Chastisement

For half a second Kiyoko considered simply going around Haruka. She knew that she could, especially with her new wings. However, Kiyoko quickly dismissed that idea, knowing it wouldn't do any good in the long run. But what could she say to Haruka that wouldn't sound awkward or ridiculous. As it was, she felt ridiculous for letting Mako-chan's teasing get to her. Kiyoko shrugged in the end, "What do you mean Haruka?"

Haruka leveled her gaze, "There's definitely something wrong with you. Please tell me what it is. It's not a good idea to keep your mother waiting." Her eyes bore into Kiyoko's.

Kiyoko should've known she couldn't hide anything from someone she'd literally bared her soul to recently. She sighed, "Mako-chan and I were talking and when she found out that I kissed you she started teasing me about it." Haruka's face started to grow dark and so Kiyoko scrambled, not wanting Makoto at odds with Haruka, "She wasn't serious! Makoto was just having fun!"

Haruka's expression was tight, but she didn't press the irritation she felt, "As long as she wasn't serious you shouldn't let it bother you. Everything between us is fine." She took Kiyoko's hand again to stress the point, "Now let's get going." Kiyoko was happy that Haruka wasn't pushing this, even if it clearly aggravated her. And so the two of them walked the rest of the way to the courtyard Haruka had come from in silence, not realizing they were still holding hands.

But it didn't escape Usagi's notice. Her eyes narrowed in on their hands when they reached her, making them both look down and back at her, quickly letting go. She raised an eyebrow, "Thank you for coming, both of you. Now that you've had the day to recover and what not I want to hear from you two what happened up there. Kiyoko?"

Haruka and Kiyoko exchanged a look, then Kiyoko looked at her mother, "I assume you have been informed of what led to my…. Departure…." She stopped, sensing her mother's anger.

And she was angry. Usagi snapped, "You mean what led to you running away? Yes I have." She crossed her arms and gave Kiyoko a look that left no doubt of her opinion of that.

It irritated Kiyoko, to have her mother chastise her like that. Her mother was the one who'd spent a hundred years running away from the world. But she pursed her lips and went on, "I went to the old Moon Kingdom, to your old room in fact and stood on the balcony crying until Haruka found me."

Usagi held her hand up and looked at Haruka, "And what happened then?" This felt like an interrogation and neither Kiyoko nor Haruka liked it.

Clearly, feeling interrogated as well, Haruka replied, "I did as you asked of me Queen Mother. I spoke with Kiyoko, helped her regain herself and got her to come back to Earth."

In some ways it seemed to Kiyoko that her mother was acting more like the Usagi of her youth then the mother she was accustomed to. This feeling was solidified when Usagi responded to Haruka, "But that's not all from what I've heard." Both Kiyoko and Haruka were astonished by Usagi's retort. They exchanged another look.

Kiyoko decided that it'd be best if she spoke, "If you're talking about the spell I used to help Haruka gain a better understanding of myself and my point of view on things, than yes that was a part of helping me regain myself mother." Then she turned to Haruka, "Thank you Haruka, but I'd like to speak with my mother privately." She tried to implore her with her eyes. Before Usagi could object Haruka bowed and quickly walked away, obviously understanding.

Usagi looked after Haruka and then at Kiyoko, "I hadn't dismissed her, Kiyoko. But if you insist… How could you kiss anyone other than your fiancée? Did she seduce you? She has always been a flirt!"

For a few seconds Kiyoko found herself speechless. Had her mother lost her mind? This was Haruka, who was family to her. And she'd already addressed this with Seiya, the fiancée in question. At last she replied, "Mother! One, it wasn't romantic." When she saw her mother about to speak she was the one who raised her hand to silence her, "Two, Haruka did NOT and would NOT seduce me. And three, Seiya and I have already discussed this and I'm sorry, but I won't discuss it with you further. We should be focused on the prospect of resurrecting the Shitenou."

And like that the mother Kiyoko had always known returned, "Alright, as you wish. I understand you've spoken to all of the inner Senshi, as you were apparently just with Makoto. And you've spoken to Setsuna, Haruka, Michiru, Seiya, and Yaten." Kiyoko had forgotten that even though her mother wasn't psychic, she had her ways of knowing things. Usagi continued, "And I know that at this point they've all given you their support with the exception of Rei, Setsuna, and Michiru. Though if Haruka is supporting you than undoubtedly Michiru will stand with her."

Blinking from surprise Kiyoko remarked, "Well it seems you have all of the information already mother. Have you made a decision on whether or not you can support it?" Kiyoko knew that it would mean a lot to everyone, whether or not her mother supported this cause, this plan.

Sadly Usagi shook her head, "No I am afraid I haven't been able to come to a decision. I really do wish I could just fall in line with those who are supporting you. But all I can see is the possibility of losing my daughters after already having lost your father."

Kiyoko understood her mother's feelings. It was like whenever Ruka and Endo were brought up in all of this. The idea of leaving them was gut wrenching, so she could imagine how what her mother was describing would feel. She took a step closer to her mother and clasped her hands, "I understand mother, more than you realize. But we can do this. I can do this. My power is growing. Father had faith. I need you to as well."

Usagi nodded and sighed, "I know your power is growing. I can see it. But I just don't know. Honestly, I doubt I will be able to decide where I stand until the time comes tomorrow." This pained Kiyoko, but she knew her mother and wasn't entirely surprised. All she could do was hope that when the time came that she'd stand with her. Usagi looked at her, looking a bit youthful again, "So, did you manage to settle the issue of her being your maid of honor, among the kissing?"

Again Kiyoko was floored, "No mother. We actually haven't discussed that at all…. And saying among the kissing implies that there was more than one, and I can assure you there wasn't. Though I did tell Minako that if Haruka didn't agree she had the job." This made both of them laugh. Kiyoko determined that when not being interrogated, she liked seeing this side of her mother.

When she'd stopped laughing, Usagi smiled, "You might regret that! You'll end up with red bows everywhere somehow." They both laughed again and talked until the moon was high in the sky.

Kiyoko looked up and then said, "You know mother, when I was standing on that balcony I understood why you fell in love with the Earth so long ago. And looking up now, I understand why father fell in love with the moon. They're both beautiful and breathtaking in their own way." Usagi agreed and soon they both found that they were ready for sleep. Usagi walked with Kiyoko to her chambers and made her promise to speak with her sister in the morning. Kiyoko agreed, knowing that could be as much of a roller coaster ride as speaking with her mother had been.