~Wavering Destiny~
by Strawberry Moon Rose

I honestly don't know how I've written this story so far. Just writing "flirt" or "held hands" or "kissed" makes me blush like Ami! It's so embarrassing. I hope no one I know ever comes across my stories. Ever.

I don't know why, but this is my favorite chapter for some reason. It is the last chapter, in a way, because the next one will be the epilogue!

Enjoy :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the characters. They belong to Naoko Takeuchi.

Chapter 50: Flowers

An enchanting floral scent floated in the air. Flowers of all shapes and colors sprouted from the ground, waving in the gentle, sweet-tasting breeze. The only sound was the lapping of ocean waves in the distance and the harmonic buzzing of cicadas. Usagi twirled around like a child in the palace's outdoor garden.

"It smells so good out here!" she exclaimed. The sunset warmed her back and made her golden hair shimmer.

Seiya fingered the petals of a baby romantica rose.

"Doesn't it?" She brought the mango-colored flower to her face and breathed in its delectable fragrance.

"So why'd you decide to bring me out here, Seiya?" Usagi chirped.

Seiya's face began to glow. She stood up and brushed her hands off on the seat of her shorts. "I just wanted to be here with you again, one last time," she said.

Everyone else was in the palace preparing for the journey home. The transportation passageway was complete; a tall wooden door with a star and crescent-shaped moon carved in the center. Everyone except Kakyuu was scheduled to depart at nightfall.

The Starlights didn't plan on taking much, just a few personal belongings. Seiya was taking her very first football, Yaten her favorite makeup kit, and Taiki her poetry journals. Everything else they would need was on Earth. Seiya wasn't very good at goodbyes, and decided not to call her brother and sister all the way to the palace. She knew she would see them again soon.

Yaten on the other hand, felt like she needed to say bye to Saeko, her bratty little sister. Of course, when the nine-year-old arrived, all she did was tease Yaten about eloping with Minako to some city far, far away. While Minako was flattered, it led to a whole lot of shouting and blushing on Yaten's part.

A yellow butterfly danced by. Usagi smiled and tried to catch it, but it flew off into the trees.

"Well, thanks for bringing me out here one last time, Seiya. It's really lovely."

"You're welcome." One glance in her direction, and Seiya's stomach was fluttering. Usagi looked so beautiful standing among the greenery, it put the flowers to shame. She was wearing a strapless, colorful sundress she'd bought at the boutique and it flowed appealingly over her curves she'd developed in the past year, stopping mid-thigh.

A pleasant gust of air drifted past, disheveling the blonde's pigtails and swishing Seiya's ponytail over her shoulder. It felt like spring in more ways than one, everything blooming beautifully after a frozen winter.

Usagi turned slowly to face the Starlight. Time seemed to slow at that moment, the two girls gazing at each other with shy, knowing smiles.

Seiya pinkened, cutting her gaze away. She took a few steps in the other direction, over to the patch of rozamokus. She knelt to the ground, eyes scanning for the most beautiful one. She plucked it gingerly from the earth, and carried it back to her lover.

"Seiya?" said Usagi, when the Starlight rounded the corner.

"For you," Seiya answered softly, offering the flower.

"Oh!" Usagi's eyes fell to her hands. Its vibrant red petals fanned out like water lilies, but curled in a rose-like formation. It truly was one of the most gorgeous flowers she'd ever seen in her life. Its sweet, fruity scent wafted to her nose, instantly reminding her of Seiya.

Seiya's blush deepened as she shifted her weight. She usually wasn't bothered getting all mushy and sentimental - when she loved someone, she had no shame in showing it. But there was something about the way Usagi was looking at her that made her legs feel weak.

"What's wrong?" Seiya asked nervously. "Do you not want it?"

"No, that's not it. I was just thinking... you know, back to the first time you gave me a flower like this. We were standing right here. In this exact spot."

Seiya smiled coyly. "I remember." Distant memories flooded her mind.

"Thank you, Seiya." Usagi took the flower from the Starlight's hands and began to fasten it around one buns.

"I'll treasure it forever," she promised.

Seiya's heart bounced. She raised her chin and said, "Of course you will, when it's from someone was important as me."

Usagi just rolled her eyes. It had never occurred to her until just now, but maybe the reason Seiya acted so full of herself sometimes was because she was actually just nervous and it was her way of covering it up.

"Well, since you're always giving me nice flowers, I want to give you one too before we leave," said Usagi.

"You don't have to do that, Bun Head. You've already given me more than I deserve."

Usagi shook her head vehemently. "I want to, Seiya," she insisted.

And with that, Usagi set off through the garden. She wanted to find a unique flower for Seiya to take with; her little bit of Kinmoku to remind her of home. A patch of purple petals caught her eye. Usagi dropped to her knees and examined them. She almost hadn't seen them because they were hidden behind some daisies.

Choosing the prettiest one of all, Usagi cradled the plum-colored flower in her hands. It smelled almost good enough to eat.

"Finally made a decision?" Seiya teased when she saw her coming.

"Yes." Usagi stepped close and thrust her hands out. "Here," she trilled. "For you."

A smile spread across Seiya's face. "Bun Head," she said, trying to keep her voice even, "you do know that that's a weed, right?"

"Huh?"

Seiya tried not to laugh. "It's okay, it's hard to tell sometimes..." But Usagi saw the way her lips turned up and suddenly she felt like an idiot.

"How was I supposed to know?" Usagi said defensively, crossing her arms and looking away. It looks like a flower to me!

"Oh, go ahead and laugh, Seiya. I don't even care."

Seiya smiled. She didn't want to hurt Usagi's feelings, so she took the weed and fastened it around her cloth ponytail so it stayed in place.

"There!" she said. "It doesn't matter if it's a real flower or not. It's special because you picked it for me, Bun Head. And I love it. Thank you."

Usagi didn't know it was possible to feel embarrassed and happy at the same time. She stared down at her feet. Back on Earth, nobody would be able to tell the difference since it was a Kinmokian flower, but still...

"C'mere," Seiya said, pulling the moon princess into a hug. She wrapped her hands around Usagi's body and held her tight, so their shadows became one in the sunset.

"When we get back to Earth I'll get you a real flower," Usagi mumbled hopelessly into Seiya's chest. A patch of red had crept up her neck and spread across her face. She grabbed fistfuls of Seiya's shirt and buried her face in it.

Seiya just chuckled softly in response. She pulled back and tilted Usagi's chin up with her index finger, so their eyes connected. Usagi couldn't help but smile, and before she knew it, she was stretching up on her tiptoes with her eyes half-lidded and Seiya was leaning in too.

Their lips brushed against each others once, twice, then three times before they indulged in a full kiss. Seiya's hands wandered down to the small of Usagi's back, pulling her tiny waist as close as possible. All she could smell, taste, and feel was Usagi, and it was enough to send her spellbound.

Usagi decided right then that the kind of kisses where you were smiling at the same time were the best. With one hand cupping Seiya's cheek, she let the other slide down Seiya's neck and linger on her breast, right over her galloping heart, which was palpable through her blouse.

It was one of their most romantic kisses. The serene twilight, the whispering of plants, and the fragrance of flowers wrapped them up in a world of their own.

"We have to go soon," Seiya whispered, her lips grazing Usagi's ear. "They'll be looking for us."

"Yeah. You're right..." Usagi unwillingly pulled away. Chibi-Usa and Hotaru were supposed to be babysitting Chibi Chibi, but she knew that would only last for so long. Seiya interlaced her hand with Usagi's and they started back towards the palace.

"Tell me, Seiya," Usagi said as they walked past a trickling fountain. "Are you nervous? About Earth?"

Seiya took her time answering. "A little," she said finally. "But in a good way."

Usagi's mouth curled in a smile. "Me too."

The palace had just come into view when they walked past the entry to the hedge maze. Seiya couldn't help but snicker. She remembered how Usagi had gotten lost and how she'd had to come in and rescue her. Usagi had been so scared, she'd ran for her life and plowed Seiya right over.

Usagi must have been thinking the same thing when she saw the tall green bushes, because she started laughing too.

"Hey, Bun Head, do you remember-"

"Don't even, Seiya! I'm telling you, it only happened 'cause Rei abandoned me," Usagi said, reading her mind.

Seiya chuckled. "You nearly took me out when I came looking for you."

"Puh-lease. I didn't hit you that hard."

"You knocked me over, Bun Head!"

"I did not!"

"Did too! You had me laying on the ground like this..." Seiya dropped down and sprawled out on the grass. It'd been manicured recently and felt like a cool bed of green against her back.

"Seiya, what're you doing!" Usagi squealed.

"Showing you!" Seiya grabbed Usagi by the hand and dragged her down on top of her. The blonde let out a high-pitched giggle as she fell, steadying herself when she collapsed on the Starlight's body. The sweet scent of fresh-cut grass tickled her nose.

"Remember now?" Seiya purred. Their faces were nearly touching. She could smell the peach gloss on Usagi's lips and wanted to run her tongue along them and taste it.

"I don't think this is how it happened," Usagi teased. Their bodies were curved together in a way like never before.

Seiya blushed a little at the position they were in. "Really? Because this is how I recall it happening."

"Idiot," Usagi said with affection. She leaned down just an inch and kissed Seiya on the nose.

Snap!

Usagi froze. "Did you hear that?" she hissed, popping her head up.

"Hear what?"

Tap. Tap.

"That," Usagi said. She didn't see anything...was she imagining it? The sun was dipping into the ocean and the opposite end of the sky was darkening. Was something hiding in the shadows?

"It's probably just a bird or something." Seiya coaxed Usagi back down again with her skillful guitarist hands. Their lips were just about to collide when they heard it again.

Shuffle. Shuffle. Snap.

Usagi shot right up. "That's it!" she whispered. "There's someone else out here, Seiya!"

She sat up. She'd heard it this time. "Okay, let's just go back to the palace. It's probably just a jackalope, they like to nibble on some of the plants."

"Those aren't real!"

"They are on my planet."

"You're just teasing me."

"No, I'm not, Bun Head!"

They were brushing the grass off their clothes when a figure slithered out from behind a tall plant.

Usagi screamed. Seiya screamed. They both grabbed each other and screamed together, like they had at the amusement park.

"It's okay! It's only me!" The man raised his hands innocently. "It's just me!"

Usagi stopped shrieking and Seiya did soon after. Usagi realized who it was and let out a huge sigh of relief.

"Mamo!" she scolded. "What're you doing out here? You scared the crap out of us!"

"I thought you were a burglar or something!" Seiya exhaled, pressing her hand to her heart. It was fluttering hummingbird-fast.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to give you a fright," Mamoru said with a chuckle. "Princess Kakyuu said I could find you two out here. I was wondering if I could speak with you before we leave. If that's okay."

Seiya and Usagi looked at each other, then back to Mamoru.

"Okay," Usagi said uneasily. "What's up?"

Mamoru looked uncomfortable and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his pants. "Er, I was thinking in private, perhaps..." He glanced apologetically in the Starlight's direction.

"Oh, okay. No problem..." Seiya took the cue to go. "I'll be over by the fountain," she told her.

"Alright." Usagi's hands felt chilly. She wiped them on the seat of her sundress, but it didn't help. When Seiya disappeared out of sight, she turned her attention to Mamoru.

Awkward seconds ticked by. Things had grown stale between them in the last year, so she was used to the silence. And ever since the Chibi-Usa fiasco, they really hadn't talked to one another. But that was over now, and there was no reason to be upset with each other. After all, it was thanks to Mamoru and Setsuna that Chibi-Usa had even made it out alive. She was relieved when Mamoru finally spoke.

"Well...things sure didn't turn out as planned," he stated obviously and let out a nervous laugh.

Usagi pulled on the hem of her dress. It felt too short all of a sudden. "Yeah, but I don't think it's a bad thing..."

"No, not at all." Mamoru's smile wilted a little. His voice became soft. "Sometimes... Sometimes, I have dreams, Usako. About the Moon Kingdom and our previous lives. Even though I want to, it's hard to just forget the past."

"Who you loved was Princess Serenity," Usagi said softly. "Let's face it, Mamo, I'm not her anymore. She was mature and wise and graceful; everything that I'm not. That's probably why we didn't work out in this era. We aren't the same people that we were back then."

Mamoru was about to say something, but stopped himself. It was clear in his cobalt eyes that he knew Usagi was right.

"Be honest with me," Usagi said. "If destiny hadn't interfered, would you have still chosen me? The rash, crybaby middle-schooler? Or would you have picked someone smart and mature? Someone like Setsuna, for instance..."

Mamoru's face turned as pink as bubblegum. He didn't say anything. He didn't have to. The answer was obvious.

"I care about you, Mamo, I always have. You and I both deserved better. Let's accept that and move on on good terms, okay?"

He was quiet for a while. "...I've always loved you, Usako. But like family. Like Chibi-Usa, even. And I think you're right, that was the problem." He sighed. "At twenty years old, I didn't like the idea of my life being laid out for me without my consent. I had so many dreams, so many things I wanted to accomplish before I even thought about settling down with someone. I guess I became bitter because it was thrust in my face. I'm sorry about that."

"It wasn't fair to either of us," Usagi agreed. "We both should have found love, whether that was with each other or not. That's the way life's supposed to be."

Mamoru smiled distantly. "And in the end, it looks like you had no trouble finding someone who treats you right."

Usagi blushed and scratched the side of her face. "Seiya's been good to me all this time. I never meant to betray you, Mamo. But once Seiya became a part of me, it was really hard to live without her. I'm sorry for not breaking it off before Seiya and I happened."

"I understand. And I'll admit I got angry and did some pretty foolish things I'm not proud of. But when I cooled down and thought things over rationally, I realized it wasn't that bad after all. For one, I'm no longer a marionette. I can pursue my future without the pressure of ruling a kingdom. And now that Chibi-Usa's safe, I can look back and say I don't regret what happened. In the end, I'm glad you chose to listen to your heart, for both our sakes."

"You really mean that?" she whispered.

Mamoru nodded and patted her shoulder. "Yes. Be happy, Usako. Even if it's not with me."

"Thanks," she said, tucking a hair behind her ear. "You too."

They stood there for a few beats in silence, but it was no longer awkward. Usagi was so overjoyed, she felt like crying.

"Hey, Seiya!" Mamoru called out.

A few seconds later, the Starlight stepped into view. "Yes?" she said, immediately at Usagi's side.

"Take care of her from here on out, alright?" Mamoru's eyes crinkled when he smiled. Her pulled out a rose from his green jacket and held it out for her. "From one guy to another." And winked.

Seiya looked surprised for a second, then broke out into the largest, proudest grin and accepted the flower.

"Of course," she said dutifully. "I understand."

Usagi watched their exchange, a jubilant feeling bubbling up inside, from her toes to her head. She grabbed Seiya's arm excitedly and hugged her close. Seiya wrapped her arm around Usagi's shoulder and gave her a squeeze.

"We should be heading back," Mamoru said, looking to the dusk sky. "The others are waiting for us."

"You go on ahead, Mamo. We'll catch up," Usagi said.

"Take care." With a two-fingered wave, he disappeared, the only sound his fading footsteps into the twilight.

Seiya turned to Usagi with a puzzled expression. "Did I miss something?" she joked, fingering the red rose in her hand. Seiya rolled the stem back and forth between her fingers, shocked there weren't any thorns.

"I don't know," Usagi replied honestly. "But he gave you a flower, so I think it's his way of finally accepting you, Seiya. Accepting us."

"I'm glad." Seiya was surprised how good she felt about it, too.

And suddenly, just like that, she felt homesick for Earth. A new life awaited them, full of endless adventures. She didn't know whether they'd become the Three Lights again or even where they were going to live. But there was one thing Seiya knew for sure - that she'd be by Usagi's side, forever and for always, no matter what.

Seiya pulled Usagi close and kissed her forehead. "Let's go home, Bun Head."