Act Three: Clouds Across The Moon
As they stepped into the taxi's that took them to their hotel after lunch the next day the approaching storm became obvious to everyone.
All activities on land were suspended and most passengers spend the day in their cabin.
The ride to the hotel was awkward, with Usagi sitting next to the driver and Mamoru and Rei in the back.
Each too engrossed with their own immediate worries to provide or desire much conversation.
The wind was already picking up strength by the time they checked in.
Rei took her friend aside as Mamoru went to the front desk and their other friends entered the lobby.
"Come to our room after dinner. I'll send Ami-chan away with some excuse. It's time to talk about the things I've seen."
Usagi nodded gravely.
"I wanted to ask you to tell me tomorrow because I expected tonight to be Mamoru's only free evening, but it turns out he will have a video conference after dinner."
She looked at her boyfriend with sad, guilty eyes.
"It seems they can't even give him one free evening."
"He can't let things go on like this. He's got to let them know there's a limit to the amount of work he can handle," Rei replied.
"At least he's got you to support him."
Usagi was surprised to see the emphatic smile with which Rei was looking at her as she turned around to face her. It was clear her friend was going to continue ignoring who it was she really wanted to be with.
"Come on. Let's go unpack," The miko strode forward as Mamoru hailed them.
"Ami-chan?"
"Yes?" The bluehead looked up from her book with a genial smile.
After dinner, they had gone to their respective rooms. Rei was nervous about telling Usagi about the threat that she had seen and it showed in her fidgeting. Ami immediately took notice.
"What's wrong?" She asked with a concerned look.
Rei swallowed.
"I asked Usagi to come here after dinner. I have to talk to her... about things. Important things."
Ami stood up without prompting.
"I can spend the evening with Mako-chan and Mina-chan if you want to be alone?" She asked.
"That would be wonderful of you."
Rei's roommate packed her book and laptop and came towards her.
"Good luck," Ami smiled.
"Good luck?"
"Rei-chan... I know this is hardest on you. I know you don't want to cause any trouble, but... even if you do... I will be on your side."
"What are you talking about?" The miko asked with a perplexed expression.
Ami smiled.
"I think you have done more than can be asked of you," She explained. "The love you feel for Usagi-chan... It is equal to Mamoru-kun's in its beauty and purity if nothing else. Whatever the consequences, whatever happens next, I can't blame you."
Rei gave her friend a curious look.
"Thank you... But that is academic," She replied. "Because I won't allow anything to happen."
Ami rested her hands on her friend's shoulders.
"Rei-chan... The Crystal Tokyo we visited was hundreds of years into the future.
I believe the future cannot be altered.
Chibi-Usa will be born, Mamoru-kun and Usagi-chan will be King and Queen of Crystal Tokyo no matter what happens. That is what I believe. But anything might happen before that time... Or even after.
Another thing I believe is that the love we all share, the friendship between us all is strong enough to survive anything that might happen in between now and the future we saw."
"Ami-chan... I..."
"I think we were wrong before when we agreed Usagi-chan should never know what you feel for her. And I know we have been unfair to you, expecting you to get over your feelings because we believed it was the right thing to do. Maybe the right thing to do is for you to challenge the future. Because I know that is what Usagi-chan would want you to do.
The love you feel for her is a selfless love. It has saved the world on more than one occasion because of your sacrifice. The rest of us have always know Sailor Moon's life can never truly be in danger as long as Sailor Mars is near. The love you feel for her enables her to perform miracles.
Don't let that love die Rei-chan."
Ami smiled again and left her friend alone in their room, gently closing the door behind her.
"Thank you... I wish I could be so confident, " Rei smiled bitterly at the door. "But every time I do a fire reading specifically for the relationship between Mamo-kun, Chibi-Usa, Usagi and me, all I see is an endless void.
She poured out some tea for her and Usagi and paced back and forth as the storm finally broke loose in full force before the blonde knocked on the door.
"Come in," The miko called.
Usagi saw a furious bolt of lightning illuminate the view of the city behind Rei trough the room-wide window as she closed the door behind her.
"Hello," She greeted timidly.
"Hello... I think you better sit down. I made some tea for you."
Rei went to the window and closed the curtains. She had been too preoccupied to realize, but this was actually a really bad moment to talk about this with Usagi.
"Do you want us to put this off till after the storm?" She asked with her hands folded in front of her.
"No thank you Rei-chan. I've gotten better with lighting after all. I'll be alright," Her friend smiled.
"You're brave."
Rei gazed admiringly at Usagi for half a minute, making her friend feel happy and uncomfortable.
Another thunderbolt colored the window sheets and startled the blonde, snapping Rei out of her dreamy stare and reflect how cute Usagi was.
She went to fetch the tea.
"Are you angry with me for what I told you when we danced?" Usagi unexpectedly asked.
Rei froze in her movement. A barely perceptible grin showed on her face as she remembered what she really felt while dancing with Usagi that evening.
Nobody but the woman who was now in the room with her could recognize that expression as a smile. It made Usagi's heart flutter.
"No... But we can't talk about that now. We need to focus on something far more important than our erratic love life."
Usagi sat down in a soft straight-backed armchair.
Rei put the teacup down on a stylish coffee table next to her and stood behind the opposite armchair a meter or two in front of her friend, leaning on it's back.
Rolling thunder and bright flashes diffused the constant howling of the wind and the torrent pounding against the windows to Usagi's left.
"I have been getting horrible visions since shortly before we started on the cruise," Rei began quietly.
"Since I knew I wouldn't get the chance for two weeks I almost immediately consulted the flames about them."
She sighed and hung her head slightly.
"I'm sorry Usagi, but what I'm going to tell you is the very worst I could ever tell you. This is going to be extremely painful."
Usagi saw tears coming down her friend's cheeks, dropping from the chin underneath her clenched teeth.
"That's exactly why I want you to tell me!" She exclaimed.
"I want to bear this pain with you Rei-chan! It's time to stop living on your own!"
Rei looked up slowly and stopped crying.
"I want you so much to..." Usagi wrung her hands. "I want to share everything with you," She continued more timidly.
Rei smiled, then grimaced.
"I wish you didn't have to share this," She sighed.
Like the crack in a broken heart, lightning struck the weeping heavens as Rei told her friend the horrors she had seen in her visions and fire readings.
While the horrific vivid account poured down on Usagi like the rain on Hiroshima the true scale of what Rei was talking about gradually became clear and the blonde was filled with a cold, empty dread.
Desperation made her question the veracity of what she had been told, seek loopholes to escape the logic of her friend's conclusions and beg to consider other possibilities.
But as she had expected Rei had examined the situation from every side and inside out.
There was no conclusion then the only one the miko could have made. The one she was putting before her friend right now.
With all the power at their disposal, they were going to be utterly helpless to stop or change the future invasion of earth.
Usagi sobbed quietly in her chair.
"Why did you tell me this?" She asked softly through her tears.
Her friend responded gently, looking down at her with regret and pain in her heart.
"Because we have to be prepared. You... You have to take charge and guide us through this."
Usagi shuddered as she cried and didn't say anything for a few minutes.
"I did not want to know this... I don't want this to be true," She muttered.
"I know," Rei sighed, looking out of the window. "Neither do I."
Usagi looked up.
"I'm sorry... I..."
"It's alright. I didn't mean it like that," The miko smiled sadly. "I just... I wish there was something we could do besides damage control... I wish this would happen far further into the future when we are stronger."
"Are you really sure there is nothing we can do?! " Usagi exclaimed again, sobbing as the words left her lips.
Rei walked towards her and squatted, holding the blonde's hands inside her own and resting her head on her friend's soaked lap.
"If I could absorb all the pain this causes you together with your tears. If I knew there was the smallest chance we could stop this..."
"I want to protect everyone!" Usagi interrupted in a tormented wail.
"I know."
"What use are all of our powers if we can't do this?!" The blonde lamented.
"I know."
"I don't want this. I don't want to be the Queen of a graveyard. I don't want to be useless while billions of people die."
Rei stood up and held Usagi in her arms, letting her sob on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," She whispered.
"I'm sorry I had to tell you this.
I'm sorry you have to tell this to the others.
I'm sorry for all the pain and death.
I'm sorry for being useless.
I'm sorry I love you so much for suffering as much as you do just from hearing this."
Usagi calmed down together with the storm.
She slept in Rei's bed that night, while her friend slept on a futon beside her.
Mamoru acted as if it was the most ordinary thing in the world when Ami went to their room to tell him.
Sailor Mercury managed to disintegrate the left arm and chest of one of the colossal humanoid creatures with her High-Pressure Beam.
"More than half the world's population will die within the first 100 years of the invasion."
Sailor Uranus temporarily incapacitated another monster with her attack and as soon as the soldiers had loaded the bus with refugees they jumped on top and they drove away, trying to defend as best they could against the swooping creatures overhead.
"You cannot save them. Try to find peace with that or you will die in a foolish attempt to do the impossible. Condemning Humanity to extinction as a result."
The 30 story building crumbled to dust in front of them as they escaped, monsters jumping out as it fell.
"This is not a dream..."
Rei peered through the darkness, sighing softly.
She became aware of someone watching her and looked up at Usagi leaning over the edge of the bed with a concerned expression.
"Did you have another one?" The blonde whispered.
The miko nodded and looked her in the eyes.
"How long have you been watching?" She asked after a while.
Her friend looked uncomfortable.
Rei turned under her sheet.
"Go to sleep. You had a lot to process this evening."
"Get in here with me," Usagi whispered.
The miko hesitated. This wasn't right. She had allowed Usagi to get too close already. It's her own fault. This is her responsibility. She had to be firm again. With Usagi and with herself.
"The bed is too narrow. We couldn't sleep like that. Besides... You should be sleeping with Mamoru-kun. I shouldn't take advantage."
She felt fingers touch her shoulder.
Opening her eyes she turned onto her back and looked up into Usagi's pleading eyes.
"I want to be your comfort. Stop sacrificing yourself," The blonde tried again.
Rei blinked.
"Obey your Queen," Her friend added with a kind, yet arch smile.
After a defeated heavy sigh Rei got up and lay down in the bed with Usagi, covering herself with her own sheet.
"You're wrapping yourself up like a Negi sausage." Her friend softly giggled. "Heaven forbid our bodies might touch."
A playful foot caressed Rei's and the miko gave her friend a warning look.
"Let's keep faithful to our boyfriend or our bodies might touch in a very unpleasant manner."
Their faces were close, as was the rest of their bodies. It was a narrow fit, lying side by side. It could have become very awkward and the sexual tension could have gotten to both of them, but surprisingly it didn't. Lying so close together after they had become aware of their more than friendly feelings for each other and sharing such a painful heartrending secret as they just had they only felt very safe and happy in the intimacy of their emotional bond.
Besides, Ami wasn't a meter away.
"Now go to sleep and dream of nice things," Usagi kissed the tip of her finger and put it to her blushing friend's forehead.
"What are you smiling at, you moron?" Rei grinned. "Neither of us is going to get any sleep cramped up like this."
They got the most refreshing sleep they had gotten in a long time.
When she got up Ami looked at them with an indulging smile and prepared breakfast. They woke up to the scent of fresh tea and the unceasing showering of the rain outside.
"Welcome to Tokorozawa! The V-Shine hotel boasts the best lodgings in town.
For only 450¥ you can spend the night in one of our luxury suites."
"You haven't got a hotel yet," Rei muttered while dutifully paying the 450¥ required for her stay.
"Oh, Rei-chan. Don't ruin my imagination."
Usagi was sitting next to the miko, having been partnered with her for the game. But she had started to lose interest and ended up gazing outside.
"Always so elaborate," Ami murmured.
"It's a pity we're losing a whole day of sightseeing like this," Her boyfriend stated as he fondled her free hand and watched the unrelenting rain outside.
"We still have plenty of time to see all we wanted to. Besides, for Mamoru-kun, this is a working holiday. We can hardly complain," Makoto corrected while she moved her and Minako's car eight steps toward Minamimihontetudou.
"We're buying, Ami-chan," The brunette's partner interrupted.
"We'll start with the A-Bomb Dome and the Peace Memorial Museum tomorrow," Makoto continued.
Rei looked up and coughed while Ami rolled the dice and after a few hops with her and Ryo's top hat helped herself to Nagasaki.
"Humm, I was thinking after all this rain we might want to do something a little less sad tomorrow. How about we visit Shukkeien and Hiroshima castle first?" The miko suggested.
"You don't have to..." Usagi began, realizing what her friend was trying to do.
Rei gave her a supporting smile.
"Won't the park be swampy after this rain?" Ami pondered aloud.
"We could go shopping in that case." Minako smiled.
"I wouldn't mind that," The miko winked at her grinning partner.
Usagi took Rei's hand under cover of the closeness of their bodies and was disappointed when her friend pulled it away and rolled the dice with a poker face.
"That's 8 steps and Ginza is mine! Here's 4000 ¥ Ami-chan."
"How is Mamoru-kun by the way?" Ryo asked, looking from Rei to Usagi in a way that made the miko feel like ignoring him. "Ami-chan told me he's been working too hard lately?"
"It's hard to get him to take it easy," Usagi sighed. "He really loves what he's doing."
"Which makes getting out of the overwork trap even more difficult. A professor of mine I get along with really well told me his body and mind just gave up on him a few years ago. He loved his job too. Didn't mind when he was asked to do more and more work. He even sought extra work at first and was happy to get it. He didn't see how the overwork killed his social life and how in the end he spent every waking hour and every day of the week at University. He lost his job because he loved it too much."
Usagi and Rei's eyes met briefly after the last remark and poignant look from Ryo.
"It took him a long time and a lot of help before he could see how he caused so much damage to himself and why he should learn to have a different relationship to work," Their friend continued.
"Maybe YOU should have a talk with him then Ryo-kun, because Usagi already tried," The miko curtly replied.
"Can you mind our business while I make tea?" She asked her monopoly-partner.
The blonde nodded quietly while Ami poked her grimacing boyfriend in the ribs.
"I didn't tell him," Ami assured as she came to help her friend with the tea in their kitchenette.
"I know. We have similar abilities. He's got "I found out all these things about you because of my powers" written all over him. You can tell him I don't want to talk about it," Rei smiled crookedly.
They waited for the water to boil.
"He's got... a less supportive view on things then I do," Ami muttered.
"I don't really care what he thinks since it's none of his business," Rei replied.
Then she sighed and looked her friend in the eye.
"It's gone too far," She whispered.
"So you still think pursuing a relationship with Usagi-chan is wrong?" Ami asked while she rubbed her friend's shoulder.
"I think it's dangerous. I have been endangering lives since I kissed her. And all for this lunacy called love."
"You don't know for certain that your love endangers lives! It might end up saving them," The bluehead encouragingly smiled.
Rei poured the tea.
"Am I being too pessimistic?" She frowned.
"I think so. So does Usagi-chan apparently. Maybe you clairvoyant types are just a little fatalistic. But you're also very kind and cute," Ami smiled. "And you're great kissers." She giggled.
Ami took the first plate with cups and they prepared to return to the others. "Maybe you should just leave it all to Usagi-chan. I'll take care of Ryo-kun," She said
Then she hesitated.
"You'll have the room to yourself tonight. I wonder which bed Usagi-chan would prefer to share," She threw back with a teasing look.
After turning into a drizzle in the early afternoon it had finally stopped raining in the early evening, and from the balcony of Rei's hotelroom, the sky looked light and fresh. Relieved of its burden it was covering itself up for rest in order to start the new day with vigor.
Rei turned around when she heard the bell and went inside, closing the window behind her. She opened the door to a face she had anticipated seeing this evening.
"So you came?" She smirked.
"Knowing full well you didn't want me too? Yes," Usagi grinned back. "So what are you doing?"
She knew Rei would let her in any way. They both knew it and she took full advantage of that. If her friend thought she could end their romance after a night of dancing and a sleepover she was gravely mistaken.
Rei moved aside and held a hand out to the sofa.
"I was just reading the manga I had taken with me," She said. "I hadn't had a chance to read them until now."
The blonde bounced into the sofa and looked over the titles lying there.
"Oh! You got the latest volume of One Piece."
Rei sat next to her and bowed her head toward Usagi, showing her an amused smirk.
"I get the feeling you and Ami-chan had a little talk. You are not sleeping over tonight."
"So strict," Usagi sighed.
"Just so we're clear," Rei breezily remarked before sitting back and finished the manga she had been reading before going to the balcony to watch the evening sky and the city.
She looked so serious. She didn't know how cute she looked when she was so serious. Usagi could have told her being this strict with her was probably the worst thing she could do to chase her off. She grinned at the irritated expression her friend made as she realized she was being watched.
"If you want something to snack there's still a packet of cookies I hid from your binge this afternoon. Don't you dare get the pages dirty."
"Thank you Rei-chan."
The blonde slyly leaned in for a kiss, but her friend had anticipated her and leaned away.
"Watch it," The blackette threatened.
Presently deterred, Usagi hung her head and walked to the kitchen.
Sitting next to Rei, stuffing her face and reading manga was the most exquisite penultimate most sublime state of happiness there was in life. This was the closest thing to paradise mortals could obtain. The Moon Kingdom never reached the foundations of this moment when it came to pure bliss.
"You're certainly cheerful," Rei smirked, watching her friend rhythmically shake her head from side to side.
"It's because I'm with you," Usagi smiled.
Rei sighed but blushed deeply realizing she could make her friend this happy after telling her the world was about to end and they would not be able to stop that from happening.
"Don't say such things. We have far more important things to consider. As soon as you are ready we should tell the others about my visions and decide on a plan," She reminded her guest.
"I actually think your initial idea was a good one," Usagi smiled. "I'm happy you told me what you have been struggling with alone for so long. I'm really happy you chose to tell me. That is a really healthy evolution."
"I told you before: stop pretending you're a therapist," Rei growled.
"Hihihi. Oh!" Usagi saw the clock. "It's getting late. I should get back to Mamoru-kun."
She got up and looked down at her friend.
"I'm glad Rei-chan. I want you to share all of your troubles with me, and I with you. But to answer your question: I think it's better to tell the others when we get back home."
Rei looked at her in disbelief.
"But... The reason I told you everything, is because we should begin to accept that we cannot fight this threat as we usually do and reorganize ourselves accordingly, sooner better than later," She protested.
Rei-chan could be such a scaredy cat sometimes. Of course, there was a great danger. But there always was. They defeated Death Phantom, they defeated the Soul Merchants, they defeated Sailor Galaxia. They were the defenders of earth and they would find a way to save humanity one way or another.
Usagi stopped at the door.
"Don't worry Rei-chan. I know you saw terrible things, and I was terrified by what you told me. But we will find a way. We always do. Just trust in Sailor Moon," She winked. "No matter how many enemies or how powerful, we will always find a way to protect the people of earth. Now calm down and try to get a good night's rest.
I wish you would let me spend the night with you..." Usagi smiled sadly and hung her head for a moment. "... but you still won't allow your own happiness... and mine," She whispered and looked up.
"I love you Rei-chan. I want you to be happy, so sleep peacefully and tomorrow we'll have fun together."
Usagi gently closed the door behind her, but Rei's mind was in turmoil.
She didn't get it! She didn't get it at all!
No, that's not true. She got it alright. But her God complex had taken over again because she couldn't accept it. Just as Rei had feared. This was a disaster! If Usagi was planning on leading them against the creatures Rei had seen in her vision they would all die! Rei had thought she had found the right balance between harshness and gentleness. She felt Usagi had realized the gravity of the situation while receiving the comfort she needed to accept what she had been told. The miko had used all her powers of conviction to convey the fatality of what was coming in the most tempered way she could imagine. But now it seems she had to try harder still.
"Usagi, you moron! You think you are saving me from worry? You just keep adding to them!"
Lying in her bed after Mamoru had gone to sleep Usagi suddenly found herself worrying. The way Rei had told what was coming rather than what she had told her had scared her more than she dared admit.
But she couldn't let something this horrible happen. Somehow they would fight it and prevail.
A cold feeling stabbed at her heart and she turned in her bed.
They would prevail. They would save everyone. As usual.
She shivered.
They would prevail.
Sailor Moon will save everyone!
She dreamed of being trapped in a bubble on an asteroid in another galaxy, watching people's souls being sucked from their bodies while her friends tried to get her back.
Mamoru held her as she woke up crying, wondering why the nightmares had come back.
"Remember to keep your promise," Ami threatened while walking hand in hand with her boyfriend towards Shukkeien garden where the others were waiting for them.
After the storm on Sunday and the rain yesterday the weather had cleared up and the sun was shining in all it's splendor. The rest of their trip seemed to be safe from the weather for now.
"I know," Ryo smiled. "I won't bother Usagi-chan and Rei-chan about what's happening between them."
"Don't lie to me," She squeezed his hand.
"What? I'm not lying."
"I can tell when you're lying. You've got that face. You're up to no good,"
"What face," He laughed. "I thought you loved my face?" Ryo smiled and leaned in for a kiss.
"I'll bite you," His girlfriend growled
Ryo moved away in playful shock at the look she gave him.
"I won't bother them about it. I promise," He grinned.
"You said you wouldn't bother Mamoru-kun about it, but you admitted to testing him."
"Yeah," Ryo paused. "I shouldn't have done that. The way he talked, it was weird. I don't know."
"What?" Ami curiously looked her lover in the eyes.
"Nothing. Just a feeling. You were right before. We don't know what's going on. Maybe we should trust them to resolve the matter in their own way. But you shouldn't bother them either," He reprimanded.
"I can't help it," Ami shrugged. They're my closest friends."
Ryo gave her a look.
"Yes, yes. I'll leave them to work it out in their own way," His brilliant girlfriend sighed.
They saw their friends waving at Kabukimon gate.
Ami noticed right away that Usagi nor Rei was looking in a very good mood.
They entered the garden and walked leisurely, following the winding path along the herbal garden, the ginkgo park, and the rice garden.
Rei walked briskly in front, obviously aiming to walk ahead of Usagi while Makoto and Minako walked side by side a short distance behind her. A morose Usagi had Ami and her boyfriend by her side.
The park had dealt very well with the rain and had luckily only sustained minor damage from the storm. They were able to enjoy it's wondrous beauty to the fullest.
Ami repeatedly tried to engage her friend with observations while Ryo stalked sneaky glances at Rei all the while.
He finally saw his chance when he realized she had stayed behind at the round flower gazing bench without Ami's noticing and skillfully lingered behind before disappearing from his lover's view.
"Hey Rei-chan," He smiled as he approached her.
"I thought I was clear when I told your girlfriend I didn't want to talk with you about what you know?"
"I'm sorry," Ryo sat down beside his female friend. "I think we both know what is going on between you and Usagi-chan could have important consequences, but after what Ami-chan told me I'll trust in your judgment, so I won't bother you about it."
The miko turned her head and glared at him.
"You know very well that's not what I'm talking about. I recognize the look in your eyes from the mirror. I know what you saw. Back off. This is my responsibility and I'm taking it," She warned.
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to put more pressure on you. I know you have enough on your mind already. I only want to help. I know how it feels to carry this burden."
"Our little clairvoyant self-help group," Rei smiled.
"I talked to Michiru-chan, but she didn't want to say much about what she had seen. I guess she didn't want to trouble me with things I hadn't," Ryo continued.
The blackette frowned and stared at the pond.
"She called before we left, I managed to convince her to keep her visions to herself for now," She explained.
"This can't wait. You have to tell the others."
"I thought you weren't going to pressure me?" Rei challenged.
"Those creatures are going to be here sooner than you think. You have to be prepared."
"I know that! I have to prepare Usagi before I tell the others. You think that is so easy after what Mesmerphistopheles did? After Setsuna sacrificed herself to stop Nebula Supreme? Usagi has a strong, beautiful heart, but in reality, she is very fragile and doesn't deal well with loss..."
"You haven't told her yet?" Ryo reacted in shock.
"I have... But she... You have to understand, after the mall..."
"I know," The young man softened, seeing the miserable expression his friend made.
They sighed and remembered what had happened, or in Ryo's case what he had been told."
"She still hasn't talked about it?" He gently inquired.
"People are going to die. A lot of people. And she has to lead us through it all. I... I don't know how I am going to get her to be able to deal with that," Rei sighed.
"Why do you have to do that?" Ryo frowned.
Rei turned her face to him.
"Because... I..."
"It's not your responsibility. Neither are the visions. You never contacted me," Her friend complained.
"I'm sorry," She sighed. "I was busy doing fire readings. This is why we wanted to create this understanding between us: For Michiru-chan and me it's important to communicate about these things, but it's important for you to have someone to talk to when you have a vision."
"You asked Michiru-chan to contact me. I don't blame you for not doing so yourself. I knew you would be busy doing fire-readings. What I wanted to talk to you about was to ask how I could help?"
"Like I said: The reason Michiru-chan and me decided to involve you in our 'Visionary Club' was so we could be of help to YOU," Rei turned obstinate again. "I appreciate your concern but you and Ami-chan work hard at your careers."
"So do you. And you help your grandfather and you have your obviously strong feelings for Usagi-chan to deal with. Not to mention you're her study coach, war councilor and everything in between! Let someone help you with this. I can do little things. Whatever. It's not a bother."
"Stay out of it Ryo-chan! This IS my responsibility. You are a civilian and civilians shouldn't be touched by war."
"We are always touched by war!"
"Not if I can help it!" The miko shouted back.
"You are as bad as Mamoru-kun," Ryo sighed in defeat.
"Thank you."
"That is not a compliment. Did you listen to anything I told you about my friend at university yesterday?"
"Here you are!" Ami grinned in annoyance with Usagi and their friends by her side.
The visionaries turned their heads at once.
"We assumed they had to use the restroom, but it seems they wanted to have a romantic moment together," The bluehead winked at Usagi.
Rei looked at her alarmed companion.
"He wasn't a bother," She said, getting up and walking towards her friends. "We were talking about his studies."
Ami tilted her head.
"You are a bad liar Rei-chan. Don't try to defend my boyfriend when I find him violating what we agreed on earlier."
Usagi thought the woman she loved was looking tired. Not that she was feeling any better. As she passed her by she tried to walk along and take her hand, but Rei coldly brushed it off and upped her pace.
These rejections were starting to really hurt her, for more than one reason. She gritted her teeth and followed her briskly walking friend with the others in tow.
"I'm sorry Ami," Ryo humbly pleaded. "I know you told me she doesn't want to pursue a relationship with Usagi-chan, but I wanted to clear some things up with her."
"Stop insulting me. I've known from before we got here that something else is going on. Tell me the truth," His girlfriend snapped.
"I'm sorry. I can't. I promised, sort of. Even though I hate it," The brown-haired young man winced.
"What is it?" Ami looked at her boyfriend with worry in her eyes. "A vision?"
"Rei-chan wants to talk it through with Usagi-chan before they tell the rest of you."
"Rei-chan," The blue-haired genius sighed. "You are my boyfriend though. I never liked that understanding between you, her and Michiru-chan. It's like a conspiracy against your lovers," She glared.
"I know," Ryo smiled sheepishly. "But I think it's actually beneficial to us. It's really helped me to feel more relaxed with that part of myself. And I agree with Rei-chan there might be a tactical advantage to having us reflect on our visions together so we can better understand what will happen before we tell the rest of you..."
"Us layman..." Ami gave her lover a mollified smirk.
"Well, yes," He smiled apologetically.
She playfully punched him.
"Oh look!" Minako exclaimed. "It's Koko-Kyo bridge.
The others looked ahead at the bridge Rei was standing on to watch her surroundings with Usagi in pursuit.
"Isn't there a tradition about Koko-Kyo that says if you walk over it with the person you love you will be together forever?" Rei and Usagi heard Makoto innocently ask.
The miko was annoyed to see the intrigued look on the face of her blonde friend and hurried to bar her way with a stern expression.
Usagi gritted her teeth.
"Move aside! Your Queen commands you!" She ordered. "Amiiii-chaan! Rei-chan won't let me walk over the bridge with her!"
"I know. I know," Their blue-haired friend sweated. "Please play nice, you two."
"Are you their mother?" Minako grimaced.
"You want to pass, my Queen? Bring all the knights you want. We could do with a little training," Rei grinned like a devil.
"You lack a knights humility. Let me pass!" The blonde furiously replied.
"You want to come across?! Then wait till I do!" The miko glowered.
"I will cross this bridge hand in hand with you!" Usagi growled.
She braced herself and approached the blackette who grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her back.
"Let it go!" Rei yelled.
"No! Stop being so stubborn!" Usagi returned, grabbing Rei's shoulders in turn.
"You stop being stubborn!"
They pushed against each other like a pair of wrestlers.
"Come on you two. We all want to cross," Makoto begged.
"It's not even this bridge that tradition is about," Ryo informed his girlfriend.
"I don't care. She should let me cross with her!" Usagi wailed.
In her rage, Rei took her friend into a choking headlock which the blonde futilely tried to get out of by limply pulling on her friend's arms.
"When are you going to take this seriously?!" The miko screamed.
"Rei-chan, please let her go," Their friends sighed, coming to the rescue.
"Come on Rei-chan." "Her face is turning blue."
The blackette finally let go and Usagi croaked and spluttered in Makoto's arms.
"Are you guys actually regressing in your relationship?" The tall brunette glared.
"It's all Rei-chan's fault. She keeps rejecting me even though she really wants us to cross that bridge together herself!" Usagi stuck out her tongue.
"Why, you little!"
Rei furiously went for her friend's neck. Makoto got in between them just in time to save the blonde from strangulation.
"Fine. Come over the bridge with me," The miko fumed. "For all the good it'll do you. On one condition! you'll have to answer three questions first."
"Ask what you want. I'm not afraid," Usagi stood defiantly with her arms crossed.
"I'll start with a question even you can answer. What is your name?"
"Tsukino Usagi," The blonde grimaced.
"What is your favorite color?"
"Red," Usagi grinned.
"Fine. What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?" Rei smirked.
"What do you mean? An African or European swallow?"
"I don't know. A European swallow," A confused Rei answered.
"11 meters per second."
Everybody looked confounded.
"That... That's correct," The miko stared.
Usagi smiled and got on the bridge, taking her friend's hand.
"Shall we?"
Rei hung her head and allowed herself to be led over.
"How do you know so much about swallows anyway?" She asked.
"Well, you have to know these things when you're going to be Queen, you know."
After further enjoying the beauty of Shukkeien garden and taking lunch together nearby, they walked through the grounds of Hiroshima castle.
Having explored the faithfully reconstructed Ninomaru at leisure they went to the main tower.
"I hope the museum will be interesting," Ami said.
"I read we can take pictures of each other wearing Samurai armor," Makoto smiled at Minako. "That should be good for some laughs."
"Hello. Who are you?!" A voice greeted them from the windows above the entrance.
Usagi looked up and saw two boys looking down on them.
"I am Tsukino Usagi and these are my knights."
Rei raised an eyebrow.
"Aren't you getting a bit carried away with this knight thing?" She asked.
"We want to visit the castle," Usagi continued, ignoring her.
"You can't. This castle belongs to my master, the great general Heon Woo Noh."
"I thought everyone could visit? Can't we come up?"
"Of course not! You're all Japanese. You want to reclaim Hiroshima castle for yourselves. We conquered it fair and square."
"Why don't we just go in?" Ryo asked his girlfriend.
"They're cute aren't they?" Usagi grinned. Just wait a bit, this is fun. I'm good with kids."
"This IS going to be fun," Rei smirked and crossed her arms.
"Now listen here, you boys..." Her beloved tried.
"I don't wanna talk to you no more, you empty-headed animal food-trough wiper! Go away!"
"What?! Maybe we should just get up there and teach you some manners!"
"You don't frighten us, you ugly noodle head!"
"This is your last chance!" The Queen yelled. "Let us in at once or I'll..."
"Let her have it!"
The others jumped aside as Usagi got pelted with nuts and berries.
"People have to stop throwing food at me!" She screamed.
Suddenly she was pulled into the castle's entrance and looked wide-eyed at her black haired friend who stood and smiled in front of her while letting go of her wrist.
"You saved me," Usagi muttered after a few moments.
Rei's initially amused grin turned to a blush. She turned around suddenly and followed their friends inside without a word.
Usagi smiled and joined them, enjoying the sights of the various artifacts and reading the explanations.
Ami and Ryo thoroughly enjoyed the reconstructions of samurai and civilian homes inside while Makoto and Minako had a blast dressing up on the third floor.
Usagi had lost track of Rei after that, but she found her lingering on the observation platform of the fifth floor after the others had left to get some souvenirs.
"Almost everything you can see around you is new. There was a time when there was nothing to see but death and destruction all around us," The miko informed her as she came near.
"Yes," She replied, following the miko's gaze across the buildings and people. "But people rebuilt everything. They picked up their lives again and made this city more beautiful than ever."
Rei smiled, but a few moments later her gaze grew dark again.
"And they will again. In many, many hundreds of years from now. But what is going to happen can't be stopped Usagi," She sighed. "I'm sorry, but you know what I told you."
"We will stop it Rei! We will find a way! I know what you saw, but you know we always manage to save the world from whatever threat we face," Her friend maintained doggedly.
"I know. I'm sorry... I know how much it hurts, but we are going to have to confront..."
"Why don't you confront your feelings for me?!" Usagi angrily exclaimed.
"Because they aren't important. What's important is the future we have to preserve."
"What you want is not important?!"
Rei looked at her friend and saw the tears in her eyes.
"What I want isn't important?!" The blonde yelled.
Usagi's heart revolted at the sadness in her friend's expression.
"Millions of people are going to die. So no. What we feel doesn't matter. We have a duty to perform. You have to become the Queen of Crystal Tokyo and together we have to protect the survivors."
Usagi was furious now. She loved and hated this part of Rei so much. This heroism you never expect to come across outside of epic romantic tales. But right now it only angered her beyond reason.
"Duty!"
Rei watched in surprise at her friend's outburst while bystanders discretely cleared the area around them.
"You and Mamoru-kun! Why do you always have to do what is right?! Why do you always have to act responsibly?! Why can't you live for yourselves?! Why can't you do what YOU want?!"
Usagi heaved a shuddering breath.
"You are just as important as anybody!" She continued. "And YOU are most important to ME!"
She couldn't hold it anymore and ran off.
Downstairs. To the lavatory. To a place, she could give vent to the pain and frustration inside of her.
Her friend still stood motionless on the platform. Silent tears running down her cheek. Guilt piercing her heart. Gradually her mind drifted off, pondering about Usagi's words.
"Why can't you do what you want?!"
Rei remembered the day that question could have changed her life. The day her mother came to visit the shrine. Rei was ten. She was dressed in her small Miko dress, guiding her mother along the Shrine and its grounds.
"You seem to know your way around very well," The woman smiled.
"Yes, it's beautiful here."
"Has grandpa been taking good care of you?"
"Yes. Grandpa is very good to me," Rei answered.
She got on tiptoes and whispered: "He's a bit strange sometimes."
Her mother laughed aloud. She always laughed loud and clear, like a bell.
"Yes. Father has his ways. But like all harmless old men, we should humor him when possible."
"Yes," Rei chuckled.
The woman in front of her gave her a penetrating look.
"You are growing into a fine young woman Rei. How is school?"
"Good. The teachers are kind and helpful. The other girls are a bit of a handful, but I got them to understand I need my personal space once in a while."
That made her mother laugh again.
"Daddy's girl. Nobody knows the trick of effortlessly getting people to love them like a Hino."
Then she looked serious again.
"Rei. You have to tell us if you are unhappy here. You seem to be doing well. We are happy about that and we have the time to pursue our careers... This is our solution, Rei. It seems to be a good one for all of us. But if you are unhappy here you have to tell us. We want to know. So Rei-chan, what do you want?"
They had never asked her before.
She had thought about it, but in the grand scheme of things, what she wanted didn't seem all that important. Her parents were free to excel in their careers and that was important. Her grandpa had someone to help him in the shrine and that was important.
So she agreed with her parents. She wanted to stay with grandpa because it was the right thing to do.
If Usagi and Rei's spirits were deflated, an afternoon going trough Hondori managed to lift them to at least normal levels.
While Usagi, Ryo, and Ami went to the bookstores and cake shops the other three visited the fashion stores.
Makoto had fun seeing Minako try to convince the more economic Rei to buy this or that dress in the hope of getting to loan it herself later on, but she and her blonde friend bought plenty of outfits for themselves.
In the evening they met up with Mamoru to have some Okonomiyaki together.
"You really let go didn't you?" He smiled as he saw the shopping bags they had with them.
Minako looked surprised.
"You think? I tried to moderate myself though," She muttered with a regretful look at her bags.
"You even tried to get me to buy some dresses you liked Mina-chan."
"Usagi is right," Rei admonished. "You were terrible.
"Aw. I just can't get used to not being an idol anymore. All the wonderful clothes I got to wear for free," Minako sighed with a dreamy gaze.
"As a teacher, you'll have to be sober and set a good example anyway. And you'll income will be considerably lower too," Ami smiled. "So you better get used to moderating yourself."
"You guys are too harsh."
"There, there," Makoto patted her slumping friend on the back. "I'm sure you saved enough to get yourself something nice every now and then."
"I can always try to rekindle my career!" Minako fired up.
"Don't be ridiculous!" "Whoever heard of a teacher turned idol!" Rei and Makoto laughed on either side of her.
"Pfft," Usagi breathed, visibly struggling to find room for her Okonomiyaki.
"I know Minako-chan wasn't the only glutton," Mamoru deadpanned after taking a sip of his drink. "How much did you eat before?"
Ami giggled.
"We tried to reign her in, but you know how she gets," Ryo quipped.
"You really are incorrigible. What am I going to do with you?" The blonde's boyfriend inquired.
"I don't care. I'm going to finish this. It's too good."
"You already had one earlier," Ami laughed.
"That's true," Usagi brought her index fingers together. "But this one is different."
"They're all different!" Makoto laughed while the rest of them joined in.
Everyone except for Rei, Usagi realized. She turned to her left and blushed at the amused smile her friend was wearing.
"I just want you to have a good time," The miko whispered.
Usagi sat frozen for a moment while the laughter around her died down.
Then the sensation of Rei's hand squeezing her own under the table gave her a jolt that nearly sent Mamoru's drink over the table, causing another burst of laughter from her friends.
"I'm so tired. I'm going straight to bed," Rei said after she came back from bathing.
"Well, it's late enough anyway. I'll get over to Ryo's place. I'm curious what he has in store for me after his promises of a night of romance and debauchery," Ami giggled at her smiling friend.
She put her book aside and leaned over the back of the sofa she was sitting in. The sun had almost completely disappeared behind the skyline to her right.
"I was glad to see you and Usagi-chan enjoy yourselves after the castle. Are you feeling better?" She asked.
Rei shrugged.
"It was fun. Especially at dinner, all of us together. That was nice," She smiled.
"Yeah. It's been a while," Ami agreed.
The miko started walking towards the bed-chamber again.
"Rei-chan?"
She stopped and turned. Ami gave her a knowing, concerned look.
"I don't like you keeping things to yourself. I know you, Ryo-chan and Michiru-chan are a comfort to each other when it comes to these things, and I understand your reasoning behind wanting to work out what you see before you talk to the rest of us about it. But..."
"When it comes to the battlefield I'm less effective than the rest of you. So I try to pull my weight where I can contribute," The blackette simply stated.
"I understand that, but that's not at all how the rest of us feel. Your dedication more than makes up for your lack of power. Nobody wants you to burden yourself like that."
"It's not a burden. It's a privilege. I have powers that others don't have. So I use them in their aid."
Ami read the determined look of her roommate and knew further discussion would be futile.
"I know. Just... Don't push yourself, please," She sighed.
"Thank you, Ami-chan. Goodnight," Rei smiled.
"Goodnight," The bluehead half turned around before she remembered something.
"Oh. There's a present for you in the bed. Just something to help you sleep since you prefer to sleep alone," Ami mysteriously smiled.
Rei flicked on the light and closed the door of the bedroom.
On her pillow was a gift-wrapped something about the size of a cat.
For the flicker of a second, she entertained the possibility of Usagi having wrapped up Luna for a prank, before cautiously unpacking.
Inside was an Eternal Sailor Moon plushie.
Rei smiled and imagined all the Sailor Moon plushies she had collected for herself. Some of them given as presents by Ami, Minako or Makoto.
"That'll be my new favorite plushie from now on."
She saw a little note was left inside the gift paper.
"Now go to sleep and dream of nice things. Sailor Moon will always protect you," She read.
Rei got in bed and cuddled Sailor Moon, allowing herself to be happy being loved back by the bravest, most beautiful, most loving woman in the world.
Sailor Uranus screamed in agony as the gigantic creatures pounded her.
"This is not a dream."
Sailor Neptune was beside herself and relentlessly attacked the energy-field that kept her from intervening in the murder of her lover.
"I am using you as a receiver because of your powers."
The two tall cloaked birdlike creatures standing at the edge of the energy-field observed her desperation with glee.
"You are receiving this broadcast in order to alter the events you are seeing."
Sailor Jupiter pulled on Neptune's arm, trying to tell her something. Only after the body inside the energy-field stopped moving did she turn around to see that where completely surrounded.
"It is your duty to stay alive!"
"Shht," Mamoru held the weeping woman he wasn't in love with anymore.
"It wasn't your fault. You did all you could."
As usual, when she had the nightmare it would take Usagi near an hour to get back to sleep.
Mamoru cursed Alpha-Faust and Mesmerphistopeles with all his heart. He wished Rei and Usagi would tell him the truth. Somehow he had the feeling Usagi would be spared the return of her nightmares if she could sleep with the woman she loved.
Imaginary end credits = Raj Band - Clouds across the moon