Arrival
The morning came far too soon. Kiyoko got the children up and got them ready, packing everyone's bags in the process. She made Ruka wear a golden dress, falling just below the knees, which flowed well. She could never get her to wear the simple tiara she had made for her. Of course she only wore her own when meeting with the council so she couldn't complain too much. The dress was simple, in the style of a sun dress with a skirt that flared out. Her boots were a nice brown and only went a little above her ankle. Her tights matched her dress. Tights were a must with Ruka, even in the nicest dress she was still likely to go off and climb a tree.
Endo was another story. He enjoyed the regal suit that had been made for this trip. It was black and his mother said it looked just like the tuxedo his grandfather wore. The one thing he'd refused to wear was the top hat. But the cross neckwear that matched his mother's staff was his favorite part. When he was dressed he saw his mother's eyes brimming with tears, "What is it mother?"
Kiyoko hugged him tightly, "How much you look like your grandfather in that. Though Papa shows through as well. I am just so happy." Meanwhile, Ruka fidgeted in her dress and braid that hung to her mid back. She couldn't stand it any longer. "Now sit down and buckle up for landing," Kiyoko told them. She went to the cockpit and sat in the seat next to Seiya, not that she'd developed an interest in piloting over the last ten years. It gave her the best view. She smiled at her beloved and whispered, "I hope this goes well."
Seiya chuckled and replied, "Have faith my dear Queen." And so they went in for a landing. As they set down they could see that they were being met by a smaller party than expected. Her mother, her sister and brother-in-law, a little girl who she knew was her seven year old niece, and of course Haruka and Michiru.
The landing was perfect, not even Haruka could've done better. Kiyoko didn't know if that would make her angry or not. She didn't believe for a second that Haruka had changed her mind about Seiya in the last ten years. She and Seiya exited the ship with Ruka and Endo behind them. The first person to step forward was Kiyoko's mother, Usagi as she preferred to be called now that she was no longer queen, "Welcome back Kiyoko! Seiya! And where are my grandchildren?" She was always ready to see her cherished Endo and Ruka!
Kiyoko hugged her mother and then stepped aside, "They're right here. Do you think I'd come all this way without them? I don't dare face the wrath of the great Sailor Moon!" She laughed as her mother moved past her and squeezed both of the children tightly.
Ruka, with her outgoing nature was the first to speak, "Hello grandma! I've missed you so much!" She saw her grandma eyeing her outfit curiously. She frowned, "Mamma made me wear this." From the group Ruka heard a few low chuckles. This made her turn red, embarrassed.
Endo let his sister finish before addressing anyone, "Hello grandmother. It's wonderful to see you again." He bowed in very princely fashion and addressed everyone else, "It is my pleasure to finally meet all of you. My mother tells many stories of her life and family on Earth."
Usagi shook her head, but was smiling from ear to ear, "I see your mother planned your clothes well. You look so much like your late grandfather." She turned back to Kiyoko, "It's so good to have you back, even if it's only for a short while." She hugged Seiya next, "Welcome back to Earth Seiya. It's nice to have you here when there's no looming crisis."
Surprisingly the next to step forward weren't Kiyoko's sister or brother-in-law, it was Haruka and Michiru. Haruka hugged Kiyoko, picking her up off the ground and swinging her around, "Kiyo-chan!" Kiyoko hugged her back fiercely. She'd missed Haruka so very much! When Haruka put Kiyoko down she looked at the children. Kiyoko wasn't sure how she'd react to them. They were Seiya's children too after all. Her gaze fixed on Ruka first, "So this is the daughter who stole my name." She walked right up to Ruka and leaned down, "You look beautiful in that dress, but I understand not wanting to wear it. Your mother is a clever one though, she knows gold is my favorite color." Ruka smiled up at Haruka, clearly in awe of the Senshi who she got her name from. Haruka faced Endo next, "Nice to meet you young prince. I'm not sure who you favor more, your grandfather or your mother. But either is a good thing."
Endo bowed briefly to Haruka, "Thank you. Mostly I am told I resemble Papa and my grandfather." Haruka arched an eyebrow and looked at Kiyoko and then Seiya, "I'm going to assume they call you Papa?" Seiya nodded, smiling one her cocky smiles, "Yes. They call Kiyoko Mamma and me Papa, just as Kiyoko refers to you and Michiru."
Kiyoko exhaled, somethings would never change. She directed her attention to Michiru, "Michiru, I've missed my second mamma so much!" They hugged and Kiyoko gestured to her children respectively, "This is Haruka and Endymion, or Ruka and Endo for short." Michiru wasted no time in hugging each of them. Endo seemed the most caught off guard by this, but he smiled genuinely. Michiru had that effect on people.
At last her sister and brother-in-law stepped forward, with their own daughter in tow. Serenity wasted no time with formalities as she embraced the sister she hadn't seen in ten years, "Oh Kiyo-chan!"
Helios stepped up to Seiya at the same time and extended his hand in friendship, just as he'd done a decade ago. Seiya took that hand firmly, "It's good to see you again Helios." Helios nodded. Seiya then turned to her beloved Kiyoko and Queen Serenity, "Thank you for having us Serenity. I'm very happy to see you again." She wasn't sure how the Queen would feel. She'd worried all these years that she harbored the same ill will that Haruka did.
Serenity stepped away from her sister and hugged Seiya, "Thank you for making this possible and for taking care of my little sister." She then turned to Ruka and Endo, grinning, "So you are the children my mother goes on and on about! It's a pleasure to meet you both. I look forward to getting to know you better. She then look at her own daughter and gestured her forward, "May I present Princess Chisana-Usagi (tiny rabbit) or Usa-chan for short."
Kiyoko took in her niece and smiled softly. She was a bit shorter than her own children, but then again she was younger. Her hair was a deep pink and done in the same style that Kiyoko and Serenity's mother had always worn. She wore a lavender pink gown that nearly trailed the floor. Peeking out from under the dress were a pair of matching Maryjane slippers. Her eyes were the same color bronze as Helios', but everything else about her was the spitting image of Serenity. She curtseyed and smiled shyly, "Hello. It's nice to meet all of you." Kiyoko replied, "It's nice to meet you at long last young princess. May I call you Usa-chan? You can call me Aunt Kiyoko or Kiyo-chan, everyone else does." The little girl seemed to mull this over momentarily, "That'd be alright with me Aunt Kiyo-chan." She smiled a bright smile at Kiyoko.
Serenity looked over at Ruka and Endo, "Why don't you two go with your cousin. Usa-chan would love to have some company." Ruka and Endo nodded and followed Usa-chan toward the castle's courtyard. She looked back at Kiyoko, "Well, looks like those three will be alright. Let's get you settled back into your chambers. I've kept them for you and prepared the ones directly across the hall for Ruka and Endo." With that the party made their way back into the castle. In some ways it felt like Kiyoko had never left.