Shrine of the Moon

By Bashfulglowfly

Chapter Six

Kunzite and Venus were the last to arrive at Aoyama Park. They looked at their friends and companions. Jupiter and Nephrite looked like they'd been dragged backwards through several thorn bushes. Mars and Jadeite were bruised and battered. Mercury and Zoicite looked worse, they didn't even bother standing. Mercury leaned against Zoicite as she tried to analyze the last youma they were going to fight.

Venus tried to hide the fact that her knees were shaking from exhaustion and that she could barely move her left arm. She knew that Kunzite was standing out of sheer stubbornness. "Well, it was a mistake separating in four separate groups to fight these youma."

Mars barely nodded. "To be honest, I don't know if I have it in me to go against this last one."

Mercury didn't even look up from her computer. "This one is three times as strong as the one Zoicite and I fought. It's able to absorb things to make it stronger. It's already absorbed a lot of cement and metal…and it will be able to absorb our own energy."

Jadeite and Nephrite both cursed.

"We don't have any choice. We can't let this youma rampage unchecked." Said Venus with a positive attitude that was as feigned as her current health.

Kunzite nodded. "Let's go."

"Oh, I don't think so."

The group managed to jump, startled by the new voice.

Standing behind them was a man dressed in silver and dark blue armor. Jadeite narrowed his eyes at the sword that was belted and sheathed at his side. The last time he'd seeing it was an hour before on the shrine in the cavern where his sister lay. He turned stunned eyes to the woman standing hand and hand with the man.

"Usagi."

The gold and silver vision smiled at him. "Hello, nii-chan!" She ran over and hugged him.

Jadeite wrapped his arms around his little sister and held her close. He looked down at her. "What…what happened? How did you get free?"

She giggled. "It was just like Venus said. Dymion figured it out too."

"Oh, yeah! True Love's Kiss. Good." Then it hit him and Jadeite glared at his prince. "Dammit, Dymion! You KISSED MY SISTER?!"

Endymion snorted. "You can't have it both ways, Jade. Either leave her under the crystal's spell or kiss her and set her free. Now quit being her Big Brother and become my Shitennou and let's kick some youma butt!"

"Wait." Serenity cupped her hands and the Ginzuishou appeared. She whispered quietly to it and it glowed brightly covering the Senshi and Shitennou in its light.

Venus felt warmth clear to her bones. Her pain and exhaustion were gone. She looked at the others and could see that they had been Healed as well. Jupiter and Nephrite looked like they could appear on the cover a fashion magazine. Jadeite and Mars were able to give them serious competition. Zoicite rose to his feet and extended his hand to Mercury, who took it but it was obvious that his assistance wasn't necessary. She looked at her Kunzite and she could tell he was ready to rock n' roll.

Venus threw her head back and laughed. "Welcome back, Serenity! Now! Let's kick some youma butt!"

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They defeated the youma. It wasn't quick or easy but with teamwork, they managed.

After the battle, they returned to the Tsukimine Shrine. Unfortunately, during the time they were gone, Ikuko-san had gone to the cave to talk with her daughter and discovered she was gone. She was just exiting the cave at a run when the group landed in front of it. Ikuko was kept from falling by Jupiter when they collided with each other. Ikuko looked at the group and spotted her son. "JUN-CHAN! Usagi-chan is MISSING! What are we going to do?!"

"Mama?"

Ikuko-san turned and looked towards the unfamiliar voice and stared at the young woman with golden hair and flowing silver gown. "U-Usagi-chan?" She whispered.

Serenity nodded. "I've missed you, Mama!"

Ikuko laughed through her tears and hugged her daughter close.

The Senshi and Shitennou quietly un-transformed as well as Endymion. Jun guided his sister and mother, who didn't look like they were going to let go of each other anytime soon, into the house. He bellowed for Shingo, who came down the stairs with a sleepy snarl that turned into a shout of joy at the sight of his sister standing upright in the living room.

The group sat down in chairs or on the floor and watched as Ikuko called her husband in Hong Kong and told him the news. They watched as Usagi, who had un-transformed herself by now, spoke with her father.

After Usagi hung up the phone after telling her father she'd see him soon, Ikuko turned to everyone one. "Alright, who's going to explain to me what happened."

"I will." Minako and Kazuya, the Senshi had learned the Shitennou's 'Real Life' names and histories when the Ginzuishou had healed them, spoke at the same time.

Mamoru spoke. "It's probably going to take all of us. So let's start at the very beginning." He took a deep breath. "It all started a thousand years ago…"

The End