Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Ascension Trilogy, Book 3: Ressurrection ❯ The Budding Bloom ( Chapter 4 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

RESSURRECTION,
Chapter 4: "The Budding Bloom"

By Bill K.

"Anybody seen Serenity?" Venus asked loudly as she entered the hulk of what had been a business.

"Shhh!" Rei said sharply. Venus craned her head to the sound and Rei pointed. On the floor where Endymion still slept, Serenity was curled up next to him, nestled against his chest.

"Aw," grinned Venus. "That's sweet. Wish I still had a guy to do that with."

"You two didn't have to break up," Ami clucked, walking behind her with some salvaged blankets.

"Yes we did," Venus said, flashing a bittersweet grin. "Toshihiro was a great guy to sleep with, but the times he was awake were a bitch." She glanced at Rei. "Now what's eating you?"

"I'm worried about her," Rei frowned.

"Imagine that," Ami commented wryly.

"More than usual," groused Rei. "You're the smarty-pants doctor. How well do you think she's coping with this?"

"With the disaster?" Ami asked, her curiosity aroused.

"Not just that. With what she's become, too." Rei noticed the other two looking at her. "You remember how long it took her to adjust to being Sailor Moon. How long it took her to adjust to each power evolution she went through. And there was always a period of doubt after each ascension."

"That happened when she was a teen. She's a lot more mature now."

"Yeah, but I don't think she's ever stopped doubting herself deep down. Even though we've been at this for twenty years, I'll still bet deep down she expects to wake up and find it was all a dream."

"Well, I know she hasn't been too happy with the way we've be reacting to her. Have you sensed something else?" Venus asked.

"Yeah," Rei replied. "I'm getting feelings of confusion from her, like she's intimidated by all this new power - - afraid of it. And I overheard her talking to Princess Kakyuu."

"Eavesdropping? Good Girl!" grinned Venus. Rei made a rude gesture at her. "So spill."

Rei was about to speak when the door burst open. Jupiter stuck her head in the doorway.

"Ami, we've got an emergency here!" Jupiter barked.

Ami hustled outside, followed closely by Rei and Venus. Jupiter was over by a civilian. He was writhing on the ground, clutching his arm.

"What happened?" Ami asked, clicking into doctor mode.

"Oh, please!" whimpered the man. "It hurts so!"

"He's got a really nasty burn, Ami," Jupiter told her.

"How did it happen?" Ami asked, forcing the man's hand away.

"Trying to make a fire!" hissed the man. "Keep warm! Must have spilled some of the gasoline!"

"You tried to start a fire with gasoline?" gasped Rei.

"Well, it burns faster than water," Venus commented dryly.

"Why don't you go soak your head in gasoline!" fumed Rei.

"Hmm," grimaced Ami, examining the man's forearm. "It's a bad burn, but not as bad as it could have been. I can make a salve that will help with the healing, but I'm afraid it's going to scar some."

"Yes! Please, anything! Thank you!" groaned the man.

"Let me get started on that salve," Ami said.

"Here, allow me," Serenity said. The senshi jumped in surprise, having not heard Serenity come up.

"Are you OK?" Rei asked.

"Yes, thank you. It was kind of fun until Jupiter woke me up," Serenity grinned. Jupiter blushed.

She glided up next to Ami. They could see Endymion close behind her. Ami looked at her, puzzled.

"Just think of how you would make this salve," Serenity replied.

Ami concentrated for a moment. Serenity reached up and gently touched one finger to Ami's forehead. Her left hand closed and when it opened again, a small jar of salve was in it.

Ami stared in disbelief, first at the jar of salve and then at Serenity. Within seconds, Serenity could sense everyone staring at her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered and pushed past them.

"Serenity," Jupiter called after her. She was about to call again, but Endymion pushed past them all and went after his wife.

"See what I mean?" Rei asked the group.

Endymion found Serenity not far from the shelter, her shoulders slumped and her head cast down. He eased up behind her and gently grasped her by the shoulders. Serenity turned and buried herself in his chest.

"I hate this!" she cried. "I hate the way they stare at me! I hate not being one of them anymore!"

"Why aren't you one of them?" Endymion asked softly.

"I don't know," she whispered. "I don't know when it all went wrong. Oh if only those Frost Giants had never attacked." Suddenly Serenity pulled her head up and faced her husband. "What about us?"

"What about us?" Endymion repeated. "Nothing's changed."

"Everything's changed! You're not Mamo-chan anymore! You're Endymion! I don't even know who Endymion is! And I'm not Usako anymore, I'm Serenity! And you may not love Serenity!"

Endymion smiled and gently placed his hand on his wife's chest, just over her heart.

"Your name may be different and your abilities may have grown, but you're still the same person in here," he said. "I didn't fall in love with Usagi or Sailor Moon or Usako or Serenity. I fell in love with you - - no matter what your name is." He took her small hand in his and pressed it to his chest, just over his heart. "And I'm still the same person in here, no matter what I can do now or what anyone calls me. Believe that in your heart."

Serenity's eyes began to tear. Her lower lip quivered as her mouth elongated into a smile. Suddenly she buried her face in his chest and squeezed him tight.

"Oh, that's the most beautiful thing you've ever said!" Serenity sobbed.

"Thank you," grinned Endymion. "The most beautiful thing you ever said was 'I do'."

Serenity pulled back from Endymion and stared up at him, her face a portrait of happy gratitude mixed with something more. Her chest heaved.

"Um - - no, I shouldn't," she said, embarrassed.

"What?"

"Um, well, I was just thinking," she began, nervously tracing a pattern on Endymion's chest with her finger, "with everything that's going on, do you think it would be terrible of us if we, um, went off somewhere and, um - - you know?" she asked hopefully.

"I think the world can spare us for a few hours," Endymion asked, his smile communicating his assent.

Serenity smiled shyly.

"Do you know a place?" Endymion grinned eagerly.

"I'll make one," she said, the excitement clear in her voice.
* * * *
"These are scenes I hoped never to see again," Sailor Star Fighter said. She walked along side Princess Kakyuu as they wandered through the remains of Tokyo. The princess had voiced a desire to survey things and Star Fighter was along to protect her. "This devastation reminds me of Kinmoku - - after 'she' was finished."

"Yes," nodded Kakyuu. "Usagi faces a daunting task."

"She'll succeed," pronounced Star Fighter. "She has the heart of a warrior and the wisdom of the ages."

"And the kindness and gentleness to know how to use such gifts," Kakyuu added.

"She's like you in a lot of ways," Star Fighter said.

"How kind of you to say," smiled Kakyuu. "Another might mistake such flattery for more than simple kindness."

"You're teasing me again, my Princess," Star Fighter said, fighting a losing battle to maintain her stony exterior.

"Only because I so love your reaction to it," twittered Princess Kakyuu. "I hope you can forgive me for vexing you."

"I'll certainly try," Star Fighter replied warmly.

Suddenly she noticed Kakyuu's attention turn. Following the movement of her princess's gaze, the woman saw the caved in remains of a medical clinic. When Princess Kakyuu moved for it, she naturally followed.

"Caution, My Princess," warned Star Fighter.

"Of course," Kakyuu replied. She stared at some fallen concrete and brick rubble. "Someone is trapped beneath. He still lives. Star Fighter, if you would?"

Star Fighter nodded. Pulling out her belt weapon, she held it over her head.

"Star Serious Laser!"

An energy beam split the air, then split the rubble. Several precise strokes reduced the brick and mortar to pebbles. Beneath was the battered form of a man.

Princess Kakyuu knelt down beside him. Instantly her aura flared red around her body and enveloped the fallen man. She concentrated for a few minutes until the man began to stir.

"So warm," he whispered. His eyes opened. He stared up at Princess Kakyuu and she responded with her warmest, most disarming smile. "Who are you?"

"A friend," was all she said. With her help and the help of Star Fighter, the man got to his feet.

"My clinic," mumbled the man. "Did everyone else get out?"

"I sense two bodies," Princess Kakyuu informed him with gentle sympathy. "If there were more, they have escaped. How are you?"

"I," and the man mentally inventoried his body, "I'm fine. But I was trapped - - broken ribs and internal bleeding. How?"

"I merely acted to the best of my abilities," Kakyuu said. "Do your patients ask how you mend them?" She touched the face of the man and it seemed to give him comfort. "When you are able, there are others in need of your skills. Please go to them."

"I - - yes," he nodded. "Thank you."

Princess Kakyuu nodded and walked off. Sailor Star Fighter followed.

"A small victory," commented Star Fighter.

"All victories matter, no matter how large or small," Kakyuu said. "I do what I can. Someone must continue the work of Usagi until she is able to find herself."

"Perhaps I," Star Fighter began, then hesitated. "Perhaps I can help her, somehow?"

"Your offer is kind and demonstrates your depth of charity," Kakyuu replied. "But Usagi is in good hands at the moment."
* * * *
"I'm going out," Ami pronounced to the others.

"I'll go with you," Rei offered. "We can look for him together."

"Him? I was going out looking for injured people to help."

"Ami," gasped Rei. "What about Hayami?"

"There are sick and injured people out there," Ami replied, turning away as she so often did when she didn't want to confront something that made her uncomfortable. "They need a doctor's help."

"Ami, you've been going almost non-stop since the world defrosted. I know there's a lot of suffering out there . . ."

"And you're asking me to ignore it. I can't."

"No one's going to think less of you if you take some time out to look for Hayami. He's your husband!"

"I think the people who are injured would," and Ami pushed out the door into the street. There they found more people gathered around, waiting for something - - Usagi perhaps? Rei ran to catch up with her.

"And what if Hayami's one of those injured?" Rei asked, grabbing Ami by the arm. "You always do this! Whenever it comes to feelings and emotions and your passions, you always run and hide behind your medical degree!"

"That's not fair," scowled Ami.

"No, but it's accurate! What if Hayami's laying under some debris right now, calling your name? Sacrificing your husband to save the life of a stranger may make you noble in some people's eyes. In mine, it just makes you stupid. And I never thought of you as stupid."

Ami turned away again. For a moment a wave of utter fury passed through Rei. Then her psychic vision flashed onto something.

"You're afraid of something else," Rei said softly.

Ami winced.

"What?"

"Sometimes you see too much," Ami whispered. She kept her back to Rei. "What if he's dead, Rei? I don't want to see his dead body. It's only been three years since my father died. The memory's so fresh it's like it happened yesterday. To this day I can see him lying there in that box, lifeless. What it did to me and Mother - - Mother!" Ami whirled on Rei, wide-eyed and fearful. "What if she's dead, too? I-I can't look at them if they're dead, Rei! I can't deal with it! Mother means everything to me, despite our differences! And Hayami and I were just beginning to really love each other!"

"You didn't love each other when you got married?" Rei asked, confused.

"Yes, but it was a different love. It was a desperate, lonely kind of reaching out love. But the longer we were together, the more in love we grew. Hayami's a fine, wonderful man! He is!" And Ami seemed to go limp. Rei caught her and propped her up. "I think I'd rather spend the rest of my life wondering if he's alive rather than know he's dead."

Rei stared at Ami's misery, completely blown away. Ami's perspective was one she hadn't even considered, hadn't even dreamed of. And forcing it to the surface had reduced her friend to a shuddering basket case of worry. She'd always thought Ami to be tenaciously even-tempered. It made Rei feel tremendously guilty.

"Ami," Rei said desperately, trying to assuage her friend's sorrow and her own guilt, "you've got to trust that he's alive! You can't give up hope! He's probably trying to get to you right now! Please, you've got to believe that!"

"Why?" Ami asked. "That's your solution to everything, act on faith! Well faith is your province, not mine! I'm a woman of science! Do you have proof? If I go look for him and find him dead, are you just going to look guilty and say 'whoops'? If he's dead, I don't want to know!"

"But if he's alive and he dies later because you weren't there, are you going to be able to live with the guilt?" Rei asked.

Ami stared at Rei, trying to come up with some counter-argument. Then her face crumbled into anguish and she buried her face in Rei's shoulder. Rei wrapped her arms around her friend.

"Sometimes I wish I was a little girl again," cried Ami, "and I didn't have to make these kind of decisions! I hate death and dying so much! But no matter what I do here, someone is going to die!" And she shuddered from her sobs.

"Ami, you're an emotional wreck right now," Rei said, rubbing her friend's shoulder as she cried. "With all we've been through, it's no wonder. You're no different from anyone else." She continued to hold Ami. "Want to know something? After all that time I spent in that cell on Knorr, I'm - - kind of afraid of being alone now. It's one of the reasons I wanted to come with you. I was alone in that cell for almost two years and - - well - - maybe someday when everything's back to normal, I won't be. I know damn well that I'm not going to spend the rest of my life being afraid. But it's OK now, because I'm, you know, walking wounded. We all are. Right now you're wound tighter than the spring on a clock and it's got you a little crazy. But when everything's back to normal and you're cuddled up in Hayami's arms, all of this will just be a bad dream."

"You've been reading too many fairy tales," Ami choked out through her tears. "Life's not like that."

"Oh no? Well I say you're wrong," Rei said with a growing smile. "You want proof, Miss Woman of Science? The proof's right behind you."

Turning around, Ami looked.

"H-Hayami?" she whispered. The figure was tattered and worn, covered with dirt and dust, and clearly tired from exertion. He held his broken glasses in his hand and offered his wife a lame smile.

"Hi," he said timidly. "I-I heard you were here. I walked here all the way from home. It's OK. Just a few broken windows. And there's a wonderful garden in the front yard now!" He looked down at the glasses in his hand. "I broke my glasses."

Ami expelled a loud shuddering breath, a crossbreed between a sob and a huge sigh of relief. She took several small steps toward him, then broke into a run and flung herself to him, wrapping her arms around his round, squat frame.

"OH, HAYAMI!" she wailed, burying her face in his chest. She continued to bawl like a child while Hayami curled his arms around her. Rei noticed tears streaming from his eyes as well.

"I was afraid for you, too, dear," he whispered.

Rei came up and patted him on the shoulder. "I'm real glad you made it, Hayami."

"I'm glad you made it, too," Hayami replied politely. "The others?"

"Yeah," Rei nodded.

"A-And Usagi? How is she?"

Rei cocked her head like she was listening to something only she could hear - - or more accurately, only she could feel. A small smile crept onto her face.

"She's getting there," Rei replied.
* * * *
In the park by the lake, under the shelter of a tree that had seen seventy-five summers, a place where Usagi and Mamoru had come to as teens and tentatively held hands as they watched the setting sun cast patterns of light onto the water, Serenity and Endymion lay. The park, grown over with cherry and apple trees and patches of rice and sweet potatoes, was silent as the cloak of evening spread out over it. The water, sadly polluted from the wreckage of a news helicopter that had crashed into it, was nonetheless placid in the dying glow of evening. The couple was cradled in each other's arms, lying beneath the moonlight as Adam and Eve had that first night.

Serenity snuggled against the chest of her husband - - yes, her husband, the man she had pledged to for eighteen years and loved for a millennium, of that she was now certain - - and drew comfort from his strength. Endymion gripped her tighter as he rested, content that the woman he adored was in his arms and that in her great charity had granted him the one thing he desired most in this world - - her smile.

A shadow peered out from behind a cherry tree some forty yards away from them. It didn't move. It made no threatening actions toward the dozing couple. It merely observed. Soon another shadow approached the first. However, the first shadow did not lift its gaze from Serenity and Endymion. The second shadow reached out and touched the first.

"Seiya," Princess Kakyuu whispered delicately.

"I," Sailor Star Fighter began awkwardly, "was merely making sure nothing happened to them. There are still marauders wandering around."

"Your selfless concern for her is quite noble," the princess replied. Star Fighter's eyes flared.

"I beg you, my princess," she replied bitterly, "don't mock me."

"I would do no such thing, dear Seiya," Princess Kakyuu told her earnestly. "Your feelings for Usagi are noble. It is why I chose you to accompany me and not one of your fellow senshi."

Star Fighter turned to hide her expression. "I almost wish you hadn't. I was content on Kinmoku. I had almost forgotten her."

"You will never forget her, dear Seiya," Princess Kakyuu said. "A light that shines as brightly as hers comes along only once in a millennium and all who she touches cannot help but recall her radiance for the rest of their life." She squeezed Star Fighter's shoulder. "It is only when you accept that she chose another over you that your pain will diminish."

Star Fighter's head snapped around and she glared angrily at Princess Kakyuu. The princess accepted her senshi's glare with placid grace and eventually Star Fighter's ire spent itself and her eyes sought the ground.

"I bow to your wisdom, my princess," Star Fighter said hoarsely, "though its sting gives me pain."

"Forgive me for causing you pain," the princess asked.

Shoulders bowed, Sailor Star Fighter turned and quietly left the park. Princess Kakyuu followed behind her, leaving two lovers alone under the blanket of the night sky.

Continued in part 5