Chapter 8: Combining Souls
The Warriors were standing in the council room with Queen Serenity. "Endymion has informed you of the reasons you are truly here," she stated.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Seiji asked.
"Your futures always belonged here in the Moon Kingdom. If Amadeus told you the threat you would have done nothing but try to find the threat and you need the closeness you have with the girls to make your powers work," Serenity explained.
The five men glanced at each other. "Your relationship with the girls are important not only to gain something personally in your lives, but your powers together…together you would be invincible," she added.
"So you're saying that if we knew ahead of time we wouldn't be close to the girls as we are now," Ryo stated.
"Exactly," she answered, "Your relationship with them is important."
Seiji rubbed the back of his neck and let out a deep breath. "So what do we do now?" Shin asked.
"We work together with the girls," Shu answered, "Then once this Beryl gets here we send her back to the hole she came from!"
Serenity smiled to see that the young man were ready to take Beryl head on.
As the five of them were outside with their girls, Serenity was standing on the balcony watching them. Touma was practicing his fight moves with Seiji, the two friends were locked in an intense duel. Seiji swung his sword at Touma's head. The warrior of Strata ducked out of the way, trying to kick the warrior of Halo's legs out from under him when Seiji jumped over him. Kicking Touma in the chest, he aimed his sword at his head again when Touma raised his bow and caught the blow.
Rolling to his feet, Touma jumped and kicked Seiji in the back. Seiji let out a shout as he stumbled, but then he grabbed Touma's arm, throwing him to the ground. Touma jumped back to his feet when he grabbed a fake arrow from his fake quiver, aiming it at Seiji's head. His friend dodged one arrow but then blocked the other with his sword. He swung at Touma's legs and the Warrior did a back flip out of the way, landing on a rail. "Whoa, whoa!" he exclaimed almost losing his balance.
"What's wrong, Touma? Getting too old for your little tricks?" Seiji quipped.
"Not on your life," Touma answered as he blocked another attack aimed at his head.
Seiji grinned as he jumped up onto the opposite rail, swinging his word at Touma's middle. He jumped back and aimed another arrow at his friend. Seiji jumped off the rail when he grabbed Touma's arm, throwing him to the ground. Touma jumped to his feet, kicking at his middle. Seiji jumped back and aimed his own kick. Anticipating the attack, Touma grabbed his leg and twisted his leg, sending the blond man to the ground. Seiji kicked up, aiming for his friend's chin when Touma blocked the attack.
When the warrior of Halo tried to swing at him again, the warrior of Strata grabbed his arm and twisted it. The attack forced his grip on his sword to loosen but thinking quickly he kicked the bow from Touma's hand sending it into the creek below. Touma removed his sword and tossed it before aiming his fist at his head. Seiji blocked the punch and aimed his leg at Touma's legs. He blocked the attack with his hand, grabbing Seiji's heel he threw him onto his back. He aimed an axe kick to his shoulder when Seiji rolled out of the way.
Doing a flip over Touma's head, he wrapped his arm around his friend's neck in the attempt to put him in a chokehold when Touma flipped forward and his friend landed back on the ground. Seiji swung around, taking his feet he kicked them out between Touma's and sent his legs straight out to the sides and sent him to the ground. Both friends were lying on the ground groaning. "A draw?" Touma asked.
"Draw," Seiji answered as he stood up, helping his friend up from the ground.
The two friends patted each other on the back when Touma noticed something was off with him. "What's on your mind, my friend?" he asked as he grabbed his discarded bow and jumped up on the stone rail, looking at him.
"With this battle coming, we know the possibility of any of us coming back alive are slim," Seiji answered as he sat down, sharpening his sword with a stone.
"We always face that possibility, we're Warriors but doesn't make us indestructible," Touma commented.
"Things are different now though, Touma, and you know it. We have these women in our lives now that we have possibilities of having futures with. You're going to be King of the Moon someday," Seiji answered, "If anything, the rest of us should be protecting you because of your place as Moon King."
Touma frowned. "I don't want you guys treating me like an invalid just because I am going to marry Serenity," he stated.
"That's not what I'm saying, but you are important," Seiji answered.
"We are all important, there's not a single Warrior or Sailor Scout here who is needed to protect these realms. We're talking about thousands of years of peace going down the drain because of a witch," Touma pointed out.
Seiji frowned as he looked at him. "Why are you bringing this up?" Touma demanded.
"Because I have a favor to ask you, my brother," Seiji replied, making Touma stare at him quizzically, "We don't know what the outcome is going to be with this battle. I want to marry Jupiter before this battle even begins."
Touma stared at him with wide eyes. "I need a witness and a best man, can I count on you, Touma?" Seiji asked. Standing up from his spot, Touma stood beside him and gripped his shoulder.
"You can count on me," he replied.
That night, Jupiter was in her room nervous than ever as Serenity stood in the room putting a pink rose in her hair. "What do you think?" Jupiter asked as she stood up, spinning around in her dress.
It was ivory with silk capped sleeves. The bodice had pearl sequins sewn in into shapes of roses, and around her waist was a green sash.
Serenity was smiling brightly. "You look so beautiful!" she said beaming. Jupiter smiled, smoothing out her skirt. "I think they're ready for you," she added. The brunette smiled as the two of them left the room.
Down in the gardens, Seiji was nervously fixing the front of his jacket wearing the best clothes he had. "I had no idea one girl would get you so flustered," Touma quipped.
"She's not just a woman," Seiji replied.
Touma grinned and looked over as the two women entered the gardens. Seiji's eyes grew wide as the love of his life made her way over to him. "Wow…" he whispered. She smiled, holding onto his hands.
"Shall we begin?" the holy man asked.
"Ready when you are," Seiji replied.
Touma looked over at Serenity who smiled softly at him, reaching over she held his hand. He gripped her hand tightly as they listened to what the holy man was saying throughout the ceremony. "Do you, Seiji, son of Irchiro, take Princess Jupiter to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honor, and cherish her for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others until death do you part?" the holy man asked.
"I will," he answered, feeling Jupiter's hands squeeze his as she smiled at him.
The holy man smiled at the couple before he continued. "And do you, Princess Jupiter, take Seiji, son of Irchiro, to be your husband? Do you promise to love, honor, and obey him for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others until death do you part?" the holy man asked.
"I will," she answered.
Seiji rested his forehead against hers, letting out a deep breath since the worst part was over. They both suddenly felt a sensation go through their hands. They looked down and saw that their hands were glowing with what felt like an electrical current going through them. Jupiter beamed while Seiji just stared in wonder. "They're melding!" Serenity gasped softly.
Touma looked at their hands to see a blue glow from between their fingertips. "Serenity…" he whispered. She looked down and saw what he saw with wide eyes. He pulled her close, resting his forehead against hers as their hands continued to glow together.
Seiji was smiling at his soon-to-be wife. "By the powers vested in me in the power of the Moon Kingdom, I now pronounce you husband and wife," he told he couple. Cupping his bride's face in his hands, Seiji leaned forward and kissed her deeply. Jupiter kissed him back, holding onto his shoulders with a smile on her face.
On the other side of the castle, Ryo was sitting with Mars in his chambers. "Ryo…I want you to have something," she said softly.
"What is it?" he asked.
Removing the ring from her hand, she held it up to him. "Your ring?" he asked.
"Remember how I told you that the ring changes sizes for the people who are supposed to wear it? Well the day I showed it to you, it changed sizes," she replied.
Taking the ring into his hand, he watched as it literally grew in size as he held it between his thumb and index finger. Taking it, he slid it onto his left middle finger and it was a perfect fit. Mars was smiling softly at him as she reached over and held his hand. "I love you," she said softly.
"I love you, Mars," he replied, "No matter what happens with this fight, I just want you to know that I always will love you."
Smiling, she rested her forehead against his when their hands suddenly felt very hot. Looking at their hand they saw that they were glowing red and felt hot heat going through their bodies. "What's happening?" Ryo asked as Mars stared in disbelief.
"Our souls are melding together," she replied softly.
Ryo looked at her and he saw the tears in her eyes as she looked at him. "You are the one for me!" she said beaming. He smiled before he pulled her close kissing her deeply. Mars kissed him back, her arms immediately going around his neck.
In Shu's room, Venus was playing with the necklace around her neck when Shu walked over, handing her the tea he had made. "Thank you," she said smiling.
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" he asked as he sat across from her.
Venus moved her finger along the rim of the tea cup and looked at him. "I actually wanted to give you something," she murmured.
"Oh?" he asked.
Placing the teacup on the windowsill, she reached around her neck and unclasped the necklace around her neck and caught it before it fell to the floor. "This necklace is supposed to be given to someone that could one day help me rule the Venus Kingdom," she stated. She took Shu's hand and placed it into his hand. "I want you to have it," she told him.
"Whoa! Me a King? I think that would be a bad idea," he answered.
She laughed as she pulled her knees up and under her. "We'll be protectors of the realms together," she answered. She reached over and held his hand when she saw an orange glow come from their clasped hands. Her eyes grew wide and let out a gasp.
"What?" he asked.
He looked at what she was looking at and saw the orange glow. "What is that?" he asked. She took her hand and made it so their palms were touching.
"We're one," she replied, "My mother told me how if I found the one our souls would become one like this."
Shu stared with wide eyes before he took her other hand after placing the chain on the table beside him and made it so both of their palms were touching. "Wow…what power!" he said with wide eyes. Venus smiled before she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. Shu kissed her back immediately as their fingers were entwined together, but then he let her hands go and pulled her to him as their kiss became deeper and more passionate.
By the river, Shin and Mercury were sitting side by side watching as a couple of swans were swimming along the river. "It's beautiful out here," she said softly, pulling her knees up to her chest.
"It is, makes me not want to go back inside," He answered as he lied back on the ground staring at the starry sky.
Mercury looked over at him when she reached over, pushing the hair from his eyes. Shin looked over at her when he suddenly had a brave moment and grabbed her arm, pulling her down beside him. "What do you hope for the future?" she asked as she stared up at him. He leaned against his arm as he looked down at her.
"A future…with you," he replied.
She smiled as she ran her hand along his arm, their fingers entwining together when they saw a light blue light come from their hands. "What's that?" he asked. Mercury beamed and looked up at Shin.
"It means we're truly meant to be together," she replied smiling, "That's our souls combining!"
Shin beamed as he leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers. "I have never met a woman quite like you, Princess Mercury," he told her softly. Mercury smiled as she closed her eyes as he kissed her softly. She kissed him back, but then she sat up and pressed their palms together, sitting up on her knees.
"Do you know what this means?" she asked.
"What?" he asked as he stared at the light blue glow surrounding their hands.
"This means that even if we were ever separated, we will always find each other because our souls will call to one another," she replied.
Shin rested his forehead against hers. "Nothing will ever keep me from you," he whispered. She closed her eyes again when he kissed her again and their arms went around each other.