Fourteen Days with my Family by Hotaru Tomoe.
Chapter Nine: Sunday II.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Sailor Moon characters. And you'll probably want to read my stories Family Ties and Parent-Teacher Day for this chapter to make a bit more sense.
The day we'd been waiting for was finally here; the wedding of Dr. Kazuyuki Mori and Miss Sakurada Haruna.
A little background here, Miss Haruna was the teacher who assigned the first report on my family that I did last year. She is also one of my favorite teachers and a good friend of my parents. Before she moved to my middle school, she worked at the middle school that Usagi, Ami, and Makoto attended.
She met Dr. Mori under less than ideal circumstances. You see during my first year of middle school, three years ago (yes Ami I am studying for my High School entrance exams) Setsuna-mama and I were in a car accident. We were driving home from the movie theatre when we were hit by a drunk driver. Setsuna-mama sustained a broken arm, while I sustained a broken arm, leg, a few ribs, and a concussion that put me in a coma for nearly three months. It was a very trying time that nearly tore our family apart since Setsuna-mama felt responsible for what happened and was ready to leave and go back the Gates of Time forever. But my family rallied together and I came out of the coma and made a full recovery. And the man who hit us was put in jail where he still is today.
Dr. Mori was Setsuna-mama's attending physician. He met Miss Haruna when Haruka-papa and Michiru-mama were visiting Setsuna-mama and I at the hospital. Miss Haruna had come to see me and had bumped into them coming out of the elevator. The story they tell me is that the two of them collided and she dropped the bouquet she'd been carrying. He apologized profusely and picked it up and handed it back to her. Michiru-mama introduced them and she told me that the two seemed to be smitten with one another right away. They ran into one another during a few more of her visits, and one day he asked her out for coffee and it went from there. They'd been dating for over six months by the time my parents went to parent-teacher day and I'd made a full recovery. This was just after the events in my first report, the carefully edited version which I got an A for. The following night after the interview he proposed to her and she said yes, which leads us to today.
Their wedding was held in a nice little chapel near the river and attended mostly by their family and friends and several of Miss Haruna's former students. It was a fabulously beautiful day for a wedding as well, sunny, hardly a cloud in the sky, and not too hot.
The five of us dressed in our 'Sunday best', a navy blue suit and a somewhat colorful tie for Haruka-papa, a short sleeved aquamarine dress with knee-length skirt for Michiru-mama, a garnet colored jacket and skirt with a white blouse for Setsuna-mama, a gold and red dress we'd found for Hoshiko the other day, and a long-sleeved purple dress for me. We made sure we had everything, cameras, gifts, tissues, etc, before heading out in Haruka-papa's car.
Slight digression: if you remember last year's report, we'd gone to Michiru-mama's parents' wedding anniversary and I think you know how that went. This year they didn't need much convincing to go on an anniversary cruise.
We pulled into the chapel's parking lot and saw that there was a good crowd there already. Luckily Miss Haruna had arranged things that we'd be sitting near the front along with Usagi and the others.
"Hi guys!" Speaking of Usagi, she'd managed to beat us here along with Mamoru, her parents, Kenji and Ikuko, along with her younger brother Shingo, and Luna as well.
"Hello Usagi, Luna, and its nice to see you here as well Mr. and Mrs. Tsukino, and Shingo too of course." Michiru-mama replied as we bowed to them.
"Please, feel free to call us Kenji and Ikuko. We've known each other for a long time now." Mr. Tsukino replied.
"Of course Kenji, please forgive us." Setsuna-mama said.
"Hello Hotaru, it's good to see you again." Mrs. Tsukino smiled as she hugged me. I'd always liked Mrs. Tsukino ever since I met her, and she went out of her way to make me feel welcome when I went to their home. She'd always been concerned with my health and was quite happy to know that I am far stronger physically than I was when we first met.
Mr. Tsukino greeted me warmly as well. I don't know him as well as Mrs. Tsukino, but he's a really nice guy, although he's as overprotective towards Usagi and Shingo as Haruka-papa is to me. It's a good thing but it can get embarrassing sometimes.
Shingo's gotten a bit better since we first met. He isn't as much of a brat as he used to be, although Usagi vehemently disagrees with me. He doesn't bug me and the others like he used to. Granted Haruka-papa and Makoto stuffing him in the closet or the laundry hamper a few times might have helped.
"And you must be Hoshiko whom Usagi has been telling us about." Mr. Tsukino said as he and Mrs. Tsukino went up to her. She smiled warmly and shook hands with both of them. I had to laugh a bit when I noticed Shingo staring at her in awe. I imagine that he thought that she looked like one of the supermodels in the magazines that Usagi told me he had 'secretly' stashed in his room. Mrs. Tsukino nudged him a bit and he managed to stammer out a greeting. Hoshiko laughed politely.
We started to head into the chapel and ran into Ami, her Mom, Makoto, Minako, Rei, and Artemis. Rei's Grandpa was a bit under the weather and couldn't come, while Minako's parents couldn't make it for whatever reason. All of us went in and were directed towards the pews that were reserved for us. Along the way we waved to Kimyo and her Mom who were sitting a few rows behind us. We'd hook up at the reception. I saw several of my classmates, and Usagi talked quickly with her old friends Naru Osaka and Umino Gurio.
On the other side of the chapel, I saw several people whom I guessed were Dr. Mori's friends, family, and most likely his fellow doctors. I'd only met him a few times after I came out of my coma, but he was a great guy and he and Miss Haruna loved each other so much. We quickly settled into our seats, our group in front, with Usagi's family and Ami's Mom behind us. Soon after that the wedding started.
This was actually their second wedding. Last week they held a very traditional Japanese wedding at a temple near Dr. Mori's hometown, Hiroshima. It was attended only by members of their respective families. Miss Haruna told us that it was a very beautiful experience. She'd given me a picture of her and Dr. Mori in their kimonos as a keepsake.
This wedding was more of a traditional western wedding. A priest came up and welcomed all of us and said a few words before the groom and his party came out. Dr Mori was flanked by his brothers and his best friend, all doctors. Soon after that the organist began playing 'Here comes the Bride.'
A young flower girl, Miss Haruna's niece came out first, followed by her nephew, the ring bearer. They were followed by the Bridesmaids, her younger sister acting as Maid of Honor and a pair of her closest friends and fellow teachers. One was Higure Akiyama (Usagi's former home economics teacher), and another teacher from my school. Then Miss Haruna came out with her Uncle who was giving her away. She was wearing a beautiful white wedding gown that Setsuna-mama had designed and Miss Akiyama had created for her. She looked absolutely radiant, and more than a bit nervous, as she approached the altar. She went up and took Dr. Mori's hand, he whispered something that made her giggle until the pastor cleared his throat and the wedding began in earnest.
I chanced a look at my parents and the others. Michiru-mama was crying a bit and snuggling up to Haruka-papa while Usagi was doing the same with Mamoru. Setsuna-mama smiled and clasped my hand and I did the same with Hoshiko who had a sad look on her face. She looked at me and smiled a bit. Minako, Rei, Ami, and Makoto all had smiles and dreamy expressions. Luna was rolling her eyes a bit as Artemis was crying and burying his face in Minako's lap.
Finally after they had exchanged vows, the pastor asked 'if there was anyone who objected to this union let them speak now or forever hold their peace.' Haruka-papa and Makoto looked around the chapel as if they were daring anyone to do so, which earned them a gentle nudge from Michiru-mama and Ami respectively. I noticed Miss Haruna's Mom in the front row doing the same. Seeing as no one objected the pastor continued.
"Then by the power invested in my by our lord God, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Several flashbulbs went off as Dr. Mori proceeded to do just that.
We all watched as the newly married couple walked down the aisle together. There was a bit of shuffling going on in our pew as the rest of us tried desperately to disavow the four drama queens at the end of our pew. We had moved over so much that I was now in Haruka-papa's lap while Ami was in Makoto's. Each of us silently agreed that the strange foursome at the end of the pew would not be invited to our own weddings.
"They look so beautiful!" Usagi, Minako, Michiru-mama, and Artemis all wailed together. Sigh, we don't know them.
Soon we were gathered outside again as the bride and groom made their way to the car with all of us cheering, tossing rice, and wishing them well. The two posed for pictures beside the limo that would take them to the reception and then it was time for Mrs. Mori to throw the bouquet. Most of the ladies gathered in a group in anticipation of catching it. Haruka-papa, Ami, Luna, Artemis, and I, along with a few others stood aside to watch the fun. Hoshiko was even getting into the spirit of things as she stood beside Setsuna-mama and Michiru-mama near the front of the group.
"Everybody ready?" Mrs. Mori shouted.
"Yeah!"
"All right then! On three. One. Two. Three!" With that she tossed the bouquet into the crowd and an impromptu volleyball game ensued. Beside me Haruka-papa laughed and filmed the whole thing as the bouquet was batted around until it flew upwards again and landed into someone's unsuspecting hands. You'll never guess whose.
"HOTARU!" Aww, you guessed. I heard Haruka-papa, Ami, Luna, and Artemis loose it completely beside me as I stared at the flowers in my hands. My face was so red at that moment you could have mistaken me for a stoplight. I looked up slowly and saw the others glaring at me. I swallowed, grinned and offered the bouquet to Michiru-mama or Usagi who were at the front of the crowd. Everyone laughed a bit and the crowd dispersed. With a cheery wave the happy couple and a few others got into the first limo and sped off for the reception. Soon the rest of us got into our respective vehicles and headed for the reception.
The reception was being held at a nice hotel in downtown Tokyo, not the same hotel from last year though. That would've been too creepy. Anyway we parked in the underground garage and headed upstairs where the receptionist directed us to the ballroom where the reception was being held.
We could hear music from down the hall as we approached and Kimyo and her Mom were just heading in as we approached. Soon we were seated at adjoining tables. My family, Hoshiko, Kimyo, her Mom, Ami, Dr. Mizuno, Makoto and I were at one table, while Usagi, Rei, Minako, Mamoru, Naru, Umino, and Usagi's family were at the other. Luna and Artemis were snuck in via their 'owners' large handbags. We were each given a small menu to choose from along with a glass of water and our choice of beverage and we were soon settling in.
A short time later the speeches and toasts began. Unlike the anniversary party from last year, these speeches, well it was more like a roast to be honest, were quite entertaining. Dr. Mori's best man, his older brother, regaled us with a funny story of his brother's first year in medical school where he pulled more than a few pranks on his baby brother, while a few others praised both of them for their hard work and dedication. Both the bride and groom said a few words as well. Mrs. Mori even added a joke promising that all of her students, both past and present, would be receiving extra credit for showing up, provided they handed in an essay on it next week. Once a teacher, always a teacher I guess.
Finally after the speeches and a great lunch, the music began playing and Mr. and Mrs. Mori stepped out to the floor to the tune of 'Annie's Song'. After that several other couples including Usagi and Mamoru and Michiru-mama and Haruka-papa went out onto the floor as well.
After Kimyo went over to chat with a few of our other classmates, I turned and saw Hoshiko sitting there staring off into space with a sad expression.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"I am all right little one." She replied as she sipped her water. "I am thinking of things that happened long ago."
"Like what?"
"Many years ago when I was the guardian of my home galaxy, I was actively courted by many people. Kings and Princes, the wealthy and powerful, many sought my hand in marriage." She smiled a bit at that. I envied her a bit, she is a very beautiful woman and I could picture many would-be suitors lining up to try their luck.
"It sounds like a fairy tale come true." Minako sighed as she, Rei, Ami, Makoto and Setsuna-mama listened in.
"It was I suppose." Hoshiko agreed. "But there was one man who had captured my heart. He was a humble architect who had designed several of my world's most beautiful buildings. He had designed palaces, churches, a few homes, and a few hospitals as well. I met him when a painting I had done was going to be put on permanent display in a building he had designed."
"Wait a moment, you can paint?" Rei asked.
"Yes during that time I liked to relax by painting the seashores of my world, much like Michiru does. I was regarded almost as highly for my artistic accomplishments as I was for my fighting skills." Hoshiko replied. "I went to the reception at the building, a school for the arts, where my painting was put in prominent display. As I looked around I saw this incredibly handsome man standing with the city elders admiring my painting. The city leaders saw me approach and they thanked me for my generous donation. I barely heard them as I was transfixed by his deep blue eyes and handsome face. He was staring as intently at me as I was at him. Finally one of the elders stopped his speech and noticed us. He smiled and introduced the two of us."
"What happened then?" Minako asked breathlessly.
"He smiled warmly at me and asked if I was the one who painted the picture we were looking at. I told him that I was and said; 'The beauty of the painting is only surpassed by the beauty of the artist herself.' I could feel my head go light at this I assure you."
"Aww, that's so romantic." The rest of us said together. Hoshiko laughed and continued. Usagi and Mamoru had rejoined us while Usagi's parents, Kimyo's Mom, and Dr. Mizuno had gone up to chat with the bride and groom. Shingo was off talking with some people he knew so no one was listening in.
"We shared a wonderful meal together that night, and promised that we would meet again. We had several 'dates' as you call them as time and circumstances allowed. We were soon well in truly in love and thinking about marriage. I was also ready to conceive a child and heir." Her smile disappeared and tears began falling from her eyes as she spoke. "Then Chaos came."
"No." Ami whispered. We all feared for what was about to happen.
"I fought Chaos many times over several months and was getting nowhere. What was worse it seemed to be getting stronger. I fought with every ounce of my being, drawing strength from my love, but it was not enough. Finally I tried one final, desperate gambit. I trapped Chaos within me thinking that my power and my will would keep it sealed forever. I was such a damned fool and soon others would pay for my hubris." The room seemed to grow cold at her words and she struggled to keep from breaking down completely.
"I felt the monster's influence grow daily but I tried to ignore it. Gods I was so stupid! My love tried to comfort me and it worked for a short time, but the creature was continually whispering in my thoughts, telling me hateful, ugly things. I ignored them as well, but then it started to make me doubt my love. It told me that my lover was unfaithful and should be punished. I refused to listen but it hammered me relentlessly, never ceasing. I tried to deny it until the pain grew unbearable. Then one day I came home to find him sitting down to tea with another woman. I felt a sudden overpowering rage fill me and I started shouting wild accusations at him. He tried to deny them but I was beyond reasoning, the creature was taking over. The woman was crying and begging me to stop, but I struck her. My love demanded that I stop, but I laughed. 'Here is the penalty for unfaithfulness!' I screamed, and destroyed them both."
"Oh my God no." Mamoru whispered.
"Who was the woman?" I asked.
"It was his sister. I had just destroyed the man I loved and his sister. I wanted to die right there but the creature would not let me. They became my first victims, the first of many before I was finally freed of the monster's influence." She smiled as Usagi hugged her tightly. "But it does not erase the guilt I feel. Or the pain of their loss."
"Hoshiko." Usagi began. "You weren't responsible for what happened. It was Chaos that made you do those things. You will be carrying that burden of guilt with you for a long time, but as long as you don't let it consume you, you'll be fine. And keep the good memories of your love alive, for they are truly precious. And remember; you will always have friends to help you share your burden and help ease your pain no matter what. You will never be alone."
Hoshiko was crying as she hugged Usagi. "Thank you my friend. Thank all of you."
"Hey, what's going on?" A voice cut in. We turned and saw Mrs. Mori coming up to us along with Michiru-mama and Haruka-papa. We introduced Hoshiko and apologized a bit, telling her that her fiancé had died in an accident a few years ago. A slight lie but Mrs. Mori seemed to buy it as she placed a sympathetic hand on Hoshiko's shoulder.
"I am sorry to ruin your wedding with my troubles. Perhaps I should leave now." Hoshiko said.
"No, please stay. I insist." Mrs. Mori stated. "I don't know you but what I can tell you is that you won't find a more understanding, more loving group of friends than Usagi and company here. They'll stick by you through any crisis, big or small. I'm proud to know them and you should be as well. So please, just relax and enjoy yourself okay?"
Hoshiko smiled at her. "Thank you Mrs. Mori, I will try."
Mrs. Mori blushed a bit. "Just call me Sakurada, please. It's going to take me a long time to get used to being called 'Mrs. Mori'."
Hoshiko laughed. "I understand. Thank you Mrs.… I am sorry, Sakurada."
"That's better." Mrs. Mori said. Then she leaned in close to me. "Is the rest of your family like that?" She asked.
"She's from Haruka-papa's side of the family." Setsuna-mama replied. Mrs. Mori nodded in comprehension.
"You are so going to get it Setsuna." Haruka-papa growled. We laughed.
Soon Hoshiko relaxed a bit and was back to her charming and entertainingly naive self as she went back to asking all sorts of questions about rituals and customs as the party went into high gear.
"Excuse me Miss? Would you care to dance?" A tall blonde haired man asked Hoshiko. Beside him, another man asked Setsuna-mama the same question. Both of them stared at their suitors in surprise, and then developed identical starry eyed looks as they stared at the two dreamboats (Minako's words not mine. Really).
We pushed the two of them to their feet and soon they were dancing away. Luckily Michiru-mama and Setsuna-mama had given Hoshiko a few quick dancing lessons last night, not that she needed them as she seemed to be quite capable in that regard. Yes I got to dance too, even if it was with either Mamoru or Haruka-papa. I only stepped on Mamoru's feet once, honest.
After one dance a few of us were sitting at the table watching everyone else when there came a loud crash from behind us. We turned and saw that a boy of about 13 had suddenly fallen flat on his face. He turned over and started undoing his shoe laces that had been mysteriously been tied together, presumably by the dark-haired 6 year old girl who was sitting there giggling. Somehow she seemed oddly familiar and I pointed her out to a few of the others. Hoshiko just sat there and sipped her water, smiling mysteriously.
"Isn't that…?" Rei began as we looked at the girl. Her long black hair was tied in a long ponytail and her movements were vaguely cat-like as she wandered around trying to cause more mischief.
"Sailor Tin Nyanko!" Ami exclaimed. We looked harder and saw that it was indeed one of the former Animamate who served under the formerly evil Galaxia. We turned to Hoshiko who sat there looking very pleased.
"You brought her to Earth?" Makoto asked.
"No I left her Star Seed here to be reborn along with a few others to give them a second chance. By happenstance the others are here as well." She looked around the room a bit. "Ah and here is the other three now." She nodded in another direction and we followed her gaze.
I looked around and saw a young boy who looked like he desperately wanted to be somewhere else. The reason for his discomfort was a tiny little girl with white hair who was snuggling up to him. She looked like a cute little mouse with her hair done up like it was I thought, then it hit me. It was Sailor Iron Mouse, another Animamate. I turned and saw Hoshiko's nod of confirmation. Then she pointed at another table. I looked over and I saw a pretty young girl with light blue hair and a large plate of food in front of her. She was being harassed by a few older boys and one of them deliberately spilled something on her dress, causing her to cry. Most of us were about to head over to give those boys an attitude adjustment on the spot but were saved the trouble when a tall girl with long dark hair and a deep tan like Setsuna-mama's came up and chased them away. After that she came and sat beside the other girl and helped her dry her tears and clean up the mess a bit. The blue haired girl smiled warmly at the dark haired one and the two stuck together. Sailor Aluminum Siren and Sailor Lead Crow, two of the other Animamates.
Usagi smiled and placed a hand on Hoshiko's shoulder. "We'll look after them."
"I know you will." Hoshiko replied. "They deserve a second chance after everything that happened. I hope that they will be happy here."
"They will be. I'm sure of it." I assured her. She smiled gratefully.
"Well, with that settled, I think it's time for us to go home." Haruka-papa said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because Spring Break is almost over and it's time to go back to school." Setsuna-mama replied.
"Aw man. Did you have to remind me?" I groaned as I sank into my chair. My parents and Hoshiko laughed and we parted company. I went over to Kimyo who had just gotten a similar reminder from her Mom. We both sighed and went up to say our final farewells to the happy couple before heading home.
"Now remember Hotaru, I expect you to do as good, if not better on this report than you did last year." Miss Haruna said, back in full teacher mode. I groaned, thinking that I was now required to disarm a nuclear bomb while blindfolded and said as much. She laughed.
"Don't worry, no matter what your report says I'll always be proud of you." She said. I smiled and hugged her and her husband before leaving with my family.