CHAPTER 4

A/N: So, turns out I'm incorporating some shinto beliefs and ceremonies- I'm trying to do this respectfully through research . If you feel that there is something specifically off, Please tell me so I can fix it! *Please note that Shinto weddings really didn't occur in the appropriate time period- so that is artistic liberty.

Continued thanks to The Rising Phoenix who cheers me on, betas and pays attention to my rambles.

And a Special Thanks to FloraOne for her AMAZING reviews, and being an awesome writer.


The meeting continued. Serenity shook her head out of her thoughts and Usagi's memories, refocusing on inner senshi in front of her. To her they looked so, young- so readable, unlike the tight lipped counterparts who were far more expressive behind closed doors than in normal conversation. She watched Minako, with her bright red bow and exerbant expressions, Ami with the shy smiles and furrored focus, Makoto with gifts of food and warm embraces and Rei with her fiery moods and strong opinions. Their reactions, the eye widening, small nods or shakes of the head, the little moments of confusion were absolutely obvious. Serenity knew her outburst had them off kilter, more familiar to her enthusiastic and optimistic counterpart not consumed with the obligations of position.

Her thoughts were exhausting her, head light headed from battle,the rollercoaster of her emotions keeping her on her feet. She pivoted her conversation to the next important topic on her mind, her hand unconsciously fluttering over the brooch sitting on her chest. She asked the group, "Do you understand the implications of Usagi using the Silver Crystal to fight? That her powers are fundamentally not like your powers?"

"What do you mean?" Ami asked, looking startled. Luna was looking at her from Ami's arms with a peculiar look. Serenity took it as wracking her memory for any hint at what she was talking about.

A thought flitted across Serenity's mind about the irony of an an advisor with no actual knowledge, but focused on explaining. "Regardless of its importance, the moon is just a satellite of Earth. Your magic is planetary magic. Essentially guardians are chosen to have access to it. The Henshin stick is like a well- you draw from your source. The Silver Crystal just isn't like that. It works by drawing on lifeforce, by amplifying litteral energy of the person that is using it. The more she uses it, the more intertwined the body becomes with the crystal. Which is why it is never used unless absolutely necessary." Serenity started to hold the brooch in her hand looking down at it, surprisingly light for its size. It was beautiful, the jewels representing each planet around the larger silver crystal. She knew this was a possibility, but one she thought she would have to take willingly with deliberation, not thrown into it where the choice had already been made. This body was only alive because the crystal wanted it to be, simply the whim of ancient magic. The last few weeks had made her acutely aware of her own mortality.

"How do you mean intertwined, in what capacity?" Ami asked.

"It means, at this point, if somehow We are not in possession of the silver crystal, we'll die."

'WAIT, WHAT?' Came the internal reply from Usagi.

'Too late, you made that choice!'

Usagi started a rebuttal, but Serenity ignored her choosing to continue to talk to the senshi instead. "It also means that fighting for her, is different than fighting for you. From what I understand, Senshi can just keep throwing attack after attack pretty much as long as you need. You just keep pulling from the well. But every attack she does, literally is draining her."

'Is this why I am so tired all the time? And they aren't?!'

'Yes, I'm afraid so.' Usagi mind swirled with all the arguments about how lazy she had been...but if she was actually different, what did that mean?

"There is no way we would have made it this far without her fighting." Makoto stated, forward and honest.

Serenity nodded. "You were to work together with armies. You were never meant to fight alone like this. But, putting her into battle, and using the silver crystal is short sighted at best. Especially with no heir"

"With no heir?"

"Traditionally, the user of the silver crystal already has a child by the time it is passed down, partly for assurances if something does happen- there is someone else to take over."

Serenity could feel Usagi's panic, and her eyes darting over to Mamoru who hadn't actually responded. 'I'm not having Rini at 15. And, according to the future as we know it, I don't have a child until I'm 22.'

Serenity hadn't quite meant it that way, and also was reminded that the gap between 15 and 20 is a large one. Yet, at the same time there were strategic implications that needed to be considered,and carefully weighed. 'The future isn't set in stone.'

'NO, WE ARE NOT HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.'

Serenity instantaneously had a headache. Mamoru- or Endymion shook his head with a small smile as if being able to read the conflict going on in her head.

"What are we going to do with this information? We have an unknown enemy, " Luna shifted the awkward conversation into much safer territory. It quickly turned into observations about the monster (there were few), that there hadn't been any clues about what it was after. Ami stated that she would use the computer, and everyone would be on alert.

Serenity wasn't sure what to say or do, so she simply flipped over the bracelet and let Usagi surface. There wasn't much to decide, and it was starting to get late. After affirming to be on the lookout and stay in touch, they went their separate ways.


Friday came and went, Usagi yearning for some time to relax. She'd been shifting in her school desk, ready to bolt to the arcade, after a verbal challenge to defeat Minako at her game- Sailor V. It was going to happen today. Usagi was sure of it. The Bell rang, and Minako had already packed her bag (when did that happen?!) and gave Usagi a wink with a V sign, and was suddenly out the door. Usagi scrambled to stuff things in her bag to catch up.

It was on.

Usagi sprinted after her, carefully dodging the far too many cars by carefully timing the walk signs at the crosswalks. Minako would laugh from a half block ahead with a smile and a triumphant kiss to the sky, before she disappeared in the sliding glass doors of the Crown Arcade.

Serenity watched internally, Usagi clearly had been holding back on the simple delights she had- caught in a myriad of thoughts of introspection: themselves, duty and expectations. But today, she was a kid...and somehow Serenity found herself...enjoying it? It was almost liberating. She allowed herself to ride the waves of joyful competition, watching as Minako provided teasing gestures and laughter. She was poking at Usagi who responded in kind.

Had she ever laughed like that?

They button mashed as little Senshi galloped across the screen, working together to stop pictures of enemies who inched forward in glitchy 16 bit motion.

Serenity scoffed- when had these things become a game?

Suddenly, a little blue orb hit Usagi's tiny sailor moon, who fell over sideways kicking its little legs. Sad music played, and Minako continued with a triumphant squeal. Usagi dug in her bag for another coin trying to find one before the countdown to continue ended.

Then someone covered her eyes (Serenity panicked), "Hey, Usako"

Usagi leaned back into Mamoru's chest with a content sigh. "I thought I wasn't going to see you today?" Usagi's warm feelings of comfort to his touch, and Serenity's interpretations of said touch were remarkably different. Clearly the sensation was the same, but Serenity read sensual where Usagi read comfortable.

He placed his arms around her, and whispered into her ear from above "Actually, I have a surprize for the both of you." Serenity decided- definitely sensual. Usagi really didn't have a clue.

"Hmm? You do?" She spun around to look at him. Minako was still banging away at the video game, but was clearly paying attention to them. Serenity wondered How could Minako notice the charge between them and Usagi just not? He then handed her a white train ticket. She looked at it briefly. "Why are we going to Kyoto?"

"So you can relax, though you seem to be doing a good job here. And, there is something Serenity needs to see."

"In Kyoto?"

"Outside Kyoto, but its Something very old."

"When?"

"Tomorrow morning, I'll meet you at Tokyo Station, we take the Shinkansen Nozomi

at eight am."


Usagi could barely sleep in excitement, which is the only reason they were even remotely able to make it on time. They spent far to much time (in Serenity's opinion anyway) arguing about what would be right to wear to the trip. Finally settling on a Ankle length soft yellow skirt and a light blue spaghetti strap top, with a little white cardigan incase she got cold.

Mamoru had the polished casual look going for him: dark clothes modest, and neat. It was really the smile, fussy hair and purposeful walk that made him a treat to look at. He was holding something. Usagi ran up in an collision/hug, which he took in stride (though swinging her around a little to mitigate impact).

"Hey Usako." Serenity thought how he said that was amazing, and it wasn't even her name. Usagi and her were going to have to have a talk. Usagi just giggled. He handed her a bag "Breakfast" He stated "With reading." Usagi opened the bag to find two of her favorite things: pastries and manga. She squealed, but then bit her lip. "But, I didn't get you anything Mamo-chan."

"Today is all about treating both of you." He smiled, "Come on we need to get to the platform or we'll have to wait until the next one."

"Soo… are we there yet?" Usagi tugged on his arm with a wink.

Mamoru gave her side eye. Sexy side eye, profile of his face slight smirk with very kissable lips. "We haven't even gotten on the train!" She laughed, jumping the little gap between the platform and the train.

"What about now?"

They settled into seats next to each other, Usagi happily munching on flaky deliciousness while asking about how his week had gone. They shared light banter between talk about school, (prepping for college entrance exams is time consuming), Motoki's silly antics and adventures of his pet turtle, and the woes of cooking for one. After awhile it fell into a comfortable silence, the scenery whizzing by.

Mamoru sighed. "Usagi, can I be honest?"

"Hrm?" She barely looked up from the shoujo-ai manga she was reading, currently enthralled in a suspenseful break-up of the main character.

"I'm trying to be serious here."

Usagi closed the Manga, and leaned her head against his shoulder. "Sorry, Yeah?"

"I feel sort of guilty, that this time around it wasn't like it was then."

"What do you mean?"

"Like, in the past, when we met it was almost instantaneous, we were enamored with each other before we got through introductions. Here...I was so antagonistic."

Usagi laughed. "Mamoru-baka, love has different forms."

"But...if Endymion hadn't been around to tell me to stay, I... don't know if I would have."

"What do you mean?" Usagi looked kind of alarmed.

"I think I was so use to being alone...that inviting anyone in was just incomprehensible. And, then you showed up so...bright, cheerful, and joyful. And I just wanted to take you down a peg."

"You tried, but I'm invincible!"

"It was really Endymion that encouraged me to stay around...and then suddenly you managed to find your way into my heart."

"I'm glad you listened to him."

The rest of the trip flew by in comfortable silence. Usagi stepped off of the second train, Mamoru insisting that the rest of the trip must be a surprize, as Serenity was going to catch on the second he mentioned exactly where they were going. This peaked both their interests. "Mamo-chan, I'm terrible with secrets, just tell me, I've been trying to figure out for hours!"

He smiled. "Here, you're going to need these?" He handed her a little plastic bag with crackers inside. She read the green writing.

"Deer biscuits? Are we in Nara? I haven't been here in ages..."

"So, Usagi, last time you were here, did the deer follow you?"

Usagi cocked her head to the side as they exited the station. "I...they did! I couldn't get them to leave me alone and Shingo was all jealous and my mom took a thousand pictures and it was ridiculous, it was like every deer in the whole city followed me…"

'They do that to me too' Came the internal reply, though with far more emotion than Usagi expected. She flipped the bracket to silver side up.

"Are we really in Nara? That Nara?"

He smiled, soft and warm, . "Parts of the Todaiji Shrine are still there, Ren."

She almost dropped the biscuits. "Where we were married?"

"I knew you'd recognize it as soon as I said it" She could tell he had been waiting for this reveal all morning, with the slight shift of his feet and the way his eyes conveyed so much expression. How did he do that?

She took a step facing him, making the space between them mere centimeters. "How could I forget?" She whispered, her voice revealing how meaningful this all was to her. They stayed that way for a minute, close, mesmerized by each other, falling into a deep kiss, not caring they were causing stares by those passing by.

They strolled through the streets quiet streets of Nara, passing the hodgepodge of modernity and history. And every deer they came across approached her,nudging her hand with the top of its tan head, before wondering behind her. She soon accumulated a following. Usagi laughed, handing out biscuits to each and every one with a sweet hello, and a soft pat to the head, between their large ears.

"Maybe you should have been named Tsukino Shikako." Mamoru handed out another biscuit in one hand while holding Usagi's hand in the other.

As they stopped to refill their biscuit rations, the store clerk commented. "You seem to have amassed a following, you must be special."

Usagi shook her head. "They are just hungry, I'm sure of it."

"No, I watch these deer every day.I've never seen something like this before. They are aggressive about food, but not like this. You must be blessed, or in need of a message."

Mamoru handed the man some yen. "I think it is because she is an extraordinary person."

Usagi stuck her tongue out at him. "I really don't want all this attention."

"That's part of what makes you- you."

The streets turned into beautiful green park, and soon Serenity found herself staring at the Tegai gate. The Tegai gate is a traditional japanese temple gate towering above, made of wood, 8 pillars and a large opening in the middle.

"How?" She looked at the gate, and at him, back and forth. He smiled. "It has just been here all this time." Serenity noticed that oddly, it was Endymion who had less guarded expressions (such a contrast to the senshi), whose smile reflected more in his eyes. Though part of it could be that she just knew Endymion longer to be able to read him.

"I'm reminded every day how long it is been, but at the same time it feels so recent." She leaned against him with a sigh. This weighed on her, and suddenly she found tears quietly falling down her face. "It's like the rest of it just magically appeared out of thin air, and this is the only thing that is the same."

He nodded, wiping a tear from her face so gently, then tucking a blonde wispy behind her ear.

Within his eyes, she found herself lost in her memories of their wedding.


Serenity wore a traditional white silk kimono. She'd never thought she would be participating in a ceremony on Earth, instead of within her own kingdom- but it had been made clear that politically it was unacceptable. Serenity chose to forgo her traditions, trusting Endymion's traditions for the ceremonial symbol of their unity. She needed this, needed it to be real.

Due to the secrecy, only Minako had come along with her on this trip, and she dearly missed the support of the others. Hiding such bonds from the Senshi of love was probably impossible, and having her onboard would allow for the advocacy of a future ceremony in her own kingdom.

The sun was rising in the east, the choice of day where the moon still hung high in the sky, the sunlight not bright enough yet to obscure its view. She breathed looking over the beautiful scenery, lush greens, soft trees, and the deer- always the deer, congregating around whenever she appeared. She breathed slow breaths, rehearsing vows in her head, when she saw a bright flash of light appear close by.

It only took a moment for her to see the flash turn into a figure, A tall figure with flowing hair and a silver-white dress, slowly walking with intention right towards them.

It could only be her mother. She panicked, looking at Minako who turned her eyes away. "You know I had to tell her right?" Minako whispered.

She'd planned just to announce it later, seeking forgiveness rather than permission. There was too many things for the Queen to weigh, and the princess knew this, not expecting her to break ancient rules for her own heart. That's not what ruling a kingdom was about. She swallowed, fully expecting to be pulled away by the power her mother wielded, forbidden. For her protection. For her kingdoms protection.

Queen Serenity approached one step at a time, silent, grey blue eyes unreadable. Silhouetted by the rising sun, she glowed. Endymion stood off to the side, in his own Kimono,black and grey. He dared not to interrupt. She commanded the attention of everyone without words, with her grace, after all rumored to be a goddess, and Endymion could see absolutely why. Princess Serenity was sure that the wedding was not going to happen.

Serenity stood steps away looking at her young daughter, who dared not speak waiting.

And then Queen Serenity kneeled, to her knees, the only bow the princess had ever seen her do. The princess gasped, taking a step back.

"No, no, no" The princess wasn't quite sure what she was protesting, but the power dynamic shifted and so viscerally real.

Queen Serenity stood, still not saying a single word, and pulled her daughter into a warm embrace, holding her tight.

She whispered "You have my blessing. May I stay?"

Princess wracked her brain to understand how her mother had suddenly allowed her to become adult, the implications of becoming her equal. Was this marriage or was this ascension?

Princess Serenity felt a wave of relief, confusion and she wasn't quite sure what else flow through her and she nodded. "Of course, but don't do that again."

Queen Serenity smiled, wiping a tear from her daughters face. "I could not be more proud." She kissed the crescent moon on her daughter's head.

She turned to Endymion, taking a few steps towards him and taking his hands.

"You must pledge yourself not just to her, but to both of our kingdoms, you understand?"

"I do. Your kingdom is my own."

"Until your death?"

"I vow it."

She let go of his hands, and kissed his forehead in a similar fashion. "I believe you have a ceremony to attend."

Queen Serenity stepped back, nodding to the priest who watched their interactions without a word. Queen Serenity quietly approached the King of Earth, with a wordless nod, observing as well.

The actual ceremony went by so fast, the parts vague in her memory. After a ritual purification from the Priest, thanking of the gods/spirits, their wedding was announced, 3 cups of Sake exchanged symbolizing their unity. Then, the vows:

This person you marry

No matter the future

I will love this person,

Respect this person,

Console this person

Help this person

Guide this person

Until death

Protecting fidelity

I swear.

They stood there under the gate, offering a symbolic evergreen branch to the altar, thanking the gods for their opportunity of love. Then, holding eachothers hands when Minako came up with the rings. They exchanged slowly, Serenity trying to keep her hands from shaking. After each ring was placed, Minako silently placed their hands in eachothers, removing her magical chain. She wrapped their hands together and with a kiss a jolt of energy flew through them. "You are forever connected." The chain disappeared in their skin.

And they kissed while irrevocably joining their respective kingdoms.


As Usagi was reeling from the indescribable feelings from their shared past, in the present Serenity kissed reaffirming their relationship, their power, their choices.

"We are forever connected." She repeated. He nodded, pulling her close, "Forever." He whispered, kissing her again, with a strength that made her weak in the knees.


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