Somehow, I always begin by apologizing. Yeah, I´ve abandoned this for a year or more, however, let me tell you, I HAVE NOT abandoned writing. Actually, I have several chapters done for this story, I´m actually finishing one of the last chapters, so, I will be trying to upload every weekend.
Thank you so much for all of those that have stuck to this story for years now.
WARNING!:: If you complain, I warned you, so I will simply take it as immature, there is a heavy (for Sailor Moon) sex scene on this chapter. Yes, I said SEX scene. Nothing porn and I'm not going all Fifty Shades of Grey here, however, this had to be done for the future of the story and since I began this story this chapter had already been in my mind. So, hopefully, you'll be mature enough to either skip it or enjoy it. Enough said.
XVI. …One Last Time
Hours. It had been hours since he had last seen her, and neither doctors nor nurses came out. Didn't they know that he was going crazy not knowing about his child and wife?
He could do nothing, but stare at his hands, at his feet, at the wall, at the floor, at the ceiling, at the sky…and lastly, pray that everything would turn well.
He had not noticed when a chubby looking nurse came out with a frown.
"Ikeda, Makoto's family?" she asked in a high pitched tone. Immediately, Shinozuki climbed to his feet and was standing in front of the nurse.
"The doctor wants to see you." she said, and then she looked past him, "Only family members…direct family members."
He didn't even know to whom exactly this last was directed, he just stared ahead, his heart pounding.
"How's my wife? The baby? Is she safe? Has she been born?" he asked question after question, but the nurse said nothing at first.
"The doctor would inform you everything. It would be wise for you to calm yourself." The nurse said, making his head spin. The worst scenarios came to his mind, and he could only breathe rapidly, trying to bring air to his quickly closing lungs.
He didn't know when exactly he had arrived to another hallway, with almost no people, just a few nurses and doctors walking by. He stood behind some closed doors and could see Makoto's sleeping body…at least he wanted to believe she was asleep.
He just stared through the window, her brown slightly curly hair was all pulled out of her face in a messy bun, she was covered by a blanket up to her chin, and her already pale skin looked paler. He couldn't look well at her features and it took him a second to notice the bump that had been her tummy was now gone. He took a deep breath, not knowing what to do or say. His mind yelled at him to run inside and search for his daughter and look at his wife, yet his body didn't seem to keep this train of thought.
"Ikeda-sama?" a deep voice asked, though the intensity of his wife's situation made him unable to call to his move. He only took in a deep breathe, wanting to respond but incapable to once more. "Your wife will soon awaken. It was a harsh time, but I'm glad to say, Congratulations, you're a father of a strong and beautiful boy."
That made him look at the doctor with wide eyes. "A…a boy?" he whispered, unable to contain the grin that suddenly spread through his face, or incapable of knowing why he felt as if his chest would burst with happiness.
"Hai, a boy!" the doctor repeated with a wide smile.
"A boy…" Shinozuki kept repeating, before he heard his own laugh. "It's a boy!" he repeated once more to a passing nurse.
"Congratulations!" The nurse said with a pleasant smile as she nodded to the doctor and continued on her way.
"Kami, a boy! We have a boy!" He kept repeating, his voice going higher and higher. "I'm a father!" He suddenly realized, his grin stretching wider if possible. "I'm a Papa!" he yelled, laughing uncontrollably.
"Yes, he's healthy though will stay in observation for twelve hours." The doctor tried to explain though he was too delighted and excited to actually understand what the doctor was saying.
"A boy…Makoto and I have a boy…when will she wake up?" he asked, happy now that his wife was actually only sleeping.
"As soon as her body gets the necessary rest. You have to understand, sir, had more time gone by…we would have lost both of them."
His heart did a flip at that, he had not even seen his boy…his boy… yet and he had been close to losing them. "What…what happened?" he asked, unable to bare the mere thought.
"The baby got tangled into his umbilical cord, causing your wife severe pain. To make things worse, her blood pressure had diminished…" he couldn't hear more, just that Makoto's dream of having her baby naturally had been crushed…though his dream of keeping his family safe were still intact. "…sir?"
"Sorry?" he asked, his head spinning with too much information.
"Would you like to meet your son?" that was enough to make his grin reappear, though this time it was accompanied by so many other feelings, he thought he would actually burst.
OoO
It was the happiest moment of their lives. She loved them as a sister and a brother, and she enjoyed looking at Ami holding her new godson. Yet, her heart could only swell in sorrow and grief at her empty hands.
She smiled as her own goddaughter was passed into her arms, and in that moment her heart swelled in love and protection for that child.
"-should have seen him, he looked as pale as ever!" Ryo said, as he glanced over Ami's shoulder at his godson.
"Mama!" Chibi-Usa cried, clearly wanting to get the undivided attention she had always held. Rei laughed at the child…though she was only a year old, she clearly showed her own personality.
"Well, I thought I would lose both of them." Shinozuki defended, being seated beside Makoto at the bed.
"I can relate to that." Mamoru said, hugging Usagi by her waist and giving her a quick peck on her forehead.
Rei's heart could only constrict at that. She placed a hand over her womb…the womb which had sheltered life without her knowing, and now, for that to happen, it seemed impossible.
"MAMAMAMAMAMAAAA!" Chibi-Usa started wailing, making everyone look at her.
"Looks like someone else wants attention!" Ryo said, making everyone laugh. Rei said nothing but gave a fake smile as Mamoru took the child from her arms.
"Hai, this little one ALWAYS wants the attention." He said, smiling down at his daughter and tickling her tummy, making the toddler squeal in happiness and laugh.
"Haeee!" Chibi-Usa said between giggles, making it sound like a yes, making everyone laugh as well.
Rei smiled, but unable to handle much more, she quietly slipped out of Makoto's and Shinozuki's room. She stood by the door, listening as everyone talked.
"Rei-chan?" a soft whisper came, making her jump in surprise as she saw Usagi standing close by.
"Ne, Odango-atama? Shouldn't you be in there with the rest?" she said with a smile.
"Shouldn't you too?" Usagi asked back, unaffected by the insult.
"I…" Unable to hold it any longer, Rei felt as a single tear fell from her eyes, followed by another and then another. She glanced around, not wanting everyone to see her cry and saw the small porch where Makoto kept most of her plants.
"C'mon." Usagi said, motioning towards it, clearly noticing her dilemma.
She tried to hold it until they reached the place, and once she saw her friend close the door, keeping all the noise in…or rather out…she let go of her tears. She didn't know when, but she soon felt Usagi's arms wrap around her, like if she was a child, and rock her slightly as she bawled.
She wept for what she had been holding for two days now, ever since Kazeno's birth. She cried for what was eating her inside, until she had no more tears. Usagi made no questions, for which she was thankful. The young blond just held her, like a sister would do on such occasion.
It was until all her tears were gone, and until they had all dried among her cheeks, that Usagi relented on her hold, though she didn't let go of it.
"We're getting a divorce." Rei muttered, closing her eyes tightly. Usagi said nothing. "He…he thinks I'm cheating on him…" Rei said between sobs. She had thought she had no more tears to shed, how wrong she was. "I am not! I had never seen him before, and I wanted to hit him, but I couldn't let Yuuichirou do such a thing! He would have killed that bastard!"
"Oh, Rei!" Usagi cried, hugging her tighter as she once more poured her heart out.
OoO
Saying nothing at all, Mamoru just saw how his curious child regarded the other baby. It was rather endearing, as all three girls cooed at the newborn baby and at the young toddler. The three remaining men just looked at them, though Shinozuki played the 'proud father' part exceedingly well. And he could relate very well to it, as he saw his daughter try to imitate the coos of the women making them all laugh.
"Say, Minako-chan?" Ryo spoke next, looking at the young blond woman.
"Yes?" She called, not taking her eyes off the two children.
"Where's Motoki-kun?" he asked, smiling at Chibi-Usa's antics.
From the corner of his eyes, he saw Minako's body stiffen a bit, though she quickly smiled and stood from her perch on the bed near Makoto's side.
"He's…busy." She said with a fake smile, though he doubted he would be too busy. He knew Motoki had been staying at his parents all this time, probably because he could not stand being at their place for long and that Minako had been at Ami's, unable to spend two whole minutes at their apartment before bursting into tears. Though they had all agreed that they would allow Minako to come clean with it when she felt ready, seeing as Makoto had been in the hospital, Shinozuki had been home taking care of Kazeno by himself, and Rei…now that he thought about it…
"Usa-ko? Honey?"
"Busy, Mamo-chan."
He frowned slightly at that, and though Ami saw him, she thought it was because Chibi-Usa was about to hit the newborn baby…seemed he and Usagi would have to be more careful about that with their child.
He said nothing though, but smiled and picked up his baby girl before she could hurt baby Kazeno.
"I don't believe that." Makoto said seriously. "Minako…you're lying." The brunette said, sounding hurt, as she looked at the blond woman.
"We…I…he…well…" Minako looked around, the room suddenly feeling rather tense, even the two little persons seemed to feel it, as Chibi-Usa planted her thumb in her hand and Kazeno stopped all coos and fuss. Minako stuttered, until Ami placed a hand upon her shoulder. "We broke." She said in a heartbreaking tone.
A gasp escaped from Makoto. "He…he found out…about us." Minako said as a tear escaped her eye. "About the senshi…a-a-and….he…" A sniff escaped from her every other word, and not able to hear a woman cry, especially one whom he loved as a sister, Mamoru finished for her.
"He's pissed," he said, using vocabulary he rarely used. "He doesn't want to talk to any of us at all. I tried to talk to him about Kazeno's birth, but he refuses to talk. He'll come around it, I know." By now Minako's tears ran free and Chibi-Usa reached her with her tiny hand and grazed one of Minako's tears.
"No, no!" She said, her lip coming out in a light pout as she leaned over and tried to hug her aunt. Minako gave a laugh mixed with a sob as she hugged his little girl out, and despite the situation, Mamoru couldn't help but feel proud of his little one.
"He'll come to his senses, Mina-chan." Ami spoke quietly. "He's just hurt."
Everyone nodded in agreement, and that seemed to seal the conversation and lead to a lighter topic minutes later.
OoO
She ran and ran as fast as her legs could take her, her hair dancing in the air as she dashed through the destroyed city. She could not take it, her heart could not take it.
Soon, she stopped before her princess, who stood back with her head low, a few tears stroking her face. She felt her heart freeze as Princess Serenity turned to look at her…though this was no longer Princess Serenity, no, she was a queen now, her queen.
"Sailor Venus…" Queen Serenity whispered, pain evident on her usually vivid blue eyes, but all she could see now was pain…unbearable pain. It was then that she heard the sniffs.
She glanced behind Queen Serenity to see Prince Endymion…but just like Serenity, he was no mere prince, he was king now. She looked up at his blue eyes, usually resembling a deep, peaceful sea, now resembling a stormy and crude sea.
She did not understand, and knew by the tugs in her heart that something had happened…something that would define the path of her life.
She gave a step forward to see the rest of the senchi standing by, all of them with tears in her eyes, but she did not concentrate on their torn uniforms, or the fact that all of them, including Queen Serenity and King Endymion, had a few bruises or a cut here and there.
She knew a battle had just happened, but she did not know yet the extension of it. She knew lives had been lost, she could see some corpses lying around, but she had yet to know whose lives had been spared.
And just as she walked another step, she saw the reason of their grief and she felt her heart break in a thousand of billion pieces…shattered and destroy with a mighty force she could not stop. She felt her legs weaken, and she felt the pair of arms holding her, avoiding her to crash into the floor. She felt her throat close tightly just as she heard her own moan of pain, her eyes flooded with tears, and all of her body ached in a moment.
"Venus…" She heard a whisper behind her…a soar voice was calling her name, but she could not take her eyes from him…from the love of her life, from Motoki.
"No…" She heard herself whisper, as she saw the pool of blood surrounding his lifeless body. "No…no…" She whispered again and again, as with the rest of her strength, she extended a hand, pushing her body and willing to get by his side. She did not feel the wetness of his blood as she crawled through it, as it coated her uniform…the uniform of the life she had hidden from him.
"Motoki…Toki-chan…love…" She whispered, as she finally, after what it felt an eternity, got to his side, placing a hand over his cheek. His eyes were closed, as if he was asleep, but the coldness of his frigid body denied such a peaceful act. She felt herself collapse in agony over his dead body, as she clutched his clothes and mourned her lost love. She swore over his dead body that she would dedicate the rest of her life to being Sailor Venus…Minako Aino had died that day as in the far off place a crystal castle was seen to begin to rise.
OoO
Three months later…
"Mina-chan…"
She knew she had support, and if the voice calling her name didn't convince her, the two hands on her shoulder told her otherwise.
"You can do it."
She looked at her right, her sister, Usagi, standing by her with a smile and at her left, her other sister, Makoto, standing with an understanding and encouraging look.
Taking in a breath, she said the three words that might seal her fate. "Let's do it." with that said, she stood straighter, her head held high, as she expelled her breath slowly and pushed the door.
The bell announcing a new costumer sounded, and the three young ladies found themselves suddenly surrounded by teenagers in the crowded place. They walked to the booth they had taken for years, though, one of them holding a young toddler and the other carrying a baby in a sling.
From the corner of her eye she saw him…just the sight of him pained her. All she wanted to do was throw herself in his arms, kiss him, and give all of herself to him. Yet, he stood there, for a few seconds regarding them, before turning and continued attending a group of teens.
As they sat at the booth, she sighed once more. She knew she had to move on. They had not spoken or seen each other in months now, and it was the first time she dared to go anywhere that he might be…reducing her outings to three places…Usagi and Mamoru's, Rei's and Makoto's place.
"Mama! Ee!" The young toddler on Usagi's lap started 'talking', pointing to a napkin holder in the middle of the table.
Usagi smiled with a shake of her head, handing the child one napkin for her entertainment. The little girl took it happily and started shaking it around, pulling at it before placing it on her mouth. It soon appeared, though, that the taste was not favorable, as the baby spit it out and looked at it with fascination. Minako laughed at this, causing her two friends to laugh.
"So…" Usagi started, wanting to break the awkward silence that started falling. "Ami said she was going to be coming home soon…five months, I believe."
"Hai!" Makoto continued, as Minako took her gaze off the toddler and started listening to what they were actually saying. "She said she wanted to be here…but Shinozuki told me Ryo's also coming home…do you think?"
"Ami and Ryo?" Minako asked with a slight surprised smile.
"Could happen…I mean." Usagi explained with a simple shrug as they heard the faint bell of the door opening once more, and they all turned to look. Just another teenager.
"Have you noticed that this place….is crowded by kids, lately?" Makoto asked, glancing around.
"Uh…Mako-chan, it's always been crowded by kids." Minako explained, as they saw the door open once more and Rei came in and walked towards them.
"I've never noticed that before." Usagi said.
"It wouldn't be that unusual." Rei stated, as she heard Usagi's coment.
"Why are you so mean on me?!" Usagi whined, making Chibi-Usa turn to look at her with worried eyes and offering her now thrashed and ripped napkin.
"I'm sorry…I don't seem to be programmed for other options." Rei answered with a sarcastic smile planted on her face as she took her seat by Makoto's.
At her answer, Usagi poked her tongue out at her, unaware her daughter was intently watching her. Seeing her mother's reaction, the fifteen month old child poked her tongue out too…aiming her mother. At this, everyone at the table started laughing, and they soon found themselves chatting amiably, Minako finally relaxing with her friends, now her sisters.
OoO
He had seen her since she was outside…he knew sooner or later she was going to walk inside The Crown, as it was the place they had chosen for a good chat for more than five years now. He couldn't imagine them being at another place.
And as she entered, he could only stare at her for a few seconds. She looked as beautiful as he remembered. Her golden hair was left free, just a smaller bow than the usual ones holding her hair, her lips looked rosier than usual…she was like a bright colorful flower, and he like a hungry bee…she attracted him…she was like gravity for him. All he wanted at that moment was to take her in his arms and make her his….but he once more remembered that was not possible, and when she turned to glance at him, he could only return back to his work…the memories still leaving a dull pain in his heart.
He kept working, motioning for one of the waitress to attend them, not wanting to face her. Just as the other waitress was attending that specific booth, the door's bell sounded and in came Mamoru. He smiled, glad that he was here.
"Hey, man." Mamoru said with a smile.
"Hey!" He greeted his longtime friend. "They're at the usual booth." He said with a smile, as he started pouring out a coffee for him.
"Who?" Mamoru asked, glancing around. "Oh…well, I didn't actually know they were here." He said with a smile, taking a seat as he handed him the coffee.
"Really?" he asked, with a smile. "Thought you and Usagi told each other everything."
Mamoru laughed at that, "Believe me, we don't…and I think that's much better at times."
Motoki smiled at that, once more thankful that he and Mamoru had talked things through. After two weeks of loneliness, he had realized he needed to talk with someone, and though he could always hold a grudge against Mamoru, he knew his friend was…special, to say the least, he had known since they had met that Mamoru wasn't always forward with things, and that there were many things he never said. Like a dog with the tail between his legs that he had gone in search of his friend.
Two minutes after finding him, everything was set aside, and he realized he couldn't hold anything against him and was once more thankful for his friend…a friend that had slowly turned to be like a brother to him.
"Yeah…so, why are you actually here then?"
"Are you kidding me?" Mamoru asked, raising his cup of coffee. "Got this big test coming, remember? Thought I would relax for a minute or two before heading straight to the books."
Motoki laughed at that, with a shake of his head. "So…final test and we can start as interns, uh? Makes me feel…ugh, I don't know…old, maybe?"
"Yep…have been waiting for it, though. It's been pretty tough lately and am thankful it's finally over." He said with a shake of his head, just as a squeal from Chibi-Usa was heard throughout followed by much laughter. That took Mamoru's attention, and he stood, thanking him for the coffee and paying for it and moving to the girls' table.
He then got a cloth out and started, one more time, cleaning the top of the counter. He stood cleaning the same spot for a couple of seconds when he saw her move out and to the bathroom's area.
There were so many questions he wanted to know, but had refused to ask them for a long time now. Not thinking of what he was about to do, he let his impulses take control of him once more, he left the rag and followed her, unaware he was going to the lady's bathroom.
"Minako." He spoke, pushing the door open and locking it, just as she came out of a stall.
"What are you doing here?!" She asked appalled. "This is the lady's room!" She said in an angry whisper.
"Why?" he asked, his own voice sounding hoarse.
She froze in her spot, looking at him with wide eyes, before frowning. "Why?" she asked appalled. "Why not? God, Motoki, think about it?! I wanted to prote-"
"Don't come to me with that shit!"
"What the hell do you want me to say then!" She asked in exasperation, pushing him with one finger. "That I did not trust you? That I haven't trusted anyone with this secret! That I have never come clean with anyone! That the ones that know are too few to even care! That I had no courage, no way of how to tell you?!"
"I would have understood." He said coldly.
"Understood." She repeated, a few tears coming out of her eyes, and with each tear, he felt a small pierce in his heart knowing he had partially caused each of them. "You think you would understand?" she asked aghast.
"I deserved to know, Minako! I wanted to know!"
"I wanted to protect you! I don't want you to die…" she whispered, her eyes flooding with tears. "I saw it…I saw your death…I can't…I can't…" she broke, a sob escaping her mouth.
All he wanted to do was wrap his arms around her, and he did so amazed that she allowed him so.
"We can't…" She whispered. "It's….it's too much."
He said nothing, just held her. "I would do everything for you, my love."
He felt her body stiffen, as she looked up at him. "I want you, Motoki…meet me tonight at ho-at the apartment." She whispered, before she stood, composed herself quickly and walked out of the place, leaving him feeling cold.
OoO
Her long, blond hair was left free, his darker bangs fell into his eyes.
"Make me yours…" She asked, "One last time…just one last time, I need to feel you inside me," She said, tears stroking her cheeks, "And then…let me go."
His own eyes were filled with tears at what she asked, yet they both knew it was necessary. None of them had been at the place for more than ten minutes in the last three months, and now they both stood in front each other, in what used to be their room.
She took a slow step forwards, and it was enough for him to gather her in his arms and kiss her, kiss her with all the passion he felt…with all the repressed passion he had had and she corresponded, grabbing his back, pushing her nails slightly into his skin. She wanted him badly, just as badly as he wanted her.
Soon, her light yellow shirt was lost and so was his dark brown one. He stood a moment, glancing at her still covered breasts, glancing down at her until he reached her navel and a little bit downwards where her skirt started to hug her hips. She regarded him, his well-defined abs and his smooth skin, rough…yet gentle. She wanted all of it, and just hugged him, as he hugged her back.
He passed a hand through her back, freeing her bra, just as she gave a step back, letting her breasts free, leaving her just on her short skirt and panties. She looked down at his pants and slowly unbuckled his belt, followed by his button and zipper. She let them all go, just to have his pants fall slightly from his hips to his knees and toes, leaving him on his boxers only.
They enjoyed every moment of it, slowly taking off every covering off their bodies, until they were left naked. And naked they were, no more secrets, no more deceit, no more lies. They had told everything about each other as they could…but they knew they could not be together…she had said so.
Slowly, he reached her naked body and stroked her stomach, coming up to her pert up breasts, and up to her neck.
"I love you," he whispered, coming close to her and softly kissing her lips. "I will always do, Minako."
"I have always done so, Motoki…" She whispered, "And will always do…during all my lives, you'll be in my heart…deep in my heart…you'll live in my dreams and in my heart, where no one can take you away from me."
With that, he leaned forward, taking her, making her his, kissing her fervently wherever his lips could reach, and she could only hold him, begging deep in her heart to him to never let go.
Soon, no one could tell where one body started and where the other ended as they made love to each other. In their hearts they knew this would never be able to be and they wanted the last time to be special…special for both of them.