Chapter 3: Questions

*Rei*

…The Next Day…

The fire priestess and Senshi sat across from Minako, who had already begun gathering information for her grand wedding plans. She watched as Minako flipped through image after image on her tablet and Rei felt her blood beginning to boil. She snapped, "How can you just sit there and waste your time on that wedding bullshit with this… situation!?"

Minako set the tablet to the side and slammed her hands on the table between them, "First off, my wedding is not bullshit! Secondly, you think I am happy about this? Seriously?"

Rei rolled her eyes at the blonde leader of the Inner Senshi, "If you have a problem with it then do something about it oh fearless leader!" She crossed her arms.

The Senshi of love's normally soft and caring eyes turned hard, "I tried! I argued with them for HOURS! But you know how they are when they make up their minds, especially when they are in agreement!"

The fire Senshi was about to say something, but she clamped her mouth shut when she saw her approaching. So, they had allowed her out of bed. That surprised Rei. Standing behind Minako, Serenity chuckled, "That expression Rei… Are you actually surprised to see me?"

Laughter rang out when she saw Minako go as stiff as a board and she shook her head, "I should not be Serenity. I should have known better than to think you wouldn't come and see us." She laughed again when Minako actually stuck her tongue out for a split second.

She watched as the Queen of Earth that she had seen grow from a small lady and blossom into a strong woman over the years sat down in an empty chair at the table and motioned for Minako to do so as well. Rei wondered how time had flown by so fast. As Serenity picked up Minako's tablet Rei watched Minako shift nervously. Serenity flipped through a few pictures and then handed it to Minako, "That one." That was all that she said as she did so. It made Rei almost curious enough to ask, but not quite.

Minako squealed approvingly, "You're so right Serenity! Thanks! I am going to go and show Kunzite!" The blonde dashed off without a word to Rei, which was a bit annoying.

Unable to stop herself, Rei asked, "What was that? She has such… different tastes than you Serenity."

Serenity smiled, "I pointed out the one that would have been the most embarrassing for me because I knew she'd love it." She chuckled and so did Rei. Then the queen's face became serious, "So, you have concerns about our plan Rei?"

Sitting straight up, Rei's violet eyes darken, "How can you think of going without us? It just doesn't make sense."

Shaking her head, Serenity replied, "Do you think that myself, my mother, Kiyoko, and everyone else who is going is incapable of defending ourselves?"

Rei wanted to slam her hands on the table as Minako had before Serenity had shown up. She ground her teeth, "Of course not." She heaved a deep sigh as she thought about her words. Maybe Serenity was right. Usagi had ascended to such power, Serenity and Kiyoko were both such powerful beings, and even Botan seemed quite adept at defending herself and fighting. As the thought ran through her mind a sense of sadness set in. She felt as though perhaps they no longer needed the other Senshi. She felt the hot sting of tears trying to form and she stood, bowing to Kiyoko, "Please excuse me your majesty. I just remembered that I have to meet Jadeite." She turned quickly and strode away before Serenity could protest.

A short time later, Rei stormed into Jadeite's room. He had just finished showering after a training session with the other Shitenou and was only wearing a pair of black cotton pants when Rei burst in. She was stopped in her tracks when she saw him and then he laughed. Rei turned beet red and threw the first book she could reach at him shouting, "Idiot!"

She understood his look of confusion. It was not like the inner Senshi hadn't all been intimate with their beloved Shitenou partners since their resurrection. But she was already so flustered that she didn't know what to do. He seemed to look at her with more scrutiny and came to stand in front of her, "What's wrong Rei?"

The normally hot tempered and proud Senshi couldn't deal with this feeling of uselessness and so she did something she had not done before. Rei collapsed into Jadeite's arms and cried.

*Setsuna*

The four of them sat by the giant pool and Setsuna listened as Haruka began her ranting once again. It was funny to watch Haruka and Hotaru both ranting even though she knew they would not get their way. Hiding her amusement, she sat and sipped tea with Michiru. The Senshi of the Sea seemed to have accepted things as she had. It was like Haruka and Hotaru had been tag-team ranting since this morning. She and Michiru exchanged a look as Haruka went into again.

Using big gestures and an almost growling voice, Haruka started her loop that was directed at no one in particular, "How can they do this? How can they go running off into danger all the way across the galaxy with only that Starlight and Ceres guarding them?"

Setsuna knew very well that part of Haruka meant to use the word they and part of her really meant Kiyoko. Based on the expression on Michiru's face, she knew it too. As Setsuna looked down at her tea she noticed Michiru fidgeting with the ring Haruka had given her. It was an unusual sight to say the least. Setsuna had stopped listening to Haruka's rant and so she just dove in, "Haruka, calm down. Did you forget the part about the planet they're on being suspicious of outsiders? And what would it look like if a battalion of Senshi showed up with three of the most powerful alien royalty?"

Huffing, Haruka replied, "Fine! But why them?" She crossed her arms and looked expectantly at Setsuna. She hadn't seen Haruka this outwardly upset in ages.

Just then Setsuna heard the gentle approach of someone from behind. When she looked her eyes fell on Usagi, Queen Mother of Earth and the Cosmos now, wearing an exquisite yet simple lavender dress that hit the floor. She smiled and it seemed to everything around her, "Good afternoon everyone."

Setsuna stood, as did the others. She smiled at Usagi, "Good afternoon. You don't look like you're dressed to swim. What is it you need?"

Usagi looked down at her dress and laughed, "I guess not. Actually, I would like to have a word with you and Haruka if you all don't mind." With that Hotaru and Michiru excused themselves, Michiru quickly kissing Haruka's cheek before leaving.

The Time Senshi watched as Usagi took Michiru's seat and motioned for Haruka to come and sit down. At first she hesitated and Setsuna pondered whether her old friend was capable of siting. But she finally did. She listened as Haruka addressed Usagi through gritted teeth, "What did you want to talk about Usagi?"

Pursing her lips and twitching her fingers together as she had done for as long as Setsuna could recall, Usagi replied, "Well, I understand you're upset about the plans we have made Haruka." Then she turned to Setsuna, "And I wanted to ask your opinion Setsuna."

Setsuna blinked, a bit shocked, and stumbled to reply, "You… You want my opinion? About what Usagi?" She couldn't for the life of her think of why Usagi was coming to her now. Everything was already set.

Before Usagi come respond, Haruka broke in, "Yes, I am upset Usagi. It is our duty to protect you and here you are just taking off without any of us!" Her eyes were hard like stone as she looked at the Queen Mother.

Haruka's words seemed to spark something in Usagi and she shot back, "Haruka…. You have protected me and my daughters for a long time and I am grateful. But, I am not a teenage girl you need to keep away from a pop star anymore!"

Setsuna could almost see the steam coming from Haruka's ears and she wasn't certain if it made her want to laugh or cringe. She interjected to try and redirect the conversation, "Your majesty, what is it you wanted to ask me?" Usagi opened her mouth to answer and Haruka slammed her fists on the table and stood, her blonde hair falling and covering her eyes. She didn't say anything, she just stalked off. Setsuna watched her with pity for whoever crossed her path.

Usagi stared for a minute too and then seemed to find her voice again, "She will never change, will she?"

Shaking her head, Setsuna replied, "No. She will always be the best and most stubborn soldier to serve the Silver Millennium." Then she remembered, "What did you want to ask me about Usagi?"

Turning her eyes on Setsuna, Usagi looked more like that teenage girl than the Queen Mother of Earth in that instant. With a shaky voice she asked, "Are we doing the right thing?"