｢Chapter 20 ｣
7 years later . . .
"Ouhi-sama, the situation right now is so bad, do think that we should still continue with the monthly parade out? It would be safer for you to stay back in the palace where there are more guards to protect you." Yukini, Maker's successor as Kakkyu's advisor, asked.
"I will want to continue with it. This is the only chance where I can get to know the commoners, how's the living conditions of the different villages. This will also gives them confidence towards the kingdom and the situation right now. Also this time round, I will want to bring in younger children for training as new generation of guards, especially for the princess. " Kakkyu reasoned the need for the parade to go on as usual.
Kinmoku-sei was currently being targeted by the lead planet, Morion, of the Zeus galaxy system. They regarded the union and diplomatic relationship with the Moon Kingdom of the Solar System as a threat to peace and harmony of the universe. In many occasion, the Morionians had warned that the peace in Kinmoku is not going to last.
"If that's what you want, Ouhi-sama." Yukini bowed and followed behind Kakkyu, who was not dressed in her royal clothing but in commoner clothing, as she boarded the car pool.
"Yukini, where are we going to visit this month?"
"We are visiting Miseki town located at the far east of the Palace, Ouhi-sama"
"What did you say, Healer?" Fighter asked.
"Are you getting deaf leader? I said, Kinmoku-sei is in a state of danger right now." Looking into Fighter's eyes, showing to Fighter that she is serious, Healer replied.
"But I did not receive any information or news about that. Ouhi just contacted me last lunar month, saying the Kinmoku is getting better than what it was used to be." Fighter was confused. With two different versions of the situation of Kinmoku, she did not know which to believe.
"I got my information from Yukini. She informed me in secret. Apparently Ouhi do not want us to be back. It seemed like this threat maybe due to the marriage of Serenity and you 7 years ago. Maybe that's why Ouhi doesn't want you to know nor to be back in Kinmoku."
Fighter relaxed on her chair, with her hands massaging her temples. This was giving her a real big headache.
"Ne, leader, what should we do now?" Healer took the seat beside Fighter and asked.
"I'm not sure. I want to go back, but things here and Ouhi. . . I don't know." Fighter mumbled dementedly.
"Well leader, maybe I can go back alone to be with Ouhi. At least one of us will be there with her if anything is to happen." Healer suggested.
'At least of us. Us. Where are you, Maker?' Fighter' heart winced at the brought up of Maker. 'I still think of you, Maker. Every single day. Was it that not being able to be together always make the heart fonder? I had yet to forget the every moments we shared together. The nights we spent together. Your limited smiles and laughter. Everything. Where are you, Maker? I still love you, Maker.'
"Ne leader, where do you think Maker is at now?" Healer asked.
Fighter simple shrugged her shoulder before changing the topic. "That's one good idea. It would be better if the at least one starlight on Kinmoku to fight if something really happened."
Healer was annoyed. Annoyed with the fact that Fighter had always changed the topic whenever she mentioned the topic on Maker. She look intensively at Fighter. 'There's definitely something going on between the two of them which I don't know. If not Fighter would not be acting in this way. In these seven years, there will always be some days where Fighter would lose her mind. What was that that had happened?'
"No." A third person in the room voiced out, interrupting Healer's thoughts. "All of us will go back, including Usagi and Kouie."
Both Fighter and Healer turned their attention to the door and saw Neo-Queen Serenity stood at the doorway. Fighter stood up from her seat and walked towards Serenity, and held her hands.
"Serenity, I . . . "
"Fighter, we will all go back for Kinmoku. " Serenity smile serenely at Fighter, giving Fighter the support and strength she need.
" Thank you, Serenity." Fighter said, kissing Serenity at her forehead, hugged her tightly.
"Hello? I'm still here. Can't you wait till that I'm out the room before doing such mushy things?" Healer teased past them, and brisked out the room.
"This town is beautiful and flourishing, aren't her?" Kakkyu asked Yikini, as she glanced out the window of the car pool, admiring the clamming surrounding that she was in.
"Yes Ouhi-sama, she is indeed what you explained. Apparently this town started to grow well 7 years ago, good safety and average wealth among the town residents." Yukini reported.
"That's great! So what's the itinerary for today?" Kakkyu shifted her attention to Yukini.
"First we are going to stop by the elementary school of this town, since Ouhi-sama had expressed the need to choose new young candidates for guards and stuffs. Then we will stop by the market place and the few neighbourhood for visitations. We will leave this town at sun set to reach back palace at night fall."
Kakkyu just nodded her head, having had nothing to comment about the schedule.
"Ouhi-sama, we have reached the elementary school." Ameno informed.
Kakkyu got out of the carpool and was received by the principal of the primary school , Mitsue - san.
"Greetings to Ouhi-sama! Our school is glad to have you for visitation."
"No need for the formalisation. It's part of my duty to visit my people and see how are they doing, and whether do they need help from the palace." Kakkyu stated. "Would you mind showing me around and recommend me some students? I would like to know more about this town and people living here."
"Sure!"
Mitsue-san brought Kakkyu around the school campus, with Ameno and Yukini following closely behind them. Being in the primary school compound just made Kakkyu thought of Himeko, as most of the children here were around the same age as the princess. Just as they were touring round the school field, a browned haired girl in pig tails caught Kakkyu's attention. The little girl was seated at a bench, reading a book while 2 other older girls, a purple-haired and another baby green-haired, were chasing after each other in front of her.
This scene had triggered precious memories of hers to surface. It felt like how her precious three starlights were like when they were of the same age. Maker being the one always reading, with Fighter and Healer chasing after each other. Kakkyu smiled at the forgotten memory and the fresh scene that she just encountered.
The brunette girl looked up from her book and towards her two friends. "Ne, aren't you two tired? Because I'm tired already. Let's stop chasing one another and prepare for the next lesson? The break is going to be over soon." The little girl said sweetly towards her friends. To her, her two best friends were just like putting two like pole magnets together. The two girls stopped chasing each other, and went by sitting beside the brown-haired.
"Mitsue-san, can I know the three of them?" Kakkyu asked, pointing towards the three girls at the bench.
"Sure!" Mitsue guided Kakkyu over to the three girls in field, and left Kakkyu and her two assistants as they requested for private conversation between the young girls.
"Hello girls, can I get to know your names?" Yukini asked, taking out a small book to record down, while Kakkyu continued observing the brunette.
"My name is Izawa Riko! I'm the oldest, turning 8 this year. That's my best rival, Asato Hishi." The purpled haired stated and earned dead stare from the emerald haired. She then continued while hugging the brown-haired. "This is my best friend, Misa! She's only 6 but she's in the same grade as the two of us."
"Riko! Did you realise that both Misa and I CAN talk and speak for our own selves?" Hishi retorted sarcastically at Riko.
"No, I only know that Misa can talk, not you. Since when?"
"ARGH! Misa! Aren't you angry about what Riko had just said?" Hishi took the book Misa was reading, getting Misa's attention to be on her.
"Not really. Why should I be? It doesn't really matters who introduce our name right? As long as the question is answered, that will do, aren't so? Why are you so upset?" Misa replied and asked, while Riko showed Hishi her signs of victory.
"Ah! I'm not talking to you two!"
"Hishi, it's time to change a line. You always said that, don't you? Riko stated playfully. Misa took her book back from Hishi and hid her face behind the book and laughed.
"I swear I will kill you one day, Riko!'
"No swearing in school! You are dead!"
Kakkyu could no longer hold her laughter at the scene in front of her and chuckle out a laughter, while earned everybody's attention on her. "Sorry and excuse me, I really didn't mean to laugh. It just that you girls are too cute." Kakkyu apologised. 'And also, you girls are so much like the my beloved starlights when they were young. I will want Himeko experience what I had experienced with the starlights when I was young. I want her to be brought up the same way I was.'
Ameno and Yukini were surprised to hear their Queen's laughter. They have not heard that for some time, particularly right after the three starlights had left. They know that Kakkyu missed the three of them all the while, yet was unwilling to ask at least the two back, trying to protect their wills and safety. But they too know that in times of danger, Kakkyu will definitely need the starlight by her side. No matter how the guards are trained for danger, they know deep down that the starlights are the ones who had the most power against danger. That was why Yukini had decided to inform Healer secretly, hoping that they will be able to come back soon and in time.
The school bell rang and the three children looked at each other.
"It's okay. " Hishi replied with a smile.
"I'm sorry Madam, I don't think we can talk to you know since the bell had gone off, which means that we have to go back for lessons. If you could excused us?" Misa asked with a bow, pulling her two friends with her.
"Yes you may. I'm sorry if I had interrupted any of your lesson time. My assistants will contact you girls really soon. Till then, I hope that we will meet again."Kakkyu replied and the three little girls began running back to the school building for their lessons.
"Yukini, I want them to be auditioned for Princess's guards. " Kakkyu ordered.
"Understood, Ouhi-sama. Let's walk back to the carpool, shall we? It's about time we proceed to our next location.
Kakkyu nodded her head and started walking between her two guards. As they were approaching the carpool, Kakkyu froze at her spot. She had saw a familiar back view of a long brown-haired walking out of the school gate. The height and length of hair matches the one she had in mind perfectly. Just that the hair was pulled in a high pony tail instead of a low one. She was certain that that was her.