Here is the Conclusion to The Ghosts of Christmas Eve. I hope you enjoy it!
Authors Notes - I'd like to thank jamesstutz, "You are my knight in shining armor, always there with a great review", THANK YOU!
This story may seem a bit overdone but I really don't care. I started writing this inspired by the song as I said in Chapter One but I have also found that this story helped me rekindle my own belief that Christmas is filled with magic, hope and miracles! So although it may seem a bit dramatic, or too much, I as the author like to think that at Christmas time anything is possible and it could happen. :P
The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
Chapter 5 Oh Night Divine – Part 2
Usagi walked over to the rocking chair and sat bending to pick up the letter. Thinking back over her conversation, Usagi found her self confused. 'Why show me what didn't happen. It makes no sense, why show me the possibility that never came to pass?'
Refolding the letter gently she put it back into the envelope and stood walking over to the trunk. She knelt down once more and placed the letter on the bottom and put everything back as she had found it. Usagi closed the lid with a quiet thump and was just turning around when the temperature dropped again. Glancing around wildly, she looked for any signs of abnormality. 'What is going on?' She stood up slowly waiting for something to happen. A blue light began to coalesce right around the spot where her other visitor had been. The myriad shades of blue were all visible and began to blend together until a form appeared. As the light faded a lady stood where nothing had been. She had raven hair, wore a simple white gown, and dark blue eyes which focused entirely on Usagi.
"Sailor Moon I presume?" Her words were short and to the point. Usagi could only nod awe struck.
"You may call me Aya come then we have a schedule to keep." Long slim fingers lifted and she waited for Usagi to approach. When Usagi took her hand once again things began to dissipate and the queasy feeling returned. Deciding to close her eyes Usagi was amazed to find that it helped.
"Here we are." Suddenly the feeling left and she could feel solid ground under her feet once more. Cracking her eyes open she was surprised to find that they were standing in the middle of someone's apartment. A door opened behind them and together Usagi and Aya turned around.
Usagi sucked in her breath when a haggard looking Mamoru walked through the door. He had dark circles under his eyes and his clothes and hair were a rumpled mess.
"I need some sleep…please Kami allow me to sleep." As he walked forward he passed directly through them and Usagi could sense his loneliness and desolation stealing her breath with its intensity.
Mamoru walked into his bathroom and both Usagi and her guide followed. He was haphazardly fumbling through his medicine cabinet. "Where are those pills Motoki gave me?" His fingers finally found purchase on a bottle and he quickly opened it. Pouring several into his hand he swallowed them dry and dropped the bottle. Turning he walked directly towards them. Afraid of what he was feeling Usagi quickly jumped out of the way. When he had passed them she quickly knelt down and read the bottle. 'ONE PILL NIGHTLY More may cause serious affects and stop the heart, resulting in death.'
Usagi sucked in a breath and ran out of the room glancing wildly around for Mamoru. She saw movement in another room and hurried in. Mamoru was just finishing undressing and sitting on the side of his bed.
"Why did she give up? I can't do this by myself I need her beside me, at least I will see you in my dreams." With sadness etching his features he climbed into bed and fell into a deep sleep.
Tears ran down her face as she realized what this meant. "Mamoru no, stop, wake up." She yelled trying to get his attention. Aya grabbed her hand and pulled her back to the living room.
"It's time." The lady waved her hand and with the other still clutching Usagi's made the rooms dissipate. After just a few seconds Aya spoke.
"Here will do." They stopped again and Usagi glanced around they were once more standing on the sidewalk in front of the giant TV screen she had seen earlier.
"Tonight at five, our top story a local pre-med student was found dead in his apartment. Police are calling it a suicide because apparently he overdosed on sleeping pills. As we get more details we will share them. For now police are keeping quiet on his identity until his family can be notified and in other news..."
"Mamo-chan" tears ran down her face thinking about what she had witnessed. Aya pulled her back to the spot where they arrived.
"Onwards, backwards," The lady waved her hand and once more Usagi closed her eyes until she felt solid material under her feet. Opening her eyes she was relieved to find that they were once more back in the attic.
"Do you realize why I made you suffer through that?" Aya waited patiently for an answer.
Usagi thought for a minute, what does it mean, why? She shook her head still some what confused.
"I shall give you some help then that was only one outcome of many." With those cryptic words she vanished. Usagi stumbled to the rocking chair and sat weakly.
What did she mean by that and what about the Princess? Thinking over everything that she had seen so far things started making sense. As Sailor Moon I saved Naru-chan and her mother, if I hadn't taken the risk of being Sailor Moon they would have died. So…so I did the right thing, I made a difference. A soft smile played on her mouth, but with a new thought she worried once more.
But what did she mean by one outcome of many? What exactly were Mamoru's words….lets see something about "why did she give up? I can't do this by myself I need her beside me." Who could he have been talking about?
Usagi's eyes widened as a thought struck. Could he have meant me? Nah…that would be silly, wouldn't it? Deep inside she knew he meant her but admitting that was also admitting that he cared, and he cared quite a bit, it also meant that giving up could cause Mamoru to do what she had seen.
What am I supposed to do? She thought about being Sailor Moon and what it meant. I am the Champion of Love and Justice and I fight for this world but…but what about the innocents that I protect? Somebody died because I wasn't fast enough, strong enough, just not enough. Sighing in frustration she found she was back where she started.
A pink twinkle in the gloomy light caught her attention. It began as one lone little light until more appeared and they just kept coming until a small form actually stood where the lights had been.
Usagi's jaw dropped open in shock as she stared at the one person she had wanted to see the night before. A little girl of three or four stood in front of her wearing a pink dress and smiling softly. Her blonde hair hung down to her shoulders and blue eyes twinkled at her.
"You really are Sailor Moon." The child's voice was light and musical and she spoke with a touch of awe. Usagi could only nod in response because she didn't know what to say to this child.
"I always wanted to meet you and now I get to. Come on, we have to hurry." The little girl tapped her foot impatiently sounding petulant.
Usagi stood slowly and walked to where the child stood. She still did not know what to say and just held out her hand. The little girl grabbed her hand and scrunched her eyes closed. Usagi knew what was coming and closed hers also.
They stopped in seconds and solid ground was beneath their feet again. They stood on a balcony looking inside an apartment.
"That is my house." The little girl spoke quietly with a touch of misery. Suddenly in front of both of them the same girl came running into the room in her night gown. She stopped in front of the Christmas tree and knelt down. Looking at all of the gaily wrapped presents underneath, she chose a small one and gently shook it.
"I just wondered what might be in there." The little girl squeezed her hand as she spoke.
Suddenly a door opened on a far side of the room and an elegantly dressed lady came stumbling out.
"Sakura, what are you doing? How many damn times have I told you not to touch?" The little girl before the tree turned and both outsiders could see the stark fear on her face.
"I was just looking Mommy." She began to quake with fear as the lady came closer until she towered over the terrified child.
"Stand up!" Sakura sat the package back down and unfortunately the lady's eyes caught the quick movement. Standing slowly on trembling legs the girl looked up at her mother.
"But Mommy I was only shaking it a bit, I promise I didn't hurt it or anything."
The Mother pulled her arm back and slapped the child hard enough to send her head flying sideways. The little girl did not make a single sound but tears flowed freely down her face.
"So you were shaking the gifts, I guess that calls for a more severe punishment because you can'tseem tobehave. Go stand by the couch." The Lady walked into the other room and returned with a leather belt.
"You know the routine bend over this is what happens to naughty children. We beat all the naughtiness out of them." When the little girl laid her stomach on the arm of the couch, Usagi began to cry.
The Lady hefted the belt in the air and brought it down over her small daughter's back. Over and over again the Lady repeatedly hit the girl with full force, the saddest part was the little girl never made a sound.
"That's enough, I've seen enough." Usagi cried out not wanting to watch anymore. The hand tucked inside hers squeezed reassuringly and then they were moving again.
In moments they were once again standing in back in the attic. The little girl glanced up at Usagi and spoke.
"I ran away that night Daddy had been gone a long time." Her voice faltered and Usagi could hear the threat of tears. "But I was going to find him to save me from Mommy." Still holding Usagi's hand she tugged gently on it bringing Usagi down to her level.
"It wasn't your fault." Small arms crept around Usagi's neck and squeezed as she continued. "You tried to save me, to protect me when no one else would." Sakura lost control and tears slid down her face.
Usagi's arms pulled the small girl closer into a hug and they cried together comforting one another. A small hand found its way to Usagi's cheek and wiped away a stray tear.
"Thank you, I have to go now, don't worry I am happy now with Daddy." With a small wave Sakura began to dissipate and then completely disappeared.
Usagi dropped from her crouched position to rest on her bottom and just sat staring at where the child had vanished. Several emotions and adrenaline all left her feeling like a wrung out dish rag.
With a new sense of lightness and hope Usagi finally understood. I cannot protect every singleperson, some are meant to go, but what I do is very important. She smiled softly and finally decided to stand.
Oh no, I left everyone at the temple and they are probably pretty worried. She decided it was time to face everyone again and take back what she had given to Minako.
EPILOGUE – Have a Holly Jolly Christmas
Mamoru had just arrived back at the temple and sat down with the girls when a knock on the door startled everyone.
Rei jumped up from her tatami mat and hurried to the door. When she pulled it open and saw Usagi standing with a small smile she let out a happy shriek. "Usagi-chan," Pulling her into the room she happily berated her the whole way. "Where have you been? We were so very worried, and why are you smiling?"
Usagi not having time to answer just grabbed her friend in a hug and whispered in her ear. "Merry Christmas Rei-chan!"
When everyone heard Rei's startled shriek their heads all whipped towards the door. Seeing Usagi pull Rei into a hug there was a moment of startled silence before pandemonium broke. Everyone tried to speak at once until Usagi held up her hand to silence everyone and speak.
"I made a mistake earlier and it took well some." She paused thoughtfully, how do I say this? "Some Christmas magic to help me see the error of my ways, so if you will have me, I will continue to lead the Senshi and I will continue as Sailor Moon."
There was no answer other than Minako handing her brooch back. "We'd have it no other way!" Usagi was immediately engulfed in a hug from Minako. When Usagi finally broke free of the happy girl she managed breathlessly.
"So can we celebrate Christmas now?" Everyone laughed and the celebratory mood kicked in. They immediately pulled out all of the earlier forgotten gifts and exchanged them laughing and talking. Finally Makoto brought out her Christmas cookies and all the other junk food she had made.
Mamoru watched the girls with awe. He had never seen such loving happy people at Christmas time, and it was a new and exciting experience, seeing these girls that had some how already accepted him into their fold.
He waited for a lull in the excitement before approaching Usagi. Dropping down on the floor next to her he glanced at her wondering how to begin. Then suddenly he knew how to at least start.
"Merry Christmas Usagi-chan", she glanced up at his words and smiled.
"Merry Christmas yourself," she laughed then glanced down at her lap. "I am sorry I don't have a present for you."
Mamoru tentatively held out his hand and tipped up her chin to look into her eyes. "It doesn't matter. Having you back is the best Christmas present of all."
Rei watching from where she sat saw the looks on their faces and could not believe her good luck. "Usagi you are sitting under the Mistletoe. Do you know what that means?" When everyone looked at her surprised she explained. "It is a Christmas tradition that says you are supposed to receive a kiss from whoever finds you under the Mistletoe."
Mamoru smiled, "I think I like this tradition a lot" Just before he caught her surprised lips in a gentle kiss.
FIN
MERRY CHIRSTMAS EVEYRONE!