Come back to me, Gongyla, here tonight, You, my rose, with your Lydian lyre. There hovers around you delight: A beauty desired. ...... Even your garments plunder my eyes. I am enchanted: I who once Complained to the Cypress-born goddess, Whom I now beseech. ...... Never let this lose me grace But rather bring you back to me: Amongst all mortal women the one I most wish to see. Sappho, Please, translated by Paul Roche ------ The woman entered the grounds of the Hikawa Jinga Shrine up on Sendai Hill following the directions given her and found the temple entrance. After explaining to the roguishly handsome young sandy haired blond in the tuxedo who she was and what she was doing there, she was shown to a side room. The blond knocked on the door, causing the woman's face to fall when she noticed the wedding band on the hand. "Coming." someone inside called out. A few seconds later, the door was opened to reveal a beautiful woman with aqua green hair done up in a bun who was wearing a kimono. "Ruka dear." the woman said to the blond in the tux, "Don't come yet, she's not ready." "I know." Haruka answered, "But I have someone here who wanted to say 'hi' before the wedding." "Saito-sama?" the woman with Haruka asked, "Are you in there?" "Is that Haruna-sama?" a voice from within the room asked. Haruna Sakurada smiled cheerfully as she was led into the room, "It sure is." she answered, "So how's my favorite former student teacher doing on her wedding day?" "A bit nervous." Kihomi answered as she stood up and bowed in her exquisite white wedding kimono known as a shiro-maku. She met Sakurada's smile with one of her own, "Thank you for coming, especially after being told..." "What, that you're marrying another woman?" she asked, "Please. I had a college professor who was a lesbian. You're more than just a former student teacher to me; you're a friend. Besides," she said with a twinkle in her eye, "Weddings are a great place to meet eligible men." Kihomi smirked at the last remark, "Well, I don't know about that..." As Michiru and Haruka's attention were focused on the two old friends, a set of approaching footsteps alerted all that they had company. "Michiru." Usagi said as she came into the room, "If Kiho-chan is almost done, Rei's... Haruna-sensei?" the blond asked in shock. "U... Usagi-san?" Sakurada asked, equally surprised. Kihomi looked over at her friend and fellow teacher. "You two know each other?" she asked. The older teacher looked over at her as her eye suddenly started twitching nervously. "She was a former student of mine." she said. "How do you know her?" "She's a friend." Kihomi answered. Sakurada shook her head at that, "Usagi, friends with a teacher? I never thought I'd hear that." Turning back to Usagi, the grey-eyed young woman smiled, "Tell Rei and Sets-chan we're almost ready, and that the wedding will go on as scheduled. Usagi nodded, adding, "You look beautiful, Kiho-chan." The teacher blushed pleasantly, "Thank you, Usagi-chan." she said as her princess left the room. ---Half an Hour Later--- As the wedding ceremony finally got under way, Mamoru walked Setsuna down the aisle, stopping once they got to the front of the shrine. The future king then turned and joined Usagi and the other Inners (along with Haruna-sensei) who were gathered on one side of the aisle. Hotaru, standing next to her Michiru-mama, had never seen her adoptive mother and fellow Senshi looking so happy before. She was radiant in her own beautiful white shiro-maku kimono, her long hair pulled up in a traditional style. Kihomi came in next, walked down the aisle by Haruka in her tux. At the end of the aisle, she and Setsuna each exchanged loving glances as the sandy blond went to stand by Hotaru and Michiru. Rei, standing in the formal garbs of the Shinto priesthood, purified the couple. Michiru then moved off to the side a bit to take photographs for the couple and their fellow Senshi. After the purification, it was time for the exchange of vows. At first, this had presented a problem; traditionally, it was the groom who made the vows, and in this case there was no groom. Then again, this was far from a traditional wedding, and Rei had been more than willing to simply wave the formality and allow the brides to exchange vows this time. "Kiho-chan," Setsuna began as she stared into her love's eyes, "I always thought that this was to be denied me, that I was destined to be forever alone. And then the fates took pity on me and brought you into my life. In you I have found more than just a lover; I've found a best friend. I vow to always treasure you, to never take you for granted, and to always be there as your wife, your friend, and your confidant." The teacher blushed a bit, then began her own vows, "Sets-chan, a lot has happened to me in this past year. I don't know how I could've got through any of it without you by my side. You are everything to me, and I vow to always love you, to cherish you, and to never leave your side." The traditional ceremony of san san kudo, or the three-times-three exchange of wedding cups was then performed as Setsuna knelt with Kihomi in front of a small table containing three semi-flat sake cups arranged from smallest to largest. As each cup was filled with sake, Setsuna would silently pick it up, take three sips, and then pass the cup to Kihomi who likewise took three sips from it. In a traditional Shinto wedding, sake would then be shared between the parents of the bride and groom, as well as certain immediate family members, to represent the union of their households through the wedding. In the absence of any immediate family, however, Kihomi offered the largest cup, still containing sake, to Haruka. The Sandy blond took a sip, passing it to Hotaru, who likewise took a sip and passed it to Michiru. In this way, the family bonds between the five Outers were now symbolically strengthened by the ceremonies of the wedding. Finally, the two brides left the shrine with Rei in order to offer gifts to the kami of the shrine for good fortune in the wedding. With this final part of the ceremony over, the two were now wed. ---The Honeymoon--- The wedding reception had gone off wonderfully. Traditionally, both sets of parents use the wedding reception to talk of the good aspects of their child and of how lucky the bride or groom is to be married to them. In the absence of any parents however, each of the Senshi took turns talking about the two brides. The highlight of the night, though, had to have been when it was Usagi and Haruna-sensei's turn. Bad feelings of the past had kept them avoiding each other throughout the wedding and most of the reception. After a while however, they'd both independently had way too much sake. They thus both stood up to give their speeches at the same time, weeping as they rambled on in an inebriated state about how wonderful Setsuna and Kihomi were, and then hugged each other before taking their seats again. Now, in the hotel room they'd rented for their honeymoon, Setsuna, wearing a red and white kimono, went over to the tray with champagne by the foot of the bed as Kihomi excused herself to use the bathroom. Popping the cork, she poured two glasses as the sound of footsteps alerted her that her new wife had entered the room. She turned around to face her love and stopped. Kihomi stood before her in her own beautiful kimono, smiling as she admired her new wedding ring. She looked up at Setsuna and noticed her staring at her. "Sets-chan? Is something wrong?" Setsuna crossed the distance between as she gave one of the champagne glasses to Kihomi, "I don't know." she said softly, "Just... I've never seen you this beautiful, or been this happy before." she answered. Kihomi smiled as she took a sip from her glass. She then set her glass down and walked behind her wife. As Setsuna took a sip of her own glass she suddenly felt the teacher undoing her obi (kimono sash), pulling it off from around the Time Senshi's waist. Kihomi then took Setsuna's glass away from her and set it next to hers as she began to slowly disrobe her. Setsuna closed her eyes and smiled as she felt her love's hands pulling her kimono off, and then began undoing the various wrappings underneath. Soon, Setsuna found herself completely nude in the hotel room as Kihomi wrapped her arms around her from behind, kissing her just behind her right ear. They made love. Afterwards, Kihomi lay her head on Setsuna's pelvis. The Time Senshi reached down and started to run her fingers through Kihomi's soft brown hair. "I... I love you." she said. Kihomi turned to kiss her on her abdomen. "I love you too, Sets-chan." she said. Setsuna suddenly looked somewhat melancholy. "Kiho-chan," she began uneasily, "Do you... Do you suppose we'll always be this happy?" Kihomi's mind wandered back to events of six months ago, of seeing her future self with Lady Pluto. She found herself smiling as she met her new wife's eyes. "Absolutely." she said as she moved herself up and stroked affectionately at Setsuna's cheek, "In fact, I think I can almost guarantee it." ---Crystal Tokyo, 3044--- Neo Queen Serenity rushed to the royal apartment, followed closely by King Endymion and Princess Usagi II. They'd only received word a short time ago, yet already the word had spread all throughout the kingdom. Her Royal Highness was met at the door by Lady Mars. "Mars," the queen asked, "Is it true? Is..." "Yes, my queen." Lady Mars answered excitedly, "Come quickly. Ladies Uranus, Neptune and Hotaru have already arrived, along with most of the other royals." The king and queen entered the hallway following Lady Mars, only to be passed by the young princess. Usagi II ran toward the living quarters, reaching it breathlessly as she looked at the royals already present. By one of the columns she saw Ladies Mercury and Jupiter, the latter's new arm a shade of emerald green. As she looked around, she spotted Lady Pluto on a large couch, her wife Lady Minerva protectively cradling her in her strong arms. Behind the couch stood the other Outers. "P... Puu..." the princess gasped out, breathless after her run, "I..." "Small Lady," Lady Pluto said in concern, "Calm down and catch your breath." The pink haired heir to the throne stopped to catch her breath, "Puu," she finally said, "I... I heard that... Is it really..." Pluto smiled warmly at Usagi II as she motioned the princess to come closer. She did so, just as Lady Mars entered with her parents. The three looked on smiling as Lady Pluto took the princess' hands and placed them on her belly. After a few moments, the princess bounced up excitedly. "She kicked!" she squealed with joy, "Oh Puu, I felt the baby kick!" Lady Pluto smiled at the princess' reaction as the Outers behind her chuckled good naturedly. Lady Minerva began to rub her wife's distended belly as the queen and king came over to congratulate her and Pluto. ---Epilogue--- ---An Alternate Reality, the Present--- She looked out of the palace window at the vast alien landscape before her. After the events of six months ago, she and several of the other Time Guardians had stayed in touch. Among the things she learned were the surprising number of timelines in which the Great Moon Kingdom of the Silver Millennium no longer existed. The Guardian of the timegate allowed a small shiver to travel down her back as she tried to conceive of a threat capable of ending the Moon Empire. She also learned of other things, such as certain timelines where her other selves were not eternal, but had in fact reincarnated over and over again ad infinitum. Then, there were realities where she had never met... A tender touch on her shoulders brought her out of her troubled thoughts. She allowed a smile to now tease her lips as a hand moved through her dark braided hair. She turned to look at her love. Her dark-skinned wife tilted her head as she looked at her, "Beloved?" she asked, her skirt clinging tightly to her hips and the large group of beaded necklaces hanging loosely from her neck, "Is something wrong?" Pluto turned from her to look back out her palace window. "Minerva." she said, "What if... What if we had never met?" Minerva was taken aback by the question, "Why would you ask something like that?" she asked. "Choices." she muttered, "Possibilities, alternatives. What I mean is, say that embassy ship had never found your world. Or, say that..." "But that ship did find my world." Minerva answered, "I did come back with the ambassadors, and you and I did meet. And as for what might've been, it's not nearly as important to me as what is." Pluto looked at her wife for a few seconds before she finally smiled and kissed her on her cheek. Minerva smiled back as she returned the kiss. She then brought her right hand up to her chest where her heart was, reached forward, and placed it over Pluto's heart. "You'll always be in my heart." she said tenderly, "Just as I'll always be in yours." Pluto returned the gesture, then followed her wife into the bed chamber.
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