Author's note: Please, do leave your reviews. Let me know what you think about this chapter and I'll change anything that you think doesn't work. I'm trying to bare in mind comments I've had about the story being dragged out too long when the pace is all wrong so do let me know how that is going. I look forward to hearing from you! I wasn't sure how I felt about this chapter.
Chapter 9
Usagi stood at Rei's bedside and took up her hand in her own. She looked across the room at her sleeping grandpa who over time was regaining a healthier colour in his skin. She smiled sadly. She felt Rei shift in her sleep and looked down to see Rei's eyelids fluttering as if she was trapped in another world. Rei mumbled and squeezed Usagi's hand in sleep before shifting to fall into a deeper slumber. Usagi sighed, resting Rei's hand back gently on the top of her snow-white bed sheets. She left the room and entered the one next door to find Kunzite sitting at Minako's bedside, his head resting on the bed at her side. Silently she turned away and came back to the waiting room where she found everyone crowded there, except for Jadeite. She sat down at the vacant seat next to Mamoru and looked around at the sea of faces all wearing various expressions.
"How are they?" Makoto whispered.
Usagi cleared her throat. "Sleeping, but otherwise, they'll be okay."
"What was that all about?" Nephrite asked, squeezing Makoto's side, frowning.
"I'm not sure how to answer that," Usagi murmured.
"Well, perhaps we could start with Ami-san," Nephrite said, rounding on her, causing Zoicite's eyes to flash in warning. "After all, she was the one who went all sea monster on us, blowing water out of the bag."
"It was a bottle," Ami retorted.
"Not the point," he snapped. "What was this all about? And why did you know about it?" Nephrite pointed at Zoicite.
"Of course, I knew about it! She's my girlfriend. And FYI, when you saw me that day in the park, I was trying to deal with it and I had no idea how," Zoicite snapped. "It was you who reminded me that I can't turn my back on the people I love, even . I found out after that that Ami-chan didn't understand it either. It happened to her and it was something she had no control or say over."
"Wait a second," Makoto piped up. "Usagi-chan, you told me to wait when I wanted to help Rei-chan. Did you know about this…" she hesitated to search for a word, "problem?"
All eyes turned to Usagi. She looked up at Mamoru helplessly and he shrugged, nodding. She sighed. "I have something to talk to you all about but we're not doing it here. When Rei-chan and Mina-chan are out of the hospital, we'll talk about this." She stood up, pulling Mamoru up with her. "I didn't wish this on any of you," she said quietly, turning away with a sad smile.
The next day, Minako had shot up in bed, disorientated by her surroundings. She looked around and her eyes landed on a familiar white mane, spread out over her bed sheets. She reached out and nudged her sleeping boyfriend. He woke and looked up, delighted to see her awake.
"Mina-chan!" Kunzite embraced her in his arms. "How are you feeling?"
She glanced outside, noticing the darkening skies. "What time is it?" she asked, then her eyes widened. "Wait, what day is it?"
"Don't worry," he rubbed her arm. "You've only been out a day."
"A… A day?" she hesitated, her breathing becoming more erratic. She looked around the room, her eyes searching.
"What are you looking for?" Kunzite asked, frowning.
"My phone, a phone, any phone!" she answered shrilly.
"Calm down," he said soothingly. "I'll take care of it. What do you need?"
"I was supposed to be starting a modelling job today!" she answered quickly, her breathing coming out in short, sharp gasps. "Oh no, Kataomoi-sama is going to fire me!" She raked her fingers through her long blonde hair.
He put his hands on either side of her face. "Mina-chan, stop. I'll speak to him. You have a perfectly legitimate excuse. I'll send on your apologies and see what we can do. Stop worrying, rest." He kissed her lightly on the lips and felt her breathing slow down. "Now, rest up some more. I hear Usagi-san wants to speak to us once you and Rei-san are out of the hospital."
"Hello?" a deep, honeyed voice answered.
"Yes, hello," Kunzite greeted. "Am I by any chance speaking to a Danieru Kataomoi?"
"You are," he replied slowly. "And this is?"
"Kunzite, Minako Aino's boyfriend. She tells me that she missed a job with you today. I'd like to inform you that she has been in hospital for the past two days and is coming out later today. She sends many apologies for missing out on working with you and hopes this won't affect future work with you."
"I'll catch up with her next week then," he responded in a dead voice. "Thank you for informing me. I admit I was worried when she didn't show up this morning."
"It was out of her hands I'm afraid," Kunzite said.
They both hung up and Danieru sat back, his fingers drumming on top of his desk. He stared out of his window, musing about the blonde bombshell that had bounded into his office and piqued his interest. It was interesting, he mused. Maybe he was right. After all, he was right about one thing.
Usagi sat in the Juban park underneath the large oak tree that was charred to a crisp in the stormy weather. This was the perfect place for everyone to meet her. Throughout the district, everyone's interest in the scorched tree had dwindled and now only passers-by did a double take at it. The tree may be able to help her confess to the senshi and Shitennou what she had avoided telling them.
Mamoru sat at her side. "It's interesting you chose here to talk to them and not at Rei's temple where everyone can fit comfortably inside."
Usagi shook her head. "No," she said firmly. "I don't want to distract them by the negative energy and the Hikawa Shrine still has that energy lingering in the air. I need them to hear this at a place that can heal."
Mamoru glanced up at the dying tree and looked at her questioningly. "Can you not appreciate the irony of that statement?"
"No, you big dimbo!" She poked him in the side. "You'll see what I mean. The Hikawa Shrine will be pure once again under the protection of the priest and miko but here is untainted by negative energy. It'll be easier for them."
Mamoru made to open his mouth but Usagi shushed him as she saw the group coming over the join them. Rei was leaning heavily on Jadeite as he helped her forward and Minako's arm was threaded through Kunzite's. Each couple sat in a circle at either side of Mamoru and Usagi and they looked at Usagi expectedly.
"Why did you want to meet us, Usagi?" Rei asked.
"How are you both?" Usagi countered, ignoring the question, looking at both Rei and Minako. They merely nodded, sagging into their companion's sides.
Usagi smiled faintly then sat up straighter. "I suppose I should explain to you what I know." Mamoru squeezed her hand, sending warmth her way. "I know that each of you have been struggling with your gifts," she said bluntly.
Jadeite, Nephrite and Kunzite looked down at their girlfriends, perplexed and then looked back at Usagi. Only Zoicite and Ami remained silent. Zoicite was the only one of the four who knew of even the slightest thing about this.
"Don't look at them," Usagi said. "It's really not their fault. It was mine, I suppose. I should have paid closer attention."
"It's not your fault, Usako," Mamoru interrupted.
She sighed. "I should have told you all sooner, but I wanted you to have the life that I wished for myself. Happy. Normal. But I felt that something had stirred among us and it just broke my heart seeing the awakening in you." She paused.
"Can you quit the yoda act and just come out with what all of this is?" Jadeite grunted.
"Girls, you are the sailor senshi of the solar system," Usagi stated. "You are the official guardians of your respective planets and soldiers of the Moon Kingdom from the Silver Millennium. I know about your… difficulties because I am, to use my formal name, Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom. You were my closest friends back then. When the Moon Kingdom fell under the great power and destruction of the Dark Kingdom, we were all reborn on Earth and we were awakened as the sailor senshi. We destroyed the Dark Kingdom that revived on Earth and when I lay dying, I made a wish upon the immense power of the Moon for us all to live a normal life – to live, to laugh, to love. And that happened. After my accident when I lost my memories, it gave me the opportunity to recover the memories of myself and I did. However, there were consequences I realised later. It allowed the guardians who watch over each of you to fight for the awakening of the inner senshi."
"What does any of this mean?" Makoto's eyebrows furrowed.
"Because of your birth right, you each have powers over the different elements of the Earth which come from your roots as guardians of the solar system. Ami has found her power over water, which I can see already you have almost mastered," Usagi smiled. "This power comes from Mercury. Rei, I know you've had problems. Your spiritual and psychic powers haven't helped you at all. It's probably made it worse. It's just settled the chaos into your mind and that provokes your abilities over fire, courtesy of Mars. Makoto, you are an interesting one," Usagi laughed. "I was amazed when I saw the control you found over lightning, when your protective instincts kicked in and you pushed me out of harms way. Your planet, Jupiter, gives you the power over electricity… and plants." Makoto blanched. "I'm not joking. You've probably passed it off as a lack of attention or a green thumb, but you have the gift." Usagi sighed. "Minako, you've had a gentle ride. When we called you the goddess of love, I suppose it wasn't a joke when you have the insight I do. You are the senshi of Venus. You have powers over love, light and metal, though, that last one is interesting the way you used it back then. Rei needed you in a way that she didn't need me."
The group sat, gaping at the petite blonde in front of them. The guys looked at each other.
"How do we fit into this whole picture?" Nephrite asked.
"You are the guardians of the Earth and my soldiers," Mamoru spoke up. "Similar to Usagi, I have a formal name, too. I am Prince Endymion of the Earth and you are collectively called the Shitennou. You have similar roles that the sailor senshi do, only to the Earth and myself. Your powers won't manifest like the girls have because each of you are tied to me. The girls are watched over by the guardians of their planets, each who have their own purpose."
Kunzite nodded slowly, taking it in. Each of them felt a familiarity swell up from deep within them. Makoto's head shot up.
"Usagi," she piped up, "why did you want to meet by this tree?"
"That's quite simple," she shrugged. "I wasn't sure if you'd all call me a nutcase or believe me with open arms. It's going to take time for you all to gain control, though I will give you all a choice. I can restore your lost memories so that you can understand everything. There's a lot that I haven't discussed yet with you, but your memories would fill in the blanks. I want you to decide for yourselves if you want to carry on without a burden being placed on your shoulders or if you want to stand with me." She looked around at the group.
"Why would we leave you?" Makoto replied fiercely.
Usagi smiled. "You never change." She got up and pulled Makoto forward to sit by the large oak tree. "None of you have complete control, yet. You will regain that control if you are awakened as the inner senshi of the solar system. Of course, it's possible to gain control over time on Earth without me provoking the guardians to awaken. I suspect that you all want the full picture, especially after that…" she took a deep breath, "youma attacked at the Hikawa Shrine."
"Youma?" Rei sat up straight, eyes fully trained on Usagi.
"Yes," she smiled sadly. "They're manifestations of evil created by the Dark Kingdom. Why or how they're infecting the Earth once again is tomorrow's problem." She turned her attention to Makoto and took up her hand, placing it palm flat against the charred wood. Makoto's eyes widened, staring at Usagi. "Feel the energy of the tree. It's faint but it's there. Energy flows through the very core of our planets and we can access that power. Reach for it." Her hand left Makoto's as she stood back. "And bring it to life."
Everyone sat, amazed, as they watched the bark of the tree regain its healthy colour and the life was given back into it's roots and branches. The leaves were filling out in various shades of green, dazzling the park once again with its overbearing protective nature.
"I love every one of you," Usagi said, her voice thick with emotion, looking at each of them in turn. "I never wanted this to happen to any of you. But if giving you your identities back and helping you gain control over your powers is what you want, then I won't hesitate." She reached into her jacket and pulled out the glittering Ginzuishou, holding it out in front of her.
Rei stood up, steadily on her feet. "I want to know what my visions mean, Usagi," she said firmly. "I can't go another day like this." She felt Jadeite's hands rest on her shoulders reassuringly.
"We're with you," Minako declared.
A bright light enveloped them all as Usagi took Mamoru's hand in hers, allowing the flashbacks of the Silver Millennium to fill their minds. She felt the power of the senshi flow through her as she felt the girls open their hearts to the power they knew was in their control. She opened her eyes, seeing the marks of Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Venus grace their foreheads.