Seasons
Chapter Two: Spring
Rei
She had been surrounded by fire and smoke as a child.
The smell of incense was a frequent visitor at the shrine. She had loved waving her hands through the smoke, giggling at the patterns the smoke formed.
The little girl grew up.
But the fire and smoke stayed with her. She sat in front of the fire, her amethyst eyes closed in concentration.
Show me.
She opens her eyes.
The fire speaks to her, the smoke enticing her as she listens.
Let the fire speak to you.
Fire. Soldier. Enemy. Danger. Moon.
She closes her eyes, as she rises from her seat. Her shrine maiden kimono gathers in folds as she stands up. She opens the bamboo sliding door, to the fresh outside air.
She breathes it in. It's different to the warm scent of the shrine.
It's strange.
She goes back inside. She prefers the smell of incense.
'Mars Power, Make Up!'
Sailor Mars. She was Sailor Mars, the Senshi of fire.
And she would not let her friends be harmed.
She feels the fire gather in her fists as she feels her anger grow.
The fire, who's been her friend all these years, is now part of her.
"You'll regret harming Usagi," she hisses, sauntering towards him.
'Evil Spirit, be exorcised!'
She holds her hand under the running water.
Her hand still feels hot. She keeps it there, sighing as she looks at it.
A burn, running along the side of her hand.
And how are burns formed? Fire.
Her own fire had betrayed her.
She winces as the cold water runs into an open wound. It stings, but it feels better than the excruciating pain of the fire.
'I am the Sailor of Fire and Passion, Sailor Mars!'
She hasn't been near the fire in days.
Even her grandfather has noticed this. "Rei," he says, brow crinkling in concern. "You haven't been fortune telling in days. Is something wrong?"
"I'm fine," she assures.
Yeah, she's fine.
Are you okay? Of course.
Are you lying? Of course.
She tries going to the fire, but her hand heats up, almost as if to warn her not to. The warm atmosphere of the room suffocates her, and she stays outside all day.
The cherry blossoms are blooming, and Rei appreciates the beauty of spring. She catches one in her hand before letting it fall softly to the ground.
She doesn't want to be near the fire again.
She won't admit it, but she's afraid. Afraid of the fire she conjures. Afraid of Sailor Mars.
Afraid of herself, or rather, who she's becoming.
'In the name of Mars, I'll chastise you!'
She sits with Usagi and Ami at lunch. It's the weekend.
Ami and Usagi chatter, while Rei stares off into the distance. A movement catches her eye.
"Duck!"
The three girls drop to the floor. Usagi is the first to speak. "What…?!"
"Quick, transform!" Ami yells to the other two. Usagi nods, determination filling her eyes.
Rei transforms, not because she wants to, but because she has to.
"Mars Power! Make Up!"
She reappears as Sailor Mars. Mercury and Moon land beside her.
"Mercury Aqua Mirage!" Sailor Mercury yells out. The monster absorbs it without hesitation.
Sailor Moon glances at Sailor Mars. "Mars, now!"
Everything freezes.
I can't.
I can't I can't I can't I can't
She pretends to ready herself for the attack.
No no no no no no no no no
"Mars…Fire…"
Don't do it don't do it don't do it
Don't you'll regret it don't DON'T
"Ignite!"
Swirls of fire explode out of Sailor Mars. The monster is defeated instantly.
Sailor Mars becomes Rei Hino. She immediately looks at her hands, scanning them for injuries.
None.
The burn's gone.
"Rei!"
Usagi and Ami run towards her. "l'm fine," Rei assures them with a smile.
And this time, she wasn't lying.
-fin-
a/n: I kinda liked this one :D
(but then I re-read it and it sounded really cheesy. Welp.)
next chapter - sailor jupiter! (she's my fave)
Tell me what you liked about the chapter! Constructive criticism is always welcome.
thanks for reading!