A/N:
Happy MONDAY EVERYONE! It's time for a new chapter! Have you all missed me? I've missed every single one of you! Time to start the week! Hang on to your Odango's folks! It's time to get the ball flying!
Chapter 21:
Luna looked up when she saw Usagi and Haruka, even with a shower she could still smell the aftermath and somewhat grinned but didn't say anything, "Usagi chan! Haruka chan!" Luna jumped off the couch and ran over to them. "It's good to see you both out and about."
Usagi looked at Haruka, "we can get some stuff. I want to see Luna first!" She smiled at the other and was worried about Minako but she looked annoyed by the conversation so she didn't say anything. When they got inside she saw Luna and knelt down to hug her. Even if Luna didn't like it, she picked her up and petted Luna. "I'm sorry Luna-chan!" She sobbed into her fur.
"Now isn't the time to be a crybaby Usagi, but thank you."
When Haruka saw Luna, she smiled and was about to say something but her moon lover beat her to it with her usual Usagi antics. Haruka knelt down beside Usagi putting her hand on the smallers girls back and rubbed it soothingly. "Hello, Luna-san." She smiled apologetically not knowing what to say that wouldn't end up making her cry like Usagi. "I'm… Thank you, I owe both you and Artemis everything and… I wish I would have opened my eyes sooner, so I could have told him this too." She then put her other hand on Luna's head and rubbed it gently.
When Haruka stood back up and looked are at the apartment, it said a lot about the woman inhabiting it. There wasn't any photos of family or friends, the walls were naked and there was no color in the apartment at all. Minako defiantly took everything personal and decided to grow up over the past year. She ended up getting a job, and within a year got promoted to assistant store manager at a dress boutique shop in down town Tokyo. Her furniture was high end furniture, so was everything else. Just like her personality the apartment was dead.
Luna's words made Haruka feel a bit better, she still wished she had talked to Artemis one last time on better terms but she was thankful he understood. "Sometimes I wish you would tell us the outcome first so we wouldn't have to suffer." The wind senshi started to think about all the mysterious riddles Setsuna laid on them in the past and found it to be a quick path to a migraine. "Your place looks very…. Clean, Minako." Haruka said as she stood up and looked around. "Very… white… going for the purity look?" She joked but felt what Minako was going for, which was emptiness. "If I spill something here, there's no way I could cover it up. I better be on my toes."
Usagi did like the clean look but thought it could do some decorating or pops of color. Maybe even a photo or two, just something to make it more cheerful. Luna didn't seem to mind too much but it bothered her slightly how Minako changed and the only color she would ever see on the furniture was her black fur when she shed. "It's okay Haruka San, Artemis understood. You didn't have to verbally thank him for him to be proud of you both. He knew in the end what he did might have saved everyone. You two together in the past has been a blessing, we didn't want to say but fate was always kinder in the end."
Usagi let Luna go she got down on the floor gracefully, "I suspected it would happen, it's happened before but for whatever reason it doesn't happen every time and both of you never gain the knowledge of...no offense, being happier." Luna told them, "thank you both for your gratitude, but we've been preparing ourselves since we left Crystal Tokyo, even Setsuna-chan. We have all come to the conclusion we may end up perishing in this life time. I want the three of you to understand this and not let it get you down. Especially you Usagi chan." Usagi whimpered, and nodded "H-Hai, I'll try not to let it get to me."
Luna's words made Haruka feel a bit better, she still wished she had talked to Artemis one last time on better terms but she was thankful he understood. "Sometimes I wish you would tell us the outcome first so we wouldn't have to suffer." The wind senshi started to think about all the mysterious riddles Setsuna laid on them in the past and found it to be a quick path to a migraine. "Your place looks very…. Clean, Minako." Haruka said as not knowing how else to compliment the apartment. "Very… white… going for the purity look?" She joked but felt what Minako was going for, which was emptiness. "If I spill something here, there's no way I could cover it up. I better be on my toes."
Minako tried to ignore the comment but it got to her. She stood up and walked out of the common room into the living room. It was separated so the others didn't witness her tears. Instead of focusing on what she would never have she started cleaning the kitchen.
"So… umm… Did I piss her off?" She asked Luna pointing to were Minako went.
Luna sighed as she watched the former love senshi walk away. "She's so lonely, especially after Artimes passed." Luna told . "He always knew how to talk with her. at least keep a sliver of hope within her."
Haruka sighed. "I didn't know how much everyone changed, especially her. I miss how she used to be, her and Usagi always made my day with their bubbly personalities and antics." The wind senshi smiled at the far off past. "Was this my fault Luna? Did I change everything by the actions I have taken?" Haruka looked down feeling a bit depressed. "I care deeply for Usagi, but in murderin- What I did to Momaru… did I mess up everything? I mean, he hurt Usagi horribly, he tried to kill her, yet… I'm not dumb… the inners, they… hate is a strong word but I don't know how to make it right."
"It wasn't you, don't put the weight on your shoulders Haruka-san. It was Artimes and I for telling Minako more details about past lives than we should have. She was fine until then, because for a while Ami and Rei were too busy with their boyfriends and you and Usagi were still dealing with things." Luna sighed. "Minako just learned to deal with everything by herself. She grew up. Well, the terms she used. She stopped dreaming about the future, she thinks there is no point. The topic of love is sensitive for Minako right now. It also doesn't help that everyone she like turned on her on didn't like her in return but her friends." THe back cat shook her head.
Usagi sighed then got up and walked to the kitchen. She wrapped her arms around Minako and just held her, even if the blonde was persistent at telling her to go away. That she was fine.
"How come you always get everything? Good or bad. Doesn't matter. You always get everything you want. And the rest of us..." Minako sighed they had to endure pain, always and she couldn't help but envy her princess
Usagi let go of Minako feeling the others coldness wash over her. "I don't know. I didn't ask and wasn't expecting it to happen. It happened."
"It's just not fair. Getting to be single and desperate for all eternity." Minako said bitterly.
As if on cue Haruka and Luna waked into check on the broken Love senshi, a small smile on the wind senshi's face. "About love thing, I've known someone who's had a crush on you for a while, but despite not seeming it, they are extremely nervous to say anything."