Part 24: The Last Time

The preparations for the Earth people coming were hectic, and Venus almost liked it. Since her speech on the balcony of the Magellan castle, she dressed constantly in her senshi uniform so everywhere she went her role and purpose was known. It had taken only a day and a half since then and she was back on the Moon with her princess along with a large arrangement of her own planet's soldiers. Some were old and strong, other were young and gangly boys but every last one of them knew their position in this war.

Each hour was full of questions and answers. Sailor Mercury had recovered what was left of her people to the moon to protect what they could. While Mercury worked on devising perfect tactical plans and reported them to Venus and the Queen, Sailor Mars was charged with transporting every weapon and shield she could to the Moon. The planet Jupiter was father away from the Moon than any other, so Sailor Jupiter's main job other than tracking the progress of where their enemies were coming from and discovering their plans, her kind heart was put to use by leading the all civilians to safe places.

Busy as they were, Venus kept a close ear out for news of her home planet. They would be preparing for defense rather than offence seeing as how the other three planets surround the moon were already in battle with some of Earth's rebels.

Her people had agreed to transport their greatest warriors to the Moon- a maneuver Sailor Venus was positive the Earth had not considered. Still, she wondered at their attacking her planet last of all in inner planets. Not even Sailor Mercury could devise a reason for the delay.

Not that it mattered. Venus was prepared to defend the Moon where the main battle would surely take place.

On the second day back from her home, Sailor Venus conducted a massive assembly of soldiers before her in a training field the size of several football fields. She addressed in as loud a voice as she could manage the news she had just received- the peace between Earth and the Moon was still intact. The White Moon Queen stood beside her to prove that the agreement was genuine. The army's main leaders would be coming from the Earth itself as a token of trust to them. They would help win this war against the rebels.

On this second day, with the lovely golden warrior standing magnificently in front of them, a young boy in dark robes approached. Many of the men in front wanted to hear what was so important that gave this strangely dressed messenger boy the right to speak directly to the Princess but about that same moment their specified supervisors began shouting orders.

Minako couldn't help but blush and turn in a thrilled whirl when messenger had said came true. Around the corner of a wall some distance off, came five horses caring four saliently dressed men and two women. The Four Heavenly Kings of Earth had come to claim their portion of the army as the agreement had stated. Of course, guiding them as always, riding atop the largest silvery horse was Kunzite with his purple cape wafting behind him royally in the sunlight. Even from their great distance she could tell it was her love. A few bureaucrats, Sailor Jupiter, and the Moon Queen herself had already greeted these visitors from Earth the night before. The rest had been too busy to attend and it was not proper to enjoy lavish meals and parties while a battle was being prepared. So although Venus and Kunzite had been on the same planet for more than 12 hours now, they had not seen one another face to face yet.

She remembered as his cape flapped in the wind, the last time she had seen him in the new sunlight. That was the day after their long walk and that was the night before the dusk when then sparred on this very field.

From behind her, Venus could hear Mercury step out of the white wicker doors, shift her weight, and intake her breath. Minako felt like doing the same but instead turned to the group that was gathered behind her. Mercury and Mars sometime in the middle of her orders to the troops (who were now slowly disbanding,) had come behind her to offer some advice and updates on their progress. They had waited obviously with her for this moment. She knew they had already greeted the generals earlier that day- but couldn't help but stay as the Kings approached.

On the fifth steed was the Princess of Jupiter with the Princess of the Moon perched sideways in front of her on her being protected by the strong arms that held the reins.

While the White Queen extended her arms to greet them, the three of them, Sailor Mars, Mercury, and Venus, stood motionless watching them come down the sloping hill toward them. Venus didn't know what the other two were thinking, and she entertained the thought of asking them if they were going to be all right. After all this time of preparation for war, she devoted a surprisingly large amount of time wondering how this would affect each of her love-tossed friends. Ami was gazing out as if she could see nothing at all. Anyone who knew her well recognized this as one of those times when the genius girl retreated into her own mind for protection. She didn't have time to pry. Rei was looking very steadily at the ground before her, her striking red lips pursed in a small tight frown. Even that grim look flattered the Goddess of War beautifully. Venus envied her.

The four kings looked purposeful as they dismounted and approached the small gathering. As they bowed with the fists crossed to their hearts, Makoto jumped down and lifted the delicate and seemingly fragile Serenity with ease.

"Princess and Sailors Mercury, Venus, and Mars." The sturdy Zoicite greeted them. "We understand this is where the troops are. We've come to look them over and give instruction." He grinned like an old friend. Sailor Mercury took an unconscious step backward but smiled extended a gloved finger to call over a supervisor.

"Yes, of course, I heard you'd be coming about this time. Lieutenant General Yue? " A large man stepped forward and bowed to the Kings.

"Yes my Lady. We have already arranged the soldiers in an order by rank and experience and divided them up as you had requested. I'll take you to them."

Sailor Mars spoke directly and the conversations blended in together, "Nephrite-dono I have a request to make of you, if you can. I've been having some difficulty with a portion of the supplies and I'll need your special skills to help this afternoon-"

"No, Mother. I haven't left Jupiter all day. I promised her I wouldn't wander and I haven't-"

"-and it's going a little faster than we hoped. It should be here in less than two hours-"

"Sailor Venus-hime, if you are done with this group we'd like to ask you about the chief warrant officer-"

"As well as could be expected, thank you."

"-Four times. And make sure they are locked down tight."

"Of course. They await your direction on the south end of the castle just over-"

"Pleased to meet you. Please don't forget to eat something for dinner."

"-Right. Thank you. Please tell her that immediately. And by the way, you look dashing as always!" Sailor Venus finished addressing Jadeite with a grin and turned around.

"I understand. Dismissed." Kunzite sent away his page.

"If the Generals would follow me I will lead you to your battalions." The group was slowly dissolving.

Venus found herself standing directly in front of Kunzite, a bit apart from the rest. She didn't know whether she had placed herself there, if he had moved to her, or if they had naturally gravitated toward one another. It really didn't matter as nether of them had noticed until it was too late. It felt as though they were the only two people on that platform.

Sailor Venus looked up into his face. Nothing felt more natural that that familiar tilt of her head.

"General Kunzite…" She could find nothing to say in her mind or her heart. Being so close to him now was like a dream. She could smell him without inhaling.

"It's…" Kunzite tried to answer. Coming up with something nice, he said gently, "It's nice to see you again."

"It is?" Minako smiled widely and blinked with excitement up at him. "I mean-" She tried to gain her composure again by standing up strait and constraining her smile. But its bright beam was still there. Her shinning face was still illuminated with joy and he wanted to laugh.

"It's nice to see you again too." She finished with confidence. She said it in her normal voice. Not one filled with fluff to impress him as she had once done. In return he smiled warmly too. "If only." She stopped partially, a bit of her smile slipping off her face. "We could be meeting under better circumstances."

"Yes." He said, and drooped his head a bit. "These are hard times." After a moments pause, the corner of his mouth perked a little again. It made her heart flutter around her chest. "But, I'm sure… things will be alright."

She nodded with an affectionate smile again and they said nothing more.

"Venus!" Serenity called. "It's time to go." Serenity's eyes darted from the girl to the boy with a serene smile neither of them saw. Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter too, secretly gave them gentle and caring looks before entering into the castle.

Minako felt her body turn to leave but her head still faced him, a sad smile on her pale lips she tried to hide. She wanted to run to him and hold him tight against her. She wanted to tell him that she loved him and she wouldn't forget him. But all she did was smile.

Kunzite, too, smiled sadly back at her. He wanted to tell her it would be all right. But then again, he wasn't sure it would be. And so, just before as the two parted, their souls reached out in longing, and then their duty called them back.

From a distance, Danburite longingly gazed from behind a corner of a building. Even he could see the deep desire for the other.

He thought back to what she had said so long ago. She was worried about her princess falling in love. She cared so much for the future. He would do anything to protect that future.

Time passed as more information came and went. Venus tried desperately to stay aware of everything but couldn't be more grateful to her friends for taking a lot of the load of work. That, however, didn't help her sleep better. She worked in those unused night hours that were interrupted by bad dreams. When Rei had given her three unsuccessful fire readings to decipher them, the two of them concluded that the dreams must only be nightmares and not prophecies of future events. That was alright. Venus never had the gift of reading the future- just to sense the present. So she used whatever time left over in the nights to continue the work on this world.

The third night back from her home planet and after an hour or two of laying awake, she had the urge to see her princess. So, of course, she snuck out. She wrapped a shawl of yellow around her, distracted the guards with ease, and tip-toed to her way through the cold night to the bedroom of her Princess.

It would be worthless to sneak past Serenity's door-guards. And even if they COULD be distracted, Venus would not have hired them to watch her. So she stepped forward with purpose and ordered them to let her in.

The chill in the night seemed to make her words mean more as they hastily opened one of the doors a crack to let her slip in.

It was clear upon entering that Serenity had not gone to sleep yet. Her cute blue eyes were wide staring at the drapes over her head.

"This is new, you don't normally have trouble sleeping."

"I know. I guess there's just a lot on my mind."

Minako climbed under the white downy blankets and curled up her toes to warm them again.

"All right, but try to sleep."

"Yeah. Why don't you?"

"That's why I came here. I just couldn't sleep without knowing you were OK."

The girls shifted as they entwined all their slender limbs around one another.

"I'm OK."

"Oh, I'm glad."

"Minako?"

"Yes?"

"I want you to laugh for me real quick."

She did so. "Serenity, you funny bunny."

"Hmm. That's better." Her voice became muffled as she snuggled her smiling face into Minako's shoulder.

"Minako?"

"Hm?"

"I saw the Prince today. I met with him here alone."

Venus said nothing.

"I love him Minako."

Her confession lingered in the room, hanging above their heads with her gauzy drapes. Minako's grip squeezed her little one gently.

"I know Serenity. Try to sleep."

There was another pause.

"Minako?"

"Hm?"

"You're my best friend."

Minako ran her hand through Serenity's thin hair and stroked her scalp as she felt the dearest thing in the world to her fall asleep in her arms.

The next day would be the last upon the Moon that Minako would not spend fighting. Logically, she didn't know that and this day proceeded like any other this past week.

She made a few more orders, inspired a few more civilians, made a final check on the plans for Serenity's protection. A Little later that day she would be making one final trip back to Venus to escort another consignment of soldiers.

A word from someone's conversation behind distracted her for a moment. "Kunzite-dono needs to know that right away." His name piqued her interest.

"But I can't find him anywhere."

"No? Then I'll take care of it."

"Thank you Nephrite-sama."

"Go."

She didn't think too hard on this but instead instantly brushed it off. She had no idea it should have worried her for it was the final sign she would receive that something was amiss. And it would be the last time she thought about him without the feeling of regret.

"Venus-Hime? Your transport is ready."

"Thank you."

This chapter I'd like to dedicate to a mystery reviewer named Ellen.

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Lady Aphadriel- I know how school can be. e.e It took me forever to get this chapter up. Eh, Life gets in the way. I'm glad you still like me. Or, at least, this story. I always look forward to hearing from you.

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Thanks to those who took the time to leave me, even a small little message.

I think I would normally stop asking chapterly questions but it's a tradition now. And being so close to the end of the entire story- I may as well continue in case someone wants to answer it someday.

Question of the chapter:

Have you ever been in love?

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