A/N: Okay, just the epilogue now.

Enjoy.

The Night Sky

Chapter 9

They were on their way back from the arcade when they saw a car come off the bridge. And they weren't the only ones; many a pedestrian had stopped and stared. Some were whispering anxiously. A few had phones already by their ear. Some were screaming. Several mothers were covering their children's eyes.

Usagi's hand clutched her locket. Minako looked at her, and they both nodded and hurriedly darted for cover.

'Venus Crystal Power! Make-up!'

'Moon Eternal Power! Make-up!'

'Venus Love Me Chain!' Venus cried, flipping her attack up and through the bridge before wrapping it around the falling car. The weight pulled her right up to the railing, but the foresight in securing her chain make sure, at least, the car wouldn't smash into the ground.

Still, if it didn't slow down, her chain would rip right through.

'Now Sailor Moon!'

Usagi had her tiara ready. 'Moon Tiara Magic!' she cried, spinning it and sending it forth. She didn't aim for the car, but rather sent its course under it. The formed disk had after all a lot of inherent power, and all the studying the others (mostly Ami) made her do had paid off in more than just the entrance exam.

The energy wasn't strong enough to stop the car in mid-air, but it slowed down enough for Minako to be able to lower it down safely. Still, it took a little more energy than they had managed to collect past Galaxia's defeat, so once they regrouped and took the thanks of the family inside, they were rather tired.

Sailor Venus shook her head and laughed. 'Now it's a duo of Sailor V,' she commented, remembering her days as a lone scout. 'I suppose there's still a job for us Senshi to do after all, even if the Sailor Wars have finished.'

'Yeah, I guess so.' And Sailor Moon grinned. 'You know, part of me thought I'd never be in this form again.'

She paused, fitting the tiara back into her hair. 'I think I'm going to tell my parents,' she said suddenly. 'They deserve to know, and I don't like keeping secrets from them.'

And one day, she could tell Naru too.

'Okay then.' Minako looked around; people were still milling about, although the two girls were in a quieter corner. 'I'm heading home then. Artemis and Luna are probably back from their date.'

'They're staying with you?' Usagi asked, surprised. Luna hadn't informed her.

'Nah.' Venus grinned cheekily. 'I think it's more Luna spotted you and Mamoru-kun.'

'Doing what?' Usagi asked innocently.

Minako shook her head. Sometimes Usagi was seriously dense. 'Never mind.'

'I'm home,' Usagi, still in her Senshi form, called as she unlocked the front door.

'Welcome back Usagi,' her mother said from the kitchen. 'You just missed your frie –'

She stopped short, staring at the teenager who stood on the front mat. 'S-sailor Moon?' she gaped, looking at the sailor fuku outfit, the tiara, the wings – and the familiar face she had often failed to regonise.

Shingo poked his head around the door of the living room, having heard his mother. 'What - ?' he began eagerly, before staring at his sister.

'Hey Shingo,' Usagi said, deciding it wasn't really the time to be teasing her little brother. 'Well, I figured it was time my family knew the truth.'

Ikuko shook her head as though water was stuck in it. 'You're –' she began, before shaking her head again. 'I never realised, though I really should have known.' She sounded in awe, and proud.

Shingo had the opposite reaction. 'You can't be,' he cried. 'Sailor Moon's cool – and a hero – and – and – ' The last bit came out almost explosively. 'She's not a crybaby like you!'

'Shingo,' his mother scolded, but Shingo was gone, upstairs to his room.

Ikuko sighed. 'Don't mind him,' she said, noting her daughter's frown. 'You gave us quite a shock, and I'm sure he'll come around. He loves both his sister and Sailor Moon after all.'

'I suppose I just shattered his mental image,' Usagi said, reverting her transformation now that her mother and brother had seen. Her father wouldn't be home for a while yet, so she would have to wait to tell him.

Or perhaps her mother would. Part of her mind was amused at how her brother's reaction mimicked her own in regards to Tuxedo Kamen's unmasking.

'Perhaps you should explain everything,' Ikuko said, as they stood awkwardly in the hall. 'I'm sure there must be some reason you chose to reveal this now.'

'Well,' Usagi rubbed the back of her hair. 'It's a very long story, starting with Luna…'

'That stray cat you found last year?'

'Yep. And well, you see…she can talk.'

'She can what?'

It was certainly going to be a long story.

'So, all this time…' Ikuko shook his head. 'You know, most mothers don't like their daughters leaving home, but still I never imagined something like this even though I've always known your heart's bigger than any other person I know.'

Usagi leaned into her mother's warm embrace. 'It was pretty crazy,' she admitted. 'But now I can't imagine anything else. You wouldn't believe how it felt thinking I might never get to save people again…although I could do without all the fighting evil stuff.'

'I can see why,' her mother chuckled, eyes a little watery. 'But to think you've been putting yourself in danger all this time, and we had no idea. And the people you've saved…including us more than once…'

It seemed some of her own memories had come back in the process of the tale. Memories that had been locked away, like the monster attacking on their anniversary, or the starving young man who had turned on her and snatching something from inside her heart.

'I've always been proud of you, you know that? Even if I scold you about your grades or cut your allowance or make you do extra chores…' She felt a little guilty, knowing some of those instances had been because of Senshi duties and this unavoidable.

Usagi smiled. 'Thank you 'kaa'san.'

'And here.' Ikuko handed over the ring and chain. 'I picked it up this morning, by that portrait of the two of you.'

'Ah.' Usagi took it, clasping the chain, with ring safely with, around her neck without hesitation. 'I've been missing it.'

Ikuko nodded; she had been right after all. 'Now, tell me about Chibiusa.'

'Huh? Why her?'

'Well, I would like to know what my future granddaughter is like.'

Usagi knocked lightly on her brother's door.

'Go away,' came the immediate answer.

'Oh come now.' She put her free hand on her hip; the other was carrying the plate of cookies that Mamoru and their mother had baked. There was a fair number left over after Shingo's friends had left. 'Don't be a baby.'

'I'm not a baby,' the other snapped.

'Oh yes you are,' Usagi sung, knowing it would rile her brother up. Now that she thought about it, they hadn't bantered in quite some time. To be honest, she missed it.

Shingo threw open his door, then blinked at the plate of cookies thrust at him.

'Peace offering,' Usagi explained.

'Fine,' Shingo scowled, though he wasn't really mad. 'Get on in.'

He shut the door afterwards, throwing himself on the bed with a cookie. The doll his friend had made for him was on the pillow too, the spitting image of Sailor Moon in one of her older outfits. 'I thought only your hair looked like Sailor Moon,' he confessed after a moment of munching from his sister as he stared at his cookie. 'Remember, I teased you about pretending to be like her.'

'I almost burst then,' Usagi said, remembering.

'Yeah, I thought it was pretty funny.' He looked a little embarrassed. 'You've saved my life. And 'kaa-san and 'tou-san too. And a lot of my friends.' He paused. 'How do you do it?'

Usagi groaned. 'Tell me you don't want to hear the whole story?'

'Well…maybe the summarised version for now,' Shingo assented.

'It began with a few kids picking on Luna…'

'Those bullies,' Shingo said immediately. He really liked his sister's odd cat.

'So I yelled at them.'

'Did you cry?'

'Hey?' A pause. 'Well, I was about to…' she said sheepishly. 'But no more interrupting, or you won't get another word.'

'Alright,' Shingo meekly agreed, and listened to her tale.

'I didn't think of you like that,' he admitted finally. 'I mean, I know you've done some nice things for me. Taking the blame even though you know I was only trying to get you into trouble. Picking me up from swimming every other week. Letting me hang out with your friends. But I really had this other image of Sailor Moon, you know?'

'Hey,' Usagi said suddenly, remembering. 'Did I ever tell you about how Mamo-chan and I first met?'

'Mamo-chan?' Shingo repeated, before grimacing at the "lovey-dovey" nickname. 'Are you and him…dating?'

'Don't talk until you've tried it otouto,' Usagi grinned. 'And if I recall, you have a very long crush on a certain someone.'

'Uh, well, about your friend –'

Usagi rolled her eyes. 'Not Ami-chan,' she clarified, staring at the Sailor Moon doll.

'Oh – ' He followed her gaze. 'Oh,' he repeated, going a little red, before mumbling. 'I do not have a crush on her.'

'Your face tells otherwise.'

Shingo hid it in his hands.

'Come on,' Usagi said. 'It's fine. You should try talking to Minako-chan; she'll help you get something really pretty. Or maybe ask Mamo-chan for one of his Tuxedo Kamen dolls, like the one he gave Chibiusa.'

'I think this is going to take a little getting used to,' Shingo sighed, looking at the doll he had been giving by his – admittedly – love interest.

Usagi smiled at him. 'Hey, I'm cool now, aren't I?'

Shingo smiled back. 'Yeah,' he agreed. 'You're cool.'

'Good.' She ruffled his hair, messing it up. 'And don't you forget it.' She stood up, finishing her cookie. 'Well, I'm off now.'

'Off where?' Shingo asked.

'Just going to say goodbye to a few friends. You won't know them.'

That was a bit of a fib, as everyone knew the Starlights as pop idols. Still, as they were about to vanish from the world, it was probably better if she left that part of the story out of this particular explanation. He would just forget anyway.

The roof was a little windy, but not particularly cold and the Senshi stood in a huddled group. The Starlights, and their long-sought princess, though only the latter was in her planetary attire. The Earth's guardians were also in civilian clothing, though Michiru carried her mirror as always and Haruka her sword.

Usagi looked at Seiya; he looked away for a moment, then turned back. 'I guess this is it,' he said, a little hurriedly as though eager to be gone.

'I wish you'd stay a little more,' Ami said, stepping forward a little. 'It seems we barely got to know you.'

'We have our own world to return to,' Taiki said in his usual quiet manner. 'Galaxia all but destroyed it, but now we have the chance to rebuild and we must take it.'

Ami nodded, and Minako stepped forward. 'We'll miss you,' she said. 'Come visit?'

Yaten shrugged. 'That's not an easy thing to do.' He smiled suddenly at the crestfallen faces. 'We'll visit,' he promised, before nudging Seiya. 'Right?'

'Yeah,' Seiya agreed, sounding as though he was thinking of something else.

Kakyuu smiled at him, knowing well what he was thinking. 'Come,' she said gently, and cutting through the chatter that was bound to continue, 'it's time to go.'

The Starlights went to her, and for a moment their backs were illuminated in the light of the moon. Then they turned, and their human disguises fell away, and it was Sailor Star Fight, Star Healer, and Star Maker looking back at them.

Seiya's eyes searched out and found Mamoru's, and in that moment, the words they had never exchanged passed across. Their doubt. Their insecurity. Their jealousy. And finally…their security.

'Take care of her,' Star Fighter said simply, turning away again.

'Of course,' Mamoru said in reply, and then the four they had come to say their farewells to were gone, vanished in a stream of light into the sky.

'Will we see them again?' Hotoru, the youngest of them, asked, looking at her guardians.

'I think we will,' Setsuna replied.

Usagi collapsed on her bed the moment she returned home, mumbling something incoherent to both parents who were in the living room with a pot of tea. The day had been long, and she was tired, and surely anything else could wait until morning.

Like homework. She groaned when she realised she hadn't even touched it, before chuckling as she realised how quickly she'd fallen back into her old habits. She hadn't done anything for the drawing club either, though that was far less important. On top of her priority list was changing into her pyjamas, brushing her hair, and getting into bed.

In the end, she skipped the second step. Her hair couldn't be worse than yesterday's after all. But just as she was settling into her sheets, there was a soft knock on the door.

'Usagi?'

It was her father.

'Come in,' she yawned.

He came, tiptoeing in case her room was a mess. It wasn't, but one could never be too careful.

'Your mother told me everything,' he whispered, seeing his daughter was tired and wanted rest. 'And I'm a lot of things I guess, but all that can wait until tomorrow.' He stroked her hair like he used to do when she was a child, and she shuffled over a little closer. 'I'm disappointed,' he explained, 'that you didn't tell us also sooner, but I think I understand, or will understand, and I'm also sad to see my lovely young daughter growing up and going away from home, but I'm also…proud.'

Usagi smiled tiredly. 'Thanks 'tou-san,' she said, relieved. 'I'm happy now.'