Whoo hoo! A new chapter! :D Thank you everyone for driving me to complete this story! :D I'm honored you all love it so well. I know I'm not the best at writing, I know my strengths and weaknesses. I know everything can be improved over time. Thank you everyone who is enjoying this story as much as I am!

Here's the next chapter! After this the next stage has been set! Golden Millennia here we come!

Disclaimer: Naruto, Sailor Moon, and Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles, their settings, characters, etc., belong to their fabulous creators. All original characters, settings, etc., belong to me.

Chapter 36: The Gathering

It had been a very dark day for Haruka. She never wished to see her princess in such a state. She was furious that Gaara sprung such a dark secret on Selene, but she could understand his reason why. No one wished to keep secrets from loved ones, and their love spread eons…

"It was not his fault, Selene…" Michiru was at the princess' side immediately. "He was under a very deep trance." She hugged the young girl.

"Why…Why can I not remember such a horrible thing!?" It must have been a horrific sight to see your loved one murdering your friends! Such a moment should not have been lost to her! Why couldn't she remember!?

"You will soon enough." Hotaru spoke up. "The seal upon your memories is slowly breaking. In time, princess, you will learn the truth."

"Seal? What seal?"

The Michiru explained to her how with the help of Helios, Small Lady used her pink crystal to seal the Neo-Queen's memories through reincarnation after reincarnation. It took great power to accomplish such task.

"I…see…" Selene frowned then looked up. "Gaara-I—"

Lord Kazekage was nowhere in sight. Where had he gone?

"The Kazekage thought it best to give you some space." Michiru smiled. "I am sure it must be hard on him as well…You both must remember, that was a life time ago…Now you are different people with different memories…Why blame him for something that happened so long ago?"

Michiru was right. Gaara himself hadn't done the deed…a form of him had. Even then it was not by King Endymion's own will. Knowing Gaara's past, Selene knew he was most likely more distraught than she was.

She decided she needed to see him, immediately.

"I am going to the tower." Selene wasn't taking no for an answer. She would not permit Gaara to have this burden alone. They were a team and would need each other's support.

Haruka had to smile at her charge's determination. Even as the Neo-Queen, Usagi was always putting others before herself.

"Right now is not the proper time." Setsuna had walked into the home with a bag of groceries; she had been given a key to their home. She still contained the power of sight, thus she knew beforehand what was about to happen. As she set the food upon the counter she said, "I see them approaching the gates."

Confused, Selene asked, "Them?"

"The positions have changed but the main goal is still the same within the Sailor Senshi…" Hotaru stated. "Protect that which is important to us. With all of us gathered, there will certainly be impeding battles that will require us all."

It took Selene a second to understand Sailor Saturn's words. She stood, her eyes wide.

"You mean…The Inners…Are coming?" The whole team of Celestial Guardians…Gathering together in Suna!?

"Well of course they would!" Makoto, who had been silent the whole time, was grinning ear to ear. "No matter where we are, we always find our one and only princess…"

The Crystal Land blood within Selene was pumping with excitement. To think she would bear witness to such a historic moment! Seeing the eight Celestial Guardians in person was a dream to all within the Crystal Lands!

"They will arrive in the next few days…" Setsuna stated. "I am quite certain of this."

"Well then we must prepare for their arrival." Michiru chuckled. "It will get rather…crazy around here, don't you think so Haruka?"

Haruka grumbled. "Hopefully they are a bit more mature this time around…"

Makoto chuckled. "Were we really that annoying?" A roll of the eyes from the Uranus solider. "I think things will be different this time around…After all we switched jobs now." She looked at Selene. "She doesn't need us on the front lines…This time around, she needs all of you."

Knowing it was their turn to be around the princess gave the Outer Senshi a deep sense of pride and happiness. For so long they had to hang back and watch their precious princess laugh and smile with the Inner Senshi…Now…They held those positions.

"Alright!" Makoto grinned. "I'm heading out! I'd better get everything ready! Wouldn't want your house to be bombarded, ne? I'd guess I'd better find us Inners a place to stay…It'll be fun!"

The Outers, surprisingly Haruka too, couldn't help but feel excited to know their comrades were not far away. After ages apart, their group would gather again and enact the mission they were sent to do…protect the princess at all cost.

Setsuna left to go prepare her own home, leaving Michiru and Haruka to look after their charge. The princess in question rushed up the stairs back to her room, probably too excited herself.

A large weight slammed into Haruka's heart…Eventually Selene would know whose blade sliced through Endymion's chest to protect the Neo-Queen. Sailor Uranus feared that day.

A hand touched her shoulder; it was Michiru. The woman knew why her partner was suddenly so depressed.

"It will be alright, Haruka."

A deep sigh. "I sure hope so…" She looked towards the stairs, where her charge went bounding up to her room. "I…don't want her to hate me…"

"You did what you had to do, Haruka. No one can blame you for that." Michiru told her. "Rather, I am more worried about our poor Kazekage. He must feel horrible…"

Haruka frowned. "Ever since he held his position, Lord Kazekage had always valued life. I can understand how he must feel right now…" She felt her fist tighten. "In another life, we both caused pain to the person we deeply care for."

"Haruka…" Michiru hugged Uranus…They had a special bond those two. Michiru knew when Haruka needed her comfort…This was one of those times. "Selene will understand…You will see."

Meanwhile, within the office of the Kazekage, Gaara delved into his work. It was the only way he knew to get his mind off of the dreaded memories that haunted his very soul.

That scream…the one that came from Selene not but an hour ago…It was a scream of despair and longing for those who were gone from this world. Gaara had heard it many times in his current past…And he had been the instigator of such screams.

That scream brought up bad memories of his time as a young man, when all he thought of was blood and how it stained his hands.

He shut those thoughts out immediately. He could not change what he did so long ago in this life and in another; it still hurt to think he caused that scream to come from Selene…the one person he never wished to see hurt.

He kept himself busy handing out missions and paperwork. These things needed to be done anyway; as he finished reading the next to last scroll which lay upon his desk, he noticed final one waiting for him to open. He recognized that seal and it spelled dread.

The Hokage…

Gaara was expecting something from Naruto. He opened the contents, knowing already what was inside. Sakura would be in Suna in a matter of days, it read, on a supposed good will mission to Suna. Yet Gaara knew the pinkette would not be there for good will. She would be bulldozing the gates of Suna in search of Sarada. He could see her practically destroying every household until her daughter had been found. Destruction was eminent.

At least there was no mention of Sasuke…Yet…

Did the Outer Scouts know what madness was heading their way? Should he warn them of Sakura's wrath?

A ninja burst into his office, stating someone was using the traveling jutsu to enter Suna. It had been decided that only high ranking ninja would use the jutsu for now, until it could be perfected. No one was scheduled to use it, who could it be?

He along with a detail of ninja traveled to the area in which the jutsu would always be activated. The jutsu was in full swing, a lone person coming through. When the lights faded, a familiar form could be seen.

It was the future Crystal Kage.

"Ampris?" He saw Selene step forward, also shocked to see her sister-in-law. What could the woman be doing here without her guards?

The black haired woman approached Selene with a smile upon her elegant face. She was the one that hugged Selene first, seemingly to crush the young princess to her.

"Ampris what brings you here?" Selene was happy yet surprised to see Ampris there as were many White Ninja that gathered.

"Odoroko?" The White Ninja within Suna became concerned immediately. "What has happened?"

She sighed.

"I have found my true path." She pulled away from Selene. "Usagi-chan…"

Selene's eyes went wide, the feeling she got when in the presence of a long past friend resurfaced.

"Mars?"

The White Ninja around them grew silent.

Gaara frowned. How would this work? Ampris was the future Crystal Kage for pete sake! He noticed the White Ninja were whispering in their White Language, some confused, others excited and honored.

"I…I cannot believe it…" Selene smiled at Ampris. "To think…You have been by my side for all this time…"

"Odd isn't it?" Ampris chuckled. "Imagine my own surprise when it occurred to me my true calling." She sighed. "This turn of events might…be troubling…"

Selene took the woman's hand. "We will face it together…We are sisters now, remember?"

"You are right." A gentle grin. "You have not changed, Usagi…"

"Neither have you, Raye." A light giggle from the princess. "Well…Your eye color has at least." The light in Selene's eyes dimmed for a brief moment and Ampris caught it instantly.

"What is wrong?"

"Gaara…Told me what happened those many years ago…" Tears developed in her blue eyes. "I…Cannot remember but my heart apparently does…"

It took the Odoroko a moment to comprehend but soon she was wiping away the tears of her precious princess.

"Do not blame anyone for past mistakes…" Ampris told her. "You will find that you are not the only one hurting…" She gazed right at Gaara. Had she known he was there the entire time? "Remember, the person you are now, the person he is now…" She turned Selene so that the princess could see Gaara. "The pain lessons when you have someone to share it with."

The distance between the princess and the ninja leader felt as if they were separated by two countries. In essence they were, a princess from another land and a high ranking ninja from another. Both had different cultures, different ways they viewed the world; different life experiences that had them feel differently in situations.

Yet, a deep connection was felt amongst the two…one that spanned eons. It was hard to ignore the deep seeded longing; Selene couldn't take it anymore…And neither could Gaara.

At first, one would believe Selene to make the first move; she had intended to do such…To rush towards him and never let him go, however the princess' plan was destroyed in a shocking turn of events.

One minute she was about to run to him…the next…It was he running towards her.

Selene met him halfway. The two completely forgot where they were, their minds focused on the person in their arms. Gaara held onto her tightly while Selene's delicate arms were wrapped around his torso.

Ampris looked from afar, a gentle smile on her face. No matter the reincarnation, the Earth Prince loved his Moon Princess more than life itself and it was clearly present right there in the middle of Suna's street.

"It is a beautiful sight, is it not?" She spoke to a nearby White Ninja.

"Guardian Mars." The White Ninja spoke with such reverence it boggled the mind. "When will the others arrive?"

She knew whom he was speaking about and looked towards the Suna gates.

"It is only a matter of time…"

Indeed it had been…Three days later, two more individuals walked into the gates of Suna…One carried within an elegant carriage, the other wrapped in a brown cape. The two were revealed to be a blue haired woman and a long haired blonde. The White Ninja need not ask who they were, they simply bowed.

"Where is she?" The blonde, dressed in elegant attire, asked. "Where is our princess?"

Very soon, the remaining two Sailor Senshi stood with their comrades at the steps of the Kazekage Tower. All around White Ninja were in deep bows while both Gaara and Selene curiously looked on. Nearby Suna Ninja stood in wonder and shock.

The eight women set their sights upon Gaara and Selene who stood at the top of the stairs…In the presence of their ancient royalty, the eight women took knees to the ground and bowed their heads.

"The Eight Celestial Guardians…the Sailor Senshi..." Haruka, the new leader, spoke first. "Reporting for duty, our new Prince and Princess…the future rulers of the Golden Millennia."

The air was thick and silent; not a soul moved or breathed. White Ninja within the walls of Suna stood at complete attention, their minds and hearts completely bursting. The Suna residence couldn't help but feel that they had just bare witness to a royal coronation. During this moment, none saw a lone boy running away, heading towards his master's exotic estate. He told Lord Suna and his son what he had just witnessed in the center of town.

Neither lord nor son spoke. A grim look fell upon Lord Suna's face.

"Get me the Suna Council…immediately."

Next Time: Kage no Longer

I can only imagine how awe-inspiring it must be to see your heroes gathering right in front of you. I wanted this chapter to reflect that feeling because I know that's how the White Ninja would be like during this moment; when all of the Sailor Senshi are there, in the flesh, proclaiming once again to protect and honor their royalty. I hope I expressed this feeling well enough! See you all next time!