Usagi, Vampire Slayer Chapter 17 w/ epilogue By Danielle Nikita1041@aol.com Hey you all! Here it is, the very last chapter of UVS! YAY! I know a lot of you have been waiting a long time for this, and finally, here it is. Thank you so much to everyone who continued to write me about this story. Without their encouragement, this would have taken much longer to write that it already has. You realize, I started this story back in '98? Its taken me almost two years to finish it, but hope you think it was worth it. Also, special thanks to that peachy keen person who inspired me to bring back everyone, especially Rei, in the end. You know who you are, thankyou. Disclaimer: The song in this chapter is not mine, its by bush, called letting the cables sleep. I don't own sailor moon, wish I did, and anything else you find here that is not mine I disclaim now. The story, however, is mine. Please ask before posting it anywhere. Thanks. Well, thats all for me, tell me what you think. Enjoy! Danielle ************************************************************************ 7 PM ************************************************************************ Usagi sat facing the small window on the plane, contemplating the battle that lay only a few hours away. Tonight, when the full moon is in its highest point in the sky, the fate of the world would be decided. ~There is so much I never got to do, never got to say. Yet, I don't regret how my time was spent, not one minute of it. This is my destiny, I must accept it.~ she thought to herself as the stewardess came by. "Miss, can I get you something to drink?" The attendant asked in Japanese. "Hai, can I have a coffee and a grape soda, please." "Hai." the attendant said as she handed Usagi a cup of coffee with cream and sugar and a can of grape soda. Usagi turned back to the window as the attendant walked off, and took a sip of the coffee. ~ Just a little time left on the plane, and a little time left on the ground before my life changes forever.~ "Ladies and gentlemen, we'll be landing..........." The pilot started to say as Usagi tuned him out, as she prepared to land in Tokyo once again. ************************************************************************ 8 PM ************************************************************************ Usagi walked up the ramp and into the very crowded Tokyo international airport. She headed through customs quickly, thanks to the use of her powers, and headed towards the exit. On her way there, she saw a driver with a sign that read Tsukino Usagi. Walking up to him, she asked, "Are you waiting for Tsukino Usagi?" "Hai, miss." "Who sent you?" "My master, Lord Mamoru." ~ Mamo-chan?! Lord Mamoru?!~ "Well, Im Tsukino Usagi. Where were you instructed to take me?" "Anywhere you wanted, miss. Until 11 PM, that is." "And at 11, you take me to meet my mother?" "Hai, miss. Shall we go?" "Hai, umm, what do I call you?" "Kenji, Miss." He said, taking her bags from her. "Shall I take you home?" "Hai, onegai., Kenji. Home." Usagi said, and then followed Kenji out to the car, a silver rolls Royce. ~ Well, someone wanted to impress me with this car.~ Usagi thought as she got into the back. Once seated comfortably, she took a look around the spacious interior of the car, and noticed a single white rose on the dark seat next to her. She picked it up, and noticed a note carefully wrapped around the stem. Pulling off the note, she set the rose in her lap and unfolded the paper. "Usako, When you get this letter, you will be on your way out of the airport with Kenji. Prepare yourself for the battle tonight, I will be there watching you. Remember that no matter what happens I will always love you. In our love, you will be victorious. Mamoru" Usagi put down the note as a single tear trailed down her pale face, dropping to the note, leaving a small stain upon the smooth paper surface. ~ I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not... ~ "Miss.....Miss Tsukino, we're here." "What? Oh, sorry Kenji. Thank you." Usagi said as she got out of the car, while Kenji took out her bags. Usagi started to walk towards the front door, as Kenji followed behind with the bags. When she reached the front door, she unlocked it and turned back to Kenji. "Just leave them there, Kenji. I can take them in myself." "Very good, Miss. Well, then, with your leave, I'll go and return at 11 for you. Here is a cell phone in case you should need me before then." "all right, Kenji, thank you. I'll see you at 11 then." Usagi said. Kenji made a formal bow, and then got back into the car, driving away. Usagi watched the car go, and then went inside her home. ************************************************************************ 9 PM ************************************************************************ Usagi entered the spacious first room, switching on a light. The home she hadn't seen in so long came into view under the soft illumination of the track lights. Walking past the couches and the computer screens, she went immediately to her bedroom. The room looked as if she had never left it, completely untouched and immaculately clean, it felt good to be home. Usagi stepped into the room, and walked towards the polished wood closet doors at the far end of the bedroom. The doors, made of dark cherry wood, were carved like Triqueti's famous ten commandments, and were weighted so that no ordinary person could open them. Usagi opened the doors and slid the clothing there to the side, revealing a large cedar chest carved like Rodin's gates of hell. Taking a deep breath, Usagi pulled out the chest and set it in the middle of the bedroom floor. "Never thought I would ever have to look in this box again." She said to herself out loud. "Well, here goes." Usagi sat down on her knees in front of the latch on the chest. Running her hand over the latch, it immediately began glowing blue and popped open. Usagi lifted the lid and peered inside, where three items were waiting. "Well, its all still here." Usagi said as she began to pull the items out one by one. The first one she took out was a medium length bundle of cloth tied with a silver ribbon. Untying the ribbon, Usagi opened up the bundle to reveal a beautifully polished silver curved daggar, and a silver arm cuff carved with crescent moons. ~ From Serenity, my aunt, these were hers. I remember being taught by Haruka with this dagger, and how it is rendered useless without the arm cuff. ~ Setting them carefully aside, she next pulled out a smaller bundle of cloth tied with a black ribbon. She unwrapped this one and found a pair of teardrop shaped silver earrings set with a midnight blue sapphire stone, and a tiara circlet set with the same stone. ~ These are from mother. She'll be surprised to see me wearing them. ~ Usagi thought to herself. She knew, with her recent appearance change, that the jewelry would make her appear as cold as a silver diamond. Setting these items aside, she took out the last package, a silver bundle tied with a black ribbon. Opening it, she found a shining dress of pure white. The scoop neck of the dress ran into the empire waist that fell in a curtain tier all the way to the bottom. The over-cloth of the empire waist was a gossamer thin silk that lay over a heavier silk that made up the rest of the dress. The only decoration on the simple but elegant garment was a row of silver embroidered crescent moons along the edge of the scoop neck, and matched the accessories that had lain with it in the chest. Standing up, Usagi took the dress and laid it out on the futon, and began to assess it for any damage. Finding none, she placed the other items next to it on the futon, and left to get some dinner. ************************************************************************ 9:30 PM ************************************************************************ Walking into the kitchen, she turned on the overhead light, illuminating the spacious room. She walked to the fridge, and looked inside, finding nothing too surprising. ~Hmm, mustard, ketchup, and dill pickles. I think I'll order out. ~ Usagi thought to herself as she disgustedly closed the refrigerator, and walked over to the phone and phone book. Picking up the book, she flipped immediately to the restaurant section, and began scanning the listings. "Hmm, Italian.....no, Mexican......no, definitely not Japanese, eh, I'll just order a pizza." Usagi picked up the phone and dialed the first pizza restaurant number she found in the book. "Pizza Palace, what can I get for you?" "Hai, I would like a medium extra cheese seafood pizza, with extra squid." "Anything else?" The operator replied in a cheerful tone. "Iie, that will be all, arigato." "Hai, it will be there in 15 minutes. Arigato, and please use us again." The phone clicked off, and Usagi put it back in its place. "Well, that takes care of the food. I suppose that I'll just go get everything else together." Usagi said as she headed towards the bedroom. She picked up her dress, and held it up to inspect it for wrinkles, amazingly she found none. Putting the dress down, she headed into the bathroom to take out all that she would need in preparation. Opening up the tall, thin closet inside, she scanned the shelves to see what she would need. She took down a jar of green tea bath powder, along with a poofy scrub sponge, and walked over to the sunken tub, setting them on the side of it. She stood up and walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, heading straight for the vanity table. Sitting down on the plush chair in front of the little vanity table, she reached her hands up and began to take down her hair from its traditional balls. Soon after, her hair hung down behind her in a cascade of platinum waves, in a slightly unruly way. Picking up a brush, she picked up a section of her long hair and began to brush it smooth again. She got about a third of her hair brushed out, when the doorbell rang. "Coming!" Usagi called out towards the door. Usagi walked out of her room and into the livingroom towards the front door. Just as she got there, the doorbell rang again. "I said I was coming!" Usagi said as she was opening the door, not just a little upset with the impatience of the doorbell ringer. There stood the pizza man, pizza in hand, with a slightly scared look on his face, and began to stutter out an answer. "Gomen Nasai. I didn't hear you calling. I have your Pizza Palace delivery here." "Oh, Im sorry to yell at you." Usagi said, taking the pizza from his hand. "How much do I owe you?" "The total comes to 1500 yen, miss." The pizza boy said. Usagi smiled at him, and handed him a 2000 yen bill. "Keep the change." She told him, as she shut the door and walked towards the kitchen. Setting the pizza box down on the kitchen counter, she reached up into the cabinet and grabbed a plate. "Mmm! Seafood pizza! It looks so yummy!" Usagi said as she placed 2 slices on the plate, and closed the box. She walked out into the livingroom and sat down on the couch, picking up a remote as she sat down. Pressing the power button, a CD player popped out of the wall and began to play one of Usagi's favorite songs: "You in the dark You in the pain You on the run Living a hell Living your ghost Living your end Never seem to get in the place that I belong Don't wanna lose the time Lose the time to come Whatever you say it's all right Whatever you do it's all good Whatever you say it's all right Silence is not the way We need to talk about it If heaven is on the way If heaven is on the way" Tears fell silently onto the cloth of the couch. "You in the sea On a decline Breaking the waves Watching the lights go down Letting the cables sleep Whatever you say it's all right Whatever you do it's all good Whatever you say it's all right Silence is not the way We need to talk about it If heaven is on the way We'll wrap the world around it If heaven is on the way If heaven is on the way" "Oh, Mamo-chan, Rei-chan. Why such a responsibility on my shoulders?" "I'm a stranger in this town I'm a stranger in this town If heaven is on the way If heaven is on the way I'm a stranger in this town I'm a stranger in this town" As the song faded out, Usagi wiped up the tears that had been trailing down her face, and took another bite of her pizza. "This could be my last meal, my last chance to see..........No! I will not think like that!" Usagi said to herself as she wiped the final tears off her face and stood up, discarding the plate onto the couch. **************************************************************** 10 PM ************************************************************************ Usagi walked into the bathroom and over to the tub. Switching on the water, she first made sure that the water wasn't too hot or too cold, and then picked up the jar of green tea bath powder, and looked around for a scoop. She walked over to the bathroom mirror, and opened it up, noticing the shell shaped scoop on the first shelf. Returning to the side of the tub, she scooped out a large helping of the green tea powder and sprinkled it into the warm water, watching the water go from clear to light green. "I almost forgot the most important thing." Usagi said out loud as she set the powder aside. Walking over to the cabinet, she opened it up and rummaged around, finally emerging with a small, ornate bottle filled with some sort of liquid. "How could I have forgotten the cherry blossom oil?!" Usagi said to herself as she walked over and poured a small amount into the running bath water. Finally pleased with her preparations, she undressed herself and slipped into the tub, and switched off the water. Usagi rested her head against the back of the tub, letting her thoughts run out of her mind as the heat and the calming smell of the cherry blossom oil invaded her senses. ~Ahhh, this feels wonderful. No thoughts, no pressure, just relaxation.~ Usagi thought as she reached over for the scrub sponge. Throwing the sponge into the water, Usagi dunked it under the surface. Humming a song to herself as she used the sponge around her body, Usagi's mind went back to her days as a princess in her mother's court. ************************************************************************ flashback ************************************************************************ Deep beneath Tokyo existed a world unknown to the average person. Under the protection of night, Two kingdoms existed. Usagi and Rei were the princesses in the court of night, the supreme court of vampires. Everyone in the court of night, with the exception of the princesses, could not bear the light of day. Usagi and Rei's mother, the queen, built her daughters a playground above the main palace, so that her daughters could experience the sunlight as they were meant to. The other palace, long abandoned, was the court of day, ruled by Serenity, Usagi and Rei's aunt. Usagi stood in a stone room lit only by torches. Dressed in a silk, empire waisted, silver embroidered dress, she was the brightest spot in the room. On her upper arm lay a heavy looking ornate silver cuff, which shone in the torchlight. Standing opposite her, was a tall, slim figure with short, sandy blonde hair. The figure, dressed in a long sleeved black shirt and black pants, held a silver sword in hand. Usagi felt herself reach for something, and coming up with a long, silver, curved dagger. "En garde, princess." The dark figure said as it lunged toward Usagi with alarming speed. Usagi blocked the attack almost effortlessly with the dagger, quickly pushing the figure to the ground. "I have gotten better, Haruka-sensei." Usagi said to her as she extended her hand to help Haruka up. "Indeed you have, bunny. Im very proud." Haruka said, smiling down at Usagi. Usagi smiled back and dove into Haruka, hugging her, causing Haruka to laugh. "Now, now princess. How about we test out your sister's new ability, eh?" "Yeah!! REI-CHAN!!" Usagi hollered out as loud as she could. The tinkling of bells could be heard, as Rei appeared next to Usagi. "Yes, Usagi-chan? Oh, Haruka-sensei, I didn't know you were here." Rei said, bowing to Haruka. "Princess Rei, I would like to see how you use that new gift of yours. Usagi come here." Haruka said as Usagi walked over to her. "Now, Usagi, I want you to stand right here, and Rei, stand right here." Haruka said, placing Rei directly behind Usagi. Once Haruka was satisfied with the arrangement, she stepped in front of Usagi, drawing her blade. Pressing the blade lightly into the hollow of Usagi's throat, Haruka told Rei to begin. Rei consentrated a beam of energy directly into Usagi's mind, attempting to influence her, attempting to make her walk into the blade. Rei kept increasing the force, until Usagi snapped. Usagi's eyes changed from ice blue to sun yellow, and a blue aura enveloped her body, causing both Haruka and Rei to fly back away from her, and crash against the wall. "The blood of this one will never be shed by the likes of you. Prophecy's child will survive you all, relishing in your destruction. I am............" Usagi said, until the words trailed off, as she fell to the floor, unconscious. ************************************************************************ present day, 10:30 PM. ************************************************************************ Usagi woke with a start, shivering despite the still warm water. ~I remember that day. Both Haruka and Rei had to be treated for wounds, and I stayed unconscious for 3 days. I wish I had never remembered.~ Usagi remarked as she pulled the bath plug and stepped out of the tub, wrapping herself in a warm fluffy bathrobe. Walking out of the bathroom, she crossed the bedroom to the vanity table, sat down, and picked up her brush once again. After about ten minutes, Usagi was satisfied with the way her hair shone in the ambient light of the room. Setting down the brush, she set about the task of putting her hair up into her usual buns, wrapping a small band of pearls around each ball. Finally satisfied with her appearance, Usagi got up from the vanity table and walked over to the futon, and picked up the dress. She grabbed a pair of underwear and slipped them on as the robe fell off her body. She picked up the dress and slipped it over her head, feeling it fall into place as if it belonged on her body. Walking over to the futon yet again, she picked up the two bundles that she had placed there earlier and walked over to the vanity, setting the bundles down on the table top. Opening the bundle bound with the black ribbon, she took out the tiara circlet, and placed it on her forehead, under her bangs. Then, she took out the silver earrings, and placed them on her ears. ~ I don't look like myself anymore. ~ She thought to herself as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her normal reflection had been traded in for one of another time. Finally breaking contact with the mirror, she turned back to the second package, and opened it up, revealing the dagger and arm cuff. Taking the silver ribbon from the package, she wrapped it around her waist to form a belt of sorts. With a final knot, she let the ribbon go, and picked up the dagger, slipping it into the ribbon, and letting it hang free. Then she picked up the arm cuff, and slipped it onto her right upper arm, immediately feeling the weight that came with it, and also the warmth. Looking in the mirror once more, she concluded that she was indeed satisfied with her appearance. Walking over to the chest, she took the lid in hand and was about to close it, possibly forever, when she noticed one last item on the bottom. reaching in, she found the item to be another bundle, and upon opening it, she found a pair of flat soled white silk shoes. With mild surprise, she slipped them on her feet, just as the doorbell rang. ************************************************************************ 11:00 ************************************************************************ Usagi opened the front door, finding Kenji waiting there. "Are you ready to go, miss?" "Hai, Kenji. Take me to my mother, let it all end tonight." "Hai, miss. This way." Kenji said, turning and walking towards the car, Usagi in tow. Usagi got in the back seat via the door Kenji held open for her, and soon they were on their way. Driving through Tokyo, they headed up towards more rural Japan, until finally, an hour later, the car stopped and Kenji held the door open and a hand to help Usagi out of the car. "Up a little way, Miss, you will find your destiny." Kenji said, making a formal bow. "Thank you, Kenji." Usagi said, bowing back. With that, Usagi turned and began heading up to meet her mother and her destiny. It was about five minutes walk until she came upon a clearing where the moon shone down brightly, turning everything silver. There, in the center, stood the queen of the night court, Usagi's mother, and off to the side, sat Mamoru, bound to a silver wrought chair. "Well, well, if it isn't the prodigal daughter. Came to kill me did you? Do you really believe you can?" "I will win, Mother. Bet your life on it." Usagi said, stepping into the clearing and immediately being enveloped by moonlight. "Well then, shall we begin? I have a wedding to go through." And with that, the queen lunged at Usagi, forcing her back a few paces. "Sorry, but I don't think a wedding is in your future." Usagi said, as she took a defensive stance, while drawing the silver dagger out of her belt. Again the queen lunged at Usagi, yet missed again, but Usagi did not. The queen screamed out in pain as the silver dagger ripped through her arm, causing a spray of crimson to poison the ground. "You ungrateful little b**ch! How dare you strike your own mother?! Why couldn't you just be an obedient little girl and die for your mother's happiness?" She screamed at Usagi, clutching her arm to stop the flow of blood. "And I thought you didn't feel pain, Mother. Well, looks like you were wrong, I always knew there had to be a reason why I liked aunt Serenity." Usagi said, watching the dagger gleam in the moonlight. "Well, well, the little bunny finally grew a spine after all. Come to do your mother in have you? Well, lets see how well you do against someone better than you." The queen said, as she ran at Usagi, hands outstreached. Suddenly, in her right hand appeared a shortsword made of black crystal, and before Usagi could block it, the queen thrust the sword into Usagi's heart, staining her dress with her life's blood. At the same time this went on, the queen herself let out a sharp cry, for there, in her own heart, lay Serenity's silver dagger, releasing her life into a pool on the earth. "You.......you may think you have won, but you have lost." The queen said, as she fell to her knees. "I may die, but I take you to hell with me!! Ha Ha Ha.........." And with a final teasing laugh, Usagi's mother was no more. Her rapidly cooling body began to shrink and shrink until finally, it dissapeared. As soon as she had died, the silver chair Mamoru was bound to dissapeared, and he rushed over to Usagi and caught her in his arms just as she was about to collapse. "Usako! Usako, speak to me!" Mamoru cried at her dazed form. "Mamo...........Mamo-chan, my love............" Usagi's form began to collapse in his arms. "I won, my love, you are free from the evil of your heart, so now I may die in peace." "Usako! Don't you dare die on me!! Usako!" Mamoru cried as Usagi's eyes began to droop. "Don't worry, Mamo-chan, I'll be ok, they are all waiting for me. I love you....." And with her final words, Tsukino Usagi died peacefully with love in her heart. "USAKO!! Oh, Kami-sama! Usako my love!!" Mamoru cried out, tears falling to the ground. In a flash of grief, he looked around him for anything to ease his pain, and came across Serenity's dagger. "Usako....." ************************************************************************ Usagi woke up in a flowery garden, with sakura petals trailing down delicately. Slowly getting up, she noticed first the odd surroundings, and second, her odd clothing. From what she could see of the surroundings, it looked as if she was in a Japanese tea garden of sorts. As for her clothing, she was garbed in a white kimono with sliver embroidered moons and pink sakura petals, and tied with a black obi. \ ~ What is this? Last thing I remember was Mamo-chan holding me as I......died......and now I'm here. This is...~ Her thoughts were interupted by someone calling out loudly. "Usagi-chan! Usagi-chan, where are you?" suddenly the caller came into veiw. Her long midnight tresses fell to below her waist, and she was clothed in a red kimono with golden phoenixes embroidered on it, and tied with a golden obi. ~ Rei!! She's alive!! ~ Usagi thought to herself, barely containing her joy. "Rei-chan!! Over here!!" Usagi said as she waived excitedly. "There you are, Usagi-chan. We've been waiting for you and the others to arrive, Mako-chan and I. Come on, Usagi-chan, everyone is waiting." Rei said as she began to lightly drag Usagi towards a large ornate building. "Wait.....Rei.......How did you......Why are you......" "How am I here? Well, you have my crystal, right? Well that is how I am here, just like that is how everyone else is here. Now come on, we're late as it is." ~ Well, if everyone is here because I have their crystals, what about Mamo-chan? He didn't have a crystal! That means.........oh no......... ~ Usagi thought to herself as Rei pulled her into the building, and walked into the main room, where many people stood and sat, talking amongst themselves. ~ There's Ami-chan. ~ Usagi thought, looking at a woman with dark blue hair and a light blue kimono with koi on it, tied with a purple obi. ~ and Mina-chan. ~ Usagi thought as she saw a woman with long, golden hair dressed in a bright yellow kimono with orange blossoms on it, tied with a red obi. ~ and there is Mako-chan. ~ Usagi thought looking at the tall, auburn haired girl in the green kimono with roses and oak leaves on it, tied with a pink obi. ~ there is Haruka and Michiru-chan. ~ Looking at the pair, Haruka dressed in a simple dark blue kimono, man style, while Michiru wore an elegant light brown kimono with wavy patterns on it, tied with a green obi. ~ and Setsuna-chan. ~ looking at the woman who had given up her freedom for Usagi. ~ Even Hotaru is here. ~ Usagi said, looking over to the smaller girl dressed in purple. There was one person missing, possibly the most important one. "Usagi-chan!" Most of them cried at once, rushing over to her, each hugging her in turn. "Took you long enough, Usagi-chan." Makoto said, approaching her, and hugging her fiercely. Rei walked over and took Usagi by the hand, leading her to a seat in the very front of the room, which Usagi hadn't realized had remained vacant even with all the people in the room. "Sit, Usagi, this is yours by right." Rei said, turning around and walked a few paces away, turning around once again, and kneeling in front of Usagi. The other's following immediately after, lining up in order. "Rei-chan, what is this?" Usagi said, looking around at her friends kneeling before her. "Usagi-chan, you are now the ruler of the kingdom your aunt once posessed, your mother's kingdom no longer exists, nor do her subjects. The rule of night has passed, it is now time for the daylight to rule supreme. You must carry on as the ruler of all that your aunt once posessed, the earth, and all the other planets that exist in this solar system. You have, literaly, become queen of the universe." "Wha.......I mean, this comes as quite a shock. I am assuming that you will all accept positions on my council?" Usagi said, getting nods of agreement in return. "Good, now, where is Mamoru, Rei?" Usagi asked, noticing Rei hesitating with the answer. "Im sorry Usagi, he isn't here." "What? Why isn't he here?" "He wasn't in the plans, Usagi-chan. Im sorry." "You're sorry! You're sorry! You think thats gonna bring him to me?!" Usagi yelled, begining to cry. "Usagi-chan, I......" "No! Leave me please, I ........ I need to be alone." Usagi said, breaking down into tears, burying her face in her hands. Seeing that Usagi really needed some time to herself, they all filed out of the room, leaving Usagi to her tears. Unknown to Usagi, she was being watched by a pair of sympathetic eyes. Serenity watched her neice cry out her pain, and resolved to do something about it. ************************************************************************ Mamoru sat on the stained earth next to his dead love, with Serenity's dagger in his hand. He sat contemplating his life, and whether or not it was worth keeping. ~ My Usako is dead, what do I have to live for? Maybe I should live on to remember her, her spirit might like that. But why not just go to her here and now, end it all and spend eternity in bliss with my love. Choices, choices.... ~ Mamoru lifted the dagger towards his heart, fully intending to plunge it into his chest, and speed his spirit towards his love, but just as he was about to push it in, he found he was unable to. It was at this time that everything in his world changed. ~ Why didn't it work? It seemed easy enough, and I was purfectly willing, yet I was unable to do it, something was stopping me against my will. ~ "Mamoru Chiba." "Huh? Who's there?" Mamoru said turning around, only seeing a silhouette against a silver light. "You seem to be the thing that makes my neice happy. She can't seem to get over you, and I like to see my neice happy." "Wha.....what are you talking about?" Mamoru asked, still holding the dagger in his hand. "You want to be with Usagi, correct?" "Of course I do, but that still doesn't answer my question." "Im here to take you to her. She has been beside herself without you, and that hurts me. You will come, won't you?" "For Usako, I will go anywhere." Mamoru said, standing up and dropping the dagger by Usagi's body. "Very well, come with me." The shadow said as it turned into the silver light. Mamoru followed directly behind. Through the silver light, came a bright, almost golden light. Suddenly, Mamoru found himself in a beautiful flowering garden, with sakura petals drifting down onto his head. Looking around, he saw women sitting in different corners of the garden, conversing and such. One of them wearing a red and gold kimono looked up, noticing him, and walked towards him. "Mamoru-san?! How did you get here?" "Usako's aunt brought me." "Serenity-sama brought you here? Well, it was none too soon. Usagi-chan is waiting for you in there. Hurry." Rei said, as she turned back to the other women. Mamoru turned to the building Rei had pointed at, and walked towards it, in a very fast pace. "Rei-chan, was that who I think it was?" Makoto asked. "Yes, Mako-chan, the king has come home. Now our queen can be at peace." ************************************************************************ Mamoru entered the ornate building, and found a crying Usagi sitting in an elaborate chair. "Usako......" Usagi looked up startled, a single tear trickling down her face. Looking around, she noticed the source of the voice. "Mamo-chan?...........Mamo-chan!!" Usagi cried as she got up and launched herself into his arms, hugging him for all she was worth. Mamoru wrapped his arms around her trembling form, and began to whisper comforting words. "Mamo-chan, how did you...........why did you.........." "Lets just say that your aunt hates to see you unhappy." Mamoru said, smiling down at her as he wiped away her tears. Usagi managed a smile, as she buried her face in his chest, trying to stop her crying. Suddenly a voice appeared in their heads. "Usagi.......Mamoru....You two have something special. Celebrate your love, it will make you stronger. Farewell." Serenity said, as she bestowed her last gift upon the couple. Sakura petals showered down upon them, making Usagi shine, as Mamoru changed. His hair became neat once again, and his clothing changed into a black kimono with earths decorating the fabric. "Usako, my love." Mamoru said as he held out his hand to her. "Mamo-chan, my king, my love." Usagi whispered as she placed her hand in his offered one, and then led him out into the garden, where everyone was waiting for them. As soon as they stepped outside, all of Usagi's council kneeled and swore allegience to Usagi and Mamoru, and wished them great joy on their union. "Finally I can be free, thanks to you, my love." Mamoru said, as he bent down to capture Usagi's lips in a kiss, which she gladly gave to him. ************************************************************************ One year later ************************************************************************ "Push Usagi! Push!" Usagi pushed as she cried, and after a moment, another cry was heard. "Congratulations your highness, you have a beautiful baby daughter. What are you going to call her?" The doctor asked as he held out her baby for her to see. "Her name shall be Serenity Usagi Chiba. Is that all right with you dear?" Usagi asked her husband. "I don't think I could have come up with a more fitting name, lovely." "Well, I'll get this small lady Serenity all cleaned up and then I'll bring her to you for feeding time." The doctor said as he left with the small princess. "Mamo-chan?" "Yes, my love? What could be on your pretty mind?" "Are you happy?" Usagi asked, and frowned when Mamoru laughed. "Usako, I don't know how I could be happier. I have a beautiful loving wife, a lovely daughter, what could possibly be better." "Oh Mamo-chan!" Usagi exclaimed as she began to cry. "Now, now, none of that. I'll not have my love be sad on such a beautiful day. I must make you happy again." Mamoru declaired as he bent down and kissed Usagi passionately, fortifying it with all his love. When he broke the kiss, Usagi smiled up at him with dreamy eyes. "I love you, my Usako." Mamoru said, running a finger along her cheek. "I love you too , Mamo-chan." She said in return just as the first of her council and friends entered the room to share in the excitement of the princess's birth. ************************************************************************ The End