Their meditation required total concentration, total focus, total commitment. It was the ultimate test of their conviction to serve Earth. Only if they were relaxed and above all the many swirling emotions they felt would they be worthy of inheriting the full measure of the powers they had been given. And the emotions they felt were many and powerful: rage, despair, guilt, trepidation, anticipation, excitement, self-doubt, commitment, honor and humility.
The Teacher was leaving them. The truth had finally been revealed to them. The Teacher was the former Kunzite, the last of the previous Shitennou from whom they would inherit their powers. The other three had already sacrificed themselves that the power might be passed on. Kunzite had remained to train the boys who would take their place. They had endured all the trials and been chosen of the many hundreds of boys who entered the training. They had been selected and trained even harder. Now, it was time for them to become men in their own right, and for the full power of Earth to be at their disposal.
The sacrifice of the previous generation was made and made willingly that the power of Earth would never be subject to only a few men, but be something that would be wielded generation after generation to protect Earth always. The full measure of that sacrifice was now brought to bear upon the four young men who meditated, awaiting the arrival of their true power.
A rush of energy filled them, and now more than ever, they felt the living heartbeat of Earth within them. The sacrifice had been made. That knowledge brought them pride in their new abilities and guilt that the price had been so high. They knew now that one day, the same sacrifice would be asked of them. That brought fear and dread, but also comfort that so many before had been willing to make the sacrifice. They rose and filled their goblets. With a silent toast, they honored the man who had made them men, made them Shitennou. One of them now bore his name. The rest bore the names of his brothers. All four of them bore a piece of the power he had protected and now bestowed upon them.
He was more than Teacher, more than Brother, more than Father. The rest of their days would be spent in service to the ideals he upheld, and ultimately died for. This is how they would honor him, and all the men they had never known, but now knew more intimately than family. They were Shitennou, and they would serve Earth always.
There was one final lantern that Kunzite had yet to put into the water. He had seen each of the others take a moment longer with their final lantern. In traditional customs, each deceased would only receive one lantern. And perhaps, the others had not strictly reserved their last lantern for the Teacher. Perhaps they had each prepared them for their namesakes. Even though they had never met, each man shared a special bond with these men, and their sacrifices were still worth honoring. That is what the festival was for.
Down the river, he sees Minako seeing off a pair of her own lanterns. She has worn her hair down tonight, and his mind is still consumed with the image of her moving it to reveal the lacings of her gown the night before. He has been unsure of what to say to her since then. Their parting in the morning was rushed with the duties of the day weighing on their conscience. He does not regret his pledge to her in the slightest. If anything, he is even more committed.
But the flood of emotions he felt when she was in his arms has overwhelmed him. He is drowning, and he is left wondering if he can break the surface, or if he wants to.
Tentatively, he approaches her. He has faced down armies and demons, but this is the truest test of his courage.
Her smile still has the power to ease his fears and calm his nerves. He takes her hand, and all is right with the world, if only for a moment.
"Who are you remembering today," he asks.
"My parents. And you?"
"My Teacher."
They stand together for a moment, and she rests her head on his shoulder. The silence is comfortable. But he knows there is so much more to say. It is she who speaks first.
"Do you regret last night?"
The question still manages to surprise him. "No," he answers honestly.
"Then what have you been feeling today?"
He sighs and gives the only answer he has. "Many things."
"Bad things?"
He considers the question for a moment. "Some. But mostly good things I suppose."
"Then why are you so troubled?"
It is a fair question, and he has spent most of the day pondering the answer.
"Because I thought I would never feel anything again. I thought I deserved that. I pledged long ago to serve Earth. It was the most sacred vow I ever made. And I broke that promise and destroyed ten worlds and killed billions of people. For that, I deserved punishment. I deserve death."
He breathes heavily as he feels the guilt. She gently squeezes his hand. It still amazes him that her slightest touch has such power over him. His hand finds its way to her hair.
"And then you happened to me. Again. And you made me feel alive and whole. And it's just like before. I went from feeling nothing to feeling everything. You've completely consumed my world, and I feel like I'm upside down. Everything is chaos, and nothing makes sense anymore."
She takes his face in her hands and kisses him deeply.
"We'll figure it out together," she promises. "Do you want to take it slower?"
He holds her tightly. "I don't think I can slow down anymore. I have to move forward, or I will always be standing still."
She lets herself fall deeper in his embrace. "I'm with you."