The Song of the Cherry Blossoms

Chapter 11

Autumn is in full blooms, which meant it was finally time to wave goodbye to summer and spring and get back to the dreaded school life.

It's been over two weeks since Usagi's departure. While it was hard for the first few days, Setsuna kept on smiling.

Hotaru couldn't be happier while laughter spread across the house hold Setsuna's smile didn't seem as bright as it used to be.

They would go to the park by the shopping mall. While Haruka and Michiru would shop till their heart's content. Hotaru would run around while Setsuna sat under the barren cherry blossom tree. With a book in hand, she would read like she used to, but Hotaru wasn't dumb, for when she would get close, she would always see tears in Setsuna's eyes. Yet she would always look up at Hotaru and smile, but Hotaru knew her aunts' heart was aching.

Hotaru didn't know what to do, so she would always act like she didn't notice. But as the days went on, it grew hard to do so. From Setsuna sitting on the windowsill looking up at the full moon to the constant trips to the cherry blossom tree in the day. What hurt Hotaru the most is Setsuna's tearful smile. This must be what grown-ups call heart must be Setsuna's way of dealing with such a lost. But couldn't she see how much they were worried about her. Haruka would stay up every night to carry a tear stained sleeping Setsuna to bed while Michiru would make sure she would eat throughout the day.

Sighing, Hotaru looked over at her clock on her end table beside her bed. It was 5AM, everyone was asleep but her. She could no longer ignore the guilt that raged on in her heart. She was glad she made the wish for everyone to be a family again, but they weren't, for someone was still missing.

Kicking off her covers, Hotaru got out of bed, slipping on a pair of jeans along with a simple top, socks and shoes as she left her room. Creeping past Haruka and Michiru's room, Hotaru made it downstairs. Stopping at the door, Hotaru pulled her coat out of the closet. She then pulled out a piece of paper from the small table by the door and scribbled something down on it. Nodding to her self Hotaru unlocked the main door and stepped outside, shutting the door softly behind her.

I'm sorry everyone but I have to do this

The morning sun peaked through the windows of Haruka and Michiru's room. Haruka stirred first, followed by Michiru. A yawn escaped both of them as they sat up. Looking at each other, they smiled as they moved in close, pecking at each other on the lips. Then they slipped into their slippers on their side of the bed. Standing up Michiru left the room first followed by Haruka. This became a routine for them even now on the weekends. Michiru would knock on the door of Hotaru's room while Haruka would walk into Setsuna's room. But today would be different. For when Michiru opened Hotaru's room, she wasn't in her bed. Looking all over her room, she shook her head for thinking the worst and went to check the bathroom.

"Everything okay?" Haruka called out, surprised to see Michiru and no Hotaru by her side.

"Uh I think so, Hotaru isn't in her room and I don't see her in the bathroom either. I am going to check downstair,." Michiru said, rushing down the steps.

Haruka nodded as she walked into Setsuna's room and opened her blinds. Setsuna groaned as she stirred, followed with a yawn.

"Good morning," Haruka said to Setsuna.

"Morning…. did I hear something about Hotaru not being in her room?" Setsuna asked.

"Yeah, Michiru's checking down stairs you know how she likes to cook us breakfast sometimes,"

Setsuna nodded as she sat up while Haruka looked at the stairs. Waiting for Michi to yell back, that she found her.

Downstairs Michiru looked all over the living room, Kitchen, bathroom and back yard but Hotaru was nowhere in sight. Walking back into the living room, her eyes narrowed when she spotted a piece of paper on the table by the door. Skimming over the writing, her eyes widen as a flash of worry washed over her body.

"Ruka!" Michiru screamed.

Both Setsuna and Haruka ran downstairs to Michiru by the door. She passed the letter to Haruka, who passed it to Setsuna.

Dear Family,

I'm sorry but I can't stand seeing Setsuna sad anymore. So, I am going to see if I can fix it.

Love, Hotaru

"Silly girl, " Setsuna mumbled.

"Do you know where she would go?" Michiru asked as Haruka stroked her girlfriend's back.

"I have a feeling I know where she is."

Standing outside the park, Hotaru took a deep breath. She rubbed her hands together as the morning autumn breeze caused her to shiver.

The park was quiet. Not even the birds in the trees were awake yet. Making her way to the large barren cherry blossom tree, Hotaru stopped at the trunk of the tree. Putting her hands together, she closed her eyes.

"Hi its me again. I don't know if you have anymore magic left and I am sorry for being greedy, but can I make one more wish. Could you please bring Usagi back to us so Setsuna can be happy. I mean I know she is happy with us but its Usagi who makes her truly happy."

A gust of wind whisked around Hotaru but it wasn't cold but warm, almost like a spring breeze, for as she looked up a single cherry blossoms petal gently laid down on her thumb. She smiled as the scent of the cherry blossoms whiffed past her nose. Her ears twitched when she heard footsteps as they stopped right beside her.

"Your up early, little one," a familiar female voice said.

Hotaru turned to her right and looked up, an enormous smile spread across her lips, for there stood Usagi looking back at her with her sea-blue eyes. Unable to control herself, Hotaru hugged her. Usagi smiled as she hugged her back.

"Usagi-mama!" Hotaru said sniffing.

"Yes, little one I am back," Usagi said.

"Setsuna-mama is going to be so happy," Hotaru said.

"Happy about what?" A familiar voice said.

Hotaru looked behind her to see Haruka, Setsuna, and Michiru. Looking back to Usagi who looked back at the cherry blossom tree. She looked closer to see her hand over her mouth as tears streaming down her cheeks. Hotaru wanted to open her mouth to say something, but when she looked back at Setsuna whose eyes were also watering, Hotaru closed her mouth and didn't say a word.

Motioning for her to come over to her, Hotaru ran into the arms of Michiru, who hugged her. Haruka patted Hotaru on the head and smiled as the three of them remained silent.

*Usagi?*

Setsuna's eyes remained fixed on the blonde woman, with her back to her. She found her feet walking toward her. Her heart was doing cartwheels as her body grew tense as she stood beside her. Gently touching her shoulders, she turned the woman around and looking back at her with those sea-blue eyes she loved so much as her beloved Usagi. Both women could no longer hide their feelings as tears and sobs escape them as they embraced fiercely. Setsuna lift Usagi up, spinning her around. Setsuna's once aching her heart was now filled with joy, for her life was complete. Usagi couldn't help but laugh, for the despair she felt melted away the moment she laid eyes on Setsuna.

"I missed you so much," Setsuna said.

"I missed you too," Usagi said.

The two stopped spinning as their lips grew close until they finally pressed together passionately.

Hotaru's nose wrinkled up in disgust while Haruka and Michiru smiled.

Pulling away, Setsuna took a hold of Usagi's hand as they stood there looking at each other. But it's cut short when a loud cough caused them to look at Haruka, Michiru and Hotaru.

"Come on, you two lovebirds, lets go home," Haruka said.

Nodding, Setsuna and Usagi lead the way with their arms swinging, with Hotaru skipping behind them, with Haruka and Michiru walking behind them.

Setsuna squeezed Usagi's hand gently as they walked down the street. Usagi looked over at Setsuna.

"Where did you go?" Setsuna asked.

"When we free Mom opened up a florist shop a few blocks away. It took a while for us to adjust but once everything was in order, I had to find you." Usagi replied.

"I'm glad everything turned out well and now with you back in my grasp I will never let you go again."

Usagi smiled, blushing lightly.

Turning the corner, Usagi pointed to Serenity, who smiled and waved to everyone from in front of her flower shop. Everyone smiled and waved back Serenity sighed contently as she watched her little one all grown up now. She had found her true love and now she could finally live out her happiness as well. Turning around, Serenity noticed a woman staring at the two stick trees in front of the shop.

"Excuse me, but what are these supposed to be?" the woman asked.

"Cherry blossom trees, but they are very special," Serenity said.

"Oh, why is that?"

"For when they bloom, just make a wish with your heart and who knows it might come true."

The woman's eyes widen as Serenity smiled with a pinkish tint in her eyes,