She had been a fool to fall in love so fast. She had been alive a long time, and she had seen others become hurt in the same way. Why hadn't she learned a thing from it?

But...he had held her so tenderly. All of the others---they cared for her, yes, but mostly her advice was never taken seriously. She was supposed to guard them, but they didn't appreciate it. Especially Usagi.

That had all changed when Kakeru saved her. He risked his life for Luna without ever knowing her. Nobody else would have, but he did. And then he held her so gently, with his eyes so soft as they watched her, shimmering in the light. In that moment as she gazed into those kind eyes, she knew they'd stolen her heart. That night he stroked her fur and held her in his arms. She had never felt so safe, so protected. The warmth in her heart only grew.

And then it was cruelly doused upon the realization that Kakeru could never love her. She was a cat. A cat. To him, she was not a sentient being...although it seemed like it sometimes. And above all, he loved Himeko. Luna would never stand in the way of true love.

How Luna wished for his arms, his smile, his soothing prescence.

But oh, for that one moment, with their silhouettes framed in the hazy silver light by the moon and the earth and the sun, as the world awoke, that one sweet kiss...She would carry it in her heart forever, and look back on it, and still feel that warmth. Sometimes Luna awoke from her tangled dreams, thinking maybe it was the day after, and that she had awoken in his arms--but no. No. Never. The truth hurt.

Sometimes she went down there. As the years passed, as she watched the senshi grow and become powerful, her heart quieted. It filled with cool, calm peace. That was her life--after all of the fighting, she had some stability with the girls and Artemis. With Artemis, there was a lazy sort of contentment. But nothing like the warmth in her heart with Kakeru.

Sometimes she would go down to see him. Time trickled by, but his sweet, open eyes were the same. The first visit was hard. Kakeru and Himeko, just holding each other, love overflowing in their eyes. Over the months the stream of pain slowed to a trickle. It never stopped, but it became bearable. They moved to a bigger house. Playing with the new kitten. (Maybe, a little voice in her said, it's because he remembers you--but then she silenced it.) Himeko large with child. A quiet family scene, the two of them curled up in front of the couch with their dog and new baby. Time passed, and soon they had a happy family.

On one such visit, five years after the events with Kaguya, he happened to look out the window.It was winter, just like when they'd first met. For a few moments nothing happened. Then an odd expression came over his face. He excused himself, claiming to have left something in the car. As he closed the door and looked at her, Luna stood perfectly still, heart racing.

"Luna?" He breathed.

Her spirit soared. After these years...he remembered her. He remembered.

She bounded up to him and leapt in his arms, nuzzling him. He hugged her readily, protecting her from the cold. Luna felt warmer than she had in a long time.