Yeah, updating fun. Actually I'm late for my update by about a week. But forgive me okay? I'm trying to finish this and then get the sequel written. Whoops? Did I say there would be a sequel? I guess I'm found out. Oh well. You know, the sequel thing is still kind of pending. I mean, how many people actually read this story and will end up caring if there's a sequel or not? Is it really that important? But I think I will anyways just because my favorite Sailor Moon couple ever (Even if they aren't canon) deserves more um, fanfiction spotlight. My website also needs to get worked on but I decided that can wait until after school gets out.
Thank You's: Last summer, I started to this and now I've finally ended it. Well this first story. I mean, the sequel and the ever elusive but still teetering in my head sequel to the sequel. (Now that third story is a huge maybe.) There's a 95.9 percent chance that the sequel is going up. (Oh my indecisiveness.) I'd like to thank my brain for suddenly deciding that writing a Sailor Moon reincarnation fic would actually be semi-original. I'm not the first nor will I be the last but that just goes without saying in fanfiction. If you expect your story to be the only one of it's kind after you post it, you can just go right on back to the drawing board. I'd like to thank all the Sailor Starlights/Kakyuu fan websites that I visited in my desperate research of the Starlights. I may not have nailed them dead on but I think I did a fairly good job of portraying the characters that were described to me in the story. I'd like to thank Yaten, who was the source of an endless amount of jokes between me and my onee-chan. He is now my favorite Starlight of all, I especially love his prologue! Plus he has an excellent voice actor and I'm terribly excited for the day that I too will own all of Sailor Stars and get to watch it. I did get to read the manga translations way later for Sailor Stars and even though I know the manga is always different from the anime, I did love what I read. I'd like to thank my Sailor Moon website that was abused and neglected all this time but is currently being revamped. The address is on my profile incase anyone wants to see it. Beware, it kind of favors the Outer Senshi. But it will eventually have a shrine to Non-Canon Couples which will basically feature Yaten and Hotaru but I swear I'll try to get others too. I'd like to thank everyone who did not leave after finding out that this was not going to be a Usagi+Seiya story. I apologize to all Seiya and Usagi enthusiasts out there but I'm not so sure those two make a believable couple. I'd like to thank many inspiring story writers out there like Sailor Titan (Her story is a must read!) and others. I'd like to thank those of you who faithfully read this story from beginning to end. Like onee-chan. I'd like to thank my onee-chan because she rules and is the best onee-chan ever and was always bugging me to finish the story so yeah, thank her that you get updates. I like to thankful reviewers like Hotaru Tomoe, Yui, SilverStarWing, Elemental Firefly, and other such people. ^.^ You are what keep me writing. I mean other than onee-chan cracking a whip over my head. Oh and I'd like to thank me. Cause I rule.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.
Warnings: Violence, stuff.
Second Chances
Chapter Twenty Two
Oh gods…
"Uranus! Neptune!" Usagi wailed out as the blast was about to hit them. Here she was, the princess, the future queen, and what was she letting happen? Her comrades were going to fall. Why didn't she do something? But what could she do? She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to see the final blow that would probably take out both senshi.
I'm sorry, I'm not fit to be queen. I'm just a stupid coward.
"Silent Wall!"
Usagi's blue eyes opened wide with relief and happiness. Hotaru had arrived back in the nick of time. The barrier that no one could see until Metallia's attack hit deflected any harm from coming to the two lovers.
But something else happened that was completely unexpected. Hotaru's shield hit the barrier and the two made a huge flash that blinded everyone temporarily.
Rei, acting quicker then anyone else had, pulled out a huge stack of ofuda. Throwing them with an accuracy that was remembered from her past life, every one of them landed on Metallia who screamed in protest when she realized that her barrier was gone.
"Got ya'." Rei smiled smugly as Metallia tried to move but under the pressure of all the ofuda, couldn't seemed to do much.
"Metallia's shield is down! Attack!" Ami ordered immediately to the group who was recovering quickly from the flash.
"Venus Love-Me Chain!"
"Burning Mandala!"
"Shine Aqua Illusion!"
"Sparkling Wide Pressure!"
Metallia gaped in horror right before she was hit. It wasn't enough to kill her; no not a great evil like her but it did do a sufficient amount of damage. She quickly summoned up her power and the ofuda burst off of her into tiny pieces of paper.
"Rei! Your ofuda!" Minako turned towards Rei. "How did you get those?"
"I used to make them. If you had made as many of these as I had you would remember no matter how many times you had died and been reborn." Rei explained quickly. Metallia was definitely not happy now.
Pieces of street came up all around them, shifting them all before they could react. Metallia was seething with fury as she fired another large blast. Yaten blinked as she realized where it was heading. She jumped from one piece of street to the next, barely aware of anything but shielding Hotaru who was about to get hit.
Her body slammed into Hotaru's but not quickly enough. The blast only partially hit Hotaru's side but it was enough to bring her down. The great senshi of destruction did have exceptional powers when it came to healing other people.
However, she had never been able to heal herself.
Her side was bleeding and Yaten was trying her best to think of something smart to do for the wound. Another blast by Metallia came and Hotaru had barely any time to react but managed to do another Silent Wall. Her body's weakened state didn't help. As soon as the shield disappeared, she fell to the ground.
"Hotaru!" Yaten cried out. She pressed one hand to Hotaru's wound in the hopes of stopping the bleeding all by herself. "Hotaru, it's all my fault."
"No…you did a wonderful job." Hotaru smiled at the silver haired Starlight. "I'll be fine. I just need to…see a doctor." She winced as she tried to move.
"You have to stay here. If Metallia attacks again…" Yaten trailed off, looking back warily at the villain.
"I can hold on…" Hotaru murmured as she pulled her Silence Glaive closer. "You go fight…"
Yaten stood up and turned to face Metallia. Her eyes were shadowed and anyone could easily tell that Sailor Star Healer was ready to wreak some havoc on the Empress.
"You senshi are so pathetic." Metallia scoffed. "Look at you. Are you sad because your precious little sailor is hurt?" The taunting was probably not helping Yaten at all; the Starlight was shaking with anger now.
"Ha, you're just pissed because she's the reason you're hurt. She's gotten you twice, how can you possibly compete?" Yaten looked up, smirking at Metallia. Metallia raised an eyebrow at her. "Of course, maybe you like looking stupid…"
"Enough!" Metallia snarled. "You'll be the first to die!"
"Star Sensitive Inferno!" Yaten did her attack and it bounced off the barrier that Metallia had resurrected. But for a split second, there was a moment where the barrier was gone.
It had to be aimed with superb accuracy. In fact, at first no one was sure what it was until it landed. Maybe it was a really lucky hit, but who could really tell for sure?
A red rose had lodged itself into Metallia's eye. Metallia screamed inhumanly as she vainly tried to pull it out. Mamoru was suddenly right there next to Yaten who smiled at him.
"Not bad." Yaten commented as if it were no big deal. Metallia managed to rip the rose out of her eye socket and throw it down. The Empress glared with one eye at the future king of earth.
"Mamoru! Get down!" Usagi yelled from where she was.
Instead of a blast, Metallia took a chunk of street and hurled it at him. Mamoru's left leg had received the full brunt of it, but the rest of him was unharmed. He groaned as he heard with a sickening crunching noise, his left leg breaking.
"Geez man, the woman said get down." Yaten shook his head as she helped him move over to lie down next to Hotaru. Setsuna seemed to be keeping watch over the lavender eyed girl and didn't seem to mind another charge.
"Thanks Yaten." Mamoru gave him a wry smile. Yaten saluted him.
"Metallia!" Usagi stepped forward. Her hands were in front of her and she knew that the only one who could kill the evil that was the Empress was her. Furrowing her brow in concentration she summoned forth the Ginzuishou, she could hear the others yelling at her to not do it.
I have to do something…Hotaru is hurt…and Mamoru…
Before anyone gets hurt or killed…
I'm going to be the princess for once.
"Oh?" Metallia turned towards Usagi. She noticed the twinkling light that was forming in Usagi's hands. It condensed into a brightly shining jewel. "The Ginzuishou! No!"
"Usagi!" The Inner Senshi all protested together.
"No, Metallia has to be defeated." Usagi shook her head.
"No more! No more! No more!" Metallia wailed over and over again. "Not that terrible thing! I hate it!"
"I shall punish you!" Usagi yelled as she starting to open herself to the Ginzuishou's power.
"Stop it!" Metallia protested. "I won't die again!"
"You have wreaked chaos on our world." Usagi's sailor fuku changed to her white dress with its billowing skirts. "Do you deserve forgiveness?"
"I am a child of chaos." Metallia told her. "There is nothing for but this miserable existence!"
"You're wrong!" Usagi suddenly remembered the four sisters Ayakashi. "There is a choice for everyone!"
"Not me! Do you think I would try to kill you every lifetime?" Metallia asked her scathingly.
"Then let me purify you." Usagi's tone became gentler. "You can be free of that."
"I…I can?" Metallia's voice was different then. Like a child's almost. "No more of…this?"
"No more." Usagi promised.
"Can you really do that?" Metallia started to descend.
"If that is what you want most." Usagi stepped forward. All the other senshi were watching with awed faces. Usagi was always an innocent child at heart, but when they saw her acting in the position that she had been destined for they were all a bit awed.
"Purify me." Metallia landed next to Usagi. Usagi reached forward and put her hands on Metallia. To those around them, it was hard to tell what was happening. Usagi used only a trickle of power from the Ginzuishou to do it, but it could be done.
"Moon Healing Escalation!" Usagi yelled, and Metallia felt a surge of warmness and light flow through her body. It spread through her, and she felt something she had never felt before.
Kindness. Friendship. Love. All these new things that she could never really understand before that moment began to fill her heart.
This is what we don't know about?
This is truly worth fighting for.
Her body began to melt away, going somewhere else, to be reborn again. This time she could start over. The glittering remnants of Metallia finally faded, and all the senshi rushed towards Usagi who had fallen over in exhaustion.
"It seems we have won." Setsuna announced as she arrived with the injured senshi. Yaten was carrying Hotaru as gently as she possibly could and Haruka was helping Mamoru limp over to them. Usagi wanted to rush up to Mamoru, but felt consciousness slipping from her as he approached.
"We won…Mamoru…" Usagi said before the blackness rushed in.
"Usagi!"
* * *
"Yaten, I swear if you don't stop pacing I will throw something at you." Seiya threatened.
"What could be going on? Why did they kick me out?" Although everyone was naturally worried about Hotaru's injuries, they were trying to keep calm. Yaten was pretty much the physical representation of the anxiety they were feeling.
"I would assume it is because 'boyfriend' isn't synonymous with 'husband.'" Setsuna spoke calmly.
"I should still get to be in there." Yaten craned his neck to see if any doctors were coming.
"You say he got hurt in that accident in town today?" A doctor questioned Usagi as she walked alongside Mamoru whose leg had been put into a cast. He was coming along beside them on crutches. "It must have been some scene."
"Yeah." Usagi had an odd expression. "So Mamoru's leg should be alright?"
"Yes, he'll be as good as new before you know it." The doctor smiled at her. "Might I say, you two make a lovely couple?"
"You think so?" Usagi beamed. The red-haired female doctor nodded with a small smile.
"Do you think I should say anything?" Jadeite, who had rushed to the hospital when Rei called him to tell him what happened, whispered to his girlfriend as he looked at the doctor.
"It's probably best just not to say anything." Rei patted his hand.
"Jan, ken, po!" Minako and Makoto were trying to keep themselves amused with the game.
"This magazine article is fascinating." Ami commented as she read. Taiki leaned over in interest.
"Hmm…that is a good theory." Taiki agreed. "Very interesting."
"Kou Yaten?" A nurse came out with a clipboard. Yaten practically pounced on the woman.
"Yes? That's me." Yaten said quickly.
"You can come see Tomoe Hotaru now. The doctors just finished." The nurse smiled. "Don't worry, she's fine."
"I can see her now?" Yaten looked excited about this.
"He's like a little kid." Seiya murmured to Kakyuu who was smiling fondly at Yaten.
"Right this way." The nurse led Yaten away. Twenty minutes later, Hotaru and Yaten came out. Hotaru's side was bandaged up and she looked a little pale in the face, but was obviously going to survive the ordeal.
"No, really, Yaten, I'm fine. I don't need anything." Hotaru insisted in a way that made everyone sure she had been saying the same thing for about ten minutes.
"Are you good to go?" Usagi asked Hotaru.
"Yeah, the doctor says that I shouldn't do any strenuous activities." Hotaru explained. "They had to stitch up my side, but I've gone through worse."
"Shall we go home then?" Mamoru suggested.
"Okay." Hotaru agreed. "I need to get some sleep."
"Me too." Usagi started to giggle. Pretty soon the other senshi began to join in.
"Gah, dorks." Yaten muttered as they left the hospital.
"Moron." Seiya replied smugly.
"Don't start." Kakyuu glared at the two of them.
The group of warriors went home that day, feeling like they had reached a turning point in their lives. The enemy was gone, but would another arise? Or would they live in peace? What exactly did the future hold for them? At that point though, none of them really wanted to think about it. Right now, they just wanted to worry about the present.
* * *
"Good thing I got this nice dress, huh Setsuna?" Hotaru raised her eyebrows at the calm faced Time Guardian. The corners of Setsuna's mouth were twitching upward though.
"Good thing." Setsuna repeated. Hotaru was wearing the same dress that Setsuna had made for her birthday. The girls were all rushing around Hotaru's apartment, making it a hellhole beyond recognition. Ever since they all decided that they should go celebrate their victory after Hotaru and Mamoru were recovered, it had taken a lot of planning.
Finally, they picked a really nice restaurant, expenses covered by Hotaru even though Yaten protested that she shouldn't have to. Hotaru was glad she had recovered because Yaten had been waiting on her hand and foot and was always hovering around her as though Metallia might pop up and get her at any moment.
Currently they were getting ready to go to said restaurant. All the guys were getting ready at Yaten's and all the girls were at Hotaru and Mamoru's. Hair accessories, hair products, cosmetics, shoes, clothes, and everything in between were everywhere at the moment. Hotaru sighed; it was going to take a long time to clean everything up.
"They are going to be here any minute!" Minako squealed. "It's like prom, except that I don't have a date."
"Who says you'll have a date from prom?" Rei teased.
"Who says you will?" Minako countered and they get into a mock fight, but quickly stopped when they realized they might mess up their hair.
The doorbell rang. Hotaru ran to get it. As expected, all the boys were there. Kakyuu came running out, her hair in the loops that the princess of Kinmokusei traditionally wore and practically jumping onto Seiya.
"You look so great in your tuxedo!" Kakyuu squealed.
"Not as good as Mamoru!" Usagi was there in a flash. Kakyuu and Usagi had a small glaring contest before bursting into laughter. Hotaru felt her face go crimson when Yaten stepped into the apartment with his tuxedo on, obviously trying not to look embarrassed. She saw Yaten every day but he didn't wear a tuxedo every day…
"Wow…" Hotaru sighed. She tried to shake herself out of her daze but it was kind of hard.
"You look…" Yaten began but his face started to turn a color similar to her own.
"Awwwwwwwww!" Seiya immediately began cooing. "Somebody get a camera! This moment is just too cute."
"You're such a dork Seiya!" Yaten snapped.
"Don't you call him a dork." Kakyuu was still under the spell of the tuxedo it seemed.
"You look really good." Hotaru finally managed. Yaten rubbed his nose in an attempt to hide his face.
"You look…beautiful." Yaten got out. Hotaru latched herself onto his arm. The large group went downstairs and got cabs to go down to the restaurant.
* * *
The couples were dancing. Those who weren't couples were sitting at the table glumly with Mamoru and Usagi, the only couple not dancing because Mamoru's leg hadn't completely healed yet. Besides Setsuna, who wasn't exactly the biggest conversationalist in the universe.
"I feel like an old spade!" Minako whined.
"That's 'old maid.'" Ami immediately corrected.
"I'm with Minako." Makoto groaned. "At least the waiter's cute."
"Does he look like your old boyfriend?" Minako cracked.
"That was the past life!" Makoto tried to defend. "Oh well…there's someone out there for everyone."
"It doesn't help that we have to sit next to those two." Minako shot a look at Usagi and Mamoru who were off in their own little world, gazing dreamily at each other over their water glasses.
"You have to look on the bright side." Ami tried. "You have more time to study without a boyfriend."
"Am-i!"
* * *
Hotaru smiled up at Yaten. She was so glad she had recovered from her injuries, even though Yaten was still obviously a bit hesitant about her doing anything that could accidentally exert herself. Oh well.
"Are you tired?" Yaten whispered the question in her ear as they danced slowly.
"Yaten, I'm fine. Would you stop asking?" Hotaru's voice hinted at a whine. "I promise to sit down the moment I feel tired, okay?"
"I'm sorry." Yaten apologized. "It's just…"
"Just what?" Hotaru asked curiously.
"Sometimes I feel like…" Yaten pulled her closer to him. "If I don't take care of you and hold on to you…you'll disappear."
"How could you think that?" Hotaru smiled at him, realizing how much she must mean to him. How much he meant to her. "I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere."
He kissed her, right there in the middle of the dance floor. He usually was kind of weird about public affection, but right then, he threw all of his reserves about it out the window.
Yaten…
You don't have to worry so much because I love you.
* * *
Jadeite and Rei glided around the floor. They were having a wonderful time, though Rei could tell that three certain Inner Senshi were probably not in a good mood by the dark looks Minako was shooting her. What, was it her fault that she had a boyfriend? Rei glanced over in surprise as she saw Yaten and Hotaru kissing. Now, the two had always struck her as a slightly odd couple but she supposed it didn't really matter if the two were in love.
"Dinner must have cost a fortune. I feel bad for Hotaru." Jadeite commented.
"Me too." Rei agreed. "Sometimes I think she has really bad luck."
"Rei?" Jadeite whirled her around.
"Yes?" Rei faced him again, gazing deeply into his icy blue eyes.
"I love you." Jadeite told her. Rei moved closer to him.
"I love you too." Rei murmured to him. This moment, dancing was another reminder for the both of them that nothing was ever really over. There were always second chances.
* * *
I'm DONE!!!! END OF STORY!!!! BOO YA! BOO YA! Teresa is probably trying to sleep though. Oh well. Heehee. I'm doooooooooooone. Now I'm going to read it to her. Do you think she'll hit me? Um, maybe. Like I said there will be a sequel to this though the title is still pending. (Can't I just name it third chances? What's so wrong with that???) Heehee. Love you guys! Please read and review!
The Last Akugis!!!
Take One!
Jade: So um…what about that sequel?
Teresa: What about it?
Jade: Can I please name it Third Chances???
Teresa: Haha, or maybe Second and ½ Chances.
Jade: Hey Purple Mouse got away with that kind of thing!
Teresa: Yes, but I see no colorful socks in your story.
Jade: Oh…damn.
Teresa: You can just name it More Chances.
Jade: What about 'Yaten's Chance To Score?'
Teresa: I thought we were naming the sequel, not the rest of the series.
Jade: Oh yeah. How about Jade's Chance To Reincarnate Another Bad Guy?
Teresa: How about Jade's Chance To Be A Ho?
Jade: How about Teresa's Chance To Be The Biggest Ho In All Hosville?
Teresa: Did you just add 'Hosville' to your spell checker?
Jade: Um…yeah. ^_^!
Teresa: Dork. Let's just ask Yusho, The Stuffed Panda of Questionable Ownership to name it.
Jade: It's not questionable! I own him!
Teresa: Whatever. Let's ask.
Jade: So what does he say?
Teresa: He says you're a dork.
Jade: What about Dork Chances?
Teresa: Since when was Yaten in charge of naming stories?
Jade: Since Seiya suggested we name it Seiya Rules and Gets A Chance to Hurt Yaten.
Teresa: Oh.
Take Two!
Jade: *reading aloud to Teresa* …received the full brunt of it but the rest of him was unharmed.
Teresa: *sipping coffee with tired look on her face* Comma after but.
Jade: Oh…yeah, thanks *edits quickly before continuing* …an innocent child at heart but when they saw her acting—
Teresa: Comma after but.
Jade: Oh…fine, fine. *continues, looking a bit miffed* …to those around them it was hard to tell what was happening.
Teresa: Comma after them.
Jade: Oh geez…got it. *purses lips and continues* …Usagi yelled and Metallia felt a surge of—
Teresa: Comma after yelled.
Jade: Gah! Okay, fine. *grumbles something about death and commas before continuing* …Metallia finally faded and all the senshi—
Teresa: Comma after faded.
Jade: Dammit, Comma Nazi!
Teresa: *totally not phased, sips at coffee*
Take Three!
Jade: *reading to Teresa, pauses on the word Ginzuishou* jinsu…ginswee…uhh…how the hell do you say that again?
Teresa: Ginzuishou.
Jade: Right. *continues reading, reaches dreaded Japanese word again* the jin…no, gin…um…what is it?
Teresa: Ginzuishou. *sips coffee*
Jade: Yeah, what you said. *grumbles about not having taken Japanese for two years unlike some editors she might mention* Can I just call it the Ginny?
Teresa: Or you could call it the Gin crystal. Of course, then the Amazon Trio would try to steal it because it would sound like some ultimate alcoholic beverage.
Jade: *mention of said trio bringing a new light to her eyes* Right then, Gin crystal it is.
Take Four!
Metallia: No more! Not that terrible thing! I hate it!
Kakyuu: *whispers to Seiya as they all watch Usagi's continued assault on Metallia* Isn't it a little mean of her to force Metallia to listen to her 'Nsync CD over and over again?
Seiya: Well, it was this or forcing her to watch dub Sailor Moon.
Kakyuu: Ew…I guess you're right.
Take Five!
*after guys show up and girls greet their dates*
Minako: Where are Michiru and Haruka?
Rei: Oh, they've been "getting changed" for the past three hours in the master bathroom.
Hotaru: What! That's my bathroom! Man, I should have known this would happen if we let Haruka come get ready over here instead of at Yaten's.
Yaten: But Haruka's a girl!
Hotaru: Not like she's got anything you don't have…sometimes.
Yaten: *pouts*
Take Six!
*couples are dancing*
Hotaru: How could you think—ow! Yaten, god, can't you watch what you're doing! You stepped on my foot again!
Yaten: Oops…sorry.
Take Seven!
Hotaru: How could you think that? I'm right here and I'm—Yaten! Watch where you're stepping!
Yaten: Sorry…*sniffles slightly*
Take Eight!
Hotaru: How could you think that? I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. Yaten! Gah, what is your problem! You're going to break my toes!
Yaten: Hey! It's hard to move in for a kiss and dance at the same time! It's not like I could practice that with Seiya!
Hotaru: Seiya taught you to dance?
Yaten: *mutters something about dancing, kissing, and dorks*
*across the floor*
Kakyuu: And I just can't help but be happy with—ow! Seiya! That's it, you're taking dance classes starting tomorrow!
Seiya: I can't help it! I'm much better when I do it in high heels!
Check out the next chapter for a special little bonus!