Author's Note: Soooo, I was asked if I would be pairing Serena with someone else, and the answer would be; YES. Eeeeep, sorry to those of you out there who love the Mamoru/Serena pairing, but quite frankly I love seeing Serena paired up with others. However, I haven't completely decided who to pair her with. I'm stuck between using an OC, switching with a character I've already paired off, or killing off Keiko or Kagome/Kikyo. Hmmmmm. Decisions, decisions. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
All this money can't buy me a time machine
It can't replace you with a million rings
I shoulda told you what you meant to me
'Cause now I paid the price
In another life
I would be your girl
We'd keep all our promises
Be us against the world
In another life
I would make you stay
So I don't have to say
You were the one that got away
The one that got away
The one
In another life
I would make you stay
So I don't have to say
You were the one that got away
The one that got away
The beautiful blonde singer strode offstage once her song was over, blue eyes filled with a sadness that seemed to transcend time. Many of the backstage workers offered her praise and congratulations, which she brushed off, continuing to her dressing room. Her manager, legal guardian, and old friend, Artemis Knight, knew better than to say anything to Mina Aldridge (A.K.A. pop idol Venus) when she was in this state.
He couldn't blame her though. Her newest song, while being a source of relief for her, was also one of great pain. Ending her very last concert with this song had been her idea, but it only caused Artemis to worry for her.
He knew that these next few months would be tough for all of the Sailor Scouts. After meeting with Darien, Serena, and the other Inner Scouts the week before, and seeing the looks on the Inner Scouts faces, he could be sure of this much. He was dreading the meeting tonight, when all of the Sailor Scouts would gather at Rei's temple.
'Damnit!, he thought, What are they thinking? Didn't they realize what this would do to the scouts? How could they do this to them?' Artemis sighed deeply.
He couldn't really blame the Prince and his Princess for this. He knew that the Prince and Princess thought they needed the generals. They thought the generals could provide more protection for their future kingdom, but still…..bringing back those traitorous bastards? Artemis shuddered at the thought.
He knew that Mina would put on a strong front in front of Serena, the Scouts, and everyone else as leader of the Sailor Scouts. But he hoped that she would come to him when she couldn't hold it in any longer; he knew the young woman well enough to know that it was killing her on the inside.
But she would do her duty to the Princess. Her sense of duty has not changed since the Silver Millenium, and he knew Mina would not forsake her Princess's wishes for her own well-being. None of the Scouts would. He only wished that the Scouts had been given more time to live their dreams before all of this happened.
Artemis felt guilty for thinking this way, especially after Serena had granted Luna and him the power to change between his human and cat form at will with her newfound powers as Sailor Cosmos.
Artemis stopped in front of Venus's dressing room. He heard loud noises coming from inside, and rushed in. He was shocked at the scene laid out before him.
Anything breakable was just that-broken. There were dents in the wall, flowers with their stems broken off everywhere, and clothes were torn and strewn about. In the middle of this mess was Mina, slumped down on her knees, a broken expression on her face.
Artemis rushed to her side and kneeled down next to her.
"Mina, I'm here. It's going to be okay," Artemis said, embracing the young woman. She stayed still, letting Artemis embrace her.
Tears rolled down her cheeks silently, and Artemis noticed the scratches on Mina's hands, that she had received destroying her dressing room.
He stood quickly, clearing off one of the couches, and helped Mina onto it. He then proceeded to find the first aid kit and attend to her wounds. He quickly made the decision to try and convince Mina that what Serena and Darien wanted to do wasn't completely insane, now that it was just the two of them.
"Mina," he started, "I know that your life is about to be turned upside down again. And I know you won't go against Serena's wishes, but Serena and Darien are just trying to find ways to protect their citizens so that you Scouts can lead somewhat easier lives. Serena loves you and the rest of the Scouts, and she just wants you all to reunite with your soul mates, so that you can be as happy as she is. And Darien loves Serena, and he misses his best friends, so of course he'd want to stand behind Serena. Please, don't be too angry with them for this. They want you to find peace with the past."
"Artemis," Mina said quietly, "Something is wrong." Artemis glanced up, looking into the love goddess's eyes. Her eyes were filled with frustration, sorrow, and….confusion?
"What is it Mina?," Artemis asked.
"It's kind of about what you just said, and it's been something I've been meaning to ask you for a long time. Would there be any reason that a love bond might seem a little different?," Mina asked her guardian. Artemis, having been a guardian to many descendants of the throne of Venus, thought about his ward's question.
'Did this have something to do with Kunzite?,' Artemis thought.
"Mina, I know Kunzite betrayed you once bu-," Artemis started.
"NO. I will not let you make excuses for him Artemis. And anyways, that isn't what I was talking about," Mina stated bluntly. Artemis looked at her quizzically. He'd never seen her this serious before, and it made him think there was something more upsetting her than just the generals being revived.
"I can't think of any reason why it would seem different," he started slowly, "But I do know that a true love bond, a bond representing soul mates, can only be seen by descendants of the royal family of Venus. This bond is represented as a red thread, connecting the two soul mates. It is called the red string of fate, and no force in existence can break it, or duplicate it. If it isn't the red string, it's not a soul mate bond. End of story. Aphrodite herself would say the same thing if she were here, I'm sure of it. Why do you ask?"
He finished disinfecting and wrapping the scratches, and then disposed of them in the trashcan by the couch. He then sat next to his adopted daughter and looked to her for an answer.
Mina had a contemplative look on her face. Any pain she might be feeling due to her current situation with the generals, or from her newly inflicted wounds was pushed aside, as if something more important had suddenly come into her thoughts. Her eyes turned to him, and Artemis thought he saw a flicker of hope in them, but as soon as he saw that, it was replaced with anger.
"Artemis! We have to get to the temple immediately. There are a few things I have to discuss with our Princess and Setsuna.," Mina said. She paused, then angrily spat, "Not to mention the 'Prince'."
She stood quickly and stepped into her bathroom, emerging just a few minutes later in street clothes.
Artemis sat, bewildered by this sudden change in mood in her. He looked up into her eyes, and he knew that she would not be deterred from whatever it was that she had decided needed to be done. He sighed, then stood, pulling out his cell phone simultaneously. He called their driver, and asked him to meet them by the back entrance, letting him know where he'd be taking them. He closed his phone, then turned to Mina.
"Let's go," he said with a defeated expression on his face. Mina smiled and then hugged him.
"I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you Artemis. I'm grateful for everything you've done for me," she said. She let go of the embrace, and allowed Artemis to lead her out to the car. They got in, and then headed for the temple.
Little did they know about the crapstorm they were headed towards, or the many troubles that what was about to happen would bring into their lives.
Author's Note: So here's chapter two! Sorry if it's not that great, like I said before, it's my first fic so it's probably going to need a lot of work. If you have any SM/YuYuH or SM/INY pairings that you'd like to see, I'm open to suggestions! Although I do have many of the pairings set, if you send me one with an interesting enough explanation as to why you like the pairing, I'd be happy to change pairings. Please enjoy, and review! :)