For You I Will
By Mel R.C.
Chapter 2
A blond woman stood at the front of the people that were in the airport waiting for a plane to touch down. She had her arm wrapped around a man's arm, staring at the gate quietly and for once waiting patiently for the return of her best friend. It had been a long two-year wait for this moment, but finally after so long being away she was going to see her again. She had missed her more then the rest of her friends and her brows furrowed at the thought. Why is that? How could that be? I love them all equally, but with her it's different. Maybe it's because she taught me so much about myself and just how deeply my strength truly can go. Yes, that must be it. She would always voice her opinion even if it hurt, but she was right. My job is to take care of the world. While her job and the job of the rest of the senshi is to take care of me. How ironic. The girl looks up after a moment of quiet interlude then smiles when she sees the plane touch down. She grips the arm of the man beside her harder and looks up into his eyes that are currently looking down at her. She smiles at him lovingly then turns her focus back to the gate where she is sure that her fire senshi would make her appearance.
Two years. Could it really have been that long since they left? The girl quietly muses. It feels like ten.
Finally the passengers start to file through the gate and into the terminal the girl looks around then stands on the tips of her toes in order to get a better angle to look for the black haired woman she knows will be leaving the plane with the rest of the passengers. When she spots her she lets out a gasp of surprise when she finally sees her fiery miko. My fiery miko? The woman questions then shakes her head to look at the woman that is standing outside of the gate of the plane. In place of that girl who left two years ago now stands a woman who looks calm and strong, but then again she was always strong, but the calmness that surrounds her is surprising. I wonder what happened to make her that way. The girl muses before she starts to move forward to greet her best friend, but she stops when she sees Haruka and Michiru walk up behind the woman. She turns around with a smile and laughs at something that Haruka had said to her. Haruka in turn smiles back and ruffles the woman's hair in an affectionate sort of way. The girl gulps then looks back towards the dark haired woman who has finally seen her.
Their gazes meet and for the first time in a while Usagi has a warm and full smile that had seemed to be resting for a long time. Though she smiled before, but before it just didn't feel whole. Like there was something missing. Now however the smile was bright and if you looked closely you would see that it light up her eyes in a way that no one had ever seen before, but the moment was broken when the man that was standing beside the blonde begins to walk over towards the dark haired woman and the blonde looked up at her boyfriend and sighs softly. Her heart clenched and a voice in the back of her head spoke. It's destiny. You know it. She shook her head to get the thought out of her head before following her boyfriend towards the trio.
She wrapped her arms around Haruka then Michiru greeting them with her usual perky way, but Haruka looked at Usagi while the hime spoke and knew that something was different then the other times the young hime had greeted the senshi the last couple of times that her and Michiru had come home.
Haruka shakes her head then smiles at the Princess. "Well, we've brought her back just like we said we would. It took the better part of a year to get her to agree, but our mission is a success," Haruka states with a smile as the blond looked up at the shaggy blond haired woman and grinned.
"Thanks, Ruka. She's very stubborn, but I was sure that you and Michi would be able to convince her," Usagi states before looking at a flabbergasted Rei.
She begins to sputter. "What?? Do you mean this was a ploy the entire time and that she organized it??" For a moment the old Rei seemed to emerge, but was quickly squashed by the new, more in control Rei, but not before she gave Haruka and Michiru a dirty look.
Haruka rubs the back of her head and sweat drops. "Well. You see. Usagi here wanted you to come back, because well. You hadn't come back for a while and everyone was missing you and since we were there she contacted us and just about begged us to bring you back with us for summer break. Though we thought it would be a good idea anyways. It didn't take her much in convincing us that's for sure," Haruka looked at Rei who was fighting an inner battle and she knew all to well what that battle was both her and Michiru had seen it several times in the past.
Rei finally looks up at Haruka and sighs. "I don't like being conned, but I am glad to be back here even if it's only for a little while." She says before turning back to the others and smiles. "So how has everyone been?"
The group erupts into conversation all at once and Rei smiles before shaking her head. Just like old times. I've missed this a lot more then I thought I would. Even with her here with him. I'm home. She muses while they head to pick up their luggage then make their way out of the airport and towards waiting cars.
"So then I tried to help Usagi make a cake for her mom when the oven erupted into flames and smoke filled the room. We had to open all the windows then get out the fire extinguisher before it got out of hand. Needless to say I needed a new oven after that," Makoto was saying from beside Rei who was trying really hard not to laugh.
"Please tell me that she hasn't been allowed to bake since that day." Rei states before giggles erupt from her and the other senshi look at her in wonder.
Makoto shakes her head. "No really. She's cooked since then and has gotten better. I was actually surprised that her spaghetti turned out all right and without any under cooked noodles or burnt sauce," she answers with a smirk at Usagi.
"HEY! I'll have you know that my spaghetti is world famous now," she retorts back while the others laugh.
"Uh huh; where is it world famous again?" Rei asks with a smirk.
"Ummm. In my house?" Usagi answers while she twiddles her index fingers together and looks around at the members of the group as they laugh at the comment she just made.
Rei sighs softly to herself and nods while in thought. Maybe Ruka and Michi were right. Maybe this is what I needed. It feels like I haven't seen my friends in ten years instead of just two years. I can't believe how much they've grown up and how much they are accomplishing with their lives. She looks over at Usagi and feels her heart constrict tightly then sighs. Now I remember why I was gone for so long. I thought those feelings were gone. I was wrong. Oh so wrong. She sighs again as the feelings for her hime comes rushing back over her with a vengeance and she puts a hand over her heart in an attempt to restrain her self from doing something stupid.
The movement does not go unnoticed by the two women who have been her constant campaigns while in the States. They look at each other and nod before climbing into the rental car that they had gotten with Rei in the back. They wave to their friends and agree to meet them at the house they once shared with Setsuna and Hotaru before pulling away from the curb.
"So, Rei. It's good to see everyone again isn't it?" Haruka asks while looking into the rear view mirror before looking back at the road.
Rei just grunts and nods her head knowing full well where this conversation is leading them too. "Ruka. Before you say anything else, yes it was good to see them. No, I am not going to tell Usagi for the final and last time. She's happy with Mamoru and that's all that matters. So long that she's happy. I'm happy."
Michiru sighs softly then turns around in her seat to gaze at Rei. "Look, Rei. You've been like this since we've met you. We know how you feel about; Usagi and we feel that maybe you don't know her as well as you would like to think you do. Maybe what you need to do is tell her. She is the one that contracted us to bring you back you know. Maybe it's not such a ludicrous idea that she might return your feelings after all."
Rei shakes her head. "You know as well as I do. That she's to be with Mamoru. They are to be married. They are to rule as King and Queen of Crystal Tokyo and they are to have Chibi-Usa. Now can we just let this go? Do you have any idea how it feels to talk about this? After the past two years of not talking about her? I'm sorry, but the only place that I can tell her how I feel is in my dreams and that's the only place that I shall ever tell her. Understand?" Rei asks with a fire in her voice that neither had heard for a very long time, but both of them knowing just how much of an impact that Usagi had on the young miko.
Haruka shakes her head and lays a hand on Michiru's leg then looks towards her love. They share a moment then both nod their heads. Each women knowing what the other was thinking and sharing a knowing look between the two. This is going to be rough.
Rei lost in thought doesn't notice the look between the older women and continues to stare unseeing out her window before a thought comes to her. "You know. I remember when the two of you would do anything to ensure the safety of the future. How has that changed? I know it has because if you were still trying to keep the future from not happening then you wouldn't allow me to love, Usagi. Can you please explain to me why all of a sudden you are forsaking your duties and allowing me to live with my love for her?" Rei questions the older senshi with a raised eyebrow while looking back and forth between the two.
Haruka looks over at Michiru and raises an eyebrow at her while Michiru shrugs her shoulders not able to answer the fire senshi while Rei continues to look back and forth between the two older women in the front seat wondering what is going on in their minds.
Haruka licks her lips and looks back towards the road before shrugging her shoulders as well. "You should know that the timeline isn't always clear; remember? That's what Setsuna has said more then once. So how do we know that Mamoru and Usagi are supposed to really be together? Maybe it's supposed to be you and Usagi." Haruka answers lamely.
Rei shakes her head. "We've seen the future remember and if I know mistaken I've seen that Chibi-Usa is here right now. Which if I'm not mistaken she's the result of Mamoru and Usagi's love. So why don't you tell me what's really going on," Rei demands feeling the anger bubbling closer to the surface with each passing silent moment.
"We can't tell you what's going on, Rei. We're sorry. Because in truth we aren't really sure what's going on either. All we do know is that we feel like we aren't supposed to stop it that's all. We know what you saw when you were in the future, but we just can't stop you is all I can tell you. Alright?" Michiru answers while looking back at the fuming fire senshi.
Rei sighs and accepts the explanation even if she feels that they are leaving something out, but for now she'll accept it. She peers back out the window and they continue their drive in silence.
Up on top of some roofs a figure follows the cars as they make their way down the streets of Tokyo. The figure doesn't stop until the others stop. Then they peer down at the people getting out of the car noticing a blond haired woman walking over to talk to the raven haired girl that is currently standing with her back against the car that she had just exited. The figure smiles and nods their head before pulling out a camera and takes a picture of the two together.
The time line will be right again, but I know these two. They are to damn stubborn and proud. I think they'll need a little help. I know just how to do it.
The figure then turns on their heel before running back across the top of the roofs and out of sight before anyone notices them. Smirking to them-selves while a plan begins to form in their mind then they drop down from the roof and takes off across town to someone that will know what to do and how to help.
Usagi gets out of Mamoru's car and stretches then walks over to Rei to talk to her for the first time since she got off the plane. Rei looks at Usagi and smiles making the blond smile back at her.
"Hey odango atama," Rei says when she gets close to hear her.
The blond frowns slightly, but in her heart she's glad to hear the words coming from Rei. "Why do you have to be so mean, Rei?" The blond asks.
Rei chuckles low and ruffles her hair. "Aww; come on, Usagi-chan. You should know by now that I'm not going to stop calling you that. So just suck it up and deal."
Usagi chuckles with Rei and nods her head. "True, but I don't have them anymore," the blond retorts back.
Rei frowns then takes a step back and takes a real good look at the blond before her eyes widen. "What did you do, Usagi?" Rei asks while looking at her friend in surprise.
Usagi shrugs her shoulders. "I needed a change. At least now I don't trip over my own hair," she answers with a grin. "Besides I should ask you the same thing."
Rei has a sheepish look on her face then rubs the back of her head while sweat dropping. "Well I thought it was time for a change as well. I liked my long hair, but it got in the way and this is more manageable. Sides, both Haruka and Michiru says that it looks good on me."
Usagi nods her head slightly and looks at the now shorter haired Rei and sighs before mumbling under her breath. "But I liked your long hair,"
"What was that, Usagi?" Rei asks with a raised eyebrow while she looks at Usagi with a slight frown on her face.
"Nothing; Rei. Come on. Let's go catch up with the rest of the group," Usagi answers before taking off for the others her shoulder length hair flowing behind her as she runs.
Rei shakes her head and follows at a slower speed. She cut her hair, but Neo-Queen Serenity had long hair. What the hell is going on? Has the time line shifted? Is it all out of proportion? No. If it had then Chibi-Usa wouldn't be here. So what the hell is going on? Rei asks her self while making her way slowly up to her friends and family.
She stops a couple of paces from her friends and looks at them then smiles softly. My grandfather always said that we can't choose whose family we are born into, but we can choose the friends that we have. And for me their friendships bind me closer to them then blood ever could. They aren't just my friends, but my makeshift family as well. Well. She looks at Usagi and a tender smile comes to her face. Almost all of them are anyway.
Rei shakes her head from her musings and walks over to the group receiving a hug from each one of them in turn. She laughs while they talk and she smiles at each of them then looks up when she feels something and sees Setsuna standing in front of her with a secretive smile on her face.
Setsuna comes towards her then envelops her into a hug and whispers to her before letting her go. "Do not worry, little one. All will be well. Just watch and you shall see." Setsuna lets go of her before walking over to Minako's side then winks at her.
Rei frowns and her eyebrows furrow together before shaking her head and laughs when Makoto produces a picnic basket full of her homemade goodies and says that they should have a picnic to celebrate Rei's return. Everyone nods in agreement and Usagi practically drools when she sees the basket.
Rei feels a wave of mischief flow over her which she tries to fight, but just lets it go before going over to Usagi and says something to her that only the blonde can hear which makes Usagi jump from her place on the ground then they are running around the yard with Usagi yelling at Rei for being so mean. Rei just laughs before turning around and begins to run backwards while sticking her tongue out at Usagi then turns back around and runs around in circles till Usagi stumbles and face plants onto the ground with Rei holding her sides laughing so hard that tears come to her eyes and run down her cheeks.
Their friends all sweat drop and shake their heads. Yep, Rei is back and for now things are back to normal. Or at least as normal as it's going to get for the senshi and their princess.
A figure looks at the senshi in a glass orb and sneers at the antics of the fire senshi and the princess. The figure picks up the orb and smashes it against the wall then beckons for another figure to come closer to where the figure stands.
"I want you to keep them two from being together. In any means necessary. I don't care if you have to kill the fire senshi, but not the princess. Understand? Do not harm the princess. She is the key in all of this," the figure says before sitting back down on their throne. "I want you to do this as quietly as possible. By now my niece and nephew must know about the shifted time line and they will not be very happy."
The other figure bows and nods their head. "Yes, m'lady. Anything else?" The figure asks.
The figures emerald green eyes burns with a fire and she shakes her head. "No. Just make sure they never are alone. It all depends on you. Now go and don't return until you have finished your job."
"Yes, m'lady," the figure says again then is gone with in a blink of the eye.
The woman laughs then looks at the wall. "Fear not my child. All will be well and you will have your rightful place once again," the woman states before she begins laughing again the servants shudder as they scramble to get away from their mistress.
Rei sits on the end of her futon looking around the room that she had grown up in and smiles softly to herself. Yeah, it's hard being around Usagi again, but it still feels good to be home. I missed this place more then I thought I would. Rei muses while taking off her socks then flops back down onto her futon and smiles a real smile for the first time in two years.
After the picnic they had all broken off to do something's together which meant it was time for Rei and Haruka to spare a while which had felt good after the long trip, but soon jet leg had set in for the tree senshi and bid everyone good night with Haruka giving Rei a ride to the Jinja then bidding her good night had left Rei.
Rei lets out a yawn and closes her eyes. Maybe it's not going to be all that bad being back. She muses before promptly falling asleep still in her cloths from the day not knowing that soon her world would soon be turning up side down.
To be continued…
Author's Ramblings: Aah and there you have part two revised and done. I know that there isn't that many changes, but I was actually satisfied with the way that this part came out so there are minimal changes, which are actually just grammar and spelling errors. I hope that you have enjoyed this part of the story. Please if you see anything that could be changed let me know. So I shall end my ramblings, until next time. Ja Ne!
