My name is Kaioh Michiru. Most people in the world know me as a musician or as a painter. However, I am also a Sailor Senshi, Sailor Neptune. This is my memoir.
Chapter 1: The Beginning
On March 6, a star was born. My parents were happy to have a baby girl. I was loved and protected by them. They gave me everything, including my very first violin. The story they liked to tell relatives was that one day I climbed onto a shelf and played with my mother's violin. I plucked the strings and started making little rhythms. My mom came out of the kitchen, just in time to see me fall from the shelf. I landed on my back while I was still cradling the violin. So on my third birthday, my parents got me my very first violin. I guess I could say it was love at first sight, my violin and me.
My second love happened when I was five. My dad forbade me from ever going into his art studio. He spent hours behind those closed doors, painting and creating. One day he forgot to lock the doors and I bravely entered the room, knowing that I could get into a lot of trouble. As I stepped into the room, I felt like entering another world. Five huge canvases hung on the easels, still glistening with wet paint. My heart pounded, as I stared at the panoramic war scene painted by my dad. It was violent, it was bloody, yet it was beautiful. I could feel the souls leaving the dead soldiers, ascending to the unknown. There was one figure that remained, standing, amidst the ruins. She had her back turned and her head hung in sorrow. I couldn't tear my eyes away. I stayed in that room for hours, just staring at the paintings, until I heard my dad breathing behind me. Half expecting a severe punishment from my dad, I turned gingerly, while staring at the floor. There was an unbearable silence, then a sigh from my dad. He picked me up and gave me a gentle squeeze. He said, "Michiru, I am sorry you saw this. I wanted you to think the world as a beautiful and peaceful place, at least for another couple years."
While I was haunted by that painting, I was intrigued. I did not imagine that a few paintbrushes and some paint could transform an empty canvas into something so beautiful. After that incident, my dad let me go into the art studio whenever I want. He even let me paint some flowers and butterflies into the war scene. He said, "That last soldier is lonely. She lost all of her friends in the battle." So I gave her butterflies so that she would not be lonely. I gave her flowers so that she would know that the world is still beautiful.
All in all, my childhood was pretty normal. I was a good student. Most of my time were consumed by violin lessons and painting lessons. By that time, my parents were slightly famous and I was named the "music prodigy" by the newspaper. There was an old newspaper clipping, showing my mom and I playing the violin while my dad was playing the piano. Because I was so different, I didn't have any friends at school. Over time, I convinced myself that I didn't need people and I was above everyone else. It was better to be alone.
Then everything changed when I was 14.