In Another Lifetime - Epilogue
Usagi-chan
Usagi@tuxedomask.com
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~~~
I paused in my sweeping and let my eyes drift to the
sunset.  The delicates hues stained the sky like they
were being painted.  The blues, oranges, reds and pinks.
It was gorgeous and I watched as night slowly crept
into the sky.

Pulling my gaze from the now night sky, I continued
to sweep the temple grounds.  It was getting late 
and I had a date soon.  I needed to get ready.

"Rei-san!" A voice called.  I turned to see my 
grandmother standing outside the door.  She 
waved me over and I went to her.

"Telephone." She told me.  I set the broom against
the wall and stepped inside.  I picked up the phone.

"Hello?  Hiya Rei speaking."

"Rei-chan?" The voice replied.  Immediately I knew
it was Yaki-kun..

"Yes?  You aren't calling to cancel on me, are you?"
I teased, knowing full well he wasn't.

"Of course not!  I just wanted to make sure we were
still on." He replied.

"Yes, we are..." I replied softly.  Although I had
yet to tell him of my love, I was desperately in love
with him.  A feeling I longed for before I knew it
existedm but somehow, deep down I always knew it 
existed.

"Good...  Good I'm glad." I could tell he was 
smiling.  "I'll see you in half an hour?" He 
asked.

"I'll be here." I smiled.  We've been seeing 
each other for almost a year now, and still,
every time he calls.  It's like a ritual, for
us.  

"Going out?" My grandmother asks.  I smile. 

"Yes, with Yaki." I tell her.  She smiles,
he violet eyes laughing gently, like she
knows something I don't.

"What is it?" I ask her.  She shakes her 
dark head and retreats into her room.  I
bit my lip, puzzled, before heading towards
my own room, near the back of the shrine.  

I pull out the clothes I have already decided on,
a short black skirt and a red tank top.  I know
I'll look good in it, and Yaki likes me in red.

I leave my long black hair down, but brush
it until it is smooth and soft.  Then I dusted
some light purple eyeshadow above my violet eyes,
and darken the lashes with a touch of mascera.

Smiling, I think about Yaki.  We met one day,
quite by accident, when he was going into a 
charm shop and I was coming out.

He bumped into me, and apologized profusely.
I assured him it was fine, but he insisted on
taking me out to lunch, to make up for any
damage he had caused.  I smiled, and accepted.

Now that I was ready, I went back outside and
sat in front of the temple.  My gaze wandered up
to the sky and the moon while my thoughts drifted
elsewhere.

Oddly, I began to think about Queen Serenity.
There are rumors that the REAL Queen Serenity,
the one that founded Crystal Tokyo, was back, 
with her senshi.  They were staying in the Crystal
Palace, hidden from sight, but able to see.

I laughed at the notion.  We were the descendents
of Sailormars, and we have heard nothing.  If there
were anything to hear, someone would have told us,
wouldn't they?

But then, the other rumor that occupanied the first
is that Sailormars isn't among them.  No one knows
what happened to her, but they say she died 
honourably.  What senshi wouldn't?  Died for the
Queen.

I smile at the notion that my great grandmother
was such an amazing woman that she was able to
sacrifice her life for her Queen's.

Maybe it wasn't for her Queen's life, maybe
it was for love.  Her Queen's love.

Shaking my head I brush the notion aside.
There is no proof that any of this is true.
Even the fire shows me nothing, no matter
how hard I concentrate on it.  If there is
anything to know, it is not to be known by me.

I hear someone approaching on the stairs, and
I look up expecting Yaki.  I'm surprised when
I see a blond girl.  She walks towards me, as
though she knows me, but I'm sure I've never 
seen her before.

"Hello." She smiles at me, gently, almost wistfully.

"Hello." I reply.  "Did you want to pray or..?" 

"No, I came to see you." She studies me, to see
my reaction but I make none.  

"Who are you?" I ask.

"Usagi." She tells me.  Her eyes are still 
watching me, her bright blue eyes, and something deep 
within me recognizes them.  

"Are you happy, Rei-chan?" She asks me, finally.
I nod slightly, startled by her question.

"I... I am happy, Usagi-sama." I know she is
deserving of the title.  Another piece of 
knowledge from deep within.  Again she smiles.

"I'm glad." She tells me.  This time her smile
is happy.  She turns suddenly, and begans to
walk towards the stairs leading away from the
temple, away from my life.  Something within
takes hold, and I stand, calling out.

"Usagi-sama!  Wait!" My hand is out stretched,
as though I could just grab her and pull her back,
despite the distance between us.  She looks at me,
puzzled.

"When will I see you again?" I asked her.  The
wistful smile takes its place on her face once
more.

"I hope never..." She whispers, before disappearing
down the stairs.  I watch until I can't see her anymore,
and I feel like crying.  I clench my eyes shut and
will back the tears.  

I feel a hand being placed on my shoulder, and my
eyes fly open.  I hope it is Usagi at the same
time that I know it is now.

"Yaki..." I whisper, taking in his short blonde
hair and beautiful blue eyes.

"Rei-chan...  What's wrong?" He asks me.  Looking
at him, I realize nothing is wrong.  Everything
is as it should be.

"Nothing..." I whisper, a small smile on my 
lips.  "Nothing..."
~~~