For the next year Rei, Mamoru and Minako trained and trained and in that time they changed considerably from who they were. Physically, mentally, in every way you could possibly change they did, and they did it together with Trunks and Goten mainly helping them out and preparing them while Gohan gave as much time as he could to help them while juggling married life with Videl and taking care of their baby daughter, Pan. Goku and Vegeta watched over them carefully, as a shepherd watches over his sheep and both were pleased with their children's progress although Vegeta was never heard to say this out loud. In all that time Rei had sent a hundred and more letters to Usagi, Ami and Makoto, just as she knew Minako had done, and Rei missed the other three senshi dearly. She missed their smiles and their voices and most of all she missed their laughter. In her letters she never revealed what her, Minako and Mamoru were doing in Australia and none of the other senshi ever asked, it was like they all understood that what was going on was more complicated than words could tell. Rei knew Mamoru made it his duty every night to write to his Usako and she knew deep in her heart that their legendary love would stand the test of time. During the year Mamoru mostly spent his time in his room writing to Usagi, or writing in his diary. His hair grew longer and turned into the characteristic Son's hairstyle, and his shoulders broadened as his body became more toned like his fathers'. Minako's body also became toned and she now wore her hair in a tight bun behind her head the way Chichi did. Minako continued her relationship with Goten and their trust and love grew stronger every day, even if they did have to hide their true feelings for each other behind a façade of snobbery, to keep Vegeta from finding out. In actuality everyone knew about Minako and Goten except for Vegeta and no one was ready to tell him just yet and face his wrath. Rei's fiery temper soon disappeared replaced with an easy demeanour and a huge appetite having spent too much time in the company of her father and brother's whose happy-go-lucky personalities overwhelmed her and engulfed her. She managed to control her rage and very rarely allowed it to get out of her control, only when Vegeta annoyed her immensely. Her body, like Mamoru's and Minako's underwent a vigorous change, her muscles becoming more defined and toned. Her biggest change came when she cut her characteristic long ebony hair to her shoulders making her appear older and more mature. From the beginning her biggest supporter during these very difficult and sometimes trying times was Trunks. Her relationship with Trunks was one of true friendship and admiration, and she was always in continuous awe of Trunks' immense strength and power but also his sweet personality. They were together most of the time, training, picnicking with Minako and Goten or sitting on the stone garden bench and watching the stars.
Today they were celebrating when Rei joined their ranks and everyone was looking forward to the celebrations that they knew would last right until the dawn. The guest of honour, Rei, sat up alone in her room staring up at the full moon that was shining brightly in the sky. Goddess, how she missed Usagi, Ami and Makoto. Minako was great and Rei loved her to death but Rei wanted to hear the sound of her best friend running up the temple steps whining and crying about some injustice being done to her. Rei desperately wanted to go home to Tokyo, the sickness of life without Tokyo was beginning to sink in. Minako crept into Rei's room and followed Rei's gaze to the moon and sighed in understanding and Rei suddenly realised that she wouldn't have been the only one wanting to return home.
"I miss her too, I miss them all," Minako said wistfully shaking her head then she pouted as she scratched her head thoughtfully as she added, "Letters are a good way to stay in touch but they aren't enough, I want to hear them talking to me, Ami about an assignment, Makoto about a new boyfriend and Usagi about detention."
Minako shook her head trying to get rid of those thoughts of home then she smiled brightly at Rei who didn't return her smile, instead Rei frowned stubbornly.
"I want to go home, I've been away long enough, it doesn't feel right," Rei stated rather than demanded and she stood up and reached under her bed and pulled out a suitcase. Rei had been feeling squeamish for days now after she had been having strange dreams about the other three senshi being in danger and needing help. The dreams were beginning to bother her and she knew that they were not just dreams; they were the future – a future Rei knew she had to prevent. Rei began taking her clothes very calmly from her cupboard then packing her clothes neatly into the suitcase. Minako took one look at Rei's face and all at once felt her indecision and worry and without a word she turned and walked from the room returning shortly carrying her belongings packed away.
"I'm coming with you," she said adamantly and Rei smiled at Minako as she pouted prettily and said, "even though we will miss the party of the year."
"What about Goten, Minako? You can't just leave him," Rei said thinking firstly about her brother. She knew that her brother was very much in love with Minako, in fact Rei had gone with him to pick out the engagement ring Goten was going to surprise Minako (and Vegeta) with that very night.
"There is not much I can do, I know he won't go anywhere without Goku, Goten is very loyal to his family, its in his blood, just like it is in ours to be loyal to Usagi, I always knew protecting Usagi and falling in love was never a mixture worth baking," Minako said sadly shaking her head for once getting a saying perfect then she sighed deeply and a dreamy look appeared on her face as she said in a faint voice, "I sure do love him though…"
Rei looked down at her bedroom carpet. If they left then Minako and Goten could never be together and with a pang in her heart Rei realised that she wouldn't see Trunks smiling face everyday when she woke up. She wouldn't see her mother, or her father, or her other brother or her new little niece. Rei sat down on her bed and Minako sat down beside her and laid her golden head on Rei's shoulder. Where do I belong? Rei wondered absently then answered herself darkly, nowhere.
"Girls are you in here?" Chichi called out at the door to Rei's room knocking loudly and Rei sprang to attention, as did Minako.
"Yes mama," Rei replied and Chichi gave a loud sigh of relief that made both Rei and Minako smile.
"Well you two come on down now so the party can start," Chichi said to them then they heard her yelling, "No Goku those cakes are for later keep your paws off them!"
"Well to go or not to go, that is the question," Rei quoted sarcastically and Minako frowned seriously.
"We should tell them we are going to leave tomorrow that way we don't have to miss the party, but we do have to go back," Minako compromised and Rei nodded her agreement knowing that this was what they had to do. They had both been neglecting their duty to Usagi for far too long, it was time to finally go home once and for all.
"One last night in paradise," Rei sang out brightly, with a forced smile and Minako returned her smile as they walked to the door and Rei opened it to let Minako through first bowing with mocking pleasantry.
"One last night," Minako echoed as they walked out of the door together sharing a glance of apprehension and sadness all wrapped into one.
As they entered the outrageously decorated living room a chorus of loud cheers came up from the group of four male teenagers in the corner who were playing poker.
"I won again!" Goten cried out standing up and showing off his cards proudly as the others threw their cards down on the table grudgingly and Goten reached over and pocketed the huge wad of cash in the middle of the table while Mamoru, Gohan and Trunks grumbled. Sitting on the lounge was Chichi and Bulma who were talking pleasantly with Videl who was holding baby Pan in her arms. The two mothers were squealing over Pan and how cute she was while Videl sat giving Gohan the evil eye for leaving her with his mother and her friend. Goku and Vegeta were engaged in an arm wrestling competition where neither seemed to be gaining any ground both of them as strong as the other until Goku reached over with his free hand to tickle Vegeta under the chin causing Vegeta to loose his concentration and Goku beat him with a yelp of pride. Vegeta seeing Goku won annoyed turned the table over and started muttering about injustice while Goku looked a little sheepish as he put the table right.
"Here are the special girls!" Chichi cooed spotting Rei and Minako in the doorway and she waltzed on over to them and kissed them both on the cheek as did Bulma after she hugged both of them to her tightly. The boys all looked over and Trunks and Goten nearly fell over each other trying to get to the girls and escort them into the room. As Goten approached Minako she winked at him and then turned her nose up at him as her father looked over at her, an eyebrow raised. Goten offered her his arm and Minako rolled her eyes exaggeratedly and took his proffered arm. Trunks approached Rei a little hesitantly and bowed his head to her red blush tinting his cheeks as she smiled affectionately at him then he took her arm and walked her into the room while Rei blushed a deep red and Chichi and Bulma shared a knowing glance. Vegeta had been watching Goten and Minako still pretending to be obvious of each other and he rolled his eyes to the sky and held his hands to the sky in exasperation.
"Enough with this ridiculous shenanigan, Goten, if you wish to court my daughter then you may ask for my permission," Vegeta exploded and Goten stared opened mouthed at Vegeta who walked up to him daring Goten to ask him for Minako. Goten looked over at Goku who was standing beside Chichi smiling happily, his arm thrown carelessly around his wife's slim shoulders and Goten pleaded desperately with his eyes for help from his father but Goku merely winked at him and gave him the thumbs up sign while Goten made a silent note to kick his dads butt later. Before Goten could reply Minako advanced towards her father eyes flashing with humility her little hands clenched into fists aimed at Vegeta.
"Who says he needs your permission?" Minako demanded and Vegeta turned to her surprised that she would question his word. In fact surprise wasn't really the word, the word was amused that his daughter had finally decided to be more like him. He quite liked this new person taking over his daughter.
"I am your father," Vegeta stated as though Minako wasn't yet aware of the fact and Minako nodded.
"Yes, you are my father, not my jailer," Minako told him getting a little hot headed and Rei shook her head smiling as she exchanged a glance with a wide eyed Trunks who had never seen his sister so angry. Rei was impressed that her temper was rubbing off on the ever happy and bright Minako and when Trunks saw it in her eyes he couldn't help but smile. They didn't need to say a word, immediately both understood what the other was thinking, which was the way things had been between them since the first day they met.
"Minako," Goten finally spoke up his voice harsh interrupting the father-daughter tiff with a scolding glance at Minako who dropped her eyes to look at her hands while Goten turned his attention to Vegeta and held out his hand towards him, "Mr Brief's I would formally like to ask you for your daughters hand in marriage."
"My what? Oh my God!" Minako squealed looking up suddenly at Goten then Rei who nodded then back to Goten. Immediately Bulma was beside Minako and they were jumping happily with each other squealing and screaming their happiness, already beginning to decide wedding decorations and dresses. Rei and Trunks exchanged a glance while Chichi pressed a hand to her chest to keep her excitement in tact and Goku was just grinning proudly.
"Quiet onna's!" Vegeta yelled and Minako and Bulma stopped jumping and stared at Vegeta while Vegeta pretended to be thinking thoughtfully although inside he was smiling proudly as he added, "Goten I think that my daughter is a little too young to be considering marriage…"
"But daddy," Minako protested pouting her eyes filling with tears.
"Onna!" Vegeta warned his daughter who swallowed back her sobs as Vegeta turned to share an amused glance with Goku then said with a wry smile to Goten, "But I respect your family very much and I would be happy for you to take my daughter off my hands – finally."
There was much screaming following that statement. All the women were bundled off by the mothers to one side of the room as they cooed around Minako while the men stood around slapping Goten on the back while Goten blushed furiously. Rei and Trunks were separated into their respective groups and Rei hugged Minako tightly kissing her cheek.
"I would very much like you as a sister," Rei whispered and Minako's eyes filled with happy tears as Rei gave her chin a pinch.
On the other side of the room Trunks and Goten shared a manly bear hug while Trunks whispered warningly,
"You better take care of my sister."
Goten laughed and assured Trunks that he definitely would. As the excitement wore down the two mothers remained planning the wedding in the corner arguing over this and that as the two proud fathers stood watching them shaking their heads, their faces showing their love and devotion to their chosen mates. Goten and Minako were finally able to meet each other in the middle of the room while Rei and Trunks stood leaning against a wall watching the couple adoringly. Gohan and Videl were playing with Pan who was giggling happily and Mamoru watched them his eyes glazed over and Rei could only ascertain that he was probably thinking of Usagi back in Tokyo.
"I just realised something," Goten whispered to Minako as he pulled her close to him and kissed the top of her hair.
"What?" Minako asked kissing Goten on the cheek lovingly.
"I haven't actually asked you for your hand," Goten reminded her grinning and Minako grinned back at him cheekily.
"Well by all means continue," she said and Goten bent down on one knee holding out a rose jewellery box.
"Minako Briefs will you marry me?" he asked and flipped open the top of the rose to reveal a beautiful diamond ring and Minako threw her arms around his neck as she cried out happily,
"You'd better believe it!"
Trunks took Rei's hand and tugged on it leading her out into the garden to the stone bench where they had first 'met'. Rei turned back and saw Minako and Goten sharing a kiss through the window and sighed longingly.
"They look so happy together," Rei, said nodding towards Goten and Minako and Trunks looked at his sister and her fiancée then back at Rei who turned to stare up into the sky.
"Well when you find someone you want to spend the rest of your life with, you can't help but be happy," Trunks whispered as he walked up behind her and gently wound his arms around her waist.
"You sound like you're speaking from experience," Rei choked out unnerved by the feel of his arms around her. It felt so safe to be in his arms. Him. Trunks. Her tutor, her friend, her trustworthy confidante and inside her heart Rei wished for more.
"I am," Trunks said surely and Rei's heart fell. He didn't love her. He was in love with someone else. She should have known, it was the story of her life. And why should he love you? Rei asked herself sarcastically, you have a horrible temper and treat everyone like they mean nothing.
"Who are you in love with?" Rei asked trying the sound light while inside her heart was weighing her down with sorrow.
"Haven't you guessed Rei Hino Son? I'm in love with you!" Trunks declared turning Rei to face him, his eyes shining with love as he gazed down at her beautiful, slightly shocked, face.
For once the fiery Sailor Mars was without words.
"Me?" she squeaked in disbelief and Trunks raised an eyebrow at her and her naivety struck him as he realised she probably didn't think enough of herself to think that Trunks could love her.
"Yes you, don't tell me you didn't know, everyone else did," Trunks told her jokingly pulling her close to him and kissing the tip of her nice gently.
"I didn't think…I mean I wasn't expecting…I thought that…Oh Trunks," Rei fumbled with her words unable to express the joy she felt inside her heart. She was loved! Someone loved her.
"Do you think Minako and Goten will mind if we steal a little of their thunder?" Trunks asked Rei and Rei's eyes widened in delight. Trunks wanted to marry her?
"Oh I certainly hope so," Rei replied her eyes shining with undisguised pleasure and Trunks bent his head and their lips touched in a long, sweet kiss. When they parted they stared at each other and Rei laughed and tilted her head again urging Trunks to kiss her again, which he did happily.
"Let's go back inside," he whispered to her taking her hand to lead her inside but Rei stopped him.
"Wait Trunks, I have something to tell you," Rei said and the seriousness of her voice made Trunks frown at her.
"What's wrong?" he asked worriedly and Rei pursed her lips.
"I am going back to Tokyo tomorrow, I have to go back," Rei told him and Trunks nodded knowing full well that it would do no good to argue with Rei. He knew his fiancée too well, when her mind was set there was no changing it.
"Then I'm coming with you," Trunks said emphasising his decision with a nod and Rei gasped.
"You can't just stop your training and leave," Rei protested loving Trunks for wanting to be with her so much he was willing to give up everything for her.
"Well then we will all go, have you told Goku?" Trunks wanted to know and Rei looked at the ground.
"No not yet, Minako and I decided just before we came downstairs," Rei said and Trunks lifted her chin gently with his hands to stare into her eyes.
"Tell him, Goku won't let you go by yourself, and I will not leave you," Trunks swore and Rei smiled grateful to have someone like Trunks who was so understanding and loving.
"I love you Trunks, have I told you that?" Rei asked him and Trunks winked at her as he pouted.
"Not in the last few minutes," he told her and Rei kissed him passionately on the lips.
"Well I do," she said and Trunks kissed her back.
"And I love you just as much, so lets go inside and you can tell Goku," Trunks encouraged her and Rei nodded allowing Trunks to lead her inside. When they returned Chichi and Bulma were smiling looking very pleased with themselves and Rei had a sneaking suspicion they already suspected that Trunks had just asked her to marry him. The others were all sitting down and looking at Goku and Vegeta who were standing at the front of the group. Everyone looked very serious and Rei looked at Minako who shrugged her shoulders indicating she had no idea about what was going on.
"Dad, I have to tell you something," Rei called out but Goku held up his hand stopping her from finishing what she had to say.
"Not now Rei, I have something to announce," Goku said and Trunks took her hand and forced her to sit on the ground with him shaking his head.
"Kakarot and I have decided that it is time for Rei, Minako and Mamoru to return to Tokyo," Vegeta thundered and the whole room was silent while Minako, Rei and Mamoru looked at each other. Mamoru looked like he was about to float, he was that happy. Meanwhile Chichi and Bulma were about to have coronaries!
"They can't! I don't want to loose my daughter and son again," Chichi exclaimed wailing and Goku walked over and put an arm around his wife who continued to sob into his shirt while he looked slightly embarrassed.
"Minako and Goten! The wedding!" Bulma whined also crying and Chichi reached out and Bulma began crying into her shoulder.
"Onna's! Enough!" Vegeta roared finally and Bulma and Chichi stopped crying as Vegeta rubbed his ears tiredly and went and sat down beside his wife, "I fear my ears cannot take much more of this Kakarot."
"They will not be returning alone, we will all go with them," Goku explained more clearly and where there were tears there was now incredulity. Chichi and Bulma looked at their husbands then at each other.
"To Tokyo?" Chichi asked seemingly to Bulma and Bulma shrugged her shoulders and turned to her husband.
"We are going to Tokyo?" she asked for confirmation and Vegeta nodded.
"Yes, we leave tomorrow," Vegeta confirmed and Bulma and Chichi wailed with happiness this time into each others shoulders as they hugged and Vegeta rolled his eyes at these antics while Goku shook his head amused.
"You see my love, I told you everything would work out," Trunks whispered to Rei and she smiled as he leaned closer to her.
"How did I ever doubt you?" Rei asked innocently as she leaned closer. Just as the two were about to kiss Goten burst through them screaming,
"Lets party!"
The party raged on through the night till the morning as expected. All sorts of drunken revelry occurred that night, including musical chairs, using the men as the chairs, limbo, using long pieces of spaghetti and dressing up the passed out men in women's clothing, not to mention a lot of drinking. The night was one they would not forget and would be the last time the would all be together in this mansion in Australia for tomorrow they would return to Tokyo and a new life awaited them all.