Usagi and Rubeus

As Neo Queen Serenity walked toward her and Endymion’s bed chambers she heard noises. Serenity sighed and shook her head. “It is a normal thing but if Endy is going to watch porn he really should not have it so loud that it can be heard out here in the hall,” she thought. That made her laugh thinking about the first time she had caught him watching a video. The normally calm King of Crystal Tokyo turned bright red and began stuttering trying to make an excuse. Serenity had just smiled and kissed him telling him it was okay. They had since then even watched some together to get ideas.

“Endy,” Serenity began as she walked in their room but was shocked at the scene before her. All Neo Queen Serenity could see was green. Long green hair was spread all over her and Endymion’s bed. Serenity stood there in shock as she saw and heard the two people in her bed who had not noticed her in the door way. The image of the Senshi of Pluto in Serenity’s bed on top of Serenity’s husband with her green hair undone from it’s normal bun falling over her shoulders, her body, Endymion and the bed would be forever etched in Serenity’s mind.

Serenity did not bother to muffle her cries as she turned and ran from the room. Serenity never saw Setsuna’s face and Endymion did not notice as a tear slowly ran down her face as she heard Serenity run away. Serenity’s first thought was the run to Rei but after seeing Setsuna with Endymion she did not know who she could trust. Serenity ran past the servants in the halls as they stared at their Queen in surprise. Serenity ran past Haruka who saw her crying but she refused to stop and confide in the Wind Senshi. Serenity ran past the guards and threw the front doors of the palace open. Serenity kept running not knowing where she was heading trying to run from the images in her mind. Serenity ran until she was exhausted collapsing on the roadside with her dress was muddy and torn from her stumbling on the ground and through bushes.

                                       *        *        *        *

A man with flame red hair walked along the road toward where he and his clan where camped. The man and his clan were gypsies who had no permanent residence but constantly traveled around. He came upon a figure lying on the side of the road. As he neared the figure his eyes went wide in surprise. “Why is the Queen out here?” he thought. He quickly took off his cloak, threw it over her and picked her up carefully in his arms. Once in his tent he cleaned her cuts and changed her clothes. The man also undid the Queen’s unique hairstyle and then watched her in a fitful sleep.

                                       *        *        *        *

Serenity awoke to strange surrounding and realized she wore clothes other than her own. Looking around she realized she was in what looked like a gypsy tent. “How did I get here?” she wondered.

“You are awake,” a man said coming in the tent causing Serenity to quickly pull the sheets around her. “Don’t worry. I will not nor have not harmed you. My name is Rubeus.” After he sat some things on the table he turned back to her. “Are you hungry?”

Serenity nodded as she slowly got out of the bed. “Thank you,” she said quietly.

As she at Serenity wondered if Rubeus knew who she was. Almost as if reading her mind he answered her question. “Yes I know who you are but I will not tell anyone if you do not wish.” Serenity’s hands immediately flew to her head. “I undid your hair in anyone came in and saw you. Where I found you I figured you did not want anyone to know who you were.”

“Do you have a mirror?” Serenity asked. As Serenity braided her hair she laughed. “I was not very graceful when I was young. It would probably be safest to not leave my hair down.” When she finished braiding her hair Serenity wrapped part of it in a bun leaving the other half hanging down.

Rubeus watched her the entire time not able to take his eyes off her. He could not believe she was sitting there in front of him. “Seren…” he began but she cut him off.

“Please call me Usagi,” Serenity told Rubeus.

“Usagi,” Rubeus repeated. “That means rabbit, correct?” Serenity nodded. “What are you going to do about,” he stopped and pointed to his own forehead referring to Serenity’s crescent moon mark.

“Oh yeah,” she smiled. Serenity closed her eyes and concentrated as the mark on her forehead disappeared.

“Feel free to stay here as long as you like Usagi,” Rubeus told her.

“Thank you,” she replied looking at the ground trying to think of an explanation.

“You do not owe me a reason,” he told Serenity. “If you need someone to talk to I am here. Would you like to meet the rest of my clan?”

“That would be nice,” Serenity answered.

“Rubeus,” someone yelled as he exited his tent. “Where have you been?”

Serenity hesitantly came from the ten after she heard the woman yelling. She saw a woman with bright green hair yelling at Rubeus.

“I was tending to a woman I found unconscious on the road side last night,” he replied calmly. Rubeus turned to Serenity and smiled. “Usagi this is my sister Emerald. Emerald this is the lady I was just telling you about.” Emerald turned and walked away. “Don’t mind Emerald. She thinks every woman is going to try and take Diamond away from her. The two following her are Chiral and Achiral who have been in love with her since we were young.”

A woman with long purple hair with two buns that resembled cat ears was tending some flowers. “Good morning Rubeus,” she slightly bowed from her spot on the ground.

“Morning Koan,” he replied with a warm smile causing the woman to blush.

“Hello,” Koan said to Serenity noticing her.

Three more women came from the tent. “Koan is that Rubeus?” a woman asked with her brown her tied up in a bun held by a yellow bow.

“Yes Calaveras,” Koan replied.

Rubeus gestured to a woman with the dark green hair in a bun, “This is Petz and,” gesturing to a woman with ice blue hair in a braid, “this is Berthier,” then Rubeus gestured to all four women, “They are the Ayakashi Sisters.”

“Nice to meet you,” Serenity bowed. “My name is Usagi.”

Rubeus gestured to a tent that was twice as large than the others. “Diamond and his brother Sapphire are the leaders of our clan. You will meet them tonight at dinner.”

                                       *        *        *        *

That night Rubeus borrowed a dress from one of the women in his clan and Tilmum helped make the dress fit Serenity. Diamond and Sapphire noticed Rubeus’ guest immediately.

Emerald saw her initial dislike of Usagi was correct as Diamond could not see to keep his eyes of her even though Emerald was talking to him. “He used to look at me like that and me only. I was correct in thinking she would be a threat,” Emerald thought angrily.

Diamond simply nodded and raised his glass before taking a drink. Sapphire did the same as his brother giving permission for the girl to stay.

“How long will you be with us?” Diamond asked Usagi.

“I am not sure Lord Diamond,” Serenity replied mentally telling herself to act as her old self and not as a queen.

“Come to me if there is anything you need,” Diamond suggested.

“Thank you Lord Diamond but Rubeus has been kind enough to take me in,” Serenity replied placing her hand on Rubeus’ hand. Serenity was not sure but she felt like something was slowly pulling her toward Rubeus.

                                       *        *        *        *

“Has anyone seen Serenity?” King Endymion demanded of the guards but no one replied. After the guards left Endymion turned to the Senshi, “Mars do you know where she is?”

“No,” replied the Senshi of fire.

“She always goes to you,” he demanded.

“Not this time,” Mars yelled back.

“Are you lying?” Endymion growled.

“She is not lying,” yelled Uranus. “We do not owe you an explanation for anything. Our duty is to Serenity. You just happen to be her husband.”

“If I may,” Pluto began.

“I think you have done enough Pluto,” Venus said before leaving followed by Mars and Uranus leaving the other Senshi and Endymion confused.

“Leave,” Endymion commanded the Senshi as the Shitennou stood by.

“Damn it!” Endymion thought pounding his fist on the arm of this throne. “Does Venus know? If so how does she know?”

                                       *        *        *        *

“Venus,” yelled Mars catching up with her leader. “What is going on?”

“Tell Mercury and Jupiter to meet in my room,” Venus said to Mars.

“Venus I would like to come too,” Uranus asked. Venus looked at her uncertain. “I do not know what is going on but I saw Koneko leave but the look in her eyes told me she did not want me to follow.” Uranus growled and punched the wall. "I should have followed my instincts and followed her."

“Fine,” Venus replied walking away. “Bring Neptune too. We may need her mirror but not do tell Saturn or Pluto.”

                                       *        *        *        *

Later that night six Senshi along with the two cats sat in Venus’ quarters. “Serenity is gone because she is upset. Endymion,” Venus spat out the King’s name in disgust, “”has been unfaithful.”

“I can still feel her in the city but I do not know where,” Mars answered.

“That is why I wanted Neptune here,” replied Venus.

“How do we know Endymion has been unfaithful?” asked Mercury. “He has always been devoted to her.”

“I am the Senshi of Love you know,” replied Venus. “Unfortunately Endymion was not just unfaithful with anyone but one of our own.”

“What?” yelled Uranus jumping up.

“That is why I did not want Saturn here,” Venus said calmly.

“How dare you,” Uranus started but Venus cut her off.

“She is a child and I am not implying that,” Venus told the Wind Senshi. “If you remember Saturn was not the only one left from this meeting.”

“Pluto,” whispered Neptune.

Venus nodded. “Neptune can you find Serenity with your mirror?”

Neptune called forth her Aqua Mirror and starred intently at the glass. After a few moments Neptune spoke, “Looks as if she is with a band of gypsies.”

“That can’t be Serenity,” Jupiter said looking at Neptune’s mirror seeing a blonde woman with her hair in a bun and braided.

“Look at her aura,” Mars said. “It is Serenity.”

All the Senshi were shocked as a man with red hair pulled Serenity into a kiss and she eagerly retuned the kiss. After that Neptune’s mirror showed no more.

                                       *        *        *        *

“Rubeus,” Serenity whispered kissing him again.

“I am sorry,” Rubeus said backing away quickly. “I should not have done that. You have been gone for months. Shouldn’t you go back?”

Serenity stared at the floor. “I do not want to go back,” she whispered.

“Serenity,” Rubeus whispered and pulled her close. “What happened that night?”

Serenity began to cry softy into his shoulder. The only understandable word Rubeus heard was the King’s name.

“Did he hurt you?” Rubeus asked angrily, his emotion surprising him as he did not realize how in love he had become with the Queen of Crystal Tokyo.

Serenity shook her head. “Not like that.”

“It is okay,” Rubeus said in a soothing voice letting her cry.

After a few minutes Serenity finally began to calm down. She took a few deep breaths before she spoke. “I found him with someone else.” Her eyes began to tear up again but she shook her head willing herself not to cry. “Someone I thought I could trust.”

“I would never hurt you like that,” Rubeus whispered and kissed her. “Serenity I love you.”

“Rubeus,” Serenity said before passionately kissing him as he carried her to his bed which they had been sharing.

                                       *        *        *        *

“Are you sure this is the right place?” Venus asked Mercury who nodded.

“She has not come back by now then maybe she does not want to come back,” Mercury suggested.

“Serenity can still be whinny crybaby sometimes but she knows she has a duty to Crystal Tokyo,” Mars said.

“And it is our duty to bring her back,” Jupiter told the rest of the Inner Senshi who nodded in agreement.

                                       *        *        *        *

Venus went to the first person she saw, “Take us to your leader.”

“Did you have to say it like that?” Mars groaned. Quickly smacking their leader Mars whispered, “Get serious.”

Tilmum looked up to see Neo Queen Serenity’s personal guard standing in front of him. “Why are they here?” he thought. “This way please,” Tilmum said as he rose and began walking toward a tent that was larger than the others.

“Diamond you have visitors,” he told someone in the tent as he and the Senshi stood outside.

“Enter please,” someone replied.

As the Senshi entered they saw a white haired man sitting in a chair with a blue haired man standing to his right and a woman with green hair sitting beside his chair on the left.

“My name is Diamond,” the white haired man spoke. “What brings the Queen’s personal guard to my camp?”

“We have reason to believe the Queen is here and we have come to take her back,” Venus answered.

There was silence until Mercury spoke up, “We are not implying you have done her wrong. We believe she came here on her own accord.”

Diamond nodded to the blue haired man on his right. “Sapphire please asks Rubeus and his guest to come here.”

“Yes Diamond,” replied Sapphire and left.

Sapphire returned a few minutes later with a man with hair as red as fire and Serenity, although anyone but her Senshi would have recognized her. Serenity looked at the Senshi as she walked in and hesitated at first when she saw them but avoided meeting their eyes.

“You wished to see me, Diamond?” Rubeus asked kneeling.

“Yes,” Diamond nodded. “Neo Queen Serenity’s personal guard,” he motioned to the Senshi, “has reason to believe she is here in our camp and have come to take her back.”

“Yes Lord Diamond,” Rubeus said with a side glance to Serenity.

Serenity squeezed his hand and stood. “The Senshi are correct Lord Diamond. Thank you and your clan for caring for me while I was here. I shall no longer impose on you.” Serenity then walked from Diamond’s tent followed by her Senshi.

Rubeus ran from the tent after the Queen. “Serenity,” he yelled.

She turned around with a sad smile. “I can not stay Rubeus but thank you so much for everything,” she hugged him before walking away. “I will always remember you,” she whispered.

                                       *        *        *        *

Serenity kept her composure until she was back in the palace in Mars’ quarters. Mars held Serenity as she cried. “We know what happened Sere and we will never forgive Endymion or Pluto. Saturn does not know what happened nor does Endymion know where you have been.”

“With you and the girls will be the only way I can get through this,” Serenity said.

“I know it is the last thing you want to do but Pluto wants to talk to you,” Mars told her.

                                       *        *        *        *

Days had past since Neo Queen Serenity had returned to the palace. She and Endymion had slept in the same room but they did not talk nor sleep in the same bed. Endymion slept on the couch and Serenity ordered their bed burned and a new one brought in her first night back. She had finally talked herself into talking to Pluto and was now awaiting her in the throne room.

The Senshi of Pluto walked in the throne room, kneeled and waited for the Queen to acknowledge her and give her permission to speak.

“Rise Sailor Pluto,” Neo Queen Serenity said with no emotion in her voice. “Explain yourself.”

“My queen I would never do anything to hurt you,” Pluto spoke. Neo Queen Serenity looked at the Senshi of Time sharply but did not say a word letting her finish. “Everything I have ever done is to ensure the proper out come of our time line. I did what I had to do to ensure her birth would occur.”

“Her birth,” whispered Serenity.

Pluto nodded. “You know of whom I speak. Everyone including Endymion and the Senshi will believe that Small Lady is the child of you and Endymion. Only you and I will know the truth.”

“There must have been another way,” Serenity whispered as a tear rolled down her face.

“Would you have gone there any other way?” Pluto asked.

Serenity shook her head. “Your punishment is to be banished. It is time for you to return to the Time Gates. You shall tended the Time Gates for eternity and never leave your post.”

“Yes my queen,” Pluto bowed and left the room.

                                       *        *        *        *

“What is wrong Setsuna-mama?” asked Saturn.

“I have to return to the Gates soon,” Pluto replied.

“How long will you be gone this time?” Saturn asked.

“I will not be coming back this time Firefly,” Pluto told her. “It is as the Queen wishes.”

                                       *        *        *        *

The night Pluto left for the Time Gates a week had pasted since Serenity had come back. “Please Serenity talk to me,” Endymion pleaded. “I love you Usako”

“Why?” Serenity asked knowing the answer after talking to Pluto. Serenity knew she could not be mad at him but the image of him and Pluto still burned brightly in her mind and made her heart ache.

“She came to me,” Endymion told her. “Pluto told me she had always been in love with me. I do not know why I let it happen.”

“I do,” Serenity whispered too low for him to hear. Then out loud she yelled, “I saw you two. It is forever burned it my mind. I want to hate you so much. I do hate you! It makes me sick.”  Serenity fell to the floor as she tried to hold her tears back.

“It was the only time. I swear,” Endymion was crying as he finished. Seeing Serenity like this was killing him.

As Serenity started to cry Endymion approached her and pulled her close as she cried. “Mamo-chan,” she whispered through her tears.

“Usako,” Endymion whispered as he leaned down to kiss her. Serenity slapped him hard across his face. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him into a kiss. Endymion picked her up and carried Serenity to the bed.

                                       *        *        *        *

In the months that followed and Serenity began to show there were rumors going around about and uprising against the crown. Serenity was surprised to learn that the leader of the rebellion was named Diamond. Serenity called a meeting with Diamond to talk of peace and noticed that he now wore two earrings that appeared to be made of black crystal. By the end of the talk Serenity realized she only had one option.

“Lord Diamond you leave me with no other choice,” Neo Queen Serenity told the white haired man before her. “You and your entire clan shall be banished from Earth. You shall be sent to the distant tenth planet called Nemesis. If you and your clan will not come peaceful you WILL be taken into custody by force.”

Neo Queen Serenity stood to leave. “Guards please escort this man from the palace.”

                                       *        *        *        *

On Neo Queen Serenity’s birthday she gave birth to a baby girl with a tuff of pink hair. All the Senshi and Shitennou were gathered for the birth although Endymion and Mercury were the only ones allowed in the Queen’s room through out the delivery. The Senshi of Time watched the birth of Crystal Tokyo’s princess from her post at the Time Gate.

“Have you two decided on a name yet?” Mercury asked Serenity as she handed her the baby girl.

Serenity and Endymion looked at each other and nodded. “Everyone,” Serenity said turning the baby girl so everyone could see her face. “I would like you to meet Usagi Small Lady Serenity, my little Rini.”

“Why call her Rini?” Saturn asked.

“It is short for Serenity,” the queen smiled but in her head she thought, “Because Rini is a combination of my and Rubeus’ names.”