Author's Notes: Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful evening yesterday, and that you are well and happy this morning.

So, let me start this off by explaining that I have never been to Japan. I have tried to include their customs and traditions, but if I get anything wrong, please undertand it is unintentional, and likely because I have never experienced it first hand. I am learning so much about the Japanese culture as I write these stories. If you see any inaccuracies, please let me know and I will try to fix them!

Also, as far as the group home environment... that is purely based on an American group home I was in for a short time when I was sixteen. While there were wonderful people there, it was not the most fun place to be. I was at others that were homelike and wonderful, while some were more like shelters. This one is sort of middle of the road, and some of the other teens were extremely frightening. It was co-ed, and some of the boys were not very nice to the girls.

Resolve: A New Years Story
Sequel to:
Sanctuary, A Christmas Story

Chapter One
Aftermath

***Author's POV***

Any mother can tell you that children have a tendency not to listen. You can scream and holler until you're blue in the face. You can break down and cry. But it doesn't always work. Sometimes children don't hear us. Sometimes they can even break our hearts.

And the Makai tree was, first and foremost, a mother. She was the only one of her kind that had ever appeared on her planet. And after many, many years alone she had created children for herself. They would commune with her, linked irrevocably to her forever.

In the beginning she had been happy. For many centuries her children tumbled about her roots, laughing and playing. Loving her as their mother, their creator. However, those children began to grow, and change. Long years passed, and with each new thing her children learned, they respected her less, sought her out less, and loved her less.

Eventually, her children thought themselves to be her betters. They ignored her, and she began to wither away in sadness and heartbreak. A few, still young, loved her. But more and more they were drawn away.

For many years she had provided for all of their needs. She had given them life, fed them of her own energy, clothed them and taught them. She continued to provide even as her branches grew weak, and her roots withered.

Until the children began to fight. They fought over her energy. They fought over resources. They fought over who was smarter than whom, and who was braver, and kinder. Unsure what else to do, she tried to speak to them, to explain that she had created them equally, and she could provide for them all.

Only the very youngest could even hear her speak. The others had forgotten her voice, and no longer cared for her at all. She wept bitter tears and turned from them, providing only for the children who came to her.

Then the war began. She had several thousand children, and they were happy, until they stopped listening. They began hurting each other, even killing one another. When one of her youngest was killed for the energy she fed her, the Makai tree knew something had to be done. So she rose out of the island where she had first learned consciousness, and she flew away, taking only the smallest with her.

For many years she searched for a new home for herself and the young ones, knowing all the others had killed one another. She could not take her children back to their home world. And so she searched.

One by one her children left her. Some were taken in by kind families in worlds where they could thrive. Others were harmed by beings who did not understand their speech, or who were afraid of what was different. Many wandered off, afraid that a life of travel was all they would ever know. And one young boy led many angry people away from her so that she could save what was left.

Finally, after many years, only two of her children remained at her side. In sadness and fear she refused to create others only to watch them harmed, or harm others. She did not know what she could do, or where she could go. She heard, often, that there was a place in the galaxy where there was great love, and great hope, but she despaired of ever finding it.

One of the two children began to change as others had in the past. As each new planet proved not to be a suitable home the female grew angry and bitter. The male with her grew sad and despondent, and wondered if there was any hope. But they stayed with the Makai tree. They still loved her. And that love enabled her to sustain them. It was all the tree needed.

The children continued to grow, and on one planet, they found a place with many different peoples, some from far flung planets. There were protectors in the solar system and the Makai tree rejoiced, for her children would be safe from harm.

But, as always happens when children begin to grow, they thought they knew better than she. Seeing her wilting leaves, they set out to gather energy for her. They harmed other creatures to feed her. This made her very sad. In fact, she withered more. Several times she was fed energy so pure and full of love that she recovered in spite of herself. But it never lasted.

The anger of the girl, whom she had named An, continued to grow. Hostility and jealousy and selfishness festered in her heart. The boy, whom she called Ail, also changed, becoming obsessed with a certain girl, who shone brightly among the other humans on the planet. He grew angry when she did not respond to his advances, and when her love was given to another, he wanted to harm the one she loved.

The Makai tree was saddened. Again and again her children attacked the bright one. Their hope. They did not listen to her pleas. The could no longer hear her. She searched for anything that could have caused such a change, and wondered where she had gone wrong. All of her children had turned from her. Could she be a bad mother perhaps?

Another presence had infiltrated her family. It had tainted her children. It's name was Kisenian. It was a blossom that held inside a monster that could turn one's thoughts to darkness. Frightened of her discovery, and what it meant for her children, she reached out to the guardians of the planet. She could not speak to them. One, who spoke to flame, could almost make out what she was saying, but as she grew weaker and weaker her voice withered away like the leaves that continued to fall.

She remembered the one who knew sacrifice. The one she had named Fiore, and wondered if she could find him. Could he save the others? When the young ones returned from again attempting to harm the protectors, she could no longer bear it. She could not take them with her, and did not want them to die in her absence. And so, she changed them. No longer could they take their energy from her. They would have to eat and sleep and drink as the humans did.

With a bare glimmer of hope, she called to the one who had known sacrifice. He was coming close. She left the building she had been hidden inside and hurried to meet him. She wept as she left the others behind. They called out to her, arms outstretched, to return, but she had no choice. If she was to save them, she had to leave them behind.

Now, several days after leaving the Earth, she landed on a rock soaring through space. The one she had called Fiore was there, and his heart swelled with joy at her arrival. She reached for him, and his love strengthened her enough to speak. She made her plea and received a promise of help.

***Natsume (An's) POV***

Natsume peered into the room she was led to, unsure what to think. She could not call herself An any longer. She'd tried, in a moment of panic, to release her disguise, and discovered she could not. Seijoru hadn't believed her until he had failed himself. After that, he'd simply shrugged his shoulders and sat, slumped over.

Her stomach had growled, and the officer who sat with the two of them, waiting for the social worker, had brought each of them a sandwich. She had never eaten human food before, but in desperation, she had taken a bite, and a sip of the juice she'd been given. Both had made her feel better.

Somehow, they needed human sustenance instead of the energy of the Makai tree. It was a strange new world for her. The Kisenian blossom grew angry. She wanted An back, and not 'pathetic' Natsume. Unsure how to respond, she'd ignored the flower youma, and had simply followed along as the social worker led them into a van and drove them to this place.

A group home. Different than an orphanage, it was meant to help them transition into adulthood. They would be returning to school, and would have to find jobs. Their meals and beds would be provided to them however. She couldn't work up any emotion at this revelation.

Now, she stood at the doorway of the middle school girls dormitory, and looked inside. Four bunk beds filled the space. She was pointed to the only empty bed, a top bunk, and told to put her things there. Unfortunately she had no things except the school uniform she was wearing.

The social worker sighed and led her to another room, where she was told to pick several outfits and a bag to keep them in. She did as she was told, wondering what new horror would come next. A small pouch was handed to her. It contained a comb and brush, hair ties, a toothbrush, and things to wash herself with. The social worker handed her a spare school uniform in her size and she was told she would be responsible for washing her own things and keeping them put away.

With a heavy heart she returned to her bunk and put the items into a small cupboard attached to the foot of it. Her anger was the only thing that sustained her. Somehow she knew that everything was Usagi's fault. If that girl hadn't come into her life she could have been happy with Seijoru.

She could have been with her tree, doing as she wished, when she wished. Now, having no way to purchase food or drink on her own, she would be forced to return to this place and follow their many rules. All of which she had listened to with ever growing horror.

When her things were tidy and put away, she retraced her steps to what was called the common room. It had a television, bookshelves, and even a few games. There were tables scattered around where people did their studies and put together puzzles. She swiped away an angry tear.

"Oh look, we have another crier," came the high pitched voice of a girl.

She looked up to see a large teen wearing a uniform for the high school near Juban Middle. The girl swaggered forward and brushed past Natsume roughly.

"Hey!" she cried out angrily. She didn't understand why this girl was being so rude, but she would teach her a lesson. "You can't treat me like that!" she yelled. She lifted a hand, ready to blast the girl with energy, but nothing happened.

"And what are you going to do about it Pee-wee?" the girl asked, then without warning shoved her hard. Natsume fell backward and hit her bottom on the floor.

Immediately Seijoru was there, helping her up. "Leave her alone!" he shouted, frustrated. But the girl was bigger than both of them. And without their powers they did not know how to defend themselves from her. When she lifted a fist they both backed away, unsure what else to do.

"You're cute," the girl muttered to Seijoru, but then turned to Natsume and glared. "Just stay out of my way Pee-wee," she said, and turned on her heel.

"Are you okay?" Seijoru asked, turning to Natsume.

She nodded, not trusting her voice.

"What are we going to do?" she asked, resting her head on his shoulder. "This place is awful, and we don't have our powers anymore."

Seijoru shook his head. "I don't know," he said finally. "I just don't know."

She heard the Kisenian blossom in her head, calling her awful names. She wanted to take the Youma out and crush it, but she didn't. Somehow, though she often hated the flower, she could never force herself to harm it or get rid of it. She'd had the flower for a few years, she thought, and the thing often made her feel pitiful and weak, even as it promised to be the only one that loved her.

She'd found it, alone and forsaken, on a planet where they had stopped to rest. There had been the ruins of a civilization, but no people were left, and no animals, on the surface of that world. Only plants had survived. Strange plants that choked each other for sun and water and soil. So very different from the Makai tree. She had seen the Kisenian blossom being choked by strange vines, and had reached out to help the flower, and the girl that lived inside.

Now, years later, she knew that the flower had been anything but helpless. It could have destroyed all the plants without blinking. But in the moment, the flower had thanked her again and again, and had said kind, pretty words to her. The venomous ones came later. By the time she'd realized her mistake, it was too late. The flower was bound to her, and would not let her go.

As time passed the words the flower spoke changed her. Now she was filled with anger and frustration and greediness. She'd come to expect others to give her what she wanted right away. On some planets, they did. Though most planets where they found life, they avoided the people, but eventually she grew to love messing with others, making them feel as bad as she did.

She wondered how she would survive without her powers. The Kisenian blossom laughed cruelly and said she wouldn't survive if she didn't do something quickly.

***Motoki's POV***

Motoki frowned as he checked his clothing in the mirror. He wanted to look nice for Reika. She would be going back to Africa in a matter of days, and he wanted all her memories of Japan to be good ones. Though he was very proud of her, he missed her terribly when she went off on her digs.

Having a girlfriend that was two years older than he was could be frustrating. He was a senior in highschool, but she was in college, and with the program she was in, they were often separated for long periods of time. He tried not to ever complain, because he knew it was just as hard for her as it was for him.

He had dreams of his own after all. One day he wanted to be the owner of the Crown Game Center. He was already working out the details with his father. For now though, he was more concerned about preparing for the bonenkai (forget the year) party at the Tsukino house. He was happy he and Reika had been asked to go. They were among the few who knew the secret their friends shared.

With a final adjustment of his collar, he left his room and raced down the stairs. Picking Reika up was as easy as walking to the house next door. Her parents still lived there, though she now had an apartment directly across the street from the Crown. He knocked once and then walked inside. He'd been running through their house for years.

"Hey Motoki-kun!" Reika's mother turned and hugged him before yelling up the stairs for her daughter to hurry up. He grinned. She always wore her hair the same way, but spent forever checking it in the mirror to make sure it looked alright.

While he waited, he looked around at all the kagami mochi rice cakes scattered around to ask for a good harvest the following year. He loved the decorations that had been hung around the house. When Reika finally appeared they hurried out and walked down the street.

It was only two blocks to Usagi's house, and he was grateful for that. He'd known Usagi for several years, but it was only in the past two that he'd grown close to her. She was like an extra little sister, and as her group of friends had grown he had taken each of them on and protected them fiercely.

They headed up the walkway and Motoki was impressed with their pine and bamboo decorations. They were meant to welcome the kami. He reached out and knocked gently on the door.

Their knock was answered quickly by a flushed Makoto, who was wearing an apron and had flour on her cheek. She pulled them inside and hurried away to the kitchen with hardly more than a word. Reika laughed. They hurried to take off their shoes and put on guest slippers.

Then Reika gasped and he looked up suddenly, to see what was wrong. There were little bits of wood and a pool of blood on the living room floor.

"What happened?" Motoki asked, afraid there had been another attack.

"My sister klutzed out again," Shingo said from the back of the couch, where he was hanging streamers of rope and decorations of pine and bamboo that crossed over the living room.

"Is she okay?" he asked, looking around for the little blonde.

"Yeah," Shingo said, then jumped down from his perch. "Mamoru showed up a few seconds later and healed her. You should have seen my dad when he realized Mamoru wasn't wearing a shirt!" Shingo laughed.

Motoki could imagine. "Where is everyone?" he asked.

"Usagi's taking a shower to wash the blood out of her hair. Rei is up there yelling at her. Minako and Ami are in the backyard helping my dad set up the tables. Haruki left to get Sets. Naru and Umino are… probably making out somewhere. The Outers and the guys haven't arrived yet. And I think my mother is upstairs wondering what she got herself into."

Motoki couldn't hold back a laugh at that.

Shingo reached down and began picking up the pieces of wood from the shattered table and Motoki moved to help.

"Where's your mop?" Reika asked.

"Here," said Makoto, coming in from the kitchen. She had the mop and a bucket of water with a strange smell to it. She began mopping up the blood quickly. Whatever was in the water seemed to take the blood out of the wood so that it didn't stain. Motoki was rather impressed and wondered what it was.

Less than twenty minutes later Usagi had come down the stairs, Mamoru had returned, and the Shitennou and Outer Senshi had arrived. Soft music was playing as they all gathered in the backyard. Motoki carried dishes of food at Ikuko and Makoto's orders, and the others set the table and brought drinks. The bonenkai was about to begin. It was traditional to celebrate and to forget the year together.

The sun was just beginning to set. There was a fire set in the large fire pit. Everyone was smiling and happy and talking cheerfully. Food was passed around, as well as small gifts and nengajo cards. New Years cards were a very popular thing, and one sent them or gave them to just about everyone they knew. Most of them even participated in the lottery printed on the cards.

The jubako boxes were filled with colorful foods. They had many for the celebrations that evening, while others would be saved for the new year. The one he was handed had toshikoshi soba and mochi as well as several other dishes. The mochi was pressed into interesting shapes, made of rice and some of it had even been colored with food dye, and other things had been pressed into the rice to add texture and design as well as flavor.

He knew Makoto and Ikuko had worked very hard on the jubako and he was grateful that they cared so much. He'd even seen other boxes prepared for the morning. Looking around at all the others, he could see how much everyone cared for one another. It didn't matter that they weren't related by blood. They were family nonetheless, and he was so grateful and happy to be included in that. It brought tears of thankfulness to his eyes.

He thanked Toshigami (the kami of the New Year) for bringing him to such a family as this, and resolved to do everything he could to protect the ones he loved so much.

***Usagi's POV***

Usagi sat, almost quietly, as she watched and listened. Her friends and family were happy. They all sat around together talking and eating, passing presents and cards. It was beautiful out. The moon was bright and the stars glittered in the night sky. She couldn't help but feel happy as she was surrounded by those she loved so much.

"We thought about going to Tokyo Disney to see the fireworks," Ikuko murmured, "but considering that we have a priestess in the family, it didn't seem right."

Rei blushed and hid her face in Jadeite's shoulder. Usagi couldn't hold back her giggles at her friend's reaction. She loved that Rei was a priestess. The girl worked hard as a miko, and Usagi was proud of her. Often, she and the other girls would help out, selling charms and doing some of the many chores.

There were others at the temple. Another miko in training, named Aika, as well as a priest in training, Yuichiro. They had promised to help so that Rei could come to the party before they all went back. And tomorrow she and the others would pitch in at the jinja in thanks.

"Are we going to the Buddhist temple first?" Reika asked.

Ikuko nodded. "Yes, though Rei and Jadeite have duties to attend to, so we are going rather early."

Usagi continued to listen as conversation went around the table. She noticed that Motoki was rather more quiet than usual, while her father and Mamoru were both less quiet. Of course her father had insisted that each of the males take a sip of sake called Toso to rid the old year and bring health to the families for the new year. As none of the teenagers had been given much sake before, it was probably affecting all of them.

Usagi giggled when Mamoru wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. She rested her head on him, thankful that he was in her life. She wondered if their problems were finally over for a little while. It would be nice to have a time of peace.

Ami and Zoicite were talking quietly about an asteroid headed close to earth, and she could see Artemis and Luna perk up at the mention of it. She couldn't help the frown that momentarily marred her face. She didn't want to think about why they were so interested.

Instead she focused on the way Zo casually brushed a lock of Ami's hair away from her eyes. The way their hands met and touched with easy intimacy. They were quiet and sweet most of the time, she knew, and she was impressed by the amount of knowledge the two held. Her Mamo-chan was in the same league educationally, though he was very focused on medicine now that he was preparing for college. Ami occasionally hid her face in Zoicite's shoulder when others spoke to her, and Zo would lean down and kiss her forehead, talking quietly for a moment until she was prepared to come out of hiding.

Near them she saw Hotaru and Shingo. Haruka kept an eye on the pair constantly, and gave such funny looks when they did something she enjoyed. She smiled every time the pair giggled at something. The two of them were discussing the merits of the arcade versus home gaming systems, in what appeared to be a rather grown up discussion. Hotaru argued that in an arcade environment, you could interact with other people, as well as eat food, while Shingo maintained that with a home gaming system you didn't have to spend money for food or games. She laughed when Motoki was pulled into the discussion.

Kunzite and Minako were talking quietly about swords and Nephrite was easily drawn in as Makoto turned to Usagi's mother for a discussion on New Years foods. Reika had pulled Naru and Michiru into a conversation about kimonos while Umino stared at them, his eyes practically swirling in confusion. The boy was brilliant, but when it came to clothing he was hopeless.

Usagi smiled at Setsuna and her cousin Haruki. They weren't even eating. Instead they simply stared at one another as though the sight alone could sustain them. It melted her heart to see them so happy.

She thought about what Setsuna had done. Completely unknowing of who she was at the time, Setsuna had gone to the Time Gate and had saved Haruki just before a Youma could kill him. His own powers had awakened when she was nearly harmed defending him. She shuddered at the thought of losing her cousin, as well as the loneliness Setsuna would have been forced to endure had he not been saved.

Beside her, the conversation between her father and Mamoru turned to politics. Internally she thought it was the worst sort of discussion for New Years, but she tried to focus on them. She failed miserably. Politics had to be the most boring subject ever invented.

Instead she took another look around the table at her family and silently thanked the kami for bringing each and every one of them into her life. As much as she missed the twins, she couldn't regret them returning home because she had to learn and grow before she was ready to have them in her life. And these people surrounding her now would be there for her as she did.

She wasn't remotely embarrassed by the tear that fell down her cheek in gratitude for their love.

***Mamoru's POV***

Holding Usagi's hand was one of life's greatest pleasures. He could always feel her now, in his mind. He knew when she was safe and happy, when she was sad and lonely, and when she was klutzy and hurt. He could feel her needs as much as he felt his own. The Soul-Bond had fully settled over them, but the more time they spent together, the closer they grew and the stronger it became.

As the group walked down the street, his entire focus was on the love of his life. She had been quiet all evening, and he had caught some of her thoughts. Her joy that she had so many people to love, and who loved her. The fear that she wouldn't be able to protect everyone. Wonder at the beauty of the night. Laughter as she watched the others interact.

He was happier than he had ever been in his life. With no enemy hovering over them, he could simply bask in her light and love for him. His lonely existence was over, finally.

The streets were nearly empty in the shopping district. Most stores were closed, not just for the night, but some for several days as the people who owned and worked in them went to visit families. The New Year was meant to be spent in the presence of loved ones. For Mamoru, this was the first year he had not spent at the graveside of his parents. Usagi had gone with him to see them that morning, but the visit had been brief, and he had so much good news to share that depression had no chance to take him.

They climbed a short set of steps to one of the Buddhist temples. Several of their group were Buddhist, and wanted to ring the bell. They were among the first to arrive, and Haruka and Michiru hurried forward with Hotaru in tow. Haruka took the bell first and they all carefully counted. The bell was rung one hundred and eight times to rid them of impurities.

It was traditional to do this in the midnight hour, as the large Buddhist bell was struck then, but when other things interfered the monks at the temple would allow others to come and ring the smaller bell. Mamoru thought it was very kind of them.

As they left, Mamoru made a donation and bowed low to the monk who had greeted them. It was not an easy life, being a monk, he knew, but he was thankful that around the city others had taken up the task of caring for the spiritual welfare of the people. Priests for the Shinto religion, monks for the buddhist, pastors and priests for the various Christian religions. There were many who called Tokyo home, and the religions were as diverse as the people.

They continued to walk in the darkness, guided by the streetlights and the glow of the moon. Mamoru continued to hold Usagi's hand, her tiny fingers wrapped in his own. His mind wandered to the children they would someday have, and a worry crept into his mind. His little Odango was tiny. Surely it would be difficult for her to give birth. He was just thankful they had a few years to wait before that event came into their lives.

His Usako was much stronger than she looked. She had seemed to him a simple teenage girl who was loud and obnoxious, and cried far too much. Not anymore. His respect for her had grown in leaps and bounds. She had matured much in the time she had fought alone. With all of their memories locked away there had been no one to help her. The only support she'd had at the time was Naru, who didn't have the powers they did. At least she'd had someone who knew about her, and loved her.

The Hikawah Jinja came into view, with its long flight of stone steps and it's carved wooden frame around the stairs, painted a bright red. They began the climb, and he noted that Ikuko and Kenji were out of breath as they reached the top. Motoki and Reika were as well, and even Umino, who always popped out when least expected. Naru and the girls had no trouble however, and all of them bounded up like mountain goats, nimble and quick.

Mamoru led the group of Shitennou to the saisen (AN: money box) and each of them made a donation. They gathered around as Grandfather Hino approached and he led them around so they could make their offerings to the kami, pray for good health and prosperity, and ask that their New Year's wish be granted.

In the distance he could hear the loud tolling of the bells from the Buddhist temples, as well as the higher pitched church bells from one of the Catholic churches. He could even see the tops of the fireworks over the branches of the trees around the shrine and hear the echoes of the explosions that made the beautiful lights.

Rei and Jadeite hurried away to help others make their own offerings. Plenty would be arriving soon. But Mamoru turned to Usagi, now staring up at him with her brilliant cerulean eyes he could make out glittering in the soft light.

"Akemashite-omedetou-gozaimasu my love." he said quietly (AN: Happy New Year). They had made their hatsumode (AN: First visit to jinja, shrine, or temple in the new year) and they had made it together. She was his everything, and he would do whatever it took to protect her and make her happy.