KINMOKU – PART I
It was a time of peace and a time of delight. It had taken many years to rebuild the beautiful planet that was once ravaged and destroyed in the war with Chaos but it was worth every effort; the planet had never shined so bright.
A cool breeze blew through the warm air, propelling the fragrant olive aroma around the group of young women. The redhead dressed in a yellow formal gown happily inhaled. "It seems just like yesterday that we returned", a smiling Kakyuu murmured while she took in the scent, as she walked up her palace steps, her three Starlight's trailing her in toe.
"Because you haven't aged a day", Healer snorted with a proud grin.
"Ah, tis the beauty of the atmosphere here on Kinmoku", Kakyuu beamed.
"Oh, and I thought it was just all our good genes", Fighter said playfully, tossing her long dark locks off her shoulders.
They made their way through the castle, passing two well-mannered servants who bowed as they walked down the halls. The foursome stopped to enter a large study with countless periodicals of the universe sprawled throughout large shelves along with Kinmokian history texts, folklore, and more. They continued to walk to the back of the room, stopping at an ornate gold door. Queen Kakyuu ran her fingers in an intricate pattern along the large knob and the door opened. Inside the room was a short desk with touchpad screens and an oversized viewing board that covered nearly the span of a wall. Maker picked one up and too, ran her finger atop it in a pattern and the screen turn on. "Security Screen", Maker commanded, and the board flashed the information she had asked for. "Everything looks good", she said with content as her eyes scanned from city to city. "I don't know why I bothered."
Fighter made her way across the small space of the room, taking a seat at a conference table. "My Queen, you wanted to meet away from your Council", Fighter began with a wink, questioning her secretive intentions, but was cut off by Healer.
"Our Queen will get to what she wants to tell us on her time", the icy haired Healer snapped with a laugh, but Kakyuu only smiled, making her way to the table where Fighter was seated, sitting across her, and motioned for the other two Starlight's to follow.
Queen Kakyuu cleared her throat and looked each of her Starlight's in the eyes as she began to speak. "My dear Starlight's, we have been back on Kinmoku for 20 years, and with your paramount of help, we've rebuilt the planet to an even greater, peaceful place", she smiled, "So peaceful that you have yet needed to change into soldiers for quite some time now." Her eyes began to glisten as she looked from Starlight to Starlight in their civilian clothing, but she took in another breath, pushing the tears back. "I have asked so much of you all these years yet denied all your numerous requests to visit a place you once called home, Earth. I realize it's been a good 10 years now since you've asked me, but please know I had my reasons to deny your -"
"Let me guess, you are now finally allowing us to go back? AFTER ALL THIS TIME?!" Fighter stood up, irately coming to conclusion on what Kakyuu was going to say. "After all this time you think it's appropriate for us to even… It's too late to -" but Kakyuu too stood and grabbed Fighters hand. "Let her continue", Maker said tensely, too, in shock, but keeping it in much better than her comrade. Fighter pulled away from her queens grip callously and retook her seat.
"Please let me explain", Kakyuu eased, and the three Starlights continued to listen; though Fighter found it difficult to hide the resentment on her face.
"Eternal Sailor Moon managed to restore my life, and yes, while I was indeed thankful to be alive, for many months I still felt defeated. Our home was planet was ruined. We had nothing but each other and the civilians who managed to survive. We'd been home for less than a month when you asked permission to abandon our planet and return back to the safety of Earth." Kakyuu put her hand out in a stop motion, knowing she would be interrupted, "You can't imagine how hurt I was that you wanted to give up; to pick up what little we had and leave. But I know a part of that reason was that you had fallen in love with that rural planet and the people on it", she paused, breaking eye contact with Fighter and the group, now looking at her hands on her lap, "I couldn't let you return. After a year of rebuilding, you asked again, and I still couldn't let you return. Time passed; three years... Five years... Seven... Finally the time came when you stopped asking." The Queen was now crying, wiping the tears from her eyes but quickly pressed on, "I am guilty... for being selfish… of denying you, my truest partners, my dearest friends, a dream you had. And I want to make sure you fulfill this dream now… starting tomorrow."
There was silence, but the deadly look on Fighter's face was far from silent. "I'm not going." Fighter finally hissed. "I refuse. After all, Kinmoku is my home", she scathed with an utmost hurtful tone of sarcasm as she pulled out of her chair and quickly left them, slamming the door behind her.
Maker and healer were taken aback, as they looked at each other then back to their queen. "Please, please forgive her – she's just…" Maker started, but she was at a loss for words.
"I know she's upset with me", Kakyuu started, "She has every right to be. And frankly, I expected it. I don't know if I can ever repay you three for what you have done for me, nor can I expect you to forgive me so easily for even bringing this up, but this guilt has been eating at me for quite some time. I've had you back in my life all these years but I feel like you haven't fully returned to me ever since your time on Earth. Please understand… I need you to make closure with the planet. For my sake and yours."
Healer, who was sitting next to Kakyuu, placed her hand on the Queen's cheek, tenderly brushing the tears that fell. She brought her face close to hers. "No. We will stay with you my Queen. There is no need for us to leave you."
Maker nodded in agreement, "Kinmoku is indeed our home. There's nowhere else we need to be. It is safe to say Earth did change us and for that we are sorry", she admitted as her cheeks blushed, "But we love you and we hope you do not doubt our love."
The queen smiled gently at the two Starlight's before her. "I do not doubt your love or loyalty, but please, take advantage of this time of peace on our planet. Make peace with your hearts and seek the closure you needed all those years ago. Besides, I wasn't asking. You're going." she said powerfully as she stood, patting Maker on the shoulder who was nodding absentmindedly; there was no doubt that the queens words were final.
"I will go find Fighter and speak with her privately. In the meantime, please make yourselves ready and meet me in the study tomorrow morning at 06:00. Maker and Healer both watched as Kakyuu seemingly floated away both giving each other wide eyes. "Well that's that", Maker stated. Healer bit her lip. "So this is a guilt-vacation", said Healer, making air quotes as 'vacation' left her lips. The two women finally vacated their seats, departed the hidden room in the study, and made their way up the staircase arm-in-arm in a comforting manner to retire to their rooms.
Queen Kakyuu didn't have to go far to find Fighter. "I knew you'd be waiting for me", the red-haired queen whispered thoughtfully, as she entered her own bedroom, finding Fighter sitting in the lounge near the entry.
Fighter didn't turn to her but acknowledged her presence. "I'm sorry", Fighter muttered. "I shouldn't have been so-"
"Harsh", Kakyuu filled in.
"That was kinder than what I was going to say, yes, harsh", Fighter said as she stared blankly into space.
The queen plopped herself closely next to Fighter, laying her head on the dark haired girls shoulder as she grabbed her hand, lacing her fingers with her. She closed her eyes. "No, I am the one who is sorry… I was jealous", she admitted, "…that you risked your life for another Princess. That you fell in love with another -"
Fighter stopped the queen from talking by placing a finger on her lips. "It's all in the past. We don't need to do this." Fighter whispered.
The two sat there silently. There was nothing either could say to ease the emotions running in the room.
Finally Fighter spoke, "You've held that in for 20 years?" Kakyuu nodded, slightly embarrassed. "I will always love you My Queen", Fighter whispered, now leaning her head on the redhead as she placed a small kiss on her cheek. "…no matter what."
"I know. I know that now Fighter." Kakyuu chuckled sheepishly, breaking her hold off Fighter as she pulled her up from the lounge. "Don't argue with me. Just think of this as a work break; a holiday if you will. And a chance for you to have some closure and see that everyone you left behind is happy."
Fighter knew by 'everyone' that the queen meant Princess Serenity. As the two walked to the door Fighter breathed in heavily. "Fine."
Half-smiling, Kakyuu clapped her hands together. "Oy, Fighter you argue with me but I always win."
"No lie there". Fighter managed to chuckle as she kissed the queen on her forehead, exiting the room.
"Meet me and the others tomorrow morning at 06:00 Fighter, and please make yourself ready."
"As in pack?" Fighter questioned.
"No, there will be no need to bring anything with you." Was the last thing Kakyuu said before giving Fighter a nod and closing the door behind her. Fighter shrugged as she walked down the vast hallway, up another flight of stairs to her own room.
Queen Kakyuu sighed as she readied to sleep. She couldn't help but wonder if she was making a mistake by letting her Starlight's leave her. 'I believe in fate. I believe in destiny. Please Starlight's; be safe on your journey. Be kind to one another. And please, please be happy.' She prayed as she drifted off into sleep, an aura of bittersweet weaving in and out of her dreams.
A/N:This is the first fic I have written and I plan to update it often – but at least once a week. It's not going in the direction you think it is – this is not Seiya x Usagi so please continue to read and hopefully you will fall in love with the idea of this pairing as I have. I am basing this story both off the manga and anime. For those who haven't read the manga, civilians of Crystal Tokyo stopped aging at I believe at 21/22 when Usagi took her place as Neo-Queen Serenity. So I am keeping this "defying age" thing around; same with our dear Kinmoku friends. Rating is in between T/M. I won't write detailed smut, but certainly there will be some suggestive situations ^_^ Cheers and XO, TheLittleRabbit
