Death and Taxes. A Sailor Moon Story.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.
This story is set a few years after Sailor Stars.
Chapter One.
It was a quiet Tuesday afternoon in early March. Haruka Tenoh and Michiru Kaioh were helping their daughter Hotaru Tomoe with her homework. Their roommate, Setsuna Meioh, had phoned a while ago to say that she would be home soon with some exciting news.
The three of them were discussing dinner plans when they heard Setsuna's car pull up outside. Setsuna entered the house a few minutes later, smiling and humming happily.
She managed to put her briefcase down before Hotaru jogged up to her with a cry of "Setsuna-mama!" And hugged her warmly. Setsuna laughed and hugged her back.
"You seem exceptionally happy today, Setsuna. What's going on?" Haruka asked.
"Well, it looks like my first big summer fashion show is going to be held in early July at the new convention centre." Setsuna replied with a grin. Ever since the Sailor Senshi's final battle with Galaxia a few years ago, each of the Senshi had devoted their time to realizing their dreams. In Setsuna's case this meant being a fashion designer. This show meant that a part of her dream was being realized at last.
"That's wonderful Setsuna!" Michiru exclaimed as she went over to hug her friend. Haruka did the same, as did Hotaru. "Is there anything you want us to do to help?" Michiru asked.
"Well, I had planned to ask Minako to be a model for me, possibly Rei, Makoto, maybe even Usagi and Ami. I don't suppose I could persuade any of you to do a bit of modelling?" Setsuna asked invitingly.
"Sure! I'd love to, Setsuna-mama." Hotaru replied with a grin. Setsuna kissed her on the forehead.
"As long as you don't make me wear a dress, I'm in." Haruka replied. Haruka tended to dress like a man. In fact Setsuna could never recall seeing Haruka in a dress before, except for her Sailor fuku. She had tried a few times to get Haruka to put on a dress, but was met with annoyed glares, flat refusals, and at least one threat of physical violence if Setsuna tried to make her wear a dress.
"Um, this isn't a lingerie show is it?" Michiru asked in a worried voice. She refused to wear lingerie in front of anyone other than her lover, Haruka.
"Aw, c'mon Michiru. You look great in lingerie. Especially that short, black, kind of see-through number…" Haruka grinned and ducked as Michiru flushed and tossed a book at her.
"Haruka!" Michiru snapped. "Not in front of Hotaru!" She was flushing even redder as Haruka laughed harder. Setsuna sighed as she held onto Hotaru's shoulders. Hotaru just stood there and giggled.
Setsuna chuckled as she replied; "No, Michiru. The show will just be summer dresses, business suits, and swimwear."
Michiru thought for a moment, then smiled. "Ok, I'm in as well."
"Great! I just have to phone Minako and the others, and make a few other arrangements." She grinned then asked; "So, what's for dinner?"
"We were talking about that when you arrived. Spaghetti and Meatballs with a Caesar's salad sound good to you?" Haruka replied.
"Sounds great! I just have to make a few quick calls, and I'll help you in a few minutes." Setsuna turned to leave. Hotaru picked up a letter and handed it to her as she was leaving.
"I almost forgot. That letter came for you today." Hotaru said. Setsuna frowned slightly as she looked at the return address. It was from the Tax Department. "Thank you Hotaru." Setsuna kissed her on the forehead again and left.
The three of them were talking about dinner again as the faint sound of a letter being ripped open could be heard from the living room.
"AAAAAAA!" Came the loud scream from the living room, followed by a thud.
"Setsuna?" Michiru said in a worried voice as the three of them rushed into the living room.
They found Setsuna lying on the floor with a dazed expression on her face. The letter was clutched tightly in her hand. She lay there and moaned loudly.
"Setsuna-mama!" Hotaru cried as they went to aid their friend. They looked her over to make sure that she wasn't hurt in anyway.
Hotaru knelt down to determine that Setsuna was still breathing, and then started to nervously fan her face with a magazine. Michiru and Haruka stood there shocked. They had never seen their friend react like this before, even when cockroaches were involved.
Michiru saw the letter clutched in Setsuna's trembling hand and bent down to retrieve it. She pried it gently out of Setsuna's unresisting hand and read it, her eyes growing wide. "Oh no." she said.
"What is it?" Haruka asked as she handed a glass of water that she had rushed into the kitchen for to Hotaru.
Wordlessly Michiru handed the letter to Haruka. She gasped in surprise when she read the first few lines. "This is to inform you that we have scheduled a routine audit of your taxes covering the period over the last five years. Please bring all of your records from this period to our offices by the following date." She had to come down to the tax office by Monday, less than a week from now.
"Oh no is right." Haruka agreed as they stood there looking down at their dazed friend in concern.
Setsuna just lay there and groaned loudly.
Meanwhile, a similar scene was being played out across the city. This time it was in a restaurant called The Rose Garden. It was owned and managed by one Makoto Kino. She was not happy to say the least.
"An audit! I don't believe this! The last 5 years! I was in high school 5 years ago! I help save the world several times and this is the thanks I get! AAAAARRRGGGHHH!" She roared and kicked a chair aside in frustration.
She had been like this ever since a messenger had delivered the letter that morning. She ended up closing the restaurant for the time being so she could find the requested materials.
"And they want all of this on Monday! Give me a break! No way I can find all of this crap by Monday!" She seethed.
"Um, maybe if you kept better records it would help." A quivering voice said from behind her. Makoto whirled to growl at the source of the voice, but there was no one there. She blinked and then went to look behind the bar, which was covered with papers.
Makoto peered behind the bar to find the tiny, dark blue haired form of her best friend Ami Mizuno cowering on the floor behind the bar. She looked up at the tall, auburn haired Amazon swallowed nervously, and blushed a deep crimson.
The Amazon bit back a reply and her features softened. "I'm sorry Ami. I shouldn't take out my problems on you. I know you're trying to help." She smiled warmly and helped Ami to her feet.
Ami smiled back at her taller friend. "I know, and I shouldn't have said what I did. It's been a long day since you showed me the letter earlier." After High School the two of them had started to fulfill their dreams as well. Ami was studying to be a Doctor while Makoto had finally opened up her own restaurant. The two of them shared an apartment above the restaurant as well. Ami was also a partner in the venture.
The letter had arrived that morning. Ami had answered the door and then called Makoto over to sign for it. Makoto had nearly gone after the messenger when she read it but Ami managed to talk her into not killing him. So began along day of looking through Makoto's somewhat haphazard records. While Makoto was skilled at many things bookkeeping wasn't one of her strong suits. She tended to leave that up to Ami.
Ami poured herself and Makoto a glass of water and added some ice. They sat down at the bar, looked at the mountain of papers and sighed.
"This isn't going to be easy." Makoto remarked, taking a sip of water.
"Things like this never are, but I'll do what I can to help you. That's what friends are for right?" Ami stated with a smile.
"Right." Makoto smiled a bit more and they clinked their glasses together. The two friends sat there for a while in silence, Makoto staring outside while Ami picked at the papers. Finally Makoto set her empty glass down on the bar with a loud thud and started shuffling through the papers again. "I suppose we had better get this done then. I really want to open up again tomorrow." Makoto sighed.
"That's the spirit, Makoto. Don't worry I'll help you get through this. Then we can concentrate on the really important stuff. Deal?" Ami smiled warmly and held out her hand. "Deal." Makoto grinned and took her friend's hand and shook it.
"Great!" Ami said happily. Then she slipped her reading glasses back on and went back to sorting through the mountain of papers. With a reluctant sigh, Makoto joined her.