"Raye?"
I jumped back to reality. Serena's hand was on my shoulder. "What is it, Serena?"
"It's time to go now. The plane's waiting to take us home."
I nodded, thankful that we'd left our things at the hotel where one of Darien's "mystery men," as I called them, would retrieve our things and have them ready on the plane for us. Darien had contacts everywhere we went and we worried about nothing. Somehow, our luggage was taken care of, our meals and hotel were provided, and planes were always waiting for us to take us to another location. At first, it confused me but I soon got used to it.
The next thing I knew, we were back in Japan.
Home. In the time we'd been gone, it had changed very little. Juuban was still a bustling community right out side of Tokyo, filled with adults always busy looking and kids in their school uniforms that always seemed to be going somewhere. I tried to remember my life like that and the memory was difficult to come. It seemed as though the events in my life were defined by three very great moments: meeting Serena, becoming Sailor Mars, and leaving Japan. Everything else leading up to those events were fuzzy.
We finally arrived at the house Darien had bought. Tucked at the end of a dead end street of the Juuban district, it looked huge compared to the other buildings around it. It had a high wall secluding the building from the street and huge trees added to the seclusion. Their branches spread over the grounds creating a very soft environment. The house itself was huge, a three story American southern antebellum style that was new to this side of the world but completely fitting. The former owner had been a fan of the novel and movie "Gone With the Wind" and built the house using his image of Tara in mind. Mina, and Serena and Darien were going to stay there with Luna and Artemis while I went home to the temple. Ami would be a temporary resident until her husband and son joined her after a couple of months.
"Luna! Artemis!"
Serena dropped her bag and dropped to one knee as her two friends ran and jumped into her arms. She hugged them tightly and smiled.
"Oh, my friends! You're here!"
"Where else would we be, Serena? We've been here doing what little we could while you were gone," Luna replied.
Mina joined Serena by her side and Artemis quickly went to her. "Hey there, furball," She said lovingly. "Long time no see."
"You two, stranger." Artemis grinned as he replied lightly. Mina grinned and scratched his ear.
"What a reunion," I sighed. "Lita would have loved it here."
Ami put down her suitcases and looked at me. "She wouldn't have let us go for almost nine years without talking to each other, not knowing where we all were for that matter."
"I miss her, Ami. She should be here with us, starting over like the rest of us."
Ami put her head on my shoulder and I put my arm around her. "Would we be here if she was?"
"I don't know. If he and Zoicite hadn't trapped us, Jupiter wouldn't have had the lucky hit that she got."
"If you want to keep going by that, if we hadn't agreed to become Senshi we wouldn't have been there in the first place. Or for that matter, if Serenity hadn't reincarnated us we would have just been dead."
I sighed, picking up one of my suitcases. "You're right, Ami. I guess that means we shouldn't dwell on the past."
"That's about the whole jist of it. Hey wait, where're you going?"
"Yeah, Raye, we've only been here ten minutes." Serena piped up.
I hefted my bag to fit on my shoulder more comfortably and shifted my second suitcase to my right hand. "I hate to do this so soon after having just arrived. I have to, guys. I just...want to get this over with."
Serena's teasing face sobered and everyone nodded. "I won't go crazy or anything. I'm just going to get it straightened up. All my stuff should be there waiting for me and it needs to be taken care of. Just give me a couple days of good cleaning and getting things in order and we can have a meeting there A.S.A.P. Besides, I've got to find a job and get myself enrolled in another school."
"We're more than okay on finances, Raye," Darien said. "Anything you need after you use what you've got can be provided for."
I looked to Ami and her look was the same as mine, the look of pride in our financial independence and the unwillingness to give it up. "Thanks, Darien. That offer's really nice and all but I'm a grown woman and I want to take care of myself if that's okay. I'd feel better if I was able to do some things on my own. If I need anything that I can't buy on my own, I'll let you know."
Darien nodded. "Call us if you need any help. That temple is kinda big and we're only 10 minutes away."
"Sure thing."
At the top of the temple steps I stopped and looked around. I let out a slow breath, realizing only then that I'd held it in. Nothing much had changed. The grounds needed work. Apparently since Chad left, Andrew and his sister had been taking care of everything Darien need - including the upkeep of the temple. They'd done a fair job of keeping it from going out of control but they'd changed the way Grandpa originally had it and I refused to let it stay the way it was. It was so quiet on the grounds that I began to grow apprehensive about returning. The grounds had always been quiet but with Chad and Grandpa around, the quiet was always less noticeable. But in this moment, it was deathly quiet and it unnerved me.
"Welcome home, Raye." I said softly to myself.
I put my things down on the front step and looked around me. Taking a deep breath, I moved to the cherry tree grove in the back of the temple. The trees were in bloom and petals floated lightly when the wind blew. It was the oldest part of the temple, planted by my great great grandfather on my mother's side and it had always been one of my favorite places. In the back was the small family graveyard. My grandmother was buried there, as well my mother, and I knew that when I died, I would join them. I stopped momentarily at each separate grave, saying a small prayer for each one. Then I went to the newest grave.
"Grandpa. I'm home." I whispered after I'd said a prayer. "Everything is okay now. Serena's back and we're all together. Guess what, Grandpa. All those times I ran off or was in the fire room doing readings..they're because I'm Sailor Mars. Did you know that? On top of everything, I'm royalty, too. I was reincarnated by this nice lady called Queen Serenity and me and my friends fight evil..." I leaned back on my knees and sighed. "I know it's too late now. I should have told you before all that mess happened. I was going to but it was never the right time. Besides, you would have been in danger if they ever found out who I really was, which I'm glad for now because the press left you alone when all that happened.
"I'm an American citizen now. I was in San Francisco right after those people let us go and it's a wonderful town. I left my heart in San Francisco..I almost feel that way. I did finish school, by the way. It was the only way to get anywhere. I'm in college now - or at least I was before Serena came back - and I'm studying philosophy, political science and theology. The political science is just in case I decide to get into politics or something, I just thought it would be interesting to take.
" You know, I used to watch the kids at school and wonder why my father wasn't around to do all the stuff most families do. I used to get angry that my mom died and that he ran. All my life all I really wanted was a normal family. I would see the looks from my peers that you got when you called yourself my family. Nobody really understood how an old man like you could possibly take care of me. But I know you did your best. And I learned that all those times I lamented not having a family, I had one. It wasn't traditional and now that I'm older I can appreciate the difference. You were my family. Chad too, after he came. And I was lucky to have you, so lucky to be able to love and be loved by you.
"Grandpa, I'm so sorry that you had to find about me from strangers on a news broadcast. I'm so sorry that I couldn't explain to you why I hadn't told you. I didn't mean to make you worry after I disappeared and then when I was being held by the police. I tried to get them to let me see you but they only allowed you that one visit and there were so many things to say and so little time that all I could do was beg you to make them let me out..I didn't know you were sick. I just didn't know because you never told me. You knew I would worry about you and make you take care of yourself. I just wish...I wish you hadn't been alone. If I had known you were ill I would have stayed in Tokyo after they let me go. I would have found a way to get you better so wouldn't be here now.." I stood and tried to wipe my tears from my cheek, a futile effort because I couldn't stop crying. "I'm home now. I'm home and I'm never leaving."
I went back around to the front and picked up my things. With a deep breath, I prepared to enter the Cherry Hill Temple completely alone for the first time in my entire life.
I jumped back to reality. Serena's hand was on my shoulder. "What is it, Serena?"
"It's time to go now. The plane's waiting to take us home."
I nodded, thankful that we'd left our things at the hotel where one of Darien's "mystery men," as I called them, would retrieve our things and have them ready on the plane for us. Darien had contacts everywhere we went and we worried about nothing. Somehow, our luggage was taken care of, our meals and hotel were provided, and planes were always waiting for us to take us to another location. At first, it confused me but I soon got used to it.
The next thing I knew, we were back in Japan.
Home. In the time we'd been gone, it had changed very little. Juuban was still a bustling community right out side of Tokyo, filled with adults always busy looking and kids in their school uniforms that always seemed to be going somewhere. I tried to remember my life like that and the memory was difficult to come. It seemed as though the events in my life were defined by three very great moments: meeting Serena, becoming Sailor Mars, and leaving Japan. Everything else leading up to those events were fuzzy.
We finally arrived at the house Darien had bought. Tucked at the end of a dead end street of the Juuban district, it looked huge compared to the other buildings around it. It had a high wall secluding the building from the street and huge trees added to the seclusion. Their branches spread over the grounds creating a very soft environment. The house itself was huge, a three story American southern antebellum style that was new to this side of the world but completely fitting. The former owner had been a fan of the novel and movie "Gone With the Wind" and built the house using his image of Tara in mind. Mina, and Serena and Darien were going to stay there with Luna and Artemis while I went home to the temple. Ami would be a temporary resident until her husband and son joined her after a couple of months.
"Luna! Artemis!"
Serena dropped her bag and dropped to one knee as her two friends ran and jumped into her arms. She hugged them tightly and smiled.
"Oh, my friends! You're here!"
"Where else would we be, Serena? We've been here doing what little we could while you were gone," Luna replied.
Mina joined Serena by her side and Artemis quickly went to her. "Hey there, furball," She said lovingly. "Long time no see."
"You two, stranger." Artemis grinned as he replied lightly. Mina grinned and scratched his ear.
"What a reunion," I sighed. "Lita would have loved it here."
Ami put down her suitcases and looked at me. "She wouldn't have let us go for almost nine years without talking to each other, not knowing where we all were for that matter."
"I miss her, Ami. She should be here with us, starting over like the rest of us."
Ami put her head on my shoulder and I put my arm around her. "Would we be here if she was?"
"I don't know. If he and Zoicite hadn't trapped us, Jupiter wouldn't have had the lucky hit that she got."
"If you want to keep going by that, if we hadn't agreed to become Senshi we wouldn't have been there in the first place. Or for that matter, if Serenity hadn't reincarnated us we would have just been dead."
I sighed, picking up one of my suitcases. "You're right, Ami. I guess that means we shouldn't dwell on the past."
"That's about the whole jist of it. Hey wait, where're you going?"
"Yeah, Raye, we've only been here ten minutes." Serena piped up.
I hefted my bag to fit on my shoulder more comfortably and shifted my second suitcase to my right hand. "I hate to do this so soon after having just arrived. I have to, guys. I just...want to get this over with."
Serena's teasing face sobered and everyone nodded. "I won't go crazy or anything. I'm just going to get it straightened up. All my stuff should be there waiting for me and it needs to be taken care of. Just give me a couple days of good cleaning and getting things in order and we can have a meeting there A.S.A.P. Besides, I've got to find a job and get myself enrolled in another school."
"We're more than okay on finances, Raye," Darien said. "Anything you need after you use what you've got can be provided for."
I looked to Ami and her look was the same as mine, the look of pride in our financial independence and the unwillingness to give it up. "Thanks, Darien. That offer's really nice and all but I'm a grown woman and I want to take care of myself if that's okay. I'd feel better if I was able to do some things on my own. If I need anything that I can't buy on my own, I'll let you know."
Darien nodded. "Call us if you need any help. That temple is kinda big and we're only 10 minutes away."
"Sure thing."
At the top of the temple steps I stopped and looked around. I let out a slow breath, realizing only then that I'd held it in. Nothing much had changed. The grounds needed work. Apparently since Chad left, Andrew and his sister had been taking care of everything Darien need - including the upkeep of the temple. They'd done a fair job of keeping it from going out of control but they'd changed the way Grandpa originally had it and I refused to let it stay the way it was. It was so quiet on the grounds that I began to grow apprehensive about returning. The grounds had always been quiet but with Chad and Grandpa around, the quiet was always less noticeable. But in this moment, it was deathly quiet and it unnerved me.
"Welcome home, Raye." I said softly to myself.
I put my things down on the front step and looked around me. Taking a deep breath, I moved to the cherry tree grove in the back of the temple. The trees were in bloom and petals floated lightly when the wind blew. It was the oldest part of the temple, planted by my great great grandfather on my mother's side and it had always been one of my favorite places. In the back was the small family graveyard. My grandmother was buried there, as well my mother, and I knew that when I died, I would join them. I stopped momentarily at each separate grave, saying a small prayer for each one. Then I went to the newest grave.
"Grandpa. I'm home." I whispered after I'd said a prayer. "Everything is okay now. Serena's back and we're all together. Guess what, Grandpa. All those times I ran off or was in the fire room doing readings..they're because I'm Sailor Mars. Did you know that? On top of everything, I'm royalty, too. I was reincarnated by this nice lady called Queen Serenity and me and my friends fight evil..." I leaned back on my knees and sighed. "I know it's too late now. I should have told you before all that mess happened. I was going to but it was never the right time. Besides, you would have been in danger if they ever found out who I really was, which I'm glad for now because the press left you alone when all that happened.
"I'm an American citizen now. I was in San Francisco right after those people let us go and it's a wonderful town. I left my heart in San Francisco..I almost feel that way. I did finish school, by the way. It was the only way to get anywhere. I'm in college now - or at least I was before Serena came back - and I'm studying philosophy, political science and theology. The political science is just in case I decide to get into politics or something, I just thought it would be interesting to take.
" You know, I used to watch the kids at school and wonder why my father wasn't around to do all the stuff most families do. I used to get angry that my mom died and that he ran. All my life all I really wanted was a normal family. I would see the looks from my peers that you got when you called yourself my family. Nobody really understood how an old man like you could possibly take care of me. But I know you did your best. And I learned that all those times I lamented not having a family, I had one. It wasn't traditional and now that I'm older I can appreciate the difference. You were my family. Chad too, after he came. And I was lucky to have you, so lucky to be able to love and be loved by you.
"Grandpa, I'm so sorry that you had to find about me from strangers on a news broadcast. I'm so sorry that I couldn't explain to you why I hadn't told you. I didn't mean to make you worry after I disappeared and then when I was being held by the police. I tried to get them to let me see you but they only allowed you that one visit and there were so many things to say and so little time that all I could do was beg you to make them let me out..I didn't know you were sick. I just didn't know because you never told me. You knew I would worry about you and make you take care of yourself. I just wish...I wish you hadn't been alone. If I had known you were ill I would have stayed in Tokyo after they let me go. I would have found a way to get you better so wouldn't be here now.." I stood and tried to wipe my tears from my cheek, a futile effort because I couldn't stop crying. "I'm home now. I'm home and I'm never leaving."
I went back around to the front and picked up my things. With a deep breath, I prepared to enter the Cherry Hill Temple completely alone for the first time in my entire life.