Dedication: I would like to dedicate the final chapter to my first fic to Kei-chan and her endless encouragement; Fire-chan or RedHeadChickie and her funny funny reviews ^_^'' and of course encouragement; Telpetincoiel Telepartoien and of course Chibi-Perk for their encouragement (and entertainment lol ^______^ ); Brianna For her inspiration. It would have taken me a lot longer to write this had it not been for you!; and LadyKyia for her advice! Thank you all! Oh yes, and my dear *winces* cousin Michi. Thank you for your support.
Disclaimer: *Cries* enough already! Stop harassing me! I don't own either of them, alright?
*~* Chapter 27 *~*
The cold nipped at his skin, but the chilling sensations went unnoticed as he leaned back onto the ground. Sleep was something that hadn't come tonight, his mind was too restless. He brought his hands up behind his head, and smiled slightly as he looked up into the star filled sky. What peace the night brought, and the forest in which his home was built in went untouched by the city's lights.
Silence was all he had right then, which left room for his thoughts. What were these thoughts about you ask?
Her.
It had been a few days since his conversation with his son...and it had ended most abruptly as well. After he had admitted the strong feelings within his heart, Gohan smiled, with a tinge of sadness and said:
"I knew it all along. I knew you were in love with her."
And with that he left him standing outside their home, stunned at this comment. It never ceased to surprise him how much his son had grown up. Even he seemed to understand the concept of love more than himself.
'He's grown up' Goku thought as he watched the night sky 'These things always seem to happen without me noticing'
He sighed, bringing one of his hands forward to brush away stray hair from his face. Why did he have to feel the way he did? She had been gone for so long, and yet...yet, there was still a part of him that believed that she was still alive. Gohan's prodding questions had only proved more that he hadn't gotten over this loss.
Was it time to let go? A part of him wanted to, for his own mental sake. But the other part of him desperately clung on to the memories of his tenshi.
He could still see her in his mind. He could remember the feel of her smooth skin against his own, the way she smiled, the sound of her laugh, the way her eyes lit up with happiness, the feel of her lips.
Kami-sama, he couldn't go a day without thinking of her anymore! They had grown so close, and when happiness was within his grasp...
This wasn't healthy. Not at all. He knew he loved her, but when had he gotten so obsessed?
Goku unconsciously shook his head and chuckled; Ah, the things love did to you.
Love.
'Aishiteru, Goku'
She had said that she loved him.
HIM of all the people in the world! The moment he heard those words and saw her disappear before his eyes, the whole world came crashing down on him. Nothing could compare to the pain he felt at that very moment. Usagi had become one of the most important people in his life. She made him feel something that had died so long ago with the passing of his wife.
Oh sure, it wasn't love at first sight. In fact, the only thought that came to his mind the moment he saw her rise from the lake was "Oh kami-sama, what the hell is that?". But from that moment on, he slowly began falling in love with her. All the things that he did with her, everything he knew about her just seemed to 'click' with him. Every moment he had with her he cherished and held close to his heart.
He sat up, and slowly got to his feet. So maybe he still wasn't ready to let go of her memory. Maybe he never would be. He wanted to remember her, even if it caused the ache within his heart. The happiness of knowing that he had found something special was worth the pain of knowing that he had still lost her.
Look at everyone else. They were all happy, even though they had all lost the same person. Life after the battle had almost returned to normal. Makoto resumed taking care of her restaurant, Ami continued her career as a doctor, Rei as a priestess. All the outer senshi lived out their lives together, and according to them "it was almost the same as in their last life". Then there was Minako, her life as a idol never changed, and now she had the "almighty baseball player" Yamcha by her side. Michiko had returned with the Starlights to Kinmoku, surprisingly bringing along Trunks who continued to claim that he needed more adventure in his life (Which no one believed for a moment, but they chose to humor him). They all still lived with their smiles on their faces, all thinking the same thing; She wouldn't have wanted us to be sad. So he wouldn't be.
He brushed some grass from his clothes, took a deep breath, and stretched his arms out to the sides while turning his face up to the sky once again. He turned his head to the side in the direction of his home, and sighed.
"They're beautiful, aren't they?"
Goku's senses immediately went on alert as he and looked about him. But...That voice! It sounded like...Iie, it couldn't be!
"Who are you?" he asked cautiously, never letting down his guard. He peered out into the forest around him, his eyes only being able to make out the silhouette of the person speaking in the dark.
"I wonder" the voice continued, ignoring his question "When was the last time I stopped and looked at the stars? How long has it been? Even as the queen of the stars, I forgot the true beauty of them."
Goku watched as the figure took a step towards him, "Who are you?" he asked again, his voice barely a whisper. Was this some sort of prank? Or had his train of thought lead him to this sweet delusion?
"Sacrificing my power was perhaps one of the most smartest things I've done. And trust me, there aren't many of those moments."
Goku took a step forward, his eyes still trying to see the person out in the dark.
"I-it can be! Is it really you?"
"You know, the gods don't look kindly upon those who abuse their gifts" the figure stepped out of the dark, and the moonlight fell upon her. "They tend to punish those who do with banishment to the mortal realm" her tone joking.
He felt his heart stop for a moment as he took in the sight before him.
"Masaka" he said, his tone unbelieving "Demo, h-how can this be?".
"Haven't you been listening to me?" she said with feigned hurt, "Here I am telling you my feelings, and all you can do is gawk at me as if I've grown another head!"
"U-Usagi" Goku muttered "How can this be?"
"Nande? You're not happy to see me?" she frowned "If I knew I was going to get such a reception here, then I might as well have stayed with Ami-chan".
"I-iie! Demo, I don't understand...How-"
"Ne, as I said you should listen more" Usagi interrupted, breaking out into a small grin "Demo, I'll elaborate more, just for you. The day of the battle, I sacrificed my immortality to the Ginzuishou in order to provide the power I needed to defeat Chaos." She looked down at the ground in thought "That power, my immortality, was a gift from the gods themselves. This power was also a sacred power to them, and my "careless"-as they referred to it as- sacrifice of this power angered them all, even though I did save this world" she sighed "They really need to learn not to be so serious about their power sometimes." Usagi gave a tiny laugh, and looked back up at him "And as a punishment, I was sentenced to banishment to the mortal realm, my powers as Cosmos taken away from me. It's just as it was when I first became a senshi. I still wield the Ginzuishou, demo I no longer have enough power to wield it without killing myself..." She paused for a moment, gathering whatever courage she had for what she wanted to say next "I am still welcome here, aren't I? Do you still want me to stay with you?"
Silence passed between them for a moment, and Usagi felt the hope within her heart shrink with every passing second.
Casting her eyes down to the ground, she tried to keep her voice steady "Demo, if you don't want me to, then I-" She gasped as she found herself wrapped up in a pair of arms
"Usa" his voice murmured into her ear "Usa-chan"
She could feel her heart beating faster as the hold on her tightened slightly
"I thought-We all thought that you had died. The moment I saw you disappear along with Chaos, I felt...I felt...and all these months, living without you..." Goku laughed softly, releasing her from his hold and bringing a hand behind his head "Gomen. I'm not the best at these things"
Usagi smiled, closing the space between them once again "Wakatta" she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. She brought herself upwards, kissing him softly on the lips. She looked up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears "Gomen nasi, Goku. I never meant to cause you pain". She lay her head on his chest, turned to the side "I was so afraid that I would never be able to see you again." She could feel the warm tears coursing down her cheeks " I had thought that the gods would have sentenced me to eternal isolation as a punishment. Who would have guessed that to live life as a mortal was a far worse punishment in their terms?" she laughed, choking slightly on her tears "Demo, hope that I would see you again, hope that I could return here was all I had. Even if I was never allowed to return, every moment that would have passed, I would have tried everything to see you again."
"Usa..."
"As long as you want me by your side, I will be there. I want to stay with you Goku. Even if in the future, you find that you no longer want to be with me, I still want to be with you."
"Iie. That would never happen. I want to be with you always." Goku firmly said "And I always keep my word."
Usagi smiled, brushing her tears away with the back of her hand. "Aishiteru, Goku"
Goku returned her smile. His heart filled with life and love for the woman in front of him. Just to think, just a few minutes ago he was contemplating whether or not he should let go of his feelings for her. He was glad that he didn't.
"Aishiteru, Usa"
And together they watched as the sun rose over the horizon, both caught up in each others embrace. Together they watched as the world awoke around them time and time again, and together they stayed until the end of time...
"Ne, Usa?"
"Hai?"
"What do you think our future holds for us?"
"Who knows? We'll see, as time goes by."
"As time goes by?"
"Hai."
"Then I wish for time to go as slowly as it can. I want to spend every moment with you"
Usagi laughed as she caught his lips with her own
"So do I Goku. So do I"
Baby you're all that I want
When you're lying here in my arms
I'm finding it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
*~*
*~*Fins*~*
It's corny, not so greatly written BUT...
It's amazing. I actually finished it! It took me a looooong time, but I really did finish my first fic! ^_____________________________^
I want to thank everyone that took the time to read As Time Goes By, and I hope you enjoyed it just as much as I enjoyed writing it. Though, I admit my writing isn't the best...I took a look at some of my previous chapters. O_O I just hope my writing has improved since then.
The song? Heaven by Dj Sammy.
*whap!*
Me: Itai! *glares* what was that for?
Linn: For taking so long to write this!
Me: Baka *pauses and looks around* Nani? What are all of you doing here?
Duo: Well, this was certainly an event we couldn't miss! Don't you think Hirro?
Hirro: Hn...
Me: Demo...Duo-chan, you said that you never wanted to come back here...it was too weird for you...And that you were still mad at me for pushing you through that hole
Duo: Heh, well I'm not that mad. Just this once wouldn't hurt, ne? Besides, there's no more food at my place.
Me: Eh?
Duo: So, where's your fridge?
Me: -_-'' I don't see you for so long, and the only reason you came here is to get food?
Duo: And to congratulate you on finishing this!
Me: ...
Wufei: Baka Maxwell...
Duo: I love you too Wu-man.
Wufei: O_O *faints*
Quatre: That wasn't very nice Duo
Duo: I know. But it's not every day you get to see Wu-man faint, ne?
*from background* TRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAA!!
Trowa: ...
Michi: *latches onto Trowa's arm* Ne, thought you could get away from me, didn't you? No one ever escapes the mighty Michiko!
Me: *rolls eyes* Not to mention scary.
Michi: NANDE?!
Me: Eep! *Hides behind Hirro* Ano...Hirro-san? A little help?
Hirro: Hn
Michi: Come here, I have something to give you Angel-chan
Me: *points* what's that?
Michi: *hides a mallet behind her back* nothing! Now come here!
Me: Iie! *shoves Hirro into Michi and runs away* Hahaha, you'll never catch me!
Michi: *smiles* Ohayoo Hirro-san *thinks* What a bishi
Hirro: Omae o Kouse *brings out gun and goes after L-angel*
Quatre: Hirro-kun! Don't hurt her!
Hirro: Hn...
Duo: Yea, or else she'll never be able to post this!
Hirro: *thinks for a moment, and puts the gun away*
Me: *comes out from behind Trowa* Arigato Duo-chan! Quatre-chan!
Michi: !!! Get away from MY Trowa!
Me: *runs and trips on the still passed out Wufei* Itai!
Wufei: *mutters, still unconscious * Baka onna
Me: ...neh, he still says it when he's passed out...weird...
Lastly, I want to that the following people for their encouragement, and for taking the time to review:
Alexandra-Snape; Lyra Silvertongue; neoqueenserena84; Echo; Haruka-hime lol, baka? Ne, I guess I should take that as a good thing! ; shadow star Lol, that was all just for you ^_^; Natari Son You were exactly right. Predictable, ne?;Callisto Star Being cheesy is what I'm best at! ^_^ take this last chapter for example-CHEESY! lol; shinimegami; Erika; Anthony lol, I'm being inhumane? Woah, never thought of it that way! ^_^; tsukin; lilmakochan; solarmistress17; AnimePrincess lol, gomen for not getting this out before school started. *sigh* baka school...demo, I'm glad you liked my story that much! ^_^
Thank you all. And I hope some of you readers will take a look at any other fics that I write!
*WHAM!*
Me: ITAI!! Kuso! Stop hitting me on the head! I'm going to get permanent brain damage from you people!
Michi: Isn't that the point?
Linn: ^_^ now, that's the reason why I like you so much Michiko
Me: Ai...They're all against me *smiles evilly and holds up a Trowa plushie* Demo, at least I got this back, ne?
Michi: *gasp!* Mine mine! *trips and falls on the still unconscious Wufei*
Wufei: *mutters* baka onna
Duo:...You're right, that is weird...
Me: ^_______^ Sayoonara minna-san! oh and please Review!