Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, nor do I own the song "Storms in Africa." I am borrowing them for entertainment purposes only; no money is being made from the writing or reading of this story.
Pray for a Storm
©2000-2001 by Kei
Epilogue
Turas fada
Amharc trí na stoirmeacha
Makoto found readjusting to her normal life more difficult than she had expected. When she woke up in the mornings, she was surprised at the sound of the alarm clock and the lack of green gowns for her to wear. And she ate breakfast sad and alone, missing Nephrite terribly.
Her friends made numerous attempts to get her out of her funk, but nothing seemed to work. Makoto wandered around with empty emerald eyes and an unsmiling expression. Sometimes she considered finding a way back into her coma so she could see him again, but she knew her friends needed her.
The grades she made in school had always been a little below average, but now they were hideous. She was doing worse than Usagi! She occupied the time she spent in after-school detention thinking about Nephrite and nothing else.
Two weeks had passed since Makoto's awakening, and all she did all day, every day, was sit around and think about him and the things they could have done together. He haunted her dreams and memories of the Silver Millennium. She could clearly recall their first meeting during that peaceful time, when all the planets were allied…
"He's here, he's here!" Princess Serenity squealed giddily, hopping up and down and clapping enthusiastically when she caught sight of Prince Endymion accompanied by his four generals as they arrived at the New Year's Ball. They all looked handsome and regal, but Princess Makoto took no notice. She would love to have a boyfriend, but her duty was protecting the princess, and she had no time for men. 'I am the Senshi of Protection, after all,' she thought. 'And I'm taller than all the men here anyway,' she added, inwardly fuming.
When the other four princesses left to go and dance, Makoto folded her arms across her chest and glared at their retreating backs. 'Thanks for abandoning me!' she silently, sarcastically thanked them. 'I'll just stand here all by myself, Princess Makoto of Jupiter, the Wallflower. No, no, I'm perfectly FINE! I don't need—'
Her train of thought was interrupted when a deep, even voice asked, "Would you care to dance, my lady?"
Makoto lifted her green eyes only slightly, expecting to be looking down at the man, but her gaze collided with his chest, clad in the grey uniform of one of Prince Endymion's protectors. She continued the upward journey of her eyes, finally meeting his, a warm brown that made her want to melt.
"Oh, oh, I-I would l-love to, kind sir," she stammered, blushing at her inability to speak intelligibly.
"I'm honored," he replied, taking her hand and leading her out into the center of the grand ballroom. They situated themselves and soon began twirling and swaying to the orchestra playing lively dance tunes suitable for the lavish occasion.
"Which one are you?" she found herself asking, and he gave her a confused look. She giggled and clarified: "There are four of you, Prince Endymion's protectors, Jadeite, Nephrite, Zoisite, and Kunzite. Which one are you?"
He laughed, making a rich sound that Makoto could feel rumbling in his chest as she was pressed against him.
"I am Nephrite, my lady, and you are the Princess of Jupiter, are you not?" he inquired and she was taken aback. She hadn't been aware that he knew her identity.
"Yes. How did you know?" she asked, staring up at him, suddenly very conscious of how close she was to him.
"I have often seen you, both here when Endymion comes to visit, and when you travel to Earth to retrieve Princess Serenity. I asked her who you are, and she told me. But she warned me that you have no interest in men," he explained.
"I've more important things to worry about is all," she told him. "I have to protect Serenity, and that leaves no room for relationships. Besides, most of these men are shorter than me."
He laughed that laugh again and said, "This one's not. And Princess Serenity also told me that you like cooking and baking. Is that true?"
"Yes, why? Don't tell me YOU like those things too!" she exclaimed.
"Alright, I won't," he grinned and she slapped his arm. "Okay, okay, I do!"
"Look, you, if you're trying to pick me up…" Makoto started and he watched her, expressionless. "You're quite welcome to sweep me off my feet!"
He smiled and whispered, "Happy New Year, Makoto." Then he bent down slightly and kissed her as the other guests all clinked their wineglasses, tossed up confetti, and cheered for the beginning of another year of the Silver Millennium.
One morning, three weeks after her return, Makoto woke up and decided that she needed to move on, whether Nephrite was here or not. She couldn't wait forever.
"I've still got a long way to go in this life," she said aloud to herself. "I can weather these storms by myself."
A second later: "What an awful pun!"
It was a spring weekend, so Makoto didn't have to wear her school uniform. She tossed on a white tank top, blue jean cutoffs, and slid her feet into a pair of plain white sneakers. She fastened her hair up in her usual ponytail, applied some lip-gloss, and headed out the door. She didn't have a plan for the day, so she decided to just wing it.
"It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day in the neighborhood," she sang to herself. "A wonderful day to be a neighbor…I don't really know the rest of the words…!" And she continued to hum to herself.
"'Mornin', Mako! Haven't seen you around in a while!" Unazuki greeted her when she walked into the Crown Fruit Parlor.
"I've been around, just not out," she answered, sliding into a booth. Her friend walked over to take her order and made small talk in the meantime.
"Oh, Mako, there is this HUNK who's been coming in here recently! You've GOT to see him!" Unazuki gushed.
"Yeah?" Makoto pressed, always anxious for new blood.
"He just left, in fact! Right before you came in. He's got long, sorta wavy brown hair, and these brown eyes I could just drown in!" Unazuki went on, getting stars in her eyes. "He's also got a tattoo!"
"Really," Makoto mused, trying to form a picture of this stud muffin in her mind. 'Long, wavy brown hair, brown eyes…Nephrite!'
"What's the tattoo of? And where is it?"
"Oh, it's on his upper left arm. It's a 4 with a lightning bolt slashing through it. It's real cool. Only thing is, he always looks kinda lonely, and whenever someone walks in, he'll glance up hopefully, like he's waiting for somebody, but whoever it is never comes in, because he just turns away disappointedly," Unazuki told her.
"Do you know his name?" Makoto questioned eagerly, hoping against hope that this man was who she believed him to be.
"Um…Nephrite something," Unazuki giggled to herself. "And here I thought that was only a type of jadestone! I guess it's also a name, huh, Mako?"
There was no answer. Makoto had disappeared through the door, dashing off to the left.
"Mako…?"
"It's him! It's Nephrite! Has to be!" Makoto breathed, running along the sidewalk, weaving through people and dodging objects in her way. She prayed that she had chosen the right direction to go in to follow him.
Up in the distance ahead of her, she caught sight of a tall figure with long, slightly wavy brown hair clad in an un-tucked, pastel yellow dress shirt with unbuttoned cuffs; white trousers, and brown loafers. She couldn't tell if he had a tattoo or not due to the long-sleeved shirt, but it was simply a chance she would have to take.
At last she caught up to him and lightly touched his arm. He turned to look at her and his brown eyes widened.
"Mako?" he whispered in awe and she nodded, tears flowing unabashedly out of her eyes. "Mako!" he repeated, wrapping his arms around her as he crushed her in his embrace. Her eyes wept, but she laughed, overjoyed to be reunited with Nephrite.
"I just can't believe it's you!" he exclaimed, holding her away at arm's length and taking all of her in.
"Neither can I!" she agreed. "How in the world did you get here?"
"A certain Ayla sliced open the dimensions and allowed me passage so I could be with you," he told her.
"What about Ilndena? It's without a ruler!" she reminded him, but he shook his head.
"It's all taken care of, Mako, don't worry. I had one of my advisors take over to rule in my place," he calmed her. "It would have been nice to stay and have you as my queen, but I know how much you love your friends and you need them. I wasn't really attached to that world in any way, so it's all fine."
"You know my friends?" she asked, confused.
"I assume you still associate with the same people, Princesses Serenity, Ami, Rei, and Minako, right?" he smiled, eyes glinting in the sunlight.
"You remember!" Makoto cried, flinging herself into his arms again.
"I got all my memories back when I entered this dimension," he said. "On my first day here, I bought something for you."
He reached into his pocket and concealed whatever this small gift was in his fist.
"I know you're not really old enough yet, and you don't have to decide now, but I'd appreciate it if you'd think it over…" he rambled. Finally, he uncovered the present, revealing a small velvet box rimmed with gold. Makoto gasped, having a faint idea of what it might be. Upon opening it, she felt her heart overflow with delight.
"Nephrite," she murmured, lifting out the gold diamond engagement ring from its case. She slid it on her ring finger and lifted her gaze to his, smiling widely. He took her wearing of the jewelry as a positive answer, and leaned over slightly, capturing her lips with his. She pressed back passionately, wrapping her arms around his neck.
When they parted and embraced, she said, "I'll be eighteen in a couple of years…"
Long journey
Look through the storms
—finis—