sailor__m@hotmail.com This is a one-parter about Sailor Jupiter. Sorry to all of you who were expecting chapter four of True Love to come out, but I'm having major writer's block. Maybe next week! I don't own Sailor Moon or any of the other characters. I'm absolutely broke, so please don't sue me! The song is from the Disney movie Robin Hood, and I don't own it either. I got the idea for this story from Ripples by Laura Hudson. I cried when I read that story. It is most likely the best Sailor Mercury fic ever written. This story may be a little similar to that one, but it doesn't hold a candle to it. Go read it now! Thanks to everyone who wrote me about my other stories: Jade, MOOnIeGrL, Keely Thompson and Blackpunk. Everyone else who read my stories: Shame on you! You should have written me! You will all die long, horrible deaths! (just kidding ^_^) Like I was saying, I really apperciated all of the e-mail I received. Keep it up, and I'll keep writing! This story starts out in Crystal Tokyo, and it centers around Sailor Jupiter. The scenes jump around a lot and are pretty short, so the plot may be kind of confusing. Sorry. I don't usually like songs in stoies. I think they clutter up the story, but this song is more to set the mood. It's a really sweet song, and it completely fits my story. Love It seems like only yesterday You were just a child at play Now you're all grown up inside of me Oh, how fast those moments flee Once we watched a lazy world go by Now the days seem to fly Life is brief, but when it's gone Love goes on and on Love will live Love will last Love goes on and on and on Once we watched a lazy world go by Now the days seem to fly Life is brief, but when it's gone Love goes on and on "Love" from the Disney movie "Robin Hood" by Floyd Huddleston and George Bruns LOVE GOES ON: Sailor Jupiter flopped down on her bed. It had been a long day. It had been a long year for that matter. The senshi of the past had finally defeated the Black Moon, relieving them of their posts of guarding the palace. Crystal Tokyo was finally at peace. Peace... When was the last time she had heard that? Peace had been alluding the senshi ever since they had been awakened to guard the princess. *Why, I can't even remember a time when we were at peace for more than a few months at a time,* thought Jupiter, *What does it feel like, again?* A memory popped into her head from a long time ago... --- Flashback "Mako-chan!" Makoto turned her head to see her best friend, Shinozaki, running up to meet her. He was waving frantically and grinning like she had never seen before. Makoto ran up to meet him. "What is it, Shino-chan?" "I have a suprise for you... follow me!" He grabbed her hand and dragged her to one of the park benches. "Sit," he commanded, and she complied. He handed her a tiny wrapped present. "Oh! but, Shino-chan, it's not my birthday. You know that!" He just grinned harder. "I know that, Mako, but I saw this and it made me think of you. I had to give them to you 'now'! Now open it!" She eagarly tore off the wrapping paper. Inside, in a small velvet jewelry box, was the most beautiful pair of earrings she had ever seen. They were tiny roses, perfectly shaped and beautifully colored. She gasped. "Shino-chan... this must have cost you a fortune! You shouldn't have..." she snuck a look at his face and could tell that to him the money didn't matter. "Thank you. Thank you so much! I..." Her eyes began to well up with tears. *Ugh! Why am I about to cry? I don't cry! But he's being 'sooo' sweet, and... Oh, Shino-chan! No one but you would do this. Oh, great. Now I'm really going to lose it!* She jumped out of the bench and threw herself into his embrace. He seemed to be expecting this reaction, and just held her as she began to sob onto his shoulder. --- Three months later "Kino Makoto. Your record states that you have been involved in three fights in the past two weeks. I am afraid that we cannot allow such behavior in our school. You will be transferred to another school in our district in the hopes that you will improve in your behavior. You will start there next week." Makoto dragged her feet on the way home. *A new school! I don't want to go to another school. I want to stay here with all of my friends. And what about Shino-chan. Ever since his family moved to another apartment complex, the only time I ever see him is at school. Ooh, why did I get into that stupid fight, anyway?* She turned to punch the nearby tree, and almost succeded in punching Shinozaki. "Whoa! Watch out, Mako! Say, what's wrong? I heard you got into a fight today... You killed 'em, didn't you, Mako?" he asked, smiling. "Shino-chan, they transferred me to another school because I fight too much." "What?" "I'm going to another school starting Monday." "But I'll never get to see you anymore!" "I know. But Shino-chan, I can't do it. You're the only person who understands me! You were the one to help me when my parents died, and when my old boyfriend dumped me, and... and... I'll miss you!" "I'll miss you, too, Makoto. But you'll see. We'll still be friends! I can still visit you, and you can introduce you to all the new friends you've made, right? Come on, Mako-chan. It'll all be okay!" Although his speech wasn't enough to keep a few sniffles from escaping her, Makoto left feeling a lot better about everything. --- A few months later "Shino-chan! It's been so long since I've seen you!" "Mako! Hey, how are you!" "I'm doing great! I've made some great friends at my new school. They're really nice. How's the old school?" "Doing fine, but not the same without you. I never realized how boring school was until you left. You took all the fun with you, I think!" Makoto laughed. "We need to get together more often. We're best friends, and yet we never see each other any more!" "True, but it doesn't seem like it's been all that long since I've seen you. We're just picking up where we left off." "Right. No matter how long it is, we'll still be best friends!" --- During the Alan and Ann series Makoto was lying in her bed in the hospital. She could hear the beep of the machines of the patient in the bed next to her. "Shino-chan," she whispered, "You're going to be okay. I promise! I won't let you die on me. You're going to be okay!" At that moment, Usagi and Ami walked into the room. "You feeling okay, Makoto?" "Pretty good." "How's your friend?" "He's doing okay. About as well as can be expected." "So... is he your... boyfriend?" "No... I think maybe he is more than a boyfriend could ever be..." --- At a High School Graduation party several years later "Oh my goodness! I can't believe we've all finally graduated!" shrieked Usagi. "I know," Ami stated calmly, "Now I can finally go to college to study medicine." All of the senshi were gathered in Makoto's appartment after the inner scouts' graduation from high school. They were all busy talking and laughing when there was a knock at the door. They were all making so much noise that the only one who could hear the knock was Mamoru, who was standing next to the door. He opened it, and standing in the doorway was Shinozaki. "Uhh... Does Kino Makoto still live here?" he asked hesitantly, looking warily at Mamoru. "Yes she does. Hold on a sec." He went and grabbed Makoto and led her to the door. When she saw who was standing in her doorway, she broke into a run and flew into his arms. He leaned down and whispered, "You want to go for a walk?" She nodded into his chest and, after saying good-bye to her friends, left. For a while they just wandered aimlessly, neither of them saying a word. They eventually reached the same park bench where he had given her her rose earrings many years before. "Mmm," she said, as she laid her head onto his shoulder, "It's been so long since I've seen you, Shino-chan. I almost didn't recognize you tonight." "Well, I thought I ought to come to your graduation party at least. You know... for old time's sake." He sat back and took a good look at her. "You know, you've really grown up, Mako. You're looking very nice," (she blushed at that) "And what are you planning to do now that you've graduated from high school, Mako-chan?" "I'm planning to go to a cooking school and to open my own restraunt." "You always did enjoy cooking." "What about you?" "I'm not so sure. I'll probably figure that out once I get into college." He paused to look at her again. "Hey! You're still wearing them!" "Wha- oh, my earrings! Silly, you know I love them. I'll probably never take them off as long as I live!" "I'm sure you won't... Makoto? I've really missed you these past few years. You... you seem to have hit it off really well with these new friends of yours. I-" "Shino-chan! No one in the world could replace you. You're my best friend, and you always will be." "Thanks, Mako. I needed that." "Mmm-hmm. I love you, Shino-chan." "Love you, too, Mako-chan." --- Later on that night Shinozaki and Makoto were walking back from the park when out from behind a bush jumped a youma in the shape of a tree. It began to shoot wooden spikes at them. Shinozaki tried to protect Makoto from the weapons, but ended up getting knocked out himself. Makoto took this opportunity to slip away, contact the other senshi, and to transform into Sailor Jupiter. "Hey, you, negasleeze! You just hurt my best friend, and for that, I will not let you live! On behalf of Jupiter, you shall be destroyed! JUPITER OAK EVOLUTION!" The youma merely laughed and jumped out of the way. "No one can defeat Astilla! Your petty tricks are no match for mine, girl!" She sent a barrage of spikes at her, but Jupiter managed to evade them. She didn't know what to do. Shinozaki needed her help, but she 'really' wanted to kill this monster first. "I call upon the power of Jupiter. Help me to banish this evil. SUPREME THUNDER CRASH!" Her thunder attack, although not as powerful as the oak evolution, did the trick. Astilla was hit by the lightning and burst into flames. She was unable to attack them anymore. Sailor Jupiter rushed over to Shinozaki and tried to revive him. His eyes slowly opened and he tried to focus on the face staring down at him. *She looks so familiar. Oh, yeah, she's Sailor Jupiter. It must have been a pretty bad monster for her to come. Hmm. Nice earrings...* he thought as he again drifted out of consciousness. Meanwhile, Sailor Moon and company had just arrived on the scene and had killed the youma for good. Mamoru helped Makoto take Shinozaki to the hospital, where he had to stay for a few days. Makoto decided to stay with him until he got better. --- A few hours later Shinozaki again opened his eyes, this time to see a different face. *No,* he thought, *This is the same face.* "Makoto?" "Shino-chan! You're awake! Oh, thank goodness!" Makoto began to cry. "Don't cry, Mako-chan... Sailor Jupiter.." Her head jerked up and she looked accusingly at him. "How did you find out about that?!?!" "It was the earrings, Mako-chan. You said that you would always wear those earrings. I saw Sailor Jupiter with them on, and I knew that she had to be you." "Oh, I'm so relieved. You don't know how hard it was to keep that from you. We never had any secrets before, and I hope we never do again! I HATED that!" "You're so sweet." "I'm so glad that you're okay! I don't know what I would do if I lost you again." --- Two years later "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride." "I love you," the groom whispered to his wife. "I love you, too, Muffin." Out in the crowd, Makoto turned to Shinozaki and squealed (quietly) "Don't they just make the cutest couple? I'm so happy for them!" "Yes, but I still don't get why I was invited. I mean, I barely know either of them." Makoto smiled. "I invited you. My friends and each got to 'suggest' a guest or two. You were mine." Outside at the reception, Shinozaki and Makoto went off to talk. "Mako-chan?" "Yes?" "The past two years have been wonderful. I have been able to see you almost every day, something I have not done since the sixth grade, and I have really enjoyed it." "I have, too, Shino-chan." "Mako-chan, Makoto, I... I have learned a lot about you. I feel like I truely know you. You really are my best friend. I also have learned that... that I love you." "And I love you, too," she answered, giving him a peck on the cheek. "No, Mako-chan. I mean that I love you and that I want to marry you. Please, Kino Makoto," he said, kneeling down in front of her, "Will you do me the honor of marrying me?" For a few seconds she stood looking at him, trying to see if he was serious. He was. Her face then turned every imaginable color from red to white to green -- you name it. *He LOVES ME! He wants to MARRY ME! But do I...* She looked down at his face, now turning red from embarassment, and realized that she 'did' love him, and that she always would. She gave him a sweet smile and nodded, pulling him up, off the ground, and into her arms. --- Six months later "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride." "I love you," the groom whispered to his wife. "I love you, too, Shino-chan." "Mako-chan, 'my' Mako-chan. This is so perfect!" "I've never been so happy!" Their reception was wonderful, due to the fine cooking talents of the bride; everything seemed perfect. There were so many guests that Rei's temple, where the reception was being held, was filled to overflowing. The bride and groom posed for pictures, cut the cake, threw both the garter and the bouquet, and they were eady to leave. But before they could get into their limo, Rei ran up to Makoto and whispered, "Usagi's in trouble. I just got a vision. I hate to even suggest it, but you might need to stay here to protect her." The disappointment showed in her eyes, but Makoto had never been one to shirk duty for her personal pleasures. She turned to her husband and told him what was going on. He not only agreed that she should stay and help, he made her stay. Before she even had a chance to tell him she wanted to stay, he was telling her that it was her duty to stay, and that she needed to. In return, she gave him a huge hug and kiss and thanked him for being the most understanding husband in the whole world. The attack on Usagi was not long in coming. Before the wedding party could even leave the temple, an evil-looking man dressed in all black appeared out of no where and grabbed Usagi. "Usako!" Mamoru ran over to where she was, only to be captured by some other guard. This made Makoto 'very' mad. This was 'not' supposed to happen on her wedding day, the day she had dreamed about all of her life. Growling, she rushed forward to brutally murder this unfeeling man. He gave her a sinister smile and sent an energy bolt in her direction. "NO! MAKO-CHAN! NO!" Shinozaki jumped in front of her and took the full brunt of the attack. He collapsed in Makoto's arms. "Shino-chan! NO! No... why?" He looked up into her eyes and gave her a sad smile. "I love you, my Mako-chan." He struggled to pick himself up and give her a kiss. Then his body went limp. Makoto's sobs, although they were quiet, cut through the silence. She let out a few shaky breaths and stood up slowly. "YOU!" she screamed at the man who had taken her love away. "You... I..." she broke into tears and ran away as fast as she could, not knowing where she was going, and not really caring. Shino-chan, her precious Shino-chan had 'died' trying to protect 'her'! "This wasn't the way it was supposed to be," she whispered, "He wasn't supposed to die... NO! This isn't happening! Not on our wedding day... we were going to be so happy. Oh, Shino-chan, what will I do without you? You were always the one who comforted and helped me. And now, now..." She broke down in tears again, unable to contine any coherant thought. Moaning slightly, she sank down on the sidewalk and unconsiously brought her hands up to her ears and fingered her earrings. --- End flashback Sailor Jupiter let out a shaky breath. *I'm 'not' going to cry again. It's been too long! Why, it's been over a thousand years! I'm so silly, moaning over a man I lost 1,017 years ago... is it tomorrow? One-thousand and seventeen years tomorrow. One-thousand and seventeen years without love. Why haven't I found anyone else yet? I've definately had the time! Oh, Shino-chan! But you would have died, eventually. Only the senshi are immortal. Perhaps it was good that I lost you before I became too... attached? Shino-chan, I love you so, so much! It's been so long since I last sat down and thought about all of this...* She suddenly jumped off the bed and began to rummage through her immense closet. *Now. Where did I put that box?* After several ferverant minutes of searching, she finally came across the box she was looking for. It was an intricately carved wooden box given to her by a suitor about three hundred years ago. She blew the dust off of the top and slowly opened it. She reached inside and pulled out two small, carved jewels. They were very old, and it was difficult to tell that they had once been rose earrings. But Sailor Jupiter knew. She remembered the jewels for what they had been. They had been her symbol of love and of protection. To her, they meant the love and protection of her darling Shino-chan. She gingerly held them in her hand, afraid that they might disappear, too, if she was not careful. She had not worn them since his funeral... they would have been too great a reminder. She walked over to her mirror and sat down facing it. She looked at her sad face, time-worn and plauged with troubles, and then took out her current earrings and slowly, hands shaking the entire way, replaced them with the roses. Once she had gotten them in, she sat back and looked at herself. She no longer looked quite so tired or stressed. She gave a small laugh, which quickly became a sob... or was she laughing hysterically? Even Sailor Jupiter herself couldn't tell, nor did she care. All she felt was relief and joy. She had been running away from her feelings for so long that she almost couldn't remember what love felt like. But it was all coming back to her... Shinozaki might have been dead, but her love for him would last. Love goes on... ---- It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all. --Alfred Lord Tennyson Love It seems like only yesterday You were just a child at play Now you're all grown up inside of me Oh, how fast those moments flee Once we watched a lazy world go by Now the days seem to fly Life is brief, but when it's gone Love goes on and on Love will live Love will last Love goes on and on and on Once we watched a lazy world go by Now the days seem to fly Life is brief, but when it's gone Love goes on and on