rlm@0: Author's notes: ^_^ rlm@0: rlm@0: Most of the important stuff can be found in part one, so I won't rlm@0: bore you with it here again. This is where the fanfic starts to earn rlm@0: it's R rating, just as a reminder. This is also where you'll start to rlm@0: understand why a certain plot point may or may not be a part of the rlm@0: actual manga. :) rlm@0: rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ rlm@0: Chibiusa no PYUA na kokoro rlm@0: (Chibiusa's Pure Heart) rlm@0: Part 2 rlm@0: By Andrea Doolan rlm@0: "Sailormoon no ichiban daifan" rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: A scream rang out in the halls of Crystal Palace. This was in rlm@0: stark contrast to the blue skies and singing birds outside the building. rlm@0: For a few seconds there seemed to be silence all around, and the sun rlm@0: seemed to shine just a little bit brighter. Then the cheers could be rlm@0: heard all around the planet, or the solar system for that matter. The rlm@0: date was June 30. 2001. rlm@0: rlm@0: A child was born. rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: A solemn dark figure stood at the door where the celebrations rlm@0: were taking place. The girl's features betrayed her overall appearance, rlm@0: though, as she had a rather large smile on her face. A single tear rlm@0: trickled down her cheek in both sorrow and happiness. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Sayounara, Chibiusa-chan." rlm@0: rlm@0: A gloved hand reached out and touched her on the shoulder. It rlm@0: belonged to a blond haired women. Beside her stood a women in a green rlm@0: fuku. rlm@0: rlm@0: "It's time." rlm@0: rlm@0: Without another word, Saturn stepped back from the door and rlm@0: followed her parents down the corridor. They had already said their rlm@0: goodbyes to the other Senshi, but had stayed behind just long enough to rlm@0: see the miracle occur. rlm@0: rlm@0: Saturn didn't think it fair that she, Uranus, and Neptune had to rlm@0: leave Crystal Tokyo and Earth, but she knew exactly the reason why. rlm@0: During the time Small Lady was growing up, all 901 years worth, she rlm@0: hadn't seen a single one of them. Only when she travelled to the past rlm@0: for the second time did she meet these Senshi. Pluto had explained the rlm@0: timeline to Saturn very well, so she understood perfectly, but it still rlm@0: almost felt as if she was losing a piece of her heart. rlm@0: rlm@0: Uranus had also explained it to her in terms of duty. They were rlm@0: the Senshi of the outer planets, and their mission was to protect rlm@0: Crystal Tokyo and Earth from threats outside the solar system. rlm@0: rlm@0: Still, leaving the only home you had ever known and your newly rlm@0: born best friend was a little too much for a seventeen-year-old to rlm@0: handle. The tears starting streaming down her face without her control. rlm@0: rlm@0: Neptune looked back at the Senshi that quite possibly held the rlm@0: most power of any of them, besides the Queen herself. She sighed rlm@0: inwardly, and held her only daughter in an embrace. For a moment she rlm@0: thought about using a name they had abandoned a few years before, but rlm@0: thought better of it. She spoke in a slightly forceful voice, but not rlm@0: one without compassion. "Saturn." rlm@0: rlm@0: The black haired Senshi looked at Neptune with her purple eyes rlm@0: full of sorrow. She blinked, and almost magically they appeared full of rlm@0: duty and honour. "Hai, I know." She broke off the embrace reluctantly, rlm@0: and continued with her parents down the long corridor. rlm@0: rlm@0: At the end was a fairly large chamber decorated as if it held a rlm@0: special purpose. Pluto was waiting for them there, Garnet Rod in rlm@0: hand. The three just looked at her and nodded knowingly. The goddess rlm@0: of time nodded back, but took special care to smile at the purple clad rlm@0: Senshi. Without a word, Neptune, Uranus, and Saturn vanished from Earth rlm@0: for the better part of the millennium. rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: It wasn't as if Titan was a lonely place. Far from it. She got rlm@0: frequent visits from Uranus and Neptune, and she visited them frequently rlm@0: as well. If it wasn't a visit in person, they were always talking over rlm@0: the monitors at least once a day. And about once a month, one or two rlm@0: Senshi from Earth would come visit them (without the princess' rlm@0: knowledge, of course) to see how they were doing. Sometimes the Queen rlm@0: herself would come. One could tell Serenity felt more than a little rlm@0: guilty for sending them out there, but Titan's Senshi stood proud and rlm@0: was always pleasant. This made the Queen feel better, after all, which rlm@0: was important. rlm@0: rlm@0: It certainly didn't seem lonely, anyway. But for Saturn she rlm@0: always had the thought of a certain pink haired girl in the back of her rlm@0: mind. Her duty came first, but the memory of her dear friend could rlm@0: still sometimes bring tears to her eyes. Even after all these years. rlm@0: Though when this happened she always reminded herself of a pact they had rlm@0: made when she was only twelve years old. She laughed sometimes when she rlm@0: thought about it. It was a little childish, but somehow the knowledge rlm@0: of it filled her heart with strength, and let her carry on. rlm@0: rlm@0: Saturn walked over to the largest monitor in Titan's observation rlm@0: room. She touched a control pad, and an image of the planet Saturn rlm@0: appeared before her. Kirei, she thought. The swirling pieces of cosmic rlm@0: dust and ice converging in a ring-like structure around the planet was rlm@0: truly a sight to see. Sometimes she could just watch this for hours on rlm@0: end, letting her mind flow into the planet's energies. Sometimes she rlm@0: tried to replicate the effect using a technique similar to when she rlm@0: would simulate the big bang as a child. It always had a calming effect rlm@0: on her. rlm@0: rlm@0: "I wonder what she's doing now..." she said aloud rlm@0: absentmindedly. She shook her head and tried to get the thought out of rlm@0: her mind. Thinking about it always made her depressed. How many more rlm@0: years would it be? she thought. A few hundred more, she reminded rlm@0: herself. She sighed. Being depressed was getting her no where. She rlm@0: still had lots of great friends whom she saw often, and loving parents. rlm@0: Plus she was a Senshi. A Senshi of death, she joked to herself, but a rlm@0: Senshi of rebirth as well. Really, she was quite content right now. rlm@0: And one day she would get to return to that blue-green sphere. To that rlm@0: cheerful girl who brought so much joy into her life. rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: A faint pink beam of light shone briefly on a hill overlooking rlm@0: Crystal Tokyo, and then flickered out as silently as it had come. rlm@0: Standing there in its place was a girl in a blue and white sei-fuku rlm@0: [school uniform]. The bright sun flickered off the royal buildings, rlm@0: just as it always had. The girl smiled briefly in appreciation. She rlm@0: then looked forward, and her smile grew even wider. She saw her rlm@0: parents, of course, and Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, and Venus. Pluto was rlm@0: standing beside them as well. As good as it was to see those people, rlm@0: something else caught her eye right away. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Masaka... Hotaru-chan! Hotaru-chaaaan!!" For a moment she rlm@0: just stood there in disbelief, but then started running as fast as she rlm@0: could. She ran into the slightly taller Senshi and hugged her closely. rlm@0: Then she drew back and looked into her eyes. They seemed to be smiling rlm@0: at her. "Hota-" she cut herself off, blushing slightly. "Gomen, rlm@0: Sailorsaturn. Doushite?" rlm@0: rlm@0: The other just kept looking at her, happiness filling every pore rlm@0: in her body. She choked back some tears. "Okaerinasai." rlm@0: rlm@0: By this time everyone had evidence of strong emotions on their rlm@0: features. Chibiusa glanced beside Saturn at another welcome sight. rlm@0: "Uranus! Neptune!" She could barely hold back her shock. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Yo, Chibi-chan," said the blond playfully. rlm@0: rlm@0: "It's been too long," said the Senshi of the sea. rlm@0: rlm@0: Chibiusa felt like she was in a dream state. Was she really rlm@0: home? Had the future been changed somehow? She looked over at Pluto rlm@0: who just had a smile on her face. This was all very confusing for her. rlm@0: Finally she let go of Saturn, and walked over to her parents. She bowed rlm@0: respectfully. "Princess Usagi Small Lady Serenity and Diana reporting rlm@0: home from the 20th century. If it pleases the court, we would like to rlm@0: return and live again in the 30th century." rlm@0: rlm@0: Neo Queen Serenity just smiled. How proud she was of her rlm@0: daughter. She had certainly come a long way over the last few years, rlm@0: and was on her way to becoming a wonderful Lady and future Queen. "It rlm@0: does please the court. Welcome home." rlm@0: rlm@0: Chibiusa flung herself into her mother's arms and was then rlm@0: greeted by everyone in turn. She wanted answers, of course, but right rlm@0: now it was just good to be home. rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ (from now on, I won't refer to her as Chibiusa) rlm@0: rlm@0: "So, all those years... You were alone?" Small Lady was still rlm@0: in shock and was trying to sort out some confusing feelings. She just rlm@0: couldn't believe that all this time Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn had rlm@0: been alive. She wasn't sure what had happened to them, but she knew she rlm@0: had never seen them. She thought they must have died somehow, but rlm@0: nobody would tell her. Now she understood why. rlm@0: rlm@0: Saturn laughed a little bit. "No, I was far from alone. Uranus rlm@0: and Neptune were there and the rest of the Senshi came to visit. rlm@0: Besides, orbiting Saturn in Titan Castle was a wonderful experience. I rlm@0: had forgotten what it was like to be so near my namesake. At first it rlm@0: was overpowering. From my previous life, before I was reincarnated for rlm@0: the first time, back in the Silver Millennium, I had very faint memories rlm@0: of it. And even then I hadn't awakened, so I was in a dream-like state. rlm@0: It took a little getting used to being away from Earth and everyone rlm@0: here, but it was fine in the end. Now it's a very dear place in my rlm@0: heart." rlm@0: rlm@0: Small Lady's eyes looked as if they were going to shed tears, rlm@0: but they were held back as best as they could. Right now it was just rlm@0: her and Saturn on a grassy hill overlooking the ocean. There had been a rlm@0: very big celebration when Small Lady returned, and everything was rlm@0: explained to her. It was still that same night, but it was very late. rlm@0: Her and Saturn had decided to take a walk and talk a bit. "But you did rlm@0: all this just for me, and to protect Earth? I would have been so rlm@0: scared." rlm@0: rlm@0: "You're exactly the same as I remember you, Small Lady. Which rlm@0: isn't surprising, as you just saw me less than twenty four hours ago." rlm@0: Saturn tried to comfort her as best as she could. "Yes, we did it for rlm@0: you and to protect the kingdom. *Any* Senshi would have done the same rlm@0: thing. I'm not going to pretend that I didn't miss Earth...that I rlm@0: didn't miss you, because I did." It was Saturn's turn to hold back her rlm@0: tears. "But everyone's love filled me, and made me strong. There's rlm@0: something else, too. I remembered the pact we made...to always be rlm@0: friends. It kept me going. Whenever I remembered I would see you rlm@0: again, it made me happy." rlm@0: rlm@0: Both women lost control and tears started coming down their rlm@0: cheeks. They hugged each other tightly; a hug that told of the 909 rlm@0: years they had spent apart. rlm@0: rlm@0: "I can't believe you remembered," said Small Lady between sobs. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Of course I did, baka," she joked back. rlm@0: rlm@0: "So, even after all this time, we're still best friends?" rlm@0: rlm@0: "Mochiron! Zutto zutto! Eien ni." rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: The years passed in Crystal Tokyo as they always did. The rlm@0: unpleasantness brought about by Sailorgalaxia in the 20th century was rlm@0: far behind them. Crystal Tokyo thrived again as the seat of power for rlm@0: the solar system. Neo Queen Serenity brought back the greatness that rlm@0: was once the Silver Millennium. The Earth, now free from evil, was rlm@0: united and stood like a glistening Christmas ball in the blackness of rlm@0: space. The other planets were now thriving, too. The great cities that rlm@0: were held inside the planets' castles started to revive and were rlm@0: prosperous once again. A princess was coming into her full glory and rlm@0: beauty, and now had the appearance of an eighteen-year-old. She was rlm@0: actually 910. rlm@0: rlm@0: And two friends were enjoying life together. rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: "Small Lady, hayaku!" rlm@0: rlm@0: "Hai! Ikimashou ne!" rlm@0: rlm@0: For the moment, these two girls weren't an heir to the royal rlm@0: throne and a Senshi who could destroy the universe with one swipe of her rlm@0: Glaive. They were two friends going on a little trip together. rlm@0: rlm@0: "You sure you know how to drive this thing?" rlm@0: rlm@0: "Well, Uranus taught me, so I shouldn't be too bad." rlm@0: rlm@0: The transport started off with a jolt. It left a slightly rlm@0: startled expression on the younger girl's face, but it was quickly rlm@0: replaced by a smile. They were taking a long needed vacation. The two rlm@0: had hardly seen each other for the past couple of months with the many rlm@0: diplomatic missions both had to go on. Now was their time to relax. As rlm@0: evidence, both were wearing casual clothing. Sometimes it felt good to rlm@0: get out of the sailor fuku and princess gowns they were always wearing. rlm@0: rlm@0: Though even in her lose fitting pants and pullover top Princess rlm@0: Serenity looked regal and glowing. She had really turned into quite the rlm@0: lady. The tresses that flowed from her two odango had grown down to her rlm@0: knees, and were now missing the "poofy" look they once had. Indeed, rlm@0: from the shoulders up she looked like a certain Black Lady the 20th rlm@0: century Senshi had fought all those years ago. Not that the princess rlm@0: remembered any of that. She had also grown quite a bit over the past rlm@0: couple of years. She now stood at 155 centimetres, just a hair less rlm@0: than Saturn. Her body was, of course, proportionately built, just like rlm@0: her mother's. rlm@0: rlm@0: For Saturn's part, she hadn't aged in the past 905 years. Well, rlm@0: not on the outside at least. She still had her purple-black hair cut rlm@0: just above her shoulders, but her deep purple eyes told the whole story, rlm@0: and let people know her true age. She had stopped her growth spurt at rlm@0: the age of 22, growing into a lovely woman. I guess that's something we rlm@0: have in common, thought Saturn. We both grew up in a rather odd way. rlm@0: Today she was wearing a pair of khaki shorts, sandals, and a t-shirt. rlm@0: Very normal, indeed. rlm@0: rlm@0: It was Sunday, and the pair made their way to the Northeast of rlm@0: Crystal Tokyo, about 120 kilometres from the centre of the city. The rlm@0: transport they were in was a sleek new model, and was designed for rlm@0: speeds of 200 km/h for normal travel. It could go much faster, if need rlm@0: be. It also had a very good shock system, which made the trip through rlm@0: the air especially smooth. rlm@0: rlm@0: "What's our ETA?" asked Small Lady. rlm@0: rlm@0: "A little over half an hour," replied her friend. rlm@0: rlm@0: "I can hardly wait! I haven't been to your beach house in so rlm@0: long!" rlm@0: rlm@0: The older girl laughed. The mini palace the Outer Senshi rlm@0: shared was situated on the shores on the Pacific Ocean. The appearance rlm@0: of the outside of the building had all the earmarks of the modern rlm@0: buildings in Crystal Tokyo. It's fundamental element was crystal, with rlm@0: some stone and glass thrown in just the right places for good measure. rlm@0: It's sleek angles shimmered in the sun as it made it's arc across the rlm@0: sky. The inside, however, was remarkably different. It's most rlm@0: prominent architectural style was from the Victorian times in England. rlm@0: Though one could also make out some 20th century designs and some modern rlm@0: ones as well. They all blended together to form an elegant structure rlm@0: that most designers cited as a wonderful example of architecture from rlm@0: any time. Even though this was a mini palace, with the building and rlm@0: grounds covering about 50 hectares of land, the Senshi still refered to rlm@0: it as the "beach house." For the obvious reason that it was on the rlm@0: beach. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Ne, will Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto be there, too?" asked the rlm@0: younger girl farther into their trip. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Ee. Uranus and Neptune will be there for sure, and I think rlm@0: Pluto's going to try and stop by, too." rlm@0: rlm@0: "Good, I've hardly seen any of them lately." Small Lady sighed. rlm@0: "It seems like our lives are just getting more and more hectic." rlm@0: rlm@0: The other girl smiled. "That's why we're taking this vacation. rlm@0: Sometimes it's good just to sit back and watch the world go by. Kami rlm@0: knows the Senshi deserve it." rlm@0: rlm@0: "Yeah, even though it's just for a week, it's better than rlm@0: nothing." rlm@0: rlm@0: The computer in the transport beeped slightly and then said, rlm@0: "Incoming message for Princess Serenity. Sailorvesta from Crystal rlm@0: Palace is on com channel 5." rlm@0: rlm@0: With a little laugh Small Lady pressed the button that would rlm@0: receive the call and put Vesta on the view screen. "Hai, moshi moshi. rlm@0: Small Lady desu." rlm@0: rlm@0: "Konnichiwa, Small Lady," said the red haired girl in a sailor rlm@0: fuku. "I know you just left, but we just got a request from the colony rlm@0: of Africa for you to visit there late next month." rlm@0: rlm@0: Small Lady looked slightly annoyed. "This couldn't have waited rlm@0: until I got back?" rlm@0: rlm@0: "Gomen, they asked for a reply right away. Besides, the Prime rlm@0: Minister there is a friend of mine, and I owed him a favour..." rlm@0: rlm@0: "Okay, okay. I see where this one is going." Vesta looked rlm@0: slightly embarrassed. "Of course I'll go. Hmm, I really like Africa in rlm@0: the fall. But, Vesta, no more calls, please. Not unless it's really rlm@0: important." rlm@0: rlm@0: "Hai, wakateru. Enjoy your trip!" With that the communication rlm@0: ended and the screen went black. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Honestly, I still think the Quartet needs more training." said rlm@0: Small Lady. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Maybe you could send them back to the past," kidded Saturn. rlm@0: Both girls started to laugh at the idea. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Ah! Mite!" said the princess excitedly. The transport slowed, rlm@0: and came to a stop in a garage of sorts beside the beach house. "Sugoi! rlm@0: It's just like I remember it." Both girls got their luggage from the rlm@0: transport and walked to the front doors of the "house." rlm@0: rlm@0: "Tadaima!" said Saturn as she walked into the front hall. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Okaeri." came a voice from one of the rooms off the main hall. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Ohayou," came the greeting from Small Lady. rlm@0: rlm@0: A head popped out from one of the doorways. "Ara, Small Lady. rlm@0: Ohayou. Saturn told us you'd be coming." Neptune looked elegant as rlm@0: always in a flower print sundress. rlm@0: rlm@0: "I'm going to take her upstairs," said Saturn with a smile. rlm@0: "We'll be back down for lunch." The two girls took the staircase up to rlm@0: Saturn's bedroom and got their luggage settled. Really, there were many rlm@0: free rooms that Small Lady could have used, but both wanted to spend rlm@0: their vacation together. The bed was more than large enough to fit two rlm@0: people, and they liked to tell stories and play games before they fell rlm@0: asleep. Someone might have mistaken them for actual teenagers, if they rlm@0: didn't know better. rlm@0: rlm@0: "It's such a pretty room," said Small Lady. "You've still got rlm@0: all your lamps." The room was done in purple colourings. The walls rlm@0: were a very light purple, while her curtains and bedspread were much rlm@0: darker. Most of the furniture in the room including her desk and rlm@0: dressers were white. It made for a very interesting effect with the rlm@0: lamps turned on at night. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Yeah, every now and then I'll even pick up a new one, if I like rlm@0: it." She smiled at the younger girl. rlm@0: rlm@0: Small Lady walked towards her and held her hand. Let's make rlm@0: this a vacation to remember. With so much going on, we have to make our rlm@0: time together count!" rlm@0: rlm@0: The other girl agreed. They had to make the most of their rlm@0: friendship when they had the chance. This was going to be one of the rlm@0: best weeks of their lives! rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: The sun shone brightly on a Wednesday afternoon in August. It rlm@0: was about 35 degrees C, which made the warm Pacific waters even more rlm@0: inviting. The calmness of the waves washing ashore and the gentle sea rlm@0: breeze was only interrupted by the happy cries of two friends having a rlm@0: good time. rlm@0: rlm@0: "I'm going to get there first!" cried the pink haired girl. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Oh no you're not! I'm a better runner than you, and you know rlm@0: it!" exclaimed her black haired companion. rlm@0: rlm@0: There was a temporary splash as both girls reached the water at rlm@0: the same time, and then began laughing. Their adventurous attitude was rlm@0: accompanied by a brief, if not large, water fight. Afterwards, the two rlm@0: just stood in the water happily, but out of breath. rlm@0: rlm@0: "I would have beat you if I still had Neptune's mirror," said rlm@0: the princess slyly. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Ha! She's my mama, she would do anything to protect me," rlm@0: replied the other with a defiant expression on her face. The charade rlm@0: didn't last long, though. Both girls immediately broke out laughing rlm@0: again. They started to swim normally in the water, both under and on rlm@0: top. It really had a calming effect, and was a place anyone would feel rlm@0: at peace. No wonder Neptune loves it so much, they both thought. rlm@0: rlm@0: An hour or so later they both reluctantly started to emerge from rlm@0: the water. Both were pretty tired, but it was a great swim, and it rlm@0: relaxed a lot of the built-up tension in their muscles due to Senshi rlm@0: duties. rlm@0: rlm@0: Saturn was a few steps behind Small Lady, and was almost out of rlm@0: the water. Unfortunately, she tripped on a rock she didn't see, rlm@0: crashing into Small Lady, and sending them both to the sandy ground. rlm@0: The scene was a pretty big mass of tangled limbs. Saturn ended up rlm@0: straddling Small Lady's torso, with her arms on either side of her head. rlm@0: She managed to stop herself a few centimetres before she flattened the rlm@0: girl. rlm@0: rlm@0: There was silence as both girls just looked into each others rlm@0: eyes. Their breathing was hard, and they could feel each others hot rlm@0: breath on their cheeks. Several moments passed where no one moved at rlm@0: all. The calming sound of waves on the shore could be heard again. rlm@0: Then, ever so slightly, they both moved at the same time. Their lips rlm@0: met in a kiss that was timid at first, but grew into something more rlm@0: passionate quickly. rlm@0: rlm@0: As if something snapped in both their brains, the kiss came to a rlm@0: crashing halt. Saturn retreated off of the princess with a terrified rlm@0: expression on her face. Small Lady's features almost matched hers, with rlm@0: her eyes displaying great shock. rlm@0: rlm@0: Small Lady was the first to speak. "Sa..turn..." But as soon rlm@0: as she started, Saturn was already up, and running towards the house, rlm@0: tears streaming down her face. "SATURN!!!" yelled the princess after rlm@0: her, but she didn't look back. "Saturn..." said the princess again as rlm@0: she started to cry. She tried make any sense she could out of the rlm@0: situation. rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: Saturn reached her bedroom and shut the door with a slam. Thank rlm@0: kami Uranus and Neptune weren't home, she thought. She flung herself on rlm@0: the bed and started to sob. A million confusing emotions were running rlm@0: through her head. Not the least of which was the total rush she felt rlm@0: when Small Lady's lips touched her own. Kami, kami, that had been so rlm@0: stupid, she scolded herself. She tried to remember why she had done it, rlm@0: but she couldn't. It was like a big blur in her mind. The tears kept rlm@0: streaming down her face. Had she really sacrificed all those years of rlm@0: friendship, all those years of waiting? Small Lady was her first friend rlm@0: and her best friend. She was someone who would be friends with her when rlm@0: no one else would. No one was forcing the princess, she *wanted* to be rlm@0: friends with her. That had been a first for Saturn, all those years rlm@0: ago. Now Saturn thought she had thrown it all away, that her best rlm@0: friend in the world hated her and no longer wanted to be her friend. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Damn these lamps!" she screamed. "Damn these lonely lamps!" rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: Small Lady was really no better off. She was still down at the rlm@0: beach. She just couldn't find the energy to stand up. She kept going rlm@0: over and over the events that had happened. She still didn't understand rlm@0: any of it. Besides the kiss itself, she was mostly terrified of rlm@0: Saturn's reaction. She just ran away, she thought. And that look she rlm@0: gave me... Is she really disgusted with me? It was all so confusing. rlm@0: The worst part was she didn't know if they were still friends. The rlm@0: thought of not being friends with Saturn chilled her to the bone. She rlm@0: didn't know if she could live without her. But what had the kiss meant? rlm@0: Was is just a kiss? Or was it something more...? Small Lady tried to rlm@0: think about it, but it was like her brain turned to mush. She just rlm@0: wasn't sure of anything anymore. rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: A sporty looking transport pulled into the garage of the beach rlm@0: house. It's three occupants got out, and started taking in groceries. rlm@0: rlm@0: "With all this technology, you'd think they be able to sell ripe rlm@0: tomatoes, wouldn't you?" complained Neptune. rlm@0: rlm@0: Uranus just laughed. "Maybe something else in here needs a rlm@0: little ripening, ne?" rlm@0: rlm@0: Neptune threw a sultry glance her way. "Maybe you're right. rlm@0: You can never tell until you feel the softness..." rlm@0: rlm@0: Pluto, being used to similar exchanges for centuries, virtually rlm@0: ignored them, and started to put away the groceries. Young love, she rlm@0: thought absentmindedly. Suddenly she realised Saturn and Small Lady rlm@0: weren't there to greet them. "Saturn to Small Lady wa?" she asked the rlm@0: couple who were now in an embrace. rlm@0: rlm@0: "E?" asked a puzzled Neptune. "Maybe they're still down by the rlm@0: beach. Saturn mentioned something about going for a swim today. Maybe rlm@0: you better call them, dinner will be ready in half an hour." rlm@0: rlm@0: Pluto nodded, and walked out the patio doors onto the deck. She rlm@0: couldn't see anyone on the beach, so she decided to look through the rlm@0: house instead. She heard some soft humming coming from one of the rooms rlm@0: down the hall, so she went to check it out. There, sitting in a rlm@0: darkened room, she found Small Lady listening to some music with a head rlm@0: set. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Oh, hello, Puu," she said calmly. "I didn't hear you guys get rlm@0: back." rlm@0: rlm@0: "Small Lady," asked Pluto cautiously, "is there something rlm@0: wrong?" rlm@0: rlm@0: "Hmm? Oh no. Nandemonai." She just smiled. rlm@0: rlm@0: The older Senshi looked at her strangely, then decided just to rlm@0: tell her when dinner would be ready. The princess said she'd be there rlm@0: on time. rlm@0: rlm@0: The Senshi of time had a similar experience when she found rlm@0: Saturn in her room. She just sat there calmly on her bed reading a rlm@0: book, acting as if nothing was wrong. rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: Dinner was an interesting experience to say the least. Both rlm@0: Small Lady and Saturn got there at the same time, but didn't seem to rlm@0: look at each other. Their faces showed signs of considerable stress, rlm@0: and they bowed their heads while they ate. The other three Senshi tried rlm@0: to strike up conversations with them the whole time, but the most either rlm@0: would give were one word replies. The three, knowing something was rlm@0: wrong, could just look at each other and shrug. If this kept up, they rlm@0: would have to do something, but right now it was best left alone. rlm@0: rlm@0: Small Lady stared down into her rice bowl and tried to imagine rlm@0: it as a snowy mountain in the winter, and skiing down it with the wind rlm@0: blowing through her hair. It would be better than being here, she rlm@0: thought. God, anywhere would be better than here right now. She...she rlm@0: won't even look at me. She must hate me. The sight of chopsticks in rlm@0: the bowl brought her back to reality again. She just sighed. Baka, rlm@0: baka, baka. I'm such a baka. rlm@0: rlm@0: Atashi no baka, thought Saturn. How could I just throw away rlm@0: years of friendship for a kiss? It's funny how something as simple as a rlm@0: kiss can change one's life so drastically. The memory kept tearing away rlm@0: at Saturn's heart. The thought of losing Small Lady... She just rlm@0: couldn't handle it. rlm@0: rlm@0: The dishes were beginning to get washed up. "Don't forget your rlm@0: baths tonight, you two." Sometimes Neptune forgot just how old they all rlm@0: were. Saturn just nodded and headed up the stairs. Small Lady's heart rlm@0: ached as she watched the other leave. She waited until she was out of rlm@0: sight before she went up, too. rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: Saturn warmed the bath water, and settled in for a nice relaxing rlm@0: soak. She hoped some of the worries of the day would somehow just wash rlm@0: away. She was wrong. Somehow her mind wouldn't let her think of rlm@0: anything else. rlm@0: rlm@0: Small Lady stood in the toilet room just outside the shower/bath rlm@0: room. She was ready for a bath, and was just wearing a robe. She rlm@0: sighed. Part of her wanted to run in and make up with Saturn right rlm@0: there. The other half wanted to run as far away as possible. She went rlm@0: over her options. If this was all a big misunderstanding, she could go rlm@0: in and talk to Saturn about it and work things out. On the other hand, rlm@0: if Saturn hated her she could be told to get out and go back to Crystal rlm@0: Tokyo. Was the pain of not knowing worse than being rejected as a rlm@0: friend? Small Lady didn't know, but she did know that she needed rlm@0: answers. So far the night had been awful... It couldn't really get rlm@0: much worse. That's when she decided. For better or for worse, at least rlm@0: they were going to talk about it. rlm@0: rlm@0: The door to the shower room slid open, and Small Lady stepped rlm@0: in. Saturn was caught completely off guard, and instinctively lowered rlm@0: herself in the tub to hide her body. rlm@0: rlm@0: "We used to bathe together all the time. Are you really that rlm@0: ashamed now?" Small Lady chanced a smile. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Small Lady, I..." Saturn trailed off. She couldn't think of rlm@0: the words to say. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Look, Saturn... We, we have to talk about this! I can't go on rlm@0: if things are going to be like tonight. It's killing me! I couldn't rlm@0: stand it if you weren't my best friend!" Both girls were sobbing. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Then... You don't hate me?" Saturn looked so timid. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Hate you? Me? I could never hate you! You're my best rlm@0: friend!" Small Lady walked up to her, and sat on the edge of the tub. rlm@0: "I thought you hated *me*..." rlm@0: rlm@0: "No! Never!" Saturn looked away from the girl. "I'm sorry for rlm@0: the way I acted. I had no right to kiss you. Then I was so afraid of rlm@0: what you were going to say, that I just ran away. I was scared." rlm@0: rlm@0: "So that's why..." Small Lady wiped away a few of her tears. rlm@0: "I thought you were disgusted because I kissed you..." rlm@0: rlm@0: Saturn laughed. It felt like the first laugh in a very long rlm@0: time. "I guess there was a little misunderstanding between the both of rlm@0: us. So...we're still friends?" rlm@0: rlm@0: "Always and forever, right?" Small Lady smiled. Something was rlm@0: still tearing at her mind. "But I don't think we can just leave it at rlm@0: that. Something...happened between us. I think we need to figure out rlm@0: why." rlm@0: rlm@0: Saturn looked depressed again. "I couldn't get passed it rlm@0: either. The kiss, how did it make you feel?" rlm@0: rlm@0: The other girl blinked. "Nani?" rlm@0: rlm@0: "How did it make you feel? Inside?" rlm@0: rlm@0: Small Lady thought back to the moment her lips touched Saturn's. rlm@0: It was like someone had set a fire in her body. Her head felt light, rlm@0: and all she knew was that she wanted to continue... "I can't lie. It rlm@0: felt good. Very good. But I don't want you to be scared away! Just rlm@0: staying friends is good enough for me." rlm@0: rlm@0: Saturn looked at her, gratitude in her eyes. "You'd do rlm@0: something like that for me... The truth is, I enjoyed it. too. I'm rlm@0: just not sure what that means. Small Lady, why don't you come in? The rlm@0: water's nice and warm." rlm@0: rlm@0: She hesitated a bit, but undid her robe, and then stepped into rlm@0: the tub. She submerged herself until her breasts were covered by the rlm@0: soothing water. "I don't know what it means, Saturn. But I know I rlm@0: can't just ignore my feelings! Whatever...whatever happens between us, rlm@0: I don't want our friendship to be affected. I think that scares me more rlm@0: than anything else." rlm@0: rlm@0: "Atashi mo. Today I've done a lot of thinking. I don't think I rlm@0: realised how strong my feelings were towards you. It scared me. It rlm@0: scared me a lot." rlm@0: rlm@0: Small Lady moved over to her friend to comfort her. "Don't be rlm@0: scared, Saturn. We'll always have each other." The princess leaned in rlm@0: closer and kissed the black haired girl. She expected the other might rlm@0: back away, but she didn't. Instead she returned the kiss with the same rlm@0: vigour. When they broke the kiss no one ran away. There were no broken rlm@0: hearts. rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: Later that night in Saturn's bed, both girls laid on their rlm@0: backs, and looked at the ceiling. They were holding hands. rlm@0: rlm@0: "It's almost as if someone removed a cloud from my mind," said rlm@0: Small Lady. "I think my feelings for you have been more than just rlm@0: friendship for some time. I didn't realise it before, though. It's rlm@0: like we were such good friends that our friendship grew into love." rlm@0: rlm@0: The other girl looked over in surprise. "Love?" rlm@0: rlm@0: The princess blushed. "Hai, love. I love you, I really do. rlm@0: With all my heart and soul." rlm@0: rlm@0: Saturn just gasped. "I think it was the same for me. Our rlm@0: friendship was just so strong that it sort of mutated into love. Now rlm@0: that I see it, it all looks so clear." Saturn looked Small Lady rlm@0: straight in the eye. "I do love you. More than I will ever be able to rlm@0: tell you." Both girls smiled. Saturn went on. "I think... I remember rlm@0: being on Titan and thinking of you sometimes. Sometimes I would think rlm@0: of holding you, of being close with you. But I buried the feelings so rlm@0: deep that I didn't recognise them. Until now." rlm@0: rlm@0: Both girls got closer to one another so that they were almost in rlm@0: an embrace. rlm@0: rlm@0: "I don't ever want to let you go." rlm@0: rlm@0: "Me neither." rlm@0: rlm@0: They moved closer again, and touched lips for the third time. rlm@0: Their hands travelled up and down each others bodies, exploring the new rlm@0: feelings they had. They stopped for a moment and looked into the rlm@0: other's eyes. The both smiled as they saw the love and caring in them. rlm@0: They whispered "aishiteru" to each other, and went back to kissing and rlm@0: trying to remove their partner's clothes. rlm@0: rlm@0: A special night followed for both of them. Special because of rlm@0: the fact it was the first time for both of them, and because they were rlm@0: glad to finally share how they felt with someone they loved more than rlm@0: life itself. Not just their bodies, but their souls touched that night. rlm@0: When their souls touched, they fused together as one, making the rlm@0: partners two beings of one whole. Forever, they would always be united rlm@0: as one. rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: Birds chirped, and the sun cast a ray of light over the land rlm@0: signalling the beginning of another day. A body stirred slightly in a rlm@0: bed. The figure's eyes slowly opened, and were greeted with a welcome rlm@0: sight. She moved forward slowly, and kissed the other girl. Her rlm@0: friend's eyes fluttered open, and a smile crept across her face. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Ohayou, Saturn." rlm@0: rlm@0: "Ohayou, Small Lady." rlm@0: rlm@0: They both just laid unmoving for several minutes. They couldn't rlm@0: take their eyes off of each other. They would look up and down the rlm@0: other person's body, all the time breathing in their wonderful sent. It rlm@0: was like a dream state, and neither one wanted to leave. rlm@0: rlm@0: "I suppose we should get up, ne?" said the princess in a voice rlm@0: that told she really didn't want to. rlm@0: rlm@0: "I suppose," the other replied. rlm@0: rlm@0: Several more minutes passed where neither one moved. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Although..." chanced Saturn, "we *are* on vacation..." rlm@0: rlm@0: Small Lady's eyes lit up. "Sou ne... It's not like we have any rlm@0: official business we have to do..." She leaned forward, and their lips rlm@0: met again in a passionate kiss. "After all, we're here to have fun." rlm@0: Now a wicked smile crossed her face, which made the other girl laugh. rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: Small Lady and Saturn were late coming down for breakfast. The rlm@0: others were worried because of the way the two had acted last night. rlm@0: They weren't sure what was going on. They were beginning to think they rlm@0: might never come. Needless to say, they were shocked when the two girls rlm@0: came bounding down the stairs happily, while holding hands. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Ohayou gozaimasu!" chimed Saturn. rlm@0: rlm@0: "O- Ohayou," replied Neptune. She had a look of confusion on her rlm@0: face. rlm@0: rlm@0: "What's for breakfast?" asked Small Lady. Then she saw the eggs rlm@0: and rice already laid out for them. "Ah! Arigatou. Gomen, omatase." rlm@0: She stuck her free hand behind her head to show her slight rlm@0: embarrassment. rlm@0: rlm@0: The rest of breakfast went fairly normal for everyone. Uranus was rlm@0: reading the paper, Pluto was sipping her coffee, and Neptune was reading rlm@0: a good book she had started last night. Small Lady and Saturn happily rlm@0: talked away while consuming their meal. The only strange thing was they rlm@0: never stopped holding hands the entire time. rlm@0: rlm@0: Uranus threw a glance over to Neptune, who raised an eyebrow. But rlm@0: neither said anything. It was when the plates were being put away that rlm@0: Pluto finally spoke up. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Saturn, Small Lady, can we talk to you for a minute?" rlm@0: rlm@0: The two girls just looked at each other with puzzled expressions rlm@0: on their faces, and nodded. The five made their way over to the living rlm@0: room, and sat down. At first there was only silence. rlm@0: rlm@0: Uranus was the first to speak. "We're...concerned about you two. rlm@0: Yesterday it seemed like you didn't want to have anything to do with one rlm@0: another, but today you're close again. Even closer than before." rlm@0: rlm@0: Neptune jumped in. "Don't get us wrong, we don't want to invade rlm@0: your privacy. If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to. rlm@0: You're both adults; you can handle you're own problems, but we just want rlm@0: to let you know we're here if you wanted to talk." rlm@0: rlm@0: Pluto decided to add something. "We love you both dearly. We rlm@0: don't like seeing you hurt. Sometimes it helps to talk to other rlm@0: people." She smiled at them. rlm@0: rlm@0: Small Lady looked at her friend, and smiled slightly. Saturn rlm@0: smiled back and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "There's really no rlm@0: sense in keeping it a secret. I think we should tell them everything." rlm@0: rlm@0: Saturn nodded. "There shouldn't be secrets in a family. I guess rlm@0: we should just get it out in the open first. Small Lady and I are rlm@0: partners. We're in love." The two sat closer together, and held each rlm@0: other protectively. rlm@0: rlm@0: The three glanced at one another, and blinked a couple of times. rlm@0: There was no denying the shock they felt. Then large smiles crept rlm@0: across their faces. rlm@0: rlm@0: "We're glad for you," said Neptune. "It's always wonderful to rlm@0: find someone you love." She looked over at Uranus who was already rlm@0: looking at her. rlm@0: rlm@0: Saturn and Small Lady let out a sigh of relief. Well, the worst rlm@0: part was over. "Arigatou," said Saturn. "Your blessing means a lot to rlm@0: us." rlm@0: rlm@0: "I knew it," said Uranus half jokingly. "It's too bad all the rlm@0: pretty girls are already taken." She winked at Small Lady, who had a rlm@0: very large blush across her cheeks. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Uranus!" scolded Saturn. They all laughed. The family was back rlm@0: together. rlm@0: rlm@0: "But," broke in Pluto, "that still doesn't explain the way you rlm@0: were acting yesterday. Why were you both so depressed?" rlm@0: rlm@0: Small Lady sighed. It still brought pain to her heart to think rlm@0: about it. "Up until yesterday, we weren't sure of how we felt. rlm@0: Actually," she laughed a little, "we weren't even really aware of it." rlm@0: rlm@0: Saturn jumped in, sensing her friend was having a hard time. rlm@0: "There was a misunderstanding. Our feelings were confused. During rlm@0: dinner we weren't sure what to say to each other, and we were ashamed. rlm@0: Both of us were afraid of losing a friend. But," Saturn looked Small rlm@0: Lady in the eye, "we talked about it, and we managed to work it all out. rlm@0: That's when we revealed how we truly felt." She left out the details rlm@0: about the kiss, and the night that followed, but it was enough to make rlm@0: her parents understand. Besides, they were probably filling in the rlm@0: details for themselves anyway. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Are you going to tell the others?" asked Uranus. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Hai," said Small Lady. "Actually, we plan on discussing it with rlm@0: my parents first. Mama's been bugging me to find a koibito for the last rlm@0: little while, so we'll see how that goes. Then we'll tell the others." rlm@0: rlm@0: "So," said Saturn, "before we have to go back on Saturday, we plan rlm@0: on enjoying the last few days. No worries, no troubles. Just a couple rlm@0: enjoying their time together." They both smiled. The next few days rlm@0: would be bliss. rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: Later that day Saturn was alone in the kitchen trying to find rlm@0: something to snack on. She didn't hear anyone come up behind her. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Saturn," said a woman with long aqua hair. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Ah, Neptune," said Saturn as she turned around. "Doushitano?" rlm@0: rlm@0: Neptune didn't say anything, but showed how she felt with her rlm@0: actions. She hugged the younger girl and held her in her arms. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Neptune?" rlm@0: rlm@0: "Gomen," said the woman, still holding her. "Saturn, I really rlm@0: want you to know how happy I am, how happy we all are about you and rlm@0: Small Lady. And I want to let you know that we'll support you in any rlm@0: way." She laughed a little. "But why do I feel like I'm losing you?" rlm@0: rlm@0: "Mama," Saturn said in almost a whisper. "I'm 915 years old. I rlm@0: think it's time you let go." rlm@0: rlm@0: The other laughed. "I suppose you're right. But you'll always be rlm@0: my little girl. I hoped you'd find someone to love and be loved by. rlm@0: Now you have. I hope you become very happy, musume." rlm@0: rlm@0: "Arigatou, mama. I love you." rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: Saturday morning rolled around far too quickly for the happy rlm@0: couple. They wanted to stay at the beach house for all eternity, rlm@0: without having to face the real world, but they couldn't do it, and they rlm@0: knew it. The morning was being spent packing up luggage and saying rlm@0: goodbye. It could be months until they got to see these Senshi again. rlm@0: It surprised them when Uranus offered to drive them back to Crystal rlm@0: Tokyo. They accepted, of course, but they sensed a motive behind her rlm@0: asking. rlm@0: rlm@0: Pretty soon they were on the road, or the sky, actually. With rlm@0: Uranus driving it would probably take them twenty minutes to arrive at rlm@0: their destination. Or it would, if she drove as fast as she usually rlm@0: did. Today it seemed almost as if she was holding back. Neither girl rlm@0: knew why, but they were just content to sit in the back seat holding rlm@0: hands. They would get to Crystal Tokyo soon enough. rlm@0: rlm@0: "I have a little story to tell you," said Uranus, which slightly rlm@0: surprised the girls. "It goes back quite a ways, but I think it's rlm@0: important." rlm@0: rlm@0: Saturn winced slightly. She knew what was coming. She didn't rlm@0: know all that much about Uranus or Neptune before they became her rlm@0: parents, except the little bits they told her. She knew for a fact that rlm@0: it was very painful for both of them, so she never pressed the issue. rlm@0: She was a little scared, so she squeezed Small Lady's hand. The other rlm@0: looked at her slightly confused, but smiled at the same time. rlm@0: rlm@0: "It's about Neptune and I...when we were young." She seemed to rlm@0: pause for a bit. "When I first laid eyes on her, I couldn't believe rlm@0: how beautiful she was. She was like a shimmering angel trying to pull rlm@0: me out of the darkness of my existence. I had been having dreams about rlm@0: her and the mission for some time. So while I was overjoyed at meeting rlm@0: her in real life, I pushed her away, because I was afraid of the rlm@0: mission, and all I would have to give up. But she wouldn't give up. rlm@0: She always has been persistent." She stopped and laughed. "Actually rlm@0: she told me she had been following my F1 career long before she knew rlm@0: about the mission. She would always watch from a distance... rlm@0: rlm@0: "Anyway, I eventually gave into her. I couldn't help myself, I rlm@0: had fallen in love. For the next little while we were very concerned rlm@0: about the mission. It meant saving the world from the silence, so we rlm@0: had to stay focused. But at the same time... At the same time we grew rlm@0: closer as a couple. I began to wonder how I ever lived my life without rlm@0: this woman. Before any of this had happened I had already left home. rlm@0: Being at home was just too painful. After I left I vowed to make *my* rlm@0: family life a happy one." Uranus winked at Saturn, who smiled. "But rlm@0: Neptune was still living at home. She was distant from her parents, rlm@0: they really didn't seem that interested in her, and I think they fought rlm@0: a lot. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Something happened that I'll regret for the rest of my life. Her rlm@0: parents were on vacation. I think it was Hawaii or some such place. rlm@0: So, Neptune invited me over. It was a very special night. We ate by rlm@0: candle light, and played a lovely duet afterwards. It was almost rlm@0: magical. I should have went home right then, but I didn't. Her scent rlm@0: intoxicated me, and drew me in. I couldn't leave her arms." Uranus rlm@0: coughed a bit, sensing the blushes on the other girls' cheeks. "To make rlm@0: a long story short, her parents came home unexpectedly that night. They rlm@0: were none too pleased when they found me sharing a bed with their rlm@0: daughter... They said some horrible things to Neptune, to us both. rlm@0: Needless to say we left that night and never looked back, thereby rlm@0: severing our family contacts forever." rlm@0: rlm@0: Uranus looked back at the couple, they had slightly pained rlm@0: expressions on their faces. "Gomen, I didn't tell you that story to rlm@0: scare you. Far from it. Small Lady, you're mother is a very caring rlm@0: woman, you have nothing to worry about. But you have to be prepared for rlm@0: the reaction of the masses. You're Princess Serenity, heir to the rlm@0: throne of the Moon Kingdom, wielder of the most power force in the rlm@0: galaxy. You have to expect some sort of negative reaction to your rlm@0: decision." rlm@0: rlm@0: "Uranus, this is Crystal Tokyo. We're in an age of peace and rlm@0: love. People's opinion's have changed over the past 900 some years." rlm@0: said the princess in a calm voice. rlm@0: rlm@0: The blond woman tried to smile. How naive she is, she thought. rlm@0: "That's true. You'll have an easier time than Neptune and I ever had, rlm@0: but you have to expect some resistance. Some of the fringe religious rlm@0: groups are still around, and they can get quite opinionated." rlm@0: rlm@0: By this time Small Lady was slightly angry. "So what do you want rlm@0: me to do, Uranus? Just give Saturn up? I can't do that! I'm not going rlm@0: to bow to any sort of public pressure!" rlm@0: rlm@0: "No, no, please don't get me wrong, princess. You know how I feel rlm@0: about your partnership. If anything I'll be the first to protect you if rlm@0: any controversy comes of your announcement." She sighed. How could she rlm@0: make the younger girl understand? "I just don't want this to be a shock rlm@0: for you. I want you to stand strong if any resistance does come up." rlm@0: rlm@0: Saturn had been sitting quietly for some time, but now spoke up. rlm@0: "Uranus," she said in a loving voice, "believe me, we appreciate your rlm@0: concern. We understand what you're trying to say. But Small Lady and I rlm@0: have a force stronger than any resistance we might come up against. We rlm@0: have love. If we stand together, no harm will come, ne?" rlm@0: rlm@0: "Sou," said Small Lady. "All we need is each other. It might be rlm@0: a little selfish view, but it's true. We'll be together, and that's all rlm@0: that matters." rlm@0: rlm@0: Uranus smiled. "Yokata na. Forgive me, I just wanted to make rlm@0: sure that you were ready. Now there's no doubt that you are." rlm@0: rlm@0: The transport picked up speed, and zoomed along to Crystal Palace, rlm@0: which was just starting to appear in the distance. rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: "Serenity-sama," said a servant, "you have visitors." rlm@0: rlm@0: "Thank you, Naomi-san. Please show them in." rlm@0: rlm@0: Neo Queen Serenity sat in one of her private chambers overlooking rlm@0: a spectacular view of Crystal Tokyo. Of course, any room in the palace rlm@0: had a spectacular view since it was situated in the centre of the city. rlm@0: This particular room, however, was facing the south, which held a rlm@0: dazzling view of the Tokyo Tower. After all these years it was still rlm@0: standing. King Endymion was in the adjoining room attending to some rlm@0: paper work. Serenity herself was just about to start work on answering rlm@0: the many communiques she had received over the past day. rlm@0: rlm@0: The door to the room opened slowly, and in stepped Small Lady in rlm@0: her full princess gown and Sailorsaturn in her star fuku, Silence Glaive rlm@0: in hand. Both women bowed respectfully, which slightly surprised the rlm@0: older woman who wasn't used to such formal treatment by her daughter and rlm@0: close friends. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Small Lady, Sailorsaturn. Please come in and have a seat." rlm@0: rlm@0: "Mama, we're sorry to disturb you, but we would like to talk to rlm@0: you about something important. I'd like papa to come in, too." The two rlm@0: sat down on the couch and held hands. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Small Lady, I'm never too busy for you," she said with a smile. rlm@0: She called to the other room. "Endymion, Small Lady and Saturn are rlm@0: back. They'd like to talk to us." rlm@0: rlm@0: A man in a lavender tuxedo entered the room with a smile on his rlm@0: face. "Okaerinasai. My, don't we look formal today?" He gave a little rlm@0: wink. rlm@0: rlm@0: "I hope you both enjoyed your vacation, ne?" asked the queen. rlm@0: rlm@0: The two couldn't help but smile. "Hai, it was the best week of rlm@0: our lives, Serenity," spoke Saturn. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Now, what would you like to talk to us about?" rlm@0: rlm@0: Saturn squeezed Small Lady's hand. It was a bit harder than rlm@0: telling Uranus-tachi, but they couldn't back down now. Small Lady rlm@0: squeezed back, and had a look of confidence on her face. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Mama, while I was on vacation...I fell in love." Saturn beamed. rlm@0: So far, so good. rlm@0: rlm@0: Happiness and shock seemed to express themselves on the king and rlm@0: queen at the same time. "That's wonderful, Small Lady," said the queen. rlm@0: "Who's the lucky person?" rlm@0: rlm@0: "She's right here. Mama, I fell in love with Sailorsaturn." rlm@0: rlm@0: "Queen, King, before you say anything," spoke Saturn with clear rlm@0: devotion in her eyes, "please listen to what I have to say. I love your rlm@0: daughter. I lover her dearly. As you know, we've been friends for a rlm@0: long time. Long ago we swore we'd never be apart. Over time, and rlm@0: partly without our knowledge, that devotion and friendship turned into rlm@0: love. It's a deep love and we cherish it dearly. Please, you have to rlm@0: see that we're taking this very seriously." Saturn was looking the rlm@0: queen straight in the eye, trying to look as sincere as possible. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Saturn," said the queen softly, "daijoubu yo. I know you would rlm@0: not make an announcement like this without thinking it through rlm@0: thoroughly. I can see how deeply you care for one another." rlm@0: rlm@0: Small Lady and Saturn didn't quite know what to think at this rlm@0: point. Was that a blessing, or was there going to be a "but" to this rlm@0: statement. Waiting was killing them. rlm@0: rlm@0: The queen surprised them slightly by getting up from her chair and rlm@0: walking over to them. She surprised them even more when she began to rlm@0: give them both a big hug. "Omedetou ne! I'm so happy for you both!" rlm@0: rlm@0: "So, you're okay with it?" asked Small Lady hesitantly. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Okay with it? I'm overjoyed! We both want to see you happy rlm@0: with someone, and now it's come true. We're glad you could find love in rlm@0: such a close friend." The queen looked like she was glowing. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Small Lady, Saturn, Serenity and I wish you all the best. We rlm@0: love you both." spoke the king with clear emotion in his voice. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Papa, mama," said the princess with tears in her eyes. rlm@0: "Arigatou." She held Saturn in an embrace and hugged her tightly. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Do you plan to tell the others?" asked Serenity, while wiping the rlm@0: tears from her face. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Hai. Uranus-tachi already know, and we'll tell the other Senshi rlm@0: whenever we can get them all together. And...I know I'll have to make rlm@0: an announcement to the world soon. It'll just get leaked to the press rlm@0: anyway. I'm prepared, mama. We both are. But we're also both strong rlm@0: enough to get through any hard times. Love conquers all, ne?" rlm@0: rlm@0: "Sou ne," spoke her mother. "Love is everything." rlm@0: rlm@0: ~*~*~*~*~ rlm@0: rlm@0: To be continued in part 3. ^_^; rlm@0: rlm@0: Well, that was a whole lot longer than part 1, eh? Parts 3 and 4 rlm@0: may not be as long. I don't really know. ^_^; rlm@0: rlm@0: Okay, there will be fairly long author's comments this time. Yay! :P rlm@0: rlm@0: Chibiusa and Hotaru as a couple. Some of you may be thinking, "Is rlm@0: this girl out of her mind?" But it interested me, and I thought it rlm@0: would make a good fanfic. :) There's only circumstantial evidence to rlm@0: support it in the manga, but those few pictures were enough to peek my rlm@0: interest. Stay tuned for the next two parts, though. They may just rlm@0: surprise you (ooh, plot twist! :P). rlm@0: rlm@0: It took all my will power not to call Saturn "Hotaru" and Small rlm@0: Lady "Chibiusa." Or to use Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna's names, for rlm@0: that matter. Never in the manga do we see them using their human names rlm@0: in Crystal Tokyo, so it's fairly safe to assume that they never do. rlm@0: And, of course, we *know* Chibiusa was a 20th century invention and that rlm@0: everyone in the future calls her Small Lady. Still, it was hard. I had rlm@0: to hit backspace more than a few times, lemme tell ya. ^_- rlm@0: rlm@0: Now a note about all the ages and dates I threw at you. Some of rlm@0: them may not seem to make sense, so I'll go over them in detail. rlm@0: Remember, this is canon as per the manga. :) rlm@0: rlm@0: * June 30 2001 - this should be when Usagi turns 22, if we assume she rlm@0: turned 17 in June 1996 (this is when the fifth series manga came out, rlm@0: and Usagi was in second year high school (Grade 11) at the time). The rlm@0: second series manga establishes she rises to power and gives birth to rlm@0: Chibiusa when she turns 22 (since Usagi and Chibiusa share the same rlm@0: birthday, this seems to be the only plausible date). Plus it makes rlm@0: sense since 2001 is the first *real* year of the new millennium. rlm@0: rlm@0: * Hotaru at twelve-years-old - I meant in appearance. She'd actually be rlm@0: about a year old at this point (since the reincarnation). rlm@0: rlm@0: * Small Lady at 910-years-old looking 18 - If we assume she turns 904 in rlm@0: 1996 (she turned 902 in '94 in an enikki), and since she looked 12 in rlm@0: '96, we can assume, if she continues to age normally, that she'll look rlm@0: 18 when she turns 910. In the 30th century, the year would be 2911 rlm@0: (2001 plus 910). rlm@0: rlm@0: * Saturn not ageing for 905 years and stopping her growth at age 22 - We rlm@0: know Usagi stopped ageing at 22, so it's probably the same for the rlm@0: others. By 22 I mean the appearance of age 22. Saturn would have rlm@0: actually been 11-years-old, and the year would be 2006. Subtract 2006 rlm@0: from 2911 and you get 905 years. rlm@0: rlm@0: * Saturn at 916-years-old - 2911 subtract 1995 (when she was rlm@0: reincarnated) equals 916. rlm@0: rlm@0: If there are any other dates that I missed, they should all fit this rlm@0: timeline in a similar fashion. rlm@0: rlm@0: If any details don't make sense, like who Sailorvesta is, or what rlm@0: Titan Castle is, you'll have to read the manga to understand fully. It rlm@0: doesn't make much sense to go into a long explanation here. :) rlm@0: rlm@0: Yes, I know I based Uranus' speech on anime events, but nothing is rlm@0: mentioned about it in the manga, so I took a little artistic license. ;) rlm@0: And I think I kept it general enough that it probably fits the manga rlm@0: anyway. :) rlm@0: rlm@0: Okay, feedback time. ;) If you have any questions or comments, rlm@0: just email me at ajhd@king.igs.net. And if you don't, but liked the fic rlm@0: anyway, arigatou. I know I never email people even when I like their rlm@0: fanfics. ^_^;; Well, that's not true. I did email Tim Nolan once. ^_^; rlm@0: rlm@0: Extra special thanks to Jay Dee Archer (aka Jupiter Knight) for rlm@0: proof reading my fanfic for me! Arigatou gozaimashita! Go see Jupiter rlm@0: Knight's fanfic archive, he has lots of great stories. ^_^ rlm@0: rlm@0: http://www.dragonfire.net/~JupiterKnight/ rlm@0: rlm@0: Music I was listening to when I wrote this: Disc 1 & 2 from the rlm@0: Memorial Music Box (first season BGM). Actually, by pure coincidence, rlm@0: I was listening to the same BGM that played during the end of ep 88 when rlm@0: I was writing the 'Chibiusa returns home' scene. Any similarities can rlm@0: be blamed on that. :P rlm@0: rlm@0: Completed: Aug 20th 1998.