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Auria entered her mother's room and sat down on the edge of the pool with Eki. She knew something was wrong; she could feel it in the Force. A disturbance of some sort was coming. The sekot could feel it and was getting ready for something; things were tense around the Temple. Yukiko and Xarae, two of the most Force-strong sailors, had been keeping very very busy with Myou. Every time she asked to talk, they took a rain-check or were very vague. Everyone seemed to know what was happening, but especially the Earth-born senshi. Auria had heard whispered conversations like:
"When is he going to fulfill his destiny?"
"I don't know. I hope not for a while." And people worrying about Kairiku. Priire even worried about her.
"Has Kairiku eaten today?"
"No, Priire. She is going through the normal grieving process."
"Nom, it's not normal for her to go this long without eating! She needs to have something! What do you have?"
"I am making the Batha Beast stew Mara enjoys."
"Fine. I'll take her leftovers."
Auria knew, in her Force-heart, what was happening with the Jedi Order and the Temple. She did not know what was happening with her mother. That's why she was sitting with a very old Eki in her mother's room. She opened herself up fully to the Force and took in what the sekot was telling her.
Soon, my child, you will be home. Soon your suffering will be over. Soon your destiny will be fulfilled.
Have you spoken with Xarae and the Master? Myou asked weakly.
The Force had handled it; all is prepared. We are ready for you.
"Momma?" the young woman asked. It had been many years since Myou had found her in the park on that rainy day, and during that time much had happened, including her own engagement... against her mother's wishes. Momma? She stretched out in the Force to feel her mother's signature. "Why did you call me?"
"I... I... I... didn't." The woman barely got the words out. She was so weak, so frail! How could this powerful Sailor Jedi have been reduced to this! Auria understood why Annika had been crying almost constantly for the past week; things like this weren't supposed to happen to your own mother! They always happened to someone else's! It wasn't fair!
"Momma, it's okay. Use the Force; it will support you."
My angel, there are things I must tell you.
"I'm here, Momma," the woman said as she crossed the room to cradle her mother. It was then that she noticed another woman in the room; she was in full fuku. Auria didn't know her by name; she had only seen her a few times. She felt a familiar aura around her, though. The sailor nodded and returned to her task. She looked like she was standing guard over Myou; she was 'keeping the monsters away', as Mu had done so many times for Auria when she was small. This woman looked at Myou and Auria with a beautiful passion in her eyes; it was like she knew a secret that no one else would want, and yet she made it look so tantalizing.
Auria, this is Larikia Setuu. She is your komori; she is also my lover, Myou said with such gentleness, such love that Auria could only wonder. She felt no hate; she felt no disgust, as she often expected she would. She only respected this woman. Auria, I love you.
"Momma... how could you?" Auria asked. "You have had such disgust, such horror for relationships like this... and yet... you...?" The woman answered Auria's questions.
"She was afraid; love is a personal, private matter. She did not want to be judged; she only wanted to love. And I agree with her. I have supported her decision as I support her now."
Auria, you're my angel, my darling angel. Please stay with me, Myou pleaded, looking at her daugher.
Auria no longer knew what to do. She felt someone at her side; she smelled the girl before she saw her. "Annika... thank you." Annika looked deep into Auria's eyes and smiled.
"Even though the Force isn't very strong in me, I know. I understand." Auria allowed Annika to pull her close and hold her for a moment. "I'm the Senshi of Love; I know the hard side of love. And now, you need to learn."
Annika. Thank you for the love you've brought me, Mu smiled weakly. Annika only nodded her head as tears flew down her checks. Auria, there are things you need to know about me.
"Tell me. I love you, for good and bad. There is nothing you can say to make me stop loving you."
Auria, I remember the first time you said 'Mom.' I was scared, terrified. I didn't know if I could handle you. I didn't want to have a child with another woman. I didn't want to have a child. Her mother's words stung her, but Annika pulled Auria closer.
"Love," she whispered.
"I don't understand, Mom. Why didn't you want me?"
I can't have children, angel. I am part of the sekot; the sekot regenerates itself. I don't regenerate. I go back into the eternal cycle of the sekot, and ultimately, the Force.
"Love," Annika whispered, again.
"I only know one thing; I love you, Momma. I don't know if I can accept what you have chosen or how you chose to live. But I love you."
"Love," Annika whispered.
My angel... I only want you to accept and love me for what I am. I have only tried to do the same for you.
"Love," Annika whispered.
"No, Momma, you didn't. You didn't accept my love for Lorn! You only stood in my way! You sent Priire to spy on me! You didn't trust me!"
"Love," Annika whispered.
Auria, I've made mistakes. I had to learn things too. But I did those things because I love you. I've tried.... that was the best I could do.
"Love," Annika whispered.
"Momma, I don't know if I can accept you. I can love you, but to accept this would mean rejecting everything you've ever taught me... and I don't know if i can."
"Love," Annika whispered.
Auria, please! You have to; I need you to. My destiny has to be fulfilled in this...
"Love," Annika whispered. The sekot started singing a beautiful melody, very softly.
"Momma... I can't... I don't know how..."
The sekot started singing louder and louder as Myou and Auria looked at each other. Annika slipped back to the edge of the room as Xarae slipped in. "Destiny has to be fulfilled," Xarae whispered. "The Force will not let her die if her destiny hasn't been fulfilled."
"My love, it is time," the silent woman who had been guarding Myou said tenderly. Auria looked at her mother; she was a beautiful woman. She had only withered; she had not grown old. She looked as young as she did that day many years ago when they had met in the park, when she had revealed her secret, when she had told Mu of the time to come. And she loved her.
"Momma, I still love you. I can't say it enough."
I can't hear it enough, angel. But I still ask for your acceptance, as your time here draws short. Auria felt Ippin enter the room with the Big Time Stick.
"Auria, you'll have to go soon," the time guardian pointed out. "You can't be here for your own conception."
"I want to be with my mother!" Auria exploded. "I LOVE HER!" The sekot only sang. As Myou recognized the melody, tears started running down her cheeks.
Auria, I am being called. Please, tell me you accept my decisions. Please? the woman begged.
"Myou - cheri - I love you," Larikia whispered as she leaned down to make a simple gesture of love. She brushed her fingers through the dying woman's hair. "It has to be. We have known that, yet we chose to allow our love to grow. Our love will continue... within the Force. You will eternally be a part of the Living Force. Soon, I will join you."
Larikia... please stay near me... I want to feel you here...
"Momma! I'm here! What about me?" Auria shouted over the song of the sekot.
"You cannot accept her, child. You must. There is no other way," Larikia said plainly. It hurt her to say it, all could see. The song of the sekot got so loud the whole Temple could hear, and everyone stopped.
Auria, do you accept me?
Momma... I don't know how! Help me!
I can't; that is something you have to do on your own. The sekot was suddenly silent, as Larikia dropped Myou's hand. Auria's scream replaced the song of joy the sekot had been singing.
The whole Temple stopped. Yuki, who was in the middle of a sparring round with Ben, stopped suddenly. His sword barely missed her thigh. "Yuki? What's wrong?"
"It happened, Ben." The man nodded his head and wrapped his love in his arms.
"It had to happen."
Priire and Kairiku froze in Kairiku's room. "Auria! I need to see her, Priire!" Kairiku ran out as Priire stood in the middle of the room, frozen. Auria's scream faded into nothing as the death of her mother was marked by a single, uncharacteristic tear, slipping down the side of the Hawkbat's face.
