Epilogue

Chibiusa silently ate her dinner, and asked to be excused before anyone else was finished. Ikuko and Kenji Tsukino gave her worried looks, but Usagi discreetly gestured to her parents not to question the child.

The young girl went up to her room. She climbed the bed, brought her knees to her chest and leaned her forehead against her arms. Silently, she mourned the loss of a dear friend.

She could barely remember what had happened after the translucent figure of the former Queen had vanished. The Senshi had wordlessly parted ways. Tuxedo Mask had brought her and Sailor Moon home. Usagi had asked her to sleep in her room, and held her close all night. Chibiusa could not remember at which point she had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

The next day, the two of them had met the girls, and Mamo-chan, and gone to watch the eclipse. While the phenomenon elicited people's enthusiasm and curiosity, it held a special, more tragic meaning for the seven of them. Together, they had said one tardy goodbye. It had been strange…the eclipse had seemed ominously long and the darkness outside had echoed with the sorrow within their hearts. But time healed all wounds. Chibiusa had promised herself, and the memory of her dearest friend, to be mature. She had not shed another tear.

Now, as she stood alone in her dusky bedroom, tears came to her eyes again.

"It's not fair…" she sobbed to the empty room.

A soft knock came on the door.

"Chibiusa-chan…?" Ikuko-mama peered inside. "You have a visit…someone's waiting downstairs."

The child looked up, and nodded.

"I'm coming."

As she reached the living room, Ryou Tsumbono stood waiting. Next to him was little Ryuu, shyly clinging to his father's leg. Agape, Chibiusa stopped in her tracks. For one moment, she wanted to run back up to her room…but it was too late. The scientist had seen her.

"Hello, Chibiusa-chan!"

"Hello…" she echoed faintly.

For one moment, none of them spoke. Tsumbono uneasily changed his weight from one leg to the other. Eventually, he opened his mouth again:

"I'm here…I mean…I'm here to…" He swallowed hard and started again. "I know nothing can change my mistakes, but…I'd like to apologize."

The child gave a small shrug.

"Okay…"

The man looked at her gravely.

"Fortunately…my errors did not have the dire consequences we could have expected. I don't know what you did about it" he said, referring to Chibiusa and her friends, "and I think it is better I don't know… but I would like you to know that I am thankful."

She nodded, hoping he would end it at that, and leave. Hoping he would stop sounding so happy and relieved about something that had claimed Pluto's life.

"And, Chibiusa-chan…there's one more reason I came to see you."

"Oh…?"

Again, he seemed uncomfortable. He cleared his voice.

"I'd…like to apologize to your friend, as well. I was hoping you could tell me where to…find...her...?"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

That night, Haruka's car drove down the empty road along the shore. Silently, the two remaining Outer Senshi shared a promise. They had intended to leave Tokyo to raise Hotaru away from the agitation of the city…but now, they were going to stay.

Michiru touched Haruka's hand, and the blonde squeezed hers reassuringly.

Things would be alright, eventually.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Things would be alright.

Chibiusa curled under the blanket, and promised herself she would be strong. Somewhere, far at the back of her mind, she nursed the secret hope that, perhaps, that was not the end… She saved a good thought for her friend.

Then, she turned, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.

And she dreamt…

The End

AN: Alright, now you can hate me. Or…you can reread the last two parts of this epilogue, and wonder if there's any clue for a sequel there. If you think there is, let me know;) To be honest, I had not so much a sequel in mind, as a somewhat different story. I've always wondered how SuperS season would have been with Uranus and Neptune in it...would anyone be interested in reading that? Please let me know;)

Thank you for reading this story, and more so to those who took the time to leave a review:) I am really grateful for your words, and as always, I would love your comments on the story.

Hugs,

Myosotis