Wishes

Disclaimers: Ai Tenshi Densetsu Wedding Peach and all characters and settings related thereto are the property of and copyright to their creator, the company which animated it and the company which published it. This fanfic is written as a fan's homage, no money is being made from it and no copyright infringement is intended. Please don't sue me, I have no money.

My tears are raindrops on the Gazing Pool. They fall as fast and as often as do the drops of rain during spring showers in the Human World.

I really shouldn't come here so often; Aphrodite would say that I'm only torturing myself, looking for things I can no longer have. But my older sister, though she is a great queen and I love her dearly, doesn't understand that any glimpse of them is worth all the pain I could ever experience.

It's night in the Human World, and the month is August. It's the time of year when shooting stars light up the skies, if you know where to look.

Taking me to see them was one of the first things Shouichirou did while he was courting me - and one of the things we loved to do after we were married. Sitting on a soft blanket in a park, held in each others' arms, watching the stars dance - we were young and in love, and the universe celebrated with us.

Momoko-chan has run ahead of her father, chasing a butterfly across the park. Shouichirou is smiling gently, following her at a distance.

I should be there; I would be there, if not for this War. If not for my position as the strongest fighter in Tenshi-Kai. If not for the fact that I am an angel.

I wish I had never remembered! I wish I had always thought that I was Hanasaki Sakura, loving wife of Hanasaki Shouichirou, loving mother of Momoko. I wish I still didn't know that I am Angel Celeste of Tenshi-Kai, younger sister to Queen Aphrodite.

It was so easy to put aside Celeste, and bury myself in Sakura, after I did remember. Sakura was the self I'd set aside so long ago, after all; the self who longed to love and be loved, who hated fighting, who wished to be a loving mother. To Sakura, Tenshi-Kai was like a distant dream, and the War a nightmare. As Sakura, I was able to feel as if I could put it all behind me, and just be.

And for a few short months, that was what I did.

I wish I'd had the sense to pretend not to recognise Limone. I wish that I'd denied his plea and stayed.

But I knew better. My conscience and Limone - one or the other I possibly could deny, but not both together. Not when both told the same message.

"You are needed to defend and protect Tenshi-Kai, Celeste. Queen Aphrodite herself sent me to find and bring you home."

But this is not home anymore.

Home is where a handsome, loving man took me in his arms and kissed me hello every morning and goodnight every night. Home is where a beautiful little girl stood up and tried to walk to me, falling down and laughing, calling me 'Mama'. Home is where my name is Sakura, not Celeste.

Home is the Human World, now.

Shouichirou has caught up with Momoko now and is watching, smiling indulgently - and a trifle sadly - as she gambols around the lawn. She has lost interest in the butterfly and now is 'helping' her father spread the blanket.

She's grown up so fast - it's hard to believe that she's eight years old now. And so easy to believe, too - I've paid with so much pain every day I've been here that it feels like a century, not just seven years.

Shouichirou is now sitting on the blanket with Momoko. Full dark has fallen and they both are looking up in the sky. His hand is lifting up, pointing to the stars.

"And that's Perseus, see? That's where the meteors are going to appear. But let's eat first."

They unpack the basket and I can't help but smile. Boiled rice that is obviously one of Momoko's attempts at cooking. Shouichirou's sandwiches and the storebought moshi. They eat and chatter to each other, and I listen closely as Momoko describes her two best friends. Their names are, it appears, Yuri and Hinagiku.

I am glad that my little one has good friends, and with such lucky names! 'Yuri' means 'Lily' in the Human World, and 'Hinagiku' means 'Daisy'. Two of my best friends were named Lily and Daisy.

My dear friends, sworn to defend me - they fell in the battle ten years ago, that cast me out of Tenshi-Kai and into Shouichirou's life. I think I miss you almost as much as I do my beloved husband and daughter.

"Papa, do you think Mama's watching us from Heaven?" Momoko asks suddenly.

Shouichiro's eyes close tight, hard, as they do when he's trying not to show emotion. Oh, my sweet Shouichiro, I know you. And I know you're hurting, as I am.

"Of course she is, Momoko-chan. She wants us to be happy. She's watching us to see that we're all right."

If I were not weeping already, I would cry. Oh, my wise, perceptive Shouichirou, I know why you are such a good photographer; you see with your heart as well as your eyes.

Momoko looks solemnly at the grass. "I miss her, Papa."

"I know. I miss her too."

"Oooh!" Momoko cries out suddenly. "Papa! Look!"

"Yes, they've started," Shouichirou says, turning to look at the meteor shower. "Wish on one, Momoko-chan! A wish made on a falling star always comes true!"

"Oh!" cries Momoko. "Oh, I wish - I wish that Mama's happy in Heaven!"

Sitting back on the blanket, Shouichirou stares at the stars. Without appearing to notice Momoko or her wish, he murmurs, "I wish I were with you, Sakura."

I look up at the falling stars, and say quietly, "I wish I had never left you."

Closing my eyes, I turn and walk away from the Gazing Pool.

A figure, standing a little way beyond the Gazing Pool, watches silently as Celeste leaves the area. Celeste comes here every evening, spending an hour or more gazing into the Pool, and coming away in tears, refusing all comfort. She has finally given in to her curiosity, and followed Celeste to the Pool.

Aphrodite, Queen of Tenshi-Kai, looks up to the stars. One final, lone star streaks across the heavens.

"I wish that, one day, I will make your wishes come true."