Author's Notes:
If you need to email me, contact me here: Guardian4@atlantic.net. Please put fanfiction in the subject line so I know what it's pertaining to. I don't own Sailor Moon. It is the property of Naoko Tacheuchi.
Crystal Hearts
When The War EndsChapter 11: Emotional Storm
When Makoto heard that Ami was dating Zoisite, her temper exploded after all the tension she had been feeling.
"What do you think you're doing with him?!" she yelled. "Don't you remember what he did?! He destroyed our families and tried to kill us! Damn near succeeded as well! And you're DATING him?"
For once, Ami did not seem meek. She glared at the tall woman and said angrily, "This is my choice. I love Zoisite and believe Setsuna. If she said that they aren't evil, then they aren't! Even the gods say so! My father says so! Can't you accept that? Can't you get over the past? For crying out loud, you never even met Nephrite, but you act as though you personally fought him at fourteen! Or are just trying to deny your feelings for him by yelling at me because I've acknowledged them before you? Is it so hard for you to believe I'm in love?"
Makoto was struck speechless. She slowly sat down on her bed and stared at the blue haired Senshi. "Ami-chan, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean that. This is your choice and I will support it, but if he ever hurts you, do I have your permission to beat the living crap out of him?"
Ami gave her friend a small smile. "Yes, but that won't happen."
"How do you know?"
"Ask Minako-chan. She'll tell you why."
So that was what Makoto was doing in two in the morning. Wading through knee-high snow to the gardens where Minako spent most of her time nowadays. What she was doing out there in two in the morning, Makoto had no idea.
"What I'm doing out here in two in the morning, I don't know," she muttered to herself.
She spotted Minako sitting on bench that she had obviously cleared of snow. She had brought her feet up on it and was staring at the sky. Makoto looked up too. Since the war had ended, the sky was no longer gray. It was pure midnight black as usual at night and the moon now shown down pure white light again.
"Minako-chan?" she called.
Minako started and stared at her friend. "Mako-chan, what are you doing out here?"
"I could ask you the same thing, but I'm not going to because you won't answer. You never do." Makoto slogged through the snow to the bench and sat down with a huff. "What I came out here to ask you about is Ami."
Minako smiled a knowing smile. "You came to ask me why she's so sure that Zoisite will never hurt her." Makoto nodded. Minako looked back up at the sky. "It's simple, really. They're soulmates, like Serenity and Endymion." She frowned and turned back to Makoto. "I know why you asked, but I don't see why this couldn't have waited until morning."
Makoto stared at her friend compassionately. "I guess Ami isn't the only reason I came down. I just wanted to tell you that we've all noticed that you've been bothered about something lately. We don't want to pressure you into telling us, but we wanted to let you know that we'll be here for you when you ever want to talk."
She gave her a smile and with a sigh for the coming job of simply walking, headed for the palace.
Minako stared back up at the sky. She could barely even look at Kunzite without remembering the battle she'd had with him when she went to get the crystal. She had forced her herself to kill her soulmate. If she could do that, did that mean she could force herself to do anything? Did that mean she could force her feelings for him even if she didn't have any? She was rather attracted to Jadeite, actually.
She looked down at the snow. That was true, but she also had strong feelings for Kunzite and she knew why. He was her soulmate, but that didn't mean he loved her. He probably thinks I hate him since I can barely stand to look at him for fear I'll drown in his eyes and smile.
Tears streaked Minako's cheeks and froze into small icicles on her skin.
Rei walked down the corridors of the palace, glad that the heater was working. She wore her temple robes, something she hadn't worn for a long while, and though they were comfortable, they didn't do much to warm her. She wanted to be as warm as she could get before leaving.
A hand touched her shoulder as she was stretching; Saturday's were wonderful. She turned and stared into a beautiful pair of pale blue eyes. "Hi," she said, perplexed. Usually he never approached her.
Kunzite sighed. "Hello. I was wondering if you were willing to walk with me. I would like to talk."
"Okay. About what?" Being in her shrine robes kept her calm and in her priestess mode so she didn't feel the usual emotions she felt in the Kings' presence. This, she reflected, was a good thing. It gave her perspective, a way to look at the Kings without the past clouding her better judgment.
"Well, I feel you, Jupiter, and Venus have misjudged us. Quite badly, I'm afraid."
"Venus?" She supposed he could be right. Despite her cheerful appearance, Minako could hold a secret better than anyone other than Endymion, who was notorious for keeping secrets. If it hadn't been killing them both inside and if Usagi hadn't figured it out, he would have kept the dream of Usagi being hurt to himself until the day he died.
"Yes. May I permit a request?"
"I suppose so. What is it?"
"May the Shitennou call the Senshi by their given birth names in this time? Ami has already given us that opportunity, but neither Venus, Jupiter, nor yourself has awarded that concession."
Rei looked up at the tall King. He seemed oddly stiff. From the observations she'd had of him, she knew he didn't normally talk so formal. "I guess so. Though I don't know about Jupiter, I doubt that Venus will mind. She seems to like you all."
Kunzite gave her a surprised look. Could have fooled me. She can't even look at me. "Thank you, Lady Rei."
"Don't call me lady. Just Rei. And I think I have misjudged you, as you have said. I'm sorry."
He smiled winningly and she felt her heart skip a beat. He was incredibly handsome when he smiled and even when he didn't. She couldn't hold back the thought that she wondered what it would be like to kiss him and hold him in her arms.
"Where are you going, then, Rei?" he asked curiously.
"I'm headed for the Shinto Shrine on the other side of town. I grew up there and I wish to see if it still stands. I do have a shrine in the palace since I live here now and could not have done without it, but I still need to know. I lived there most of my life, you know," she whispered.
"In this weather? The snow must be thigh high by now and in those clothes you'll have a hard time walking. I'll go with you in case you need help through the snow."
Rei smiled up at him. "Thanks, I'd appreciate it and some company."
They left the palace front doors and out into the world graced white.
Minako seethed with anger. How dare Rei smile at Kunzite like that! She had seen that look on the priestess's face when she had seen someone she liked. She was going to move in on Kunzite! Her Kunzite! The conniving, manipulative…
She gave a low scream of heartache and slumped down on her knees in the side corridor that she had watched the two from. Rei wasn't anything and Kunzite wasn't really hers. It was only fair that he look somewhere else for love since she couldn't provide it for him after what she had done.
Tears streaked her cheeks and she clutched her stomach as she cried, bearing her pain in her now usual silence.
Makoto forced her way through the snow. She had just finished checking her garden only to find all her flowers and such dead. Typically, Endymion's roses still survived.
"Mako-chan!"
She turned and spotted Rei. She waved and walked slowly to her friend, not only because of the snow but also because Kunzite stood at her elbow. "What are you doing out here?"
"Oh, I'm heading for the temple and Kunzite said he wanted to accompany me."
Makoto gave Rei a long, blank look. She had certainly changed her tune about the Shitennou in a quick heartbeat. Was she the only one who still remembered what they had done? Or was she the only one who couldn't let go of the past? She pushed the uncomfortable thought away.
"Are you taking an active interest in your relationship then?" she asked; an eyebrow rose.
Rei blushed. "Well—"
"I certainly wouldn't mind learning more about the raven-haired beauty," replied Kunzite. "Especially if it meant I could see more of her." He looked down at Rei. "Would you care to talk later on today? I have a few things I must do after we return from the shrine, but I am free this evening."
Rei, more than bright red, could only nod. A date with Kunzite! Despite her waning anger at the Shitennou, she would enjoy spending an evening with him.
Makoto forced a smile and watched the two leave down the street. She happened to glance behind her at the palace door and just managed to see a wisp of bright blonde hair and a second of cornflower blue eyes before they disappeared back inside.
A frown played on her lips. What was Minako doing, spying on the two? She knew from past experience that their Senshi leader trusted Rei to be able to take care of herself, so why had she been watching them? Did she still not trust the Shitennou? It seemed she had a while ago. Somehow she had a hard time believing that Minako hated the Kings.
Makoto entered the palace again, deep in thought. There was something seriously wrong with Minako these days. Brooding was not like her at all. She didn't go about telling people her thoughts for sympathy, but she never kept it bottled up inside either. One would have thought she would have talked to them, at the very least Serenity, about whatever was bothering her.
Her mind wandering, Makoto's feet decided to take control and they wove the familiar path to the gym that had been installed for the Senshi's use, specifically Endymion, Makoto, and Haruka who were about the sole people who used it.
The door was already open when she got there and that brought her wandering attention back. Haruka was still out with the other Outer Senshi and they weren't expected back for two weeks, which would have them at the palace for only three days before Christmas hit. Perhaps Endymion then?
Walking in, she spotted Nephrite already there and working hard. She blinked in surprise. He hadn't seen her because his back was to her. And what a back it was! His muscles worked and outlined perfectly as he lifted weights; very well-formed muscles, they were too. His shirt was off and he wore only a pair of dark green sweatpants that she recognized as being Endymion's. His hair had evidently been pulled back in a ponytail once, but she spotted the rubber band on the ground behind him.
Makoto stood there, uncertain. His attention was completely on the weights and that gave her time to think and recover her composure. The anger that she always felt and was accustomed to was no longer there. Was it because she realized that she was the only one that still clung to past deeds and couldn't see past them that she no longer felt the sharp bitterness and rage?
She straightened her shoulders and walked in front of him. The room was bright and filled with sunlight, sometimes making strips on the floor from the many windows set in the light blue crystal walls. It was also relatively warm inside. She sat on a bench for weight lifting with both hands and waited for him to notice her, since she saw that his eyes were closed. He was weightlifting with two small weights in each hand.
His body dripping with sweat, Nephrite dropped the hand weights. It was silent in the room until a voice nearly stopped his heart. "You're pretty good to lift that much. Only Endymion's been able to do that, though Haruka and I are working on that problem."
Nephrite's head snapped up in surprise and he stared at Makoto. She didn't seem particularly angry with him today and no suspicion haunted her eyes. In fact, there seemed to be some amusement dancing around in her quirked smile.
He didn't know quite what to make of this rather sudden change of attitude. "You come here often?"
Makoto looked around the long room and nodded. "Yeah, I do. Its how I keep my girlish figure, you know," she quipped.
He laughed. "Your figure is anything but girlish."
Her head snapped to him. "What does that mean?"
Nephrite stared deeply into her eyes. "What do you think it means?"
There was silence for a moment and then Makoto felt the blush creeping onto her face. He was definitely flirting with her and she couldn't help but like it. No one had ever told her that her figure was full and mature like that; as if it was desirable to him.
Nephrite brushed his hair back from his face and grabbed a towel and water bottle from a crate next to him. He took a long drink and wiped the sweat off his brow.
Makoto lay down and grabbed the weight above her, intending to do a few bench presses to attribute her glowing cheeks to excursion rather than pleasure at the compliment.
One minute she was staring at the ceiling and the next Nephrite's face. She blinked.
"You shouldn't do that without a spotter," he told her.
"I usually have one," she admitted sheepishly. "But the usuals aren't here right now."
"Who are the usuals?"
"Haruka or Endymion."
"Well, I'm here. Do you mind?"
She shook her head and he raised an eyebrow in surprise, but didn't say anything, simply watched over her in case she needed help with the weights.
When the weight was in her hands, Makoto almost grunted. She had not checked to see how many pounds were on the bar. It far exceeded what she usually did, but she wouldn't stop now with him watching her.
Makoto managed only five until she was sweating worse than he had been. She could have done this relatively easier in Senshi form, but what did that accomplish?
Suddenly the sweat and moisture on her hands made her lose her grip slightly and the bar wobbled threateningly. Nephrite's hand snaked down and grabbed it before it could get out of control. He allowed her to do five more, but said it was enough after that.
She was about to protest that she could do more, but when her arms started shaking so badly that she could barely lift them even an inch, she gave up on her own accord.
"Let's shower off," he said neutrally.
Makoto looked somewhat embarrassed for a moment. They only had one shower room. Though Endymion used the weight room, it was usually just herself and Haruka. Since they were both girls, it didn't bother them, but she knew she wouldn't go in that room, undress, and shower with him doing the same and staring at her body.
When asked what was wrong and she explained, Nephrite simply said, "I'll wait until you're done then."
Makoto took a quick shower so Nephrite could have one. She was sure he was waiting impatiently. However, when she left the showers, she found him simply staring down at the grounds, looking for the entire world as if he could wait for millennia like that.
She approached him, towel draped across the back of her neck, and stood by his side, looking down as well to see what he was watching. She noticed it was Endymion and Serenity dancing through the snow. Serenity was laughing happily and Endymion was twirling her around in his arms, not seeming to have a single problem walking or spinning in the snow, something the green Senshi envied.
For a moment, Makoto saw not the king and queen of Crystal Tokyo, but her friends Usagi and Mamoru on their wedding day over a century ago. She sighed and leaned her back against the window as she stared down at the two people, remembering that happy day.
The reception hall was packed with friends and family, but the bride and groom had eyes only for themselves. In a fit of exhilaration, Mamoru lifted his bride into his arms and twirled her all around the room. Usagi laughed joyously and threw her arms wide, completely sure that Mamoru would never let her fall. The guests gave them a large circle to spin around in.
Haruka and Michiru stopped dancing to watch and Setsuna, who had designed Usagi's wedding dress, and Hotaru approached them, watching them as well. The smallest of smiles formed on the Outers' faces.
The Inners were less restrained. Makoto threw her arm up into the air and gave a whoop of happiness. Ami clapped her hands together joyfully and small tears of delight glistened in her eyes. Rei took a large bouquet of red roses in her arms and threw them into the air around the twirling couple. They fell all around them and Usagi caught one in her hand. She gave a Rei a wide and ecstatic smile. Rei smiled back, a single tear sparkling at the corner of one eye. Minako got on the stage and sang a song she had made specifically for the wedding with Rei's help. Her beautiful voice just added to the wonderful emotions in the room. All the Senshi at one point had had tears in their eyes. By request, Luna and Artemis were there as well, watching. It was the happiest moment of their entire lives.
No one else at the wedding or reception understood the depth of the emotions that the eight women were feeling (not to mention the two cats, though no one thought of them as anything more than regular felines). This was a moment that the Senshi, Luna, and Artemis had waited for over a thousand years to happen. After all the tests of their love and enemies to get in the way, not to mention the coming of Chibiusa (who had returned to the future to stay there permanently three months ago), it was about time they were married.
Though none of the Senshi, Luna, Artemis, Mamoru, or Usagi looked near the door, they knew the ghost of Queen Serenity stood there. No one, including them, could see her, but they knew she was there just the same.
Haruka, followed by the other Outers, made their way to Rei, Makoto, and Ami. She beckoned Minako to them, who had just finished her song and pressed a CD of music that she had recorded of her singing for the wedding. She had just felt it right to sing that song in person.
The eight women then grabbed armfuls of flowers and tossed them in the air from every different side of the circle that the guests had made around the bride and groom. Haruka held yellow roses, Rei held red ones, Michiru held white ones, Makoto held pink ones, Ami held blue ones, Setsuna held dark burgundy colored ones, Hotaru held sunset colored ones, and Minako held orange ones with white in the center.
As one, they threw the flowers in the air and they fell down in a multicolored rain shower. Usagi whispered so low that only Mamoru, the Senshi, Luna, Artemis, and Queen Serenity heard her, "This is the happiest day of my life."
Tears grew in their eyes. It was the happiest day for eleven other people in the room as well.
"They look so happy together," Nephrite commented softly, never taking his eyes off the couple.
Makoto, who was still watching them as well, silently agreed with him.
"It is just too bad that I missed the wedding. I wish I could have been there."
"You were, in Endymion's heart."
"I wonder if I am destined for a love such as that or if that kind of soulmate love is simply created for them alone," he whispered.
Makoto looked up at him, her hair dripping water into her face. She had let her hair down on the shower, but had put it up as soon as she had left. The weight was something she was unaccustomed to, since she didn't have it down very often. Only when she slept and then she wasn't in any position to notice the weight.
"I think you are. Soulmates and true love isn't made simply for Serenity and Endymion."
"How do you know that?" asked Nephrite, finally looking at her.
She stared into his eyes and the question was lost to both of them. His head bent down near her until their lips were only inches apart. A kiss was imminent until the sounds of Serenity laughing drew their attention back to the royal couple.
Nephrite and Makoto looked at each other and pulled apart. Suddenly there was an awkward silence between them.
"I think I'll take that shower now," Nephrite muttered, running a hand through his hair.
Makoto nodded and he left. Just before he entered the room, she called to him. He turned around to look at her.
"Nephrite," she said quietly, finally looking at him after a moment of more silence. "You have a destined soulmate. She is out there somewhere."
"How do you know that?" he repeated, almost desperate for the answer.
"Because I asked Minako the same thing once a long time ago."
They stared at one another over from across the room until Nephrite slowly nodded. I wonder if that soulmate is her? he wondered, thinking about the almost kiss that he was now almost desperate to have. He turned into shower room and Makoto watched Serenity and Endymion again.
End Chapter 11