Disclaimer: I don't own any Sailor Moon characters, but I (and Vanessa Riverton) own Kiyoshi. - FACT! This fic is also inspired by the song "All Time Lows" by Hellogoodbye.
A/N: This is dedicated to someone I care about... a lot.
Chapter 1: The Forecast Aint As Bad As It Seems
"Our long streak of sunny days is about to end! We've got a cold front coming up, which means plenty of showers and thunderstorms in store for those of us in the Azabu Juban area. We could use some cool weather though, get a break from all this summer heat, which will continue tonight with warm temperatures and clear skies to end July…"
Kiyoshi tapped the power switch, turning the radio off, leaving only the trickling of the water from the faucet as the only sound in the dark room. Next to the faucet was a counter with several photographs suspended above from a wire. The green-haired tomboy carefully unclipped the prints that had been hung to dry and turned the faucet off. Stepping through black revolving doors, she emerged into one of several studios in the house. The drastic change in lighting caused her gray eyes to squint against the sun coming through the large windows. Her studio faced west, and the sun was beginning its descent towards the horizon, casting an orange hue over the room where Kiyoshi spent most of her time with her photography.
The days are starting to get short again. Soon it'll be fall, Kiyoshi thought to herself. She looked down at the stack of prints she held in her hands and sighed. The first photograph showed a young girl – no, a young lady, smiling pleasantly back at her. With hair as dark as the midnight sky and deep amethyst eyes that shone bright enough to make diamonds look like mere glitter on a child's paper craft, the young lady in the portrait was all Kiyoshi could think about as of late.
"I'll race you to the water, Kiyo!"
Kiyoshi stared at the blonde in disbelief. "What kind of challenge is that, Haruka?"
"You play soccer, you run just as fast, now let's go!" the blonde declared and was about to take off when a soft voice called out, stopping her in her tracks.
"Not so fast, Ruka. You can't just speed off without a proper start," Michiru reprimanded her.
"Fine," Haruka sighed. "Hime-chan, you mind doing the honours?"
Hotaru turned to look at her adoptive father, but not after stealing a glance at the other tomboy in the family. "Um, I'm helping Setsuna-mama and Michiru-mama."
"It won't take long, hime. Just do a quick 'ready, set, go'!" said Haruka.
Kiyoshi joined the blonde where she stood and assumed the starting position for a run. She spared a smile at Hotaru and said, "Whenever you're ready, Hota."
Hotaru returned the grin and ran up a few paces in front of the tomboys. Once she asserted their undivided attention, she shouted, "Ready… Set… GO!"
The tomboys took off, racing down the beach towards the water, their feet sprinting as fast as they could and kicking up sand in their wake. Kiyoshi could see she and Haruka were neck to neck out of the corner of her eye and up ahead she saw the waterline quickly approaching. As soon as her feet touched damp sand she leaped forward into the water. Naturally, there was the sound of a splash only a second before her as Haruka victoriously landed in the water first, but Kiyoshi's attention was no longer on the race. Her eyes bulged as they zoned in on the white blob floating precariously beside her. It was too late though, and within seconds she felt the sting riding through her nerves.
"OH SHIT!" Kiyoshi cried out and thrashed about in the water. "FUCK! JELLYFISH! GET IT OFF ME!"
In her frenzy, Kiyoshi didn't notice Haruka had already gotten a hold of her and dragged her out of the water and onto the sand. Hotaru rushed to Kiyoshi's side with the vinegar they had brought for such emergencies.
"FUCKIN' A, WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME?" Kiyoshi released a stream of curses and threw a handful of sand in the direction of the jellyfish, which only mocked Kiyoshi's pain by steadily floating on the water's surface.
"Kiyo, hold still!" Hotaru scolded and began spraying the enraged tomboy's arm.
"MOTHER FUCKER!"
"KIYOSHI!" Hotaru took Kiyoshi's face in her hands and looked at her square in the eye.
I could've kissed her right there, Kiyoshi thought, still staring at the photograph of Hotaru. It's not the only time I've wanted to kiss her.
"Hey Kiyo! Are those the vacation pictures?"
Kiyoshi snapped back to reality and faced the green-haired woman standing in the doorway.
"Yeah, I just finished them. Here, Sets, you can look," Kiyoshi said, handing the photos to her friend and then walking back towards the dark room.
"Wait, where are you going? You're not going to look at them with me?" Setsuna asked.
"I've seen them."
"Oh, come on, relive the good times with me! I know you have shots of me completely wasted somewhere in here," Setsuna said with an evil eye.
Kiyoshi scoffed. "When are you not wasted, Sets?"
"Hey!" Setsuna feigned offense then laughed. "Okay, so maybe I was on my way to the bar when I saw you standing there staring at the pictures. Care to join me?"
Kiyoshi gave Setsuna a tentative look, then said, "Fine."
Kiyoshi followed Setsuna out of her studio and down the stairs to where a mini-bar was set up in the corner of the basement. Four stools surrounded it and there were two gold plated metal bars running along the bar to provide support for a person when drunk or to maneuver the easily movable mini-bar.
The actual bar was made of a fine dark wood. As far as Kiyo knew it was mahogany but it could have been a light wood that Setsuna poured half a bottle of Campari over for all anyone else knew.
The tomboy took a seat on the barstool while her long-haired counterpart took her place behind the bar.
"So what can I get you, Kiyo?"
"The usual."
Setsuna brought out a highball glass and took some ice out. She ducked down under the counter and came back up with a two liter bottle of Coke and a bottle of Bacardi rum. As she fixed up the drink for Kiyoshi, she noticed Kiyoshi's dreary disposition, but decided to remain silent.
"Here you go, Kiyo. Coke and rum for you, and I'm going to have a mojito."
After filling another highball glass with the proper ingredients and mixing it together, Setsuna topped her cocktail drink with a lime wedge and mint leaves. She held her finished product up towards Kiyoshi.
"Kenpai!" Kiyoshi said and brought her glass up to meet Setsuna's. Their glasses clinked and they each took a drink. Kiyoshi placed her glass back on the bar and shook her head while Setsuna took a little longer to remove the glass from her lips.
"Hey Sets, remember that time we got so wasted and we made that video and – "
"Kiyo, don't! You said we'd never mention that after…"
The two green-haired women stared at each other in ominous silence, then Kiyoshi decided to take another sip from her glass. Setsuna did the same.
"So, Sets, how about those photos?"
"Oh yeah! Right," Setsuna quickly perked up. She set her drink aside and took the photos into her hand. "Aw, that's a really nice shot of Hotaru."
A sideways grin escaped Kiyoshi's face before she could cover it up. Setsuna made a note of it and casually placed the photo down on the bar in front of Kiyoshi while she flipped through the rest of the pile. Just as Setsuna expected, Kiyoshi's eyes lingered longingly on the photo of Hotaru.
"Hota starts school soon, doesn't she?" Kiyoshi asked.
Setsuna only nodded.
"And then I won't see her again till December," the tomboy said with a tone of sadness.
The other woman looked up from the photos and said, "That's right, we won't see her again till December."
Kiyoshi ignored Setsuna's alteration to her statement and continued staring at Hotaru's photo.
Setsuna put the photos down and cleared her throat. "Is there something you want to tell me, Kiyo? This has to be a new record for all time lows for you. Ever since we got back from vacation you've been acting really cold. You're even making me feel depressed."
Kiyoshi looked into her glass for a moment, mulling over whether she should tell Setsuna or not. Her thoughts always turned into discord when she tried to think about it too much. And then there was that dream she had the other night. Nothing seemed clear to her anymore.
"It's nothing. Besides, I don't even know where to begin," Kiyoshi said finally and stared at the ice swirling around in the caramel brown liquid concoction.
"Come on, Kiyo. It's better for you to talk it out. Just say whatever comes to your mind."
Kiyoshi tipped her glass back and finished the last of her drink. "Alright, I'll tell you. I'm going to need another one first. And more rum this time."
Setsuna complied and poured another round for her companion. She handed the glass back to Kiyoshi and waited patiently while the tomboy downed the whole thing in a few gulps.
"Ah, alright, story time," Kiyoshi said. She proceeded to start by telling Setsuna about the dream she had.
Kiyoshi stepped out of the taxi and walked through the sliding doors into the airport, where she was greeted by Japan Airlines workers who were helping travelers check their baggage in. She tugged on her messenger bag, making sure it was hung securely from her shoulder and looked around till she spotted an empty kiosk so she could check her baggage automatically. With boarding pass and passport in hand, Kiyoshi walked up to the machine when she realized she felt odd. Her hand reached to her side and grabbed nothing but air. In horror, she spun around and saw the taxi she had just left driving away – with her suitcase.
"Ah, fuck," Kiyoshi cursed and was about to try and run after it, but knew it was no use. Whatever, I'm still going.
She fell in line to go through the security checkpoint when she felt something was off again. The weight on her shoulder was missing. Frantic, Kiyoshi searched around her, but her messenger bag was gone.
What the hell? Dammit, why is this happening?
She began to panic. Over the PA system, flight number 11 was announced to depart soon and that passengers should proceed quickly to the terminal to board.
Shit, I can't miss my flight! She's waiting for me!
"And that's when I woke up." Kiyoshi held her empty glass out to Setsuna. "Hit me."
Setsuna gave Kiyoshi more Coke and rum and fixed herself up another mojito as well. They drank together and Kiyoshi let out a belch, earning her a shot of disdain from her confidant.
"I give that a seven. You've done better."
"Thanks, Sets. I'll work on it."
"I was being sarcastic. Anyway," she tapped her chin in deliberation, "your dream speaks volumes, especially with the fact that it took place at an airport alone."
"How so?" Kiyoshi asked in puzzlement.
"Airports are where journeys begin! They can take you anywhere you want! They're the connections to everyone in our lives! We visit friends, family… lovers…" Setsuna took a slow sip from her mojito and raised one eyebrow suggestively to Kiyoshi, who placed her drink on the mini-bar and frowned before holding up two hands and gesturing for the senshi of time to stop talking for a moment.
A blank stare remained plastered on Kiyoshi's face. "Sets, you know I'm slow and easily confused. Don't be all metaphoric on me, especially when you let the mojito do the talking."
Setsuna exhaled in exasperation. "Let's start with the obvious." She leaned over the counter to get in closer range with Kiyoshi. "You've been awakened as Sailor Eris. That's changed your life's direction pretty dramatically, don't you think?"
Kiyoshi nodded slowly.
"Okay, now you losing your bags and stuff, that's you leaving behind baggage that you won't need on your new journey. You've been hulling around a lot of things from your past and it's time to let them go, Kiyo. Don't let something from your past always be lugged around with you, especially when that section of your life is over. With a new journey, you shouldn't take old luggage along with you. Something better, or should I say someone is waiting for you, jus like you said in your dream."
The slanted smile tugged at the corner of Kiyoshi's mouth again.
"So, who is it?"
"Huh?" Kiyoshi shook herself out of her moment of reverie.
"Who is 'she' that awaits you?" Setsuna clarified, giving Kiyoshi a curious look.
"I don't know. I mean, I have an idea, but it's just a thought."
"Kiyoshi, dear," Setsuna pried sweetly, "you can tell me. I won't tell anyone, I promise. Now who is it?"
Despite Kiyoshi's tanned skin, her cheeks suddenly flushed a rosy red. "Oh come on, like it isn't obvious! Don't make me say it." Her eyes settled upon the flat rectangular object that lay between her and Setsuna.
"Admitting it is your first step to stop being in denial."
Kiyoshi let Setsuna's words sink in. Was she in denial? More importantly, what exactly had she been trying to deny this whole time?
"It's just been a while since I felt like this. I want to make sure," she paused and thought over her words, "I'm not rushing things. I don't want it to happen again, especially not with her. She's a really good friend, and I care a lot about her."
Kiyoshi lifted her glass to her lips and was disappointed to find she had already drunk the last drop. Sighing, she continued, "I doubt she sees me as anything more than a friend anyway. I don't know. I try not to think about it so much."
Setsuna took the initiative to pour more into Kiyoshi's glass, which the tomboy drank immediately.
"Ah, but you know, lately, I can't help thinking about it now," Kiyoshi stopped to say. "And I may as well Polaroid her with the way I stare." She tipped the rest of the contents in her glass into her mouth. "Wait, I do! I'm a freakin' photographer! It's what I do!"
Kiyoshi laughed at her own rambling while Setsuna discreetly took away Kiyoshi's glass, having decided that Kiyoshi didn't need any more alcohol lest her speech starts becoming incoherent. She had achieved her goal of getting Kiyoshi to loosen up.
Once Kiyoshi settled back down, Setsuna spoke, "Kiyo, your dream is like a wake up call. Stop resisting! It's pretty clear what journey your life's about to take. Trust me, it's only a matter of time, and you know I know all about time. And if it's who I think it is, I see only good things. That's my forecast."
Kiyoshi shook her head and said, "No, I'm afraid I'm only setting myself up for disaster again. I'm the senshi of strife, remember?"
"And I'm running out of patience with you. Have you ever thought of just trying to talk to this mystery girl of yours?"
"Sets," Kiyoshi said and furrowed her eyebrows. "Where's my drink?"
Setsuna smacked Kiyoshi upside her head. "Don't try to change the subject! And you don't need any more alcohol. Last time you were stumbling all over the place and you damn near busted your head!"
"Dammit, Setsuna, you didn't have to hit me so hard!" Kiyoshi scowled and rubbed the spot that had been assaulted.
"Yes I did! You need some sense knocked into you. For someone who can capture more than what meets the eye, you're so blind when it comes to the obvious."
"What?" The confused expression contorting Kiyoshi's face was undeniably pathetic, but genuine in every sense. "Setsuna, please, I'm begging you, simple terms! Don't be –"
Kiyoshi's eyes suddenly turned bright, despite their natural cloudy appearance.
"Wait, what?" The troubled tomboy stood up from the barstool. "You don't mean…"
Setsuna merely smiled and turned her attention back to her mojito.
From above, the door to the basement opened and soft footsteps treaded down the stairs.
"Setsa-mama, have you seen Kiyoshi?" a voice called and stopped once her violet eyes beheld gray ones. "Oh, hi Kiyo, I was just looking for you."
"What's up, Hota?" Kiyoshi asked with the trademark grin reappearing without any resistance.
"I was wondering if you could take me night shooting, you know, while the weather is still nice." Hotaru looked down at the camera she held in her hands. "And, you know, since you're really good at photography, I was hoping you could help me improve on my techniques."
Kiyoshi turned to Setsuna. "Are you going to be okay here by yourself, Sets?"
"Oh yeah, sure, don't worry about me. I have my mojito to keep me company since everyone's always leaving me," Setsuna replied.
Hotaru and Kiyoshi gave Setsuna a questioning look.
"Nevermind, go have fun you two," she said and shooed them away with the flick of her hand. "Oh and Hota-chan, you might want to go ahead and give Kiyoshi a kiss."
"WHAT?" Kiyoshi and Hotaru exclaimed together.
"On her head! If you would only let me finish. Kami-sama, what were you two thinking? I gave her a good rapping on her head, so she may need someone to make her boo-boo go away," Setsuna explained.
An awkward silence passed between Kiyoshi and Hotaru as they looked at each other with uncertainty. Setsuna made herself yet another mojito and began humming contently.
"Let me just go get my equipment, Hota, then we'll be on our way," Kiyoshi said to break the uneasiness. "I know the perfect spot. And there's just enough sunlight to do some pretty cool tricks before it gets dark."
"Okay, Kiyo," Hotaru responded with a brilliant smile. "I'll wait for you."