0: fix rlm@0: things for Rei, but what could she do about it? rlm@0: Minako’s head was spinning as she tried to think of what, if anything, rlm@0: she should do. She sighed before walking into the bedroom. She needed sleep. rlm@0: And right now, she really wanted to be with the one she loved. She crawled rlm@0: into rlm@0: bed next to the other woman, her soft, reddish brown hair hanging past her rlm@0: shoulders. She smiled as Natsuna continued sleeping. Minako pulled the rlm@0: blanket up and around her, snuggling close to Natsuna. She slowly started to rlm@0: drift off to sleep. rlm@0: rlm@0: * * * rlm@0: THE NEXT DAY rlm@0: Setsuna picked up her small basket, trying to balance the weight of the rlm@0: tremendous amount of groceries and her addition to her chocolate stash. rlm@0: Turning around too fast, three rather large oranges dropped out of her rlm@0: basket. rlm@0: ‘I knew I should have gotten a cart,’ she thought. rlm@0: She bent down and picked up two of the offending oranges, but her rlm@0: little sandaled foot knocked the third off balance, and it began to roll rlm@0: away. rlm@0: “Damn,” she exclaimed under her breath. rlm@0: Walking at a fast pace, she caught up with the rolling orange, only to rlm@0: have it roll underneath a display case for some cereal boxes at the end of rlm@0: an rlm@0: aisle. Setting down her basket very carefully, she got on her knees and rlm@0: looked rlm@0: under the display case. rlm@0: “There you are you little…” She exclaimed, reaching for the orange. rlm@0: “Setsuna?” A hand came to rest on her shoulder, making her leap rlm@0: up…and slam her head on the bottom of the display table. Holding her head rlm@0: and whimpering words of anger and embarrassment, she looked up into the rlm@0: eyes of her offender. rlm@0: The first thing she saw, actually, was the nice shoes on small feet. rlm@0: Eyes travelling up slowly, she took in the tight fitting jeans, stylish and rlm@0: trendy. rlm@0: Her red eyes traveled up the shapely legs to the small, flat stomach, and up rlm@0: to rlm@0: the small breasts. Her eyes came to rest on the dark ponytail, which came rlm@0: to rlm@0: rest just below her right breast. Curiosity and familiarity making her eyes rlm@0: travel still farther, they halted to a stop at the dark blue eyes of her rlm@0: offender. rlm@0: She sank into this deep shade of blue, and began to smile. “Seiya!” rlm@0: Leaping rlm@0: up from her kneeling position and forgetting about her injured head, she rlm@0: threw rlm@0: her long arms around the taller woman’s neck, laughing slightly. rlm@0: Seiya, a little surprised about Setsuna’s attitude, was stunned. rlm@0: Setsuna, showing emotion? A lot had changed since she had left Tokyo. But rlm@0: the dark green hair brushed against her nose, smelling of forest green and rlm@0: something else she couldn’t put her finger on. Closing her beautiful dark rlm@0: blue rlm@0: eyes, she wrapped her arms around the green-haired woman’s waist, leaning rlm@0: her head to rest on Setsuna’s shoulder. “Setsuna…” The word was let out in rlm@0: a rlm@0: whisper, almost too quiet for Seiya to hear herself. Sudden feelings of rlm@0: heat rlm@0: laced with desire invaded her mind, and it was covered in a clear rlm@0: transparent rlm@0: shell. Sudden memories, or maybe visions, she didn’t know, entered her rlm@0: mind…of two women, one with long black hair and one with long dark green rlm@0: hair standing on a balcony in dresses rimmed with gold, kissing and holding rlm@0: each other, trapped in an embrace similar to this one. The heads turned, rlm@0: and a rlm@0: hazy Seiya kissed her green-haired goddess, bending her head down and rlm@0: sweeping her feet off the balcony. rlm@0: Setsuna’s heart pounded in her ears. Why did Seiya say her name like rlm@0: that?! That wasn’t expected. She didn’t think Seiya held affections for rlm@0: anyone rlm@0: but her princess. Why were Seiya’s arms so warm? Linked around her waist rlm@0: and pulling her so close? What was she doing here in a supermarket, anyway? rlm@0: And why was her breath so warm against her cheek like that? Sudden rlm@0: memories of Seiya in Crystal Tokyo, looking as fine as could be in a long rlm@0: flowing gown of blue and yellow stars, calling out to her. It had only been rlm@0: once, the two had embraced and kissed, but she hadn’t seen Seiya after that. rlm@0: She should have thought about it more, should have noticed Seiya more, rlm@0: because then maybe she could figure out her own feelings. rlm@0: Realizing where she was and what she’d felt, and thought, and rlm@0: suddenly embarrassed by it, Seiya pulled away slightly. Setsuna held on for rlm@0: another moment, reveling in the warmth of a body beside her, near her, and rlm@0: with her. But the feeling suddenly cleared from her passion hazy mind, and rlm@0: she registered Seiya holding her waist at arm’s length. Unlinking her arms rlm@0: from around Seiya’s neck, she realized how awful she must look…jumping up rlm@0: like that after slamming her head into a table. Oh, real smooth Setsuna! rlm@0: Her rlm@0: mind shouted at her. rlm@0: Red eyes hardened. Her internal defenses were locked again. No rlm@0: more embarrassment. Not again. In the back of her mind, something ached. rlm@0: It rlm@0: knew, more then Setsuna herself, that such rejection would harm her heart to rlm@0: the core. rlm@0: “I’m so glad to see you, Seiya. What brings you back to Tokyo?” A rlm@0: forced smile crossed her red lips, not reaching her eyes at all. Seiya rlm@0: cursed rlm@0: herself in her mind for being so stupid. rlm@0: “Oh…um…well, I…decided to come back for a visit.” She smiled, rlm@0: forced as well. She didn’t want to reveal her true intentions just yet. rlm@0: She was rlm@0: planning to come to Tokyo, and stay. She didn’t want to watch her princess rlm@0: and sister fall deeply in love. An aching heart would never heal like that. rlm@0: Of rlm@0: course, the plan had backfired when Kakyuu had thought it a great idea to rlm@0: move back to Tokyo. Now her two sisters and her princess were right next rlm@0: door rlm@0: from her. She’d been there visiting the night before when she’d seen Yaten rlm@0: ready for her date with Kakyuu. rlm@0: Setsuna knew something was wrong. Seiya didn’t lie. Not ever. rlm@0: Unless something was seriously wrong. “Oh, that’s nice.” She bent down to rlm@0: pick up her basket. “Do you have a place to stay?” rlm@0: “Oh, yes, I rented a place just a few blocks from here.” Seiya smiled rlm@0: again, trying to lighten the mood. ‘Damnit,’ she thought, ‘what have I rlm@0: done? rlm@0: Setsuna, please, don’t be angry…’ rlm@0: “That’s wonderful! You should stop by to have dinner with us rlm@0: sometime. Which I have to go back and make now, so…I’ll see you around…” rlm@0: A horrible moment of emotion made her voice crack, and she turned away rlm@0: quickly, rushing to the check-out stand. She waited a few minutes, and rlm@0: Seiya rlm@0: didn’t come for her. A menacing voice in her mind asked her if that was a rlm@0: good or bad thing. Leaning on the mechanical food belt, she sighed. rlm@0: “Always…” She breathed out. Her red eyes shook suddenly, and she brought rlm@0: her hand up to cover them. rlm@0: Suddenly, two warm arms wrapped around her waist. Startled, she rlm@0: tried to turn around, but the arms held her in place. rlm@0: Seiya leaned in, placing her head once again on Setsuna’s shoulder. rlm@0: Setsuna’s lovely back was against her chest now, full of warmth. A mouth to rlm@0: an ear, she whispered, “Would it…be alright…if I ate dinner with you rlm@0: tonight?” rlm@0: Setsuna breathed in deeply. “I think that could be arranged…” rlm@0: * * * rlm@0: “Come on, Haruka! The water’s so warm!” Michiru splashed about, rlm@0: waving her long arms around in the water. Haruka, standing atop a near-by rlm@0: rock, beamed down at her lover in the quiet stream. rlm@0: “I AM coming in!” Jumping up in the air and tucking her knees rlm@0: under her chest gracefully, she slammed into the water, waves roaring in her rlm@0: ears. She glanced up through the hazy stream water to see little white rlm@0: bubbles rlm@0: surround her and waves roll over her little sea nymph. rlm@0: A couple of seconds passed and Haruka shot out above the water, her rlm@0: head up toward the sun. She struck such a graceful figure that Michiru rlm@0: almost rlm@0: gasped, streaks of crimson lining her cheeks. When Haruka looked at her, rlm@0: she rlm@0: turned away, embarrassed. “That wasn’t the kind of entry I had hoped for.” rlm@0: She stated, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She looked over her shoulder rlm@0: slightly, her hair soaked with the stream water, creating an unearthly look rlm@0: about her. Light green eyes pierced into blue ones, and then turned away, rlm@0: half- rlm@0: teasing, half-serious. rlm@0: “Michiru…” Haruka called, only to see her little sea nymph swim ever rlm@0: faster away from her. “Hey, wait up!” Awkwardly splashing after her, she rlm@0: called again. rlm@0: Michiru turned only slightly, and began to laugh. She saw Haruka rlm@0: struggling to catch up with her, knowing the taller girl was not much of a rlm@0: swimmer. She began to slow down, half wanting her lover to catch up with rlm@0: her. But the laughing was the main reason her shaking limbs could not keep rlm@0: up the fast pace she had used. rlm@0: Breathless, Haruka finally reached her. “You…need to…slow rlm@0: down…girl!” She exclaimed, her small tongue reaching the edge of her mouth rlm@0: in exhaustion. rlm@0: “Hmm, really?” Michiru took this chance and wrapped her elegant rlm@0: arms around her lover’s neck and kissed her slow, hard, and wet. Haruka was rlm@0: tall enough to stand on the bottom of the water, but Michiru was not, and rlm@0: she rlm@0: wrapped her legs around Haruka’s waist. Rubbing her hips slowly up and rlm@0: down over the taller girl’s mid-section, she let a moan escape through the rlm@0: kiss. rlm@0: Pulling away slowly, she smiled seductively. “Is it better slow?” rlm@0: Haruka looked down at her nymph, eyes wide with desire and surprise. rlm@0: Finding her words that had been lost in the back of her throat, she rlm@0: swallowed rlm@0: hard. “It’s always good with you.” She wrapped her arms tightly rlm@0: around Michiru’s waist and leaned in to kiss her again. rlm@0: rlm@0: ****** rlm@0: rlm@0: Seiya looked in the mirror again and pulled her skirt down. She rlm@0: glanced nervously at herself, wondering if she went a little overboard with rlm@0: the rlm@0: make-up. rlm@0: Being a Starlight for so long had her comfortable with being a man. rlm@0: She had always thought she looked better in women’s clothes, but to please rlm@0: the rlm@0: millions of screaming women as fans, she continued to play the part. rlm@0: But now, that was changing. Here she was, putting the finishing touches on rlm@0: herself before she would take Setsuna out to a nice fancy dinner. Yaten had rlm@0: helped her pick out an outfit, but was it really appropriate? rlm@0: Even Seiya had to admit she looked killer in it. Short black skirts look rlm@0: good on almost anyone. The slit up the right side, however, was what would rlm@0: knock ‘em out. Her knee-high leather boots looked perfect with it, and the rlm@0: cream and black top she had on was perfect to complete the outfit. But on rlm@0: the rlm@0: first date? And to a fancy restaurant? Should she be dressed up in one of rlm@0: those rlm@0: dresses that covered more of herself, like Michiru would always wear on big rlm@0: outings? rlm@0: That wasn’t her style. rlm@0: Seiya sighed and looked at the floor. In her minds eye she could see a rlm@0: beautiful Setsuna walk before her in a lovely gown, give her one look, and rlm@0: run rlm@0: back inside her house. Seiya shook her head. Setsuna wasn’t like that. rlm@0: The rlm@0: sophisticated dark-skinned woman she had always known to be calm and rlm@0: collected would never do something like that. rlm@0: Never. That was a funny word. Never. She would have never rlm@0: thought about Setsuna as a potential lover. Never. But that didn’t mean it rlm@0: wouldn’t happen. Not until that day, when she saw Setsuna in the Market, rlm@0: looking comfortable and sweet. And when those long arms had come around rlm@0: her, and she had that forest green hair beneath her nose, her entire thought rlm@0: pattern changed. No longer did she feel like she needed to hide from the rlm@0: love rlm@0: of Yaten and their Princess, not anymore. All she really felt like she rlm@0: needed rlm@0: was to feel Setsuna’s waist beneath her hands, and their lips together, and rlm@0: the rlm@0: moonlight streaming in the window, and… rlm@0: Seiya looked back up at herself. rlm@0: Why not? rlm@0: rlm@0: * * * rlm@0: rlm@0: Setsuna sighed as she looked in the mirror. rlm@0: “You look beautiful, Setsuna-mama!” Hotaru giggled. rlm@0: “I love the skirt!” ChibiUsa agreed, and turned to Hotaru. “You and I rlm@0: should go out like this sometime.” rlm@0: “You don’t have enough money to take me out!” Hotaru laughed at rlm@0: the expression on her lover’s face. “We will, Odango-chan.” rlm@0: “Come on you two, you’re supposed to be helping me!” Setsuna rlm@0: turned around, exasperated. The entire night the two girls she had always rlm@0: thought of as daughters had been phasing in and out of attention to her. rlm@0: “Are rlm@0: you really sure this is appropriate?” rlm@0: “Oh come on! You look good in it. I know Seiya’ll like it!” ChibiUsa rlm@0: giggled, blushing a little. rlm@0: Setsuna sighed at her reflection. She was wearing a velvet maroon rlm@0: skirt that went to her knees, maroon platform sandals (something Hotaru rlm@0: convinced her into wearing), and a black tanktop with a maroon flowered rlm@0: design. ChibiUsa had done her make-up, with a little help from her mom. rlm@0: That had scared Setsuna at first, knowing that this was Usagi they were rlm@0: talking rlm@0: about, but she was pleased with the results. It seems that after years of rlm@0: practice rlm@0: Usagi had finally got something down to an art. rlm@0: Setsuna turned to the two giggling girls once again, and smiled. They rlm@0: looked plenty confident that she was beautiful. They were happy for her. rlm@0: Maybe they were smarter for being that way. rlm@0: Seiya had always been someone Setsuna had admired, not only for her rlm@0: continuing courage, but for her love for everything around her. The entire rlm@0: ordeal with Usagi had been a hard one for everyone, but Seiya had handled it rlm@0: rather well, accepting what the future would not change. Setsuna herself rlm@0: had to rlm@0: come to terms with what was destined too many times. But when she had seen rlm@0: Seiya, she couldn’t help but be excited, even if they hadn’t been all that rlm@0: close. rlm@0: And when she had heard her name being whispered into the wind like that, the rlm@0: way Haruka whispered Michiru’s name, the way ChibiUsa whispered Hotaru’s rlm@0: name…it made her feel like she was flying. The realization that someone rlm@0: could fall in love with her was almost overwhelming. And now that she was rlm@0: finally involved with someone, she couldn’t help but feel nervous. It was rlm@0: all rlm@0: too much of an emotional rollercoaster, but she couldn’t help being the rlm@0: first in rlm@0: line for the dangerous ride. rlm@0: “Come on, Setsuna, Seiya’ll be here any minute!” She heard Haruka’s rlm@0: call from down the hallway. rlm@0: “I’m almost finished.” Setsuna called back, and reached for the make- rlm@0: up on the table beside her. Picking up the eyeliner, she placed two small rlm@0: wings rlm@0: off the edges of her eyelashes, and stood back. “Perfect.” rlm@0: rlm@0: * * * rlm@0: rlm@0: Seiya took a deep breath. She slowly raised her hand to the doorbell, rlm@0: and then stopped. She was shaking. How odd. She had never started to rlm@0: shake rlm@0: out of nervousness before, even when she had stage-fright. Maybe that was rlm@0: because she had always had her sisters for support. rlm@0: They couldn’t help her now. rlm@0: Seiya took another deep breath and released it slowly. She pressed the rlm@0: little lit up button, and then dropped her hand to the side and waited. rlm@0: She heard some noise inside, mostly Haruka’s voice yelling. She rlm@0: smiled. Good ol’ Haruka. rlm@0: The doorknob turned, and she felt her heart rise in her chest. The rlm@0: door flung open, and there stood Haruka in the doorway. Her gaze traveled rlm@0: over Seiya, who stood her ground, and then back up to her eyes. With a grin rlm@0: and a nod of approval, she let out the breath she had been holding. rlm@0: “Come mere you!” Haruka reached out and pulled Seiya close. The rlm@0: two women were about the same height, Seiya just a little bit taller now due rlm@0: to rlm@0: her boots. They pulled out of the friendly embrace and smiled at each rlm@0: other. rlm@0: “It’s been too long.” rlm@0: Seiya grinned. “It sure has.” rlm@0: “HAR-UUUKA!” Came a voice from inside, and the two women rlm@0: turned. rlm@0: “You better come in before Michiru has a baby or something.” Haruka rlm@0: laughed, and pulled Seiya inside the house. “Come on, Setsuna’s just rlm@0: finishing rlm@0: up.” Seiya remembered the house from awhile ago, when they were just rlm@0: moving in, and now looked it over with interest. Walking around toward the rlm@0: living room, she saw book-cases full of books. She smiled. Michiru loved rlm@0: the rlm@0: arts, almost as bad as Mizuno Ami. rlm@0: “SEIYA!” Michiru ran towards her friend and jumped into her arms. rlm@0: Seiya, on the other hand, was almost knocked over, and stumbled slightly rlm@0: from rlm@0: the awkwardness of her platform boots. rlm@0: “Hey…Michiru…” She ground out, trying to get a few breaths in rlm@0: through the squeezing she was forced into. She glanced at Haruka for help, rlm@0: but rlm@0: the blonde woman was just laughing hysterically. “How’s it…going?” rlm@0: “SEIYA! You’ve been gone for so long!” The aqua head looked up at rlm@0: her, and the same color eyes stared into hers. “Why didn’t you visit?” The rlm@0: tone was almost angry. rlm@0: “I’m sorry…” Seiya’s explanation was halted as she heard footsteps. rlm@0: Michiru fell out of her arms and walked over to Haruka, and the two women rlm@0: held hands and smiled like proud parents or friends. Seiya’s heart started rlm@0: to rlm@0: pound with anticipation. She held her breath for the second time today and… rlm@0: “Hey Seiya!” Hotaru walked into the room, and everyone sighed. rlm@0: Hotaru looked a little angry. “What?” rlm@0: “Nothing.” Seiya smiled and held her arms open. Hotaru ran into rlm@0: them and hugged Seiya’s waist. rlm@0: “You’ve been gone for such a long time!” rlm@0: “I know, I know.” rlm@0: “SSSSEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIYYYYYYYAAAAAA!!!!” ChibiUsa’s rlm@0: squeal rang throughout the room, and Seiya winced. A pink whir of hair rlm@0: suddenly ran into the room and knocked both Seiya and Hotaru over. “THERE rlm@0: YOU ARE!” She hugged Seiya fiercely, who was trying desperately to not let rlm@0: her skirt ride up too high. rlm@0: “Hey ChibiUsa, how are you?” She smiled once she got up. rlm@0: “Hey you guys…” A soft voice came from across the room. Seiya rlm@0: looked up to see Setsuna standing in the room’s entryway. Seiya felt the rlm@0: heat rlm@0: rising to her cheeks as she took in Setsuna. The color was perfect on her, rlm@0: and rlm@0: long green hair flowed over her shoulders and down to her waist. rlm@0: Seiya found her voice again, and spoke. “Hi.” rlm@0: “Hi.” Setsuna smiled, happy with the effect she had on Seiya, but rlm@0: almost ashamed with the effect Seiya had on her. Those long creamy legs had rlm@0: her own knees shaking and knocking against each other. “Should we get rlm@0: going?” rlm@0: “Sure.” Seiya walked the distance toward Setsuna, jut barely aware of rlm@0: the other women staring intently at them. They walked out of the door rlm@0: together, hand in hand. rlm@0: rlm@0: * * * rlm@0: rlm@0: Setsuna set down her glass of water, the ice rattling together as her rlm@0: hand shook. She swallowed hard. She hoped Seiya hadn’t noticed. rlm@0: How could she not notice every little tiny thing she was doing? Those rlm@0: dark blue eyes stared at her through half closed lids and never wavered from rlm@0: her. At least, they hadn’t so far. And she knew, because her own eyes rlm@0: couldn’t rlm@0: take themselves of the mighty fine woman before her. rlm@0: Seiya seemed so together. Like nothing was making her nervous in rlm@0: the least. Of course, she must have women lining up to just see her. Being rlm@0: one rlm@0: of the Lights and all. In fact, now that she thought of it…Seiya probably rlm@0: dated rlm@0: all the time. Was that what she was? Just another date? Maybe another one rlm@0: night stand? Would Seiya forget about her once tonight was done? rlm@0: Setsuna tried to swallow the rising panic in her throat. Her voice of rlm@0: reason came through the horrible questions. ‘Just ask her’, it said. ‘Ask rlm@0: her if rlm@0: she really wants a real relationship. Ask her what’s going to happen rlm@0: tomorrow. rlm@0: What have you got to lose?’ rlm@0: But she knew what she had to lose already. rlm@0: rlm@0: * * * rlm@0: rlm@0: Seiya watched Setsuna set down her water glass with grace and rlm@0: elegance. Funny how wonderful traits like these could come out of a little rlm@0: motion like that. rlm@0: Seiya tried not to let her knees rattle together any louder. It was all rlm@0: she could do to keep them from knocking the table over. Setsuna seemed to rlm@0: be rlm@0: just fine. She looked content, just nibbling on the fancy French dinner set rlm@0: before her. Seiya wasn’t hungry all of a sudden. At least, not for food. rlm@0: Setsuna suddenly went tense. Seiya felt herself become the same, and rlm@0: tried to relax. Setsuna’s dark red eyes stared up at her, full of rlm@0: questions. Seiya rlm@0: looked at her likewise. rlm@0: Setsuna cleared her throat. “Um…Seiya…would it be alright if rlm@0: I…asked you something…” rlm@0: “Sure.” Seiya replied automatically and with a smile. “Anything rlm@0: you’d like.” rlm@0: “Um…do you…date often?” Setsuna’s eyes suddenly went fuzzy, and rlm@0: Seiya had the impression that she was going to lose that remarkable control. rlm@0: “No, actually, I don’t. I’ve stayed away from it because you can’t rlm@0: really meet a lot of people if you’re a superstar.” She smiled weakly. rlm@0: “That’s rlm@0: one of the many problems with it.” rlm@0: “So you…don’t have any other…” Setsuna’s eyes darted down to the rlm@0: floor. rlm@0: Seiya was quiet for a long time. When she did speak, the tone was rlm@0: mixed with emotions neither woman could place. “No, Setsuna. I don’t have rlm@0: anyone else.” Setsuna looked up at her, all her emotions settling down with rlm@0: the rlm@0: reassurance. rlm@0: “Mademoiselles?” The server stood over them, holding up a big tray. rlm@0: “Would you two lovebirds like some desert?” rlm@0: rlm@0: * * * rlm@0: rlm@0: Usagi walked into the restaurant, holding onto Mamoru’s arm. The rlm@0: server smiled at them both and led them to a table by the window they had rlm@0: become accustomed to. rlm@0: Mamoru pulled out Usagi’s chair, then briskly went to his own. Usagi rlm@0: sat down, feeling a little bewildered. Why hadn’t he touched her? He rlm@0: always rlm@0: did. Every time he would pull out her chair he would brush her long hair rlm@0: away rlm@0: from her neck and kiss her on the cheek. Every time. What was so different rlm@0: about now? rlm@0: Mamoru didn’t look at her, even as they ordered. After a long silence rlm@0: among the table, Usagi got restless. “Is there something wrong, Mamo-chan?” rlm@0: He didn’t respond. “You seem angry. Did I do something to upset you?” rlm@0: Still rlm@0: no response. “Did I step on your foot again? I’m sorry I…I know I’m rlm@0: clumsy, rlm@0: but I didn’t know it upset you this much…” rlm@0: “It’s not that, Usako.” Mamoru still didn’t look at her. “Nothing’s rlm@0: wrong with me.” rlm@0: “What do you mean?” Usagi became worried. rlm@0: “I know your secret, Usako. I know why you don’t see me that often rlm@0: anymore. I know why you find so much time for your friends all the time…for rlm@0: her.” rlm@0: Usagi felt anger rise up in her cheeks. “What the hell are you talking rlm@0: about?” rlm@0: “You know what I’m talking about.” Two angry black beads that were rlm@0: his eyes stared into hers. “I know who you’re in love with.” rlm@0: rlm@0: * * * rlm@0: rlm@0: “Hey, isn’t that Usagi-san and Mamoru-san?” Seiya pointed to a table rlm@0: by the window. Setsuna looked over to the couple and smiled. rlm@0: “It sure is. I didn’t know they were going out tonight. I wouldn’t rlm@0: have asked Usagi for help if I knew she had to get ready.” rlm@0: “You asked her for help?” rlm@0: “Yeah, with my make-up.” Setsuna blushed slightly, the little crimson rlm@0: streaks clashing with her dark skin. “I’m not exactly a DiVinci with it. rlm@0: I’m rlm@0: more like Piccasso.” rlm@0: Seiya laughed. “Hey, I know how it is. Luckily they make you wear rlm@0: make-up in music videos and stuff like that, so I wore it the entire time.” rlm@0: Setsuna’s red eyes grew wide. “Really? That’s actually really cool.” rlm@0: She paused for a second, as if contemplating what she was going to say next. rlm@0: “Tell me more about being a music star.” rlm@0: rlm@0: * * * rlm@0: rlm@0: “Mamoru…you think I’m in love with…” Usagi’s eyes filled with rlm@0: tears. rlm@0: “I don’t think, Usako, I know. You love her, more then you do me, rlm@0: obviously.” Mamoru rolled his eyes. “Quit with the goodie-two-shoe thing. rlm@0: I rlm@0: know you love her.” rlm@0: “I…I love you, Mamo-chan. I always have. I always will. If you rlm@0: don’t believe me, look to the future to tell you! We’ll be together, you rlm@0: and I, rlm@0: and ChibiUsa will be born. If you don’t believe that, what else can you rlm@0: believe rlm@0: in?” rlm@0: “The past?” Mamoru’s voice almost dripped with sarcasm. “Sure, rlm@0: like the past is any proof. The past is what it is, the past. No longer rlm@0: here. rlm@0: Your precious little world revolves around her, Usagi, and that’s what’s rlm@0: really rlm@0: going on. I don’t know how I didn’t notice before. You always running to rlm@0: her rlm@0: when you had a problem. I was so blind…” rlm@0: “You were a selfish asshole, that’s what you were.” Usagi’s voice was rlm@0: full of something that resembled hatred as the crystal tears streamed down rlm@0: her rlm@0: cheeks. “The only problem I ever had in my life was you. You took away rlm@0: everything I had, you and your promises of love ever-lasting. You pretended rlm@0: to rlm@0: trust me. You say I love someone else. Fuck you.” Usagi stood up and rlm@0: raised rlm@0: her voice. “Fuck you, Mamoru. You don’t disserve to be in my company.” rlm@0: And with that, the tiny woman turned on her heel and quickly walked out of rlm@0: the rlm@0: restaurant, hearing claps and cheers behind her. rlm@0: rlm@0: * * * rlm@0: rlm@0: Setsuna stood up, worried. “She doesn’t have a way home…” rlm@0: “Come on, we can still catch her.” Seiya threw down a hundred and rlm@0: grabbed Setsuna’s hand. They ran, somewhat awkwardly, toward the door, and rlm@0: outside into the cold air of night. rlm@0: “Oh!” Setsuna exclaimed as the air hit her skin. Seiya pulled her rlm@0: closer and wrapped her coat halfway around her. Setsuna felt herself blush. rlm@0: “USAGI!!” Seiya yelled, and Setsuna did the same. Finally they saw rlm@0: the girl turn around, and ran towards her. “Usagi, what’s wrong? Do you rlm@0: need rlm@0: a lift?” rlm@0: The girl took a few shuddering breaths before finally speaking. rlm@0: “No…it’s nothing. I…I need to take a walk. But thank you for…asking.” She rlm@0: spun around and began to run, leaving the two women a little perplexed. rlm@0: “Seiya…it’s really cold out here…” Setsuna shuddered. rlm@0: “You’re right.” Seiya finally took her gaze away from the retreating rlm@0: blonde and back to the woman in her arms. “Come on, let’s go to the car.” rlm@0: rlm@0: * * * rlm@0: rlm@0: Setsuna marveled at the rooms in Seiya’s apartment. Little gasps rlm@0: would escape that long throat and those red lips, leaving Seiya anxious to rlm@0: touch rlm@0: them. To feel them beneath her fingertips. rlm@0: “Oh Seiya, your flat is beautiful!” Setsuna spun halfway around to rlm@0: look at her. “I love it!” rlm@0: “Thank you.” Seiya smiled. “How do you like your coffee?” rlm@0: “Black, one spoon of sugar.” rlm@0: “Figures…” She muttered under her breath. rlm@0: “What?” rlm@0: “Nothing…” Seiya smiled again and began to pour the liquid into two rlm@0: cups. Once she was done, she picked them both up and went into the living rlm@0: room. rlm@0: She almost dropped them. rlm@0: There was Setsuna, draped across her dark blue leather couch, looking rlm@0: absolutely delicious. She hadn’t heard Seiya, and moved around a little bit rlm@0: on rlm@0: the couch to get comfortable. The maroon skirt inched higher up her thighs, rlm@0: and Seiya had to force herself to keep standing. rlm@0: She walked briskly over to the table and set down the drinks. Setsuna rlm@0: only had a small amount of time to look up before Seiya’s arm came around rlm@0: her rlm@0: and their mouths clashed. rlm@0: rlm@0: * * * rlm@0: rlm@0: Usagi liked the feeling of the cool air go through her hair. Her white rlm@0: dress didn’t cover up much. But, somehow, the cold was refreshing tonight. rlm@0: A rlm@0: little strange perhaps, yes, but still refreshing. rlm@0: Usagi knew where she was going. She knew what she had to do. rlm@0: Maybe that was what she had needed to do all along. Every little fight and rlm@0: every little emotion she had with him seemed to be swept away so easily now. rlm@0: She knew what she wanted. rlm@0: She ran up the cement steps, her little white shoes making small rlm@0: clicking noises. She heard noise already coming from the structure in front rlm@0: of rlm@0: her, and saw a tall figure in the shadow of the bamboo door. She ran rlm@0: towards rlm@0: it, stumbling where the stones jutted out from the walkway. rlm@0: The figure must have heard her, and opened the bamboo door. rlm@0: “Hello?” She called. rlm@0: Usagi fell into her arms, crying and sobbing. “REI!” rlm@0: rlm@0: * * * rlm@0: rlm@0: Crystal Tokyo rlm@0: 30th century rlm@0: Tsukino-Hino Usagi walked along the marbled floors of Tokyo’s Crystal rlm@0: Palace, her heels clicking onto the scratchable material easily. She reached rlm@0: near rlm@0: her hand and felt the small promise ring on her wedding finger. The tiny rlm@0: diamond that had been her gift from Mamoru. She smiled kindly at the rlm@0: memory, not everything she had remembered from her past lover that was so rlm@0: terrible. She knew that they had loved each other at the time. It was rlm@0: something rlm@0: that their souls needed to play out. Something that had to be finished in rlm@0: it’s rlm@0: own course. She heard the playing in Small Lady’s bedroom, and knew that her rlm@0: father had come to see the small child. She was, however no longer a child. rlm@0: Small Lady. Ten to this day to be precise, and a growing lovely women at rlm@0: that. rlm@0: She had been a child conceived in love and devotion, and a child that would rlm@0: one day become Queen of the Crystal Tokyo. But, in the end the one that rlm@0: Usagi rlm@0: had loved the most had been Rei. No one understood that more then the senshi rlm@0: of her court, no one more so than her daughter who would one day also fall rlm@0: in rlm@0: love with a woman when she went back into the past. Of course, Small Lady rlm@0: didn’t know that yet. There were some secrets the mother still had to keep rlm@0: from rlm@0: her daughter. rlm@0: Chiba Mamoru had later married, too. He ruled over Elysion as well as rlm@0: any of the senshi or even Usagi herself. He was still king of the Earth, rlm@0: just as rlm@0: Usagi was Queen, and his right to rule over his kingdom of Elysion was only rlm@0: natural. Usagi never failed to allow his input and decisions to her Queendom rlm@0: to rlm@0: not be recognized. She walked in her bedroom and felt the warmth of her rlm@0: lover rlm@0: next to her and smiled slyly. rlm@0: “Usagi-chan?” Rei’s tiny voice mumbled in her awakened sleep. rlm@0: “Yes?” Usagi asked. She felt Rei’s creamy arms wrap around her rlm@0: silken clothed breasts, and cooed. rlm@0: “I love you.” rlm@0: “I love you, too.” rlm@0: The End. rlm@0: