Her throat burned with each swallow yet she poured more liquid into the glass.
"You drink that stuff straight? Damn….even I can't handle that." Hawk's eye—who now went by Taka—stated with a chuckle from behind the bar.
"Taka…You know it takes three bottles of this stuff to make me tipsy. The Silver crystal makes us stronger remember? Even normal humans now age in lunar years." Tsuki pointed out just as a strong hand cupped her shoulder.
"Wow….Bad night?"
Tsuki groaned as the other girl took a seat beside of her
"Lets just say that Kūdō is better for more things that just training." She retorted before downing another shot of the liquor.
"Thank everything holy that none of us get drunk that easy." Menyani chuckled just as a crash was heard outside.
"Holy shit! You stupid brat what did you do?" she heard a voice call and almost burst out laughing when she saw just who was arguing.
"It's your fault! I told you that I had allergies but would you listen? No!" the unknown voice stated.
"Oi….Well….we see who's going to be feisty." Menyani muttered, earning a laugh from Tsuki.
"I just hope that she and Karunā get along. Both of them are more hotheaded than Rei." The nightmare senshi chuckled before sighing and adding "It's late…I'd better be getting back."
As soon as Tsuki opened the door she was tackled by Cerecere who was crying uncontrollably.
"Whoa….What's wrong sweetie?" she asked, closing the door before kneeling down and picking the child up.
"I dreamed that you….You left….Like….like….the people before." The little girl managed to answer after some time.
Tsuki felt herself stiffen at Cerecere's words, knowing exactly what she was talking about.
"Shh….I'm right here aren't I?" the shadow senshi murmured, tightening her arms around her charge before standing up.
"Let's go out into the garden and talk….I'm sure that after a dream like that you don't feel like sleeping."
Cerecere felt the crisp night air around her though she didn't look up from her mother figure's leather jacket.
She could smell a rose scented perfume on the fabric and she wondered when Tsuki had started wearing it instead of the men's cologne that was so familiar.
Tsuki took a seat on a bench near the lake before turning her attention to her distraught daughter.
"What was the nightmare about?" she asked, her tone catching Cerecere off-guard.
"You just left us in a dark place…you and Mama said we were too much trouble." The child sniffled, feeling the woman stiffen.
"The same thing your biological parents said." Tsuki stated before adding
"You have never been a bother….Well maybe at first when you little idiots scared me half to death by hiding in that tree." Tsuki stated earning a giggle as Cerecere looked up, shocked to see that the shadow senshi was smiling slightly.
"Really Mama?" the child asked, earning a nod
"I love you and your sisters more than you'll ever know Cerecere….and I doubt I am the best to show just how much." Tsuki replied softly.
"Mommy? Can you tell me about yours and Mama's wedding?" the child asked, wanting something to distract her from crying again, though this time from happiness.
"Well both of us wore a dress…Yaten's was pastel green and mine was black with glittery sequins all over. We had the wedding at Rei's temple and every one of our friends were there and since they really don't have last names on Kinmoku and Kou just means star Yaten decided to take on Tenoh as a last name." Tsuki summarized, blushing slightly as she recalled the day.
Cerecere laughed softly at her mother's expression before adding softly "what kind of flowers did you have?"
Tsuki smirked at this and glanced over at the white roses that grew nearby before plucking one and handing it to the little girl.
"Roses in Pink, red, yellow, and white. Happiness, love and respect, joy, and reverence." She answered, watching as her daughter's eyes widened.
"You know the meanings?" Cerecere gasped earning a sigh.
"Yes…after...the battle…I kind of lost it. Thanks to Kakyuu I started directing my depression toward becoming a person you guys would be proud to call your mother. Before I was just a kid myself but I could have done better. Haruka and Michiru became parents at barely sixteen and they were better than I was." Tsuki admitted, only to feel little arms wrap around her.
"We've always been proud to call you mom." The child replied, earning a smile.
"Thanks squirt. I hope this time around I can be closer to all of you kids. Not just Vesves and Junjun. I know that sometimes it must have seemed like I favored them but honestly I wasn't sure how to connect with you or Parapara. I loved all of you the same though." The shadow senshi revealed, earning another soft laugh.
"We knew you loved us. You were always there and never played favorites." Cerecere reminded her, snuggling close as she looked up at the dark haired figure before adding "why are you letting your hair get long? You looked better with short hair like Auntie's."
Tsuki laughed at this and lightly tickled the girl.
"What you trying to say shrimp? That I'm ugly?" she asked teasingly, kissing the girl's forehead before stopping.
"No. But that bob doesn't suit you! You look like a poodle!" the child retorted jokingly, seeing a gentle light in Tsuki's eyes that she had never saw before.
"I'll tell you what…Tomorrow go to everyone and get their opinion. If the majority thinks I look better with short hair I'll cut it okay?"
Cerecere's eyes widened as she realized that the next day was a kind of holiday so everyone would be out of work for the day.
"Momma, Can we go camping like you promised before? That is….if we're not too little?" She asked, watching as Tsuki smiled.
"Sure…Just let me make arrangements with Serenity." The shadow princess replied.