A few days had passed and the Taskforce was back on Earth.
They had escorted the convoy back to Bilbringi and then had headed down south and home.
A time well used for exercising by SunTzu, be it sword fighting with Master Cilghal or the King or sports with Haruka, Michiru or the Inners. And SunTzu also found a way to at least get Hotaru out of her room. Setsuna had allowed her training and now the teenager and her superior were spending hours in either the ship's gym or training rooms. SunTzu generously disbursed the set rules and Hotaru was even allowed some time in the simulators, of course being urged to not tell her mother.
The way home had taken four days and when the ships of the Taskforce descended onto Crystal Tokyo, SunTzu for once hadn't been in AICA's cockpit, he had been observing the landing from the observation deck on the Eternal, which had been empty except for him as everybody else had seemed to be busy, either with the landing or getting ready to leave the ship and on top of that the hangars and some of the weapon stations seemed to be the more highly frequented places to observe things from inside the ship.
In formation the capital ships had been slowly passing through the layer of clouds about the Tokyo Bay while the starfighters had been flying in between the larger ships, also in formation. Except for the Voyager and AICA, who had seemed to play a game of tag in the sky. SunTzu guessed that Haruka had been happy to see Hotaru back in the cockpit after multiple days as well.
"As I expected, Hotaru is flying AICA. I do have to admit I'm surprised to find you here though. And, you're not even smoking."
Setsuna's voice had given away no emotion, so SunTzu had decided to test the waters with an information she surely wouldn't find too bad.
"Still trying to smoke less."
But if smoking doesn't kill me one day then you will. Or my longing for you…
As Setsuna had stepped next to him in front of the large window the Voyager with AICA behind it rushed past.
"I see her other parents are also not as strict with her grounding as I am."
SunTzu had glanced over to her, this hadn't sound as she was regretting her strictness.
"She's not a kid anymore, Setsuna. I mean she'd even be older if it wasn't for that time fuckery."
"You do know that this reincarnation of her also skipped a few years before, basically most of her childhood?"
The sudden twitch of his eyebrows told her that he hadn't known much about that.
"It was nice to raise a kid without constant fear someone wants to kill it just for once, you know." The emerald-haired woman continued while her gaze turned back to the outside, the sky over Tokyo and the ships descending on it.
"Maybe I've been just a bit too strict with her. Tell her I'll pick her up at the Air Base."
Without another look she turned around on the spot and walked back to exit.
SunTzu thought her to be really angry again but before she left the room she stopped and turned around to him.
"I have to admit having the equivalent of a father for her after Haruka left the house isn't that bad. And for the record, if the word time fuckery wouldn't be so obscene I'd adapt it into my vocabulary." As she disappeared in the tunnel leading to the corridors of the ship, SunTzu stared after her, mouth wide agape.
That all had been yesterday, and right now SunTzu just had sat down on his sofa at home, after already having taken a morning run through Juban. The run had helped him to sort his thoughts a bit, yesterday's brief encounter with Setsuna, or at least the last two sentences, had given him the impression as if there might be more than anger towards him in her, and apart from that it was a special day and although they had closed that chapter, SunTzu was still questioning himself how to approach his day.
To his surprise his phone rang, who could that be? Michiru and Haruka were out of town, maybe Ami or Ada so?
To his even bigger surprise the caller ID said it was Yuichiro. They had exchanged numbers a few days ago, just in case something would be with Rei, of course, and not because they were becoming buddies. SunTzu took the call and was greeted by a very happy seeming Yuichiro.
"Yo SunTzu."
"Yuichiro, what's up?"
"Just wanted to let you know, Rei's still at home."
"She's at the Shrine?"
"Yeah. Later on she's going to get some work done in her office in the Palace she said but she's trying to take it easy until then, relax a bit. Because you know how her birthday evenings usually go."
"The dinner with her father is already scheduled?"
"You won't believe this! SHE actually took care of the reservation and everything. And he even called her already today to wish her a happy birthday."
"What? Are we seeing a breakthrough in their relationship?"
"I wouldn't bet on it, but I'll be there as well, I can tell you after how things went."
"Officially at her side at the annual father-daughter dinner? You guys forgot to invite me for the wedding?"
"Hehe. Hey Man, why you don't come over right now? You know how busy she usually is when she's at the Palace. Share a bit time with her in peace."
"Did YOU just invite me to see REI at the shrine? What are you smoking lately?"
"Haha. But really, come over for a cup of tea."
"I mean… is that, like, really cool for you?"
"Sure. We talked about that, I know how things between you two are. C'mon you'd make her happy."
"Okay, I'll be coming over. Give me thirty to fourty five minutes."
"Cool, I won't tell her, so it's a surprise."
"Nice idea." A pause, and SunTzu's voice changed. "Hey Yuichiro?"
"Hm?"
"I appreciate it."
"Yeah, yeah. Don't get the wrong idea man, I'm doing this for Rei." Yuichiro's voice let SunTzu know that it wasn't only that.
Rei Hino, Sailor Senshi of Passion and Fire, Galactic Senator of Earth, and today's birthday girl, was meditating in front of the flames of the Sacred Fire of the Hikawa Shrine as she had done uncountable times before. Dressed in her miko clothes, the priestess's mind was in consonance with the universe. Her closed eyes didn't open and her hands didn't unfold when the part of her mind which still took care of her worldly surroundings noticed that the room to the door had been carefully opened.
She didn't need to use her psychic powers to recognize the two men at the door and she felt content, that apparently both were still adjusting into a better relationship with each other. Right on time.
"I'll fetch some tea for us." The man in the clothes of a Shinto Priest flustered after he had opened the door to the meditation chamber and the man looking through the door nodded in appreciation.
Rei's eyes were still closed as the second man had walked up to her from behind and was towering over her now.
Instead of saying something he leaned down and kissed the top of her head, which although eyes still closed caused the raven-haired to smile.
"Happy Birthday, Baddest Bishōjo in town."
A chuckle exited her mouth as she unfolded her hands to grab around his arms embracing her from behind.
"Yes, even i have read Minako's tweet by now."
Her head turned upwards to look him in the eyes.
"Your surprise visit would have been even better if my goof of boyfriend wouldn't schedule surprises with the room's door open for everyone to hear."
A smile creeped over SunTzu's face again, he understood.
"You were spying on him, weren't you?"
"I wouldn't call it that way."
"Busted."
Although SunTzu halfway expected a little bit of an outburst of her passion she instead began to smile as well.
"I'm still glad you're here."
"I have something for you." SunTzu straightened up again and reached into his jacket's pocket as Rei turned around.
He produced an envelope, white with a ribbon the color of Sailor Mars Fuku on it.
"Again, Happy Birthday." He said as he handed it to Rei who took it with a surprised look in her face.
Fast but gentle she opened it and produced two tickets, a key and a piece of paper, which she began to read.
After she finished the piece of paper she looked up to him, speechless for a moment.
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a reservation for the island this time of the year?"
SunTzu just shrugged with a smile on his face.
"It's not Bestine. Oh, and don't worry. I made sure nobody except Izumi knows. She helped me immensely with find a fitting date."
In that moment the door opened again and Yuichiro appeared in it.
"Guys, tea is ready to be served in the living room."
Both Rei and SunTzu turned around to him and Rei held up her gift.
"Yuichiro, you won't believe what SunTzu got me for my birthday. Two tickets for Kyōryū Island!"
The brown-haired man's eyes widened.
"Whoa, not bad. I love that place!" He looked over to SunTzu.
"Don't get it twisted, I never said that ticket is for you. Maybe I'm just planning to elope with your girlfriend." SunTzu joked and shot the giggling Rei a wink.
The trio was joined by Phobos and Deimos for tea and while Yuichiro and SunTzu joked around, Rei couldn't help but to think how much she enjoyed the moment. Grandpa soon joined in as well, and although he didn't speak with SunTzu, at least he didn't talk bad about or to him. SunTzu got ready to leave after tea, Rei still wanted to get some work done over at the Palace and the pilot had to head over to the Air Base.
Rei accompanied SunTzu to the steps of the Hikawa Shrine.
"Thank you for coming over SunTzu."
"My pleasure. You'll be alright tonight? Let me know if you need a getaway driver."
A chuckle followed by her face suddenly turning austere.
"Last year seems like an eternity ago."
"Yeah."
"Some people say today's date marks the official beginning of the Shadow War."
SunTzu took a side glance.
"And some people talk shit, Rei. Don't let this spoil your day."
The Senator answered with the hint of a wry grin on her face.
"For me it marks the date I set out to really kick the enemy's ass with a very special someone."
SunTzu's lips curled up and he had to look away to not blush.
"Any news from the Setsuna-Front?"
"All quiet on that front, I guess. Guess she's still pissed that I allowed Hotaru that mission to save that refugee ship."
"She actually is proud of Hotaru doing the right thing and saving these people. But lately she's been more protective than ever." A break, Rei was visibly fighting with her inner self. But SunTzu couldn't see as he was looking to the side, Setsuna remained a difficult topic for him.
"She… she almost lost someone very important to her a few months ago." Rei finally continued. "I think that made her more cautious and fearful."
"Rei, we both know that there's not much I care for as much as I do for Hotaru, but I'm completely confident in her abilities, as are Haruka and Michiru. You should have seen how angry Setsuna was. It was not even about the mission, it was about me. And when I finally begin accepting that I don't have any chance at all, she turns around and throws me a bone." He said, insinuating her words while the Eternal was on approach to Crystal Tokyo.
"She knows about your good sides but it's extremely hard and difficult for her to fall for someone. She has been through too much. Two times. She needs time and inner security."
A hand appeared on his face, stroking over his beard.
"Keep it up. For the both of you."
SunTzu closed his eyes for a moment, as if he couldn't do that anymore.
"Let me know how tonight went, okay?" He finally stated.
"Sure. Maybe I'll let Yuichiro casually drop the possibility of donations for father's political party and then I'll happily observe how much my father degrades himself to schmooze that rapscallion wasting his time at the shrine of his late wife's father."
Both shared a wry smile and then hugged.
"See you around, Moeru Shōjo."
"You know, TopGun."
"Forever."
"Yes, Forever."
The ex-lovers turned close friends ended the hug and SunTzu began to walk down the steps of the shrine. The sun was shining and the cherry trees were still in bloom but the soft wind blew their petals around.
It was a beautiful day, worthy of the birthday of a person like Rei, SunTzu thought as he began to whistle a happy song while descending from the shrine.
A few hours later SunTzu was back at the Marvin Lewis Air Base of Crystal Tokyo and to his surprise his subordinate was there as well. And she was in the best of moods.
Apparently her mother had lifted her house arrest and even took her out for a vast shopping tour.
"I didn't know that you're a fashionista." SunTzu told the teenager after she had finished to list which pieces of designer clothing she had gottten.
"Excuse me? With mothers like that?" Hotaru answered with fake indignation and both began to laugh.
He was sitting on AICA's frame and she inside the cockpit, they were updating the A-Wings software, something SunTzu had wanted to do personally and had been joined to do by Hotaru.
"Talking about my moms. I'm sorry Setsuna-Mama was so angry with you. It was my fault I took on that mission."
"First of all, there is no fault in saving a ship full with innocent people. And second, I am your superior, I approved the mission. I get why she was mad at me, I put you in danger. I should actually apologize to you."
"Apologize for what? These Vong were absolute rookies, I smoked them without any effort. No biggie."
For a moment SunTzu just stared at the girl, taking down so many Coralskippers and a recon ship alone damn right were a biggie. He had to marvel again over her abilities as pilot.
"I wouldn't say that. Not everyone is as good as a pilot as you are."
She shrugged nonchalantly and then glanced closely at one of AICA's screens, checking something before she continued.
"Fighting always was my purpose. I'm a Sailor Senshi."
This comment hurtfully hit a part of SunTzu's soul. He knew, had seen it in her eyes and behavior, that she was on the way to become more than Sailor Saturn, a personified weapon, but it was still a long way to go until she was back to being more than a warrior. SunTzu wished he could just rip this thinking and purpose out of her and let her life a regular life. If he only knew how. And this Galaxy wasn't so full of conflict.
Hotaru noticed his look.
"Hey boss, no need to look so sad. I'm okay with what I am. I'm used to it. And I love flying, even if it wasn't for the War I still would have loved to become a pilot. Although I have to say, flying AICA sure is more fun than flying a shuttle." She began to chuckle and SunTzu's frown lightened up and he joined her snicker.
After a moment Hotaru stopped.
"I'm sorry, we fucked it up with Mom and she let it out more on you than on me. I know that you LIKE her."
Of course, she knows it as well… Sometimes I wonder if anyone in this damn Taskforce doesn't…
"Don't worry I'm on your side, SunTzu. It would be totally awesome if you guys were dating. But Mama is… complicated."
"Yeah, I heard that before. Listen, can we maybe change the topic?" SunTzu wasn't in the mood to talk about it, not even with Hotaru. Not that he was absolutely delighted to hear she thought it would be awesome if her mother and him would be dating. But lately it felt like he was messing it completely up and that messed him up.
Another shrug.
"Fine, whatever. You know I'm here if you need help." A pause as she glanced at the cockpit monitors, this whole update was taking forever. "Why the fuck is this update taking so damn long?"
Okay, one time I can let it slip but this was the second time!
"Hotaru?"
"Hm?" Her gaze was still fixed on the monitor.
"Language."
SunTzu couldn't see it but he was sure she rolled with her eyes.
They were almost through with the update, when one of the ground crew members appeared in the hangar.
"Hey SunTzu, the Commander wants to talk to you." The young men yelled over from the entrance of the hangar and SunTzu and Hotaru shot each other a suspicious look.
"What did you do now ?"
"I don't have any fucking idea. But I guess I'm about to find out." SunTzu answered and began to climb down from AICA.
He had already made a few meters when Hotaru called him from the cockpit.
"Hey SunTzu?"
The called one stopped and turned around, a questioning look on his face.
"Language." Hotaru said and then began to grin.
SunTzu's answer was to stick out his tongue at her and she answered with exact the same reaction before SunTzu really parted with a grin on his face, just like his protégé.
The Captain of the Starfighter Corps entered the Flight Center and headed straight to Commander Jim "Stinger" Jordan, the commanding flight officer of the Taskforce.
All the way SunTzu asked himself what he had done that he had been called in to the Commander's office, it has been a time since he flew too dangerous or broke some rules. If it was because Hotaru he would defend her of course and take the guilt on him.
Arriving at the door he knocked and waited until the commander ordered him inside.
He took a deep breather before he opened the door and entered.
"Ah, Captain. At ease."
SunTzu folded his hands behind his back and stood straight as the Stinger Jordan continued.
"Don't worry, no bad news. I just wanted to let you know that after successfully saving that refugee ship, Second Lieutenant Meiou will get promoted to First Lieutenant and on top will be awarded the Space Medal."
SunTzu's mouth stood agape, he was definitely expecting something else. But this was great news, Hotaru would be so happy, not that she really had earned it. SunTzu's heart filled up with proudness, he couldn't wait to tell Haruka and Michiru. And of course Hotaru.
"The King and the Admiral will both award her tomorrow afternoon. I thought it would be nice if she hears it from you as direct superior first."
"Thank you, Sir. I let her know immediately."
The officer nodded, he hadn't expected otherwise. And although he didn't show it, it warmed his heart to see the honest joy for his protégé in SunTzu's eyes. But damn, this kid was really one hell of a pilot, she sure had earned it for that deed.
"If you ask me, the promotion is long overdue."
SunTzu was surprised to hear such a praise from the as severe reckoned Commander.
"It sure is. I have to take care or the Lieutenant will surpass me in rank soon."
Both men shared a smile and then SunTzu unfolded his hands.
"You're dismissed then, Captain."
"Thank you, Sir."
SunTzu saluted and left again, and as soon as he had closed the door behind him he made a winning gesture with his arm. And then he rushed back to AICA's hangar but not before shooting a certain British-Japanese a message to get her arse over to the base asap.
Within a few minutes Hotaru's two foster mothers which weren't Meious, arrived at the Hangar and heartily congratulated the younger Outer. Hotaru had been quite flabbergasted when SunTzu told her the good news with a proud smile and the other two flying Outers were equally proud.
The couple took their fellow Outer over to her mother at the Palace while SunTzu finished AICA's software update.
A few hours later Michiru, Haruka and SunTzu met again after Haruka and SunTzu had decided that they needed to pre-celebrate Hotaru's promotion.
While downing some beers, and while Haruka insisted that Hotaru had her talent for flying from her, making her girlfriend frown, SunTzu suggested that the two women should be the ones to hand over the new rank insignia to Hotaru. An idea both of them were delighted off.
Only because of Michiru things didn't escalate as they usually did when Haruka and SunTzu went for a drink and the three pilots went home to a humane time.
While the three pilots were in their usual Izakaya, Rei was in one of Tokyo's most exclusive restaurants for her annual birthday dinner with her father. She couldn't say what she enjoyed more, the Fugu, which was out of this world, or as she predicted, her father trying to charm Yuichiro for donations to his party. Yuichiro really had dropped the possibility that he could concurrently and Rei found herself developing a new fetish. She really couldn't lie about that, Yuichiro making her father degrade himself for him got her way hotter than she would ever had thought of. It was her birthday but someone else sure was in for a treat later on.
And the fact that her father's plus one was his former secretary, and Rei's first male love interest, Kaidou made things even more enjoyable. Apart from the age difference, Kaidou had married another woman and now Rei could see a hint of regret in the man's eye to have dismissed that whole package Rei had become, not that his character and heart ever would even come close to Yuichiro.
Rei had to admit, this probably was the best birthday dinner she ever had with her father, and although she somehow couldn't hate her old man as much as she used to, she actually found liking in the fact that he finally had admitted her political role as important, it still was weird. But it was nice that he even mentioned that Crystal Tokyo was an important neighboring state for Japan in a sub clause. What a bit of economical growth and interstellar trade could do to a politician's opinion Rei thought to herself, before she had begun to smile.
For SunTzu the next day started with Rei sending him a message, she was sad about the fact that she couldn't join Hotaru's promotion as she already was on her way to Coruscant, for work, as well as a photo shooting. She already had congratulated the teenager and would make up for her missing the ceremony another time. As SunTzu knew the two of them, probably with a extensive shopping tour on Coruscant. She also let him know how dinner with her dad had been and how much things had changed. Sitting over his first coffee, reading her message SunTzu felt happy for her, the tables had turned and it also it sounded like she actually had enjoyed her birthday dinner for once, at least partly.
The ceremony was held shortly after noon and was held outside the Flight Center, the flags of the GFFA, Crystal Tokyo and Taskforce Sol prominently waving in front of the building in the light April's breeze.
Except for Rei all the Senshi were there and Chibiusa, Haruka and SunTzu's proud faces competed with each other. Not that Michiru and Setsuna weren't proud of their daughter as well, they just had more composure than the others.
Soon the Royal Couple appeared with Artemis, Diana and Luna and the ceremony began.
The attending members of the Taskforce were all dressed in the olive uniform of Taskforce Sol. Over the course of the last years a lot of ribbons and medals had been collected by the soldiers, officers, crewmen and pilots of Sol present there, lead by SunTzu with two Bravery Medals.
But although he was the highest decorated member of the Galactic Alliance's Armed Forces in the room the German was staying in the back, watching how the different squadrons had taken form in the forecourt of the Flight Center, along with some attending soldiers, officers and, of course , the ground crew members. On the other side, Haruka and Michiru had joined the Royal Family, Artemis, Luna, Diana, most of the other Senshi and Helios waiting a few meters away from a sheepish looking Hotaru, exchanging happy smiles with her best friend.
SunTzu's eyes were fixed on Hotaru so he didn't recognized the person who stopped beside him in the moment the ceremony began.
Artemis gave a small speech to the assembled people, honoring Hotaru for her heroic deed in saving the Bria Tharen before Commander Jordan strutted over festively, carrying the new rank insignia and the medal in a jewelery box, presenting them to his Admiral.
Together with the Royals, dressed in their Royal Clothes, meaning white and gold dresses for the two Usagis and Endymion in a white suite with lavender accents and a fitting cape, he then stepped towards Hotaru. Both Neo Queen and King also held their Royal Regalia in their hands.
"I'm so goddamn proud of her." It escaped SunTzu's lips and before he could react a hand, soft and warm, feeling like an angel's touch, closed around his and squeezed gently, making him look to the person next to him.
"Me too." A female voice, deep, sensual and full of wisdom, replied and now SunTzu was deprived of any reasonable thinking as Setsuna motioned him towards the ceremony with her beautiful face while she withdrew her hand, her face showing efforts of staying unfazed but still unreadable.
Setsuna and SunTzu wordlessly followed the ceremony and although the whole thing, mostly because the pure joy and hard earned pride that Hotaru emitted, made SunTzu glow with happiness inside, he actually couldn't take his eyes off of it, a part of his mind was also grinding his gears to the ground about the question why Setsuna had taken his hand. Had it been just in the heat of the moment? Was it a gesture of friendship? Or had that been a sign of romantic affection?
Hotaru got her rank insignia pinned on from Haruka and Michiru and then the Medal was pinned onto her by the Neo Queen herself. Everyone in uniform saluted, SunTzu and Setsuna included, in that moment to honor First Lieutenant Hotaru Meiou before the Princess was the first to congratulate her best friend with a big hug.
King and Admiral followed and then people literally made a line to shake the teenager's hands or congratulate her otherwise.
"This could take some time until it's our turn to congratulate her." Setsuna stated, not taking her eyes off of her beloved, adoptive daughter.
SunTzu glanced at her, there was pride and happiness on her face but it seemed like she desperately tried to not look at him.
"Yeah." He cleared his throat, sometimes a man had to do what a man had to do. What did he had to loose if he used the moment of happiness to ask her something.
"Hey Setsuna, since we're waiting any way, do... do you have a moment? I want… I need to talk to you."
Her tanned cheeks still showed a rush of crimson as she looked to the ground for a moment.
"I… uhm, sure. What's the matter?"
SunTzu motioned with his head over to the corner of the building and he and Setsuna crossed walked silently around the corner where they were out of ear- and eyeshot.
SunTzu had been leading them on and when he stopped and turned around, he noticed that Setsuna was looking to the ground.
SunTzu tried to gather all of his courage but it wasn't quite enough to voice what he actually had wanted to say.
"I… what was that right now?"
"What do you mean?"
"Grabbing my hand."
"Oh. I… I'm sorry if it was undue. I might had been a bit emotional."
"It's not this. But… that dancing on the Eternal the night I came back. The laying down next to me… why do you really do this?"
Her gaze was gouging into the ground now, while she blushed once more. "Listen… I… I." SunTzu straightened up and audibly breathed out.
"I have fallen for you, Setsuna." There, he dropped it. "And I just can't shake the feeling that it's not one sided and I do have a chance. But then, on the other side, you push me away so often. What is this?"
Her gaze shot up and she tried to pierce it into him but this one time she couldn't stand his gaze and she took a deep breather with a side glance.
"I am not blind. I see the way you look at me lately."
SunTzu held his breath, that would be it, he had been wrong, she would tell him that he wasn't the one. That she not even considered it. That he had misunderstood the signs, he never had any chance. Who did he think he was?
And yet there was this tiny piece of hope that his heart clinged onto.
"SunTzu. I can't." There It was, the pain of heartbreak began to overwhelm his thinking. "Not now. Not like that."
SunTzu pursed his lips, trying to keep his composure up.
"Okay, now I know where I stand. Thank you for taking the time to talk with me. I-I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable on this beautiful day." He was about to rush away, eyes taken off of her, mind still too numb to know where he wanted to go now. It wasn't as bad when he broke up with Rei but damn, it still hurt. Way more than he had expected. Why he had to rush forward? At least the illusion that he had a chance hadn't hurt that much.
He passed Setsuna without saying another word as she suddenly grabbed his arm and made him stop in his tracks and although he had stopped walking, SunTzu forced himself to not look in her face, let her see the pain in his eyes
"Look at me. Please." She pleaded and his eyes met hers, there was sorrow in hers as well. "When I say no, I don't mean… I… I do feel for you too." Her gaze turned away again, after all this time, now she had finally come clear to him , her secret was out. "But I cannot take another man that might break my heart. I have stronger feelings for you than you can imagine but I just can't get myself to allow them to myself. I just can't!"
A long second SunTzu looked into these colored rubins in Setsuna's face that showed millennia of pain and suffering.
"Then tell me, what can I do then? How can I make you admit your feelings to yourself?"
A sparkle in her eyes as she pulled her uniform hat down and clinged to it with two hands like she needed something to hold on to and then turned back to him.
"If you really want me, proof it to me. Never leave Hotaru again. Never leave me again. Proof yourself that you will stay, I need someone I can trust forever. Become the man you could be, the one to save this Galaxy, to protect it's citizens, to protect this kingdom. And not just a loose cannon." She clenched her hands into fists around her hat and then raised her voice.
"I am struggling enough with the fact that I cannot see the future anymore! I cannot endure it anymore, I cannot watch anymore how you hurt yourself with your antics! And me in the process!"
For a moment SunTzu just stared at her.
"I never meant to hurt you. I understood that too late but you were the one that was always looking out for me, and I mean always. Even in my weakest moments. I don't know what it takes but if I have to change so be it."
That spark of hope was back, ignited again, there was a chance. He might had lost the battle but the war wasn't over.
"I'm sorry that whatever happened in your past, hurt you so much."
Setsuna's mouth opened and she was about to say something as the two were suddenly interrupted.
"Ah, there you are! You guys might have a chance to congratulate Hotaru now." Minako let out as she crossed the corner of the Flight Center and walked over to them.
Setsuna turned around. "Coming." She replied to Minako and walked over to her protégé.
SunTzu's gaze followed them as they left.
"So, what were you guys doing?" Minako asked curiously in an ambiguous voice as they disappeared around the corner and giggled.
SunTzu let out a big breather.
With all the women in his life things were going well, except with her, the one, that special one.
But there was a chance he could win her over. And he would be damned if he didn't try to do so.