Chapter 16 - Means To An End
It has been a week since the world nearly came to an end. The inner scout - Ami, Minako, Makoto and Rei - have been mending their wounds. It seemed like it never happened. The city was still busy as usual. The people in the city had no idea about what had happened. To them, it was just a nightmare...something out of reality. At the Hikawa shrine, Rei and the others gather outside her room.
"I just talked to Haruka-san. They found nothing. No bodies or crystal. It was like it never happened." Rei told her friends.
"But how could that be? I mean, we all saw it, right?" Minako asked.
"I tried all logical claculations there is. It's impossible." Ami replied.
"Maybe they fade away...just like when Galaxia took our star seeds." Rei said.
"They sacrificed themselves for this planet...and now they're gone." Ami implied as she puts down her notes.
A slight gush of wind blew across the field. Makoto looked at the sun as it beamed on her face. She smiled and looked at the others.
"No...she's not gone." Makoto started. They all looked at her, curious on why she said that. Makoto looked at them and her smile widened.
"What are you talking about?" Rei asked.
"I don't know...but somehow, I feel that she's around here. I mean, she did say that she'll never leave us. She also said that we should not mourn. We should celebrate this new day because she gave this to us." Makoto placed her hands behind her head and leaned back. They all smiled as Makoto reminded them of what is important.
oo00oo
Setsuna placed breakfast on the table. She's been keeping herself busy by trying out new recipes to distract her from what happened. She's been teaching Hotaru all she knows and she thinks it's time for her to go back to school. She could only teach her so much. Haruka haven't been that helpful either. She'd usually go out early in the morning and come home late at night. And when she's at home, she'd fix her car or motorcycle. She didn't want to talk about what happened especially about Michiru.
Hotaru walked in the kitchen and sat down to eat. She looked at the table, overwhelmed with all the food on the table.
"You better eat up. You've got a busy day ahead of you." Setsuna puts a plate full of banana-chip waffles and bacon and a tall glass of orange juice in front of her.
"Um...Setsuna-mama...Aren't we just going to the mall to buy school stuff?" Hotaru asked.
"Well, shopping is very tiring. You'll need your energy." Setsuna pats Hotaru on her head and smiled.
Haruka enters the kitchen and smirked at the feast that Setsuna cooked. "Isn't this a bit too much?" she asked.
"See." Hotaru said with a mouthful of waffle.
"Don't talk with your mouth full." Haruka smiled as she sits next to the tiny girl and grabs a plate of waffles.
"Shopping is a tiring process. Growing girls like you needs to eat...so eat." Setsuna told Hotaru.
"We better hurry up...the bus leaves in 30 minutes." she continued.
"I'll take you." Haruka said. The two girls looked at Haruka, surprised that she offered a ride. Haruka noticed them and smiled. "What? I can't offer my friends a ride?"
"Haruka-papa, are you well?" Hotaru asked as she checks Haruka's temperature.
"Why would you ask that?" Haruka frowned.
"I guess, what Hotaru is trying to say is that...you never really talked to us before let alone offer us a ride. I mean...after everything that had happened, you kinda kept to yourself." Setsuna explained.
"I was supposed to die." Haruka began. "I was supposed to die in that room but she came to me."
"Who?" Hotaru asked.
"Michiru." Haruka smiled. Setsuna and Hotaru gasped at her revelation.
"She told me that everything would be alright. That she'll always be with me. She also told me to look for her after everything. That's what I've been doing after that day. Go out early in the morning, searching everywhere for her. Then last night, I accepted the fact that I will never see her again. I'll never touch her or kiss her again. I'll never see her smile or that thing she does with her nose everytime I tease her." Haruka continued.
Setsuna and Hotaru slightly smiled and they hold each of Haruka's hand. Haruka looked at the two girls and smiled.
"I realized that I needed to move on. I need to let her go." She smiled.
"She'll always be with you. You don't have to let her go...just know that she's in the good place now." Setsuna assured her friend.
Haruka sighed and then cleared her throat. She wiped off a tear on her face. "So..what time are we leaving?" she asked.
"As soon as Hotaru finishes her breakfast." Setsuna said sternly.
"Even a pig couldn't finish this." Hotaru muttered. Setsuna looked at her and she just smiled an contiued eating.
After breakfast, they were about to leave when doorbell rang. Setsuna answered the door only to be surprised to see Yaten and Taiki...with a baby. Like old friends, they all gather in the living room. Yaten and Taiki explained what happened.
"What? This baby is...is Seiya!" Haruka exclaimed.
"I can't explain it either. After the battle, we saw him near where Seiya died. We thought about giving him to social services but when we saw his birthmark, we knew." Taiki explained.
"Wow." Haruka said.
"I know. It is very overwhelming." Setsuna retorted.
"Uh, yeah but that's not what I meant." Haruka replied.
"What then?" Yaten asked.
"It's just...too bad he's going to grow up into an obnoxious jerk." Haruka smiled. She leaned over Seiya. The baby looked at her and squeezed his bottle of milk on her face.
"Cute." Haruka said as she wiped her face.
"Serves you right." Setsuna laughed.
"So, what are you going to do now?" Hotaru asked.
"Well, we can't go back to our planet...at least not until Seiya is old enough to understand any of this." Taiki replied.
"Then, why not stay with us? This house is big enough for all of us and a baby." Haruka offered.
"We don't want to intrude." Yaten said.
"Oh please...you won't. And take the offer, it's not everyday that Haruka will be this generous." Setsuna smiled.
"Very funny." Haruka smirked.
"Thank you." Taiki said. "Well, we better get this little guy to bed...he gets cranky when he doesn't get enough sleep."
"I'll show you to the guest room. Haruka, could you go shopping with Hotaru for her school things?" Setsuna asked.
"Yeah, sure." Haruka replied. The two left the house and headed to the mall. Setsuna showed Taiki and Yaten their rooms.
"What's the matter?" Yaten asked Setsuna.
"This is what she meant." she replied. Yaten looked curiouslt at her. "Before Usagi stepped into that beam...she said that there will be new beginnings. Maybe not all is lost as we thought."
"No sign of her? or Mamoru?" Taiki asked.
"No...there's no sign of their bodies or anything. But somehow, I feel that everything will be alright. That Crystal Tokyo will still be born. I don't know how to explain it." Setsuna affirmed. They all looked at the sleeping baby. They all felt it...a new day...a new beginning.
oo00oo
At the Hikawa shrine, the girls were entertaining some visitors to the shrine. Most of them were tourists. They wore prietess gowns and helped Rei and her grandfather out. For some reason, there were alot of people that day. Most of them are lining up to make wishes and pray.
"Wow, there are alot of people here." Makoto observed.
"Yeah, and not one cute guy!" Minako complained.
"Oh, Mina-chan...it's not about finding cute guys but it's the satisfaction you get for helping people." Ami said.
"Speak for yourself." Minako muttered. This made Makoto and Rei giggle.
Ami shook her head and continued to give out charms, until she saw something they've all been longing to see. Near the place where people would tie their prayers and wishes on a tree, she saw two blonde buns peering through the crowd. Ami drops the charm.
"Ami-chan? What is it?" Rei asked. Ami didn't answer her but ran towards the blonde whose back was turned to her. She was about to reach her when Luna blocks her way. She stopped and Luna motioned to follow her. She called out to the rest and they followed Luna inside a room.
"Luna! We're so glad to see you. Where's Artemis?" Minako asked.
"He told me to tell you not to worry. He'll be home when you get back." Luna replied.
"Wait, you're here...so does that mean?" Rei began to sound hopeful. Usagi must be alive.
"I saw her, just before Luna blocked me." Ami affirmed happily.
"We have to get her...we have to see her." Makoto said.
"No...Listen to me. You can't tell her anything that had happened. You'll just scare her." Luna warned.
The girls frowned at what the black cat said. Rei broke the silence, "But why? What happened?"
"After the light that cleansed everything that the dark crystal did, Queen Serenity appeared before Artemis and I. She told us that because of their sacrifice, Usagi-chan and Mamoru-san will have a chance to live out a normal life. They've doubted their love because they felt that it was already written. They never did have the chance to find out if they really love each other in this life. They were given these memories and pretty much felt that it was what they must do so they forced themselves to love each other." Luna explained.
"So, she doesn't remember...any of it?" Ami asked.
"No. Nothing. She doesn't remember being Sailor Moon or Princess Serentiy or any of the things that had happened. So does Mamoru-san. They need to find love on their own." Luna affirmed the girls.
"As long as she's alive. That's all we care about." Makoto smiled. They get out of the room and went back to their work.
Ami started to hand out charms again when a familiar voice greeted her. She looked up and sees Usagi. She was still her cheery self.
"Um..hi." Ami smiled.
"Hey, aren't you the smart girl in my class?" Usagi asked.
"Uh, yeah." Ami replied.
"Wow, it must be great to work in a shrine with all your friends." Usagi motioned towards the other girls.
"Well, we're always looking for extra help especially on the weekends. You're very welcome to join us." Rei smiled.
"Really? Cool!" Usagi exclaimed.
Then, another familiar person appeared behind Usagi. His unmistakeable dark hair and blue eyes peered above Usagi.
"I don't think you'd want an odango head in your shrine. She might bring bad luck." Mamoru said. This made Usagi to turn and look at him sternly.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"It''s part of the summer festivities. What about you? This is not the line for the buffet, y'know." he replied.
Usagi raised one of her eyebrows and smirked. "Well, this isn't the line for getting brians either so I think you better move because you're holding up the line."
The four girls giggled at what Usagi said. They were also a bit surprised at the maturity that she showed. Whenever Mamoru teased her, she'd usually stick her tongue out and be very childish.
"Will you guys be at the fireworks festival at the park tonight?" Usagi asked.
"Yeah...we wouldn't miss it!" Makoto exclaimed.
"Why don't we all go? together." Minako suggested.
"Ok then...I'll meet you guys at the park later!" Usagi paid for her charm and left.
Mamoru sighed and leaned on a wall. He watched as Usagi bounces off. He smiled and the girls noticed.
"You know...some girls don't like guys who teased them." Rei said.
"What? I-I don't care if she likes me or not. I don't like her...I-I don't know what you're talking about." Mamoru defended.
"Yeah...well, we never said that you liked her." Makoto mentioned. Mamoru's face turned bright red. He nervousely laughed and paid for his charm.
"You know...she likes strawberry ice cream...just so you'd know." Minako smiled. Mamoru nodded, smiled and went on his way.
"Tonight would be very interesting." Rei smiled.
Minako sighed, "Love."
"Don't worry Mina-chan, you'll find the one for you when the time comes." Ami smiled. The grils happily went back to their work. For the first time in weeks, they felt wonderful. Usagi and Mamoru were alive and that's all that matters.