AN: Thanks for the reviews guys! Enjoy this new chapter :)
She woke up in the dark. 'Can this be?' Getting extremely excited, Usagi stood up and looked around. 'It's just like where I found Seiya. But this time it feels… slightly different.' She called out her love's name into the dark void, hoping to hear his voice in response.
It was like what happened every night… hoping but never receiving.
Until now… "Odango?"
Her head whipped towards the sound and her face brightened at the sight of the one she longed for. Cerulean eyes sparkled happily as it met midnight blue eyes that twinkled at the sight of her, both tearing up. Without hesitation, she ran into his welcoming arms and buried herself as deep as she could into his chest.
"I missed you so much." Both sobbed out at the same time, causing them to chuckle.
"How did we get here?" Seiya pulled away only enough so that he could see his wife's beautiful face. Though he was worried about the changes he saw, he didn't question it when he felt the happiness radiating from her.
"I don't know. I've been wishing to come back here all year. We're here now, but it feels different from before. Different… yet… familiar." Her face scrunched up as she processed everything and her hand moved unconsciously from Seiya's waist to her... Usagi shook her head as she snapped out of her thoughts. "Anyways, it doesn't matter. I'm here with you now but we don't have long. Seiya I love you so much. I still love you!" Usagi rambled out all her feelings, "I never realized what true love really felt like, not even when I was with Mamoru. I was just feeling what Serenity felt. But now I know the one I love is you, Seiya Kou. I'm getting married tomorrow but you're the one I want to be with. My life is nothing without you."
Her words had brought tears to his eyes as he caressed her face. Looking deeply into her determined eyes, he whispered, "I love you too Odango. I think about you every minute of everyday Mrs. Kou." He smirked weakly but suddenly turned his head, "Did you hear that?"
But just at that moment, Usagi was distracted as well. She heard something that Seiya hadn't.
RING RING
"What was that?" She returned her gaze to Seiya's face. "Seiya…?"
He frowned to concentrate on the sound he heard, "Someone's calling for me."
"OI FIGHTER! GET UP NOW!"
"That voice…" Seiya looked at Usagi again – both of them were sad knowing that they were about to lose each other all over again. "Odango, we have to leave now." He choked on his tears but willed himself to continue, "I know Mamoru-san will take care of you. He loves you." He knew she didn't love Mamoru and it was killing him to know she would be in the arms of another, but at least Seiya would know she would be safe – Seiya knew Mamoru would continue to protect her.
But Usagi merely shook her head violently as she cried into his chest. "I don't want to leave!" But she flinched as she heard ringing again. She tried to ignore it.
"FIGHTER! Wake up otherwise you won't get there in time!"
"Goodbye my Odango." Seiya started to fade as he held her, "My love… my light."
"Seiya!" She bawled loudly as he disappeared, leaving her alone in the darkness. Usagi hoped to remain in the dark void, clinging to the hope that he would return. She heard the ringing again and she too… faded back to reality.
Usagi was notified to meet everyone at the shrine, much to her reluctance. For one thing, it woke her up from the one place and the one person she longed for. But she also didn't want to be lectured about destiny and about her outburst from last night… Usagi only went because she felt she owed it to Mamoru, the one who had called her.
"Yes?" She saw that everyone was in the room already – no one had left last night. All eyes were on her as she entered. Usagi was not in a good mood... she didn't bother with greetings and continued to stand by the door, waiting for an answer as to why she was here.
"Usak- Usagi," Mamoru realized from last night that she was uncomfortable with that name, "we came up with a proposal."
"For what?" She spotted Haruka and assumed that the wind senshi told them about their conversation. She sighed and smiled as wide as she could stretch her lips, "Shouldn't you guys be happy that I'm giving you freedom? I thought you would appreciate it."
"Usagi listen to me!" Mamoru raised his voice slightly and cleared his throat when he saw her fake smile drop, "I thought we could co-rule instead of getting married. I know you don't love me anymore so I don't want to force you into a marriage."
She looked blankly at him, "Thank you Mamoru-san, but we need an heir." She sighed again. Thinking about Seiya's words, she softened her tone. "I do appreciate that you thought of an alternative solution but nothing will change. I don't mind getting married…I have accepted it as a duty." She heard what she said and frowned, knowing that it had hurt his feelings – she just told him that he meant nothing more than duty to her. Usagi felt horrible since Mamoru was nothing but kind to her. She smiled briefly, "Mamoru-san, I may come to love you again." Usagi knew it wasn't true – she could never love him the same way again, but it was what everyone wanted to hear and what Seiya had asked of her.
He saw right through her act, "But…"
"Chibi-Usa needs to be born." She couldn't help but start to resent her future child. It was always because of her that Usagi was forced to do things she didn't want to – Chibi-Usa was always such a brat and only sweet-talked Usagi when she needed something. 'Would things have been different if we never met her?' Usagi's thoughts drifted to her other child and she sighed, 'Hikaru was the perfect child. He was never obnoxious or disrespectful and the boy was extremely charming… just like his father.' Usagi clutched her hands over her chest as she clung desperately to the warmth that started to grow in her heart – Hikaru had always brought a sense of joy and pride to Usagi. Unlike Chibi-Usa, Usagi could never stay mad at him, if he had ever even gotten in trouble. For a moment, Usagi wondered if she loved Hikaru more than Chibi-Usa. 'Hikaru… what I'd give anything to see you one more time. We never had that dinner together before we left.' She lowered her head to hide the tears that began to form in her eyes.
Usagi felt soft hands brush her cheeks and she lifted her head to face a pair of watery purple eyes. "Usagi-san?" Hotaru wanted to comfort her and she wasn't afraid if anyone chastised her for what she was about to say, "Chibi-Usa-chan would want you to be happy. She would want you to follow your heart and believe in yourself… whichever path you choose, she will understand." Hotaru sniffled and closed her eyes as she rested her forehead against Usagi's forehead. "I believe in you Usagi. Our future will be fine as long as we have your bright shine to guide us. You are our light of hope. Don't let the light fade away." The young girl smiled lightly as Usagi wrapped her arms around her. Hotaru rested her hands on Usagi's back, running it down the golden hair that flowed freely around them. She whispered quietly so that only Usagi could hear her, "I miss your warm light."
"Small Lady is the official heir to the throne of the Silver Millennium." Setsuna looked sternly at the two girls as she finally spoke up. She couldn't bear the fact that they were so willing to sacrifice Chibi-Usa's life. "We cannot risk the future of our Solar System." Hotaru turned her head sharply and glared at the older woman. It was extremely rare that Setsuna and Hotaru disagreed, but the look exchanged between them was clear – neither one of them were going change their opinion.
"Setsuna-san is right Usagi-chan," Ami spoke softly as she eyed everyone carefully, "Crystal Tokyo is the path for the most peaceful future. And we need Chibi-Usa chan." Ami frowned slightly as something crossed her mind. 'Peace is worth my happiness. Usagi-chan needs to understand that… but what is peace without happiness?' It was as if she felt something that she had long forgotten, but it wasn't strong enough for her to remember what it is… it had been so long since she had felt it.
"No Usagi-san," Mako frowned in annoyance – she couldn't believe they always tried to make Usagi feel guilty about Chibi-Usa, "you should be happy. No one should be forcing you to do anything you don't want to do. You should fight for your own destiny, not for the one forced upon you."
"She's Neo Queen Serenity! Protecting Earth comes first!" Rei slammed her fists on the table, "We all had to make sacrifices for the sake of peace… that's what being a soldier is!" She started to shake in anger, "We are all soldiers. We fought together, died together, and survived together. And I can't believe you could just dismiss us like this…" Rei was still angry from what Haruka had told them last night.
Michiru caught Rei's eye as the fire senshi glanced over, hoping to gain some support from the Outer senshi. But to her disappointment, Michiru merely shook her head silently. She chose not to voice her opinion since she was conflicted… the wretched cries of Usagi and Seiya on their final night together rang through her head but she also couldn't forget her duty as a senshi as well. Her fingers were still interlocked with Haruka's, although the wind senshi hadn't noticed. In fact, it seemed as if Haruka didn't notice any of the discussion around her… she just felt numb. After she told the others what Usagi had told her, Haruka stared idly at the ceiling without uttering another word. It broke her heart that the Princess she loves and would die to protect could no longer consider her a friend. 'Am I doing the right thing? What am I fighting for? Why am I fighting so hard for…for… for what?' The thought ran through her head over and over again.
During all this, Hotaru had sat back down, leaving Usagi to continue standing by the door. She simply stared at everyone as they spoke. When everyone was quiet once again, Usagi slowly turned to face everyone and she saw it… she saw pain etched on everyone's faces – pain she had caused them. Pain from her bitter attitude, pain from the strained friendships, pain from the conflict between dreams and duty… 'all because of my love for Seiya.' Usagi stood bewildered as she realized how destructive her love had become. Her eyes landed on Mamoru, who bit his lip and avoided her gaze. "I'm sorry." Defeated, Usagi dropped her arms to her side and hung her head, "I will fulfil my duty." She whispered quietly to the floor as tears poured from eyes…
Mamoru was disappointed with her answer. But then again, he realized the toll this year had taken on Usagi – he understood that she had lost hope and that it was no use fighting destiny, just as he too had stopped fighting it long ago. 'I guess this is it then Usako… If this is what you've decided.'
"Usagi-chan…" Mina looked worried at her friend.
It was as if Usagi didn't hear her, "I will see you tomorrow at the wedding." She turned around and ran. For the rest of the day – the last day she was free from her duty – Usagi walked aimlessly around town trying to forget the future that was going to happen starting tomorrow.
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