Author's Note: Okay everyone. Here it is. The last chapter of Kiss' and my co-write. We honestly did think about letting it keep going. But we both have a lot going on right now and well... all-good things must end. I started it and so I am going to finish it. Plus Kiss said I had to. So here we go, and I promise...it's gonna go out with a bang!
Disclaimer: Okay, let me put this in perspective for you. If we were getting ANY kind of monetary or material gain from this would we honestly stop writing it? So no, we only own the plot. But if can get both Yaten and Ruka out of the deal ...then I am more than willing to trade!
The star that shot across the sky had across that same sky several times in the past. First fleeing her home and searching for her princess. Then again when she took her princess home. But now Kakyuu had gotten a message from Yaten saying that she, Taiki, and Seiya were needed on earth. That something important was there and needed their attention. So here they came and was the Munchkin even here to greet them? Of course not!
"Where the heck is the Shrimp at anyway Taiki?" Seiya said in a disgruntled tone as she unceremoniously 'climbed' out of the tree she had landed in. Well, 'climbed' or 'fell'. Depends on how you looked at it. Taiki chose fell, and being as that was her choice she cracked up.
Seiya grinned up at her as she stood up and brushed herself off, "Something funny Kou?"
"Why yes. Our intrepid leader has decided to ceremoniously fall on her butt out of a tree. Seeing as you are so damn catlike you land on your feet all the time it is very rare I get to laugh at you over something like this."
Seiya glared at Taiki and then sighed, "So the Shrimp didn't meet us, we have no clue where she is, or if she changed back into male form. And we have no way to contact her. This is fantabulous. Perhaps next time we can be deaf, dumb and blind as well."
With a weary sigh the mahogany haired Starlight turned the leader towards a payphone, "Or we could use the money we left behind here, get a hotel room, and call the phone directory operator while we eat room service."
"Sure... pick the easy way out!"
Yaten looked down to see Rei dozed off against her shoulder. That falling star had looked familiar. But it couldn't have been them already. She had only mind linked with Kakyuu this afternoon. If it was them...well hell. They sure traveled faster now. Unless they had been on patrol at them time and just left automatically. Her jade green eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Luckily her home number was listed so all they had to do was use the accounts and then look her up. Damn she had missed those two... She too closed her eyes and dreamt of Kinmoku and not too surprisingly.... Rei was at her side....
Rei stirred and she felt the warmth of her girlfriend next to her. Sighing softly she leaned in and savored the smell of her mixed with the cooling fall wind. Disentangling herself she sat up and looked out over the sky. Yaten's voice changed when she had seen the star. Rei felt emotion well up in her throat. What if she suddenly had to go back to Kinmoku and Kakyuu and her other life? Would Rei even be allowed to go along? Then resolutely Rei shook her head and she smiled softly. She would worry about that when the day came f ever. For all she knew Yaten was here to stay after all right? Then her mind traveled back to the previous day...the way Usagi had spoken, the look in her princess' eyes as she had stepped out of the picture and given her her heart's desire.
Yaten stirred and looked at Rei's profile with her cheeks flushed from the cool breeze and her eyes lost in thought, "Penny for your thoughts."
"Not worth all that much. Just wondering about you. You aren't leaving anytime soon are you Yaten?" Rei said with a slightly off tone to her words.
"Not to my knowledge, in fact I wasn't planning on leaving at all. If that was okay with you." Yaten said wrapping her arms around her again.
"But your princess..."
"Has an entire army to guard her, plus Taiki and Seiya. Although I am by far the best looking starlight I am not the only one there you know." Yaten said with a teasing tone in her voice.
"So you won't leave me?" Rei asked in a small voice.
"Nope. You are stuck with me." Yaten replied with a nuzzle of Rei's neck.
"Damn, no what do I do with you?" Rei teased back, turning to face Yaten staying in the circle of her arms.
I have an idea or two, or three..." Yaten said pulling her in for a kiss.
"I just bet you do..." and the rest was lost as Rei melted into Yaten's arms.
'This is Yaten. If you are getting this message I either am not here or just not in the mood to answer the phone. Please leave your name and number I will get back to you.' BEEEP!!!
"Yaten Kou you baka! The next time you send for us over the damn galaxies, give us your address, as it is we could only get your number from the phone company. We are in the Hilton under our old assumed names. Get a hold of us so we can get this taken care of. We have something for you from home too. Some sort of message from Kakyuu." And with that the machine cut Seiya off. She turned to Taiki with a smirk, "Even if she hadn't put her name of voice on the machine I would know it is Yaten's. They have the same damn temperament."
Taiki looked up from the book she was reading and smiled softly, "Cut you off did it?"
"Yup... Damn it Shrimp where the hell are you?"
"No more wishes? Every future queen has wishes." Teased Haruka, her smile vanished when a man whistled at Usagi.
"Did you just growl Ruka? You are so cute." Usagi teased knowing Haruka hated being called cute more than anything.
"I do not do cute." Haruka flatly stated, spitting out the last word like it had some sort of foul taste.
Usagi smiled to herself, and then pulled Haruka towards her car, "Take me for a ride. Show me your wings Haruka. Let me fly with you."
Haruka looked at her with tender eyes, "You want to leave the world for awhile pet?"
Usagi nodded, lost in thought. That falling star had looked so familiar. It couldn't have been.... no! Yaten would have said something if the others were coming. She smiled a megawatt smile at Haruka, "One last ride with the top down before fall. And then hot cocoa?"
Haruka winked as she gallantly opened the door for Usagi, "Anything for you my love."
Usagi let her eyes twinkle up at her Ruka, "Anything? The could lead into dangerous territory Ms. Ten'ou."
Getting in and starting the car, Haruka leaned over and gently savored the feel of Usagi's sweet lips against her own. She let the light breeze swirl around them as she cupped her love's face with one hand. Pulling back reluctantly she smiled at the flushed Usagi, "so, where to Koneko?"
"Anywhere but here."
"Your wish is my command..."
"DO you really want me to go there?" teased Usagi with a naughty spark in her eyes.
"I am dating an eechi!" Haruka exclaimed in mock horror.
"Takes one to know one." Usagi returned with a mischievous twinkle in her blue eyes.
"Haven't heard you complaining love." The engine roared as Haruka opened it up on the highway and let the car fly. Silence filled the small car and Usagi felt the wind blow through her hair and it seemed to cleanse her mind. Gone were the worries of hurting everyone. Gone were the worries of causing pain to those she loved, of making the wrong choice, of herself. Her blue eyes shot open as it hit her. She had been hiding behind other emotions for years so she didn't have to face the emotion she felt right now. True love had been staring her in the face for years and she had looked the other way. And Haruka had suffered for it. She looked over at the keeper of her heart and smile softly. This was how it was meant to be. She closed her eyes again and let the wind carry her away...
Minako looked over at Makoto with a twinkle in her eye, "C'mon don't knock pineapple on your pizza till you try it."
Makoto shook her head firmly, "If I don't get my mushrooms you don't get your pineapple."
Minako humphed to herself and glared at Makoto in mock anger, "Fine be that way then why don't you?"
"I will thanks. How about the Cheese Lovers Special?" Makoto offered with a smile.
""Deal!" and the relieved waitress finally got to deliver their order to the cooks after waiting for it for over ten minutes. Ten minutes of listening to them argue over toppings.
"DO you think we should tell her we ALWAYS get the Cheese Lovers Special?" Minako asked conversationally once she was out of earshot.
"You have a death wish then do you Ms. Aino?"
Minako let her laughter peel out in the pizzeria and smirked at Makoto, "SO I was cleaning out my closet the other day looking for my scrap book? And you will never guess what I found in there. All my stuff from when the Lights were here."
"Everything? Those guys entranced you. Especailly Yaten." Makoto teased knowingly.
Minako grinned, "I know, why they never got a restraining order against me I am still trying to figure out. But Seriously, I miss them."
Makoto smiled softly, "It was nice to have someone new around. Kinda livened everything up a bit. Although for once it would have been nice if someone else would have died saving the world."
Minako considered this, "True, although if anyone should have complaints it's Usagi. She dies almost every time. We just died this once. At least in this lifetime anyway. "
Taiki was drifting off into a dream when the shrill ringing of the phone startled her back to reality, groaning she reached over and answered it, "Yaten you baka, couldn't you have waited till morning?"
Yaten grinned on the other end of the phone, "Nope, I had to make sure my two favorite people after my lover are okay and don't need me to tuck them in."
"Wait! You won Usagi heart?" Taiki yelped sitting straight up in her bed Seiya a shot her head in from the shower at Taiki's loud announcement.
"No, not Usagi. Rei – Sailor Mars? She and I fell in love." Yaten said with a sly smile waiting to hear the thump as Taiki fainted...it never came.
"So you came here to win the love of the Lunar Princess and instead you win the heart of the fiery protector of the Lunar Princess. Only you Yaten could pull that off and make it look like it was all on purpose." Taiki said chuckling through her yawn.
Seiya looked at Taiki with shocked indigo eyes, "Let me get this straight. She gets a leave of absence to come back – without us no less to win Usagi's love. And instead she wins the heart of the fiery Shinto Priestess? Am I the only one confuzzled here?"
Yaten laughed as she listened to Seiya through the phone, "Listen I can explain everything. Where are you two holed up at?"
"The Hilton. They have the best rooms after all. And once we explained to them that Yaten Kou formerly of the Three Lights was paying they gave us the penthouse." Seiya teased as she stole the phone from Taiki.
"WHAT???? I swear I will have both of your necks..." Yaten shouted through the phone lines.
Taiki stole the phone back, "Relax my vertically challenged friend. WE are paying for our own room and we ARE at the Hilton. Get your butt over here and tell us what the hell is going on that is so important that we abandoned..."
"Ami is in love with you."
"Get your ass here NOW!"
Ami thought of the shooting star that she had put all her wishes on. All she wanted was her heart back. Preferably she wanted Taiki back. In either form, however she chose to return. First she had fallen for Taiki Kou, singer in the group known as the Three Lights. She could feel the emotion he put in his songs. And then she had met Sailor Star Maker. And her world had been turned upside down as began to have feeling for both of them. Her heart had been torn between the two. And then she discovered they were one and the same. That her heart did not need to be torn anymore, but before she could act on any of her emotions they were gone. And one of them had taken her heart with her.
A tear ran down her cheek as Ami stared off into the inky bluish black heavens. Looking for something... She didn't even know what she was looking for. With a wry shake of her head she groaned aloud. Why lie to her anymore? She did know what she was looking for. Her wandering shooting star to find her way back to her. She climbed into her bed and lay back against her pillows with a somewhat defeated sigh.
One more night down.... a lifetime left to go through.
Yaten was soon in the room with an anxiously pacing Taiki. She watched her friend pace as if the hounds of some unknown hell were on her heels.
"She loves me?" Taiki finally whispered coming to a halt in front of Yaten, her rich purple eyes full of hope and longing. For the tenderly sweet girl she had had to leave without ever telling her she had fallen in love with both Ami Mizuno and Sailor Mercury.
Seiya rolled her eyes and went back to channel surfing, "Yes, Ami loves you. You get a cookie Taiki. Now what are you going to do about it?"
Yaten narrowed her eyes at Seiya slightly, "You are taking the news Usagi is with Haruka very well. A little too well."
Seiya smiled sadly, "I knew I would always be in a one sided love with that girl. I still adore her more than anything. But I love her enough to let her go, to let her find one she loves as much as I love her. After all, I want her happiness above my own."
Taiki groaned and flopped onto her bed, covering her face with her hands, "Ladies focus here. Me. Ami. HELP!"
Seiya and Yaten exchanged a look, "Tell you what. How about I arrange a meeting for you and Miss Ami tomorrow at the park we all used to meet in?"
Taiki looked at Yaten and sighed, "Thank you!"
Usagi and Haruka stopped at a rest area/lookout point along the coastal highway and looked out over the moonlit waters of the ocean. The silvery light of the moon highlighted Usagi and seemed to warm her...much like the sun warmed during the day. Her blonde air blew free in the breeze and wrapped around them both like a silken web.
"I love you Haruka, I am getting memories back. Of us back in the Silver Millennium. You were quite shameless lover." Usagi softly teased as she turned at met her love dancing navy eyes.
Haruka grinned, "Remember the time – in front of the ENTIRE royal court I ordered my things taken to your room? I never thought your mothers face would fade from that shade of purple."
Usagi sigh and snuggled into the warm safety of Haruka, inhaling her rich velvety scent, the strength in the arms wrapped around her, the huskiness of her voice. Then she let her laugh join with Haruka's as they relived some of the memories they had once shared...
"Remember the first time Venus walked in on us in your bed?"
"No, but I remember the first time Luna came to get me out of the shower and it was you!"
"Remember the ball I made you wear a dress to?"
"Yes, I still owe you for that one if I am not mistaken. I have missed you Koneko."
Minako sat in the picture window of Makoto's apartment and watched the night go by. Her body was tired but sleep would not come. Memories of past lives rolled through her brain like runaway trucks. Sometimes she was a normal girl and others she was the unflinching Sailor Venus, Leader of the Royal Guard and the Inner Senshi. She was both really. She looked up to the Stars for er answers.
"Either I am turning into that blasted ex-love of Makoto's, Nephrite, always looking to the stars for my answers. Or I am losing my mind," she muttered getting up and going to her bed, "I just can't help but think it would all be easier if they had never gone back to Kinmoku..."
Makoto dosed on the couch in the living room. Her mind finding peace in the oblivion of dreams. Se was peaceful and Minako would not wake her just to keep her company. No matter how pleasant that thought might be.
Ami sleepily answered the phone early the next morning, "Hello?"
"Ami, this is Yaten. Did I wake you?" came the voice over the lines.
"Yes, but that is okay. Is everything all right? Is there anything I can do for you?" Ami asked sitting up and yawning as she reached for her glasses.
"Yes there is...can you meet me in the park. The old one where we all used to meet? In an hour?" Yaten asked crossing her fingers she said yes.
"Of course. I will see you then."
The lines went dead.
Yaten gave Taiki the thumbs up and the calm one of the group had to put her tea down so her shaking hand wouldn't spill it all over the place.
Seiya shrugged and settled back in with her cup of coffee and a Danish to watch the morning start in the picture window seat of Yaten's apartment.
Usagi once again awoke with Haruka's arm over her waist, protecting er even in sleep. This she could get used to. This time she snuggled in and went back to sleep. After all, this was heaven to be back with her Ruka like this...and if she remembered correctly. Kissing Haruka right here on er throat ...
"Mmm, Neko.... I think you just more than you bargained for..."
.... Could make the loveliest tings happen in the morning.
Ami sat on what they had considered to be 'their' bench. Hers and Taiki's and sighed. She was early but knowing Yaten, she could run late. Then two feet appeared in front of her and she looked up her eyes growing wider.
"Hello Ami. Miss me?"
"T-TTaiki?"
AN: And there it ends. So what did you think? Did Kiss and I do I good job? Hit the pretty review button on the bottom and let us know! WEG I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it.