Chapter 7: A Bag Of Cookies

Chibiusa bound into the clearing before she had even thought about what she was doing and hugged Perlé tight. He hadn't hesitated to wrap his strong arms around her and laugh heartily with joy. Chibiusa was overwhelmed with tears not really understanding why. It had been so long, the encounter they shared before hadn't been a long one. She thought he might have forgotten about her. She was so young then she wasn't sure that was "love". Chibiusa finally came to her senses and realized she was still in his arms. She felt the blood rise to her cheeks and she staggered back covering her face with the wide arms of her Yukata.

"Chibiusa, I am so glad that you remember me. I was afraid you had forgotten." Perlé said in such a soft and masculine tone. He took a few steps closer to her then stopped himself.

"How could I forget, you helped us, you saved me, you saved many children. Without your help Sailor Moon wouldn't had been able to get to me, to save everyone from Queen Badiane and her black dream hole."

Still evading his gaze as she knew she was still blushing she finally gave in and looked at him. He's so much older now, like they aged the same exact way. He was so handsome and still gave off such a kind and warm energy. Perlé stepped forward and grabbed her hand looking down at it.

"I never forgot your kindness. I've actually been looking for you for so long. I hope this doesn't frighten you. I just couldn't fight the urge to see you again, see who you've become and how you were doing." He never took his eyes off her fair hand.

Chibiusa heard two voices calling her name and was looked back, she could hear Momo and Kyuusuke getting closer. She whipped her head back to Perlé and her heart fluttered. He gently placed his thumb on her chin, his index finger along her jaw and the others lightly pressed under her chin. His face was so close to hers, he moved closer, his warm cheek lightly caressing hers and he whispered, "I made these for you." and gently kissed her cheek like she had that day on the beach so many years ago.

In the blink of an eye she stood in the enclosure alone, petals lightly falling like snow. Her heart was racing. She turned around as her two friends came in.

"Hey! Cookies!" Kyuusuke shouted as her tried to swipe the bag but of course Momo pushed him away.

"Umm Earth to Chibi-chan! I've been messaging you!"

"Yeah Momo went full on spy and got your GPS location, creeper much."

"I'm, I'm sorry Momo, I just spaced...I was dreaming?" Chibiusa said even questioning herself.

"Yeah well I found ya, now let's go meet my mom and dad, they found a great spot for the fireworks!"

As they ran off together she looked down at the bag of cookies not even realizing when he placed them in her hands. Hearts and bunnies. Just like she made back then.

The three friends met up with Mr. and Mrs. Momohara to watch the fireworks for that evening. The Momohara's were always so kind. When they arrived Momo's mom hugged them all and told them to find a spot on the blankets they had laid out. Mr. Momohara was digging in bags pulling out 3 containers of food, their lids steamed up from the still fresh food. Then handed each of them a Ramuné. Mr. Momohara noticed Chibiusa's bag of cookies and raised an eyebrow.

"You didn't go a spoil your dinner with sweets now did you? I expect that from Kyuusuke, even Momo but you?" He said laughing heartily his belly bouncing a bit.

"Oh no no I promise! I'd never spoil one of your dinners!"

Chibiusa opened her container and steam rose into the air. Momo's family restaurant was a big hit in town specializing in Chinese cuisine. She looked at the others meals and saw that Mr. Momohara had made everyone their favorites. Kyuusuke was devouring his General Tao's chicken with Lo Mein on the side. Momo happily eating her Beef and Broccoli with white rice. Mrs. Momohara carefully nibbling on her Wonton in her chop sticks over her soup bowl while Mr. Momohara shoveled in his shrimp fried rice. Chibiusa looked at her very inviting Sesame Chicken and fried rice and breathed in the aroma before diving in.

Upon finishing their meals the area was getting packed and you could hear the crowd grow quite as the string lights at the festival dimmed. There was electricity in the air. Chibiusa could feel the hair on her arms start to stand on end when a brilliant flash cascaded across the lakes water and tons of colorful sparks filled the night above them. The oohs and ahhs of the crowd seemed almost in unison until it seems everyone couldn't hold their excitement anymore. Children laughing, couples kissing, everyone enchanted and talking about the magic before them. Kyuusuke grabbed Chibiusa and Momo's hands.

"Let's go closer to the water! I brought my camera and would love to get pictures!"

The girls excitedly agreed as they made their way through the crowd in a bee line. Chibiusa felt like she did before and she scanned the crowd knowing he had to be near. Without thinking she had let go of Momo's hand and stopped for a second that seemed like forever when she locked eyes on him through the crowd then vanished in a blink. Was this a game to him? Why couldn't he just come to her?

"Usagi!" Momo said in a scolding tone with a confused look on her face.

"I've been calling your name! Are you okay?"

Chibiusa saw her friend squeezing through people and felt really guilty she had called her Usagi. I guess she had been acting strange since she left Momo at the food stall but it's not like she could tell them a fairy from her past had come to find her when he helped Sailor Moon rescue her from a crazy dream paralyzer witch.

"It's just so loud I'm so sorry Momo." She lied.

Together they reached Kyuusuke at the lakes edge where he set up his timer to take some group photos. Chibiusa snapped back into her reality and felt so happy to be in this moment right now with two friends who love her dearly. Chibiusa had asked Kyuusuke to make copies for her so she could have a keep sake. Chibiusa sat down legs stretched in front ankles crossed hands behind her staring up at the sky. Beautiful lights shining with the moon every few seconds and booms that filled the town. Unknowingly Kyuusuke started taking pictures of Chibiusa and only noticed when Momo yelled at him that it was enough and she stated she was the model. Chibiusa laughed and watched them act like mega star model and paparazzi. Their laughter turned to seriousness when Kyuusuke asked Momo to pose for real. He positioned her to have the light hit her perfect with each firework burst. Chibiusa could see Momo blushing and smiled to herself. Kyuusuke wasn't letting himself bury anything in this moment. He was so soft a gentle with her. She didn't know if it was the ambiance of the night of the comment prior but she felt like this might be it. So when she could she snuck back to Mr. and Mrs. Momohara without them noticing.

"We have to get back to the stall now would you mind helping us fold up these blankets?" Mrs. Momohara said with an apologetic wrinkle in her eyebrows.

"Of course!" Before even finishing her reply Chibiusa started grabbing the blankets.

Chibiusa gave them a smile and a wave as she watched the Momohara's walk down the path holding hands and laughing about something. They were always so happy and loving with one another. Much like mama and papa.

Chibiusa reached into the hidden pocket in her Yukata sleeve and pulled out the bag of cookies tied up in the yellow ribbon and looked at them troubled. She couldn't understand after all this time he came back. Why he hadn't talked to her more. Why he had to disappear like that. Was there more to his resurfacing? This single bag of cookies was a mystery to her, much like Perlé was.