It may be over but it won't stop there,

I am here for you if you'd only care.

Epilogue: Angel's Laughter

"Look, Sej, there's a huge Ferris wheel!"

Yaten took a bite from his candy floss and pointed at the illuminated attraction of the autumn festival that was being held in the park near Usagi's house. It wasn't a big festival, but it was a nice one. The Japanese had fun and there were many small stalls selling sweets or offering traditional games. It was already dark and thousands of Chinese lanterns gave the park a quite romantic atmosphere. The evening air was fresh but not cold. Light wind made the trees' coloured leaves rustle like a big sea, although you could only see their golden appearance near the stall's lights.

"It's really high. I'm sure you can see Tokyo's skyline from up there." Sejya raised his head and grinned as he looked at the Ferris wheel's small cars. It looked like not more than four people could fit in one of them. Sejya would make sure that there would only be enough space for two people.

"Let's try it!" Yaten ate the rest of his candy floss and dragged the taller young man over to the Ferris wheel. It wasn't the first autumn festival he had seen in his life and it surely wasn't the first fun fair, however, it was the best he'd ever experienced. He'd already eaten two candy floss, one candied apple and a big ice cream. Besides, he could hold hand with Sejya and not even Tahiki seemed to mind.

"We'll use the Ferris wheel!" he called over his shoulder to his older brother. Tahiki raised one eyebrow and smiled when Kakyuu whispered something to him, giggling. She wore a dark red kimono with a golden obi and looked beautiful. They both looked beautiful and so incredible happy. As happy as Yaten felt.

"That's a little bit too high for us, but have fun, you two." Tahiki waved at them before Kakyuu discovered something she finally wanted to touch and no longer only see through the shadow land.

"'Course." Yaten threw the candy floss stick away and climbed before Sejya into the car, letting the other young man pay for their trip. The Ferris wheel didn't stop, because it was very slow. One turn would take them at least half an hour, which meant that they'd see the fireworks from it. Yaten couldn't think of a better place to watch it.

"The others should be down there somewhere." The young man pressed his nose against the window, but couldn't make out neither Usagi and her Inner Senshi nor Setsuna and her little family. They came together to the festival, but lost each other in the crowd and due to their different interests.

"We'll see them later at home." Said Sejya and slid a little bit closer to the younger man than was necessary. Still, they lived at the Chiba's house, but Tahiki was already looking for a new home for them to stay at until they would be able to defeat Sailor Galactica and finally go home. If they'd ever go home again. They'd lived in Japan for six years now and life wasn't so bad any longer. No, it was actually quite nice now that they had their princess back. They'd never have to stand on a stage just in order to search for Kakyuu, only to be disappointed when they hadn't found her again. Sailor Galactica was still their major enemy. A very dangerous enemy. But it would be easier to face her knowing that Kakyuu was there with them. That their princess was safe. That they actually had a chance to defeat the golden warrior.

Yes, Tahiki had started to searched for their new home. However, so far no house could live up to his expectation, because naturally they wanted to have such a cosy house that was filled with sparkling sunlight at the same time. That was quite hard to find, but they had to decide soon. Usagi had only six weeks to go and they didn't want to burden her once Chibiusa was born. Tahiki had asked Haruka and Michiru if they wanted to move in with them. Michiru agreed immediately while Haruka hesitated. Both Sejya and Yaten hoped that she'd come around and agree, as well. Life without her would be boring.

"Hai." Yaten smiled and clapped his hands when the first fireworks exploded in the dark night sky. "Look, Sej!" He wore the traditional yukata, but had decided to pull a thick pullover and jacket over it in order not to fall ill again. He had taken his last medicine only last weekend and neither of his friends nor his family wanted to see him with a high fever again. Ever.

"Isn't it beautiful, Sej?" Yaten looked at the red rose forming seemingly beside them as the little car rose slowly into the air. He turned to the other man and saw in another exploding rocket, this time a green one, Sejya's eyes sparkle. The younger man smiled as the lead singer leaned forward and took his reddened face in his hands.

"You're beautiful, little one." Whispered Sejya and kissed him gently on his forehead, on his eyelids, on his nose, on his cheeks and finally on his soft lips. The sky around them was lit up in all colours of the rainbow, but they didn't notice the fireworks any longer.

"Alone at last." Whispered Sejya when they separated to gasp for breath. Yaten giggled happily before he tried to sit on Sejya's lap. However, the car proved to be pretty small and his yukata pretty impractical.

"Guess that's not the right way to use it." He laughed as Sejya helped him to straddle his legs and touched his ticklish flesh while doing so.

"Well, I like it." He answered and knew why he had opted for his blue jeans instead. Two yukatas would have been beyond their ability to move in the small car without causing a big mess and an embarrassing scene when the persons running the Ferris wheel had to untangle them again.

"Sure you do." Yaten beamed and leaned forward to kiss his boyfriend again, this time more passionately. The fireworks were long forgotten and all that existed in their world was the other one. The person they loved.

"Let's go another round." Whispered Yaten between two kisses when the car started to sink again. Sejya pulled the younger man closer to his burning body and hugged him a little bit tighter than necessary.

"Good idea." He panted and grinned when he glanced in light green eyes that were only half opened. Silver strands looked completely messed and he knew that his dark hair didn't look any better.

"I only have good ideas, Sej."

"I know, little one." Sejya opened the younger man's yukata a little bit, only so much that they could quickly close it again, to tickle him, all the while giving him a cheeky grin. Yaten promptly burst into the light laughter he couldn't get enough of. As he couldn't get enough of his boyfriend.

"That's why I love you so much, little one." He let the smaller man grab his hands and stopped his sweet torture when Yaten leaned forward and kissed him again.

"Luv ya, too, Sej…"

They bought tickets for the next five rounds when their car touched the ground again to escape to heaven for the next hours.

For hopefully the rest of their lives.

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"Do you really think that it is okay?"

Tahiki watched his younger brothers head towards the Ferris wheel and sighed silently. He still didn't know what to do, how to react, but they seemed to be happy. As happy as he hadn't seen them in all those long years they had spent on this planet. But still… they were his little boys and they weren't supposed to kiss each other and to do only God knew what in their room at night. Or during the day. Tahiki didn't know and he didn't want to know, that's why he always knocked now and waited until one of them opened the door, or he simply sent Kakyuu to get them for dinner or when they wanted to go out to visit another house that sounded so great in the advertisement in the first place, but mostly was a big disappointed once they actually saw it.

"They love each other." Smiled Kakyuu and took his right hand to pull him to one of the stalls illuminated by many Chinese lanterns. "Trust them."

"But what if it doesn't work out? What if they'll hurt each other? What if they'll end up hating each other?" thought the tall man aloud and wanted to go over to the Ferris wheel and talk to his little brothers, but his girlfriend held him back. She took his worried face in both of her gentle hands and kissed him softly.

"They won't be, Tahiki. They'll be happy." The princess smiled at him lovingly. "Trust me if you cannot trust them."

Tahiki glanced over his shoulder, watching his younger brothers climbing into the small car and sighed resigned.

"Okay…" he whispered, still doubtful, seeing the Ferris wheel turn slowly.

"Explain to me instead what I have to do here." Kakyuu pulled him closer to the stall and pointed at the little fish swimming around in a small pond. An old man sat behind it and smiled friendly at him. He offered them little paper spoons and Tahiki gave him some money in exchange of five spoons.

"You have to catch a fish with such a spoon." He held one out to her. "But be careful for they break quite easily in the water."

"I'll try my best."

Kakyuu bowed over the pond and dipped the spoon into the water. Her face was illuminated by the Chinese Lanterns and her red kimono seemed to glow. Her blue eyes sparkled and some strands had escaped her traditional Japanese hairstyle. Little curls jumped around her shinning face whenever she moved her head. A pink lips were curved in a happy smile and right at that moment she was his Kakyuu again. The princess he fell so madly in love with. The young woman he had searched for five long years, almost six. His fiancée he still loved so much. His Kaki-chan with who he wanted to spend the rest of his life.

"I guess it's really tricky." Laughed Kakyuu when she had broken all of her five spoons and the fish were still all swimming in the small pond, certainly mocking her with their silent stares. "Let's buy some more spoons, I'd like to try it again."

She turned to her boyfriend who had the money and her blue eyes grew wide when she saw him kneeling in front of her.

"Nani?"

"Kaki-chan?" He reddened and suddenly she was fifteen again and they were in the garden of her father's castle. This time, however, Tahiki actually produced a little package and not only a single rose he had nicked from the flower bed behind him. He opened it.

"Oh, Tahiki…" She whispered when she recognized Lady Kou's most favourite ring. The princess had seen Tahiki's mother wearing it often during her visits to the king's castle.

He's taken it with him during his flight.

She gulped and tears formed in her eyes when he took her right hand to gently push the heirloom over her ring finger.

It must be his most precious possession.

You're most precious to me.

"Do you want to marry me, Princess Kakyuu?" his voice was lower than it had been seven years before, but it trembled just as much, even though he was older now, had seen a lot, had experienced more than just being the Kou heir.

"You've already asked me that question, Tahiki."

"But a lot has happened since then, Kaki-chan."

"I still love you, Tahiki. Our world might have changed, but my feelings for you never changed."

"So you do want to marry me?"

There was still some doubt in his eyes and she was determined to kiss them away. Kakyuu didn't care about her new kimono when she went on her knees and wrapped her arms around the tall man's neck to pull him close.

"Of course I do, Tahiki." She smiled as he bowed and they kissed. It was a little bit shy in the beginning, because a lot had happened, indeed, but their bodies soon remembered and their kiss grew more passionate, more intensive.

"That's what I call a proposal, Sets! Keep that in mind, because I won't accept anything under that level."

"That's awfully kitschy, Elza-chan."

"I don't care; it's romantic!"

"It's embarrassing."

"It's romantic!"

"Trashy."

"Romantic!"

They could hear their friends' voices from far away, but didn't want to break that sweet kiss. Now that they'd finally found each other they wouldn't let go so easily again. No, in fact, they would never let each other go again.

I love you, Kaki-chan.

I love you, too, Tahiki.

Above, the fireworks started, illuminating the park, as well as a very happy princess and her young lord.

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"That's wonderful."

Michiru got out of Setsuna's Mercedes and walked around the car to open the door for Haruka whose right arm was now covered with white plaster. The blonde needed some moments, but finally managed to climb out of the sport car, as well.

"Why didn't you want to bring the boys along?"

Originally, they all wanted to go to the autumn festival, but Haruka had wanted to show her something, but only her. Michiru had wanted to eat candy floss and to watch the fireworks, of course, but there was something in the blonde's look that made her not beg, but ask Setsuna instead if she could get her car since she'd be on the autumn festival together with her Elza, little Hotaru and her friends.

Right now, she stood in front of a big house that was situated right at the beach about ten miles outside of Tokyo. She could hear the sea gulls crying and the rushing of the strong waves even more clearly than she was able to from Usagi's house.

"I wanted you to approve, first." Haruka climbed up the few steps and fished a key out of her dark jeans. The door opened and she stepped aside, letting Michiru inside.

"You already talked to the landlord to get a key?" Michiru was baffled from the sight in front of her. Haruka didn't switch on the light, but she didn't need to. The full moon shinning through the huge windows showed her the way. There was a big staircase leading up to the first floor.

"The bedrooms and two bathrooms are upstairs." Explained Haruka and walked straight over to what surely was the living room. Michiru followed her, all the while looking around, imagining her photos hanging on these walls, showing her friends, the Three Lights and, of course, Haruka. In Japan. In America. Maybe in China and in Europe, as well, one day. Hopefully.

Oh. My. God.

Michiru stopped on the threshold of the next room. It wasn't the living room. It also wasn't the kitchen as she would have expected the room with the best view on the ocean to be. A door did lead out to a terrace, but the rest of the room was different from any room she had ever seen. All three walls consisted of glass and the moon shone through a ceiling that was made out of probably unbreakable glass, as well. The bedrooms, the living room, the kitchen and all the other rooms seemed to be part of the main house whereas this room was a special part, certainly added.

"That's perfect." Whispered Michiru and stepped slowly into the room. She could only imagine what the room must look like in bright sunlight. It was the most wonderful room she'd ever seen, even in the night. A grand piano stood in one corner and Michiru saw that it was black when Haruka walked over to it and pulled away the awning. However, what caught Michiru's eye immediately was the violin lying in an opened case next to it. It was slightly covered with dust but otherwise in a good condition, nothing a good musician couldn't repair again, and Michiru was a good musician.

"There are automatic blends to cover the glass if it gets too bright or too hot." Explained Haruka, clearly unimpressed by the expensive instruments.

"That's a Stradivarius!" gasped Michiru after she had blown away some of the dust. Puzzled, she looked up, but Haruka was already walking back to the door, clearly wanting to show her the rest of the house.

"I thought my mother was the only one in Japan who owned such an instrument." She had inherited it to her daughter after her death and Michiru had only seen a second one during their tour through America.

"Do you think the Three Lights would like this house?" Haruka walked quickly through the hall and Michiru had to hurry to hold up with her. "I mean, Sejya-kun and Yaten-chan are begging Tahiki-san all the time to give some concerts again, because it would be more fun now that they don't have to search for Kakyuu-san any longer."

"Are you joking? They'd absolutely love it." Michiru glanced quickly into the big kitchen and the huge living room that could be so cosy with a fire burning in a nice fireside. "This is the house of a musician, isn't it?"

"Yes." Nodded Haruka while they finally climbed the staircase to the first floor. The bedrooms were smaller than the huge rooms downstairs, but there were enough for all of them. It was very convenient that there were two bathrooms, one for the boys to mess it up and one for the girls to use hours in it to get ready for a concert or a date.

"This is absolutely fantastic, Ruka." Michiru's eyes sparkled and she spreat her arms to include the entire house in her praise. "Where did you find it? Did we miss an advertisement or was it in a magazine Tahiki-san didn't buy?"

Haruka turned back to her and looked at her for a moment in silence. Then, she opened the door left to her and indicated her with a nod of her head to enter. Michiru frowned but did as she was told. It was the smallest room she had seen this evening. The window was facing towards the sea and she could see the red and green lights of the far away fireworks exploding somewhere above the beach.

"What did you…" Michiru's voice faded as a small musical clock started to play. It was integrated into the ceiling and cast dancing stars and moons in the shapes of the full and the half moon onto the walls, the soft carpet and a small cradle standing in the middle of the room. A small teddy bear was enthroned on a small pillow. Both looked as if they had never been used.

Nani? A child's room in this house?

Michiru frowned and glanced back at Haruka who leaned against the door frame, staring determinedly at her own feet. She had wrapped her healthy arm around her broken one. Her face was covered in deep shadows.

We don't need a child's room. At least not now and even if Tahiki-san and Kakyuu-chan will one day…

Michiru's eyes grew wide in sudden realization.

"That's his room, isn't it?" she whispered and looked around in the small room that had been furnished with so much love. Such a long time ago. "That's little Akito's room, isn't it?"

Haruka didn't move and Michiru thought that she hadn't heard her questions. Then, however, she answered in a very soft voice.

"Hai. That's my parents' house. This was the place we stayed when they were in Japan, because Tokyo's been my mother's birthplace."

"So you want to live here?" asked the young violinist and stroked over the cradle's soft duvet cover.

"No. Yes." Haruka sighed deeply. "I don't know, but since you guys look for a house and this one was built by and for musicians I thought it might be good enough for you."

"It's perfect and you know that." Michiru stepped over to the blonde and caressed through a mop of blond hair, gently forcing the taller woman to look into her eyes. "But we don't want to live here without you, Ruka."

"It would be a waste to let it stay empty." She slightly shook her head and leaned into Michiru's soft touch. "But I don't know if I'm ready to live here."

"Then we'll take another house. We'll find something else, Ruka; Tokyo's big." Michiru smiled understanding at her and went on her toes to tenderly kiss her. "You don't have to stress yourself."

As long as you stay with me.

"Still!" Haruka gently pushed Michiru aside and walked back to the staircase. She sat down on the first step to stare down in the dark entrance hall, seeing the shadows of her parents coming home. Again, she saw her father coming back from a concert in Tokyo's opera hall, saw a small girl jumping into his arms, laughing when she was swirled around by him, just like a little airplane. Again she watched her mother opening the door, holding a small bundle proudly in her arms, pointing at the music room's direction while talking to her new born son, smiling the entire time.

"It doesn't matter where we live, Ruka." Said Michiru softly who had followed her and now stood beside her on the staircase. "But please don't leave us." The young violinist gulped softly and stretched her arm towards the blonde, but could not reach, could not touch her. "Don't leave me, Haru-san, because I love you."

Now it was out.

Now she had said it finally out loud.

"I love you, no matter if you'll ever want to take that henshin again or not, and I want you to be in my life and not to disappear again."

Haruka blinked when she heard those quietly spoken words. She turned her head and looked at Michiru, saw blue eyes sparkling in the full moon's light like diamonds.

"I love you, too…" she whispered and wanted to say so much more, but her voice died away when she saw the shadow running through the hall behind the young woman. It was clearly Sejya for he wore his infamous red pyjamas she would have recognized everywhere. His hair was also messed. The young man yawned widely and rapped impatiently at the bathroom's door. It opened and Yaten peered through the crack. He grinned as he stole the towel that hang over Sejya's right shoulder to wave it like a flag in the air while he ran along the hall. His hair was still wet and he only wore his bathrobe. Yaten laughed madly, although Haruka couldn't hear him. He jumped right through Michiru and down the stairs, all the time being chased by a laughing Sejya.

The blonde watched them running towards the kitchen. Right at that moment, the door was opened and Tahiki stepped inside. A little girl stumbled towards him and he went on his knees to take the toddler into his wide opened arms. Her hair was as red as her mother's and bobbed on her small shoulders in two pony tails as she cuddled closer to her daddy's embrace.

Soft music suddenly filled the air and Haruka saw Michiru emerging from the music room. She held her violin case in her left hand and car keys in her right. She wore the long white dress that always seemed to make her float. Her sea green hair was put together in her neck and the diamond earrings in the shape of little dolphins sparkled almost as brightly as the ring on her left hand, even though Haruka had never seen her wearing any jewellery before. The young violinist smiled up to her and waved at her to come down.

-Let's get going, Ruka, or we'll be late for our concert.-

-Yes, love.-

Haruka watched herself hopping down the stairs, pushing the white cowboy hat on her back while she was still buttoning up her dark shirt. Michiru welcomed her at the bottom and kissed her tenderly.

-Is Aiko-chan already asleep?-

-Yes, I guess Sets has to work hard to write good children books, because it's only Hime-chan who likes her stories about alien princesses.-

They both giggled in amusement. Then, they were gone.

"Ruka?"

The blonde blinked and turned back to the young woman still standing next to her, looking at her with so much love and longing in her deep blue eyes, holding her hand towards her as if she wanted to touch her but couldn't reach her.

Haruka swallowed, thinking of what she had just seen. She could have this life. With them. With my Michi-chan.

All she had to do was to go over to this beautiful woman in front of her and let their future happen.

Haruka rose and took Michiru's hand.

And maybe she would do just that.

And I love you, I swear that's true.

I cannot live without you.

(End)