Although the bed was comfortable, my sleep that night was anything but restful. I wasn't sure if it was because I was in a
strange place and not in my old bed or if my mind was still reeling over the week's events that had finally come to a head.
It was the same restlessness a child felt the night before Christmas, if not the excitement.

I felt the bed shift slightly as I lay under the warm blankets. I heard shuffling all around me, but ignored it,
believing it to be a dream. I felt the weight that had moved onto the bed move closer to me and I rolled over onto my left
side, snuggling deeper into the blankets.

"Should we wake her," came a whispered voice.

"She does need to get up," said another.

"I'll get her up," hissed a third voice.

I groaned as I felt weight on my right hip. The weight began bouncing up and down on top of me until I growled and
slowly opened my eyes. I could see the sun had already risen, streaking the room in brilliant sun light. I was amazed
I had been able to sleep with it so bright.

But what really woke me was three pairs of eyes, belong to three girls, staring at me from the side of the bed. I blinked
sleepily and looked to the bouncing on my hip and saw another girl. I stared at her as my brain tried to catch up with my
eyes and to register just who it was I looking at.

The Amazon Quartet.

I yelled and jumped from the bed, causing the red head, who had been sitting on me, to go tumbling backwards and fall into
the floor at the foot of the bed. The other three girls scattered as well, giving me room.

I dived into the floor and, reaching into my discarded jeans from the night before, pulled out a decent sized pocket knife.
I was on my feet and had the knife open within seconds of rolling into the floor. I held the knife in my hand with the tip
pointed away from me and the sharp edge facing out. If I threw a punch and missed, it would be a good bet the blade would
make up for my poor aim.

Three of the Quartet had backed away, giving me space to breathe. They didn't look like they wanted to attack me, but remembering
my last run in with them, I wasn't about to chance it and put my knife away.

The red head, on the other hand, had jumped up from her spot on the floor and was smirking at me, her eyes narrowed. She cracked her
knuckles and made a move as though she were about to jump the bed and pounce me. I readied myself and then--

"VesVes, stop!"

She froze, but didn't take her eyes away from me. I looked to my right, from where the voice had come from and saw a pink
haired, odangoed girl of about sixteen. She had thrown up her her hand as if she were reaching for the red head (VesVes was
it?) to catch her and keep her from moving.

My eyes danced from the princess to the psychotic amazon and back. "Chibiusa," I asked.

She lowered her arm and then looked to me and smiled. "Ohayo gozaimasu, C-chan. Please, put away your knife."

I gave her a look and Chibiusa smiled more. "They're not enemies, C-chan. They're my senshi."

I was shocked, to say the least. The last time I saw these bimbos they not only tried killing me, but Chibiusa, too. And now
they were her guardians? What the fu--

"Shouldn't you get dressed or something," VesVes snapped. I glared at her and she smiled. Guardian or no, I wanted to deck the
girl.

The Amazon with pink hair stepped up beside VesVes, smiling shyly. "Gomenasai," She said, "We didn't mean to wake you so rudely."

"Speak for yourself, CereCere," VesVes snapped.

I smirked at her. "I remember you," I said to VesVes. "You briefly made the acquaintance of my fist." She snarled at me. "You dropped
like a rag doll."

She lunged at me and I was ready for her. But the Amazon with green hair stepped up quickly and grabbed VesVes up by the waist,
lifting her from the ground. VesVes snarled and spit curses at me and I could only smile.

"Caden, please," Chibiusa said, "Stop provoking her. They didn't know any better in that last battle. Don't hold it against
any of them."

I looked at her for a moment before picking up my jeans from the floor and sliding them on and, after closing it, pocketing the knife. I stalked past them and into my closet, kicking the door shut.

I walked into the bathroom, turned the sink faucet on and splashed water onto my face, rubbing my eyes clean of sleep. I brushed my teeth and
ran my fingers through my short, unruly hair, and walked back into the closet. Discarding my sleeping shirt, I picked up a sports bra and slipped it on over my head before picking a tee-shirt from the rack and slipping it on. I grabbed a buttoned shirt and slipped it on over my shoulders and walked back out of the closet.

I noticed the Quartet had left in the few minutes I had been in the bathroom, leaving the princess alone. "Where's your entourage?"

Chibiusa smiled. "They just wanted to come in and say hi. They had no plans on sticking around today."

I raised my eyebrow and walked over to the desk, sliding my boots on and grabbed my baseball cap, sliding it onto my head.

Chibiusa smiled. "I thought you looked different."

I laughed. "So what didn't the girls want to stick around for?"

"Momma has asked me to show you around and reintroduce you to the senshi," Chibiusa said. She walked to the bedroom door, opened it and smiled at me. "Ready?"

I shrugged and followed her out.

Our first visit was with Mako-chan. Or Jupiter to the citizens of Crystal Tokyo. As it turned out, all the senshi were known by their planetary
name, even when not transformed.

Mako-chan owned and operated a bakery just a few blocks from the palace. Chibiusa and I walked down the streets, and many people gave us odd looks. They knew who Chibiusa was (Neo Princess Serenity) but our clothing was so out of place here in this time compared to what most of the citizens seemed to be wearing. The old styles of kimono for both men and women seemed in vogue. I had noticed this, too, with the stewards at the palace. It all seemed very traditional. And nothing Chibiusa and I were wearing was traditional.

I was in my typical jeans, boots, baseball cap and shirt. Chibiusa was wearing something similar to when she and Usagi had switched ages. Although, I have to admit, this version seemed less cute and more provacative. She knew she had curves and was using them to her advantage. She had grown up and I could see why Usagi thought she was headstrong.

We reached Mako-chan's bakery and went inside. The bakery was nice. It had a few booths along a large window in front of the store. These were most likely used to discuss things with clients and for makeshift waiting areas. The counter across from the booths held sweets of all kinds and flowers seemed to decorate every inch of the store that would sit still. It was hard to determine what was more over powering: the smell of the flowers or the smell of sweets.

A young man stood behind the counter, ringing out a customer. As the customer, an elderly woman, collected her change and left the store, Chibiusa moved to the counter and, crossing her arms, she leaned on the counter, showcasing her...assests.

Smiling, Chibiusa asked in a sweet, flirting voice, "Takashi-kun, can you please tell Mako-chan I'm here, please?"

The young man, Takashi, blushed bright red which seemed to clash with his sandy colored hair. His emerald eyes seemed glued to Chibiusa's chest. Growling, I stalked up to her and snapped my fingers right in his face. He startled and stared at me. Glaring at him, his face seemed to turn even more red before turning and walking back into the kitchens, yelling, "Okasan!"

My jaw dropped. Did that boy really just say--?

My mind still reeling, Makoto came out of the back room. She was covered in flour, but her apron kept most of it off of her clothing. She smiled at Chibiusa.

"Konnichiwa, Chibiusa-chan," Makoto said warmly. Then she turned to me and her smiled fell, her eyes wide.

I blinked at her and nervously scratched the back of my head. "Hey, Mako-chan," I said.

Makoto yelled and jumped the counter and wrapped her arms tightly around me, picking me up in a crushing hug.

"Caden-chan!"

I was able to get out a laugh despite the fact she was crushing me. Makoto sat me back down on my feet, still smiling brightly. "I can't believe it!"

I smiled, rubbing my ribs. "Yeah, no one can. I didn't either when I found out last week."

Makoto's face fell. "You've been here for a week?"

I smiled, shaking my head. "I found out last week. I got here last night."

"Ah." Makoto smiled again then turned toward Takashi, gesturing for him to join us. "I see you've already met my son."

Takashi came to stand beside his mother and I took in his appearance. He was taller then his mother by several inches and his eyes were the same rich green as Makoto's. But his hair was a much lighter shade then her chestnut brown. He looked so damned familiar but I couldn't place where I may have seen him before. Of course, this was the future and a different universe, so I couldn't have seen him anywhere before. Right?

"Hello, Takashi-kun," I said, offering my hand. He shyly took my hand in his and shook it before going back to the counter as a customer came into the store.

Makoto led Chibiusa and I to a booth at the back of the parlor. Chibiusa and I sat on one side with Makoto across from us, facing the front of the store. She looked to me and smiled. "It's so good to see you again, Caden-chan."

I smiled, rubbing the back of my head. "Yeah, me too."

Smiling more, she asked, "So, what can I do for you two?"

"Momma has appointed Caden as my advisor and bodygaurd," Chibiusa answered. "She was curious if you could train her in martial arts."

An odd look crossed Makoto's face at the request. "Why did she appoint Caden as your body guard when you have the Sailor Quartet?"

Chibiusa glared at Makoto. I felt Chibiusa shift beside me and then heard Makoto hiss. I think the princess just kicked one of her mother's
soldiers.

"But of course, I'll do as my Queen comands," Makoto said through gritted teeth, glaring at Chibiusa.

"Did you just kick Mako-chan," I asked the pink haired girl. Chibiusa shrugged and smiled sweetly. I groaned and rolled my eyes.

Before I could reprimand the girl, Makoto sat up straighter in the booth. Smiling broadly, she waved at someone behind Chibiusa and I. Turning, I smiled broadly when I saw a petite, blue haired girl begin to walk over to where we were seated.

Ami-chan.

And she was closely followed by a young man with light blue, almost white hair. Call it a hunch, but I had a feeling this boy was her son.

I stood and smiled down at her. She giggled and wrapped her arms around my neck in a warm hug. I smiled and returned the hug, wrapping my arms around her waist.

"Caden-chan," Ami said in her soft voice, pulling away. "Usagi said I would find you here."

"Oh, yeah?" I asked.

She nodded. "Hai. Stop by my lab tomorrow and we'll get started on getting some weaponry and armor for you. Oh!" She turned and gently grabbed the young man who had come in with her by the arm, pulling him forward. He was shorter then Ami, although not by much. He had the same shade of blue eyes as Ami.

"Your son?" I made it a question, just in case I was wrong.

Ami nodded, gently patting the boy on his back. He looked to be about the same age as Chibiusa, which was sixteen.

"Hi, Ken'ichi-chan," came Chibiusa's voice behind me. I turned to look at her. She was smiling warmly at Ken'ichi, her fingers moving in a nervous wave. And was she...blushing?

Shaking my head, I turned back to Ami and her son. He was smiling shyly at Chibiusa, if not more so then the girl. "Hi, Usako."

I blinked, looking from the blue haired boy to the pink haired girl before it clicked and I smiled devilishly at the other two woman watching the scene with me. They only chuckled at my reaction.

"Chibiusa," I said, pulling the pink haired girl from the booth. "You need to finish showing me around town." I pushed her toward the door
as she continued to wave at Ken'ichi. I turned back to Ami and Makoto. "I'll see you two later!" As I turned, Ami took mine and Chibiusa's
seat opposite of Makoto.

I shoved Chibiusa out the bakery's door and smirked. "So..."

Chibiusa's face turned a deep shade of red. "It isn't like that!"

I acted hurt, placing a hand on my chest. "I said nothing!"

Chibiusa glared at me then giggled. "Okay, so 'Ichi-chan is cute. Happy?"

I laughed and we began walking down the street. The direction in which we were headed, we would pass the same booth Chibiusa, Makoto and I had been sitting at. As we walked past the booth, I was about to knock on the window when I noticed Makoto had moved to the same side of the table as Ami and was...Holy shit! Were they kissing?

Holy shit! They were!

It was a quick peck and very chaste but still!

Chibiusa must have noticed I stopped to gape at the two women. She grabbed me by the hand and pulled me away.

"You act like you've never seen tw girls kiss before, C-chan," Chibiusa reprimanded.

"Yeah, but-but..." Words failed me. "They have kids!"

Chibiusa sighed and turned to face me, dropping my hand. "They were married in the 20th century, you prude."

I blinked. "'Were'?"

"They got married. All the senshi did. And they all had kids. They all had a family." Chibiusa sighed. "But.."

I simply stared at her, my brain finally catching up. "But their husbands died?" Of course. They were not part of the Old Moon Kingdom and they wouldn't have lived as long. All I could say was ouch.

Chibiusa nodded. "Hai. The senshis' kids are all older then me by about one hundred years. Except Haruka and Michiru's little boy. He's only ten."

I blinked. "What, did they all have sons?"

Chibiusa rolled her eyes. "No, smart ass, they didn't." Chibiusa then began naming off the senshi and their broods. "Haruka and Michiru have the one kid. So does Ami. Minako has twin girls. Mako-chan has the largest family with two girls and a boy. Takashi is the middle child. His older sister, Kamiko-chan, is the oldest of all us kids. Pluto is the only one to not have a family. But she is married to her job. And, of course, Hotaru is my age so she hasn't married yet."

I nodded, shoving my hands inside my jean pockets. My heart was racing. "And how many kids does Rei-chan have?"

"Oh yeah," Chibiusa said, laughing. "She never married."

A huge weight seemed to be lifted from my shoulders, but I did my best to hide it. "Oh, yeah? How come?"

Chibiusa shrugged and began walking down the street again. I qucikly fell in step beside her. "Don't know." Chibiusa glanced up at me. "Maybe her
heart belongs to one person and one person only and thought it pointless to marry anyone else?"

I rolled my eyes. "You sound like Minako."

Chibiusa's face lit up. "You think so?"

I glared at her. "It wasn't a compliment."

"Oh face it, " Chibiusa said. "Momma brought you back for a reason and it wasn't so you could watch over me."

I just glanced at the pink haired girl. "What are you talking about?"

"Think about," Chibiusa said. "I'm a soldier, I have the senshi, both inner and outer, and I have my own senshi. Why would I need you?"

I stopped and looked at the girl beside me. It hadn't occured to me before but, she was right. She didn't actually need me so why would
Usagi ask me to look after her?

Chibiusa sighed, coming to stand in front of me. "You're cute, but not too bright."

I blinked at her. "Excuse me."

Chibiusa shook her head, smiling. "Momma brought you here for one reason and one reason only."

I gave Chibiusa a flat look. "Which is...?"

Laughing, Chibiusa hitched her thumb to the right. "Go find out for yourself."

I looked to where she motioned toward and was dumb struck. We had come to a stop in front of the stairs leading up to the Hikawa Shrine.
I had a feeling the girl had been planning this since I woke up this morning. Sneaky little bugger.

I looked back to Chibiusa, who only smiled. "I'm going back to Mako-chan's bakery." And with that, she skipped back down the
street in the direction we had come from.

I looked up at the stairs, my heart pounding, almost painfully, against my ribs. I took a deep breath, turned my cap backwards so the
bill was flush against my neck and began racing up the stair case, taking the steps either in twos or threes.

I reached the top in record time, even if my lungs felt like I had swallowed fire. I bent over, hands on my knees, trying to catch my
breath. My God, was I really that out of shape?

Catching my breath, I stood up straight and looked around. The shrine looked just as it did the last time I was here. Though the city
itself seemed alien with most of it's buildings being made of crystal, the shrine itself seemed untouched by time.

I walked forward to the front of the shrine, trying to catch a glimpse of the miko. Not seeing her, I came to a stop before the offering
box. I fished a few dollars from my pocket and tossed it inside the box. Although I doubt my money was any good here.

"Thank you for your contribution," came a smooth voice behind.

I felt the blood rush to my face and I swallowed hard. I turned and came face to face with the very miko that had haunted my dreams for the last
year.

Rei's face paled as she realized who I was. The broom in her hands fell and clattered on the stone.

"Caden?"

I nodded, slowly, taking a tentive step toward her.

She took a step toward me and we met in the middle. Her hands came up to my face, caressing it gently.

"I'm not dreaming," she asked softly.

I shook my head. "No, Rei-chan, you're not."

"Good." She then pulled away, slapping me as hard as she could across my face.