Title: Crystal Moon
Fandom: Sailor Moon / Inuyasha
Disclaimer: All rights reserved to Naoko Takeuchi and Rumiko Takahashi, creators of Sailor Moon and Inuyasha respectively.
Warnings: Shoujo-ai, non-explicit violence, character death
Main Pairings: Inuyasha X Serenity, Inuyasha X Usagi
Side Parings: Endymion X Suki, Endymion X Serenity (arranged), Mamoru X Usagi (past), Inuyasha X Kikyo (past), Sesshoumaru X Ami (more will be listed as they appear in the story)
Chapter Soundtrack / Theme Song: Paper Moon by Tommy Heavenly6 (second opening theme of Soul Eater)
Summary: The Senshi's memories of the Silver Millennium have always been incomplete, remembering little more than the night the Moon Kingdom fell. But what if things hadn't been as straight forward as those few memories made them seem? A mysterious malfunction with the Time Gates draws everyone to the past, where secrets will be revealed, and Usagi will be reunited with her past self's first love…
Crystal Moon
Secrets and Lies
Chapter 13: River of Memory
Serenity always felt uneasy around Gurin and Kumo. She could never really put her finger on why. They'd never done or said anything directly to her that would directly cause her to feel that way toward them. But she always got an odd feeling when around either of them.
So being with both of them, in an isolated area of the back garden of the castle, was extremely unnerving. Even more so since rather than one of her own guards, she was accompanied by Nyx. The brown-haired Queen of Uranus was normally quite an open and cheerful woman, so seeing the serious expression on her face was doing little to dissuade the apprehension she felt. Not to mention the fact that it just wasn't normal for one of the Queen's guards to accompany the Princess. Where were Kasei or Kinsei or literally any of the others?
"Mother said you needed to speak with me…?" she questioned apprehensively, referring to her mother in the more formal manner she was generally meant to where foreign delegates and the like were concerned.
"You could say that," Gurin stated, gazing down into fountain she stood beside, as if observing it for something. Serenity couldn't place what that could possibly be.
"Let's simply cut to the chase," Kumo spoke up, arms crossed over his chest. "Her Majesty has learned of your little… affair."
Serenity's face turned scarlet as she averted her eyes. Phrasing it that way made it sound worse than it really was.
"And we've been asked to correct it in the most… delicate manner possible." Gurin's voice spoke up.
Serenity glanced up in confusion at the Earth woman's words, only for her eyes to grow wide in shock. The water from the fountain was swirling through the air around Gurin's form, in a way she'd never seen anyone but Mercurians and Neptunians perform before. But she knew Gurin was an Earthling through and through, so just what in the world was going on here?
"You'll just sleep for a little while, Your Highness," she heard Nyx whisper softly, almost sadly, as the water moved through the air and began to encircle her body. "And when you wake up, everything will be better. I promise."
She didn't understand what Nyx was saying at all. She was paralyzed in fear as the water around her began to swirl around her form, before forcing its way into her body through her chest. The sensation was bitingly cold, and she found it hard to breathe. Her vision was beginning to go black around the edges. What were they doing to her? Had her mother really ordered this?
Before she could form another question, she felt her consciousness fading.
"You look displeased, Queen Nyx," Kumo noted as he observed Gurin working her magic. Truly she was nearly as gifted as the Guardian Lethe herself at weaving the Waters of Lethe. Few were powerful enough to control the Waters without direct access to the physical River within Elysium. He watched as the waters swirling around the Princess began to glow silver with the contents of her memories as Gurin chose what to cast of entirely and what to simply alter.
"I don't approve," Nyx scowled at him. "None among the Queen's guards do. It's why we've chosen to hide the truth of the matter from our daughters. Thalia and Enyo would do the same if Kinsei and Kasei didn't already know, and at least one of them knowing is vital in keeping things… neat."
"Yet you can't go against your precious Serenity-sama's orders," he chuckled.
"As if you're any different," Nyx scoffed. "Only acting in your King's interest to maintain this engagement."
Kumo didn't respond, smirking slightly to himself. The poor fool was both right and wrong at the same time. Yes, keeping the wedding according to plan was ideal for him. But he really couldn't give a damn about what the King wanted. He'd be the one in control of things after this wedding. And he wasn't about to let some stupid woman's affair with a dirty youkai ruin that for him.
xXxXxXx
Another meeting with Serenity… Endymion would be more enthused if not for the simple fact that these never seemed to go well. She could be a delightful enough girl when she wanted to be, but that side of her never seemed to come out when it came to him.
"Endymion!"
Before he could even look up in response he had his arms full of an ecstatic blond, dressed today in a green gown. He blinked slowly in confusion down at the smaller frame, only to find her smiling brilliantly up at him.
"It's been too long! I was worried you would never come!"
"S-Serenity…?" he questioned uncertainly.
"Of course!" she exclaimed chipperly. "Oh, come with me! The roses just began blossoming in the garden yesterday!"
Queen Serenity watched silently as her daughter dragged off her clearly confused fiancé. He didn't need to know the truth, it would likely only complicate things if he did. No, best he remain in the dark.
"I'd say the mission is a complete success," Gurin spoke up as she and Kumo appeared behind the Queen. "Until she's reborn, of course. A soul going through the River proper will have some complications if it was meddled with."
"By then, it won't make a difference," the Queen sighed. "I wish it didn't have to be this way. That I didn't have to force her like this…"
"You did the kinder thing letting her believe she wasn't forced," Kumo advised. "This way, she can live and eventually die in happiness. Even if that happiness is fake."W
xXxXxXx
She couldn't move.
She heard Inuko screaming for her to get back, but she couldn't move.
She just stared in a combination of shock, confusion, and horror as Inuyasha raised a clawed hand over her head, preparing to strike her down…
"Dammit, I don't have a choice!" Inuko cursed, rushing forward despite Kagome's protests. The miko saw her right hand reaching into her opposite sleeve for a moment before reaching for the hilt of her sword. She just barely managed to dash into the small space between Usagi and Inuyasha before he struck, and there was suddenly a blinding flash of light.
Usagi cried out in pain as Inuyasha's claws were forcefully removed from her arm, elongating the wounds. She vaguely heard the impact as he hit either the ground or a tree a short ways away. She gripped the wounded arm to herself before hesitantly looking up as the blinding light slowly faded.
Judging from the figure and clothing it was Inuko standing before her, her back turned in her direction. But the hair was a completely different color. No longer ebony black, but a silvery color with a slight sheen of gold.
"Venus!" she called in a commanding tone. "Take care of Kagura while I handle this please! You may want the other senshi to help. She's not exactly a push over."
The four Guardian Senshi looked at each other in confusion. They didn't really understand what was going on, but the girl seemed to have things surprisingly under control given the circumstances.
"Alright," Rei nodded. "But you owe us a serious explanation when everything is done. Mars Shikon Power! Make Up!"
"Mercury Shikon Power! Make Up!"
"Jupiter Shikon Power! Make Up!"
Sesshoumaru watched Mercury silently for a moment as she dashed off with the other senshi, but he had confidence in her. Right now he was more interested in the sword the girl was carrying.
He'd never seen anything quite like it, yet at the same time it was familiar. Its overall shape was quite similar to Tessaiga, but it was not the sleek metal of his father's sword. It looked, as far as he could tell, to be constructed of some sort of gem or crystal. It glimmered a silvery color, but here and there in the light could be made out segments of a pale color between pink and lavender.
"Inuko-chan…?" Usagi said hesitantly. The girl turned to her, and a gasp came to Usagi's lips.
Her hair was not the only thing that had changed. Her mismatched eyes were lighter colors now as well. No longer amethyst and sapphire, but gold and ice. Atop her head, just in front of the two buns part of her hair was tied in, were a pair of dog ears the same color as her hair, the human ears she'd had before completely gone. And upon her brow was a mark Usagi knew all too well.
The crescent mark of the Moon Kingdom.
"I can't explain right now," Inuko said softly, keeping one eye on Inuyasha as he began to pull himself to his feet, still in a crazed state but slightly stunned by the attack. "I have to handle this first. But I will explain, I promise. Go by Kagome-obachan for now."
Obachan? Usagi thought to herself in confusion, but obeyed and moved over toward the priestess.
Inuko let out a breath as she turned her full attention to Inuyasha.
"Just had to make things difficult," she said with a slight shake of her head.
With an enraged growl, Inuyasha lunged toward the smaller fighter. She instantly drew her sword upward, blocking the first slash of claws with the blade. She strained with the effort of holding back the blow.
"Liar," she couldn't help chuckling under her breath. "You DID go easy on me."
There was of course no verbal response to the snide quip. The hanyou swung his free hand toward the girl's exposed torso. Cursing under her breath, she jumped back with the intention of dodging the blow. She managed to avoid the fatal damage that had certainly been intended, but the front of her kimono was slashed, and she could feel the stinging pain where the claws had managed to cut into her flesh, even if not as deeply as he had no doubt intended.
"She has a lot of bravado, but clearly she can't handle this alone," Miroku frowned, beginning to step forward. Sesshoumaru stopped him with a raised arm.
"And you think you stand a better chance?" he stated coolly.
"So you're just going to stand there while he rages out of control?" Sango countered, clearly displeased.
"I never said that," the daiyoukai said, watching as the two hanyou traded blows. The girl was handling it surprisingly well, but Miroku was right. She wasn't going to win this fight on her own. In this state, Inuyasha was pure rage and strength. While she was impressive for her young age, she didn't have the kind of strength he did.
Inuko was beginning to realize the same thing the others were. Even though part of her training had included just this scenario, she really wasn't as prepared for it as she thought she was. She'd lost her footing from fending off one blow as another game down toward her head. She knew she didn't have time to dodge or defend…
Just before the blow reached her, there was a familiar blade in its path, blocking the hanyou's strike before he was pushed back. Her eyes traveled up the length of Tokijin to find Sesshoumaru standing over her.
"I must admit, you're not bad for a half breed," Sesshoumaru commented. "But you're out of your league in this situation."
"Don't kill him!" she demanded quickly, a determined look in her eyes. "If I can just seal him-!"
"Seal?" Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. "Are you a miko now on top of everything else you've been hiding?"
"No, not exactly," Inuko frowned. "But it's a long story. One we really don't have time for right now!"
Sesshoumaru turned his gaze grimly to his brother as the enraged hanyou was preparing to attack again. This girl had been keeping far too many secrets. He didn't know if he should trust her. And besides, this was the perfect opportunity to kill his brother, with perfect justification.
Yet somehow he couldn't bring himself to do that. The thought of how those blue eyes would look at him if he did made him hesitate. But why should he care about what a human woman thought? He only kept her around for Rin's sake after all. What did it matter to him what she thought of him?
"Fine," he finally stated. "But you'd better do this sealing quickly. The longer this drags out, the less I can promise to keep him alive."
Inuko nodded, watching as the elder youkai continued to fight the hanyou. She had to act quickly. She pulled back her left kimono sleeve, revealing the bracelet she'd worn for as long as she could remember. Her secret was out now, so it wasn't as if it was imperative that she wear it anymore. Besides, this was a far more serious situation.
She pulled the bracelet from her wrist, adjusting it to properly do its job when warn by her intended target, then glanced up at the ongoing fight. Sesshoumaru was doing a far better job than she had. She'd be jealous if not for the fact that he was much older and more experienced than her, not to mention a pure youkai unlike her own diluted blood.
"Hold him down!" she called as she rushed forward.
Sesshoumaru looked a little surprised at the instruction, but hesitated only a moment before obeying. Pinning the hanyou to the ground was more difficult than he cared to admit, but he managed it. The girl came up beside them quickly, crouching down by one of Inuyasha's pinned arms. He saw her wince as the hanyou managed to still claw at her hands as she forced something onto his wrist. Once it was in place, he suddenly grew still. Sesshoumaru studied his brother's face as the demonic traits began to fade away. But it didn't stop there. He was in his hanyou form for only a few moments before his hair and eyes darkened, dog ears replaced by human. Once the transformation was complete, his eyes fell closed and he slumped against the ground, passed out.
"Thank goodness…" Inuko sighed. "I honestly wasn't sure if it would work in that form."
"I think it's time you explained yourself, girl." Sesshoumaru frowned.
"Yeah… Yeah, I guess it is…"
xXxXxXx
Kagura had escaped, but not unscathed according to Minako. Working together, the four senshi had gotten some good hits in. She was seriously injured, and had fled to avoid defeat.
"I think you should start with just who you are," Rei frowned, arms crossed as she glared down at Inuko. The girl was seated on the ground, Cynthia in her lap and surrounded by the bulk of the group. Usagi, her injured arm patched by Kagome, was seated a ways away with Shippou and Rin, while the still unconscious Inuyasha was seated propped against a tree, Tessaiga across his lap.
Inuko swallowed hard, before finally speaking up. "My name is… Princess Serenity Tsukino Inu-hime, heir to the throne of the Moon Kingdom."
"Wha-?!" Makoto gaped at her. "How… How is that possible?"
"Just like you, I'm not from this time…" Inuko murmured. "It's… really complicated. Technically, I'm from the same era as you. But not the same timeline."
"A different timeline?" Ami murmured. It made sense. ChibiUsa's involvement in their lives was proof in and of itself that there was more than one timeline. The pink-haired girl came from an era not effected by her and the Black Moon's presence in the past. But their timeline clearly was. Even if their future was near identical to hers, there would be clear change brought on by their knowledge of what the future could be.
"So you're like the Usagi of this alternate timeline?" Kagome questioned. Inuko shook her head.
"No. I… My… My mother is Neo-Queen Serenity…"
"That's not possible." Minako frowned. "Why would the Neo-Silver Millennium exist in the 20th Century?"
"We don't call it the Neo-Silver Millennium." Inuko shook her head. "Mama said the name reminded her too much of the prejudices of the past. We call it the Lunar Age."
"Well whatever you call it it's still a millennium early." Rei frowned.
"This Neo-Silver Millennium you're thinking of… It's a result of you living in the 20th Century, right?"Inuko questioned, to which the senshi nodded. "That doesn't happen in my timeline. Mama, and everyone… they stay here. They never go back to their original time. So Mama's reign starts much earlier."
"That doesn't explain how you are… what you are." Rei pointed out. "Why would Usagi and Mamoru's child be a hanyou?"
Inuko let out a small laugh. "Apparently there's a lot about this future you know about that is different from my time. Mama didn't marry Mamoru-ojichan."
The four senshi stared at the girl before turning to Usagi. Even though she wasn't part of the inquisitorial squad, she'd still been listening to the conversation. She looked just as surprised as the others.
"And if you want to be technical, I'm not really a hanyou. I'm only a quarter youkai. But our bloodline is strong; it takes more than just a few generations of human blood to weed it out."
"So the Usagi of your time marries a hanyou?" Minako questioned. It didn't take long to connect the pieces. "You mean-?!"
All eyes turned to the unconscious Inuyasha.
"Yes," she nodded. "You know, for having spent so much time around the Guardian, you really don't understand the flow of time very well."
"The Guardian?" Ami asked. "Do you mean Pluto?"
Inuko nodded. "The Guardian of Time. She taught all of us about the flow of time."
" 'Us'?" Kagome repeated. Inuko blinked as if it was a silly question.
"Me and my friends. What, did you think Mama was the only one of you to have kids in the future?"
There was a collective silence among the group. The thought had never occurred to any of the senshi. In ChibiUsa's timeline, the four Guardian Senshi were dedicated to their roles as the Queen's guards. They'd never married, never had children of their own. While each of the girls had reacted differently to that knowledge, they had over time come to accept it as inevitability. They'd just assumed that any timeline where they guarded Neo-Queen Serenity would be the same.
"This is all… very confusing," Miroku stated after a few moments. "What I'd like to know is how you managed to stop Inuyasha."
"Honestly I wasn't sure if that was going to work," Inuko admitted begrudgingly. "Growing up, I was told stories about how in the timelines you all originated from, youkai had been exterminated by my era. But in my timeline, that's not true. Youkai and hanyou exist alongside humans. They're equals. But there are some humans who are… less excepting. Because the Ginzuishou gives us long life, there are those who were alive back when things were less peaceful. When youkai killed humans. And they of course teach these things to their own children. Mama and Papa rule fairly and treat all the same, but the prejudice is far from being over."
She hated it. How often poor Keishi and Tsubaki were picked on, even little Hisui. She was spared the brunt of it, but her friends weren't as lucky.
"It's especially bad for hanyou. There are people who really don't like the idea of humans and youkai marrying, and of course hanyou are a symbol of that union they despise. So Ami-obachan invented the Lunar Seal. It tricks the body of a hanyou into believing it's their human night, maintaining the human form. It's how I've managed to look human this whole time. It's… never been used the way I did for him. I didn't know if it would work."
"Something like that can be done…?" Sango questioned in awe.
"If anybody could figure out a way, Ami would certainly be the one to do it," Makoto observed, to which Rei and Minako nodded.
It was at that moment a groan came from Inuyasha's direction. Rei was quick to stomp over to the currently human hanyou, looming over him in a manner that ensured the first clear thing he saw was her standing there with her hands on her hips, glaring down at him.
"I knew I shouldn't trust you!" she snapped as soon as he was lucid. "I knew you were dangerous! But Usagi convinced us you were no threat, and now look what happened!"
Inuyasha blinked blearily up at the miko. What was she talking about? The last thing he remembered, he was fighting Kagura. He remembered Serenity's voice calling his name at one point but… Wait… was that blood on his hands? How had that…?
Violet eyes snapped open in quick realization, horror evidence on his face. He quickly cast his gaze around to figure out whom he'd hurt. The first one his eyes fell on was the girl in red whose clothes were clearly torn in the front with some blood escaped. He recognized the girl was Inuko, but there were some clear differences that he would definitely have to ask about later. Her hands were rather noticeably cut as well, but the injuries didn't seem to be bothering her.
He second noticed the minor injuries on his brother. Nothing to be concerned about. Not because he didn't care, and he honestly only cared a little, but because those injuries were nothing to a dai-youkai. He'd be fine.
And lastly his eyes fell to Usagi. Her jacket had been removed, the left sleeve of her blouse shredded and bloody. Her entire forearm was bandaged tightly, and even from here he could see the bandages would need to be changed fairly soon.
"Serenity!" he exclaimed, pushing past the still ranting Rei to the blond. He reached down toward her, only to stop when she very visibly flinched away.
"I-I'm fine, Inu-chan…" she murmured, but wouldn't look at him.
Inuyasha's fingers slowly curled into a fist, amethyst eyes gazing solemnly down at the blond. Without a word, he turned on his heel and walked off into the trees.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome called, beginning to walk after him. Sesshoumaru stopped her, holding a hand before her.
"Let him go."
"But-!"
"He needs to be alone right now."
Kagome wanted to continue arguing, but perhaps Sesshoumaru was right. Inuyasha was clearly upset, and maybe he needed some time to work through this on his own.
xXxXxXx
Inuyasha didn't know how long he walked. Eventually he just stopped, slumping to the ground in silence. He lifted his shaking, bloody hands, staring at them as if they weren't his own.
He'd hurt her. The one thing he'd been determined above all else to never do. He'd hurt Serenity. And now she couldn't even look at him. He was sure she hated him. Why wouldn't she? She'd seen this monstrous side of him that had been hidden, that he hoped she'd never have to see.
He felt something wet on his cheek, and hesitantly reached up to wipe it away with his kimono sleeve. Tears. He was actually crying. For the first time in he couldn't even remember how long. No, he knew how long. Since the day he realized she wasn't coming back. That she wanted nothing else to do with him. And now it was happening again. He'd lost her once before and now he only stood to lose her again. Why? Why was this happening? Couldn't the gods take one small pity on him? Couldn't he have any way to be happy?
xXxXxXx
"So if we see this woman, we'll be able to get back our memories of the Silver Millennium?" Makoto questioned once Minako had finished telling the others what had happened. The blonde nodded.
"The things we didn't know… There's just too much to explain it all," she stated. "It would be the easier way, I think."
"What about Inuyasha-sama?"Rin questioned. "If he comes back and we're not here…"
"I'll stay and wait for him." Inuko volunteered. "It's not like I have any important memories to awaken, after all."
Rei still wasn't sure if she trusted Inuko. Sure, she claimed to be Usagi's child in this alternate future yet to come, but she wasn't sure if she believed her. Especially claiming to be Usagi and the mutt's daughter. She didn't like that idea at all.
"Alright," she finally acquiesced. "If he comes back before we do, I'm guessing you can… sniff us out or something?"
A small smirk came to the girl's lips. "Nose of a dog. No problem."
Minako began leading the rest of the group in the direction she'd come from when she'd heard the fight between Inuyasha and Kagura. When she finally returned to the river, she wasn't sure if she was surprised or expectant when she found Mnemosyne was waiting for her, a patient smile on her face.
"You're a lot bigger than I remember," Luna commented. Mnemosyne giggled.
"It was better to blend in with the humans while I was here."
"What do you mean 'bigger'?" Rei raised an eyebrow.
"Mnemosyne is a fairy," Minako pointed out, now having that information that her memories were returned. "Like Mauians though, she is able to maintain a more human form with some effort and concentration."
"Precisely," Mnemosyne nodded her head. "I figured it was safer to live among humans in this form than youkai in my true form. Self preservation and all." The woman then clapped her hands together, smiling brightly at the group. "Well, I take it Kinsei-sama brought you all to me to restore your memories?"
There was a collective nod among the senshi, before the fairy turned her eyes to their companions.
"You three as well?" she questioned, shimmering blue eyes moving between Kagome, Sango, and Miroku.
"Us?" Sango blinked, taken aback.
"Yes, you," she nodded. "I'd offer for the little one as well," she glanced briefly to Rin standing between Ami and Sesshoumaru. "But at such a young age the awakening of new memories takes a tremendous mental toll. It's possible she could come out of it completely fine, but the chances are much higher that she would suffer a mental collapse. Not a risk I would suggest taking."
"So this process is dangerous…?" Usagi questioned.
"Normally, no," Mnemosyne shook her head. "Only for young ones. Generally it's safe once you pass thirteen or so, though I generally recommend a minimum of fifteen, just to play it safe."
"What about memories from this life?" Mamoru spoke up in a small voice. He'd been mostly hiding in the background lately, trying to draw as little attention to himself as possible. "Like from amnesia?"
Mnemosyne gave the young man a small smile. "Yes, those memories can be restored. But could I separate them from the previous life and restore them alone? It would be… rather tricky."
"But if I had my old old memories back, you could give back my new old ones too?"
"Easily," Mnemosyne nodded.
"Mamo-chan, is that what you want to do?" Usagi asked softly. "I won't stop you if that's what you want, just be sure not to jump into it without thinking."
The amnesiac man contemplated it for a few moments before nodding. "I'm sure. I… I don't want to go on not remembering anything. And besides, maybe with my memories I could be of actual use."
"Then I will start with Endymion-sama," Mnemosyne nodded, stepping into the river once more.
The process was much the same as when she had restored Minako's memories of her life as Kinsei. The only notable difference was the color the water shifted to with the memories of Endymion contained in them. A beautiful shifting of the River Mnemosyne's natural silver with a deep fern green and ocean blue, a color Usagi could only describe as Earth.
When the last of the water flowed into Mamoru, his eyes slowly opened.
"It feels like I've been asleep a long time…" he said, his voice soft but still recognizable as the tone Usagi had been missing. Months ago she would have rushed into his arms in relieved tears. Now… Now things were different.
"Mamoru-san, it's good to have you back to normal," Ami smiled softly. Mamoru gave her a soft smile, then looked to Usagi. The look he gave her could only be described as apologetic before he looked to Mnemosyne next.
"Please. You know who I'm going to ask you to help next, don't you?"
"I'm afraid… I can't." Mnemosyne confessed softly.
"Why not?!" he demanded. "She's right here! Don't tell me it's another stupid rule about her position?!"
The others stared at Mamoru in confusion. What- or rather whom-was he talking about?
"Nothing so permanent," Mnemosyne answered. "Her soul is… split. This is her second incarnation since her death as you knew her. Yet somehow, both incarnations exist at once. So long as her soul is not whole, her memories are inaccessible."
"You… you mean me, don't you?" Kagome spoke up hesitantly. Who else could they be talking about? There weren't exactly a lot of people wondering around with their soul existing as both their present and past incarnation after all. But why would Mamoru be so concerned about her memories of her past life?
"But we promised…" he murmured, clenching his fists at his side. "Mnemosyne, is there anyway…?"
The blonde turned to Kagome, speaking to her directly rather than letting her infer things from her conversation with a third party.
"Once your soul is united as one once more, unlocking your memories is a simple task. But I'm sure you're aware, uniting pieces of a soul is no easy task."
"I gathered as much…" Kagome answered, though still rather confused.
The next few restorations were much less eventful. Ami, Rei, and Makoto each seemed to react rather calmly to the new-old?-information in their heads, though Rei seemed rather displeased at something she had learned. Usagi had no idea what that could mean. Miroku and Sango were still deciding whether they even wanted to have memories of their previous lives, so that meant it was the Moon Princess' turn.
"You must be warned, Your Highness," Mnemosyne advised. "These lost memories may be hard to take…"
Usagi nodded. She didn't really need to be warned to know that. The memories she already had, the way they didn't fit together, she knew there had to be something bad behind it. She was frightened, but prepared.
The warmth in her chest as the silvery-white waters flowed into her felt somehow familiar, yet in a sense she'd never thought to use before. Familiar but… opposite? She could think of no other way to describe it.
And then the memories began rushing back to her.
"You're still you, right? Then there's nothing wrong with it. You're still my Inu-chan!"
"I don't care what Mama says, I'm going to marry someone I love! And I don't love Endymion!"
"I guess what I'm trying to say is...YOU mean the world to me now, Serenity."
"I love you, Inu-chan…"
"Her Majesty has learned of your little… affair."
"And we've been asked to correct it in the most… delicate manner possible."
"You'll just sleep for a little while, Your Highness. And when you wake up, everything will be better. I promise."
"Usagi!"
She heard the others calling her name, sounding worried, but she didn't understand why. Then the last of the warmth from the water left her chest, and everything went dark…
xXxXxXx
Author Notes: What?! I actually got a chapter out just over a week after the previous one?! Blasphemy!
So… this chapter was honestly a whole lot of exposition dump. Hope it didn't bore anyone because of that.
And hands up how many people are actually surprised at the reveal of Inuko's identity? Yeah, it's not like I really worked that hard to keep it hidden. I tried my best not to make it BLATANTLY obvious, but I'm sure most if not all readers still figured out where I was going with it… especially those who looked at my stuff on dA, as it was all quite spoilerific.
From now on chapter theme songs will be listed in the header information at the beginning of the chapter instead of down in the notes, but just in case it was skipped over since I didn't do that before, this will be the last time I list the theme here. The song for chapter 13 is Paper Moon by Tommy Heavenly6, the second opening theme of the anime Soul Eater.