"Dearly beloved…" The pastor began "Do you Tuskino Usagi take this man to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?"
"I…" Usagi's thoughts were bombarded with memories and everybody's words rang through her ears "But I believe your destiny is what you make it out to be. I think you write your own destiny…Usagi-Chan, I wish that I could give you some definite answers, but all I can tell you is if you and Seiya truly love each other it will all work out in the end…Everybody keeps telling me to follow my heart, and every time I try to convince myself that my heart is with Mamoru I Realize that I am lying so much to much to myself I am beginning to believe the lies I tell myself…She doesn't, she has never met them...She hasn't met any of you in her whole life…But Mamoru is good to me, and he truly loves me, and I really believe that we can share a good life together…Usagi-chan doesn't have to be nervous she knows that she and Mamoru-San were meant for each other…What about Seiya? What about love?"
Usagi took a deep breath "I do." She was moving on, without him. Behind her Usagi heard her senshi friends let out the breath they must have been holding and she knew Naru was disappointed but Naru didn't know the whole picture, she didn't know Mamoru and Usagi's true history together.
"You may kiss the bride!" were the next words Usagi heard before she felt Mamoru lean over to kiss her, she felt nothing in the kiss, and Usagi already knew Naru's words were right she had just said the words that had ruined her entire life.
When Mamoru and Usagi pulled apart Usagi shot a look at her bridesmaid all of the senshi even Setsuna had tears in their eyes, Naru's face held concern. Usagi turned her head slightly and she could see Mamoru's groomsmen Motoki looked happy, as did 7 of Mamoru's friends and Haruka who was also a groomsmen flowed for her prince and princess.
Usagi went through the motions of her wedding, cutting the cake, dancing the first dance with Mamoru, dancing with her father, everything was a blur.
"She's gone, out of my life completely." Fighter's words were so quiet that Maker and Healer almost didn't catch them but even if they hadn't they would have been able to pick up the despair in Fighter's words.
7 years later
"Maker, we know you are going to Earth now that the training of your pupil is finished but Fighter and Healer what will the two of you be doing?"
"We are all going to Earth, your highness." Taiki spoke to the Queen. "Yaten had realized that, he left a love there."
Seiya watched Taiki and Yaten speak to the Queen the 2 of them stood in their male forms ready to go back to Earth.
The Queen was nodding at something Taiki said "My daughter wishes to speak to the 3 of you alone. So if you will excuse me."
"You 3 have been wonderful guardians. And I will miss you all sorely but I have known the whole time you have been my guardians that this day would come. But I hope that you all find happiness on Earth. Now are you sure you don't want to stay for the party?"
The guys shook their heads "We really want to get to Earth." Taiki responded.
"Then I give you my blessing."
"Thank you princess." Taiki, Yaten and Seiya replied.
"Mama I wanna go see Motoki-San!" Chibi-Usa whined.
"Chibi-Usa Chan you don't want to do such thing you just want to have some ice cream." Minako teased.
7-year-old Chibi-Usa placed her hands on her hips, "So what if I do?"
The girls laughed and Usagi took her daughters hand as she followed Minako, Makoto, Rei and Ami towards the Crown.
The group was joking about Chibi-Usa being so much like Usagi, but the group stopped when Chibi-Usa asked "Mama when is Daddy coming home?"
Usagi knelt in front of her daughter "Chibi-Usa-Chan we talked about this, Daddy and I are taking some time away from each other remember. You are going to go and stay with Daddy next week."
"But why isn't he living with us?" Chibi-Usa asked.
"Remember when Daddy lived with us we fought a lot?" Usagi asked and at Chibi-Usa's nod Usagi continued "We think we would get along better if we have some time apart."
Chibi-Usa nodded and hurried into the Crown to greet Motoki, Rei hugged Usagi "It's all going to be OK." Rei reassured Usagi. "You and Mamoru-San are going to work things out. Now you better go catch Chibi-Usa."
The 4 women watched Usagi's retreating back as she chased after Chibi-Usa. Nobody said anything, everything the 4 had had to say had been said hundreds of times over for the past 7 years now. Usagi was never the same person after the battle with Galaxia and after she married Mamoru, Usagi retreated into herself even more, they rarely ever saw the old fun loving, klutzy crybaby, Usagi anymore and everyone missed her.
"Oww!" Minako cried flying back and landing on her butt after running into someone.
"God Minako," Rei commented, "Your not 14 anymore can't you watch where your going."
The 4 woman were to busy help Minako to their feet that they didn't look at the group until they cleared their throats.
"Yaten-kun." Minako said softly.
"Taiki-kun?" Ami also whispered.
More loudly this time Minako cried "Yaten-kun!" And she through her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
"What are you guys doing back?" Rei asked.
"Is there a threat?" Makoto asked. Ami and Minako were to busy staring at Taiki and Yaten to asked any questions.
"There is no threat." Seiya responded Taiki and Yaten weren't paying attention to the conversation either because they were too concerned with Ami and Minako.
"Wow I can't believe you guys are back." Minako commented softly staring into Yaten's deep green eyes.
Yaten touched Minako's face "We would have been back soon but we had to train some to take our place."
Usagi watched Chibi-Usa dig into her ice cream sundae, and then she returned to Motoki.
"How are things going with you and Mamoru?" Motoki asked.
Usagi sighed, "We can't get over it Motoki. There is just to much, we never should have gotten married in the first place."
"But you did." Motoki pointed out.
"Yes, we did and I think we made a mistake in doing it." Usagi replied.
~Flashback~
"It's not fair to you anymore." Usagi cried, "I don't love you the way a married couple should. You should be with someone who loves you as much as you love her. I can't give you that, I don't think I ever could."
"Is this still about Kou Seiya?" Mamoru yelled. "Why can't you be happy with what is in front of you Usagi?" Mamoru had stopped calling Usako long ago. "Can't you see that he's not coming back for you. He doesn't care!"
Before Usagi knew what she was doing she slapped Mamoru across the face was doing she cried, "Get out."
"Usako I'm sorry." Mamoru apologized.
"Get the Hell out!" Usagi cried.
~End Flashback~
"Usagi-Chan!" Minako called "Look who we found."
Usagi turned around and she could feel the blood leave her face. "Hey Ondago." Seiya called, like nothing had changed since he left.
Usagi smacked Seiya across the face, called Chibi-Usa and the two left the Crown.
"She seemed thrilled to see you." Yaten commented.
"Yaten-kun be nice." Minako reprimanded "Something isn't right."
"Come on let's go after her." Ami suggested.
Taiki placed a hand on Ami's shoulder and shook his head just as Seiya swiftly walked out of the Crown, "Let Seiya talk to her first."
The group sat in a booth in the crown, 15 minutes Seiya joined them "Where does she live?" He asked.
Rei turned to Seiya her face set "You don't need to see her. She is trying to work things out with Mamoru-San she doesn't need you messing things up."
Minako turned to Rei "Don't Rei-Chan! Usagi-Chan hasn't been the same since she married Mamoru, things aren't going to work out between them we all know that. Even Haruka-San knows." With those words Minako gave Seiya, Usagi's address.
By the time Seiya stepped outside of the Crown again it was raining.
Usagi stood at her kitchen sink watching the rain. Tears streamed down Usagi's face and an occasional sob escaped her throat but she stood unmoving until the doorbell rang at noon.
"I'll get it Mama!" Chibi-Usa called rushing into the living room.
"Chibi-Usa-Chan wait for me!" Usagi called after her daughter. Once she reached Chibi-Usa she said, "We will get it together."
Chibi-Usa pulled open the door, "Who are you?" Chibi-Usa asked.
"Chibi-Usa-Chan why don't you play with your dolls in your bedroom so I can talk to out guest?" Usagi suggested.
Usagi looked up at the man, shrugged and skipped off towards her room.
"Hello Ondago." Seiya greeted.
"What are you doing here Seiya?" Usagi asked quietly.
"We need to talk." Seiya responded.
Usagi stepped out of the way and let Seiya passed through the doorway and into the living room. "What do we need to talk about?" Usagi asked harshly, keeping her voice low so Chibi-Usa wouldn't come into the living room "I said all I need to say, you in return had nothing to say. Why are you here now?"
"Ondago," Seiya said placing his hands on Usagi's shoulders, "I had so much I wanted to say to you. But I thought that it would be too painful for you. I couldn't come to Earth until now; this is the earliest I could get away. With my planet needing to be rebuilt and if I was going to leave behind my duty as a Sailor Soldier to my Princess I needed to train a replacement. I wanted to leave the second I realized you were in pain."
"I wrote you hundreds of letters and there was no response! And you think getting a response from you would be painful?" Usagi cried and turned her back on Seiya, so he wouldn't see the tears that were running done her cheeks and dropping off her chin.
Seiya walked to Usagi and turned her to face him, lifting her chin with his hand he wiped Usagi's tears away gently with his thumb, "Usagi I love you, I always have."
"Just get out, please." Usagi whispered pulling away, she turned again and she hugged herself. "Please just leave." Usagi begged.
"Fine, I'll go, but I have this for you." Seiya set a shoebox on the table and walked out the door and back into the rain.
Sniffing Usagi picked up the box and pulled the top off, the box was full of envelopes half of them were familiar pink envelopes and the other were white, all the pink envelops were separated by one of the white ones.
Usagi picked up the first pink envelope reading it quickly she found that it was the first letter she had sent to Seiya so long ago. Usagi laid that letter aside and picked up the first letter, reading over it she gasped, it was a reply to Usagi's letter.
Usagi had been since crying silent tears since noon, and she was on the last letter by 3, when the doorbell ran again, Chibi-Usa again came flying out of her room. As Usagi finished the letter she set it carefully back in the shoebox, stood up brushed the tears off her face and answered the door before Chibi-Usa got there.
"Daddy!" Chibi-Usa cried.
"Hi princess." Mamoru said picking Chibi-Usa up.
"Hello Mamoru." Usagi said, "What can we do for you?"
"I came to see if you guys wanted to go to dinner with me?" Mamoru asked.
"Chibi-Usa-Chan do you want to go to dinner with Daddy?" Usagi asked.
"Yeah!" Chibi-Usa cried, "Are you coming Mama?"
"Not today, baby. I have some other things I need to take care of. But you have fun with your Daddy. Have her home by bedtime please. Have fun baby!" Usagi called.
"Are you sure you don't want to come Usagi?" Mamoru asked.
"Yeah." Usagi replied. Usagi closed the door behind Chibi-Usa and Mamoru. Walked to the closest pulled out her jacket and walked back outside after she had made sure Mamoru had already left.
Minute's later Usagi found herself in front of Seiya, Taiki and Yaten's old apartment building. "Seiya's upstairs." Yaten said walking out the door.
"Where are you going Yaten-kun?" Usagi asked.
"I have to pick Minako-Chan up, we have a date tonight."
"I'm glad! Bye Yaten-kun!" Usagi called walking into the building.
Usagi knocked quietly on the apartment door. Taiki pulled open the door, "Hi Usagi-Chan come in." Taiki picked up his jacket "I was just about to leave. Seiya you have company."
Usagi lay a hand on Taiki's arm "Thank you Taiki-kun."
"I have a date with Ami-Chan."
Usagi smiled, and Taiki continued "I am going to do it right this time."
Just as Taiki was walking out the door Seiya appeared in the room. "Hi Seiya." Usagi said quietly.
"Hello Ondago." Seiya replied.
"I brought this back." Usagi said offering the shoebox back. "It meant a lot to read it."
"I meant everything I put in there." Seiya replied.
"Oh God Seiya I missed you." Usagi cried throwing her arms around Seiya and burying her head in Seiya's shirt, in seconds it was soaked with Usagi's tears. Seiya tightened his hold on Usagi when she said, "I couldn't do it. I realized to late that as much as everyone wanted me to, I didn't love Mamoru as much as I should. We are separated you know. Everyone knows why, everyone knows that I was in love with you the whole time, the senshi didn't want admit it though. They are concerned about me yes, but they are also concerned about the future. And I don't know what to tell them anymore."
"Shh." Seiya whispered "It's going to be OK I promise. I am going to be here for you always. I promise I'm not going anywhere."
"I…" Usagi's thoughts were bombarded with memories and everybody's words rang through her ears "But I believe your destiny is what you make it out to be. I think you write your own destiny…Usagi-Chan, I wish that I could give you some definite answers, but all I can tell you is if you and Seiya truly love each other it will all work out in the end…Everybody keeps telling me to follow my heart, and every time I try to convince myself that my heart is with Mamoru I Realize that I am lying so much to much to myself I am beginning to believe the lies I tell myself…She doesn't, she has never met them...She hasn't met any of you in her whole life…But Mamoru is good to me, and he truly loves me, and I really believe that we can share a good life together…Usagi-chan doesn't have to be nervous she knows that she and Mamoru-San were meant for each other…What about Seiya? What about love?"
Usagi took a deep breath "I do." She was moving on, without him. Behind her Usagi heard her senshi friends let out the breath they must have been holding and she knew Naru was disappointed but Naru didn't know the whole picture, she didn't know Mamoru and Usagi's true history together.
"You may kiss the bride!" were the next words Usagi heard before she felt Mamoru lean over to kiss her, she felt nothing in the kiss, and Usagi already knew Naru's words were right she had just said the words that had ruined her entire life.
When Mamoru and Usagi pulled apart Usagi shot a look at her bridesmaid all of the senshi even Setsuna had tears in their eyes, Naru's face held concern. Usagi turned her head slightly and she could see Mamoru's groomsmen Motoki looked happy, as did 7 of Mamoru's friends and Haruka who was also a groomsmen flowed for her prince and princess.
Usagi went through the motions of her wedding, cutting the cake, dancing the first dance with Mamoru, dancing with her father, everything was a blur.
"She's gone, out of my life completely." Fighter's words were so quiet that Maker and Healer almost didn't catch them but even if they hadn't they would have been able to pick up the despair in Fighter's words.
7 years later
"Maker, we know you are going to Earth now that the training of your pupil is finished but Fighter and Healer what will the two of you be doing?"
"We are all going to Earth, your highness." Taiki spoke to the Queen. "Yaten had realized that, he left a love there."
Seiya watched Taiki and Yaten speak to the Queen the 2 of them stood in their male forms ready to go back to Earth.
The Queen was nodding at something Taiki said "My daughter wishes to speak to the 3 of you alone. So if you will excuse me."
"You 3 have been wonderful guardians. And I will miss you all sorely but I have known the whole time you have been my guardians that this day would come. But I hope that you all find happiness on Earth. Now are you sure you don't want to stay for the party?"
The guys shook their heads "We really want to get to Earth." Taiki responded.
"Then I give you my blessing."
"Thank you princess." Taiki, Yaten and Seiya replied.
"Mama I wanna go see Motoki-San!" Chibi-Usa whined.
"Chibi-Usa Chan you don't want to do such thing you just want to have some ice cream." Minako teased.
7-year-old Chibi-Usa placed her hands on her hips, "So what if I do?"
The girls laughed and Usagi took her daughters hand as she followed Minako, Makoto, Rei and Ami towards the Crown.
The group was joking about Chibi-Usa being so much like Usagi, but the group stopped when Chibi-Usa asked "Mama when is Daddy coming home?"
Usagi knelt in front of her daughter "Chibi-Usa-Chan we talked about this, Daddy and I are taking some time away from each other remember. You are going to go and stay with Daddy next week."
"But why isn't he living with us?" Chibi-Usa asked.
"Remember when Daddy lived with us we fought a lot?" Usagi asked and at Chibi-Usa's nod Usagi continued "We think we would get along better if we have some time apart."
Chibi-Usa nodded and hurried into the Crown to greet Motoki, Rei hugged Usagi "It's all going to be OK." Rei reassured Usagi. "You and Mamoru-San are going to work things out. Now you better go catch Chibi-Usa."
The 4 women watched Usagi's retreating back as she chased after Chibi-Usa. Nobody said anything, everything the 4 had had to say had been said hundreds of times over for the past 7 years now. Usagi was never the same person after the battle with Galaxia and after she married Mamoru, Usagi retreated into herself even more, they rarely ever saw the old fun loving, klutzy crybaby, Usagi anymore and everyone missed her.
"Oww!" Minako cried flying back and landing on her butt after running into someone.
"God Minako," Rei commented, "Your not 14 anymore can't you watch where your going."
The 4 woman were to busy help Minako to their feet that they didn't look at the group until they cleared their throats.
"Yaten-kun." Minako said softly.
"Taiki-kun?" Ami also whispered.
More loudly this time Minako cried "Yaten-kun!" And she through her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
"What are you guys doing back?" Rei asked.
"Is there a threat?" Makoto asked. Ami and Minako were to busy staring at Taiki and Yaten to asked any questions.
"There is no threat." Seiya responded Taiki and Yaten weren't paying attention to the conversation either because they were too concerned with Ami and Minako.
"Wow I can't believe you guys are back." Minako commented softly staring into Yaten's deep green eyes.
Yaten touched Minako's face "We would have been back soon but we had to train some to take our place."
Usagi watched Chibi-Usa dig into her ice cream sundae, and then she returned to Motoki.
"How are things going with you and Mamoru?" Motoki asked.
Usagi sighed, "We can't get over it Motoki. There is just to much, we never should have gotten married in the first place."
"But you did." Motoki pointed out.
"Yes, we did and I think we made a mistake in doing it." Usagi replied.
~Flashback~
"It's not fair to you anymore." Usagi cried, "I don't love you the way a married couple should. You should be with someone who loves you as much as you love her. I can't give you that, I don't think I ever could."
"Is this still about Kou Seiya?" Mamoru yelled. "Why can't you be happy with what is in front of you Usagi?" Mamoru had stopped calling Usako long ago. "Can't you see that he's not coming back for you. He doesn't care!"
Before Usagi knew what she was doing she slapped Mamoru across the face was doing she cried, "Get out."
"Usako I'm sorry." Mamoru apologized.
"Get the Hell out!" Usagi cried.
~End Flashback~
"Usagi-Chan!" Minako called "Look who we found."
Usagi turned around and she could feel the blood leave her face. "Hey Ondago." Seiya called, like nothing had changed since he left.
Usagi smacked Seiya across the face, called Chibi-Usa and the two left the Crown.
"She seemed thrilled to see you." Yaten commented.
"Yaten-kun be nice." Minako reprimanded "Something isn't right."
"Come on let's go after her." Ami suggested.
Taiki placed a hand on Ami's shoulder and shook his head just as Seiya swiftly walked out of the Crown, "Let Seiya talk to her first."
The group sat in a booth in the crown, 15 minutes Seiya joined them "Where does she live?" He asked.
Rei turned to Seiya her face set "You don't need to see her. She is trying to work things out with Mamoru-San she doesn't need you messing things up."
Minako turned to Rei "Don't Rei-Chan! Usagi-Chan hasn't been the same since she married Mamoru, things aren't going to work out between them we all know that. Even Haruka-San knows." With those words Minako gave Seiya, Usagi's address.
By the time Seiya stepped outside of the Crown again it was raining.
Usagi stood at her kitchen sink watching the rain. Tears streamed down Usagi's face and an occasional sob escaped her throat but she stood unmoving until the doorbell rang at noon.
"I'll get it Mama!" Chibi-Usa called rushing into the living room.
"Chibi-Usa-Chan wait for me!" Usagi called after her daughter. Once she reached Chibi-Usa she said, "We will get it together."
Chibi-Usa pulled open the door, "Who are you?" Chibi-Usa asked.
"Chibi-Usa-Chan why don't you play with your dolls in your bedroom so I can talk to out guest?" Usagi suggested.
Usagi looked up at the man, shrugged and skipped off towards her room.
"Hello Ondago." Seiya greeted.
"What are you doing here Seiya?" Usagi asked quietly.
"We need to talk." Seiya responded.
Usagi stepped out of the way and let Seiya passed through the doorway and into the living room. "What do we need to talk about?" Usagi asked harshly, keeping her voice low so Chibi-Usa wouldn't come into the living room "I said all I need to say, you in return had nothing to say. Why are you here now?"
"Ondago," Seiya said placing his hands on Usagi's shoulders, "I had so much I wanted to say to you. But I thought that it would be too painful for you. I couldn't come to Earth until now; this is the earliest I could get away. With my planet needing to be rebuilt and if I was going to leave behind my duty as a Sailor Soldier to my Princess I needed to train a replacement. I wanted to leave the second I realized you were in pain."
"I wrote you hundreds of letters and there was no response! And you think getting a response from you would be painful?" Usagi cried and turned her back on Seiya, so he wouldn't see the tears that were running done her cheeks and dropping off her chin.
Seiya walked to Usagi and turned her to face him, lifting her chin with his hand he wiped Usagi's tears away gently with his thumb, "Usagi I love you, I always have."
"Just get out, please." Usagi whispered pulling away, she turned again and she hugged herself. "Please just leave." Usagi begged.
"Fine, I'll go, but I have this for you." Seiya set a shoebox on the table and walked out the door and back into the rain.
Sniffing Usagi picked up the box and pulled the top off, the box was full of envelopes half of them were familiar pink envelopes and the other were white, all the pink envelops were separated by one of the white ones.
Usagi picked up the first pink envelope reading it quickly she found that it was the first letter she had sent to Seiya so long ago. Usagi laid that letter aside and picked up the first letter, reading over it she gasped, it was a reply to Usagi's letter.
Usagi had been since crying silent tears since noon, and she was on the last letter by 3, when the doorbell ran again, Chibi-Usa again came flying out of her room. As Usagi finished the letter she set it carefully back in the shoebox, stood up brushed the tears off her face and answered the door before Chibi-Usa got there.
"Daddy!" Chibi-Usa cried.
"Hi princess." Mamoru said picking Chibi-Usa up.
"Hello Mamoru." Usagi said, "What can we do for you?"
"I came to see if you guys wanted to go to dinner with me?" Mamoru asked.
"Chibi-Usa-Chan do you want to go to dinner with Daddy?" Usagi asked.
"Yeah!" Chibi-Usa cried, "Are you coming Mama?"
"Not today, baby. I have some other things I need to take care of. But you have fun with your Daddy. Have her home by bedtime please. Have fun baby!" Usagi called.
"Are you sure you don't want to come Usagi?" Mamoru asked.
"Yeah." Usagi replied. Usagi closed the door behind Chibi-Usa and Mamoru. Walked to the closest pulled out her jacket and walked back outside after she had made sure Mamoru had already left.
Minute's later Usagi found herself in front of Seiya, Taiki and Yaten's old apartment building. "Seiya's upstairs." Yaten said walking out the door.
"Where are you going Yaten-kun?" Usagi asked.
"I have to pick Minako-Chan up, we have a date tonight."
"I'm glad! Bye Yaten-kun!" Usagi called walking into the building.
Usagi knocked quietly on the apartment door. Taiki pulled open the door, "Hi Usagi-Chan come in." Taiki picked up his jacket "I was just about to leave. Seiya you have company."
Usagi lay a hand on Taiki's arm "Thank you Taiki-kun."
"I have a date with Ami-Chan."
Usagi smiled, and Taiki continued "I am going to do it right this time."
Just as Taiki was walking out the door Seiya appeared in the room. "Hi Seiya." Usagi said quietly.
"Hello Ondago." Seiya replied.
"I brought this back." Usagi said offering the shoebox back. "It meant a lot to read it."
"I meant everything I put in there." Seiya replied.
"Oh God Seiya I missed you." Usagi cried throwing her arms around Seiya and burying her head in Seiya's shirt, in seconds it was soaked with Usagi's tears. Seiya tightened his hold on Usagi when she said, "I couldn't do it. I realized to late that as much as everyone wanted me to, I didn't love Mamoru as much as I should. We are separated you know. Everyone knows why, everyone knows that I was in love with you the whole time, the senshi didn't want admit it though. They are concerned about me yes, but they are also concerned about the future. And I don't know what to tell them anymore."
"Shh." Seiya whispered "It's going to be OK I promise. I am going to be here for you always. I promise I'm not going anywhere."