Author's Note: If you wish to comment on my story, either positively or negatively, don't hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. Sailor Moon and all related characters are the property of Takeuchi Naoko, Toei Animation and DIC. So, please, don't sue me because I haven't any money. I do this strictly for entertainment purposes, not copyright infringement.
Blood on the Moon
by Jeffrey C. Branch
Epilogue: Dawn
One month later....
With a dramatic final brush stroke, Serena stepped back from her easel to examine the painting she just finished. She grinned, pleased with the result.
"Well, Luna? What do you think?"
Luna, sitting atop Serena's dresser five feet away looked at the painting her charge had spent the better part of the last three weeks working on. The painting was of Molly, amidst a colorful, sun splashed floral setting. She was garbed in the gown Serena wore during her past life on the Moon and had a cheery, friendly smile on her face.
"It's beautiful, Serena. You captured the true essence of Molly," Luna commented.
Serena nodded. "That was my goal. Memories fade over the course of time, but this, this I'm sure will last a lifetime. Molly deserves no less."
Now it was Luna's turn to nod as her mind drifted back into the recent past. The last month was not an easy one for Serena after the climatic final battle with Malakhov and Kiragama in which she lost Molly for a second time. Luna felt Serena's bottomless pain and was worried that she would literally die from grief. As it turned out, the others, most of all Darien felt the exact same way.
When Serena returned home at dawn to her anxious family, weary in body and sick to her soul from the loss of Molly, she ignored them and trudged up to her room where she crawled into bed and fell into a coma-like sleep for three days. But she was never alone. Amy, Raye, Lita and Mina, nursing injuries and haunted by nightmares of the battle faithfully sat with Serena every day like the loyal friends they were. In a way, their selfless devotion helped them to cope and to heal.
The girls then kept a promise they all made following the battle and revealed their secret identities as Sailor Scouts to their families while the orphaned Lita told her close friend, Ken. No more would they keep secrets from their loved ones. Darien, unable to visit Serena himself was forced to rely on reports from the others on her condition, his heart aching because he couldn't be with her. So he settled for watching over the Tsukino house like a guardian angel every night as Tuxedo Mask.
Once Serena finally awakened, her body having nearly burned out from focusing her lifeforce through the Imperium SIlver Crystal to combat the magical powers of the Kiragama-Malakhov amalgam, she was overjoyed to find herself surrounded by the girls. An ocean of tears flowed and limitless amounts of love filled the room as Serena was reunited with her friends. Following an equally joyous reunion with Darien, Serena sat down with her family and revealed everything: the Moon Kingdom, Queen Serenity, her first death, her resurrection and that of the Scouts, her royal guard on Earth, her many battles as Sailor Moon and her future destiny as Neo-Queen Serenity, ruler of Crystal Tokyo.
At first, Serena's parents and Sammy were shocked, never expecting to hear such an incredible story. But, they accepted what they were told, in the end, the only thing that mattered to them was that Serena was well, and that they loved her. Knowing that helped Serena's scars, the invisible ones in her heart from losing Molly to heal. And with each passing day, Serena grew stronger in body, mind and spirit. However, her recovery was not entirely perfect as there was still one particular problem that had yet to be resolved. Luna's thoughts returned to the present as she watched Serena hang the canvas of Molly over her bed.
"I think it's only fitting that it hang there," said Serena. "It'll be like Molly's watching over me."
"I'm sure she is," said Luna.
"Serena! You have company!" her mother called from downstairs.
Luna arched an eyebrow. "Were you expecting the girls today?"
Serena shrugged. "I dunno. Let's find out."
Going downstairs, Luna close behind, Serena was surprised to find Lieutenant Fukoda in the living room with her mother instead of the girls. "Lieutenant! What brings you here?" she asked.
"I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd pay a social call." Grinning, Fukoda produced his wallet and flashed a gold badge at Serena. "And it's Captain now. I was promoted a couple of weeks ago after the....incident."
Serena smiled and gave Fukoda a hug. "Congratulations, Hideki! I'm so happy for you! You deserve it!"
"Likewise. We were told so much about everything you had done during that nasty business with that maniac," said Mrs. Tsukino, motioning to the couch for everyone to sit.
"Probably by Luna I'm guessing," said Fukoda with a chuckle as he saw the cat in Serena's lap and winked at her. Then he grew serious. "To tell you the truth, I almost didn't accept the promotion. In fact, I very nearly retired. I was already on the verge of burn out from the Deep Throat case, and Shiro's death was an awful blow. But if I had quit, not only would I have disgraced Shiro's memory, I would've failed to heed the advice I gave Serena on the Mitsumos' island about never giving up the fight to do good in this world."
"Well, I for one am glad you didn't quit, Captain. This city needs good men like you," said Luna. "Especially considering how you managed to keep the real story from being revealed to the world."
Fukoda shrugged from modesty. The story he told the press about the Deep Throat Killer having been gunned down in a seaside shootout with police, resulting in his body being lost at sea, and the lie about a terrorist attack at Tokyo General Hospital effectively closed the case without the vampire angle ever leaking out. "I do as best I can. I think about Shiro and that gives me strength. What about you, Serena? How are you doing?"
"I'm healing. Getting better every day," Serena replied. "But there's one thing you have to explain to me. During the battle at Malakhov's hideout, you called me by name. How did you know who I was?"
"I remembered the speech you gave at Molly's funeral, the hurt and pain in your voice. Emotions that strong could only come from a person who lost their best friend," said Fukoda. "Later when you showed up in my office as Sailor Moon, you were seething from rage, dying to get your hands on whoever killed Molly. Again, only someone who lost a best friend could have been so distraught. From there, it was just a matter of adding two and two. But don't worry, your secret identity is safe with me."
Serena smiled. "I'm sure it is. I trust you as implicitly as I trust my family. Oh, and I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise to you."
Mrs. Tsukino was puzzled. "Promise? What promise?"
"About keeping the monsters off my beat. Must be something about this town that attracts them here like bees to honey," said a chuckling Fukoda. He then checked his watch and stood up. "I'd better get back to the office. A cop's work, including the paperwork never ends. Take care."
Once Fukoda left, Serena checked her own watch. "Hmm. I have someplace to go too, mom."
Mrs. Tsukino looked at Serena with visible concern. Luna didn't say a word. She had argued with Serena about this for weeks and got nowhere, so she stopped trying. "You've gone there every day, dear. I know how much this means to you, but don't you think it's time to stop?"
Serena gave her mother a far away stare. "No. I don't."
Even though there were no remains to return to Tokyo Memorial Gardens, Serena still felt compelled to come to Molly's gravesite each and every day since she woke up.
Serena likened it to visiting a sick friend in the hospital, at least that was the rationale she used for her daily visits as she was still unable to let Molly go. She would spend hours at a time before her friend's headstone, talking to it as if it were a flesh and blood person. Serena knew Luna, her parents and the others were right, that she had to move on, but she found it difficult, if not impossible to do. How do you just move on and leave your childhood friend behind, she wondered.
"Oh, God, Molly! I miss you so much!" said Serena, on her knees, barely able to get the words out, her cheeks wet from tears. "It's not fair! It's not fair! Why did you have to die and leave me all alone?"
"You're not alone, 'Rena," a voice from behind her said softly.
Serena whirled around and found herself staring up at a solemn Raye.
"How did you know I'd be here?" Serena asked.
"Are you kidding? It's become a ritual with you," said Raye, kneeling next to Serena. She took Serena's hands in hers and squeezed them tight. "The others are outside. We thought you were over this."
"Me too. I just finished a canvas of her today. Figured that would be enough. I was wrong. I can't help myself, Raye! Molly was my best friend!"
"And what am I, Serena? Chopped liver?" Raye shot back, trying to keep her temper in check. "Do you have any idea how much this is killing me? There's no one on this planet I care for more than you! Not Chad, not my Grandpa, not the girls, not anyone! You mean everything to me! But it feels like you're shutting me out! I'd rather die than live like this!"
Serena was stunned. "Raye, I...I didn't know, I didn't mean to...."
"Of course you didn't know! You've been too busy coming here every day to notice! Or care!" Raye snapped, tears spilling from her eyes. "Look, I know this is going to sound horribly selfish at a time like this, but I don't like having my feelings hurt. I've waited for you to stop mourning over Molly long enough. I need to know where I stand with you, Serena! Am I your best friend, or will I have to compete with a memory for the honor?"
Serena, realizing the terrible pain she caused Raye didn't answer, instead, she responded. Gently cupping Raye's tear streaked face in her hands, Serena drew her close, then pressed her lips on Raye's and kissed her. Startled at first, Raye quickly realized there wasn't any romantic or sexual overtones in Serena's long and tender kiss, rather it was a deep and powerfully intimate act that served to strengthen their bond of friendship. Raye, her heart soaring from the revelation, closed her eyes, wrapped her arms around Serena and lost herself both in the sheer beauty of the moment, and the warm softness of Serena's lips meshing with hers.
When Serena finally broke the kiss, she smiled fondly at Raye. "Does that answer your question? You're right, it is time I let go. I'm so sorry for the horrible way I've treated you, letting the grief I still have control me. Molly will always occupy a special place in my heart, but you're a part of my soul, a part of my life, a part I now know I can't bear to live without. I love you, Raye Hino. I always have, and I always will."
"And I love you, Serena. With all my heart. You are as important to me as the air I breathe. Being your friend gives my life meaning," said Raye, and the girls embraced. At that moment, nothing in the world made Raye happier than being in Serena's arms. After the girls separated, Raye's smile turned into a playful smirk. "Just between us, you kiss better than Chad! He'd be so jealous if he ever found out!"
Serena, feeling more than a little embarrassed, giggled. "Thanks for the compliment. C'mon, let's get out of here."
As the girls stood up, Serena took one last look at Molly's headstone. From this point on, the daily visits were at an end. Molly was now part of Serena's past, and though it was a happy one, filled with plenty of good memories, she realized it was time to leave the past behind and look forward. And, she had the canvas in her bedroom. That would be enough for her. Taking Raye's hand in hers, the girls left the cemetery.
Once outside, Serena saw Amy, Lita, Mina, Darien and the familiars waiting patiently across the street. They all smiled when the girls emerged. Darien wasted no time giving his beloved an embrace and a kiss.
"Are you okay? Really okay?" he asked.
Serena nodded and smiled. "I am now, darling. I have you, and all my friends beside me. I think I'm finally whole."
"Where to now?" asked Amy, always inquisitive.
Serena, nestled in the arms of Darien turned to the east where the sun was high in the late morning sky. The others did likewise.
"The future," she said.
THE END