One Month
October 27
Reunion
***Usagi's POV***
The battle below them was fierce. Bright flashes of light flew from the rooftops and into the creature, who, it appeared, had just risen from the ground, again. Sailor Moon took hold of Tuxedo Kamen's hand as they floated above and her mind and heart melded with his. Fully open to their own powers, their Bond closer than ever, the two worked as one. The two changed into Serenity and Endymion as they hovered above the battle.
Both pulled their swords and focused a flow of powerful energy into it. This time the energy was not drawn from their own bodies. Their swords swung in perfect unison, each flowing in an arc in front of the bearers as the two spoke in the same breath.
"Moon Earth Unity Flood!"
The moment the words were uttered there was a blaze of light that brightened the city of Tokyo until it appeared as bright as noon. Gold and Silver intermingled, flowing out in a bright circle of light and melding until there was no way to tell who had released which stream. Their minds focused together, pushing it forward in a wave of light and then it hit the creature.
She could hear the words in her mind, Rei's worry that they were people. She nodded to him and together they spoke over the down creature, a call to the crystals that had locked the creatures away. The Crystals flew to them from the hands of the man standing on a roof a distance away.
With a negligible flick of her finger, she destroyed him.
***Rei's POV***
There was a glow, brighter than any of the flashes that had passed before, but it didn't harm her eyes in the slightest. She looked up and gasped as she saw what, or rather who, was above them all. Usagi and Mamoru had returned. They were not the same.
Usagi wore a long white dress, and her hair had turned silver, and by the size of her belly the time they had been missing was much greater wherever they had been. She was wearing a silver breast plate, rounded to cover the child, and wore a sword low on her hip. The greatest change however, was the large white wings.
Mamoru wore a dark blue uniform with armor over it, a sword at his hip. He looked bigger, stronger, his body well built, looking as though he had long trained with the sword. His stance had changed as well, his shoulders straight, his head up, proud and strong.
Mars recognized them of course. It was the image of Serenity and Endymion, though changed. She realized they had drawn their swords. There were only scabbards hanging at their sides. They worked in perfect unity, their swords swinging in an arc as they released their attack.
Even the monster below stared in awe.
Mars cried out in fear, knowing that the creature was seven people, trapped by the loss of their crystals.
She watched as it was knocked down onto it's back. It did not rise. Serenity and Endymion sheathed their swords. There was a moment when they did... something... and then they descended. If it hadn't been for the breeze ruffling their hair and the long dress, there would be no movement even as they lowered to sit on the chest of the monster.
***Mamoru's POV***
The Crystals landed in his cupped hands. He pressed them together and crushed them to dust. Prince Endymion and Princess... No. King Endymion and Queen Serenity put away their swords, their actions synced perfectly. They began to descend, and landed atop the creature, which was staring up at them, not moving. It was as though the humans that had been changed were giving it pause long enough to seek help.
They would give it.
He felt the presence of dozens of strange Youma. Youma that had belonged to the man, connected to him somehow. They were now waking up, beginning to think on their own. That wouldn't do. His mind blended with his Soul-Bonded and they turned away from the creature long enough to send out a wave of energy turning them to dust.
He and Serenity turned back to each other and clasped hands. Each pulled the crystal from their chests. They knelt, right their on top of the creature, and began to work.
First they had to erase the monster. These were people. He and Serenity focused that image in their minds. Images of the people they should be flickered, and the monsters within the larger one disappeared, leaving only the humans they should have been. Then they destroyed the monster trapping them. Focusing after that, Endymion healed the bodies while Serenity healed the minds.
***Kunzite's POV***
The grace and beauty of their leaders was astounding. He watched in awe as the lights sprung out from the two of them and flowed into the creature. The monster began to shrink, slowly at first, and then he was able to see the individual people in the shadows beneath the skin. After a moment he could recognize them. Underneath the creature, they were trapped.
They did not turn back into smaller monsters when the larger one disappeared. His eye widened when he realized they were now kneeling on the street, the monster a mere image around them. And then it was gone, and the two still worked. A circle of energy flowed into each of the Carriers. He couldn't understand what it was they were doing, but he could see the results.
It seemed to take minutes and eons at once. He stood transfixed, his eyes locked on the sight before him. They worked in complete harmony. When one's hand moved, the other's moved at the same time. And then their eyes opened and the light sunk into each of the people who had been cursed.
They stood. Endymion took Serenity's hand, and there was a shimmer before Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen stood in front of them again. Around them, seven people lay sleeping, looking peaceful now.
Sailor Moon spoke. "Take them home." And then she and Tuxedo Kamen disappeared without so much as a flash.
He and the others moved in, leaping from the rooftops to the ground below. They had all stood transfixed as the healing had occurred. He'd seen the destruction of the man with the Dragon's Fire Opal, and the Youma that he had created. He knew the city was safe.
It was still dark when he grabbed Reika and popped into Haruka's apartment with her. He nodded to Motoki. "Where to?" The young man ran forward, and told him where to go. "Grab on."
A moment later he was standing in Motoki's living room. He followed Motoki down a hallway and the man opened a door to a bedroom. He set Reika in the bed. Motoki hovered over her.
"How?"
"Mamoru and Usagi have returned," he answered simply.
"Thank Kami-sama!" Motoki breathed.
"Good night." Kunzite whispered and didn't wait for a response before stepping into Mamoru's living room.
***Shingo's POV***
He hadn't done much during the fight except keep Youma from sneaking up behind the Senshi and Shitennou, but he was exhausted. More than anything though he was relieved. His sister was home. Changed certainly, but home.
He grabbed hold of Saturn and they popped into Haruka's apartment. He wasn't strong enough to carry any of the people home yet. But there was something he could do better than anything else.
"Mom! Dad!" he ran towards his parents. His father was still holding Takeo, rocking slightly as the boy slept on his shoulder. "Usagi and Mamoru are back. Everyone is healed. They're bringing them home now. The Senshi are making sure no one got hurt too. But Usagi and Mamoru. Man they were COOL!"
Ikuko sat down heavily, her hands over her face, and wept. Shingo was confused.
"Mom, they're HOME! It's okay. Don't cry!"
Kenji reached out and put a hand on his shoulder as Hotaru went to his mother. "Shingo, she's crying because she's happy and relieved, and she's been holding it in for so long, trying to be strong for all of us."
"Oh." Shingo couldn't figure it out. "Girls are weird!"
Kenji laughed, and received a glare from his wife.
"I don't get it though. Cause they looked really different. Usagi was big. Huge. Like really pregnant big I mean. And her hair was different, and she was wearing a SWORD! So was Mamoru. They looked like Serenity and Endymion, but different. Not like they were before, and it was cool. I mean it was like they were one person moving together and stuff. It was awesome!"
Ikuko was laughing.
Jadeite appeared and moved toward Takeo. "Can I take him? Rei doesn't want to leave her grandfather."
"Sure. He's been sleeping for almost an hour. Took him a bit. But he doesn't want to be put down."
"I've got him." He took the boy, who woke up just enough to wrap his arms around the other man's neck and murmur something Shingo didn't catch. "I promise I'll check in later," Jadeite added, and stepping back, he disappeared.
***Minako's POV***
Venus had stayed behind to guard the sleeping people as one by one they were taken home. She watched the streets, wondering at the changes she had seen in Mamoru and Usagi. Something had obviously happened to them. They had been gone less than ten days, but it seemed as though, for them, months had passed. Many months judging by the bulge of the baby under that dress.
She had never been so amazed. Not in this life, or her life guarding the moon princess. No, this had been incredible. The two had been in perfect harmony. They had changed so much, become so different. She wondered if she would know them at all anymore.
Haruki and Setsuna returned and took Crane Game Joe. They disappeared again, leaving her with no one to guard.
::I'm done. Headed your way.:: She told Kunzite.
::One second. Nephrite and Makoto just dropped off that Rhett/Ren character. They're planning to bring you to me.::
::Okay, see you soon.::
She turned and surveyed the damage. There was a lot of it. Nowhere else on earth was Youma insurance a thing. She sighed. People were beginning to return to their homes and sirens were approaching. She couldn't help but feel bad for the police. People got on their cases all the time, but they weren't equipped to handle the creatures that had long terrorized the city.
Nephrite and Makoto appeared. She moved toward them and a moment later found herself in Mamoru's living room. Almost immediately she was wrapped in Kunzite's arms. As soon as he released her she transformed, becoming Minako again.
"Ami's in checking them over now. They were sleeping when I got here, so I called her and Zo." Kunzite explained.
She sighed in relief and leaned against him.
Makoto was in the kitchen rummaging in the fridge. Minako heard her talking to Nephrite and a moment later he had disappeared, probably headed to a konbini.
***Ami's POV***
"They're only sleeping," Ami said as she moved out of the bedroom and into the living area. Zoicite followed her out and the two of them made their way to the concerned people waiting for answers. At some point Usagi's family had arrived. Makoto was in the kitchen cooking and ordering Nephrite around. Kunzite was sitting, Minako on his lap as he ran a hand up and down her back. Everyone was quiet as she continued.
"There is no harm to either of them. It is obvious some time has passed for them, however. Usagi's pregnancy has progressed by several months, to about 26 weeks." She paused to let that sink in. Ikuko gasped, but no one else made much noise. They'd all seen for themselves when the royal couple had been floating over the battlefield.
"There are new pathways in their brains, and even in their sleep they are using much more than a normal human would wide awake. We all use more, but they've advanced beyond us." She smiled. "I'm pretty sure it's not intelligence the way we typically test it, though I'd be surprised if both of them don't have a bunch of new information. The man change seems to be in neural pathways. They can think faster, and they can apparently connect to one another. Their brain waves were almost identical."
A few people murmured at that and Kenji frowned.
"There are also some major physical changes. For instance, Usagi wont need her hyperthyroid medication anymore and should finally be able to maintain a healthy weight. Some changes are more obvious, their hair of course. And Mamoru is broader across the chest and shoulders. He's gained muscle as though he spent years sword fighting. When not in henshin Usagi's wings disappeared though."
"Wings?" asked Ikuko. Apparently Shingo hadn't mentioned that part.
***Jadeite's POV***
Grandfather Hino smiled at them as he signed the paperwork. A moment later they were standing in front of the altar and the three sake cups were in front of them. Jadeite swallowed hard as he was passed the first cup. He gave it to Rei when he had taken his sip. Rei was passed the second cup, which she handed to him. Then he was passed the third and when he had finished he passed it to her again. Yuichiro and Aika, their kannushi and miko in training brought forward the rings and signed the papers as well.
Grandfather Hino placed the first evergreen and then he and Rei brought theirs as well. They spoke prayers to the Kami, and it was done.
He was married.
He grinned at Rei. She grinned back. Takeo took both of their hands.
"And Ami finished the other paperwork?" Grandfather asked.
"Yes, she did. He will be officially ours as soon as both are sighed by the judge." Rei said happily. She looked down at the little boy, his blonde hair tousled by the wind. With his blue eyes he looked very much like his new adoptive father.
"So I can call you Mama and Papa?" Takeo asked.
"Yes. But you don't have to if you don't want to." Jadeite told him. "It's up to you, though it would make us happy."
"Think they'll be mad at us for not telling them?" Rei asked suddenly
"No. I think, in this case, they'll understand. It's not one of those fancy church things where you have to bring everyone." Jadeite said with a shrug. He knew it was usually only family at a Shinto ceremony. It just made sense.
"You can always do a formal sitting later," Yuichiro said, holding Aika's hand. They both left to do their chores.
"The letter." Jadeite reminded.
Rei nodded. "Are you ready?"
The four of them sat and Rei pulled the note from her subspace pocket. She had the box in her room still. It was Takeo's inheritance, and she wanted to keep it safe. Takeo settled into Rei's lap as she opened the parchment.
Dearest Son,
On the day you read this you will have gained a new family. We are so happy that you have found them, and we wish all of you the best. We will miss you terribly, but your only hope of safety was to send you to them. We won't last much beyond the moment your pod leaves our solar system. We love you very much. We always have and we always will. We don't want you to ever wonder. We did not want to send you away. It was your only hope. You are the best thing that ever happened to us, and sending you away tears us apart. Never doubt our love for you.
Take care of Rei-Mama and Jadeite-Papa. They will love and protect you, but in turn you must love and protect them. And be nice to your sister and brother when they come.
You will always be in our hearts Takeo.
We love you so much.
Mother and Father.
A second piece of parchment was behind the first, which Rei handed carefully to Takeo, who had tears streaming down his face. She snuggled him tightly for a moment before beginning to read. Jadeite and Grandfather Hino listened quietly.
Hello Rei and Jadeite,
If my visions are correct you two were married today, so I want to give you my congratulations. I also want to offer my thanks. You have accepted our son into your hearts and taken him as your own. It feels almost as though I already know you. My wife would say it's unfair of me to have peeked so much, but when it involves one's child... lets just say I wanted to know he would be safe. I am giving him into your care. You have a similar power, and Jadeite has the patience to teach him with you. Let him laugh with the boy, it would make this father's heart happy.
I have three warnings for you. The first is to watch for the Dark Moon Clan. They will try to take your princess. The second is to keep Hotaru away from her father at all costs. The third is most important. Nehelinia will come. She is the one you must be most watchful of. She has destroyed our solar system. Be prepared for that day. I cannot tell you more. You must discover these things for yourselves.
You will have other battles, things I cannot mention here because they would change the course of your history, and that would not be advisable. It is a dangerous thing to meddle with the future.
Please remind Takeo that we love him. I am so grateful that he has both of you as mother and father now. Do not be sad when he calls you Mama and Papa. It is as it should be. And on his wedding day, please give him the box. You have our gratitude.
Faithfully yours,
Myung Kaneko
Jadeite heard Rei sniffling when she stopped reading, and he wrapped her and Takeo both in his arms. His beautiful wife had a sensitive heart. One she didn't often show. Takeo turned and looked up at them both.
"They're dead aren't they?" he asked, wiping his nose with his sleeve.
"I'm afraid so," Jadeite answered, not wanting to lie. "But we will protect you now. We already love you Takeo. And we will help you remember them." He knew there were memories in the boy, even if he couldn't reach them, and with his and Rei's powers they could do a fire reading and help him to see his parents.
"Brother and sister?" Takeo asked.
Jadeite paused. He'd forgotten the first letter said that. He shrugged. "I'm not sure. I doubt they would have sent a brother and sister separately from you, so perhaps there will be other children we will find, or maybe one day Rei and I will have babies."
Takeo nodded. "Okay." He smiled up at them. "I love you Jadeite-Papa and Rei-Mama. Can I go play now?" When they gave permission, and a hug, he ran off to play in the garden. He still kept them in his sight, but Jadeite hoped one day he would be more comfortable. He had lost much in his young life though, and according to Ikuko his behavior was normal. He just had to accept her wisdom.
"So," Rei started a few minutes later, "should we call the others?"
***Makoto's POV***
"Are you sure they're okay? Usagi should have woken up the moment she smelled food," Makoto asked Ami. She knew she was sounding like a broken record, but she was worried. The battle had ended so long ago, and it was already well into the morning.
"They're fine Mako-chan," Nephrite said, holding up his hand to stop Ami from explaining... again.
"But..."
"No buts. From the looks of things they've been gone for months. Then they fought a battle and healed seven people. They're bound to be tired. If you want you could make them a cake." Nephrite kissed her forehead and winked at her.
She knew he was just helping her find ways to stay busy. She didn't mind. He had her figured out already. When she was nervous or anxious, she cooked, or baked, or cleaned. It made the time pass, kept her mind and hands busy, and helped her avoid getting into trouble. She'd been doing it since her parents had passed away, and she wasn't about to stop.
She was about to order him to her apartment to get the supplies when she heard the door open down the hall. She pressed the call button for Rei and Jadeite. A moment later they popped into the living room with Takeo and Grandfather Hino. The apartment was quite crowded. The Outers had wanted to stay to meet the couple. Usagi's family refused to leave until they spoke to her, and with all the Inners and the Shitennou now in attendance, the place was packed.
She heard water running in the bathroom, and then voices speaking. In just a moment Usagi and Mamoru entered the living room, stopping for a moment to stare at the crowd of people waiting for them.
"I smell food." Usagi said, covering her mouth as she yawned.
Her belly was huge. She looked about six months along. Makoto swallowed hard. She wondered if Usagi was angry with her. But a second later she saw the grin, and then the little blonde had thrown her arms around her and she was holding her friend tightly.
"Hi Mako-chan. Rei-chan!" she moved to hug the priestess. Soon everyone had received hugs.
"Where's Motoki?" Mamoru asked. "How is Reika?"
"I'll be right back," Nephrite whispered and he popped out.
"Haruki!" Usagi squealed. "Mama! Papa! Shingo!" And she was surrounded by her family members. They pulled Mamoru into the circle. Makoto saw that he wasn't completely comfortable but was trying for Usagi's sake.
Eventually the couple was sitting in a chair, Usagi on Mamoru's lap with his arms around her belly. Everyone stared at the pretty picture they made for a moment, until Makoto took matters into her own hands and took an actual photo of the couple.
Usagi grinned at her.
Nephrite popped back in then, with Motoki and Reika. Usagi squealed and went to hug them both. Reika looked stunned, but Motoki just hung his head.
"None of that!" Usagi ordered, then gave him an extra hug. "You smile Motoki-onii-san!" She moved aside so Mamoru could hug his best friend, and then a moment later they were back in their chair.
"So I have to know. How long have we actually been gone? Time was really messed up where we were." Mamoru asked, his forehead crinkled.
"You disappeared in the evening on the 18th. It's now morning on the 27th. Less than ten days." Ami said.
"Wow!" Usagi said breathlessly.
"It was a long time for us," Mamoru said, rubbing the bulge of Usagi's belly. "We were in a forest most of that time. In Elysion."
There was a sound at the door. Like scratching. Makoto went and opened it and was blasted by an angry pair of cats.
"What are we? Chopped liver? You say Usagi's back but don't bother to come and get us!?" Luna screeched.
"Luna!" Usagi made as though to bend and get the cat but Mamoru stopped her. Luna hopped up onto the arm of the chair and Usagi gathered her into her arms. The cat glared around the room, but began purring the moment Usagi's hands closed around her. She rubbed her hear under the blonde's chin, and after a few minutes had calmed completely.
"I missed you Usagi." She said quietly.
"I missed you too."
"You're wearing an engagement ring," Luna said sleepily. Apparently being held made her tired. Or perhaps it was everything all of them had been through since Usagi had been gone.
"I am. Mamoru proposed. He actually used his powers to make the ring." That began the rush for every female in the room to look at the ring of course. Usagi laughed and giggled and told parts of the story of the proposal. Makoto could read between the lines and guess the rest.
A long time passed while they explained everything that had happened while the couple had been gone, and then the two of them began to tell their story. "I think the scariest part was knowing you were all on your own. When we heard Nephrite..." Usagi stopped and opened her arms for Makoto and Nephrite. They obediently went to hug their friend.
"It was the first time for us, doing something that strong. It wasn't long after that Tentomushi started showing her powers. She kept calling all the ladybugs. It was sweet, but we had to be so careful because we didn't want to hurt any of them." Mamoru was saying.
"Tentomushi?" Ikuko asked. "A little Ladybug. I like that."
"I do too," Usagi said, her third cookie disappearing. She waved away more, which startled Makoto, but then she remembered what Ami had said.
"So, we might have still been in that forest, just wandering around, if I hadn't gotten whiny. I started complaining and then I wished we could just get where we were going without another step. And then we met Yume and his family."
Rei snorted. "You? Whiny? Never?" she said sarcastically. A moment later the two were sticking their tongues out at each other, and everyone else was laughing.
"How come your hair changed?" Shingo asked.
"We actually aren't sure. It happened when we accessed our full powers, so I assume it has something to do with that. I think we can pass it off as hair dye though. Or use the disguise pen."
"I think it's pretty," Ikuko said. "It's almost silver, and I like the pink highlights."
"I'm not too thrilled with the purple," Mamoru said dryly.
"I think you look dashing," Usagi said and turned to kiss him.
"So what was with the swords?" Makoto gave voice to her own question. It had been on her mind. "Serenity never had sword training."
"No, she didn't. But I can use it," Usagi said. "The knowledge is all there. The forms, the stances, the battle knowledge. So, that was our quest at the temple. To retrieve them. I think the sword has something to do with Metallia though."
Suddenly she stopped talking and patted her stomach. "Tentomushi is tired."
"You can talk to her?"
"Yeah, we both can." Mamoru said, patting the bump on his fiancé.
"Cool," whispered Shingo.
"I haven't had much time to meet all of you," Usagi said looking at the Outers. "I really want to spend time with you all. But I have to admit, I'm sort of tired again." She smiled. "In the forest, whenever we got tired or hungry, food and beds appeared and it turned into night."
"Wow!" Hotaru breathed.
"Well, I think maybe we should let the two of you get some rest. You're both coming home for dinner though right?" Ikuko asked.
Usagi nodded and then her family all moved forward to hug her.
"Setsuna and Hotaru will be there. You can have some more time with them then." Haruki said.
"Alright."
Haruka and Michiru went to hug her next. "Come to our place for breakfast?" Haruka asked. She was holding Michiru's hand.
"Okay. And then the rest of us all have to get together for lunch," Usagi added diplomatically.
After that everyone started disappearing. Makoto and Nephrite stayed for a while so she could make a snack for the couple, then they too left.
