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"Usagi!"
Tsukino Usagi turned at the sound of her name and smiled. "Ami-chan! Ohayo!"
"Good morning," the blue-haired girl replied, linking arms with her friend. "Think you're prepared for your math test today?"
"Hai!," came the bright answer. "This time I'm going to do much better. With what you and Taiki-kou taught me, I'm sure I will." The light in her blue eyes suddenly dimmed a little as she remembered her auburn pony-tailed friend and ally, now gone back to his home planet with his princess and her other two protectors. Usagi looked towards the sky, wishing fervently to see the three StarLights again. She sighed. It may never happen and it was something she had to accept. Sighing again, she walked into the school building with a heavy heart.
The day passed rather quickly and Usagi put away her earlier gloomy thoughts as she laughed with her friends. Heading to their favorite arcade, Usagi and Naru chatted about their test as Rei, Ami, Makoto and Minako talked about their day.
"Hey, Usagi-chan!," greeted Motoki as the girls walked in. "Thought you'd want to know your friends are here."
"Who?"
Motoki pointed towards the video games where a long-legged figure sat at the driving game, another figure with flowing green hair leaning behind. Usagi's face brightened.
"Michiru-san! Haruka-san!"
Michiru smiled gently at the odango haired blonde. "Oh, Usagi, konnichiwa. Haruka, look who's here."
"Hello, little kitten," replied Haruka without turning her helmeted head around, focused on the game.
"How do you get here so fast after classes?," asked Minako, dropping her change into a neighboring game, prepared to lose to Haruka and her skilled playing, but to have fun anyway.
"You forget, Mina-chan, I am the soldier of the wind," laughed Haruka. "Here one minute, gone the next."
Minako just rolled her eyes. Usagi laughed and went to sit with the others. Minako joined them a while later, having been pitilessly trounced by Haruka, but still in good spirits. Naru had already left the small group to help her mother at their jewelry store.
"Min'na! I almost had her this time!," she called out, running towards the table, Haruka and Michiru behind her, smiles on their faces. Minako was still talking and running when someone came across her path and being unable to stop, Minako collided with the girl. They both fell to the floor, Minako landing hard.
"Ow!" Her long blonde hair fell over her face, obscuring her vision, but she was able to detect the other figure rising and coming towards her.
"Oh, gomennasai. Let me help you up," came the soft spoken melodious voice.
Haruka was already at Minako's back, lifting her up from under her arms. "Are you alright? Are the both of you alright?"
"Yes, yes, I'm fine," laughed Minako, rubbing her knee. She looked up and was caught by the second girl's smooth brown complexion, jet black hair around her shoulders, and crystal clear onyx eyes. The girl smiled kindly, glad to see no injury was done.
"I should have watched where I was going. You're not hurt, are you?," she asked.
"No..." Minako trailed off, staring. She was staring at the girl's hair. It was long, nearly as long as Usagi's, tossed over her shoulder in a casual way, woven with ribbon to keep it from flying her eyes.
Haruka was staring as well. That face, that hair...it's so familiar, she thought.
Where do I remember her from?
"Haruka? Haruka?"
"Huh? Michiru? Nani?"
"What is wrong? Why are you standing there still as stone?," the willowy girl inquired, touching her partner's arm gently. She too looked over at the brown skinned female and gasped. When the girl's eyes flickered over to her, she quickly composed herself and apologized.
"Oh! I...I'm sorry. You just....I thought I...sumimasen." Michiru hurriedly walked away, heading for the restroom. Haruka excused herself as well and followed with a quick glance back only once.
Minako watched curiously, but soon smiled. "Hey, why don't you come sit with me and my friends? I can buy you a coffee, make up for my clumsiness."
"That's really not necessary. I already have-"
"Oh, come on. Please...." Minako made huge puppy eyes until the girl finally laughed and consented. Quick as lighting, Minako's arm was linked with hers and she was being pulled across the arcade towards a table full of girls. They looked up curiously at the new girl, but Minako slid in next to Rei and immediately began talking.
"Guys, I kinda ran this girl over and invited her to sit with us. I'm Aino Minako," she said, finally introducing herself," and this is Hino Rei, Mizuno Ami, Kino Makoto and Tsukino Usagi. What's your name?"
"Suki Katsuko. Pleased to make your acquaintance." Her eyes lighted upon Usagi and made an almost imperceptible bow. Usagi wasn't quite sure if she had or not, but she wasn't about to ask. She simply smiled and wondered.
"What a pretty name. Are you from here?," asked Makoto.
Katsuko hesitated before answering. "No," came the quiet answer. "Actually I just moved here."
Rei sat in silence as they chatted the new girl up. How odd, she thought. I haven't felt this peaceful and serene since....well, never. She stole glances at the girl over and over and was only slightly surprised to make eye contact with her every time. They hadn't been sitting for very long when Usagi heard a very familiar voice calling Katsuko's name.
"Katsuko? Katsuko-chan, where are you?"
Usagi's breath caught and the table went stone silent as five pairs of wide eyes and one pair of calm ones turned to the speaker. His black ponytail swung freely behind as he approached wearing a pair of shades over dark eyes, dressed in street clothes, a smile on his handsome face.
"A, so desu ka," he said. "I see. You get up and find old friends." He came up behind Usagi, hands on her stunned shoulders, and landed a kiss on her blonde head. "Hello, odango."
Usagi didn't know whether to laugh or cry so she did both.
"Seiya!"
He held her close, still smiling. His eyes finally looked up to the others. "Cat got your tongues?"
"It is you!," cried Minako joyfully. "Oh, Seiya! You're back!"
They all left their chairs, crowding around him, asking no questions, but just reveling in their friend's return. Makoto was wiping her tears when she stopped.
"Wait a minute," she said, getting everyone's attention. "Seiya-kou, if you're here, then where is the princess? And Taiki and Yaten?"
"Look behind you for once and you wouldn't have to ask such a stupid question."
Heads twirled to see Yaten smirking at them and Taiki kindly gazing on them all. They stood behind Katsuko who chuckled.
"Perhaps I should move," she teased. No sooner was she safely out of the way did the girls rush the remaining StarLights, their hearts overflowing with joy. The hugs were tight, the words tinged with tears, the overall bliss sublime. Katsuko watched the reunion of friends and allies, happy to see the moon princess and her guardians enjoy the moment. For a brief moment, she was transported back to when she and her fellow warriors reunited at Elite Temple just after battling Galaxia on their territory, how all had returned....except one. Pain suddenly shot through her heart and she willed herself not to cry. A soft hand touched her shoulder and she turned. Her tears were banished at the sight of Haruka and Michiru smiling at her. Katsuko laughed.
"By the Goddess," she exclaimed. "You remember!"
"Of course we do," Michiru replied. "How could we forget?"
She stretched out an elegant hand which Katsuko clasped tightly, Haruka's joining on top.
"My eyes see with joy," the two Outers said in unison.
Katsuko could barely speak because of her tears. "My hands touch with joy," she intoned in reply to the greeting of the Goddess.
With that, the three hugged, arms holding on to long lost memories, faces wet with newfound happiness. The rest of the senshi were momentarily forgotten as they spoke of years, centuries gone by, each girl with so much to tell. Katsuko wanted to hear everything about what they had gone through, what they all had gone through.
"We have so much to share, so much to relive," she said, turning to the now full table. Seeing the confusion on Usagi's face, she caught herself. "Oh, milady, I am so sorry. I had not introduced myself properly."
"You know who I am?," Usagi asked at hearing the formal greeting.
"Yes, milady. You are the Moon Princess, Serenity, of the Moon Kingdom, born to Her Majesty, Queen Selenity. These four women at your side are your guardians, Princess Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Venus." Katsuko drew herself up and bowed deeply. "I am Suki Katsuko, Sailor Monarch of the Sailor Elite under the leadership and protection of the Wind Goddess, the Wind Leader Elite."
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