So Foolish… So Brave…

The look on her mother's face had Kiyoko frightened, as did the feelings she could sense from her, it was like a storm of emotion. It was not what she was used to from her. Though, despite the many times Kiyoko joked about fearing the wrath of the great Sailor Moon she did know her mother was not one to be trifled with. Her father had always told her so.

Usagi didn't say another word, but she left no question that Kiyoko would follow her as she walked back into the castle and towards Kiyoko's chambers. Yaten quietly trailed the two of them, seeming uncertain how to proceed. When they reached Kiyoko's chamber doors, Usagi turned and look at Yaten, "Thank you Starhealer. You may go. Now." Yaten glanced at Kiyoko, who nodded, and she politely excused herself and went into the chambers she was staying in. Usagi turned her gaze on her daughter, "After you, Kiyoko." Kiyoko swallowed as she opened the door.

Once the door closed behind Usagi she whirled around to face Kiyoko. The anger in her eyes was painful, "How could you just blindside me like that! You should've talked to me first! I am your mother! Your father made this request, but you didn't tell me! With the number of times we've spoken over the last six months YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME!"

Kiyoko was at a loss. Her father had warned her of her mother's fit, not that she'd had them in a very long time. But he'd shown her mental images of a few and Kiyoko thought she would never see one firsthand, yet here she was standing in front of her very angry mother. Kiyoko put her hands up, "I'm sorry mother. I am so very sorry. But I felt like this was something that had to be discussed in person."

Usagi cut her off, "So you couldn't have discussed it with me BEFORE revealing it to everyone else! You discussed it with Chibi-Usa! You discussed it with Helios! But you couldn't be bothered to come and see me about it, YOUR MOTHER!" Tears started streaming down her mother's face.

Kiyoko sighed. She had screwed this whole thing up so badly. This wasn't how she'd wanted any of this to go. She'd kept this from her mother, from Seiya, from everyone… Kiyoko had not heeded the lessons of her father and had carried this burden alone. She knew better, yet she still did it. Tentatively she stepped forward and hugged her mother. Kiyoko had been just a bit taller than her most of her life, but not as tall as Haruka or Setsuna. She tried to apologize again, "You're right mamma. I should've trusted you. I tried to carry this burden alone, but I shouldn't have. I've made a mess here when all I wanted to do was honor father's wishes and help those poor men."

There were still feelings of anger in Usagi, but Kiyoko could feel them soften a little. She spoke through her tears, "Yes, you should've trusted me. You can trust me. You trusted Endymion, which was always obvious. But you've never trusted me that way. You love me, you need me, but in the end you only trust yourself now that he's gone."

What could Kiyoko say? Deep down she knew that her mother was right. She chewed on her lip and looked down at her mother, "I know… I'm sorry…." Tears began streaming down Kiyoko's face as well.

Her mother took out a handkerchief and attempted to wipe Kiyoko's tears, paying no mind to her own. She was still angry, but it was so difficult to watch her child in pain. She sniffled herself and said, "I know Kiyo-chan… I know you're sorry. But this has to stop. You have to stop trying to do everything own your own. That's no way to live, and no way to build a marriage."

Kiyoko knew her mother meant well, but her words only made Kiyoko feel worse. She pulled away and turned, looking at the floor, "I know that. Everyone keeps lecturing me about not telling Seiya. I know I should have. But she… She…." Kiyoko couldn't think of how to end the sentence.

Her mother spoke softly, "But she would've objected, trying to protect you." She put her hand on Kiyoko's shoulder, "It is part of her job, both as a Senshi and as your partner in life. You have to protect each other."

Kiyoko nodded, though she didn't turn around, "Exactly…. That is part of why I didn't tell her. I wanted to protect her from this burden." Her shoulders slumped under the weight of her heart.

Usagi stepped around so that she were facing Kiyoko again, "Trying to protect her will only hurt her. She will feel the same betrayal I did at the fountain." Her mother had stopped crying and was looking pleadingly into Kiyoko's eyes.

Kiyoko couldn't stop her tears, but she nodded, "You're right mamma. And I can't tell you how sorry I am. I will contact Seiya in the morning. Will you stay with me tonight?"

Usagi seemed to debate a moment, Kiyoko could still feel her anger. But eventually she responded, "Yes, under one condition…. I want to you to read me the letter your father left and explain this spell to me." Kiyoko nodded and they went and sat at the table the book lay on.

Kiyoko reread the letter her father had left her, taking her mother's hand so that she could see it through Kiyoko's mind. By the end tears had starting escaping from Usagi's eyes again. This time it was Kiyoko who'd handed her the handkerchief. Having read it so many times, Kiyoko had already had her fair share of tears over it. At last Usagi spoke, "It's so like him to do this…. He was always willing to sacrifice everything for what he believed in, and he knew you would too."

With the tiniest of smiles Kiyoko replied, "It's a lesson I learned from you both actually. A lesson I am proud to have learned." She turned her attention to the spell and began explain how it would work, how it would use the energy of the crystals to extract the star seeds from the stones and resurrect the Shitenou. The amount of power needed was due to the way that they'd died and how tightly their star seeds were bound to those stones. That is why Endymion had been able to channel their spirits for guidance over the millennia.

Usagi sighed, "I think I understand it now, but I just don't know about all of this Kiyoko." She gave her daughter a weak smile that just didn't fit bright and cheerful Usagi.

With a yawn Kiyoko looked at her mother, "It's a lot. But it's the right thing to do. I can feel it in my bones mother." A second yawn escaped her, mental exhaustion from the day setting in.

Usagi stood, "I think we should call it a night. Let's get ready for bed." And just like when Kiyoko was a child her mother came over and let down her hair, brushing it out. It'd been so long since she'd done it. Kiyoko realized why Ruka let her grandmother do her hair because of how relaxing it was for her. She scarcely made it to the bed before falling asleep. Usagi took down her own hair and laid down next to her daughter whispering, "My sweet Kiyo-chan… so foolish…. So brave…"

When sunlight streamed into her windows Kiyoko found herself alone in her bed, with a note from her mother saying that she'd promised to take Usa-chan to see the sunrise on the meadow where the sun and moon meet and would speak with her soon. A little disappointed Kiyoko got up and dressed. She'd decided to wear a dress given to her by Hotaru. It was a deep purple and simple yet elegant. It had spaghetti straps and a tight waist, but it went to the mid-calf. The materials was light and flowed nicely. With it she wore her favorite black heels with ties that reminded Kiyoko of ballet slippers. She wore her sun choker and her tiara. Something told her she needed to dress well today.

She was about to leave her chambers and attempt to contact Seiya, knowing it was the right thing when she heard a knock at her door. Astonishingly Kiyoko felt the presence of Haruka standing just outside of her door.

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