Chapter 8: Family
*Michiru*
She understood the surprise in Kiyoko's expression when she saw her standing next to young Ruka. However, Michiru hadn't expected it to stop the Golden Queen dead in her tracks. As the Senshi of the Deep Sea looked at Kiyoko she too was surprised, in a way. Kiyoko looked, well, like an heir to the Silver Millennium. Her gown looked nearly identical to the one that her mother wore, but it was colored black and gold. She wore golden barrettes and a beautiful golden crown. Her signature black choker hung around her neck with a sun hanging from it as did the gold and blood red brooch that held the key to her new Senshi form. Something about it was enchanting. As Michiru thought that she also realized that Kiyoko looked even more like a sorceress today, holding her staff with an aura of power around her as well. The daughter of Tuxedo Mask wore a red rose pinned to her dress as well as one in her hair. Michiru had known Kiyoko for two centuries, Kiyoko's entire life. She had seen her step up and truly shine so many times now, yet something about this felt different. Michiru could not place it though.
Since Kiyoko had not moved an inch since she had made eye contact with Michiru, the siren of the sea went to her. She smiled and bowed slightly, "You look absolutely stunning today Kiyoko." Michiru hope this would be able to break the ice.
By the smile and blush on Kiyoko's face, it seemed she had. Michiru chuckled softly, seeing the girl she had watched grow up come back to the surface. Kiyoko looked at her with a pinched expression, "What is so funny Michiru?"
Michiru just smiled and hugged her, "The truly magical girl I love is still in there Kiyo-chan, that is all. Don't fret." She pulled back, still holding onto Kiyoko's arms.
Kiyoko nodded, still blushing, "I am the same girl I have always been Michiru." She shrugged. It made Michiru want to rap her right on the head.
Instead, Michiru took a deep breath, "No, you aren't. But that is a good thing Kiyoko. You've grown as a person. You've expanded your world. You're an amazing ruler and an excellent mother. You have even faced your darkness and found the Senshi we all knew was buried within you. Still though, I am glad my magical girl is not gone entirely."
Playing with a lock of her raven hair, Kiyoko replied, "Thank you Michiru. But I do not deserve your kind words." Michiru watched as Seiya squeezed her hand to comfort her. She hated to say it sometimes, but Seiya was truly Kiyoko's match and she was thankful. However, it was not because it meant Haruka remained with her. Michiru never wanted her that way and deep down she knew that was not why Haruka stayed beside her.
Bringing her aqua eyes to meet Seiya's, Michiru asked, "Could you give us a moment Seiya?" Seeing the look of distrust on Seiya's face, "I promise it isn't anything like that. Please?"
Michiru watched as Seiya reluctantly released Kiyoko's hand and kissed her cheek before going to join the others boarding the ship. Once she was gone, Kiyoko looked down and whispered, "I am genuinely sorry Michiru."
A sigh escaped the teal haired Senshi's lips, "Do not apologize. I cannot tell you that enough. I have told you that I understand. I mean it." She took Kiyoko's hand, "Go on. See for yourself."
She watched as Kiyoko looked at her with wide eyes, whispering, "Are you sure Michiru? I don't want you to feel like you have to do this."
Squeezing her hand, Michiru nodded, "I am certain Kiyo-chan. You need a clear head to go on this mission and I hate the idea of you thinking I harbor ill will towards you. You may never call me mama again, but I still love you very much."
Tentatively Kiyoko nodded and gripped Michiru's hand, closing her eyes. Michiru could feel Kiyoko's presence in her mind and tried to focus on the things she wanted to convey to the Golden Queen. A few minutes later, Kiyoko opened her eyes with tears in them, "Thank you Michiru. And I promise that she loves you like no one else in the universe, even me. Every time it comes down to it, we both know where we belong." Kiyoko pulled Michiru into a hug, "Now I can go and find my father. Thank you… for everything Michiru. I love you."
She hugged Kiyoko in return and then pulled back, "You are very welcome Kiyo-chan. Good luck. We will all be waiting. Good bye." Michiru bowed and kissed Kiyoko's hand before walking away, hiding the tears in her own eyes.
*Ceres*
The leader of the Asteroid Senshi lay with a strand of her carnation colored hair nervously as she sat in the co-pilot seat in the ship. She wasn't entire sure how to act around Seiya, the Starlight who would be piloting the ship to Shinsei. Of course, she also wasn't sure of how to act around her wife and Serenity's sister, Kiyoko. None of the Asteroids had ever really been certain how to act around the raven haired princess… Now Queen. It wasn't that they did not like her, more like they did not understand her. Ceres had to admit to herself that they hadn't tried very hard either. That was something she honestly regretted, but it felt like it was too late to change now.
She did not regret insisting on coming on this mission though. Ceres felt that it was her duty to be by Serenity's side when faced with this danger. She had always been frustrated by being left out of so many things by the older Senshi. They were to be Serenity's guard, but did little more than patrol for anomalies that rarely occurred. The Inner and Outer Senshi treated them like they were still children and that was not the case at all!
Unfortunately, none of them ever felt as if they could voice their complaints. Once Vesta had tried. That had not gone well. At the same time, her sister had picked the worst person to complain to. She had tried complaining to Uranus once during a combat training session. That had gotten her head bitten off and a lecture about the Dead Moon Circus. None of them had complained since. That was about ten years after their awakening in Crystal Tokyo which meant it had been two hundred and fifty years. Yet none of them had ever forgotten that day. The incident with Bugendai and Botan, when she was still in darkness, had not help their credibility either.
Serenity constantly thanked them for being there for her and for refraining from any further complaints. She spent time with them as much as she could, though that time had obviously been limited since taking the throne. Ceres understood. She had duties to attend to. And most of the time Ceres understood her choice to go to the older Senshi for advice. They were about a thousand years older than the Asteroids and they had raised her.
Still, Ceres wanted to prove that they could be trusted and depended on as well. They were not the naive girls tricked by Nehlenia. They weren't even the same Senshi that had been dooped by Bugendai's power. The four of them had made a pact and trained relentlessly since then. Ceres wanted to show everyone how far they had come.
Interrupting her thoughts, Ceres felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see her queen, her friend, Serenity. She smiled and stood, "Are we about ready Serenity?"
Serenity nodded, "We will be leaving very soon. I just wanted to come and thank you for coming with me. It means a lot." She leaned in and hugged Ceres. Ceres returned the hug and smiled, happy to serve Serenity and to have this chance.
*Seiya*
The Starlight and Estaran King waited in her quarters, pacing back and forth with her daughter watching her. Seiya was trying to decide what to say to Ruka. She was still shocked to see her daughter standing with Michiru waiting. Ruka had been so angry with the Outer Senshi because of everything surrounding her sister. Seiya was dumbfounded. Finally, she stopped and just asked, "What in the name of Selene were you doing with Michiru?"
She watched as her daughter's eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms. Seiya knew she had hit a nerve. Ruka replied, "They're still family. No matter how mad I get, that is still true! You and mama raised me that way! So what is the problem?"
Ruka's reaction made Seiya shake her head, trying to shake the image of Haruka standing in her place from her mind. How had she gotten a daughter that was so like her? Trying to focus, Seiya told her, "The problem is that they tried to tear your mother and I apart and they LIED about your sister. I am sorry if I do not understand." Her eyes stung hot with tears as she looked at Ruka.
Taking a deep breath, Ruka uncrossed her arms and looked at Seiya pleading in her eyes, "Mama needed this. If she is going to face this thing with grandpa, she needs to have as much peace of mind as possible."
There was something in what she had said that knocked the wind out of Seiya. It also reminded Seiya that Kiyoko was there in Ruka as well. She smiled weakly, "I think your mother is rubbing off on you." She paused, "I am sorry I snapped."
That is when the doors slid open and Seiya laid eyes on her wife. It was strange, Kiyoko had clearly been crying but Seiya sensed happiness in her. She smiled, "It isn't simply me Seiya. You give everything for your family and so does she." She closed the distance and kissed Seiya. Seiya could not think in that moment, lost in the bliss of Kiyoko's kiss.
However, when their daughter cleared her throat very loudly Seiya laughed. She smiled at Kiyoko and then at Ruka, "I guess it's time to get this ship in the air."