Sailor Moon: Rise of B'aal
Epilogue
Three weeks later:
Tanya excitedly rushed into her bathroom for the last time, checking her light make-up then her hair, done up in an elaborate French twist with the bottom loose, and nodded in satisfaction. Minako had stayed over the night and delicately designed Tanya's thick, black hair into the beautiful hairstyle.
"Tanya, that's about the fifth time you checked your face and hair. It's perfect! Now let's get going before you're late to your own high school graduation!" Marco rolled his eyes in mock annoyance, but secretly, he couldn't be prouder of his charge. The Sailor Senshi had come back to Japan safe and sound and easily returned to their normal lives as if nothing had happened. The secret cults that were terrifying the world was no more, and people all over the world returned to their peaceful, normal lives. No one could have been gladder to see them....especially Tanya, than Marco, who had secretly worried constantly since the moment they left.
"Okay, okay! I just wanted to make sure everything was alright!" Tanya grinned widely. "It's not everyday I get to graduate high school!" She raced to her bed and picked up her black graduation cap and gown. She quickly donned it on over her white, evening gown. The sound of a car horn blasted from outside, and with a small giggle, Tanya rushed to the window and waved. "Alright Dad! I'm done! I'm on my way!"
Marco trailing behind her, Tanya dashed down the stairs and through her front door, just barely remembering to lock it. She threw open the jeep door and hopped inside, giving her father a quick kiss on the cheek as Marco jumped in the back. "Well, it's about time!" Tanya's father chuckled, driving out of the driveway. "You may be graduating today and becoming an adult, but certain things still stay the same!"
"Oh Dad!" Tanya laughed out. For the rest of the ride to Juuban High, the two talked about the future and what Tanya wanted to do after high school. Soon, they reached the large school, and when her father pulled up to the entrance, he smiled and kissed her softly on the cheek. "I'm so proud of you, honey. I'm happy to see you made it this far. I love you sweetheart..."
"I know Daddy, I know. I love you too," Tanya smiled, taking his hand in hers for a moment. "Now go on, park the jeep. I'll go find Usagi and the others. See you in a bit!" Tanya jumped out of the car and raced to the back of the school where all the seniors were gathered for the ceremony. The families of those graduating were seating a few feet behind the graduating crowd. Mothers were nervous, fathers anxious, and the little brothers and sisters of the seniors simply ignored what was going on and played with each other in the late March air. A makeshift stage with a large, thick red curtain was quickly built, as a surprise performance with a special guest was promise to everyone who attended.
"Tanya! Tanya-chan, over here!" shouted a voice over the crowd of seniors wearing the same cap and gown Tanya had. The gowns were red for boys, black for girls. Tanya turned to her right to see Minako, Ami, Usagi, and Makoto waving at her. Rei, having already graduated a week earlier at her T.A. Private Academy for Girls, wore an elegant Chinese style red dress, complete with chopsticks in her bun.
"Hey you guys!" Tanya shouted with joy as she ran up to them. "Can you believe it? We made it! We're actually graduating! We did it!" She laughed as each of the girls gave a yell and cheer.
"We sure did!" cheered Minako, giving a "V" for victory sign.
"I'm just glad all that hard work paid off and we can finally take a break from one of Ami's study sessions for a bit!" chuckled Makoto, winking at the blue-haired girl.
"Well, I guess we deserve a break for a while," Ami smiled as she blushed slightly. "And I just wanted to say how proud I am of you all..."
"Yeah, I can't believe even baka Odango Atama here managed to get good enough grades to graduate!" Rei said with a smirk.
"HEY!" Usagi gave Rei a hurt look, but the black-haired Shinto priestess couldn't help it, and laughed while giving the blonde girl a playful punch on the shoulder.
"Awww, you know I'm just kidding! I'm proud of you Usagi-chan!" The two girls laughed softly and gave each other a small hug.
"And I'm proud of you too. I knew you could do it!" said a new voice.
"Mamo-chan!" Usagi squealed and rushed into his arms as he walked up to the group of friends. "You look so handsome in your suit!"
"Thanks," The young man smiled shyly as he gently tugged at his tie.
"Mamoru-san, did you see Yaten yet?" Tanya asked, looking around for the silvery haired young man.
Mamoru smiled secretly and gave her a wink. "Don't worry, you'll see him soon enough. It's a surprise!" he chuckled.
"Oh..." Tanya lowered her head, slightly disappointed that Yaten had not come to her house to take her to school or greeted her. But with how excited he was the night before when he told her he had already received his diploma, Tanya knew he wouldn't miss something like this without good reason.
"Attention please!" The principle of the high school held the microphone close to his mouth to be properly heard as he came onto the stage. "The graduation ceremony is about to start. Seniors, please take your places.
Soon, all the seniors walked to the seats in front of the stage provided for them. The principle, Mr. Shou, then began a long speech about how the seniors should now think about their futures and their standards of being a responsible citizen of Japan. After about 20 minutes, another speaker, a former student of Juuban High, came up, talking about what he is doing with his life since graduating. Soon after, as the students just started yawning and looking bored, the names for the students to receive special academics awards were called. The third name to be called was Mizuno Ami, who was to receive the Valedictorian Award and a scholarship to Tokyo University for her outstanding grades. When the blue-haired girl walked up the stage to receive her award and diploma, the crowd stood up and clapped long and hard.
"GO AMI-CHAN!" Tanya shouted, waving her hand and then whistling. The girl smiled shyly and walked off the stage with a blush to her cheeks.
After the awards, students were then called up to receive their diplomas. When Minako was called up, she excitedly walked up to the principal, who was presenting the diplomas. She turned to the crowd and gave a big smile and a thumbs up after the diploma was put in her hands. Next was Tanya, and she bounded up to the stage and the principal with a gracious smile. When she was presented with the diploma, she jumped up high with a triumphant yell, drawing laughs and cheers from the audience as her father smiled. When Makoto was called forth, she graciously accepted the diploma, then reaching inside her gown, she took out a small framed picture of her mother and father and gently kissed it, drawing a long applause from the crowd.
Next was Usagi, and everyone could see she was trying very hard not to fall or do anything else to be embarrassed about. Making it to the principal and the diploma without incident, she breathed a sigh of relief, and turning to the crowd, blew a kiss to her parents, Shingo, then Mamoru.
When the rest of the senior class received their diplomas, the principal step forward, a big grin on his face. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the graduated senior class of Juuban High!" At that, the now graduated seniors gave a yell of victory and jumped up, throwing their caps into the air. For a moment, the sky seemed to be filled with red and black caps, the tassels with the golden clasps shining brightly in the sun. After the cheering and clapping died down, Mr. Shou stepped up again. "And now, without further waiting, I present to you The Three Lights, back together again!"
The crowd went wild, and the three young men rushed out of the rising curtains to the stage with their six-piece band, Seiya wearing his stylish red suit, Yaten in soft, powder blue, and Taiki in maroon. The extra drummers and keyboardists hurried to their instruments already set up, as eager to play as the Three Lights.
Seiya was the first to address the crowd, loving all the attention. "Thank you everyone! It's so good to be back! Today, we'd like to entertain you for your hard work all year. We'll start with an oldie but goodie, and to help us with that, our special guest...Kaiou Michiru!"
Once again the crowd went wild, and Michiru walked onto the stage proudly, wearing an elegant cream-colored dress that accented her curves. The music started, and the song that the Three Lights and Michiru once performed together years ago before their battle against Galaxia at the Tokyo Music Hall, Todokanu Omoi, blasted out. The aqua-haired violinist closed her eyes in deep concentration as she played, keeping up to the music and the singing of the three young men. But this time, the music was joyous, filled with hope and a new feeling of happiness. Everyone in the audience stood up and danced, feeling alive with the strength of the voices of the Three Lights.
When the music finally ended, everyone clapped long and hard, truly enjoying the show. Michiru bowed and walked off stage right where Haruka, Setsuna, and Hotaru were waiting for her behind the curtains, proud smiles on their faces as they watched their friend...their soul sister in fact...perform. They each hugged her as she joined them. The Three Lights started up the music after the audience clapped once again for Michiru, and began singing more of their hits songs, filling the whole area with joyous music and song.
About an hour later, the singers said their goodbyes and the crowd began to break up, each senior going off with their families for more celebrations. When the crowd thinned out enough, Tanya, having taken off her graduation cap and gown and given it to her father, nervously went behind the large stage to where Yaten said he would meet her. When she saw no one, she sighed in disappointment and turned to leave, her dress curving her figure perfectly...when suddenly a hand lay gently on her shoulder.
"Yaten!" Tanya laughed and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him gently on the lips. "I thought you left already..."
"Yeah well, hiding from Seiya and Taiki...as well as those screaming girl fans, certainly wasn't easy!" Yaten chuckled. He then looked deeply into Tanya's eyes and took her hand in his own. "But I just had to find the time to be alone with you...and tell you just how much I love you and how proud of you I am. You mean so much to me Ti..."
"And you mean the world to me Yaten," Tanya said gently back as she laid her head on his chest. "I...sometimes, I just can't believe we made it after everything we've been through. I thought those demons would win for sure. I was never so scared." Unable to help herself, a tear slipped down her dark cheek. "It's...it's almost like a miracle..."
"You're my miracle Ti. Don't forget that," Yaten cupped Tanya's chin in his hand and gently brought her face up to his. For long moments, the two just kissed passionately, taking advantage of their privacy and feeling their love grow stronger and stronger.
At that moment, a few petals from the cherry blossom trees began swirling around them, as if trying to wrap the two in the love they were feeling. Tanya leaned away, smiling as the soft pink petals gently fell on her shoulders and hair. "And you're my miracle too Yaten. A miracle I've been waiting for my whole life. I love you..."
Yaten blushed as he looked around to make sure they had some privacy, then lowered his head to her ear. "T...Tanya...there's something I wanted to ask you but...I..er..I mean.." The silvery-haired young man flushed some more as he reached into his pocket to produce a small box. "Almost losing you made me realize how important you are to me. There's no way I could live without you...and I...I thought I shouldn't wait anymore and...and...well.." A lump formed into the throat of the young singer as he looked into the girl's hazel brown eyes. Just losing himself into those large, beautiful eyes of hers was enough to make him nearly lose his voice and nerve. By God, she's so beautiful! I still don't understand what I did to deserve her!
For so long, he had thought that this "love" thing wasn't meant for him. Sure, he loved his Princess Kakyuu, would even give his life for her, but this was different, so very different. No one had ever made him feel this way before. Tanya allowed him to finally open his heart to love, to consider other people's feelings besides his own, and he loved her all the more for that. He gulped loudly, feeling for just a second unworthy of her love, then he looked into her eyes.
Tanya reached over and gently touched his cheek, her heart pounding at the question he might ask. "Yes Yaten? What is it?" she breathed out, feeling herself drowning into Yaten's nervous green eyes.
The handsome man took a deep breath while closing his eyes for a second, and bent down on one knee. "Tanya Lostris Cambridge...would you...could you..do me the honor of being my wife one day? Will you, please...marry me?" He opened the box and took out a perfect-sized ring with a beautiful diamond surrounded by small emeralds, and gently slipped it on the ring finger of her left hand.
Yaten's heart felt like it stopped beating for the longest minute as Tanya looked at him in silence, her eyes wide and her perfect lips parted slightly in surprise. Then, pure peace and happiness glowed on her dark face, and with tears filling her eyes, Tanya smiled and reached down to gently take his face in her hands. "Yes, of course I'll marry you! I've said it before, and I'll say it a million times if I have to...I love you!" Never in a million years did Tanya feel this would happen to her! Deep down, she knew that Yaten would love her forever, would protect her with his life, and honor and cherish her. From the first moment she had met him and looked into his eyes, she knew that past the stony attitude and aloofness was a person who felt as lonely as she did, who was afraid to love as she did. Now, together, they would grow and share all the adventures and passion of this new thing called love for them. Now, they would be free to open their hearts and enjoy the love so few were destined to share. For now, their love would be young and full of hope, but years from now, Tanya knew it would grow into a mature, undying bond, a bond that nothing would break.
Pure happiness and love for the girl before him swelled Yaten's heart at her answer, and with tears gathering in his own eyes, he stood up from his kneeling and leaned forward to give her another passionate kiss. Then picking her up by the waist, he twirled her around and around, laughing joyously. Tanya, feeling happier than she had ever been in her life, could only laugh along with him, throwing her hands up in the air. More cherry blossom petals flowed around them, settling on Tanya and Yaten's hair and face.
Unknown to them, a transparent, spiritual figure appeared not too far away, and he looked at the young couple with eyes shining with happiness. The spirit of Father Timothy O'Brien looked on for a few moments, then nodded with a sense of accomplishment as he saw Tanya laugh with joy. She was happy now, and she would forever hold him in her heart, he knew that. With a happy smile, the spirit disappeared, knowing that his former little charge was in good hands and safe from now on.
A sense of peace entered into Yaten and Tanya's hearts then, a peace they knew they would fight to the end to protect. The future was safe, and the way of life they had fought to protect will go on. High up in the vastness of outer space, a beautiful comet streaked across the black sky, almost as if to announce a new age of peace and love that would reign for many years to come. Each of the girls who were secretly the Sailor Senshi, busy with their own families and tasks, suddenly had the urge to look up into the sky filled with the swirling cherry blossom petals, almost as if they could see the shining streaking comet through the daytime sky. They then smiled, knowing that all was right, and as long as they were around, love and peace will forever rule on Earth.
THE END!
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