Raina sighed deeply as she walked along the edges of the Temple's garden. It was the first time in almost a week or more that she had been able to get some free time to herself. She scowled a little at the ground wondering if this was a tactic by the Shitennou - or even that shifty Priest, Helios, to keep her busy.
"Though," She stopped in front of an old gnarled tree and looked up through it's branches, "What else should I be doing? It's not like there is anything I can do."
The thought was depressing as she realized just how out of her depth she was. This was ..well.. magic and it was something everyone around her possessed, yet she lacked. She bit her lower lip feeling even more frustrated about it all. Zoisite's comments hadn't made it better either.
"If only I could rub that smug smile off his face!" She huffed and trudged along the passed where she was supposed to stay. She just wanted to get as far away from this place as she could without getting lost. Which was far easier said than done.
Raina found herself lost in a maze of trees and crystals with only the animals of this place to be of any company. Her shoulders sagged as she plopped down at the foot of a tree, miserably wondering if Kunzite was going to treat her like a child. "Which I'm not. I have the right to wander wherever I want!"
She hated that her conscience voice- which sounded suspiciously like him, told her that she could if she knew where she was going in the first place.
"Augh, I have to get back somehow..." Raina glanced left then right and then back again. She wasn't sure she could retrace her steps well, but she figured she should try.
After a moment, she heaved herself up and started back to where she came from. Again, her mind didn't remain quiet as she began to puzzle over other things that had swiftly become even more strange as of late. The Priest, she was certain, was being more...friendly towards her. She wasn't sure what to think of that.
"If Mamoru were here," She muttered, "I bet he'd tell me to give the guy a chance. I don't know..." Thinking about her husband and child- for the first time after days of being too exhausted to think of much of anything- she felt the pinpricks of tears. Blinking rapidly, she hoped to keep them from forming and falling. Tears wouldn't help the people she love at all. Tears won't save anything.
Sniffling, she breathed in sharply, trying to ease herself out of her own distress. No, it won't help it if she loses it. It never helped before, it sure won't help now.
Think, Rain, think! She forced herself to stop moving and organize her mind, What else is going on that's weird. Focus on that and everything else will be all right.
She thought back and recalled something, "That's right..the Maenards were acting weird a couple of days ago...What was up with that?"
It was true, they had disappeared into the forests for at least a day or two, doing something Helios had said was a ritual of sorts but he had been vague about what.
"Not that he's ever clear about anything." She turned around for the third time, pondering which way to go, " I really need to find a way into that shrine without him knowing..."
Just then, a small but bizarre looking creature shuffled passed her, nearly scaring her witless.
"What the-?" Raina wasn't even sure what that thing was. It was a strange colorful bird that resembled a kiwi bird but with a strange catlike tail with a spike at the end. "What are you?"
The creature- no bigger than a large cat to be sure- looked up at her and she could see it had deep amber eyes. What was more surprising was that it spoke.
"Come, mortal woman." It's voice sounded quite masculine in her mind and she found herself almost unable to do anything by that. "Come away with me, mortal woman. I have what you seek."
Raina was indecisive, looking from the path she had tried to follow back and to the strange animal that beckoned her. Worrying her lip again, she wondered if this was a good idea but her mind countered with what else did she have to lose?
Breathing out, she nodded and followed the strange creature deeper into the forest.
Mamoru found himself quickly adapting to his new schedule and routine now. Though he knows it's temporary, he also found himself enjoying some of the time he spent with each of the women. It was obvious, of course, that he would bond well with Mercury, who's name he learned was Ami. They had much in common with their interest in medicine though in different divisions. Even though she was to help him study the layout of the kingdom and other minor things, they often end up talking about theories and what could work with the current technology that both Earth and the Moon could benefit from.
Makoto, the one who was called Jupiter, was pretty easy going and it was almost startling that they had a few things in common. Aside from both being orphans, they both had their fair share of recipes they loved to cook. Often times, after an hour of training and sparring, they would meet up in the kitchens of the palace to figure out more and different ways to cook. Though he was good, Mamoru didn't think he could top her on some of her dishes.
Despite his affinity for the first two, Mamoru found that the latter two of the group were somewhat distant. Though, he had often told himself what should he have expected?
With Rei, the one known as Sailor Mars, she hadn't been as easy to get to know but the hours of meditation offered some kind of bond. Though he knew he'd never be close to her as he was with Ami or Makoto but he respected her as he did with the others. Though, with her, he found himself more reluctant to do these spiritual exercises as they relied heavily on allowing himself to be open and to pull from his past life to unlock more of his powers that had long been since dormant. Part of him resisted it and yet.. He couldn't deny it was part of who he was, even if he struggled to accept it.
Venus, or rather Minako as he was told, was even more harsh in a way. While his skills were becoming better, she still wiped the floor with him every time. The only time he had ever gotten the drop on her was when she was seemingly distracted for a second. Otherwise, they never really talked, and she seemed to keep to herself for the most part.
Now that he thought about it, Mars and Venus were always together whispering about something. He wasn't so sure if he needed to know, but he knew Raina would completely warn him about them. She was always onto him about being so trustful.
Thinking about her and their daughter now, even as he sat with Serenity- or rather Usagi- in the tea room watching her daughter play, he couldn't help but feel conflicted. Part of him felt that this was right and the other part.. The other part longed to return to the days of ignorance with his own family. He wondered a little why this happened. Queen Serenity's Hologram had mentioned something about fate in one of her gushing moments about him and Serenity in their past lives.
He can't help but wonder if Fate had anything to do with this.
"En-I mean, Mamoru?" Serenity glanced over at him.
It took him a moment to force his thoughts away and respond, "Yes?"
"I was wondering.." She trailed off for a moment. He could see that she wanted to say something though he wasn't sure what it was. Now that he thought about it, lately she always seemed so pensive and uncertain when they were alone. He often wondered if it was because of the political things that a ruler must do. "You see-"
Before she could say anymore, the door slammed open and Jupiter is out of breath, "You have to come! You won't believe what just happened!"
Alarmed, the two looked between themselves before scrambling to their feet, following the tall senshi out of the room.
Thrill and dread coursed through him as he ran behind Jupiter. It could be anything that happened and he could take part. Still, he glanced back, seeing Serenity having a somewhat difficult time keeping up. Without a thought he grabbed her hand to help her keep up with Jupiter.
Even as they skidded around the corner, he couldn't help but feel the familiarity of this situation. They've done this before- they've done more than this and yet..
"Here!" Jupiter pushed open the doors to a medical wing where the other three women with two advisers, stood in front of something, "You won't believe it!"
"What?" Serenity panted, catching her breath, "What's happened?" She also noted, while walking towards them, that Mamoru hadn't let go of her hand yet. It warmed something inside of her, even though she knew she shouldn't. She just couldn't help it. "Why- Oh...oh my!"
Laying on the bed, sleeping deeply, was Nijiko. The child looked a bit pale and thin but otherwise seemed unscathed. She made a face in her sleep but seemed peaceful enough.
Mamoru let go of Serenity's hand moving quickly to his child's bedside, "Niko!" He brushed his daughter's dark hair back, "Niko, please, wake up!" His eyes went from her to Ami, "Anything wrong with her? How-"
Though a bit puzzled, Ami could only offer a smile to him. "She's fine, though a bit malnourished and dehydrated, but otherwise there's nothing that my scans can find wrong with her physically or any other dark energies. It would seem as if Nehellenia let her go."
"But why?" Venus frowned in thought, "It doesn't make sense. Why would she take her and then let her go so many days afterwards?" She turned to Mars, "Do you sense anything?"
Briefly, Mars closed her eyes and concentrated for a while but only sighed as she opened them, "Nothing. Not even a whisper."
"I guess that's good." Jupiter was also uneasy but was more than willing to get past this, "Do you think she'll wake up soon?"
"Perhaps." Mercury said typing away on her tiny computer, "It'll be a while, but for the time being, she'll have to stay here for observation."
Venus nodded, "Alright, so the rest of us should get back to our duties and try to locate where Nehellenia's mirror went. If it's still here."
As they filed out, with only Mercury going to check the results of the other tests in another room, Serenity watched Mamoru. He didn't move from his daughter's side and stayed brushing her hair back. She wanted to say something but stopped herself. She shouldn't intrude on this. After all, he had just been reunited with his child.
Instead, the moon queen retreated out the door, sparing only a glance towards the man before slipping out. She felt odd, a weird sort of feeling she hadn't experienced in a while. Was it because of that child? It can't be. She wasn't going to feel anything negative about such a miraculous return.
She won't.
Swallowing she looked down at her feet and was surprised at the one teardrop that fell. Her cheeks flushed angrily as she rubbed it away. No! She will not be like this. She won't be Beryl.
She won't!
Biting her lower lip, she strode away from the medical wing and to her room, passing Luna as she went.
"Your majesty-?" Luna was puzzled by the queen's behavior. Something was amiss..? Turning into her cat form, she chased the queen down and slipped inside the room before the door shut. "Neo Queen Serenity?"
The woman on the snowy white bed didn't respond, only hiding her face in her pillow. Luna's ears picked up the sounds of quiet sobbing. Turning back into her human form, she moved over to the bed and touched her charge's shoulder. "Usagi? What's wrong? Why are you crying so?"
Makeup smudged, eyes shimmering with tears, Serenity looked up at her long time friend. "Luna, I'm horrible!" She sniffed, "I'm not fit to be a queen like this!"
"What do you mean? Of course you are! You're the rightful heir to the throne as is your daughter and-"
"That's just it!" Serenity sat up, hugging the pillow to her body tightly,"I'm a liar and I can't even believe this, but I'm jealous of that little girl!" She looked away from Luna, feelingboth embarassed and ashamed of it. " She hasn't even been back for an hour and I..I feel awful."
Luna sighed softly, turning the queen back to face her, "Usagi, you're a person. People have the right to their feelings but I believe that you are rightfully the queen of this world. No matter hwo you feel, your actions speak louder than anything else. It's all right to feel negative emotions, that will not hurt anything but never act on them." She looked around and found a tissue, handing it to the queen, "If you wish to relieve what you feel, perhaps it's time you told the truth about Chibiusa? That he is her father as well?"
"What would that do?" Serenity dabbed her eyes, " He can't be a father to both of them if he lives on Earth. He has a life there and a wife..." She trailed off, "I think, no I know it is best to not tell him of this. It's best if Chibiusa doesn't know either."
Luna watched her for a moment, "Are you certain?"
"Yes."
There was a soft sound by the door causing both women to turn and look but saw nothing there. "Must be one of the servants." Luna guessed before getting up, "I'll have your lunch brought to you here."
"Thank you, Luna." Serenity offered her a watery smile, "You really are a true a friend."
Cheeks flushed from exertion, Chibiusa slowed her pace finally as she headed into her playroom where her friend, Diana, was playing with some dolls.
She couldn't believe what she'd heard! She also couldn't believe her Mama was keeping such a secret!
"Mamoru is... my papa?"
It was such a weird thought to have and yet she found herself smiling a bit as she went to play with Diana. After all, if Mamoru is her Papa, that would mean Nijiko was her sister for real!
Then it would mean they both get to stay on the moon too. The thought made her extremely happy, after all, what could be so bad about that? Though, she wondered why her Mama won't tell Mamoru that he's her Papa? Didn't they always say that being honest is what good people do? It was starting to become a bit more complicated as she thought about it. Would that mean her Mama was bad and Luna too?
No, her Mama was good and from what Chibiusa could tell, now that Nijiko was back, if she told Mamoru maybe it'll keep her Mama from being upset with Nijiko- for..whatever reason.
She smiled to herself, putting four dolls together- a black haired male doll and a white haired female doll. She giggled to herself.
Now she really would have the best family ever!