Yuki paused in his stride as the person he'd been seeking finally came into view. He didn't even want to attempt to count the times doubt had plagued him since he'd resolved to come and do this. Yet as he stood with the familiar crop of dark rooted white hair in his vision, the emotion increased tenfold.

Still, he thought of Usagi and all that had happened since he'd discovered her secret. They had talked; she explained her life as a senshi and told him all about her friends, even about her fiancé and why she had been so devastated by his death. On some levels it scared him how different, but still so very alike, Usagi was from the little girl he had known as Ame.

With his determination renewed, he moved forward to sit next to Hatsuharu. The younger boy finally looked up to acknowledge Yuki but said nothing. It took a few moments for Yuki to realize that he didn't intend to say anything at all, so he began, "I haven't seen you at the house recently," he paused, gathering his nerve, then added, "I'm sure Usagi misses you."

This finally brought Hatsuharu from his stupor. He looked at Yuki with what must have been disbelief, but the silver haired boy could hardly blame him for that. He didn't quite believe what he was doing himself. But past this brief moment of emotion, Hatsuharu just shrugged and continued his listless staring.

Yuki frowned, and thought of what to say next. He was sure he'd outlined this entire conversation in his head several times, but that detailed dialogue was lost to him now. Finally fed up with his inner struggle, he decided to say what needed to be said.

"I know that losing Rin was hard on you, Haru." This caused the white haired teen to flinch, but Yuki continued anyway. There was no turning back at this point. "But if you keep this up, you're going to lose Usagi too."

Without another word, Yuki rose and left.

xXx

Usagi sighed, tapping her pencil against the sheet of paper in front of her and wishing that her studying would magically do itself. The end of the school year was upon them, and though Usagi dreaded exams, she was grateful now for the decent distraction they provided.

She'd learned that Tohru was nearly as hopeless as she was when it came to exams, so both Kyou and Yuki had set to helping the two of them study and hopefully avoid any retakes.

Their study session, taking place around the dining table, was interrupted by a knock on the door. Tohru rose and disappeared from the room, before returning a moment later and nodding toward Usagi.

"It's for you." The silver haired girl frowned, but also stood and made her way past Tohru to the door. When she met the pair of garnet eyes waiting for her in the entrance way, her stomach did a strange flip flop inside of her.

"Setsuna?" Nodding, Sestuna couldn't help but notice the suddenly anxious look on Usagi's face. It was to be expected. The last few times she'd come by it was only to bring bad news.

"It's not anything bad this time," Setsuna assured, making Usagi flush with embarrassment. "In fact, I think you'll be pleased with what I'm here to tell you. It's about the recent youma attacks."

"Oh yeah, Hotaru said you saw something go through the time gates. Did you finally track it down?" Sestuna gave in to an amused smile at this. This piqued Usagi's interest and she waited for Setsuna to speak again.

"I'm afraid not. That was a lie. I was bringing the youma through the time stream myself. I knew that it was the quickest way to reunite you with your senshi." She paused, her garnet eyes looking thoughtful. "I did worry that someone would get hurt, but I've never known Sailor Moon to let anything like that happen."

Usagi flushed, still trying to comprehend what she was being told. After a moment, she asked, "So there really isn't a new enemy?"

"No, none whatsoever. You can retire your broach once more." Setsuna smiled, and then said, "Do try to keep this between us though. I think I covered my tracks fairly well but I'd hate to get in trouble."

"Of course," Usagi nodded and, unable to contain herself, pulled Setsuna into a hug, "Thank you Setsuna."

xXx

A few days later, Usagi sat at her desk in her room poring over her study guide once again. The rest of their group had resigned the activity for the night, but she knew she had to do all she could if she planned on passing. Not to mention that the more she filled her head with math problems the less it was filled with Hatsuharu.

She knew that she was starting to worry everyone in the house again, but she couldn't help it. She missed Hatsuharu terribly. He had been beside her all this time, making her feel safe, comforting her. Now it felt like a whole chunk of her was missing. Sardonically she wondered if this is how he had felt the first time she left.

In fact the more she dwelled on it, the more Usagi realized that she loved Hatsuharu, and it made it hurt that much worse.

Still she tried to fill up her time with other things. Tohru had diligently been trying to teach her how to make rice balls and she was starting to get better. It was virtually impossible not to be cheerful around Tohru, so that was helping her quite a bit.

She'd been talking more and more with Yuki. It seemed the sudden revelation of her secret had really bridged the gap between them. They were becoming closer, even if it wasn't the same as when they were children. Usagi had resigned to the fact that it would probably never be quite that way again. But in a way that made her happy, because Yuki was a stronger person now and didn't really need her to support him anymore.

These thoughts continued to swirl around in her head. She didn't even hear when someone entered the room and closed the door behind them. They stood there for several moments, somewhat amused, until finally deciding to clear their throat.

Usagi visibly jumped and whirled in her chair. When she saw Hatsuharu standing across the room, she leapt to her feet and made like she was about to rush to him. Then suddenly she stopped, remembering herself. Her hand rested on the back of her chair, which she used as some support, and she waited for him to speak.

"When you left, I started following Yuki around a lot. I don't know if he told you." He had mentioned it, but Usagi didn't say anything, unsure of where this was going. "People thought it was because I admired him or something, I don't know. But it was just because being with him reminded me of you, that you were real, that you were still out there somewhere."

"Haru," Usagi stepped forward, but that's as far as she got before Hatsuharu crossed the distance himself. He put his hands on either side of her face, free of their usual gloves. His fingers were warm against her cheeks, and she couldn't move.

"Yuki finally came and talked some sense into me. I've been stupid, just avoiding it all this time. I wanted to tell you the first time I saw you back at the main house, but you ran off before I could. And then your fiancé died and it didn't seem like the right thing to do."

"Tell me what, Haru?" Usagi couldn't take it anymore. It was like he had a grip on her heart, and the longer he talked the tighter it got. She wanted to believe that he meant what she thought he meant, but she wouldn't trust herself to think that. She wasn't exactly unbiased.

But she hoped that he would say the right thing, because if not she would probably become hysterical on the spot, and the thought of that was dreadful.

Finally he tilted her head up so their eyes met; his beautiful chocolate brown boring straight into her stormy blue. "That I love you, Ame."

Usagi didn't have any time to react. Hatsuharu leaned in and pressed his lips gently over hers. She reached out and grabbed onto him as her knees gave out underneath her. He seemed to instinctively understand this, for he moved one hand from her face to wrap his arm around her.

There was no sense of time in that instant. It could have been moments, or hours, or a whole day for all she knew. Each time she pulled away for air he seldom gave her the chance to breathe before descending upon her again. Usagi realized that for the first time since this whole thing started, since she remembered being a Sohma, she felt completely and undeniably happy.

She moved her hand that had been clinging to his shirt up to touch his face and finally tangled her fingers through his hair. For an instant she feared this all might just be her imagination, or a wonderful dream that she would wake up from at any moment.

It was Shigure who ruled out that possibility. At some point over the past few minutes he had snuck in the room, and the bright flash of his camera momentarily dazed her. She broke away from Hatsuharu in confusion, but as she heard his familiar cackling retreating down the hall, the situation hit her full force.

"That is one dead dog," she said flatly moving around Hatsuharu with the full intent to kill. The white haired teen wasn't so eager to let her go, grabbing her arm and pulling her against him again.

"Haru, I have to go beat Shigure senseless," Usagi whined, struggling to break free again. Hatsuharu completely ignored her, instead dipping down to press his lips against her neck. His breath tickled her throat and, unable to help it, she turned a violent shade of red. "Haru, stop it."

He moved upward, placing kisses along her jaw, but before he could claim her mouth again, she twisted away and scurried down the hall, not unlike a rabbit. Hatsuharu grinned after her before slowly following. It was mere moments before he heard Usagi yelling, and as he approached the scene he saw the silver headed girl pummeling Shigure with her fists.

"You stupid jerk! Give it over!" Shigure was beyond amused from the looks of it and holding the camera well out of the short girl's reach. Tohru and Kyou appeared from the kitchen, wondering what all the commotion was about. Kyou smirked with amusement as he watched Shigure being attacked by the rabbit, but Tohru looked on with worry.

"What did that idiot do now?" Kyou asked when he noticed Hatsuharu standing there. He glanced over at Kyou before shrugging.

"He caught us in the act."

"What act?" Tohru asked, genuinely confused. Hatsuharu grinned and made to respond when Kyou intruded.

"Don't you dare say another word," the orange haired boy warned, glaring for good measure.

"Oh my god, it wasn't like that! Kyou, you're a pervert!" Usagi yelled with annoyance as she continued to grab for the camera. Kyou looked truly abashed at this, and Hatsuharu couldn't help but laugh at his expression. Shigure was in hysterics after this exchange and could no longer fend off the hyper rabbit. She practically climbed over Shigure and finally snatched the camera from his hand.

She was a little bewildered when Hatsuharu grabbed her from behind and dragged her away, but really couldn't care less as she clutched her prize to her chest and laughed triumphantly.

"What's going on down here?" Yuki had finally appeared from upstairs, taking in the sight before him. Tohru was looking around in confusion, her usual anxious self. Kyou looked positively scandalized. Shigure was decidedly disheveled but laughing uncontrollably. Hatsuharu had Usagi around the waist, and the rabbit was clinging to what looked to be one of Shigure's infamous one-use camera's, grinning insanely.

When his sister noticed him, however, she wrestled free of Hatsuharu and ran over to hug him as if he wasn't confused enough already.

"Thank you so much, Oniisan." She spoke low enough so only he could hear before she released him, without explanation, and returned to Hatsuharu. But he understood then, as Hatsuharu moved to claim her waist again and she shoved his hands away trying to look annoyed.

"I think I want that," the ox declared, reaching for the camera. Usagi appeared appalled before she ducked out of the way and moved farther away from him.

"Absolutely not."

"Come on, it'll be a good picture." Hatsuharu protested, reaching for it again. Usagi flushed and moved out of the way, shaking her head negative. Now Yuki was beginning to wonder what was on this camera that had had his sister so worked up to begin with. As she moved past him to get further away from Hatsuharu, he reached out and claimed the camera for himself.

Usagi glimpsed at her hands in confusion, and then looked over at him, horrified. "Yuki!"

"What's on it?" He asked, looking on as Usagi turned various shades of red. It was hard to determine whether she was angry or embarrassed, but finally she threw her hands in the air.

"I give up! Do what you want with the stupid camera." And the rabbit stomped off, back up the stairs in a huff. "I've never been so mortified in my life."

Kyou and Tohru seemed to decide that the entertainment was now over, for they both retreated back to the kitchen. The brunette girl still appeared to have no clue as to what had actually taken place, but she didn't worry herself over it for very long. When it was just the three juunishi, Hatsuharu turned toward Yuki in all seriousness.

"What do you want for the camera?" Yuki blinked and looked down at the plastic object in his hands, somewhat torn. He wasn't entirely sure at this point if he actually wanted to know what was on it.

"I'll trade you all the blackmail I have on you." Shigure offered, finally composed and straightening out his clothes. This offer really did intrigue Yuki, for he wasn't really sure of half the things Shigure may have on him and wouldn't mind gaining possession of all of it. Of course, knowing Shigure he would probably keep extra copies of everything for himself anyway, rendering the bargain useless.

"Why do you even want that picture? You really are a pervert." Hatsuharu admonished before turning back to Yuki. "You can't give it to him for the sake of decency."

"What exactly is on this camera?" Yuki demanded again. He never would get his answer, for at that moment Usagi pounced from her hiding place near the stairs and snatched the camera back from him, running off before any of them could give chase. It seemed that when she had stormed off, she actually snuck back down to carry out her surprisingly effective sneak attack.

"That settles that," Shigure shrugged, turning back to continue his writing, Hatsuharu shrugged as well and walked off. Only Yuki remained there, perturbed and extremely dissatisfied.

xXx

Hotaru was positively in hysterics as Usagi relayed the whole story back to her the following day at school, in one of the classes the two girls shared without Hatsuharu or Momiji. Even Usagi laughed on occasion. Though she'd been frustrated and embarrassed at the time, the humor in the whole scene was not lost on her now.

When the violet eyed girl finally stopped laughing, she asked, "So when are you picking up the prints?"

Usagi blushed then, because she hadn't even admitted to taking the camera to the photo center, but she hadn't been able to help it. She was too curious as to what the picture actually looked like. "I'm picking them up after school. You want to come?"

"I wouldn't miss it," Hotaru grinned.

So they met up at the gate after school and headed into town. It didn't take them very long to reach the photo center that Usagi had dropped the camera off at, and she handed the money over in exchange for the envelope of photos.

The camera had been full already when she turned it in, so she flipped through the usual junk that Shigure had in his film, knowing that the picture she sought would be at the bottom. When the image finally presented itself, her face flushed an ungodly red. Hotaru, knowing the picture had been found, leaned over Usagi's shoulder to look.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself," she commented, laughing as Usagi scowled at her.

"I told you it would be a good picture," said a new voice, as a familiar gloved hand reached around and snatched the picture right out of her fingers. Mouth hanging open, she whirled to face Hatsuharu so fast she nearly toppled Hotaru over, who had been standing rather close to her.

"You followed me here? You jerk," though she tried, Usagi couldn't bring herself to act truly upset over it. Hotaru laughed, and then announced she needed to get home before Haruka flipped and sent a search party after her. Once the girl was gone, Usagi turned back to Hatsuharu with a frown. "Can I have it back now?"

"I think Yuki wants to see. He was awfully curious, wasn't he?" Hatsuharu couldn't suppress his grin as Usagi's mouth dropped open.

"You wouldn't! Give it here!" The rabbit practically pounced on him in her attempt to get the photo back in her possession. However, that was Hatsuharu's goal to begin with, and he caught her around the waist before she even realized what she was doing. But with his arm supporting her, she quickly realized how close they were thanks to her overzealousness.

"You know, I'm not sure I like this side of you," she complained, still reaching for the picture and trying to ignore him as he sought to silence her with his lips. "Cut it out, we're in a store."

"You jumped me, as I recall." Hatsuharu teased, but conceded and sat her down, returning the picture to her. "I wouldn't show that to Yuki anyway. I'm not looking to incite his wrath."

"What, you think he'd beat you up for kissing me? Please," Usagi rolled her eyes and tucked the pictures back in their envelope while Hatsuharu shrugged. "Anyway, I have to go meet Ayame. See you."

Usagi turned and made to leave the shop, but failed to lose Hatsuharu. Intrigued, he trailed the blue eyed girl as she headed to her older brother's shop. "Why are you meeting him?"

"I don't know. He called this morning and said he had something for me at the shop. I told him I'd come by this afternoon." She raised her eyebrows when Hatsuharu laughed, and asked, "What?"

"You don't know what kind of shop Ayame has, do you?" He finally asked, the mirth still showing in his expression. Usagi frowned, still missing the point.

"I only know he makes women's clothes. What's so funny?" Hatsuharu laughed again but didn't answer her question, only insisted that he was coming along. She sighed but decided not to pursue it further, trying to ignore the amused expression that covered his face for the duration of their trip.

The shop came too quickly for her tastes as she was still trying to figure reasons why Hatsuharu would draw humor from the situation. She pushed her way in, bracing herself for anything and everything. The shop was quiet for all of two seconds, before she heard Ayame exclaim, "She's here!"

Her silver haired older sibling appeared from what she guessed was a back room, or perhaps a dressing room, looking all degrees of excited. Usagi, however, hardly noticed him. Her eyes were slowly moving around the shop, taking in the various mannequins, her face slowly draining of color. When a brunette appeared shortly after, clad in a maid uniform, she thought she might faint.

"Oh dear," Ayame's exuberance was short lived when he spotted Hatsuharu there as well, looking down at the shorter girl with pure amusement. "Mine-chan it appears I am too late. The young lovers have already reconciled."

"Oh. My. God." As fast as she had paled, Usagi now turned toward Ayame with her face the color of a ripened tomato. She pointed an accusing finger at him, before saying, "You're an even bigger pervert than Shigure! This is awful. What exactly were you planning to give me, anyway? A Playboy bunny outfit?"

Hatsuharu's eyebrows shot upward. Ayame laughed jovially, completely brushing her remarks aside. "That would be fitting! I was thinking more of a nautical theme myself. Doesn't the sailor girl match with her exquisitely, Mine-chan?"

Usagi glowered while the bespectacled girl nodded enthusiastically. She looked utterly horrified when Mine added, "She may make a cute maid as well, don't you think?"

"Oh, you are always partial to the maid, dear." Ayame said dismissively, sizing Usagi up as he continued to think.

"I am not putting on anything in this shop," she said flatly, before turning her angry look toward Hatsuharu, "And you! You knew about this! No wonder you were so excited to come, pervert."

"Now, now Chibi-chan," Ayame said as he appeared before her and pulled her away. With some assistance from Mine they wrestled her toward the dressing rooms. "I am your older brother and would never dress you in anything inappropriate." She seriously doubted that. "Let Mine assist you. I've already picked it out especially for you. Try it on."

An instant later Usagi found herself in the dressing room alone with the cheerfully smiling brunette. She gulped, looking around like a trapped animal, her only means of escape effectively blocked.

"Miss Usagi, please. I promise you there's nothing you would find obscene about the dress Ayame has picked out." Mine was trying to assure her, obviously. She looked thoughtful for a moment before saying, "In truth I think he made it for you. It's been in the back for a very long time. He's never let anyone else so much as try it on."

Usagi felt a strange pang in her heart at these words, and the way Mine's brown eyes shown with fondness as she talked of Ayame. Unconsciously, she smiled. "Okay, I'll try it on."

It was several moments of definite struggle; all doubts about her needing help were completely absolved. Finally Mine moved aside with an approving smile so she could look in the mirror.

She couldn't squash the gasp that escaped her. The dress was pure white, all taffeta and lace. It fit, as Mine suggested, like it was made for her. She felt like she'd stepped from a Victorian painting, or a Jane Austen novel. She almost looked like—

"A princess." Usagi gave a start. Her reverie had made her forget about Mine being there completely. But the pigtailed girl was still looking down at her, smiling gently. "You look just like a princess, Miss Usagi."

The rabbit gave a watery smile in return, and then hugged the other girl, effectively startling her. "Thank you. I'm glad Ayame has someone like you."

Mine's surprise dissolved once again into a smile as she hugged her back. "You are just like he described you."

Usagi couldn't question this before she was being shoved out the door, right into the center of attention. Her face reddened again as she glanced up at her brother and Hatsuharu.

"Ah it really is perfect!" Ayame exclaimed, coming forward for a closer inspection of his handiwork. He circled her several times before nodding his approval. She shook her head as he continued to rant of his genius and looked over toward Hatsuharu sheepishly. It startled her to find him right next to her already. He reached a hand to touch her face, tracing the line of her jaw with one gloved finger, the leather feeling rough against her skin. She blushed under his scrutinizing gaze before he leaned in for a kiss.

"See, my plan would have worked perfectly!" Ayame's loud voice efficiently cut through the moment, and they pulled apart as he sighed dejectedly, "It's a shame you had already made up."

In what may be described as a lapse in insanity versus sanity, given Ayame's peculiar personality, he suddenly sobered and placed a hand on the top of her head. He smiled and, with some affection, said, "Little Ame, all grown up."

xXx

Placing the bunch of daffodils on the table, Usagi smiled as she looked at them, their cheerful yellow petals stretching outward. She'd only been passing the flower shop on the way here. A memory gripped her, pulling her in, of a long ago day looking at all of the flowers with Mamoru, the kiss he'd dodged in front of the forget-me-nots thanks to her nosy and lovable friends.

The Xenian blossom.

The young florist had approached her; she'd been staring at the daffodils, and didn't she know they stood for honesty and forgiveness? She'd smiled then, remembering the language of flowers, forget-me-nots stood for true love. What a nostalgic moment, running into the present, into forgiveness. Usagi glanced up as Akito finally entered the room.

It had been Shigure, hadn't it? He'd come in that strange brooding mood that sometimes came over him, so unlike his usual self. He'd gently suggested that maybe she should come and visit Akito. Which must have meant that Akito wanted to see her but was too afraid or perhaps just shy to come and seek her out.

"These are for you," the silver haired girl smiled as her dark haired companion looked truly surprised, maybe even a little delighted. When had Akito ever received flowers? Just random, happy flowers? There was a brief moment of quiet when Akito went to fetch a vase and fresh water. She returned and set them in the center of the table. The yellow blooms faced downward with their weight, as though they were studying the tabletop. "How are things?"

Akito shifted and turned her eyes down, studying the tabletop as though she were one of the daffodil blooms. "Of course everything with Shigure is good; almost perfect." A wistful smile touched her face as she talked of him. How long Usagi had waited to see that smile.

She cut into Akito's going further to recount the crazy story of the camera, just to keep that smile in place a little longer. Maybe just to avoid the painful truth she knew was coming next. But it came eventually anyway.

"Everyone else is pretty much the same." Akito paused, considering. "Well, it's hard to tell with Hatori. He acts indifferent to everything as it is."

"Even I have problems understanding what Hatori is feeling," Usagi conceded, remembering again. Remembering she used to think that the stoic doctor hated her for making Yuki so sick all the time. They settled into another difficult silence.

"I don't know what to do. I feel like I should apologize, should say I'm sorry." She stopped again, her dark eyes narrowed with confusion and perhaps agony. "But that's not nearly enough. For what I've done, it isn't nearly enough. For Rin--"

Akito was shaking, but Usagi couldn't bring herself to offer any comfort. Just hearing the girl's name was like rubbing sandpaper against a raw spot on her heart, on her very soul. "Maybe it isn't enough, but maybe it's also all that you can do."

She stopped in what she wanted to say, her blue eyes fixed on the yellow daffodils, drooping, almost sad. As though they could guess that the honesty and forgiveness they stood for may be impossible here. And did honesty really go hand in hand with forgiveness? But for honesty's sake, she continued.

"It's true, Akito, that you've hurt so many, and so very deeply. Pain like that isn't easy to heal, isn't mended with just words. It takes time, so much time." The look on Akito's face was heart wrenching. Though she'd battled with her reasons for helping this sad and fragile girl, she realized then that it was true all along. She really loved Akito.

That love almost prevented her from continuing, from saying anything else because she knew it would only hurt her, and she loved her so. But the daffodils continued to occupy her vision, bowing toward the table, pleading with her to be honest.

"For some of them, Akito, there will never be enough time. Some of them will possibly never forgive you." Usagi moved around the table to enfold the now sobbing girl in her arms, trying to bring her comfort after delivering the blows herself. "But even if that's true, Akito, you have to forgive yourself. You have to move forward."

The daffodils would be pleased with her, for honesty and forgiveness. Wouldn't they?

xXx

I'm going to tell you now that I wanted to keep going. So many times during writing this chapter I thought, okay, it's over and the rest of this goes to the next chapter. But I kept going for all of you. :)

This last part is a bit odd for me. It's always a new and apprehensive experience to write scenes about Akito. I suppose it took on a life of its own, and it kind of stands apart from the rest of the chapter, or maybe even the rest of the story. But I loved it enough that it would've been too sad to remove it.

The chapter is a full 11 pages without author's notes, so be proud of me. I had fun writing this chapter, and I hope you had fun reading it!

-SachiNyoko