*Who can say *Where the road goes *Where the day flows *Only time *And who can say *If your love grows *As your heart chose *Only time Five-year-old Kaze ran around the courtyard, giggling and chasing the bright blue ball. Hot on her heels were three-year-old Mamoru and his twin sister, Chibi Usa. The three children laughed and chased the ball and the large yellow lab named Shinrai, Kaze's dog. From a safe distance, sitting demurely was Kaze's mother, Kaioh Michiru and her Queen and the twins' mother, Serenity. It was a peaceful and perfect afternoon, the two women sipping lemonade while their children romped and played together. Kaze and Chibi Usa sporting the same braids, Mamoru looking like a spitting image of Serenity. They were growing so quickly, the time passing like an Indian Summer. Soon they would begin their studies together. Kaze spent much of her time at the palace when she was younger, and with Michiru the governess to the twins, Serenity had suggested that Michiru and her family take up residence in the palace. Haruka had protested, but after a few weeks of pleas from her daughter, she relented. They had lived with the King and Queen for 2 years now. It was wonderful and fulfilling for Michiru, putting the past behind her and enjoying the woman Serenity had become. And, with the wind blowing gently, the children laughing and playing, Michiru felt such contentment -- a fullness she never thought possible. She felt strong arms surround her and lifted her eyes to her lover. A smile spread over her lips, and she looked to Serenity -- whose eyes were closed as she basked in the warmth of her husband's arms. *** Kaze sat on the floor, crying, holding a scraped knee. She was trying so hard not to wail, for she was now a big girl. Her ninth birthday had just passed and she had been chasing Chibi Usa down the halls when she tripped over Koishii, the yellow lab that was elderly Shinrai's pup. She skidded across the floor and scraped up her knee. Chibi Usa ran to get her mother, leaving seven-year-old Mamoru to comfort her. "Does it hurt much, Kaze?" He peered up at her, his blue eyes pleading with her. She sniffled, shaking her head. "No, Mamoru. Not much." Mamoru reached up and embraced the older child, hugging her until her mother could come. His mother joined her, holding back his sister and him while Kaioh-sensei tended the bruised Kaze-san. In his child-like way, Mamoru tugged on his mother's pleated skirt. "Haha?" Serenity's intense blue eyes cast down to her son. "Yes?" Mamoru smiled and pointed at Kaze. "I'm going to marry her someday." *Who can say *Why your heart sighs *As your love flies *Only time *And who can say *Why your heart cries *When your love lies *Only time "Michiru... do you think it is wise? I mean, we would be ripping her away from everything she knows. Is it fair to her? We don't even know how long we'll be away." Haruka paced as she spoke, never looking at the green-haired woman sitting on the sofa. "This is a wonderful opportunity. She would travel with us. Haruka, I just have grown fond of seeing you everyday, and I do not think it would be any better for her if I was away indefinitely. Should she not be with her mother?" Michiru calmly sipped her tea. They had been through this so many times in the past two weeks. Should they remove Kaze from her environment to travel abroad with Michiru and Haruka? Haruka sighed. It was a chance not many twelve-year-olds received. Perhaps she was being too... hard on the subject. She just did not wish to leave Mamoru behind, just turned ten, not when Haruka's day brightened whenever he entered the room. She saw herself in him in so many ways. The pout he gave when something did not go his way, his stubbornness. He was, undeniably, Haruka's. "Very well. But, you have to tell her." Haruka put on her jacket and left the suite of rooms to seek out Serenity and tell her of the plans. *** "Mama, no!" Kaze wailed. "I just started the new grade! What about all my friends? What about *Mamoru*?!" The girl flailed about, crying and yelling, very distressed. "Kaze, very few children your age get the option to see the world. You should embrace it. You may write him, no one is stopping you from communicating. And you will see him again, this is not a permanent move. We will be back." Michiru held out her arms to her daughter. The blonde-haired child ran to her, burying her tear stained face in her mother's chest. "Your Papa has already told Serenity, and I am sure she has informed Mamoru-kun of the decision. You should go to him. Be strong, he is younger than you. Make him understand your friendship is not over... it's just changed." Michiru smiled at her daughter, scooting her toward the door. Kaze dragged her sleeve across her nose, swiped at her face with her hand, and walked out the door. The determined child, scare and so sad, walked to the rooms she had spent nights in as a toddler. She knocked on the door, hearing sobs and soft words being spoken. Kaze bit her lip, waiting for acknowledgement from Mamoru or Serenity-sama. Just as she was about to give up, the door opened and she was face to face with the wet face of Mamoru. She smiled at him, patting down his ruffled blonde hair. "Hi, Mamoru!" she said with forced cheerfulness. "Wanna play?" Mamoru sniffled, trying not to cry in front of her. He nodded and opened the playroom door, inviting her inside. Mamoru closed the door, and Kaze noted Serenity-sama was not inside. She must have slipped out while she was talking to Mamoru at the door. They sat on the floor, silently playing with his toys. After about fifteen minutes, Mamoru suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist and cried. Kaze held on to her best friend, the boy who she had always known, and silently cried as well. Serenity and Michiru peered in the door, then slowly closed it on the hushed voices of the children... allowing them the peace to say goodbye. *Who can say *When the roads meet *That love might be *In your heart *And who can say *When the day sleeps *If the night keeps *All your heart Mamoru stood at the gates of the palace, chatting with the other Senshi's children. Mamoru and his sister, Chibi Usa, were now seventeen, Ai (Minako's child) was fourteen, and Makoto's two children -- Junsuy, she would be thirteen in 3 weeks and Kobe, he was fifteen. Mamoru's Aunt Hotaru had had her baby three years prior, and was kept in the nursery under Makoto's watchful gaze. Mamoru and the other's of the palace were all excited. Haruka and Michiru were returning in a week. They had been abroad for over seven years. He could not wait for his childhood playmate, their daughter Kaze, to come back with them. She was nineteen now, a mature woman, but their letters had never dwindled. He kept them all -- seven years worth of letters. The other three barely remembered Kaze, the eldest of them being eight when she left. Kobe had just started to know Kaze, but they had never been close. Now they chatted about her. She had been all over the world -- she was so lucky. None of them had ever left Crystal Tokyo. Chibi Usa had very little contact with her brother, so she was in her many rooms, being prepared to eventually ascend the throne. As the three teens stood talking of the troubles Kaze had regularly gotten into, a taxi drove up. The driver stopped at the gate, speaking with the guard. The guard nodded and waved them ahead, toward the three of them. Mamoru stopped the driver, interested in who was coming to the palace. While Mamoru was speaking to the driver, the back window opened, revealing a fair woman in the seat. Mamoru's voice froze as he took her in. She was slender, with pale, creamy looking skin. Her aqua colored eyes flashed at being delayed. She flipped her shoulder length hair, which was thick, wavy and the color of spun honey, over her shoulder and cleared her throat. "May I ask why you are detaining us?" Her voice was musical, a low soprano, her accent was muddled. Mamoru stuttered. "No reason, ma'am." He flashed her a bright smile. "Might I ask your business here?" Her eyes narrowed slightly. "You do not impress me, young man. I am here to speak with the queen." He flushed. Her window closed and the car drove on. *** Kaze stood in the Queen's anteroom, nervous. She had not seen her godmother in seven years. She also feared meeting Mamoru again. He was... seventeen now. She bit her lip. Would he still like her? Would it be awkward? She knew it would be awkward. Just as meeting her godmother now was very... odd. Serenity floated into the room, a soft smile on her lips. "Kaze." She opened her arms to the young woman who was taller than her, she must have been 5'6 by now. Kaze embraced the small queen, taking in the scent of roses. Behind Serenity stood Endymion, smiling, holding out his hand to her. Beside him stood Chibi Usa, quite the young woman now. She searched for Mamoru. Serenity chuckled. "He will be here soon, young one." As if speaking of him was the key, young Mamoru walked through the door. She gasped. He was the one from in front of the palace. She turned a deep shade of crimson. "Mamoru-kun," she choked out. He was just as stunned as she. "Kaze-san." Haruka and Michiru joined them within minutes. The elders laughed and traded stories, caught up on the time they had spent apart. Chibi Usa had excused herself, leaving Mamoru and Kaze to uncomfortably talk. When they lapsed into an exceptionally long silence, Mamoru thought of something special to help Kaze feel more comfortable. He grabbed her hand, excusing them, and dragged her -- almost running -- to the kennels, feeling eight again. There Mamoru showed Kaze the line of dogs he had bred from Shinrai's line. He showed her Shinrai's great-granddaughter, who had been born three weeks ago. He had pulled her aside, special for Kaze. Tsukino Mamoru gave Kaioh Kaze a yellow Labrador she named Shinrai. *Night keeps all your heart The crickets chipped, serenading the lovers as they sat on the grassy hill watching Kaze's two-year-old Shinrai chasing Mamoru's one-year- old puppy. Mamoru poured Kaze another glass of champagne, kissing her neck gently. "I love you," he whispered in her ear. She turned to him, kissing his lips gently. "I love you, too." She smiled and his heart skipped a beat. They had been serious for a year today. He smiled at her, reaching into his pocket. "Marry me, Kaze. Be my princess for life." He handed her the open ring case, displaying the gem set in cool white gold. Her eyes went wide. He watched her reach out with unsteady fingers to take the box. "M-mamoru..." Her eyes filled with tears. "Yes, I will marry you." She laughed then, allowing him to take the ring from her and put it on her ring finger. They embraced and kissed, laughing and rolling around on the grass. Shinrai and Junshin yapped at them, running around them in circles. They breathless when the sun set. "When do we tell my parents, Mamoru?" "Umm... Haruka-san scares me, Kaze." She chuckled. Little did she know he was serious. "This weekend. We can tell both sets of parents together." Her smile was so bright, Mamoru heart stopped. He loved her with all his being. Damn Haruka and her temper. He would marry her daughter -- come hell or high water. "Together." He kissed her again. *Who can say *If your love grows *As your heart chose *Only time *And who can say *Where the road goes *Where the day flows *Only time They sat together, hands clasped, facing all four parents. "We're getting married." Kaze and Michiru did not miss the pointed look Haruka gave Serenity. Michiru hated whatever secrets they shared. Haruka and Michiru had been together for twenty-five years. Married for eighteen of those twenty-five. And still Haruka had secrets. Some Michiru was sure she just didn't want to know. Haruka looked to Kaze. "Are you pregnant?" "Haruka!" Michiru gasped. "No, father, I am not pregnant. Not yet, anyway." Her gaze defied her father, daring her. Haruka backed down. She and Michiru had had this discussion too many times since Kaze was sixteen. The child was no longer a child. She was twenty-one. Her own woman. At that moment, Michiru, Endymion and Serenity fell on the couple, all talking at once, making plans. Haruka stood in the corner, glowering at Serenity, who was encouraging them. *Who knows - only time *Who knows - only time Minako joyfully pulled out a huge wedding planning album she had been keeping since Ai was born. Ai had just caught Kaze's wedding bouquet and Minako was overjoyed. Ai came up to her mother, carrying the bouquet, trying to get her mother's attention. She needed to clarify the situation for all gathered. "Mother." "Pink and white!" Swatches of fabric flew at the table. "Mother!" Minako looked up. "Yes?" "I have already chosen the one I will marry," Ai announced. Minako squealed in delight, grabbing Ai in a huge hug. "Oh! Ai, is it someone I know?" Ai coughed uncomfortably, trying to hide her smile. "Yes. Kino-san." Minako jumped up and down, yelling and laughing. "You and Kobe-chan will make such beautiful babies!" "Mom, no. The... other one." Minako stopped in mid jump. Realization dawning on her perfect face. Behind Ai stood Haruka and Michiru, a smirk spreading across Haruka's face. Somewhere in the crowded room they heard a crash of plates. Makoto had just heard. --- End Part Seventeen ---