Chapter 5: Introducing Aburatsubo
For the next couple of weeks everything went on normally. The two new couples couldn't be happier. And the new friends spent a lot of time together. However, there was one change… Keisuke and Trista were spending a lot of time together. This made everyone happy. These two deserved to have some romance in their lives.
Bunny and Darien continued to read The Universe of the Four Gods. They now understood why the flute playing Chiriko didn't sound like their Chiriko. In fact, they had already gotten to the part where they arrive in Genbu's country looking for the Shinzaho.
About two weeks after Miaka's wedding, Rini shows up. Much to everyone's surprise and glee.
"Rini, it's been a while," Bunny greets her future daughter.
Hotaru runs up to give Rini a hug, "I'm glad your back."
Rini smiles, "Yeah, I've been busy learning about becoming a queen. But Mom said I could stay awhile. She want's to hear all about this guy in Trista's life."
The three girls giggle. Bunny and Hotaru had been sending Rini regular updates on Trista and Keisuke.
Seeing as Rini wanted to see Trista and Keisuke together, Bunny decides to have a small welcome back party for Rini. She invites all the scouts and Suzaku group. Lita provides the refreshments.
Miaka and Taka are the first to arrive. "Hi everyone," they call.
Bunny runs to greet them, with Rini right behind her. "Hey guys. Remember Rini? You meet her at my wedding."
"Hi Rini," Miaka smiles. "It's nice to see you again."
Taka looks at Rini then at Bunny, then back to Rini. "You know what? You two look a lot alike."
Darien comes in and laughs, "Well, they should. They are mother and daughter."
Miaka and Taka gasp. "Mother and daughter. Ummm... Bunny, is there something you haven't told us?"
Bunny, Rini and Darien laugh. "No, no… See, Rini is from the future, the 30th century Crystal Tokyo. She came back for help from Sailor Moon once. That's how we meet."
The other's nodded. "I see," Taka response, "which means she's been in..."
"The future." Rini finishes. "I used to stay here more, it was a lot more fun. But now mom is teaching me about being Queen."
Miaka walks into the living room with Bunny, "I guess it's nice to already now what your daughter will be like."
Bunny smiled, "Yeah, but when she first came back she didn't know I was her mom. Boy did we fight."
"So Rini, how old are you? I'd guess about 12," Taka asks.
"I'm over 900-years-old," Rini answers, matter-of-factly.
Taka and Miaka gasp. Darien looks up, "Trust me, it's a long complicated story. She has been alive for over 900 years, but your right, she is a 12-year-old now."
Soon the other guest start to arrive. Rini was keeping watch for Trista. To her joy, Trista and Keiske did arrive together. But Rini didn't let them see her watching them.
Trista walks into the living room. "Puu!" Rini calls as she runs to Trista.
"Small Lady!" Trista responds as she hugs Rini. The use of their nicknames for each other forces the scouts to explain that Trista called Rini "Small Lady" because she is Princess Small Lady Serenity in Crystal Tokyo. And Rini calls Trista "Puu" because she's Sailor Pluto.
"It seems you two are pretty close," Keiske observes as he joins Trista.
Rini looks at Keiske questionably for a moment. "Yup, I used to think Puu was my only friend. I can be very protective of her." Rini then runs over to greet Hotaru.
Trista and Keiske walk over to Bunny. "Sounds like someone has been writing to Rini about me," Trista accuses.
Bunny tries to look innocent, "Why, whatever would I be telling Rini about you Trista?"
Miaka brakes down laughing, seeing Bunny's face, "Yeah, it's not like you have a new boyfriend or something," she adds.
Trista and Keiske just glare at the two of them. They have continually denied that they are dating. Always saying that "we are just friends."
Suddenly, the front door opens, "Little maiden!"
"Helios!" Rini squeals as she runs to him.
"It's been so long," Helios whispers.
"I'm sorry. I've been really busy lately," Rini explains.
"It's okay, it just means that the future me gets to see you more." Rini and Helios' relationship is kind of weird because of her constant time travel.
Miaka turns to Bunny, "You know, with a name like Rini, she sure does have a lot of nicknames."
Bunny laughs, "Actually, Rini is a nickname to. Her real name is Serenity, because she is the Moon Princess. Just like mine is. But we call her Rini so we don't get confused. Little Maiden is what Helios called her before he knew her true identity."
"Shess, how do you keep track of all the names?" Miaka wonders.
Bunny shrugs, "I don't know. The same way I used to keep track of my three lives I guess."
Everyone enjoyed the party. The Suzaku group hadn't really had a chance to get to know Rini yet. They all loved hearing about the future, and seeing some of the tricks Luna-P could do. Rini was pleased to note that Trista and Keiske were together the whole time. Finally it got late, and everyone started to go home.
"So how did you like your party, Rini," Darien inquired.
"I liked it a lot. Thanks you guys," Rini exclaimed. "Especially because I got to see Trista and Keiske together. Well, goodnight." Rini, Pearl, Luna and Diana all went up to bed.
"That was fun," Bunny commented. "Rini doesn't get to have a lot of her own partes, seeing as we have the same birthday."
"Your right Buns," Darien agreed. "Time for The Universe of the Four Gods?" Darien and Bunny settled down and read about Miaka being tested by the Genbu worriers, and discovering she had to get a second Shinzaho.
Meanwhile, Trista and Keiske were walking home together. Trista was telling him how she and Rini first meet. "I really liked having her visit me. She was the only one who did on a regular basis."
"Wow, being the guardian of the gate of time must have been very lonely," Keiske assumed.
Trista nodded, "It was. That's why I was so glad that I got to join Uranus and Neptune here. I can finally have a normal life."
"I'm not surprised," Keiske responded. "But, who looks after the gate now?"
"Oh, I'm still the guardian. It's kind of confusing. In the future I still spend a lot of time there, but not many people use it anyway. Most don't even know it exists," Trista explained.
They chatted until they had to go their separate ways. They paused for a moment, looking in each others eyes, then waved and went home. Trista had gone about a block when she bumped into someone. "Oh, I'm so sorry," she gasped.
"No, no, it was my fault. I wasn't watching were I was going," the young man stated. He was tall, with blond hair and blue eyes. "My name is Aburatsubo."
"I'm Trista. It's a pleasure to meet you," Trista said, as she went to shake his hand.
"The pleasure is all mine, believe me," Aburatsubo smiled, as he kissed Trista's hand. Trista blushed. "Forgive me if this sounds rude, but how does such a lovely lady come to be walking alone at night?"
Trista blushed some more, "Oh, I just left my friend whom I was walking home with. I only live a few blocks away."
"What a coincidence, so do I," Aburatsubo remarked. "Please, do me the honor of allowing me to walk you home."
Trista took his offered arm and smiled, "Why, certainly." 'I haven't seen a man this gallant is, oh, the last hundred years. I'd forgotten how much I liked them.'
When Aburatsubo left her at home he kissed her hand again. "I hope I see you again, Trista."
"So do I," Trista smiled. She waved good-bye and entered the house. When Amara and Michelle saw her, they assumed she was smiling because of Keiske.
On her way to class the next morning Trista saw Aburatsubo walking down the street. Trista ran and shouted, "Hi Aburatsubo!"
Aburatsubo instantly turned around. "Oh, Good morning Trista. Where are you off to?"
"I'm on my way to class," Trista smiled.
"Really? So am I. Would you like to walk with me?" Aburatsubo suggested.
Trista took his arm, "It would be my pleasure." The two strode off, arm in arm. They chatted all the way to the University. 'I've never felt this comfortable talking to someone before,' Trista thought. 'I must be careful, or I may accidentally reveal my power over time.' Though most people knew who the Sailor Scouts were, there were still some things they didn't know. Like how Sailor Pluto was in charge of the gate of time, and that Rini and the Asteroid scouts came from the future.
When they got to the University they had to go their separate ways. Before leaving Aburatsubo turned to Trista, "My classes are over around 5 o'clock. Would you like to get coffee or something with me afterwards?"
"Sure, I'll meet you at the coffee shop at 5," Trista agreed. They smiled and waved and headed towards their classes.
On her way there Trista bumped into Keiske. "Oh, hi Keiske."
"Hi Trista," Keiske said. "You get home all right last night?"
"Um-hum," Trista nodded. "In fact I meet this really nice guy named Aburatsubo. We're going to get coffee after class."
"Oh, that's nice," Keiske mumbled. When Trista started talking about Aburatsubo, Keiske had started to get a weird feeling. 'Why am I feeling jealous. It's not like we're dating or anything.' "Well, I have to get to class. I'll see ya around."
Trista nodded and waved. 'Odd, I wonder why he's in such a hurry today?' She shrugged and went to her own class.
That morning Rini had written a letter to her mother, telling her all about the party. She put extra emphasis on Trista and Keiske's doings. Then it was time to go off to school. She was looking forward to seeing all her friends again, especial Momo. To her surprise, and delight, Helios was waiting for her when she went downstairs.
"Good morning, Little Maiden," Helios said when he saw her.
Rini ran over to him, "Helios, what a great surprise. But you know I have school today."
"Yes, I know Rini," Helios assured her. "I just thought I'd walk you there."
Rini smiled. Helios had never walked her to school before. 'I wonder what Momo will think about this?' Rini grabbed her bag and put on her shoes, "Bye Bunny, Bye Darien!" then she and Helios started on their way.
Bunny and Darien smiled at each other. "I think Helios really missed Rini," Darien commented.
"Yeah, but I bet Rini can't wait for her friends at school to see him with her," Bunny laughed. "I wonder what she'll tell them?"
Darien shrugged, "I don't know. I bet she gets a lot of attention, now that people know who we are."
Luna jumped up to join them, "But remember, no one knows who she is. They just know she's Bunny's relative."
"You're right Luna," Bunny agreed. "And if I don't get going soon, I'll be late for class."
As Luna and Darien watched Bunny get ready to go they couldn't help but remember her old dashes to school when they first meet. Back then Bunny hated school, but now she actually seemed to enjoy it.
"Well, I've got work after class today," Darien informed Bunny. "Think you can keep yourself out of trouble, 'till I get home Buns?"
"I think so," Bunny giggled. "Actually, I'm supposed to meet up with some of the girls later." Darien smiled. He had expected that answer. He gave Bunny a kiss good-bye and watched her leave for class. Then he started getting ready for his own class.
After her class Bunny meet up with Amy, Mina, Lita, Raye and Miaka. They had all decided to have a day without the guys. That was easy for Bunny and Miaka, because their husbands both had class and work. The others didn't know what their boyfriends were going to do. Luna and Artemis were both tagging along.
"So what should be do?" Amy wondered.
"We could go to the arcade," Lita suggested.
"Not me, I already used all my allowance," Mina explained.
"Well, that also cuts out the movies and the mall," Bunny sighed.
"Hey, I know," Miaka announced. "Let's go to Raye's temple. I haven't seen it yet."
Raye smiled, "Oh that's right you haven't. Sure, if the others want to."
"Yeah, sure," Amy, Lita and Mina agreed.
"Yeah, and then I can barrow some of your comic books Raye," Bunny laughed.
"You haven't changed a bit," Raye mumbled. They all headed off to the temple. When they got there, two crows came to greet Raye. "These are Phobos and Deimos," Raye explained. "They're kind of like pets." Miaka reached out her hand and pet Phobos. To everyone's surprise Phobos jumped onto Miaka's arm.
"I've never seen them do that before," Amy commented.
Raye shook her head, "Neither have I. They must really like you, Miaka."
They all went into Raye's room. As Raye and Lita went to make tea, Bunny attacked Raye's comic collection. "Look Miaka, she's got tons of comics. I read hers so I don't have to bother buying them," Bunny said.
Amy and Mina nodded. "Yeah, she used to read them during our scout meetings," Mina remarked.
"And during study buddies," Amy recalled.
By the time Raye and Lita returned, Bunny and Miaka were laughing over the comics. They all spent the rest of the afternoon chatting and trying to get the two girls to stop laughing so much.
Meanwhile, the four generals were at the park, trying to decide what to do. Though they wanted the girls to have fun on their own, they always got board without them. As they were pondering what to do Tasuki came up.
"Hey guys. Whatcha up to?" Tasuki greeted.
"Hi Tasuki," Jadeite answered. "Nothing much."
"So were are the girls? I don't think I've seen you without them," Tasuki teased.
Kunzite shot Tasuki a look, "They're off with their friends. We aren't always together."
Tasuki shrugged, "Whatever. I just don't see how you can always hang out with so many girls."
Zoisite looked at him, "Why not? What do you have against girls?"
"Nothing really. It's just that, whenever I get involved with them, I always end up getting beat up because of it."
"Oh, you mean by protecting them?" Nephrite asked. Tasuki nodded.
"Well, you don't have to worry about that with these girls," Kunzite assured him.
"Not unless you challenge Raye or Lita to a sparing match, that is," Jadeite joked.
The others laughed. Raye and Lita are both really good at martial arts. Tasuki and the generals decided to hang out for the rest of the day.