Father's Daughter
by
John Hitchens
Dedicated to: Ann E. Cowan, who believed
"Thrice bless'd are they, who feel their loneliness"
- John Henry, Cardinal Newman, "Melchizedek"
I stride down the street, ignoring the leers of the pathetic
middle-aged Tokyo businessmen. I'm still dressed in my school outfit,
and the skirt's a bit short - I've grown a bit in the last year. Still,
that's no excuse for drooling over fourteen-year-olds. Actually, it's
fifteen today, but I don't feel any different. I'm still the same normal
teenaged girl that fights weird monsters in a sailor outfit... Okay,
maybe most teenaged girls don't fight monsters, but you know what I mean.
For once, I'm not headed to a meeting. Well, I am, but it's not a
senshi meeting. Instead, I get to meet the only person who can
irritate me more than Usagi does; fortunately, we only meet once per
year. Not the way I would choose to commemorate my birthday, but there
is a duty involved, and I take my duties seriously.
All too soon, I arrive at his office. I slip into the building, and
the bustle of the busy Tokyo street is replaced by the soporific quiet of
a government office after hours. The receptionist, immaculately
manicured, greets me as if it hasn't been a year since she last saw me.
"Your father's waiting for you in his office. He's on the phone
right now, but he said to just go right on in."
She gives me that fake business smile and starts back to working
on her nails, almost before I can acknowledge her words. I can feel my
temper start to rise. I push the anger back and stalk down the corridor,
the *tap* *tap* of my high heels a jarring interruption in the
sepulcharal calm.
The office door is slightly open, and behind it I can hear the
muffled voice on the telephone. I brush though the door and sit in the
chair facing him. He glances up, gives me a peremptory nod, then
continues on with his call while I politely try not to listen. It
sounds like more politics.
My father is consumed by his job. It is all he lives for - his
duty and his career. Sure he has honour of a sort. When he got my
mother pregnant, although he would not marry her as the class difference
would harm his career, he did provide me with a good home with his own
father. Although to his public I don't exist, I have had excellent
schools, a fine home and a visit once per year on my birthday.
His voice just raised - he is getting angry. He has quite a temper
when things don't go his way. The man is a control freak, a prima
donna who scares his staff and overawes his contemporaries. All he cares
about is angling for power, winning, and control.
He finishes his conversation and smiles at me. As much as I hate
to admit it, he is quite handsome. I can see why the ladies fall for
him. But the smile doesn't quite reach his eyes, and I am not about to
fall for his charm.
The small talk begins. He asks how I'm doing, how have I been -
the standard questions. He pretends to show an interest, but if he
really cared about me he would already know these things, wouldn't he?
His acting skills are excellent, honed in the political arena these past
twenty years. It would be so easy to be drawn in.
The time has dragged its way around to the dinner hour. We've got
a reservation at Hiroyuki Sakai's new place; it should be great. Just as
we are about to leave, the phone rings again. He asks for my
forgiveness while he answers it.
His face turns serious, and I catch the words "Prime Minister" and
"scandal". I discretely withdraw, leaving him some privacy. As I wait
for the call to finish, my communicator goes off. I sigh, and dredge
it out of my purse. Our blonde-haired ditz of a princess looks back at
me.
"There's trouble at the park by the OSA P. Mercury's there alone.
Can you make it?"
I don't know how to respond. My duty calls one way, and honour
another.
"Maybe."
I stab the off button. My mind is in turmoil as I re-enter my
father's office. What to do what to do what to do? My father
unknowingly solves my dilemma. He's actually apologizing to me.
Something about a big story and his career and we can have my birthday
dinner tomorrow...
Sure, fine, we'll just firm up a future date for my birthday.
Kami-sama, can I really be related to him?.... He's arrogant,
short-tempered, controlling and only dedicated to his job, or 'his duty',
as he calls it. I must have inherited my characteristics
from my mother's side.
Our parting is formal and sharp. It's actually a good thing, I
guess, as I was planning on blowing him off so I could help my friends
anyway.
I let myself out the back door into the alley, unseen, and scream
the words of power. Transformation finished, I head out to do my duty.
Special Thanks to:
Takeuchi Naoko, as always
Laura Hudson and Monica Shin, for some good Rei fics
Ken Wolfe and Levar Bouyer, for support and feedback
All the gang at #fanfics
And the people that write to me ^_^
John Hitchens, 2001
makofan@yahoo.com
http://www3.sympatico.ca/john.hitchens/index01.htm