Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Stars: Chaos Theory
Act 73: To Be without You
By: Sora Kazeno
After Mamoru leaves, Rei frantically calls Ami and Makoto on her communicator asking them to come to the shrine as soon as possible. She returns to her room to check on Usagi and she's the same. If it wasn't for Usagi still sleeping, she's sure she wouldn't have been able to convince Mamoru to come back later.
She sighs in frustration. Is this what Yaten meant on the tour, hinting that Usagi could be dangerous as Sailor Cosmos? She struggles accepting what Mamoru told her. She knows Usagi has been angry with Sailor Pluto but they talked last week and everything seemed to be okay. What changed? She looks worriedly at Usagi and questions if it is possible. Usagi returned to Earth suddenly. Mamoru didn't have a reason to lie to her.
She gasps as she remembers she was speaking with Venus via the communicator. She runs outside to retrieve the device. Picking it up, she is thankful the object is still there. She wouldn't know what to do if it was gone. She wants to contact Minako to tell her what she learned from Mamoru but can't figure out how to work the device. She is able to pull up a screen but she doesn't understand the writing. How can Usagi use this if it's not in Japanese? With a shrug of her shoulders she heads back inside to leave the communicator with Usagi.
"I'm relieved you were able to find Usagi-san," Queen Kakyuu responds to the information. "We know where she is but it is troubling to know she attacked one of her own senshi. She discussed her recent struggles regarding Sailor Pluto with me when she first arrived. She wasn't sure how to handle… the incident." She keeps her answer vague she has not told the Queen's Guard what occurred. She might have to inform them if things continue to escalate.
Sailor Star Protector frowns. She hates being left out of information but it is clear her Queen is not ready to share it.
Sailor Venus can't stay quiet any more. "I need to return to Earth."
Queen Kakyuu shakes her head no. "The journey is too far and dangerous to travel on your own."
"She's right," Sailor Star Healer explains to Venus. "The journey is hard enough on the three of us and even then we had to stop and rest." She swallows. "Sailor Cosmos… might return soon… and we would miss her since she travels a lot faster than we can."
Sailor Venus lets out a frustrated sigh.
"Try contracting her again in a few hours. She likely to be more willing to talk to you," Sailor Star Maker suggests. "Hopefully Fighter will be back by then. We need to get to the bottom of this and she disabled her communicator for the time being."
Destroyer gives Maker a questioning look. It sounded pretty clear Fighter didn't want to speak with Sailor Cosmos.
Makoto and Ami run up the long cement staircase leading up the Hikawa Shrine. They are panicking at the news Usagi returned to Earth and attacked Sailor Pluto.
Rei is waiting for them near the entranceway. "Usagi is still asleep. Let's head inside and I'll tell you what she told me so far."
As soon as they are inside, Rei explains everything she knows from her conversations with Usagi and Mamoru.
"It's a good thing Sailor Pluto was not alone then," Makoto states looking down at the table. Her head shifts up. "I didn't know Mamoru-san had become so close to them."
"It is not surprising actually. They were all the least accepting of Usagi-chan and Seiya-kun. Ayumi-san… we don't know very well." Ami points out.
"I've never seen Usagi this upset. What could have happened between them?" Rei ponders out loud.
"How long has she slept?" Makoto asks Rei.
"Most of the day… I'm hoping she'll wake up soon but she really needs the rest," Rei looks at her watch. "Maybe give her another hour?"
The girls nod their head in silence. They fill the time by talking about what they've done the past few days.
Ten minutes later, the door opens and they see a very distressed Usagi.
"Usagi what happened?" Rei asks, barely giving the blonde a chance to sit down. "I spoke with Ami-chan and Mako-chan about what you told me so far. While you were sleeping, Mamoru-san showed up and wanted to talk to you."
Usagi's hands clench after hearing his name. She slowly moves to the table to sit with the other girls.
Rei voice softens when she sees the gesture. "He said you attacked Sailor Pluto."
Usagi takes a deep breath and looks up to face the girls. She can't hide this from them. "I did."
"Usagi-chan…" Ami whispers.
Makoto takes a different approach. "What did she do?"
"I… " Usagi begins, already feeling the tears starting to return. "When I returned from the Galaxy Cauldron…. I…." Silent tears fall down her eyes.
The girls wait for her continue.
"It's okay Usagi-chan, you can tell us." Makoto tries to encourage her.
"We want to help you in any way that we can," Ami chimes in.
"This can't be fixed." Usagi responds. She takes a deep breath. "I learned I was pregnant and lost the baby."
Her statement hangs in the air. Dead silence.
When the girls don't respond, Usagi takes the moment to finish while she still has the strength. Her voice cracks as she continues. "I found out I was three months along and it caused a huge fight with Seiya. Because… it's not his."
Rei looks at Usagi is disbelief. Was she with Mamoru-san some other time she didn't know about? That didn't seem like Usagi.
"I had a dream… I was in Crystal Tokyo and Neo Queen Serenity was yelling at me… that it was my fault she was gone…that I lost my chance…my only chance to have…Chi…" Usagi tries to explain but her voice is choked with emotion as she tries to relay the information.
"Was that child Chibi Usa-chan?" Ami asks softly as she pieces everything together.
Usagi nods her head. After hearing the child's name she cannot keep it in; the floodgate of tears crashes open.
Rei reaches across the table for Usagi's hand. "This is because you were in the other timeline, wasn't it?"
Usagi is unable to verbally answer and nods her head, thankful for Ami and Rei putting the pieces together.
"Usagi-chan…" Makoto murmurs. She looks over at Rei and Ami. Both girls are just as horrified as she is. "How could Pluto do this… it's not right."
Usagi's shoulders shake. Seconds later her three friends surround her, hugging her tightly. They don't know what else to do or say. How could they comfort Usagi after a loss like this?
Sailor Star Fighter returns to the Scarlet Palace in a calmer state of mind. She expelled a lot of her pent up energy. She is still furious but the events have started to sink in, giving her time to process. She silently walks through the garden heading to the side entrance of palace. The same one Usagi was wheeled past after she collapsed when she returned from the cauldron. Her lips twitch in annoyance. Is that what she going to remember every time she is out here now? That one moment in time?
She spies movement up ahead as she closes in on the doorway. Someone is standing there, waiting. She hopes it isn't Usagi. She's not ready to see her. For a few seconds she's relieved it is Shiori and not Usagi. But that feeling passes quickly. She is pretty sure she knows why Shiori is standing there. She can't avoid her and has to walk past her.
As Fighter draws closer she addresses the leader of the Starlights on Kinmoku, "I'm not in the mood." She pauses to glare at her, "I swear if you here to say I told you so…"
Shiori raises both of her hands in front of her with open palms. "No." She speaks carefully while she studies Fighter, taking inventory of her mental state. "I was worried about you… that is a lot to take in at once."
Fighter's gruff expression lessens a little, surprised by Shiori's words. "Yeah…I was not expecting something like this." She admits.
Shiori walks over to Fighter, closing the distance. She looks into her eyes for a moment before she reaches out placing her right arm on Fighter's right bicep and giving it a light squeeze. It's a universal sign all Starlights use for each other to convey sympathy for one's struggles and a way to say they have their back, whether it is in life's challenges or on the battlefield.
Fighter inhales sharply at the gesture as she can feel a little of the tension leave her body. Her eyes soften as she looks at Shiori, not expecting such a gesture. "Thank you…" she responds slowly, a few tears threating to fall from her eyes.
Shiori continues to stare into Fighter's eyes for a few moments longer; she wants Fighter to remember this moment. That she was here to assist her. Gradually she retracts her hand. She offers a sad smile. She stays quiet not wanting to say the wrong thing to upset the Starlight.
"I'm going back to my room and want to be left alone for a while," Sailor Star Fighter states, hoping to fall asleep and put the worst day of her life behind her. Tomorrow she can start to pick up the pieces.
Shiori nods her head, knowing not to push Fighter at the moment. She doesn't tell Fighter what happened at the palace since the Starlight has been through enough. She still has a small window of time until Fighter is supposed to return to Earth. She suppresses a smirk. That's if Fighter wants to return back to Earth. "I'll see you tomorrow then at breakfast." She moves to the side to allow Fighter to walk past her. Shiori doesn't say anything else as she watches Fighter move past her. Her eyes following the Starlight's moments. She has never seen Fighter so broken before.
She watched Seiya struggle when he returned from Earth, but this is an entirely different level. He had Usagi and lost her. He ended things with her. Shiori can't help but smile widely. This is the best case scenario for her. Seiya ended things. He's done with Usagi. Shiori scowls a little. Now if only she didn't have to abide by the laws of Kinmoku but she has to set an example for the other Starlights. She hopes to hear a favorable ruling for the new bylaws from the Council soon. If that barrier is removed, all bets are off. Seiya is going to be hers. All hers. As it should be.
She turns and walks back to her room with a slight bounce in her steps.
Fighter slowly walks back to the senshi's quarters of the palace. It seems strange to be returning to this section of the palace after being one of the senshi that guarded then Princess Kakyuu. But it couldn't be helped. A lot of things changed in the Scarlet Palace during the time she was gone.
Her thoughts gravitate to Shiori without realizing it. She normally would have pushed Shiori away immediately but right now she is too exhausted to care. She asks herself when is the last time any Starlight made that gesture to her? It's been years. She was still in training.
She stands outside her bedroom door now. With a sigh she opens the door, thankful to have not run into anyone else, still oblivious to everything that happened since she fled the palace. The moment of relief is short lived as she finds Taiki and Yaten waiting for her. They are sitting at the wooden table in her room.
She really did not want to talk to them. Her temper flares. "I just want to be left alone." She barks at them. She walks over to the bed, tapping her brooch as she falls backward on the bed reverting back to being Seiya closing his eyes. Hoping they will take the hint and leave.
"No," Taiki responds bluntly. "A lot has happened since you left abruptly."
Taiki's statement is enough to cause Seiya to open his eyes and stare at his cousins. "Like what?" If they are going to talking about something other than Usagi, he's willing to listen. He needs the distraction.
"We think Sailor Cosmos caused a mini earthquake in the palace and then left," Yaten explains the key points in one sentence to Seiya.
Seiya bolts upward, "What?" He couldn't have heard that right.
"Apparently all of this was too much for her and she left Kinmoku for Earth," Taiki breaks it down further for Seiya.
"Earthquake…?" He repeats slowly. He didn't feel anything and the palace seemed fine. But he wasn't searching the palace for signs of damage. His mind picks up on the rest of Taiki's message and his mood sours further. "To see Mamoru-san I'm sure." His eyes narrow.
"Seiya…" Taiki pauses after seeing the pain the raven haired man is clearly in. "There is something we need you to clarify."
"I don't want to talk about what happened between me and Odango." He immediately snaps. He exhales slowly realizing he is taking his anger out on the person. "It hurts too much."
Yaten doesn't have time for this. Mina wants answers too and he promised he would find out and her persistent nagging. "Look, just answer our questions and we'll leave."
Seiya looks over at Yaten, seeing his determined expression. He was not going to give up that easily. Seiya considers his statement and acknowledges it's faster to just answer their questions to get them to leave. The two of them can be very persistent. He relents, "fine. Make it quick." He crosses his arms against his chest, a sign he is not thrilled at this idea.
"How long was Usagi-chan in the other timeline?" Taiki asks his first question.
Seiya looks at Taiki confused for a moment. It is not the question he had assumed. "It was roughly two months." He's unsure of the direction of this conversation. "Why?"
Yaten exchanges a look with Taiki. They filled in the other blanks while waiting for Seiya to return. "She and Rei-chan rejoined the tour almost three weeks ago." He nods his head at Taiki.
"That would explain it," Taiki ponders double checking to make sure everything lines up in his head.
"Explain what?" Seiya asks riled up as he approaches the two of them at the table. "What does this have to do with anything?" He slams his hands on the table, bending over staring at them.
Taiki is still seated and takes a deep breath knowing how this will affect Seiya. "You wanted a logical explanation."
"Yeah…" Seiya hesitantly responds, adjusting his posture so he's standing up right. He's been desperate to come up with any alternative reason for what happened other than Usagi cheated on him.
"Minako-chan tried to contact Usagi-chan and ended up reaching Rei-chan briefly which is how we know she went to Earth. She also learned Sailor Cosmos attacked Sailor Pluto." Taiki pauses for a moment. "We believe Sailor Cosmos went to Earth to seek out Sailor Pluto and attack her."
Seiya is taken aback and by this theory. "I know she's been angry about the other timeline but to attack Sailor Pluto? Why?" Seiya doesn't give them time to answer as he continues to talk this out. "What possible reason could she-" He stops suddenly. He inhales sharply as his eyes widen as he pieces it all together. "no…that child…did Pluto sent her to a time when she was already…" he has difficulty swallowing as a large lump forms in his throat. He never even considered this as a possibility. He was too angry to think there was another explanation.
"We think it's possible…" Taiki confirms. "That is why we needed to know how long she was in the other timeline."
Seiya looks pale. Brushing a hand though his hair, "the things I said to her… I have to talk to her. I have to know if this is true." He had spent hours hoping there was another reason to explain what happened before he confronted Usagi. Did he really screw things up this badly? "How did Minako-chan reach Rei-chan?" He needs to sort this out now. Too much time has already passed.
"Mina used her new communicator to try to reach Usagi-chan but she was sleeping and Rei-chan picked up." Yaten looks at Seiya skeptically by his fast change in mood.
Seiya reaches into his pockets fishing out his own communicator. "I forgot Queen Kakyuu gave her a communicator." He twists the star portion of his communicator to the right and to the left a few times of various rotations to bring it back online. "I need to figure this out."
Taiki approaches his younger cousin. "Are you sure that is a good idea? She might not want to talk to you."
"There is only one way to find out," he taps a few more buttons on the device bring up a directory to scan for Usagi's code to reach her. He smiles a little. Her birthday, he punches in 0630 and walks back to his bed to sit down while still holding the communicator. He is impatient at the static image.
It takes a minute until an image starts to come into focus.
"I was going to call you back Minako-chan, as soon as I figured out how this thing works," Usagi explains. Her mouth drops slightly when she realizes it was not Minako trying to reach her, "…Seiya…" Her jaw instantly tenses and her eyes express pain seeing him.
"Odango… we should talk."
Usagi shakes her head no at his words. "I've already heard what you have to say." She looks at his eyes as if challenging him. "We don't have anything we need to talk about." She hesitates; she can't leave Minako on Kinmoku. "Tell Minako-chan I'll be back soon."
"Usagi-chan?" Ami calls her, moving closer to the screen.
Usagi ends the transmission without further hesitation.
Seiya stares at the static screen for a few seconds as it fades into nothingness. He can't believe she would act like that. It wasn't like her. "Is there something wrong with this… the connection ended…" He tries to play if off as a device malfunction to Yaten and Taiki.
"I wouldn't try to talk to her again until she's back. She's pretty pissed and you'll only make things worse right now," Yaten suggests.
Taiki turns to Yaten in surprise, "I wasn't expecting such sound advice from you."
"I learned a few things from Mina. When they are really mad at something you did, give them some time to cool off." He pauses. "They're a lot different from the women we're used to encountering on Kinmoku." He smirks a little. "And very different from how we acted as women."
"Usagi-chan, was that Seiya-kun just now?" Ami's question hangs in the air.
Makoto and Rei stop in their tracks from making dinner to look over at Usagi for confirmation.
"I hung up on him," Usagi confirms standing up from the cushion at the table.
"He looked like he was worried about you," Ami adds, surprised by Usagi's actions.
"Well he sure didn't show it earlier. He was too busy yelling at me," Usagi crosses her arms against her chest in annoyance. The girls knew they had gotten into a fight when he learned she was pregnant but she never disclosed all the details.
"Why was he yelling at you?" Makoto asked gentling trying to understand the entire picture. "It's not your fault what Pluto did to you."
"He accused me of cheating on him…" Usagi's voice grows softer. "And I didn't… I won't… not after…" she breaks down and starts crying again.
Ami is the closest to the blonde and hugs her. "Maybe after a few days away things will be better?" She suggests. None of the girls knew Usagi left without telling them she lost Chibi Usa.
"Yeah," Rei tries to encourage Usagi. "Stay here as long as you need to. You've had a rough couple of months." Yelling at Usagi right now is the last thing she needs in her fragile state but something doesn't seem right. Seiya doesn't seem the type to yell at Usagi unless something was seriously wrong. She had seen how they were on the tour, especially the second half.
"I can't just leave Minako-chan there. She can't come back on her own," Usagi wipes a few tears back. "I wouldn't be surprised if they just stay on Kinmoku after this." She says the last statement with little emotion. Maybe it was better she stayed away from Seiya. She doesn't want to see him.
Mamoru was physically present for his lectures in class but his mind was elsewhere. He's barely slept since he spoke with Rei. She was shocked when he told her Usako attacked Pluto and couldn't understand why Usagi would do such a thing.
The state he had seen Sailor Cosmos in was terrifying. He half expected her to have golden bracelets on her wrists, but she was in complete control… her emotions were so raw. What changed that ended her relationship with Seiya? Did she have a similar reaction when he ended things shortly after Chibi Usa appeared because he was fearful for her safety?
Ayumi pokes Mamoru with the eraser of her pencil, snapping him out of his thoughts. Everyone was packing up their belongings. The lecture was over. "Try talking to her tomorrow, its night over there right now."
Mamoru shoots Ayumi a look thinking about the last time he was given the same advice. "Last time I waited a day to talk to her… she spent the night with Seiya-kun."
Ayumi bit her lip. "This is different… She accused Pluto of ruining things between them. Besides… she's still at Rei-chan's isn't she?"
"She was the last I checked before class," Mamoru confirms. "I'm really worried about her. I haven't seen her… this hurt in a long time." He doesn't want to elaborate. He is still kicking himself for that decision. Their relationship would have been stronger without that "test".
Ayumi nudges him. "This could be your chance if things are really over between them."
He contemplates her words. The last thing he needs is hope that will only lead to utter disappointment again. He checks the time on his watch. It is way too late at night in Japan to show up at Rei's shrine unannounced. He sighs in frustration. "It looks like I will have to wait a while until I try talking to her. Perhaps later this evening."
Ayumi encourages him, "yeah. Take a nap or something before then. You want to be wide awake and ready for the conversation."
The following morning on Kinmoku, Queen Kakyuu requested all of the Starlights within the palace or nearby to attend a special meeting regarding the final ruling on the bylaws of the senshi set by the Council. The meeting was set for mid-morning and it was all anyone could discuss throughout the palace. There were speculations of what changes will discussed and how those changes would affect all the Starlights going forward.
Minako uses the time to explore the palace as she is not part of the Scarlet Palace. She is worried about Usagi-chan but she is afraid to try to contact her given the reception Seiya received. But she didn't scream at Usagi. Seiya looked like a nervous wreck this morning at breakfast; he kept looking at the seat next to him as if he was hoping for Usagi to suddenly appear.
She checks her watch, realizing the meeting is about to start any minute. She sighs. Yaten will tell her all about it later.
All of the Starlights are in their civilian forms but in formal attire for the meeting due to its nature. Their formal attire will be expected for the rest of the day. They are meeting in the Council's Chambers but the Council will not be present, only Queen Kakyuu. They are all wearing a qipao, a body hugging one piece floor length sleeveless dress with a very long slit up the right thigh. The mandarin collar is closed by a gold pankou button with a slit from the collar to right above the bust but not wide enough to reveal too much cleavage. Nine women are wearing dark emerald versions of the dress. On the right side of the dress near the collarbone they each have a gold five pointed star embroidered in the fabric, a sign associated with being a Starlight.
The Queen's Guard's dresses are the same style but in a very pale soft blue shade. Shiori has a red Kinmokian Blossom instead of a golden star. Yuna and Sakura have orange Kinmokian Blossoms. Their pankou buttons match the color of the Kinmokian Blossom
The Starlights in training wear the same qipao style in silver, like their fuku, and have no embroidery since they have not completed their training and are not full-fledged Starlights yet. Their buttons are white. Once they are successful they will wear the emerald green dresses like the other Starlights. They stand huddled to the side, clearly feeling out of place and not fully comprehending what is occurring and what is about to happen.
Years ago, Seiya, Taiki, and Yaten wore the same emerald green dresses. But since their return two years ago, different attire was made for them due to returning to a male form. They are wearing a royal blue tang style shirts closed by four silver pankou knots with a mandarin collar closed by a silver pankou knot. They have large white cuffs at the end of their long sleeves. They have a simple pair of matching slacks. The only embroidery is near their collar bone. They used to have a five pointed golden star. But they received new tang shirts this morning in preparation for this meeting due to the new status granted to them by the Council. The golden star was replaced by a silver eight pointed star resting above a golden crescent moon.
Taiki and Yaten were surprised by the change but it was somewhat expected after the outcome of the Council Meeting. Everything about their appearance is now different from the other Starlights they used to fight alongside to protect Kinmoku. However, the time of this change is horrible.
When Seiya received his, it was like a punch to gut. He hasn't spoken to Odango since last night and even then that was brief. He can only imagine what rumors have spread throughout the palace.
When the three of them enter the Council room, the other Starlights voices dissipate. All eyes are on them.
Seiya is trying to remain composed. This is the same room were the Council almost succeeded in taking his Change Star away.
Sasha walks across the room to greet them. She has known them the longest. "We're glad you could make it." She gives them a sad smile. "We heard-" her voice is caught in her throat when she sees the symbols on their shirts. "Oh…" She shakes her head a moment, trying to refocus her thoughts as to why she had volunteered to be the first to address them from the Starlights in emerald qipao. "We heard what happened Seiya-kun from Queen Kakyuu. We all want to offer our condolences to you and Usagi-san. We feel horrible for participating in the training session against her when she was pregnant, if only we'd known..."
Seiya cuts her off. "None of us knew, it was…. a shock…" he responds trying to understand why he was receiving sympathy when it should be Usagi.
Sasha reaches out to embrace him. "I'm sorry. Losing a child is horrible."
It is at that moment Seiya realizes everyone is under the impression the child was his and not someone else's. He doesn't bother to correct her; it's less complicated that way. "…thank you…" he responds slowly. Bringing a fresh wave of guilt for how he treated Odango the last time he saw her. It chokes him up a little bit.
Shiori bits her lip. She knows that's not true, the child was not Seiya's but Queen Kakyuu let everyone assume it was Seiya's. Probably to not tannish Usagi's image. She wants to correct them but… it would also embarrass Seiya. She can't contradict her Queen either. So she keeps her mouth shut. She can still see the pain in his eyes. What she was not expecting was the look of concern and worry replacing the anger she had seen last night. She's not sure what would have caused such a change in him.
Queen Kakyuu enters the room from a side entrance, silencing everyone as they immediately kneel before their Queen. Still not completely sure of their role anymore, the Three Lights do the same as they are part of this meeting.
Once everyone is standing up again she addresses the crowd. "Thank you for coming on such short notice to this meeting and in formal attire given the gravity of what I am about to discuss with you."
"Everyone is aware of the recent Council Meeting that took place here involving Fighter and Cosmos. During the meeting it came to the Council's attention the laws governing the senshi on Kinmoku are rather archaic."
Everyone listens to the Queen intently.
"The first change has already taken place a few days ago during the Council Meeting."
A few gasps are heard throughout the room.
"Fighter, Maker, and Healer have a rather unique circumstance. They are part of two courts; the one at the Scarlet Palace and the Silver Millennium. During the training session, I understand many of you noticed the silver crescent moon on their brooches. It means they are members of the Royal Court of the Silver Millennium under Neo Queen Serenity's rule."
Shiori's eyes narrow. How can a Starlight be part of two courts at the same time? They can't be equally loyal to both and will always put one before the other. She bits the inside of her cheek to keep her mouth shut. This will now make it next to impossible to have them stay here. Unless… she has to make sure things are over with Usagi. And fast.
"Because of this, it has been determined the three of them fall under the status of diplomats as long as they continue to serve Sailor Cosmos, rather Neo Queen Serenity." Her eyes sadden a little at the next part. Although they have been gone for most of the past year and a half, she still misses them greatly. "While they primarily reside on Earth… those are the laws that will govern them, rather than those on Kinmoku. This change went into effect at the end of the Council Meeting."
The Starlights in the emerald qipao turn to look at the Three Lights in shock. They had wondered how Fighter managed to keep her Change Star and remain in the palace. It was no mystery their relationship was forbidden after the news of the pregnancy. The Queen's Guard had already known most of this.
The senshi in silver qipao are first learning of the change in the Three Light's status, not fully aware of what all this means. They were not there to witness the training with Sailor Cosmos. All they knew is that she is visiting the palace.
Queen Kakyuu continues, "After the Council listened to how Neo Queen Serenity governs her senshi… the Council has removed one its ancient laws. As of this moment, there are no longer any forbidden relationships for any senshi on Kinmoku."
Everyone's jaws drop at this announcement.
She resumes speaking. "The Council is going to try the policy used at the Silver Millennium. There will be no restrictions as long as you continue to keep your duties."
Shiori is shocked to learn this law will no longer be in place. She is also thrilled. This announcement is perfect. This was the main obstacle from her truly pursing Seiya. Now it's gone. The issues between him and Usagi couldn't have come at a better time.
Queen Kakyuu continues the meeting by discussing current events throughout the kingdom and a few shifts in assignments for some of the senshi.
Shiori is impatient for this to end, anxious to speak with him. As soon as the meeting ends, Yuna and Sakura pull her to the side.
"Look, we know Seiya-san and Usagi-san are having issues. Give them a chance to work it out," Yuna tries to keep Shiori in line.
Shiori dismisses her warning; it's not what her heart wants. "If Seiya-san doesn't want to be with her, I want to make sure he knows he has alternatives." She grins. "Besides if they can't work it out, why not?" She pauses making her stance clear to her teammates now that there will be no consequences. "He was mine first and if it wasn't for that law that just ended… we would have been together this entire time."
Sailor Cosmos hugs Rei at the shrine. Ami and Makoto are in school and Usagi said her goodbyes to them last night. She thought things over and it's better if she goes back to Kinmoku sooner. She doesn't want to Minako to feel like she abandoned her and she isn't sure how much damage she had done to the palace. She needs to make amends and fix it. The palace is rather large; she can avoid Seiya for a while.
"Good luck Usagi," Rei cheers her on.
Sailor Cosmos looks at Rei for a moment. "I'm not sure if I'll be back right away or stay there until the end of next week." She pauses. "I'm going to see how it goes."
"Usagi…" Rei has waited for the right time to ask her this while they were alone. "What about the premonition you had of the future… the one where you're at the Silver Millennium in the gardens… and the little girl… with Seiya-kun?"
The mention of the premonition brings pain to Sailor Cosmos' face. "I don't know if that will happen anymore. Seiya ended things with me."
"It sounded like he really wanted to talk to you the other day." Rei points out. "Does he know… about the other timeline and …" She leaves the sentence hanging instead of saying Chibi Usa's name. She knows it will only hurt Usagi.
"I never had the chance to explain it… to anyone on Kinmoku actually," Sailor Cosmos slowly explains.
"So they don't know…" Rei voice trails off. "Usagi you need to tell them."
Sailor Cosmos slowly nods her head. "I woke up from that nightmare and came here immediately. Umm…. I might have damaged the palace a little before I left... I'm not sure. I was so angry."
Rei's eyes widen. "Damaged it how?"
Sailor Cosmos shrugs. "I'll find out when I get back."
"Are you strong enough to make it back?"
"I think so…" Sailor Cosmos tries to sound confident. She looks down at the pavement to address Rei's original comment, "the premonition I saw was before I was sent to the other timeline Rei-chan, before everything changed. I… I don't think it will happen anymore."
Rei hugs Sailor Cosmos tightly. "He loves you, I'm sure you can work this out…." She quickly adds, "If that is what you want." She's not sure if recent events stirred up Usagi's feelings for Mamoru again, entirely possible and with her relationship with Seiya so vulnerable right now.
Sailor Cosmos pulls away to brush the tears away. "I… don't know. If he doesn't trust me… and things he said. They were horrible." She tries to suppress another sob when she can hear his words ring in her head.
"You need tell him what really happened. I'm sure he'll understand," Rei tries to encourage her. "You can't keep this a secret."
Footsteps approach the two girls as they are in deep conversation. "Usako, we need to talk."
Sailor Cosmos gasps, turning around to see Mamoru. She bites her lip. She doesn't know what to say to him regarding Chibi Usa. She doesn't want to hurt him further than she already has. She has to provide him some kind of answer before she leaves. "There were some… unexpected changes when the timeline changed back to this." She is as vague as she can be. She already knew what he was going to ask.
Rei looks at Sailor Cosmos with her mouth open slightly. Is Usagi not planning on telling Mamoru about Chibi Usa?
He moves closer to her, towering above her. "What changed?"
Sailor Cosmos doesn't dare meet his eyes. "I'm sorry… but I don't want to talk about."
Mamoru shakes his head in frustration. "No Usako. You attacked Sailor Pluto, along with Uranus, Neptune, and Earth trying to get to Setsuna-san. That isn't nothing."
Her hands are shaking, trying to find a way out of it. "It's between Seiya and me…" She is not ready to discuss this with him. The first tears returns to her eyes. "We'll talk another time. I know we have another training session when I get back." She tries desperately to bury the pain.
"Usako, please." He places his hands on her arms right below the sleeves of her fuku.
Sailor Cosmos inhales sharply looking up at him as the tears cascade form her eyes. "I… can't…" She is seconds away from breaking again. She is not ready to talk about it, to tell him about Chibi Usa. She has already caused him so much pain and this will only add to it. This is her burden to bear, not his.
Mamoru is in shock at the torment in her eyes. Desperately trying to help her and without thinking he hugs her tightly to him. He wants to take away her pain and punch the bastard in the face for whatever he did. They stay like this for a few moments as he whispers to her. "I want to help you Usako in any way I can. It doesn't matter what happened between us, I'll be here to help you."
Sailor Cosmos numbly nods her head, hesitantly returned the embrace for a few moments before she pulls away. She brushes a few tears away. "I need to head back… Minako-chan is still there." She quickly moves away from Mamoru placing more distance between them. She needs to leave now before he asks more questions. Her rings activate as large feather wings appear on her back for the journey. "I'll be back soon." She murmurs before the wind picks up and she vanishes in flash of pure white light.
Mamoru watches the beam of energy rocket into the upper atmosphere until it vanishes. The thought of her traveling all the way to Kinmoku on her own makes him nervous. He's confused and hurt that she is keeping so many secrets from him. Something he is not used to.
He turns his focus to Rei hoping for information to shed some light on what transpired.
"I will not betray my Queen," Rei immediately tells Mamoru before he has a chance to answer her anything. "She will tell you when she's ready…" She adds at the last moment to soften the blow.
This further irritates Mamoru. He is tired of secrets. "I have a feeling something like this shouldn't be kept a secret Rei-chan." He challenges trying to gather information.
"I'm sorry Mamoru-san, but I won't betray what Usagi told me in confidence." Rei explains as gently as she can.
That was it. That was the last straw for the King of Earth. "She attacked another senshi right in front of me! She could have killed Setsuna-san if we weren't there!" He glares at the senshi of flames. "I had to attack her to stop her." He continues to yell at her.
Rei recoils a little. She understands Mamoru is angry and she is the only one here he can take out his frustrations but she is not going to budge. Hearing he had to attack Cosmos frightens her more. Usagi left out the details of her attacking Sailor Pluto. She should have tried to convince Usagi to stay longer to find out more.
Mamoru's shouts attract a different man on the shrine grounds. He runs over to check on the commotion. Yuichiro stiffens seeing Mamoru shouting at Rei. He is still peeved at the black haired man since he learned Mamoru dated Rei at one point when he stayed at the shrine for a few days due to issues with his apartment.
"Chiba-kun!" Yuichiro shouts loudly at him as he approaches him with a long wooden plank. He was in the process of trying to replace a piece of wood used for engawa in the back. He grabbed it in case he needed to use it against whoever was acting unruly on these sacred grounds. He gripes the wood tightly. "Leave Rei-san alone!"
Mamoru turns to find Yuichiro with the wooden board in his hand. He missed his chance get any more information out of Rei; she won't talk about anything senshi related in front of Yuichiro. "Sorry," Mamoru apologies to Rei. "I'm just frustrated. I didn't mean to take it out on you."
Yuichiro glares at Mamoru for his outburst. He walks closer to Rei as if to challenge Mamoru.
Rei's expression softens. "I understand Mamoru-san, but it's probably best you leave." It is the perfect opportunity to end things.
Mamoru sighs. There isn't anything else he can do. He quickly leaves opting for a secluded area out of the way to teleport back to Boston in the direction of the shrine entrance.
Yuichiro watches Mamoru's retreating form and lowers his guard when he can no longer see him. He turns all of his attention to Rei. "Are you okay?"
Rei nods her head not sure what to say.
"He was here because Usagi-san was here earlier, right?" He questions, hoping that is all he was here for. "I thought he was in school overseas."
"School break," Rei quickly answers. "Yeah, he wanted to speak with Usagi." She hopes that is enough information. She relaxes when she sees a flash of gold light.
Yuichiro nods his head, the explanation plausible. "He can't take a hint." He sounds annoyed.
"Thank you," Rei turns to him, appreciating his help. Otherwise she wasn't sure how she was going to avoid Mamoru's questions. She hugs him for a moment. She's not used to having someone take care of her. It's a nice feeling. Her face turns bright red when she realizes what she is doing. She lets go, clears her throat and says, "I need to get back to work." She quickly rushes away to avoid the awkward situation.
She leaves Yuichiro standing there speechless by her affections, a smile slowly spreading across his face.
Taiki and Yaten are in a conference room with Seiya trying to distract him after the meeting from earlier. They have pages of song lyrics in front of them with different song concepts.
Seiya is only able to focus for brief periods of time. He keeps thinking about Odango wondering when she will back at the Scarlet Palace. He feels a sense of dread. He was right about some of it. The child wasn't his but the circumstances were nothing like he imagined. He is desperate for an answer. Hoping the reason for all this was because she was sent to another timeline. He is trying to hold onto this optimism after all the pain and anger he has felt the past few days when he learned Odango miscarried.
Panic sets in, what if she doesn't come back? What if… she does actually go back to Mamoru after all this? His hands clutch the paper in front of ripping it without realizing it.
Yaten is about to yell at him but Taiki places a hand on his wrist to stop, shaking his head.
Yaten sighs and leans back in his chair. He hates the idea that if things end between Seiya and Usagi, it is going to be extremely difficult for him to remain with Minako. He's sure he'll be called back to Kinmoku. They all will. They'll only be able to stay on Earth for so long to keep an eye on Sailor Cosmos and her powers.
Seiya excuses himself after a while since he can't focus and leaves.
Minako tried to think of anything she can do to pass the time. She wanted to give Yaten and Taiki a chance to spend time with Seiya to try to help him keep it together. She pushes her lips together tightly. It's his own fault for reacting the way he did to Usagi.
She wanders through the palace and comes across the Queen's Guard. After a little pleading she asks if she can join them and give her a bit more information on the palace. It was still too easy for her to become lost during the emergency. She wants to be prepared should something like that happen again.
Shiori was the one to agree before her two teammates could say anything. She's going to use the opportunity to learn whatever she can in regards to Usagi before she speaks with Seiya tonight. Her first conversation with him since the laws changed. It's the perfect opportunity while she is still wearing her form fitting qipao. Dinner is in a few hours. "I can't believe Usagi-san would do that to Seiya-san and hurt him that like." She starts to dig.
Minako takes the bait not knowing anything about Shiori and Seiya's past. "Usagi-chan is not like that. You don't even know the whole story." She huffs.
"Oh? Then what happened? Because it sounds like she was with someone else," Shiori draws her in. "What other kind of explanation is there?"
Yuna and Sakura exchange a glance with each other knowing what Shiori is up to but as their leader they reframe from saying anything. Also because they are curious what Minako will reveal.
"Years ago, we went to the future to fight an adversary known as the Black Moon. While we were there we met our future selves including the Queen and King of Crystal Tokyo," Minako begins to explain.
"Time travel?" Yuna raises an eyebrow. She was not expecting this response.
"Hmmm. Back then the future we seen had Neo Queen Serenity and King Endymion ruling Crystal Tokyo together. They had a daughter, Chibi Usa-chan."
Shiori stops walking. "You saw that future…?" So many thoughts race through her head. If Usagi seen a future like that, why is she with Seiya right now? She already knows how things are supposed to play out. "Then what is she doing with Seiya-san?" She snaps, quickly regretting her outburst. She can't tip Minako off.
Minako continues, "When Usagi-chan awakened as Sailor Cosmos… that future… disappeared. She was never meant to be Sailor Cosmos in the same future as Crystal Tokyo."
"So you mean the future you seen is completely different now?" Sakura interjects amazed anyone could travel to the future. She knew about seeing the future in premonitions but this a whole different level.
"Yes. Usagi-chan ended things with Mamoru-san and then came here to train when you first met her. I'm sure the last time you were on Earth when you worked with Haruka-san and the others you noticed many of them were not as accepting of Usagi-chan with Seiya-kun," Minako continues to lay out the premise of how things ended up this way.
"That was pretty clear," Yuna adds. "Why do they hate him so much?" She pauses. "Is this why?"
Minako nods her head in confirmation. "They hate the idea of a different future where Usagi-chan is with Seiya-kun… even if she's really happy."
Shiori smirks a little. Maybe this will be easier than she thought if some of Usagi's senshi are still rejecting him.
"To the extent Sailor Pluto used her abilities to try to reset our present time to go back to what it used to be." Minako explains it as simply as she can. "We think Sailor Pluto sent Usagi-chan to a time where she was already pregnant with Chibi Usa-chan and Usagi-chan went back to Earth to confront her."
Shiori looks at her skeptically. "How can you be so sure?"
"Based on how far along Usagi-chan was… it matches. She was in that other timeline for two months and it's been a little under a month since she returned," Minako counters.
"Or she cheated on Seiya-san when she first arrived in that timeline," Shiori tries to poke holes in this story. "She and Mamoru-san were lovers once too."
"No!" Minako vehemently denies. "Sailor Pluto sent her to this time and now she miscarried Chibi Usa-chan." Her voice lowers. "Usagi-chan now lost Chibi Usa-chan for a second time."
Yuna and Sakura are horrified as they listen to Minako's explanation and Shiori's response. Yuna is able to catch Shiori's eye for a moment to glare at her. Hoping she takes the hint to back off. "No wonder she left for a little bit."
"That is a lot for anyone to manage. The thought of losing a child twice… the same child," Sakura adds conveying her sympathies.
Shiori frowns. The more she listens to Minako's explanation and recalls the time she spent with the Outer Senshi on Earth, it seems possible. This is becoming more complicated than she originally imagined. This must be why Seiya's expression was different this morning. He must be considering this alternative account than Usagi simply cheating on him. She exhales loudly. If it's not Usagi's fault, if she didn't cheat on Seiya, they might be able to work this out. She can't just sit back on the sidelines and let this play out. She quickly excuses herself and leaves before Yuna and Sakura can stop her.
She remembers Taiki saying they were going to try to work on some music for a bit to focus on something else. She finds Taiki and Yaten in a conference room but Seiya is absent. He left a while ago but warned her he's in a mood.
She thanks them and leaves. Her mind is racing thinking of what she is going to say to him. The change in the law will finally give them a chance they didn't have before. She stops to go to her room to freshen up first. She wants to look her best when she sees him.
Shiori stands outside of Seiya's room. Her goal is to make him doubt Usagi as much as possible before she returns to the Scarlet Palace. She knocks loudly on his door and after hearing a vague response she enters to check on him.
He's sitting in a chair in the corner with an expression reflecting his inner turmoil. The chair is turned around and his arms are resting on the back of the chair. He barely looks up to acknowledge her. He looks absolutely miserable.
She pulls out the chair at the table and positions it to the side of the table sitting down with her legs crossed, the slit in her dress emphasizing her long legs. "I wanted to see if you're feeling any better since we spoke last night." She states gently.
Seiya shrugs, his eyes still focused on the table in front of him.
"You can't stay in here all day," She stops herself as she realizes it sounds like she is lecturing him. "Maybe some training would help."
Seiya's eyebrows rise slightly at the offer. Doing something physical might help blow off steam when he doesn't know how long it will be until Odango will return. He turns his head slightly to face her and inhales sharply at how close Shiori is sitting next to him showing off her legs. That was not an accident.
Shiori reaches over to try to squeeze his hand but he adjusts his posture by lowering his hands from the back of the chair before she can reach him. She pouts a little; he is going to need time but she doesn't have as much time as she thought given the new information she learned. "You need to get your mind off things and I know training helped you the last time you were hurt."
"It's not that simple," Seiya answers looking away from her.
Usagi needs to stop being such an obstacle. It's becoming annoying. Shiori is practically throwing herself at him and he's barely acknowledging it. She'll work on the second part of her plan then. "I heard… about this other timeline."
Seiya's head turns back to face her with a questioning glance.
"But are you sure? That seems really convenient."
He stares at her not sure what to say.
"They have a long history between them and from what I understand they were supposed to… or rather did still have a child together," she points out. No response. She pushes further. "Look at how easy it is for her to travel back and forth between Earth and Kinmoku on her own. Traveling to a different part of Earth would be even easier."
Seiya's eyes narrow in frustration at what Shiori is insinuating He didn't need to hear this. "She's not like that." He doesn't want to think about things like this.
"Really? You thought the same too, that is why you ended things!" Shiori challenges completing overstepping her boundaries. Her last statement put Seiya on the defensive and she realizes she needs to keep it brief and aware of his options. She leans over a little so the cleavage in her dress is at the right position. "You need a partner you can trust and never have to question if she will leave you for a former lover."
She stands up slowly and places her hand on his shoulder in the process. She leans forward to look in his eyes. "How do you know she won't go back to Mamoru-san again? She almost did once. How many more times is it going to happen?" She lets her questions hang in the air before going in for the kill. "She could be with him right now. The father of the child she miscarried."
Seiya's eyes widen considerably at Shiori's suggestion. He turns to look away from her, shaking her arm off his shoulder, clearly hurt by Shiori's suggestions. "Get out." His voice is low and full of rage.
Shiori bit her lip. She took it too far. This is the opposite direction she wanted things to go tonight. But he is doubting Usagi more. "Fine." She walks to the door and pauses with her fingers on the handle. She leaves him with this final thought. "But you need to face this Seiya-san. She keeps hurting you. That's not true love." She quickly leaves, denying him a chance to respond.
Shiori stands outside of his room. A small smile on her lips as she realizes she can change his mind about Usagi. The girl he once thought was perfect.
Sailor Cosmos grits her teeth together tightly as she struggles to return to Kinmoku. She should have stayed longer at Rei's to let her body recover but she wanted to avoid Mamoru, a reminder of Chibi Usa.
She started to feel tired as she made it past Pluto and it wasn't until she was half past the next star system after the Milky Way, she realizes how exhausted her body truly is. She is used to pushing herself to her limits. But she is on her own. She doesn't have anyone to lean on. If she stops to rest she'll become turned around and lost. She'll never find her way back now. She doesn't dare return to Pluto. She would likely lash out at Sailor Charon if she is present as well.
So she pushes herself forward testing her limits. She tries to compensate by slowing her pace to conserve her energy. It doesn't matter how long it takes her to return, she just has to make it back. She needs to give her body a break as much as possible; so much for listening to the doctor's advice to take it easy. The slower pace allows her to make note of the star systems between Earth and Kinmoku. It's peaceful for a while.
Thirty minutes later she tries not to let the panic set in. Normally she would have arrived in the same star system as Kinmoku over an hour ago. But she never traveled alone. Did see somehow miss it? Her heart races and without realizing it she increases her speed, desperate to enter the right star system.
Five minutes later, a new wave of exhaustion passes through her. This one is worse than before, she staggers. She feels like she could fall asleep any minute. She bites her lip, hard. The pain temporary jolts her awake.
She persists. As soon as she returns she'll sleep all day she tells herself. This only works for a few more minutes as she feels her eyelids becoming heavy.
She lets out a deep breath and recognizes the star system home to Kinmoku. In the far distance she can see the planet. It's at best the size of a golf ball. She slows her stride to save her energy. She can see the planet now. All she has to do is keep moving forward to it.
She travels past the first planet in the star system's orbit, an azure color. It reminds her of Earth.
Her eyes are laser focused on Kinmoku, as she gradually draws near she focuses on the landscape to find the Scarlet Palace. She wills herself forward. She can't lose consciousness until she makes it back.
Minako looks up at the sky as Yaten walks next to her in the gardens of the Scarlet Palace. It's late in the evening and they were about to head back inside when a shimmering light catches their attention. "That light seems really bright… shining more than anything else around it."
Yaten stares at the light as it becomes brighter and larger. It's from the direction of Earth. "That might be Sailor Cosmos."
Minako grins when she realizes it is the sign she has been waiting for. "Usagi-chan…" She watches it, unsure of where they will need to stand to meet her. Her heart speeds up. She has so many questions for Usagi.
The light flashes and speeds up rapidity before it dissipates to the south of their current location.
"Come on," Yaten states before he starts running. Based on where the light went out it is in the far corner of the palace grounds near where the training exercise took place. Minako is only a few steps behind him, letting him lead the way.
When they arrive at the field they find Usagi untransformed in the field on her stomach her head to right side and unmoving.
Minako rushes past Yaten. "Usagi-chan!" She is frantic as she runs as fast as she can. From here Usagi looks so vulnerable. She drops to the ground next her, shaking the Queen's shoulders. Usagi is completely unresponsive. "USAGI-CHAN!" Minako shouts shaking her even harder fearing the worst.
Yaten fumbles for a pulse. He didn't feel a star burn out. It takes him almost a minute to find one. It is very slow and weak but it is there. "She alive," he tells Minako.
Minako exhales loudly. "Usagi-chan… why did you leave if you're so tired…" She murmurs.
Footsteps change their focus to the guards that arrived after witnessing the light.
"Return to the palace and inform Queen Kakyuu, Sailor Cosmos has returned. I'm sure she'll need a doctor too," Yaten instructs them. The guards return to the palace behind them. They are used to listening to directives from any Starlight in the absence of the Queen.
Yaten speaks in a softer tone, "Mina."
Minako turns to look at the white haired man next to her. "We have to help her." She tries to sit Usagi up.
"Wait." He shakes his head. Since he doesn't know what shape she is in it's not a good idea to teleport. "Transform, it will make this a lot easier for us to get to the palace faster."
Minako doesn't waste another second. "Venus Eternal, Make Up!"
"Healer Star Power, Make Up!"
"We're going to take her back inside the palace to her room," Healer explains. "Throw an arm over your shoulder and wrap an arm around her waist and we'll carry her back together. It's a bit of a walk."
They carefully pick up Usagi from the ground. The two senshi are able to lift her off the ground just far enough so her feet won't drag. They move as fast as they can.
Ten minutes later they reach the palace entranceway and a doctor is there with a stretcher. The two senshi happily place her on the stretcher as she is wheeled to her room. The medical wing of the palace is off limits due to damage.
Healer lefts out a sigh and rubs her shoulder a little. "You'd never think she was that heavy."
Venus laughs. "She does eat a lot." She tries to make light of the situation. She reverts back to Minako. The smile vanishes as she becomes serious. "I'm worried about Usagi-chan. So much has happen to her in the past few days… the last month…"
Yaten tries to reassure her. "She is alive. I imagine she is exhausted. The trip back from Earth to Kinmoku is difficult…. for any normal senshi. When I returned with our Princess the first time from Earth it still took us nearly a day which included time to rest. When the three of us went alone it was more than a day. Sailor Cosmos can make it here in less than an hour."
Minako's stares at him in disbelief, now fully understanding why she was told she would not be able to make the journey on her own to Earth from Kinmoku. "I'm going to check on Usagi-chan, see if there is anything I can do."
Yaten nods his head and follows behind her silently. His focus is on Seiya. He can only image how he is going to react when he learns Usagi is back.
They arrive at Usagi's door to find guards waiting outside.
"Queen Kakyuu is inside with the doctor. She gave strict orders no one is allowed to enter," a guard greets them.
They stay outside for the next twenty minutes before the door opens revealing Queen Kakyuu and the doctor.
He addresses the group. "Her vital signs are very weak but she will be okay. She needs to rest. Her body has not recovered from the miscarriage and then to travel so many star systems away… she is lucky the journey didn't flat out kill her."
"I'll stay with her tonight to make sure she is okay," Minako immediately volunteers. She needs to keep an eye on Usagi and get to the bottom of what happened. It's better this way.
Queen Kakyuu nods her head in agreement. "We can tell Seiya she has returned tomorrow. I don't want anyone to disturb her rest." Her expression is weary.
Yaten nods his head. "There is nothing he could do anyway."
The next morning, Minako is absent at breakfast. Queen Kakyuu is quiet while she listens to Shiori, Yuna, Sakura, Yaten, Taiki, and Seiya talk.
Yuna turns to Yaten with grin, "Where is Minako-chan? Did you piss her off? You're really good at making people mad at you."
A vein appears on the side of Yaten's forehead. "Of course not!" He snaps immediately annoyed at Yuna for even suggesting that. "She's taking care of Usagi-chan." As soon as the words leave his mouth he regrets it. Maybe Seiya didn't hear him, even though he is sitting right next to him.
Seiya turns his head sharply to stare at Yaten.
The Queen's Guard looks at Queen Kakyuu for confirmation. They were not given this update. Queen Kakyuu frowns but nods her head to verify the information.
Yaten grimaces knowing what is going to happen next. Maybe he is picking up some of Minako's traits, not being able to keep quiet about information. But he was provoked by Yuna out of nowhere. They were hoping to keep it a secret from Seiya as long as possible.
"Odango is back and you didn't tell me?" Seiya is immediately on his feet. He has to see her. He heads to the exit but is stopped by Queen Kakyuu.
Seiya jaw drops slightly, displaying confusion by the Queen's actions.
"She is still asleep and needs to rest Seiya," She tries to let him down gently.
His posture relaxes a little. "I need to make sure she's okay."
"The doctor has seen her and she needs to rest as much as possible. It's a miracle she made it back to this star system and to the palace in the state she was in." Her tone shifts to one that suggests she is giving an order. "Minako-chan will make sure she has everything she needs for the time being."
Seiya stares as Queen Kakyuu in disbelief for trying to prevent him from seeing her. "But…" He starts to question the Queen and then stops. A Starlight questioning her is unheard of.
"No one knows what state of mind she is in; she was unconscious when Minako-chan and Yaten found her. You are aware we suspect she is the one that caused the small tremor in the palace and she went to Earth and attacked one of her own senshi." Queen Kakyuu suggests Sailor Cosmos could be a danger to whom she encounters.
Seiya's shoulders slump as he listens to the Queen's position. There is no way he is going to be able to see her right now.
"Until she wakes up and can be properly evaluated, only Minako-chan and medical staff are the ones allowed to see Usagi-san unless directed otherwise," Queen Kakyuu declares leaving no room for misinterpretation.
Seiya's lip twitches. He knows he can't disobey Queen Kakyuu. He wants to walk off but instead he forces himself to sit back down next to Yaten. He doesn't speak for the rest of breakfast. His thoughts focused on his next move. The last time he spoke with Odango things didn't go well. He is hoping Taiki and Yaten's assumption is correct. If they are wrong he's not sure he can handle the disappointment a second time.
Minako yawns. She slept an hour or two here and there. Every time she wakes up Usagi appears the same. A knock at the door startles her.
She opens the door slightly to find Yuna and Sakura with two trays for lunch.
"Queen Kakyuu asked us to deliver these to you," Sakura explains.
Yuna leans in to whisper, "Seiya-san knows she's back but Queen Kakyuu told him she has to rest. Is she doing any better?"
Minako shrugs her shoulders. "She's still asleep. She slept all night." She opens the door to let them in and place the food trays on a nearby table as quietly as they can.
"Hopefully she wakes up soon. I'm sure she'll be hungry when she does," Sakura adds not sure what else to say. She was hoping she would have more of an update to provide to Queen Kakyuu.
Minako responds with a slow head nod.
"Yaten-san will swing by later to check on you but he and Taiki-san are keeping an eye on Seiya-san," Yuna explains. "…it's rough what happened…" Her voice trails off not sure what else to say. She knows Seiya well and barely knows Usagi.
"Thank you," Minako smiles a little.
Yuna and Sakura head back out of the door leaving Minako alone again. She walks into Usagi's bedroom to still find her asleep on her back. It looks like she barely moved in the past few hours.
With a shrug Minako returns to the sitting room and eagerly takes the lid off the tray of food. It smells delicious and she is starving.
Hotaru places her pen down next to her composition book to look at the photo on her desk of herself with Chibi Usa at the picnic from a few years ago with Usagi and Mamoru. The photo was taken shortly before she awakened as Sailor Saturn for the first time in the twentieth century. She was such a frail girl. Since then she was been reborn. Thankfully her body is strong this time.
As she stares at the picture she can envision Chibi Usa in an eternal fuku much like her own and the other senshi. She can practically hear her voice telling her it will be okay and they will meet again soon.
Hotaru smiles. She doesn't know how yet but she is going to see her best friend again. She knows it. Her instincts are never wrong on something like this. As always, she just has to be patient.
Standing up from her chair, she leaves her room to get a glass of water with a knowing expression on her face.
Walking out into the main room she finds Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna speaking to each other in hushed tones and stop as soon as they spot her. Setsuna is wearing a short sleeve orange blouse this time; she had worn a long sleeve one yesterday to try to hide the injury despite the heat. "What happened to your arm?"
"She's fine," Haruka immediately answers for Setsuna not wanting to tell Hotaru what happened until they understand fully what occurred.
"It was just a minor accident," Setsuna reassures her.
Hotaru looks at them suspiciously for a moment but does not press the issue. She is excited by what she witnessed. "I had a vision a moment ago… I saw Chibi Usa-chan in an eternal fuku and we'll see her again soon."
The three elder senshi exchanged confused looks at one another, before looking at Hotaru.
She takes a sip of her water. "Someday…" She returns back to her room to be left alone.
Michiru addresses Haruka and Setsuna. "Are you sure it is wise to leave her out of this?"
Haruka nods. "I don't want to trouble her. She's lost so much already." She looks at Setsuna. "Kitten said something changed in the timeline… could it be Chibi Usa-chan?"
Setsuna shakes her head no. "This is something different. She can't be Sailor Cosmos and Queen of Crystal Tokyo…" Her eyes show concern. Has the future she seen ruling beside King Endymion shifted already without her realizing it? She doesn't dare go into the Time Streams until this matter with Sailor Cosmos is resolved. She'll be too vulnerable on her own.
Takashi sits down in a chair across from Norio's desk in his private office. As soon as Norio looks up to acknowledge him, he begins speaking. "I'm sure you've heard of recent events?"
Norio frowns; he knew this conversation was going to happen sooner or later. "Are you referring to Sailor Cosmos?"
Takashi nods his head yes.
Norio leans back in his chair. "She was pregnant at the Council Meeting… could you imagine the fall out if we banished Fighter?"
"It would have been horrible especially since Fighter was the father," Takashi adds. "We got lucky, didn't we?"
"Yes. It seems we managed to avoid a crisis by starting the process of updating the laws in time to accommodate for something like this." He pauses with a thoughtful expression. "Could you imagine what a child like that could mean for Kinmoku? A child of Cosmos and a Starlight. We haven't had one walk our planet… since well before any of us were born."
"Don't get too excited just yet. She would have Kinmokian heritage but she would still be born to a foreign Queen," Takashi tries to reel in Norio.
He dismissed the caution. "The child would have a bloodline established with this planet and would need to be properly trained here like the other Starlights. Cosmos even sought training here at one point as well. The Cosmos before her also trained here, it was her home after all." He narrows his eyes. "A child with that kind of potential would need discipline that is clearly lacking at the Silver Millennium."
Takashi sighs. "But the child was lost." He shakes his head. "And it was a disregard of the rules here that even made that child possible."
Norio is not fazed by the loss. "They are both still very young. You saw how Fighter reacted when we spoke harshly to Sailor Cosmos." He pauses to pick up his pen. "I'm sure there will be another. And when that happens… we need to make sure we have the proper laws in place."
"Are you sure that will work?" Takashi asks with skepticism.
"Fighter is still a senshi that serves this kingdom in some capacity… those three are still… on loan to Neo Queen Serenity. We can do whatever we want with them if they don't want that special privilege to be revoked." He grins. "Fighter's powers come from Kinmoku. I'm sure she doesn't want to lose her Change Star and be unable to protect Sailor Cosmos."
"Queen Kakyuu would never allow that."
"Then it is a good thing the Council makes the rules governing the senshi."
Minako rushes forward to hug Usagi when she finally starts to wake up in the evening. "I was so worried about you Usagi-chan." A part of her wants to yell at Usagi for leaving without saying anything but it will only make her Queen feel worse.
Usagi slowly wraps her arms around Minako as she starts to comprehend where she is. She made it back to Kinmoku. "So I did make it back… everything is a blur after I entered this star system. I don't really remember."
Minako pulls back to study her for any signs of injuries she missed earlier. "Yaten and I found you last night near the training field and you were unconscious. You've been asleep since then." She stands up. "Let me get the doctor and I'll be right back." Minako rushes to the door to inform the guard.
She picks up the dinner tray from an hour ago. "You must be starving," Minako states while handing the tray to Usagi.
Usagi stares at the meat, vegetables, and bread. She needs eat but everything feels numb. She gingerly rips off a small piece of bread placing it in her mouth and chews it slowly. The small bit of bread made her realize how famished she was after sleeping all day. She is clearly hungry but she needs to force herself to eat.
Minako rotates from watching Usagi and keeping an eye on the door for the doctor.
Fifteen minutes later, Usagi has consumed all of her food and the doctor has checked her vital signs. "How do you feel?" It's the same female doctor that told Usagi she was three months along.
"Tired and weak…" Usagi admits not wanting to look at her. It's a reminder of the fight with Seiya.
"I am strongly suggesting bedrest until tomorrow afternoon. I hope you follow it this time," the doctor lectures her. "What you did was very dangerous for your body in its present state."
Usagi nods her head slowly. "I don't plan on going anywhere for the next few days." She noticed her condition on her way to Kinmoku and knows she couldn't leave immediately with Minako. She's stuck. She doesn't want to be here because of her fight with Seiya but she doesn't want to be on Earth and deal with Mamoru asking her what happened. For now she has to stay on Kinmoku.
"If you feel strong enough, you can try to join everyone at dinner," the doctor suggests.
Usagi nods her head and thanks her for taking care of her.
Queen Kakyuu stands in the doorway of Usagi's bedroom. Her eyes slightly narrowed.
The doctor bows and quickly leaves saying someone will be by in the morning.
Usagi looks away. She feels guilty of how she acted. "I'm sorry… I... probably made a mess of the medical wing."
Queen Kakyuu turns to Minako, "could you please wait outside? I need to speak with Usagi-san."
Minako presses her lips together tightly. She barely had any time to talk to Usagi.
"I'm sure Yaten couldn't mind the company for an hour or two?" Queen Kakyuu asks the leader of the Inner Senshi.
Minako looks at Usagi for a moment to make sure it is okay. Usagi won't look at anyone and is staring down at her hands. "Usagi-chan?"
"Oh? I'll be fine Minako-chan. We can talk later."
Minako shoots her a skeptical look.
"I promise. I'm not going anywhere for a while. I'm not going to leave my room," Usagi reassures her.
Minako frowns a little. "Okay, I'll be back in a little bit." She is hesitant to leave Usagi alone with Queen Kakyuu but Usagi seems to want to speak with the Queen alone and Minako is still a guest in the palace. She grudgingly leaves.
As soon as they are alone, Usagi apologizes. "I'm sorry I lost control of my powers before I left. As soon as I'm better, I'll fix any damage I caused." She pleads.
Queen Kakyuu pulls up the chair next to the bed. "We can worry about that after you are healed." She scans the young Queen with her eyes. "I am worried about your powers."
Usagi lowers her gaze. "I understand. I… was so angry when I left."
"Can we talk about why you were so angry?" Kakyuu asks gently. "Taiki and Yaten seem to believe this may be related to the other timeline."
The tears start to trickle down from her eyes. "It's all Pluto's fault for sending me to that other timeline." She keeps her head down as she talks; it's easier to express herself this way. "In my dream… after Seiya…" Her voice chokes up, realizing it is harder to say his name than she anticipated. "In that dream… I realized … the baby was…" Usagi's stomach clenches causing her to feel sick discussing it here, the planet where she learned she lost her. "Chibi Usa."
Queen Kakyuu lightly places her arms around Usagi trying to console her. "I met her briefly on Earth. She seemed like a lovely person."
Usagi shoulders shake after hearing this. She doesn't have to ask when. The last time she saw Chibi Usa was when she returned her starseed only to then vanish in the Time Streams as her world crumbled.
The red haired Queen doesn't speak as she holds Usagi. Taiki and Yaten were correct. The child was from the other timeline. They sit like this for several minutes before Kakyuu approaches the subject. "Seiya is worried about you." She can feel Usagi's body tense hearing his name. "I know he wants to see you."
Usagi pulled away from the Queens's embrace. "I don't think I'm ready to see him."
Queen Kakyuu frowns. "Perhaps talking would clear up what happened between the two of you."
Usagi wipes the tears from eyes. "He didn't even want to listen to me. He… said some really horrible things."
"Seiya… can be rash when he's hurt." Queen Kakyuu tries to explain. "I think he would listen now… whenever you want to speak with him." She doesn't push the topic any further. She hates to see both of them in so much pain.
Seiya feels like he has been losing his mind all day to know Odango is in the palace but he still can't see or talk to her. He has to talk to her. If what Taiki suspects is true, he has a lot of apologizing to do. She had no control of being sent to another timeline.
He hears people whispering up ahead and then a female laughing. The duo turns the corner and starts walking down the hallway past him. It is Minako and Yaten walking hand in hand. His mood further turns morose. He used to be like that with Usagi; only days ago.
He walks past them and is halfway down the corridor when he stops. If Minako is out here with Yaten, does that mean Usagi finally woke up? Who is with her right now? He hesitantly turns around and interrupts the couple. "Is she awake?"
Minako is surprised by his appearance. He seemed to come out of nowhere since she was so focused on spending time with Yaten. "I just left her room a little while ago." She begins to explain. "Queen Kakyuu asked to speak with her alone."
Seiya runs off in the direction of Usagi's room as soon as he hears she is awake. He needs to speak with her and figure this out. He needs answers. Was the child from the other timeline? A thought nags at him. Did he ruin everything with his accusations? Only one way to find out.
Okay even I was not expecting that fleeting MamoUsa moment until I was writing it. Usagi is keeping this a secret from Mamoru right now… how long is it going to be until he finds out? Better yet… how is he going to find out? ^_^
So I just created a new plot while writing this chapter for somewhere in the future… I think. But I don't think it even fits in with what is planned for the this arc and the two after. Is this the making for …. another one? ^^;
So… Seiya and Usagi are going to be in the same room after their argument. Find out how that goes in Act 74: Shiori confronts Usagi to be posted on September 7th. This next act will also feature the revised short story from Rare Pair Week. "Is This the End?" The elephant in the room as to why they fought finally included in the revised version and a little extra.