In my rush to finish the last chapter (lol, thanks, professors!), I didn't format it correctly so it looks all sloppy, and I am so sorry! Thank you for all the great reviews I have received so far, though! I've been getting them in my email all day, and they make me incredibly happy!
"Mommy?" A small, frightened voice whispered. Uranus looked towards the small child with blonde hair. Then she set a quick glance towards the other blonde, and realized, with much discomfort, that they still resembled each other far too much. She tried to focus on the small differences and attempted to pair them with their older selves.
A small noise of exasperation escaped her lips, and she felt the touch of Neptune's hand on her shoulder, attempting to calm her lover. She, of course, succeeded in her task.
"It's Minako." She said in her soft, and always comforting, voice.
Neptune took a step towards the small child and knelt down to her level. "Hi there, little one." She said with a smile upon her features. "We can't go see your mommy right now, but I promise you're safe with us." A sniffle was heard, and Neptune instinctively pulled her into an embrace.
"I just want my mommy." With a small sigh, Michiru stood and faced Haruka, and the figure of Tuxedo Kamen, who was growing closer and closer, showing little hesitation. He had been around Chibiusa many, many times, but something about this seemed different.
This was not his to-be daughter. This was his to-be wife and her guardians. What in the world had he missed?
"We cannot send them home."
"Huh! You don't say, Michiru. I was planning on dropping them off at their homes, and spending a peaceful night in your company." It was sarcasm now, but the rest had been her original plan. They'd fight the youma, send everyone home, and head back themselves. Hotaru was with Setsuna for the night, which gave them a moment of privacy that was growing harder and harder to obtain.
Then, a shrill squeal was heard, and Haruka covered her ears in protection instantly. Despite it being late, one of the small blondes seemed to have an abundance of energy. Out of nowhere, she had begun spinning in circles, only to squeal when she became too dizzy and fell on her bottom. Haruka stared in amazement.
Ami, Rei, and Makoto seemed to be the ones who were relaxed and unquestioning. Which was strange in its own way, because you'd think these children, who have no idea where they were or how they got there, would have so many questions. But no, they just stared on with their own expressions. Rei's was one that was almost impossible to decipher, it seemed to be somewhere between determination, and thoughtfulness. Ami's was mere anxiety, while Makoto's was anger and protection.
"We've got to get them somewhere safe." Tuxedo Kamen said.
Haruka and Michiru's eyebrows raised, and devilish smirks appeared. "Well, it's quite possible that the only safe place for the girls is at your apartment."
Mamoru choked on his spit as he swallowed, letting out a loud and obnoxious cough of surprise. "What makes you think that? They could easily stay with you, Hotaru, and Setsuna!"
"It's not as if we wouldn't help, it just seems that that would be the best place."
Mamoru was beyond confused. His apartment was a small studio. How was he supposed to fit five children within its walls?
Nobody ever seemed to care what Tuxedo Kamen had to say, though, and he quickly lost the argument.
The three soldiers gathered the five children, Haruka carefully holding Usagi and Minako in her arms (with Minako's crying, and Usagi's energy, they seemed the most likely to bolt), while the others hands were held by Michiru and Mamoru.
They walked the streets of Tokyo, making their way to Mamoru's apartment as quickly as they could. Ami was quickly wearing out, starting to hunch over and slow her walk, they could tell she was ready to sleep. Michiru lifted her in an attempt to quicken their pace.
Once the group actually reached the building and made their way up to the apartment, the kids quickly made themselves comfortable, as kids normally would.
"So you're just leaving?" Mamoru asked, dumbfounded.
"We'll be back soon, we just have to update Luna and Artemis, and also let Setsuna and Hotaru know about the complications."
With a loud huff, he asked them to help prepare the girls for bed, because frankly, he was slightly uncomfortable with dressing them in nightclothes. That involved undressing them. All they would wear to bed was his shirts, but it was better than nothing.
When the girls de-aged, they were left in the remains of the clothing they had worn before transforming. Which means that it was all completely oversized and drooping off of their shoulders.
Haruka and Michiru left after the girls were dressed and set for bed, but it was up to Mamoru to actually get them to sleep. Makoto refused to even stand near him, while Rei kept chanting. Of course they would be a struggle, he thought to himself.
Mamoru turned to set Usagi and Minako on the bed (the first to let him actually touch them got the bed, because at least he didn't have to fight them), and Minako immediately laid back, tears still shimmering in the dim light. Usagi on the other hand... well, let's just say she just wanted to jump on the bed, and so she did. She jumped and she jumped.
"Okay Usagi, it's time for bed now. Can you lay down please?"
Giggling, Usagi replied: "Nope! I'm not sleepy!"
Mamoru was losing patience quickly. Chibiusa wasn't even this much trouble when she kept disappearing while the Ayakashi Sisters were after her.
"How about a warm glass of milk?" There was only a slight sign of recognition when he could see the blue of her eyes looking out of their corners.
"And a cookie?" She asked.
Anything to get her to relax.
Makoto was now sat on the couch, her eyes dozing slightly, but her mind attempting to stay alert. It was a routine for her. She assumed it was just another move. After her parent's death, Makoto was moved around a lot, but she never trusted those she stayed with. Most of them were really mean, and some even hit her, but she was going to try and protect these other girls. Especially the hyper blonde one, she had obviously never been in a foster home before.
Rei's chanting had ceased, and she was laying near Makoto. "I'm sleepy." She said quietly. Makoto looked at Rei with sympathy, she was sleepy, too. Maybe the could protect each other while they slept.
"Yeah, me too." She hesitated on her question, because she didn't want to seem weak. "Maybe we can lay together?" Then she blushed furiously. "Y'know, just so that you don't have to sleep on the floor."
The little black-haired girl seemed to beam at the suggestion and quickly agreed.
Maybe tomorrow she'd wake up and be back at the shrine with her grandpa. She missed him a lot.
Once all the girls were asleep, Mamoru watched them with fascination. He know's these girls, and he knows what their futures hold - the pain they'll go through, the pain they've already gone through. It was weird to see them so innocent, and yet it was also an amazing feeling to know that they didn't have any worries at the moment. All the worries were on him, Michiru, Haruka, and if they become involved, Hotaru and Setsuna.
He grabbed some extra blankets, stole a pillow from Usagi, and set up his spot on the floor. He made sure it was near the door, where he had an excellent view of anything and everything that could possibly happen within the apartment during the night, and he slowly drifted off to sleep, dreaming about the events of the day, and what solution there was if there was any.
I feel like this went a little better, but we're still in the set-up stage of the story. I'm really insecure about my writing, so I'm sorry if I criticize myself too much. :c
If you have any suggestions on what you want to see them do, talk about, etc. Just shoot me a message! I'm completely open to ideas, and I want this to be rather fluffy, so let me know!
