Sorano (Of the sky) - Haruka's mother
Kana (Powerful) - Haruka's father
Takako (Child of Taka. Taka- Tall, honorable) - Makoto's mother
Raidon (Thunder God) - Makoto's father
Kyoshi (Gentile, polite; purity) - Ami's father
Kaiya (Forgiveness) - Ami's mother
Yumi (Beauty) - Minako's mother
Toyo (Plentiful) - Minako's father
Ronin (Samurai without a master) – Rei's father
Umeko (Patient) - Rei's mother
Namiko (Child of Nami. Nami- Wave) - Michiru's mother
Yasashiku (Gentle, polite) - Michiru's father
Endymion- Mamoru (Earth)
Princess Serenity - Usagi (Moon)
Queen Serenity - Usagi's mother
Ayame (Iris) – Hotaru's mother
Miki (Beautiful tree) – Mamoru's mother
Kisho (One who knows his own mind) – Mamoru's father
AN- These are the names I've made for each parent (and their meaning). If their actual names are known, I'm sorry for any inconveniences. Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or any characters from the anime/ manga.
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Prologue: Leaving
The morning sun drenched the courtyard with warmth, its rays lingering on the many roses surrounding the stone fountain. A dew drop fell silently from a red petal onto the dusty stone ground; the constant wind often bringing unwanted dry dirt. Rapid, but light footsteps on the hard ground could be heard until they reached the courtyard. The young woman carefully looked around examining her surroundings.
'This'll do.' Hearing the sound of feet recklessly pounding against the stone path, the sandy haired girl turned to face her opponent.
"You told me silence is key when following someone." The corner of the girl's mouth twitched slightly upward.
"You've grown faster. If you lose the person you are following, what is the point of being silent? Don't forget who taught you such things, daughter." The tall man's teal eyes held a glint of mischief, one matched only by his daughter.
"Are you telling me you're getting slow in your old age?" Taking a defensive stance, Haruka waited for her father's attack.
Kana suppressed a laugh as he ran towards the young woman. Suspecting his attack, Haruka stepped back, dodging his right fist. The older man shifted his body weight to kick, but such an obvious move was easily blocked. Haruka took the opening to sweep kick her father off the only foot he had secure to the ground. As Kana fell to the earth he was able to kick the back of Haruka's legs with enough force to cause her to fall as well. Within seconds Kana was on top of the sandy haired girl. Fighting quickly turned into wrestling. Flipping onto her stomach, Haruka struggled to her knees and finally to her feet. Once both fighters were standing, Kana took the initiative to change holds. He unlocked his hands from around the girl's torso and brought them under her armpits, leaving her arms useless. Or so he thought. If he had been able to seen his daughter's face, he would've known better. Locking her hands together, Haruka first leaned back into her father, and then with all her strength, catapulted him over her head. Kana landed with a loud thud.
"What in gods are you two doing!" The motherly voice stopped the girl from pouncing on her father.
Both father and daughter looked at the woman innocently, both with the same silly grin.
"Don't think that's going to get you two out of this." Sorano waited for her husband to stand up. Even after so many years, she still found it amazing at how much the two looked alike. They matched each other in height, strength, hair and eye color, but not speed. There was only one person who could almost keep up with Haruka in speed and that was her. 'But they both have that stupid grin,' thought the older woman and then smiled softly. 'Damn that stupid grin!'
"He started it," mumbled her daughter.
"Haruka," it took everything Sorano had in her not to laugh, but the smile gave her away, "You shouldn't have eaten your father's breakfast."
"Ye-" Before Kana could add his own comment, his wife added, "And you shouldn't have chased after her."
Haruka's father opened his mouth to object, but then thought better of it and just looked at his daughter accusingly.
"Come on you two. Haruka, have you finished packing yet?" She hated being the one to always bring up her daughter's departure, but if she didn't, the two in front of her surely wouldn't give it a second thought.
"Yes mother," Haruka replied, putting her father in a headlock while they made their way back to the castle.
The older woman sighed. They could be so childish at times, but it was their way of showing affection. She smiled to herself, 'Maybe she'll meet a nice girl at Princess Serenity's birthday,' then softly chuckled, feeling sorry for the poor girl who'd win Haruka's affection.
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"Michiru, dear, this is Hoshi." Namiko introduced her daughter to the man in front of them.
The aqua haired girl looked up from her cup of tea and smiled at the man. His hair was jet black with dark eyes to match. The clothes he wore indicated his high status, or at least the high status of his family.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Hoshi shifted uncomfortably in front of the two woman drinking tea.
"Please, join us."
Michiru apologetically smiled at the poor young man. Her mother wouldn't let him leave until he announced his undying love for the Neptunian Princess. Hoshi nervously looked at mother and daughter, then took the seat next to Michiru.
"Excuse me, your majesty?" A messenger stood behind the Queen of Neptune waiting to be acknowledged.
"Yes?" replied Namiko, turning to address the man.
"The transporter will be ready for Princess Michiru this afternoon at 3:00." With that said, the messenger turned and made his leave.
"You're leaving? Where to?" asked Hoshi.
Michiru noted his soft, shy voice. "Queen Serenity is holding a week long ball for her daughter's birthday and wishes every princess to be there."
Hoshi looked at Michiru in awe; the way he was looking at her made her think of a small child looking into the window of a candy store. "You're going to the Moon Kingdom for Princess Serenity's sixteenth birthday?
The aqua haired princess nodded.
"I'm sorry." Hoshi blushed. "I've never been to such a place, but I've heard wonderful things about it."
"Why don't you go with my daughter and be her escort?" The suggestion surprised both her daughter and the dark haired man.
"I would love such an opportunity," he looked at Michiru and noted her shock as well, which thankfully eased his guilt, "but I have a… friend I must see to back home." He smiled at both woman and stood. "In fact, I must be on my way now. I hope to see you again, Princess Michiru. I'm sure we will become great friends."
"I'm sure we will." The princess gave Hoshi a gentle smile before she too stood and hugged the young man good bye.
The princess had many suitors, but none stirred any feelings deeper than friendship. She didn't mind the attention, but she was beginning to feel the brute force of loneliness. That, and her mother's persistence in finding her a husband.
"He seems like a very nice boy."
Michiru nodded as she watched the young man walk away. If her mother thought she was at least somewhat interested in Hoshi, then maybe she would hold off any more suitors.
"Come on dear, we should see if all your things are packed." The Neptunian Queen rose from her seat and made her way towards her daughter's bedroom.
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"Can you believe Usagi's going to be sixteen?" The young, blonde princess stopped brushing her hair in order to look at her friend in the mirror. The other girl was laying on the bed staring at the ceiling.
"We're sixteen," sighed Rei, knowing exactly what that meant.
"I know. But now Usagi's mother will let her pick a suitor!"
The raven haired girl winced at the word. "Yea." The word was harsher than she'd expected.
Setting the brush down, Minako turned to look at her friend. "We can't. You know that. Not anymore."
"What do you mean 'we can't'! You have a brother who can rule Venus. And my parents love you… they wouldn't… they'd understand." Rei bit her lower lip to stop it from quivering.
"Rei…"
"Do you love me?" The Princess of Mars abruptly sat up and was now facing the young blonde. The girl in question didn't meet Rei's stare, instead she turned her eyes to the floor.
Minako's mother had found out about Rei and herself long ago. She hadn't objected to such things then, but now that they were older, her mother had started looking for suitors. At first, Minako didn't know what was wrong. They were the goddesses of love, weren't they? That's what she had asked her mother, what she used to fight against her mother's rising disapproval. But one night her mother had come into her bedroom and talked to her. She had told her how the Inner Senshi held a strong bond and what would happen if such a bond were to be severed for any reason, for example, a broken relationship. She also explained the powers each Senshi held and what might happen if they were to collide; how much destruction it might cause.
'But love could never do such a horrible thing,' thought the young Goddess of Love.
Minako was surprised to find a small wet droplet on the carpeted floor. And then another. Looking up, Minako was expecting to find Rei crying, but instead she found herself looking into Rei's guilty eyes. She was crying.
"I…" The blonde hiccupped and was unable to give any real response, but for Rei, it was enough. For now.
"Come here," the raven haired girl said gently. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pushed."
Minako willingly slipped into Rei's comforting arms. 'Mother has to be wrong,' thought the sobbing girl. 'She has to be.'
"Honey?" Rei's mother quietly opened the door to her daughter's room. Cautiously peeking her head into the room, Umeko's heart almost broke when she saw the two girls. 'Fate can be so cruel,' thought the older woman. Making sure to not be found out, Umeko softly closed the door and turned to the maid who had followed.
"Let's give them a little more time. I don't think they're quite finished packing. You may want to tell them to delay the transporter for a few minutes," she said, smiling to the woman.
"Awe, we girls can never make things easy, can we?"
Umeko forced a smile at the joke. 'No, it seems we can't,' she thought to herself.
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The tall brunette leaned against the wall, arms folded in front of her chest. "Ami, what's taking you so long?"
"I…" BANG! The clatter of books only made the waiting brunette grin more.
"You…?" questioned Makoto
"I-" Some shuffling could be heard through the open doorway. "Can't find… EEP!" Makoto guessed more books had fallen.
'Poor girl,' thought Makoto, her mischievous grin widening. Sticking both hands in her pockets, a soft chuckle escaped the brunette as her right hand touched the cool metal object.
"What's so funny?" Ami's head poked out of the room, her short blue hair tousled from the many book avalanches.
Makoto's eyes flew open. 'How did she… when did she…?' The surprised girl looked at her friend curiously then closed her eyes. "We're going to be late. Usagi said to be there at 3 o'clock."
Ami sighed. "I know, I know. I suppose we should go."
Makoto reached down for Ami's bags as the two made their way to the transporter.
"Where are your things?" The blue haired princess asked her friend.
"With all your searching, I had time to drop off my stuff early."
Ami blushed at the comment.
Once the two arrived at the transporting room, Makoto handed the bags over to a waiting man. She glanced at the smaller girl next to her who seemed to still be pondering over where the lost object was.
"Hey Ames?"
"Yes?"
"What were you looking for anyways?"
"I was looking for the planner you ga-" Ami stopped short of finishing her sentence when she noticed Makoto's sly smirk, her curious gaze slowly turning into a glare. "Makoto…"
The taller girl slowly pulled the 'lost' object from her right pocket, but before the blue haired princess could even see it, she softly hit the girl in the arm.
"I thought I lost it!"
Makoto grinned. "I wanted to see what you had planned."
Ami could feel the heat rise to her cheeks as she took the electric planner from the brunette.
"Princess Ami, Princess Makoto, the transporter is ready," announced an older man.
As the two young princesses followed the man to the transporter, Makoto whispered into the smaller girl's ear, "The password was kind of easy though."
Ami's eyes widened as she remembered the password she had set; the name of Jupiter's young princess.
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Hotaru lay on her stomach, her head resting in her folded arms as she watched the other girl sit up. The skin of the girl's back tempted her lips. She watched in awe as the sitting girl rotated her shoulders causing back muscles to flex. Reaching out, Hotaru trailed a finger down the girl's spine.
'So strong.' Looking up, her purple eyes met with dark sapphire ones.
"You're mother's going to be here soon," whispered the dark eyed girl.
Sitting up, Hotaru wrapped her arms around the girl, her bare chest pressing against the girl's back. "Mitsu," murmured Hotaru into the girl's ear.
The taller girl shuddered and closed her eyes. "Hm?"
"She was already here."
Mitsu laughed softly and stood up. Walking towards the dark wooden dresser, Mitsu picked up the bandage wrap and turned to her lover.
"Would you?" The girl asked, her boyishly cut hair sticking every which way.
Giving the purple eyed beauty the wrap, Mitsu lifted her arms into the air. As Hotaru was finishing binding the taller girl's chest, a slender woman slowly opened the door.
"You two better dress quickly, or you'll be late for the ball," warned Hotaru's mother. "Mitsu, I had a suit made for you. It should be packed with your other things."
The dark haired girl nodded at the older woman. "Thank you."
Leaving the two girls alone, Ayame gently closed the door. Hotaru's destiny pained her so, and if Mitsu made her daughter happy then she'd be damned if she were the one to take her away. Even if it wasn't long enough, it was the only thing she felt she could give her daughter.
"Do you think your brother will be there?" Hotaru started buttoning the white shirt Mitsu had pulled on.
"I've heard rumors of a romance between him and Princess Serenity."
Hotaru nodded. She too had heard of such things. And she, like everyone else, knew Earth wasn't on the best terms with the other planets. Especially the Moon. Once done with the taller girl's shirt, Hotaru embraced the girl, resting her head on Mitsu's shoulder.
"It's not your fault for such disagreements."
Mitsu stared out a window. "If my mother would have done what Queen Serenity asked and hadn't interfered, there wouldn't be any disagreements."
"But Endymion is older. It wouldn't have mattered. Even if your mother had let her awaken your inner power, Earth still wouldn't have had a Sailor Senshi."
The tomboy shook her head, her short hair falling into her eyes. "But she defied her. Every planet has a protector and my mother found herself unable to present me, even for a false cause merely because father was killed."
"Maybe." Hotaru paused. "But she sent you here."
"Because, for some reason, our mothers have some sort of bond."
"Because we share a similar fate. And, if your mother hadn't sent you here, I might've never met you."
Mitsu smiled at the girl in her arms. "If those boys would've had a brain cell to tell them not to pick on such a small girl, you wouldn't have ever talked to me.
The shorter girl smiled at the memory. Ever since Mitsu had beaten up the two older boys when they were kids, she made it her point to protect the smaller girl for a reason neither understood until they were older.
"Always my protector." 'And yet I'll destroy us all,' she silently added.
Sensing the girl's sudden sorrow, Mitsu gently lifted her lover's chin and looked into her eyes. "Only because you're forced to." Leaning down, Mitsu softly kissed Hotaru. "I think we'd better get dressed."