Space was still. The glitter of the stars illuminated the void. It was a perfect night for lovers to gaze at the sky together. The galaxy was at peace.

     Suddenly, a streak of light pierced the black sky. The heavens brightened for a brief moment as the light appeared, then darkened just as quickly. Onlookers that night wondered if it was a shooting star, or perhaps a comet. They were almost right--it was a shooting star, but not just any shooting star. It was on a mission.

     It was a mailman. And he had a letter to deliver.

~***~

     Usagi stared in disbelief at the piece of paper. How could this be possible? she thought.

     The letter she held was written on a piece of light blue stationery with "From the Mind of Sailor Star Fighter" printed across the top. A cute drawing of a small Fighter riding a shooting star was in the bottom right-hand corner. Usagi would have giggled at the caricature had she not been completely baffled by the letter's presence in her hands.

     She read it aloud:

     "Dear Odango,

     Hi! How are you? Things are great here. Taiki, Yaten and I have been living peacefully on Kinmoku with our Princess for the past three years. Rebuilding the planet has been going really well. By the way, I'm sorry that we haven't been in touch, but this rebuilding has kept us really busy. It's wonderful--we're finally starting over, and everyone is happy. But we all miss Earth. Even Yaten, ha ha. We've even assumed our male forms again, just for old times. Can you believe that?

     Anyway, we're coming to visit Earth for a while. I can't wait to be back--and I can't wait to see you again, Odango. Please tell everyone hi for us. See you soon!

     Love Always,

     Seiya

     P.S.--Yaten says to give Luna a hug for him."

     "I don't believe it...Seiya..." Usagi whispered, holding the letter to her chest. She suddenly felt very hot.

     "Usa-ko? Is something wrong?" Mamoru asked, walking up to the mailbox to put his hand on her shoulder.

     "Mamo-chan!" she nearly shrieked. "You scared me!"

     He laughed. "I'm sorry, Usa-ko." He looked down at her hands. "What's that you've got? A letter?"

     "Yeah, it's from Seiya."

     "Really? How strange. What does it say?"

     "They're coming to visit."

     Mamoru smiled. "I'm sure everyone will be happy to see them." He turned around to see Usagi walking back into their apartment with her long pigtails wafting behind her. "Where are you going?"

     She turned around to face him. Her face was flushed and she was breathing rapidly. "Oh, I was just going to go lie down for a while--I feel faint all of a sudden."

     He caught up with Usagi and brought his hand up to her face, pale underneath the red.

     "Okay, why don't you take a nap, then? I'll wake you up a little later."

     She paused and smiled a little. "Thank you, Mamo-chan. Oh yeah, and I have to... give Luna a hug."

~***~

     Usagi walked into their bedroom and collapsed on the bed with a sigh. Mamoru gently closed the door behind her and went into the kitchen to start dinner.

     "Seiya..." she said into her pillow. "It's been such a long time..."

     She stared out the open window, feeling the cool breeze of late spring blow across her hot cheeks. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm. The sky was a brilliant blue and full of fluffy white clouds. It reminded her of being in the heavens with Galaxia, among the thousands of glittering freed Star Seeds. Thinking of that moment always lifted her spirits and calmed her mind, but her mind refused to be at peace that afternoon. She propped her elbow on the windowsill and dreamily, but sadly, watched the clouds pass by. I'd love to spend a day like this with...him, she thought.

     She thought about the last time she had seen the three Starlights. I had barely entered high school, and there was the war...and now I'm nineteen, and living with Mamo- chan...so much has changed.

     As she reminisced a tear slowly rolled down her face. "I just can't believe he'll be here again..."

     "Who will?"

     Usagi looked up to see Luna staring at her with large red eyes.

     "Hi, Luna. How'd you get in here?"

     "Mamoru-san let me in. What's wrong, anyway? Who's going to be here?"

     "Hey, can you come here for a minute?"

     "Sure, Usagi-chan," she said, and hopped up on the bed. Usagi immediately scooped her up into a hug.

     Surprised at first, Luna relaxed a bit and nuzzled Usagi's chin. "What's that for?"

     "It's from Yaten-kun. I was told to give it to you."

     "Yaten-kun? What do you mean?"

     She bit her lip. "I got a letter from Seiya today. They're coming back to Earth to visit."

     Luna's face immediately lit up. "Really? You're serious?"

     "Yes. I wouldn't just make it up."

     Luna finally noticed Usagi's apprehension. "Hey, aren't you happy? We haven't seen them in three years!"

     Usagi smiled. "I'm very happy. But..."

     Luna placed her paw on her hand. "But what? You can tell me."

     "I've missed him so much since he left. I..."

     "I know. You were so depressed after they were gone. But you've seemed better lately."

     "I just don't know how I'll...react to Seiya when he's here."

     Luna's eyes widened with understanding. "Oh...Usagi-chan, don't worry. That was a long time ago. I'm sure he's over you by now."

     Usagi nodded. "Yeah, you're probably right, Luna. Thanks."

     Luna smiled at her. "That's better," she said. "I'm going to go in the kitchen now. That fish Mamoru-san is cooking smells wonderful."

     She giggled. "Okay, I'll be out in a minute."

     As Luna left the room, Usagi pretended to be comforted by her words, but her heart was still heavy. She sighed deeply.

     Yeah, Luna, you're right, she thought. He's probably over me by now. But am I over him?

~***~

     At the moment Usagi was looking out the window, Seiya was doing the same on the planet Kinmoku--absent-mindedly staring into the sky. Like on Earth, it was a beautiful day. Outside his window, birds chirped and sang from their perches in the olive trees. He sighed. I wish I could have her with me right now, he thought.

     Taiki and Yaten walked into Seiya's room. They were both dressed in Hawaiian shirts and Bermuda shorts. Yaten had a camera around his neck. He lifted his sunglasses and winked a pale green eye at Seiya. "Nice vacation wear, huh? I've always wanted to dress like a crazy tourist."

     Taiki giggled. "I'm surprised you like it. You're not wearing enough makeup."

     Yaten glared at him and pouted. "Hey, I'm being a guy right now..."

     "So? That didn't stop you before." Taiki was doubled over, giggling madly.

     "Dammit, Taiki, you're such a jerk...Seiya? What's with you?"

     Seiya turned to them, only after discreetly wiping the tears from his eyes. "What do you mean?" he said. "I'm fine."

     Upon surveying Taiki's and Yaten's new clothes, he managed a small smile. "You guys look like you're going to...what's that one place on Earth all the Japanese tourists like? Oh yeah, Disneyland."

     "Fighter, you'll have to show me this place," a soft voice said from the doorway.

     Taiki and Yaten stepped aside to let Princess Kakyuu in the room. She had let her flowing red hair down, and was wearing a pale yellow sundress that accentuated her figure perfectly. The three men emitted low whistles.

     "Princess..." Taiki breathed. "You look lovely."

     "Thank you, Maker," she said. She looked a little unsure of herself. "Is this the proper attire for a...vacation?"

     They all laughed. Seiya smiled at her. "Yes, Princess, it's just fine," he said. Standing up, he looked at the other three. "Judging by your clothes, I assume you're all waiting on me. Did you get me anything to wear?"

     Grinning, Yaten handed him his own Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts, folded neatly with a pair of sunglasses resting on top.

     Seiya rolled his eyes. "Great. The three of us will match...again."

     On that note, Taiki and Yaten, as well as the Princess, burst into fits of laughter.

     A few minutes later, the four were ready to leave.

     "Say," Taiki said, "we have to become Senshi in order to teleport. So why did we bother to change?"

     "So we are dressed properly when we get there," Kakyuu replied. "If we don't change quickly when we arrive, we might cause a fuss in our Senshi uniforms."

     Yaten snorted. "Earthlings are such prudes," he said. "Can't handle a little skin."

     "That sounds reasonable, Princess," Taiki said. "Let's be on our way, then."

     "Fighter Star Power..."

     "Maker Star Power..."

     "Healer Star Power..."

     "Kinmoku Star Power..."

     "...Make UP!"

     After a brief flash of light, Fighter, Healer, Maker and Sailor Kakyuu emerged.

     "All right!" Healer cried. "Earth, here we come!"

     "Finally, I can retrieve all those books I left behind," Maker said, smiling.

     Kakyuu looked at them with a smile as they joined hands. "Are we ready, then?"

     The Starlights nodded, but Fighter remained silent for a moment.

     She suddenly grinned. Odango...soon I'll see your shining face again, she thought.

     "Okay!" Fighter yelled. "Let's go!"

     "Sailor TELEPORT!"

~***~

     Dusk was fast approaching. The sky was now a dark pink, fading into a deep blue. At Hikawa Shrine, ten people and two cats impatiently waited for the sight of four shooting stars.

     "I'm not saying that I don't want to see them, but why do I have to be here?" Haruka complained. She had been all evening.

     Michiru laughed softly and leaned against her. "Be nice, Haruka," she said. "We want to welcome them warmly. So we all need to be here."

     Haruka winked at her slyly. "But, Michiru...there's so many other things we could be doing right now..."

     Setsuna heard her comment and blushed, but then nodded in agreement with Michiru. "We were so cold to them before...we should start getting along now."

     Meanwhile, Minako was in an excited frenzy. She hopped from foot to foot, performing some kind of celebratory dance. "I can't believe they're going to be here again!" she said. In a sing-song voice, she continued, "I get to see Yaten-kun!" She blushed at the thought.

     Luna cocked an eyebrow. "Not so fast, Minako-chan. Yaten-kun is mine."

     "Luna!" Artemis yelped.

     Makoto and Rei looked at each other and shrugged. Rei tried to change the subject. "Ami-chan!" she cried toward the roof, raising her voice over Minako's and Luna's, who were still fighting over Yaten. "Do you see anything yet?"

     Ami and Hotaru were sitting on the roof, above the din of Minako's and Luna's argument. Ami was enthusiastically examining the nighttime sky with a mini telescope, watching for their friends' arrival. Hotaru, who had taken an interest in astronomy, liked to stargaze with Ami, whose knowledge of stars was as limitless as her knowledge of everything else.

     Ami set down her telescope for a moment and looked down. "No, not yet, you guys," she shouted. "Be patient, though. After all, we have no idea how long it will take them to get here."

     Hotaru laughed. "Ami-san, I can't believe there's something you don't know."

     Ami's face turned a deep crimson. "Please, Hotaru-chan, I don't know everything."

     Hotaru laughed even harder at Ami's modesty. "Don't sell yourself short. ChibiUsa- chan told me your knowledge of everything is world famous in the future...Ami-san! Look!"

     Ami, and everyone else that heard Hotaru's outburst, followed her pointing finger to the sky. Narrow streaks of light were slowly making their way across the horizon. Ami picked up her telescope again and looked. On closer inspection, she saw four shooting stars--red, blue, violet and green.

     Ami's face broadened into a wide smile. "They're here! It's them!" she shouted down to the others.

     Makoto walked over to Usagi and Mamoru, who were sitting on the shrine's steps. Usagi, although she was leaning on Mamoru's shoulder, looked distinctly uncomfortable and lost in thought all at once.

     "Usagi-chan, snap out of it!" Makoto said, putting her hand on her shoulder and shaking her a little. "They're here!"

     She blinked and looked up into Makoto's worry-filled green eyes. "Oh, hi, Mako-chan. What's wrong?"

     "You! You've been a zombie ever since you got here! Right, Mamoru-san?"

     Mamoru, like Makoto, looked worried, but his face immediately brightened up. "Mako- chan, I wouldn't worry. If something was really bothering Usa-ko, she'd tell us."

     For some reason, Makoto didn't quite believe him, but she kept it to herself. Both of them are hiding something from us, she thought. But what?

     But she didn't have time to think about it, because at that moment the four shooting stars slowed their descent to Earth, and the whole area lit up with their shine.

     The Starlights and their Princess had arrived.

~***~

     The group of Senshi shielded their eyes from the bright light engulfing Hikawa Shrine. When it faded, they all looked and took in the Starlights and their Princess for the first time since the end of the war.

     It was obvious that, like them, the Starlights had matured over the three years--they all seemed a bit older, and wiser, as well as more mature in appearance.

     Rei caught Minako staring at Yaten's body with wide eyes. She quickly elbowed her.

     The foursome immediately reverted from their Senshi forms, and, once back in their "vacation" clothes, approached the group.

     "Hi everybody!" Yaten said, giving a little wave. "Nice to be back."

     Kakyuu smiled. "It's so nice of you all to welcome us like this."

     Makoto returned the smile. "We were all so excited to see you, we couldn't have done anything else."

     Haruka coughed, and Michiru shot an annoyed look in her lover's direction.

     Seiya sauntered up to the couple. "Great to see you again, Haruka-san," he said. "How are things?"

     Haruka returned his greeting with an icy stare, but after a nudge from Michiru, she warmed up a little. "Hey, Seiya-kun," she said, shaking his hand. She was a little friendlier about it this time than the first time they met. "Things have been great for us."

     "YATEN-KUN!" Minako shouted as she leapt into Yaten's arms. "I've missed you!"

     "Come on, Minako-chan, you act like I'm your long-lost lover or something," he said. He gave her an arrogant scowl, but didn't let her go.

     Minako playfully ran her finger up and down his chest. "Maybe you are, Yaten-kun..."

     He cracked a small smile. "Oh, dear God. What's gotten into you?"

     Yaten felt something rub against his leg. It was Luna.

     He grinned. "Luna! Come up here!"

     She eagerly climbed onto his body and perched on his shoulder. "Hi, Yaten-kun!"

     Minako and Artemis both grimaced.

     A few feet away, Taiki slowly walked closer to Ami.

     "Ah, Ami-san, nice to see you again," he said, avoiding her eyes.

     "I'm happy to see you too, Taiki-san."

     They stood in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes. Ami broke it. "You know, I've been reading a really interesting book on genetic engineering lately."

     "Oh, really? May I borrow it? I'd like to discuss the theories."

     "Yes, of course!" Ami said, blushing. She started to speak again, but fell silent as she saw Usagi, still sitting on the steps. She looked as if she was willing herself not to move.

     Usagi started to sweat. Her chest began to feel hot again. She was just about to get up when she saw a slim male figure standing before her. Her eyes moved up to take in his curly black hair and sparkling blue eyes.

     He opened his arms and gave her a gentle smile. "Hi, Odango. I missed you."

     She stood up and looked at him. Without any words, she walked forward and stepped into his arms, giving him a giant hug.

     The others all had their eyes on Mamoru, who just smiled and watched from his seat on the steps.

     Rei frowned at first, but when she noticed Mamoru's nonchalant expression, she relaxed. Mamoru-san looks okay, she thought. Just a friendly hug.

     Usagi felt the tension in her body lift away in Seiya's embrace. She looked up at his face and showed him a faint but relieved smile.

     "Hi, Seiya. I missed you, too."

~***~