"Usagi-Chan are you OK?" Rei asked, "You have seemed really anxious all weekend."
"Yeah everything's fine Rei-Chan." Usagi replied staring out the window of the Crown Fruit parlor.
"So you were baby-sitting for Mrs. Kimset, what's up with that?" Minako asked.
Usagi shrugged absentmindedly, "Nothing really."
"How's Mamoru-San?" Makoto asked.
Usagi looked up at this, "Fine why wouldn't he be?"
"No reason," Makoto said taken aback "I was just wondering, we haven't seen him around lately."
"He's been busy." Usagi said returning to staring out the window. At the sight of Setsuna Usagi jumped up, "I will be right back." Once she was out of the Crown she called "Setsuna-San!"
"Usagi-Chan." Setsuna said turning towards the younger girl.
"Well did you see Seiya?" Usagi asked eagerly.
Setsuna nodded, "Yes, I saw her."
"Well did he, I mean she write back?" Usagi asked.
Setsuna shook her head, "No, I'm sorry princess."
Usagi nodded, "I'm still going to write to him."
Setsuna nodded sadly, "Anyway I better be going. I am supposed to be meeting Haruka and Michiru for lunch. And I am truly sorry princess."
"Bye Setsuna."
Usagi walked glumly home and opened the door "Usagi!" Usagi cringed; she could tell her mother was mad at her for something.
"Yeah Mom?" Usagi called walking towards the kitchen where her mother's voice had come from.
"I thought I told you to take Keiko and Chibi-Usa with you when you went to the crown today?" Ikuko asked and it was obvious that she was upset.
Usagi sighed to herself, it always meant that it was time to fight again when Chibi-Usa and an unknown child were around, and with both, it was bound to be bad. "Sorry Mom."
"Keiko has gone and gotten into my make-up and she has her best dress on I want you to help her change and then get her cleaned up, I'm sure Chibi-Usa will help you."
"Where is she?" Usagi asked.
"She is in time-out in the living room."
Usagi nodded and headed to the living room to see who she was dealing with. In the living on her father's large overstuffed chair sat, Usagi assumed, was Keiko. Keiko wore a pink and white rather fancy dress, the top part of the dress was pink falling until the high waist line and then the skirt of the dress was all white. Her dark hair was pulled into a bun at the top of her head. The girl looked to be no older than 3 and she was obviously petrified.
"Mama!" The girl cried running towards Usagi and wrapping her arms around Usagi's legs. With those words Usagi heard another person enter the room, picking up the sobbing girl she turned to face Chibi-Usa who stood in the doorway, taller and more mature, about 15 now.
"Your coming with me to get Keiko changed and then you have a lot of explaining to do." Usagi demanded. Usagi carried Keiko who clung to Usagi like her life depended on it, to Usagi bathroom and after prying herself away she sat Keiko on the counter. 15 minutes Keiko was asleep her arms around Usagi's neck and Chibi-Usa and Usagi sat in Usagi's room, "So explain to me what is going on please. We haven't seen you in a year. Is there a new enemy?"
Chibi-Usa shook her head, "No, there is no enemy. Mom sent us to the past in hopes to get Keiko and I to get closer."
"Keiko is…"
Chibi-Usa cut Usagi off "Yes, Keiko really is your daughter. She's 3 and she is my sister, but I can't tell you anything else."
"Why not?" Usagi demanded.
"Because that would be telling you of your future and I'm not supposed to do that." Chibi-Usa responded. "So how old is Hotaru-Chan now?" Chibi-Usa asked changing the subject?
"15." Usagi glanced at the clock "Speaking of which I was supposed to be at a scout meeting 15 minutes ago. Come on you and Keiko can come with me. We will have to tell everybody everything anyway."
Chibi-Usa nodded, "Well we better go. I am sure Rei is steamed already."
Usagi nodded, "Let's go. Grab one of my jackets it's cold out there." Then Usagi taking a second look at Chibi-Usa clothes had a second thought, "Why don't you get out of that dress too. Why are you guys so dressed up anyway?"
"They had a going away party for us, and none of us thought to change before hand." Chibi-Usa replied. Quickly changing into a pair of black jeans and blue long sleeved shirt.
Usagi carefully put the light green jacket over the dark green dress that she had changed Keiko into.
"OK now we can go." Usagi said standing up.
When they reached the temple and Usagi and Chibi-Usa walked into the room Rei was ready to fire "Where have you been you are…" Rei's sentence trailed as she saw the child in Usagi's arms and Chibi-Usa standing behind Usagi.
"Chibi-Usa-Chan!" Hotaru exclaimed.
"Hotaru-Chan." Chibi-Usa exclaimed hugging her friend.
"What's going on?" Haruka asked.
"Well Chibi-Usa came back for a visit and she brought her little sister. Everyone this Keiko, come on Keiko turn around and say hi." Usagi said setting Keiko on her own feet.
"Isn't she adorable!" Minako gushed.
"Look at all those curls." Makoto commented.
Usagi nodded, she had taken Keiko's hair out of the bun and her black curls fell to her waist. Keiko still clung to Usagi's leg staring at the group.
"Keiko, don't you remember Minako and Makoto?" Usagi asked.
Chibi-Usa shook her head, "She doesn't, she has never met them."
"What?!" The whole group exclaimed.
"She hasn't met any of you in her whole life." Chibi-Usa responded.
"I don't get it." Usagi said surprised.
"I already told you!" Chibi-Usa exclaimed, "I can't tell you anymore."
Everyone looked towards Setsuna "Setsuna what's going on?" Usagi asked.
Setsuna looked puzzled "I honestly have no idea what is going on."
"How could you not know what is going on Setsuna?" Michiru asked puzzled.
Setsuna sat down, "The gates of time have sealed off the future to me. Things are happening there that I am not supposed to know about."
"Why would that happen Setsuna?" Usagi asked.
"There are a couple explanations. The first and most likely is so I wont change the future by altering something her in the past. There could be any other number of reasons though."
Usagi sank into a chair that Rei pushed under her quickly, she was trying to take this all in but she was confused "I don't understand it. What's going on in the future that you're not supposed to see Setsuna?"
Setsuna shook her head, "I wish I knew."
"Give me back my make-up!" Chibi-Usa screamed at Keiko.
"I was just playing with it!" Keiko cried bursting into tears.
"Well give it to me you little brat!" Chibi-Usa said pulling away the lipstick tube Keiko had clutched in her fist.
"Chibi-Usa what's the problem?" Usagi asked walking into her bathroom. Chibi-Usa and Keiko had been staying with them for a month now and the 2 fought more than Usagi and Chibi-Usa ever had. Although it was usually one sided, Keiko worshipped Chibi-Usa, but Chibi-Usa couldn't stand her little sister.
"Keiko keeps getting into my make-up can't you tell her to stop?" Chibi-Usa asked.
"Keiko, if Chibi-Usa doesn't want you getting into her make-up then you shouldn't. Here you can play with mine." Usagi said setting out her bag of cosmetics. Ands he walked back into her bedroom where Rei sat on the floor next to her bed.
"You are starting to sound more and more like those girls' mother." Rei pointed out.
"Something is weird between the two of them." Usagi commented taking a seat across from Rei. "I mean me and Sammy fight all the time, it's sibling thing. But Chibi-Usa treats Keiko like she hates even the sight of her. Something is going on with her and she won't tell me. She just keeps saying that she isn't supposed to tell me anything and that she isn't going to."
"I really don't understand why Chibi-Usa has a problem with Keiko, sure she cries a lot and she obviously gets that from her mother. But she's really a sweet child. And she worships the ground Chibi-Usa walks on."
"I know. I wish I knew what was going on."
"So do I." Rei commented "But you know Chibi-Usa, she will tell us when she is ready. So have you and Mamoru-San picked a date yet?"
"Yes," Usagi nodded, "A year from this September, September 30th. That way I have the summer after I graduate from High School to make all the last minute plans and everything."
Setsuna stood in front of Maker and Healer "Did you bring another letter for Fighter?" Healer asked.
At Setsuna's not Maker spoke "He shouldn't be getting those letters he needs to stay here at his post, he has duties here."
"Don't you think I know that?" Setsuna asked "Don't you think that I know my princess and prince deserve to be together, and that doesn't involve Fighter at all in this picture. But Usagi has feelings for them, and she needs to get over them before she can move on and marry Mamoru-San. This is the last letter I will bring to Fighter, this is the last letter Usagi will write to him. She has given up hope on him. Now let me see Fighter."
Healer sighed and left to find Fighter. When Fighter returned Setsuna handed Fighter the letter and said "I will be back tomorrow as I have after every letter. If there is a response I will take the letter to her if not…" Setsuna let her sentence trail and then she turned and walked away.
Seiya,
I have written you for over a year now, and have received no response. I have Setsuna's word that she has hand delivered every letter to you. And I am taking her word, because she is part of my royal court and wouldn't lie to me over such matters. I'm getting married in 10 days, on September 30th, to Mamoru. My feelings for you have not changed since I wrote you the first letter. But from your lack of response, or contact at all, I take it that the feelings are not mutual. While I feel terrible for lying to Mamoru and all of our friends. But Mamoru is good to me, and he truly loves me, and I really believe that we can share a good life together. So I write this letter as a good-bye. So good-bye, my love.
"I have to go to her!" Fighter exclaimed, "She can't marry Mamoru! It would ruin both of our lives."
Maker laid a hand on Fighter's shoulder "You can't go to Earth."
Fighter hung her head, she knew that Maker was right. Fighter nodded and walked out of the room carrying the letter. She should have written her, she had wanted to, there was no doubt about it, but for some reason she could never bring herself to do it. She had figured that Maker was right not writing back to her would bring even more pain than writing back to her. But now she could see that she was wrong, but she couldn't write back to Usagi, she was getting married. Mamoru and Usagi were getting married and she couldn't write to Usagi and tell her not to marry him, she just couldn't bring himself to do that to her. So she was left with the decision to either go to her and leave behind all of her duties and betray her princess, or do nothing and let Usagi marry Mamoru. Fighter sat down, she knew she wasn't going anywhere, as much as she loved Usagi there was no way she could turn Usagi's life upside down like that.
"Aren't you worried that Fighter will sneak off?" Healer asked.
Maker shook her head, "No, she wouldn't do that. She may love Usagi-San but she feels a strong dedication to the princess and she won't be going anywhere until she gets her replacement trained. And as soon as her replacement is trained she is going to be on Earth as soon as possible. And I will be with her."
"You what?" Healer asked surprised.
"I miss Ami-Chan. And more than anything I want to be with her. I gave my resignation to the princess last month." Maker replied. "Don't tell me you don't miss someone on Earth."
Healer crossed her arms, "I don't."
Maker raised an eyebrow "If you say so."
"Hi Michiru-San. Hi Hotaru-Chan." Usagi called as both of them entered the dress shop they were in "Where is Setsuna-San?"
"She will be here later she some top secret thing to do." Hotaru replied.
Usagi nodded she knew that Setsuna had gone to see Seiya for the last time.
"Where's Naru-Chan?" Michiru asked.
"She couldn't make it today but her dress is pretty much fitted."
They were at the bridesmaid dress shop where she had also bought her wedding dress. Usagi's wedding dress was simple, the high waistline that came just below her bust was outlines in tiny pearls and the thin straps were made of two strands of pearls. All 8 of the bridesmaids had the same style of dress by the color was different, the dresses all had the same waistlines as Usagi's wedding dress, there was no decoration on the waistline but the straps were all made of little beaded roses in the color of their dresses. Naru was the maid-of-honor and her dress was a light purple, Rei's was red, Ami's was blue, Minako's was a pale orange, Makoto's was pink, Michiru's was green, Hotaru's was black, and Setsuna's was maroon.
20 minutes later the bell tickled on the door to the entrance of the shop "Hi Setsuna-Mama." Hotaru called as she stood patiently letting the seamstress place pins at her waist. "Did you get what needed done done?" Hotaru asked.
Setsuna nodded and she could tell Usagi was watching her carefully, "Usagi, might I have a moment alone?"
Sadness filled Usagi's eyes and she turned to the woman working on her dress "Do you mind?"
The kind woman shook her head "No, go ahead. You can take the back room. We are all going to take a break anyway."
"Thank you." Usagi bowed her head and lead the way to the back room. "There was no response again was there?"
"I'm sorry but no. He understood that this was the last letter, and there was no response." Setsuna replied sympathetically.
Usagi took a deep breath and Setsuna could see the tears Usagi was trying to hold back, "I love Mamoru, and we're getting married tomorrow and everything's going to be OK. It's better this way anyway."
"Are you OK Usagi-Chan?" Setsuna asked.
"Yes, I'm fine." Usagi replied. "Now you better hurry and get in your dress so they can finish the fitting."
"You know," Minako was saying when Usagi and Setsuna returned to the room "it has been horribly quiet since Keiko left. She really was a total sweet heart. And she and Chibi-Usa were getting along very well by the time they left."
"That they were." Michiru commented.
"I'm surprised they aren't closer I mean being sisters and princess' you would think they don't have very many friends in the palace." Rei pointed out.
"That is unless…" Makoto turned towards Setsuna "Setsuna-San, do we have kids in the future."
Setsuna smiled a knowing smile "That's for me to know and you to wait and find out."
Minako threw up her hands "She either doesn't know or she refuses to answer us."
Everyone except Usagi laughed at Minako's comments "Usagi-Chan is everything OK?" Ami asked.
Usagi forced a smile "Of course it is? Just cold feet you know."
"Hey come on Usagi smile, we all know you and Mamoru-San are positively meant for each other." Minako commented "Now if the rest of us were that lucky…"
Usagi didn't comment and she walked into the other room to get a cup of coffee.
"Something's wrong with Usagi-Chan. Do you know what's wrong with Usagi-Chan, Setsuna-San?" Makoto asked.
The group grew still and silent as everyone turned their attention towards Setsuna, "Yeah do you know Setsuna-San?"
Setsuna grew silent trying to think of how to phrase her words, "I think Usagi-Chan is just confused. For so long she and Mamoru-San have been prevented from getting married. In the Silver Millennium they died before their wedding day. And for months Usagi-Chan and Mamoru-San were separated, Mamoru-San dead. I think she is just having problems adjusting to this."
"Usagi-Chan had been different since the battle with Chaos. But it's been almost 2 years, I was hoping she would go back to being the Usagi-Chan we all know and love." Rei said concern obvious in her voice.
"The princess is growing as she should. With Chaos freed the time soon approaches for the great freeze begin. Usagi must begin to start acting like the Queen she is to become." Setsuna said quietly.
The group was quiet when Usagi came back into the room. The group was silent for a good 10 minutes before the seamstresses returned.
"My aren't we a chatty group?" One of the seamstresses' joked.
"Hey Usagi-Chan, what have you got there?" Usagi's mother called as Usagi came down the stairs with a shoebox.
"Nothing just something I need to take care of." Usagi replied.
"You ready for the big day?"
"Of course Mom." Usagi responded as she slid open the door to the backyard. Usagi walked towards the fire pit that sat in her backyard. Shingo's latest hobby was firing pottery, he wasn't interested in pottery at all, but his new girlfriend was and Shingo was doing everything to impress her, the funny thing was he was actually good at it.
Usagi sat down on the ground with the shoebox in her lap she could feel the warmth from the flames, and she pulled out the first letter written on pink paper, she had a copy of all the letters she had ever written Seiya. Usagi read over the letter before dropping it in the pit and letting it be engulfed by the flames. As Usagi repeated the process she began crying hard, she made no noise, but silent tears chased each other down her cheeks.
"Usagi-Chan dinner is ready!" Shingo called from the porch.
"I'm not hungry!" Usagi called not turning towards Shingo so he wouldn't see Usagi's tears.
"OK," Shingo replied, "But I will have Mom leave some food out for you."
15 minutes later Usagi had finished reading the last letter she had written to Seiya and she could see the ashes forming from the other letters. Usagi sighed and stood up; she was putting the past behind her so that she could have a new beginning. Usagi knew that she should feel hopeful for the future but she didn't in anyway, instead she felt empty and washed out. She had no more tears to cry, she had been hoping that by burning all of the letters she had written to Seiya would make the pain in her heart go away, but it hadn't, she still felt it there burning in her heart. But without a look behind her Usagi walked back into her house and closed the door.
"Fighter what's wrong?" Maker asked. A pale look had come to Fighter's face and she looked deeply troubled.
"She needs me and I can't be there for her." Fighter exclaimed. "She needs me and I am helpless." With those words Fighter left the table her boots clicking on the marble floors.
"How can you be so cool and confident about this?" Minako asked in the dressing room in the church where Usagi was going to get married.
"That's right your getting married today you are aloud to be excited or nervous." Makoto commented.
Usagi smiled weakly at her friends in the mirror, she felt horrible, she felt like she was making the biggest mistake of her life, and the thought made her sick.
"Usagi-chan doesn't have to be nervous she knows that she and Mamoru-San were meant for each other." Michiru said coming in with Hotaru, "You look beautiful dear." Michiru said quietly before kissing Usagi softly on the cheek. "We are so happy for you and Mamoru-San."
"Do you guys mind if I had a word in private with Usagi-Chan?" Naru asked.
"Of course," everyone nodded and Setsuna spoke "You are the maid-of-honor of course."
Naru took Usagi's hands when everyone was out of the room, "Usagi-Chan, I remember that conversation we had a long time ago. Are you sure about this? I don't want you to make a decision that could ruin your entire life."
"I have no reason not to marry Mamoru." Usagi responded.
"What about Seiya? What about love?" Naru asked both questions as she watched Usagi.
Usagi turned away from Naru and looked out the window "Seiya's never coming back, and I'm pretty sure I love Mamoru."
"Usagi-Chan you can't be "pretty sure" you love the person you are about to marry." Naru replied. "You need to figure out if you love him or not. And you need to figure it out really quick. I don't want to upset you Usagi-Chan, you are my best friend, but I don't want you to make a bad decision that will affect your whole life. Before you say I do up there I want you to make sure you are sure."
"Yeah everything's fine Rei-Chan." Usagi replied staring out the window of the Crown Fruit parlor.
"So you were baby-sitting for Mrs. Kimset, what's up with that?" Minako asked.
Usagi shrugged absentmindedly, "Nothing really."
"How's Mamoru-San?" Makoto asked.
Usagi looked up at this, "Fine why wouldn't he be?"
"No reason," Makoto said taken aback "I was just wondering, we haven't seen him around lately."
"He's been busy." Usagi said returning to staring out the window. At the sight of Setsuna Usagi jumped up, "I will be right back." Once she was out of the Crown she called "Setsuna-San!"
"Usagi-Chan." Setsuna said turning towards the younger girl.
"Well did you see Seiya?" Usagi asked eagerly.
Setsuna nodded, "Yes, I saw her."
"Well did he, I mean she write back?" Usagi asked.
Setsuna shook her head, "No, I'm sorry princess."
Usagi nodded, "I'm still going to write to him."
Setsuna nodded sadly, "Anyway I better be going. I am supposed to be meeting Haruka and Michiru for lunch. And I am truly sorry princess."
"Bye Setsuna."
Usagi walked glumly home and opened the door "Usagi!" Usagi cringed; she could tell her mother was mad at her for something.
"Yeah Mom?" Usagi called walking towards the kitchen where her mother's voice had come from.
"I thought I told you to take Keiko and Chibi-Usa with you when you went to the crown today?" Ikuko asked and it was obvious that she was upset.
Usagi sighed to herself, it always meant that it was time to fight again when Chibi-Usa and an unknown child were around, and with both, it was bound to be bad. "Sorry Mom."
"Keiko has gone and gotten into my make-up and she has her best dress on I want you to help her change and then get her cleaned up, I'm sure Chibi-Usa will help you."
"Where is she?" Usagi asked.
"She is in time-out in the living room."
Usagi nodded and headed to the living room to see who she was dealing with. In the living on her father's large overstuffed chair sat, Usagi assumed, was Keiko. Keiko wore a pink and white rather fancy dress, the top part of the dress was pink falling until the high waist line and then the skirt of the dress was all white. Her dark hair was pulled into a bun at the top of her head. The girl looked to be no older than 3 and she was obviously petrified.
"Mama!" The girl cried running towards Usagi and wrapping her arms around Usagi's legs. With those words Usagi heard another person enter the room, picking up the sobbing girl she turned to face Chibi-Usa who stood in the doorway, taller and more mature, about 15 now.
"Your coming with me to get Keiko changed and then you have a lot of explaining to do." Usagi demanded. Usagi carried Keiko who clung to Usagi like her life depended on it, to Usagi bathroom and after prying herself away she sat Keiko on the counter. 15 minutes Keiko was asleep her arms around Usagi's neck and Chibi-Usa and Usagi sat in Usagi's room, "So explain to me what is going on please. We haven't seen you in a year. Is there a new enemy?"
Chibi-Usa shook her head, "No, there is no enemy. Mom sent us to the past in hopes to get Keiko and I to get closer."
"Keiko is…"
Chibi-Usa cut Usagi off "Yes, Keiko really is your daughter. She's 3 and she is my sister, but I can't tell you anything else."
"Why not?" Usagi demanded.
"Because that would be telling you of your future and I'm not supposed to do that." Chibi-Usa responded. "So how old is Hotaru-Chan now?" Chibi-Usa asked changing the subject?
"15." Usagi glanced at the clock "Speaking of which I was supposed to be at a scout meeting 15 minutes ago. Come on you and Keiko can come with me. We will have to tell everybody everything anyway."
Chibi-Usa nodded, "Well we better go. I am sure Rei is steamed already."
Usagi nodded, "Let's go. Grab one of my jackets it's cold out there." Then Usagi taking a second look at Chibi-Usa clothes had a second thought, "Why don't you get out of that dress too. Why are you guys so dressed up anyway?"
"They had a going away party for us, and none of us thought to change before hand." Chibi-Usa replied. Quickly changing into a pair of black jeans and blue long sleeved shirt.
Usagi carefully put the light green jacket over the dark green dress that she had changed Keiko into.
"OK now we can go." Usagi said standing up.
When they reached the temple and Usagi and Chibi-Usa walked into the room Rei was ready to fire "Where have you been you are…" Rei's sentence trailed as she saw the child in Usagi's arms and Chibi-Usa standing behind Usagi.
"Chibi-Usa-Chan!" Hotaru exclaimed.
"Hotaru-Chan." Chibi-Usa exclaimed hugging her friend.
"What's going on?" Haruka asked.
"Well Chibi-Usa came back for a visit and she brought her little sister. Everyone this Keiko, come on Keiko turn around and say hi." Usagi said setting Keiko on her own feet.
"Isn't she adorable!" Minako gushed.
"Look at all those curls." Makoto commented.
Usagi nodded, she had taken Keiko's hair out of the bun and her black curls fell to her waist. Keiko still clung to Usagi's leg staring at the group.
"Keiko, don't you remember Minako and Makoto?" Usagi asked.
Chibi-Usa shook her head, "She doesn't, she has never met them."
"What?!" The whole group exclaimed.
"She hasn't met any of you in her whole life." Chibi-Usa responded.
"I don't get it." Usagi said surprised.
"I already told you!" Chibi-Usa exclaimed, "I can't tell you anymore."
Everyone looked towards Setsuna "Setsuna what's going on?" Usagi asked.
Setsuna looked puzzled "I honestly have no idea what is going on."
"How could you not know what is going on Setsuna?" Michiru asked puzzled.
Setsuna sat down, "The gates of time have sealed off the future to me. Things are happening there that I am not supposed to know about."
"Why would that happen Setsuna?" Usagi asked.
"There are a couple explanations. The first and most likely is so I wont change the future by altering something her in the past. There could be any other number of reasons though."
Usagi sank into a chair that Rei pushed under her quickly, she was trying to take this all in but she was confused "I don't understand it. What's going on in the future that you're not supposed to see Setsuna?"
Setsuna shook her head, "I wish I knew."
"Give me back my make-up!" Chibi-Usa screamed at Keiko.
"I was just playing with it!" Keiko cried bursting into tears.
"Well give it to me you little brat!" Chibi-Usa said pulling away the lipstick tube Keiko had clutched in her fist.
"Chibi-Usa what's the problem?" Usagi asked walking into her bathroom. Chibi-Usa and Keiko had been staying with them for a month now and the 2 fought more than Usagi and Chibi-Usa ever had. Although it was usually one sided, Keiko worshipped Chibi-Usa, but Chibi-Usa couldn't stand her little sister.
"Keiko keeps getting into my make-up can't you tell her to stop?" Chibi-Usa asked.
"Keiko, if Chibi-Usa doesn't want you getting into her make-up then you shouldn't. Here you can play with mine." Usagi said setting out her bag of cosmetics. Ands he walked back into her bedroom where Rei sat on the floor next to her bed.
"You are starting to sound more and more like those girls' mother." Rei pointed out.
"Something is weird between the two of them." Usagi commented taking a seat across from Rei. "I mean me and Sammy fight all the time, it's sibling thing. But Chibi-Usa treats Keiko like she hates even the sight of her. Something is going on with her and she won't tell me. She just keeps saying that she isn't supposed to tell me anything and that she isn't going to."
"I really don't understand why Chibi-Usa has a problem with Keiko, sure she cries a lot and she obviously gets that from her mother. But she's really a sweet child. And she worships the ground Chibi-Usa walks on."
"I know. I wish I knew what was going on."
"So do I." Rei commented "But you know Chibi-Usa, she will tell us when she is ready. So have you and Mamoru-San picked a date yet?"
"Yes," Usagi nodded, "A year from this September, September 30th. That way I have the summer after I graduate from High School to make all the last minute plans and everything."
Setsuna stood in front of Maker and Healer "Did you bring another letter for Fighter?" Healer asked.
At Setsuna's not Maker spoke "He shouldn't be getting those letters he needs to stay here at his post, he has duties here."
"Don't you think I know that?" Setsuna asked "Don't you think that I know my princess and prince deserve to be together, and that doesn't involve Fighter at all in this picture. But Usagi has feelings for them, and she needs to get over them before she can move on and marry Mamoru-San. This is the last letter I will bring to Fighter, this is the last letter Usagi will write to him. She has given up hope on him. Now let me see Fighter."
Healer sighed and left to find Fighter. When Fighter returned Setsuna handed Fighter the letter and said "I will be back tomorrow as I have after every letter. If there is a response I will take the letter to her if not…" Setsuna let her sentence trail and then she turned and walked away.
Seiya,
I have written you for over a year now, and have received no response. I have Setsuna's word that she has hand delivered every letter to you. And I am taking her word, because she is part of my royal court and wouldn't lie to me over such matters. I'm getting married in 10 days, on September 30th, to Mamoru. My feelings for you have not changed since I wrote you the first letter. But from your lack of response, or contact at all, I take it that the feelings are not mutual. While I feel terrible for lying to Mamoru and all of our friends. But Mamoru is good to me, and he truly loves me, and I really believe that we can share a good life together. So I write this letter as a good-bye. So good-bye, my love.
"I have to go to her!" Fighter exclaimed, "She can't marry Mamoru! It would ruin both of our lives."
Maker laid a hand on Fighter's shoulder "You can't go to Earth."
Fighter hung her head, she knew that Maker was right. Fighter nodded and walked out of the room carrying the letter. She should have written her, she had wanted to, there was no doubt about it, but for some reason she could never bring herself to do it. She had figured that Maker was right not writing back to her would bring even more pain than writing back to her. But now she could see that she was wrong, but she couldn't write back to Usagi, she was getting married. Mamoru and Usagi were getting married and she couldn't write to Usagi and tell her not to marry him, she just couldn't bring himself to do that to her. So she was left with the decision to either go to her and leave behind all of her duties and betray her princess, or do nothing and let Usagi marry Mamoru. Fighter sat down, she knew she wasn't going anywhere, as much as she loved Usagi there was no way she could turn Usagi's life upside down like that.
"Aren't you worried that Fighter will sneak off?" Healer asked.
Maker shook her head, "No, she wouldn't do that. She may love Usagi-San but she feels a strong dedication to the princess and she won't be going anywhere until she gets her replacement trained. And as soon as her replacement is trained she is going to be on Earth as soon as possible. And I will be with her."
"You what?" Healer asked surprised.
"I miss Ami-Chan. And more than anything I want to be with her. I gave my resignation to the princess last month." Maker replied. "Don't tell me you don't miss someone on Earth."
Healer crossed her arms, "I don't."
Maker raised an eyebrow "If you say so."
"Hi Michiru-San. Hi Hotaru-Chan." Usagi called as both of them entered the dress shop they were in "Where is Setsuna-San?"
"She will be here later she some top secret thing to do." Hotaru replied.
Usagi nodded she knew that Setsuna had gone to see Seiya for the last time.
"Where's Naru-Chan?" Michiru asked.
"She couldn't make it today but her dress is pretty much fitted."
They were at the bridesmaid dress shop where she had also bought her wedding dress. Usagi's wedding dress was simple, the high waistline that came just below her bust was outlines in tiny pearls and the thin straps were made of two strands of pearls. All 8 of the bridesmaids had the same style of dress by the color was different, the dresses all had the same waistlines as Usagi's wedding dress, there was no decoration on the waistline but the straps were all made of little beaded roses in the color of their dresses. Naru was the maid-of-honor and her dress was a light purple, Rei's was red, Ami's was blue, Minako's was a pale orange, Makoto's was pink, Michiru's was green, Hotaru's was black, and Setsuna's was maroon.
20 minutes later the bell tickled on the door to the entrance of the shop "Hi Setsuna-Mama." Hotaru called as she stood patiently letting the seamstress place pins at her waist. "Did you get what needed done done?" Hotaru asked.
Setsuna nodded and she could tell Usagi was watching her carefully, "Usagi, might I have a moment alone?"
Sadness filled Usagi's eyes and she turned to the woman working on her dress "Do you mind?"
The kind woman shook her head "No, go ahead. You can take the back room. We are all going to take a break anyway."
"Thank you." Usagi bowed her head and lead the way to the back room. "There was no response again was there?"
"I'm sorry but no. He understood that this was the last letter, and there was no response." Setsuna replied sympathetically.
Usagi took a deep breath and Setsuna could see the tears Usagi was trying to hold back, "I love Mamoru, and we're getting married tomorrow and everything's going to be OK. It's better this way anyway."
"Are you OK Usagi-Chan?" Setsuna asked.
"Yes, I'm fine." Usagi replied. "Now you better hurry and get in your dress so they can finish the fitting."
"You know," Minako was saying when Usagi and Setsuna returned to the room "it has been horribly quiet since Keiko left. She really was a total sweet heart. And she and Chibi-Usa were getting along very well by the time they left."
"That they were." Michiru commented.
"I'm surprised they aren't closer I mean being sisters and princess' you would think they don't have very many friends in the palace." Rei pointed out.
"That is unless…" Makoto turned towards Setsuna "Setsuna-San, do we have kids in the future."
Setsuna smiled a knowing smile "That's for me to know and you to wait and find out."
Minako threw up her hands "She either doesn't know or she refuses to answer us."
Everyone except Usagi laughed at Minako's comments "Usagi-Chan is everything OK?" Ami asked.
Usagi forced a smile "Of course it is? Just cold feet you know."
"Hey come on Usagi smile, we all know you and Mamoru-San are positively meant for each other." Minako commented "Now if the rest of us were that lucky…"
Usagi didn't comment and she walked into the other room to get a cup of coffee.
"Something's wrong with Usagi-Chan. Do you know what's wrong with Usagi-Chan, Setsuna-San?" Makoto asked.
The group grew still and silent as everyone turned their attention towards Setsuna, "Yeah do you know Setsuna-San?"
Setsuna grew silent trying to think of how to phrase her words, "I think Usagi-Chan is just confused. For so long she and Mamoru-San have been prevented from getting married. In the Silver Millennium they died before their wedding day. And for months Usagi-Chan and Mamoru-San were separated, Mamoru-San dead. I think she is just having problems adjusting to this."
"Usagi-Chan had been different since the battle with Chaos. But it's been almost 2 years, I was hoping she would go back to being the Usagi-Chan we all know and love." Rei said concern obvious in her voice.
"The princess is growing as she should. With Chaos freed the time soon approaches for the great freeze begin. Usagi must begin to start acting like the Queen she is to become." Setsuna said quietly.
The group was quiet when Usagi came back into the room. The group was silent for a good 10 minutes before the seamstresses returned.
"My aren't we a chatty group?" One of the seamstresses' joked.
"Hey Usagi-Chan, what have you got there?" Usagi's mother called as Usagi came down the stairs with a shoebox.
"Nothing just something I need to take care of." Usagi replied.
"You ready for the big day?"
"Of course Mom." Usagi responded as she slid open the door to the backyard. Usagi walked towards the fire pit that sat in her backyard. Shingo's latest hobby was firing pottery, he wasn't interested in pottery at all, but his new girlfriend was and Shingo was doing everything to impress her, the funny thing was he was actually good at it.
Usagi sat down on the ground with the shoebox in her lap she could feel the warmth from the flames, and she pulled out the first letter written on pink paper, she had a copy of all the letters she had ever written Seiya. Usagi read over the letter before dropping it in the pit and letting it be engulfed by the flames. As Usagi repeated the process she began crying hard, she made no noise, but silent tears chased each other down her cheeks.
"Usagi-Chan dinner is ready!" Shingo called from the porch.
"I'm not hungry!" Usagi called not turning towards Shingo so he wouldn't see Usagi's tears.
"OK," Shingo replied, "But I will have Mom leave some food out for you."
15 minutes later Usagi had finished reading the last letter she had written to Seiya and she could see the ashes forming from the other letters. Usagi sighed and stood up; she was putting the past behind her so that she could have a new beginning. Usagi knew that she should feel hopeful for the future but she didn't in anyway, instead she felt empty and washed out. She had no more tears to cry, she had been hoping that by burning all of the letters she had written to Seiya would make the pain in her heart go away, but it hadn't, she still felt it there burning in her heart. But without a look behind her Usagi walked back into her house and closed the door.
"Fighter what's wrong?" Maker asked. A pale look had come to Fighter's face and she looked deeply troubled.
"She needs me and I can't be there for her." Fighter exclaimed. "She needs me and I am helpless." With those words Fighter left the table her boots clicking on the marble floors.
"How can you be so cool and confident about this?" Minako asked in the dressing room in the church where Usagi was going to get married.
"That's right your getting married today you are aloud to be excited or nervous." Makoto commented.
Usagi smiled weakly at her friends in the mirror, she felt horrible, she felt like she was making the biggest mistake of her life, and the thought made her sick.
"Usagi-chan doesn't have to be nervous she knows that she and Mamoru-San were meant for each other." Michiru said coming in with Hotaru, "You look beautiful dear." Michiru said quietly before kissing Usagi softly on the cheek. "We are so happy for you and Mamoru-San."
"Do you guys mind if I had a word in private with Usagi-Chan?" Naru asked.
"Of course," everyone nodded and Setsuna spoke "You are the maid-of-honor of course."
Naru took Usagi's hands when everyone was out of the room, "Usagi-Chan, I remember that conversation we had a long time ago. Are you sure about this? I don't want you to make a decision that could ruin your entire life."
"I have no reason not to marry Mamoru." Usagi responded.
"What about Seiya? What about love?" Naru asked both questions as she watched Usagi.
Usagi turned away from Naru and looked out the window "Seiya's never coming back, and I'm pretty sure I love Mamoru."
"Usagi-Chan you can't be "pretty sure" you love the person you are about to marry." Naru replied. "You need to figure out if you love him or not. And you need to figure it out really quick. I don't want to upset you Usagi-Chan, you are my best friend, but I don't want you to make a bad decision that will affect your whole life. Before you say I do up there I want you to make sure you are sure."