Title: Obon
Author: Ree
Theme: Minor Characters (ghost)
Genre: General
Version: Anime or Manga
Rating: G

All characters from Sailor Moon belong to Takeuchi Naoko, I'm just borrowing them for awhile.

Keiko Hino watched as her daughter approached her grave. She could tell that she was doing fine physically, but Keiko was worried about her being alone. She knew that Tsuyoshi had left Rei at the temple with her Dad, Rinji. "Dad is taking great care of her. I just wish she had more friends."

Rei started to gentle wash the headstone, but turned back to the path when she heard footsteps approaching.

Keiko looked at the path as well. She both hoped and dreaded that the person coming was Tsuyoshi. She didn't want to see the cold formalities, or the skillfully danced argument between him and Rei. What she wanted was reconciliation between them, but she doubted she would ever see that. Instead of Tsuyoshi it was a tall brunette girl about the same age as Rei. Keiko dismissed her, but she glanced down to catch Rei's reaction. Keiko felt her heart lifting at the welcoming smile on her daughter's face. Once the brunette reached Rei, they both faced her headstone and bowed. In a quiet voice Rei introduced the new young lady.

"Mama, I want you to meet a friend of mine. This is Makoto Kino."

Makoto also spoke in a quiet voice. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

Working together both girls cleaned her headstone. As they were working, Makoto told her about the other two girls who had befriended Rei. One was called Usagi, and was a hyper and bubble headed girl, and the other one was Ami who was a serious student, but a kind gentle girl. Once the headstone was clean, Rei set a small lantern in front of it and lit it.

Makoto hung a set of windchimes on a near-by tree branch. "Hino-san, these are from Usagi-chan." Rei took out a thermos and poured a cup of tea. Tipping it over so that it dribbled onto the grave, she said "Mama, the tea is from Ami-chan." Makoto took four cookies out of her bento box and crumbled them. "These are from me. I hope you like chocolate chips." Rei place a small bouquet of flowers next to the lantern. "And these are from me, Mama. I love you."

Bowing respectfully, both girls left the grave. Keiko looked down at all the gifts. "Rei, you have such thoughtful friends. I'm glad." Smiling to herself , she decided to follow them out of the cemetery. When she caught up to them though, she was surprised to see they weren't leaving it. They were walking around to the opposite side of the cemetery. As they approached two headstones set close together, Keiko looked over at Makoto. "They have to be her relatives, probably her grandparents."

Makoto approached her parents gravestones and bowed. "Mom, Dad, I want to introduce you to a friend of mine. This is Rei Hino. I'm sure you have been watching over us the past couple of years, so you know just how good a friend she is."

Rei bowed. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

Then they both washed the headstones. This time Rei told Makoto's parents about her friends. Keiko listened to them again. Looking at the headstones she spotted Makoto's parent's spirits. They were looking at her. Smiling she bowed to them. "I'm Keiko Hino. I am Rei's mother. I'm pleased to meet you."

They bowed back."I am Chiyo Kino, and this is my husband Toshiro Kino. We are pleased to meet you as well." Keiko drifted over towards their headstones while Rei lit the two lanterns that Makoto had set in front of the stones. "I'm glad to see my daughter has made such a good friend."

Chiyo nodded. "So am I. I was worried about Makoto. Ever since we died she has done everything she could on her own. It's nice to see her here with someone who is willing to help."

Makoto hung up the windchimes from Usagi. Rei gave them flowers from her, and then gave them the tea offering from Ami. Finally Makoto crumbled her offering of chocolate chip cookies. Bowing one last time, they left the cemetery.

The three spirits sat quietly discussing their children for the rest of the evening.