a/n: I agree, PGSM Makoto is supposed to be a florist or something, but since she spent most of her time in PGSM cooking than arranging flowers, I thought I'd make her a restauranteur. And since this is a PGSM fic with the addition of Haruka and Michiru, whom I don't have any idea how they'd look like if they were actually included in the live-action series, I decided not to mention their hair-color, just to make it realistic. And, the inclusion of Rei's wacky grandfather is anime-based, of course, but I needed him in this part of the fic, you know, just to drive our dear Rei Hino crazy, for fun! Okay, this chapteri is based on the song 'My Immortal' by Evanescence.
CHAPTER 1 MY IMMORTAL
The raven haired priestess sat silently in front of the sacred fire, unmoved and unblinking. Only four minutes had passed, but it seemed longer. Though as if she's in deep concentration, she really wasn't; her usual focus is altered by her anxiety. It wasn't because of another dreadful premonition; the dark omens that forewarned her about the possible end of the world had stopped since the defeat of Queen Beryl and Metaria.
Time is supposed to make people forget… The priestess' shoulders rose and dropped after heaving a sigh. Her meditation is of no use; her mind is not free, she could barely focus on anything at all. The trademark frown crossed her face, reflecting her dissatisfaction of herself, and she knew at the same time that no one else was to blame.
Six months ago, she left the shrine for a while. No – FORCED was the correct description. The reason why she avoided answering the phone every time is because she could sense it was either Usagi or Makoto on the other line. There's no ill-feelings among them whatsoever; it was their purpose that she dislikes. Going out is something Rei Hino is not very enthusiastic about.
But who could resist a pouting, 'slightly' pregnant Usagi? Rei laughed as she recalled that day; Usagi was more than two months pregnant. She had been hiding from her friends, only to realize that the three of them are already at the shrine. Too bad she didn't sense it.
Only the three of her friends; one was missing. There was really no way that she could say no. She was glad to see them, there's no denying the fact that she missed them. But still, it was her 'ever charming frown' that greeted them. Her friends, being so used to her dry humor and half-meant sarcasm, totally ignored her protests and dragged her, almost literally, out of the shrine, only to waste the rest of her time hanging out at Crown, listening to Usagi's shrill and ear-shattering take on Minako Aino's new song…
Venus… The thought of her famous pop idol friend and rival, drew out another deep sigh from her.
She hates thinking about Minako. Rei still couldn't understand how Minako could invade her thoughts. The moment she lets it, it's hard to stop…
It's got to stop…
So, anything that reminds her of Minako, she tried to block. Fortunately, Makoto's cooking skills helped a bit. Indulging on the food that she missed, and entertaining herself watching Ami's own weird version of Minako's song, it almost worked…
If only they weren't singing Venus's song… Rei blew the stray hair away from her face. She wondered if her friends ever listened to songs not recorded by Minako. But then she remembered that Usagi is a self-proclaimed number one fan of Minako Aino.
This is why she hates going out. This is why she has to shut herself out. Minako Aino, her biggest distraction, is just about everywhere; the shrine is the only place where she could escape from her, and, these people whom she called friends, dragged her out of her comfort zone…
After minutes of being in front of the sacred fire, she saw nothing, but sensed the familiar presence of her not-so-welcome visitors outside her door…
"You're here again…" Rei's voice resounded in the enclosed space. Two figures stood outside, the taller one sporting a very short hair, and the one with the perfect wavy hair and skin flashed an impressed smile on her face.
"I told you, her psychic skills did not vanish along with her power to transform." Said famous racer Haruka Tenoh, crossed her arms, and grinned at her partner. Michiru Kaioh, famed violinist and painter, flipped her hair, and returned Haruka's smile.
"It's in-born." Rei replied, referring to her psychic ability. The visitor's heads turn their heads as the door opened, revealing the raven-haired priestess; a stoic expression plastered in her face.
"Rei-chan…" Michiru's soft voice greeted Rei. Realizing she's probably being rude, she managed a smile.
"Michiru-chan." Rei greeted back, then she nodded at Haruka's direction.
"Time has been good to you. You're looking better, Princess of Mars." The grin widened in the racer's face. She knew the mention of the past would make Rei cringed.
And it did. Exactly Haruka's purpose. On the other hand, Michiru gave Haruka a warning look; not because of the intent to get a reaction from Rei, but the implied flirtation…
"Priestess, not Princess. And we've seen each other last week. You make it sound like a century ago." Rei corrected her.
"Still trying to fight the past, Hino?" Haruka held Rei's gaze.
"The mission is accomplished, the quest to understand the past is over, to dwell on it is useless, Tenoh." Rei, who has a short temper, tried to keep her outburst at bay. Flaring in front of the outers wouldn't work to her advantage. Anger will just satisfy Haruka, especially…
"Funny… We used to be really close to the point of being bestfriends in the past. Now you couldn't even stand me." Haruka gave a sarcastic laugh. Rei was slightly surprise by what Haruka said…
"Minako-chan is pretty accurate when she described you and your hatred of the past." Michiru's lovely voice is just so hard to hate…
"I don't hate the past."
"Everything in the past is the reason why we're here. You are who you are because of your past." Haruka firmly said. But Rei is not the type who gets swayed.
"If you came here to taunt me about that, you're wasting your time. As I said before, the battle is over. There is no reason to look back."
"Foolish…" The racer snorted.
"You are crossing your line, Tenoh." Rei said warningly.
"The reason why we were reborn was to change the tragedy that we weren't able to prevent at the Moon Kingdom before. After everything, I thought you had learned your lesson. This is a lousy way of fighting your own battle. Scratch that, you're not even fighting at all. It's disheartening; you are supposed to be the senshi of fire and passion." Haruka shakes her head.
"What battle are you talking about?"
"If you stop closing your heart, you might know."
"Tenoh…"
"Well, if you would be so proud and arrogant this lifetime, you'd be lucky to have another chance at the next. If you wouldn't be reborn as a bug." Haruka purposely mocked Rei.
"Haruka…" Michiru's voice surprised Rei, as it suddenly changed. To her surprise, it actually shut Haruka's mouth.
Pause…
"What brings you here?" Rei asked again with a tone that usual scared Usagi. A few days ago since Haruka and Michiru first dropped by; the two didn't exactly chat with her then, they just went around the shrine. Rei was suspicious, but didn't care. Despite the fact that they don't really know each other that well, they are still on the same team.
"Charms." Haruka grinned and lifted a paper bag of charms in her hand.
"You're kidding me…" Rei had to raise an eyebrow. These two outers actually believed in charms?
"Michiru is opening her biggest art show in Tokyo next week. I personally think she doesn't need luck, but what the heck, what's there to lose?" Haruka turned to smile at Michiru. And in the corner of her eye, Rei could see Michiru returning a seductive one. She just had to roll her eyes.
These two senshi's had always made everyone feel uncomfortable whenever they looked at each other like that…
"You got what you want. What are you still doing here?" Rei scoffed. A chuckle was heard from Michiru. Michiru, despite of their brief experience together as senshi's, had always looked so fragile and gentle on Rei's eyes… Never did she imagine the Goddess of the Sea could intimidate famous racer and daredevil Haruka Tenoh with just one warning look in her eyes.
"I want you to be there when my new art show opens next week. The Moon Princess already made a promise to come, so did Ami and Makoto." Michiru smiled. Rei shifted her eyes back and forth Uranus and Neptune. The outers are asking her to leave her comfort zone for an art show…
Ridiculous…
"Usagi is not much of a princess. Why do you keep referring to her like that?"
"Insolence is a common trait of Martians, I assume?" Haruka narrowed her eyes on Rei. Sure, Usagi is not very refined, but she is still the Princess of the Moon. The way Rei treats their Princess is beyond her.
Rei threw a glare at Haruka's direction, and the two stubborn senshi's held each other's fierce gaze for a while, before Michiru broke it up.
"You will be there, right?" Michiru gave Rei an irresistible look that Rei had to look away. Michiru Kaioh somehow reminds her of one of her fellow senshis; mysterious, sophisticated, and teasingly sensual…
For Kami-sama's sake, stop thinking about her… Rei thought, chastising herself.
"I appreciate the invitation, but I couldn't promise anything. The shrine is--"
"Perfectly fine."
The voice made the three of them turn around. An old man, unrecognizable for Michiru and Haruka, but very well known to Rei, surprised the latter.
"Grandfather?" He's supposed to be staying in Kyoto… Rei stared in disbelief.
"You have done a great job with the shrine, Reiko. It wouldn't be so bad if you would take a break once in a while." Rei's grandfather gave her a thoughtful smile. While the nickname he called her made her cringe a bit. Haruka and Michiru exchanged looks after hearing the familiar 'pet name' mentioned by the fire senshi's grandfather. They had no idea where it came from or how he came to know about that nickname, which, as far as their past lives are concerned, was only used by one person, and one princess only, and was barely used OUTSIDE of bed, but they're pretty sure a certain Princess of Love and Beauty had something to do with it.
Rei noticed the looks on Michiru and Haruka's faces. She knew exactly what is going on inside their heads. She slightly blushed.
"Grandfather, I told you to stop calling me that." Rei shook her head. Haruka looked amused.
"But I like calling you Reiko. It has better ring to it than just Rei. Ah, I wonder where in the world is Minako-chan? You were less temperamental when she's around. And you let her call you Reiko-chan." The mischievous glint in Grandfather's eyes didn't escape the three senshis, making Rei blush even more, and Haruka did not try to hide the grin on her face.
"I didn't let her. She's just really pushy." Rei growled.
It was Minako's fault; calling her Reiko all the time. Unfortunately for her, it stick, on her grandfather's part anyway.
"I see you've met Minako?" Haruka smiled at Grandfather, whose eyes had widened upon finally noticing the beautiful presence of Haruka and Michiru.
"And who are these beautiful ladies?"
Rei's eyes rolled at his grandfather.
"He's weird, forgive him."
"Hello, I'm Michiru." Michiru gave him a hug, which Grandfather looked so eager to return.
"And I'm Haruka. We're friends with Minako and Rei." Haruka offered her hand instead.
"Oh, Reiko has other friends? She never mentioned you before." Grandfather commented. Rei cringed at the nickname again. Her grandfather has to learn how to start calling her by her birth name one of these days. It wasn't exactly the nickname that draws her back; it was the fact that it was her grandfather who was calling her that; a nickname so intimate, that only the Princess of Venus of the past life was allowed to call her…
It was only after Usagi reset the world and brought Minako back to life that everything came back to Rei: the memories of the Moon Kingdom, the Princesses of the planets, one in particular keeps calling her Reiko, and then, the battle that killed them. That's when she completely understood everything, especially the intensity of her feelings for that one particular senshi…
They argued about the significance of their past life before. But Minako knew what she was saying; the past life had everything to do with the present and their future, a reality Rei was once so reluctant to accept. Partly, she can see that now.
But some things are not just about the past…
"Well, we both know she always has one person on her mind anyway." Haruka winked at Grandfather, making the latter grin.
"That is true." Grandfather agreed.
"That is SO NOT TRUE!" Rei blush deeper red. Michiru giggled. "Grandfather, why are you here? You're supposed to be in Kyoto tending to the shrine there and not embarrassing me by telling these people you barely know all these unsupported nonsense." Rei castigated her grandfather.
"If you must know, I am just visiting. I will be leaving as soon as I can. And you…" Grandfather paused… "I admire your dedication, but you're not supposed to isolate yourself here for the rest of your life. You have friends, go spend time with them once in a while."
Rei was right; Grandfather was weird, because he can be playful and childish one minute, and be all matured and serious the next. Haruka looked even more amused.
"Fine. I'll go to your art show. Happy now?" Rei sulked. Michiru smiled in triumph. Haruka looked as if she had been expecting it.
After a few more minutes of conversing with the outers, Grandfather finally excused himself, leaving them with Rei.
"Not so happy with someone else calling you by your 'pet name'?" Haruka teased.
"I don't have a pet name." Rei scowled.
"Oh, don't be so prickly, Reiko." Haruka intended to annoy Rei.
"Don't push your luck." Rei narrowed her eyes on Haruka. But Haruka wasn't intimidated. She laughed.
"See you next week." With that, Haruka took Michiru's hand and led her to the exit. Michiru turned her head to look at Rei again.
"I will be expecting you, Rei-chan." Michiru waved goodbye, and the two were finally gone…
And when Rei realized she had been staring at their intertwined hands, she closed her eyes…
She felt envious…
x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x
Knocks were heard, and from where the doctor sat, she finally looked up from the pile of charts and spoke.
"Come in." Said the soft voice of Ami Mizuno, MD. She smiled as Shinobu, her secretary, poked her head in.
"I'm sorry Dr. Mizuno, I know you're in a rush but there's somebody outside who wants to see you. She's really insistent." Shinobu smiled apologetically.
"I'm guessing it's Usagi?" Ami's eyes twinkled. She barely sees her friends nowadays, and distractions, if caused by any of them, are especially welcome.
"No. But I recognize her as one of those friends of yours. I invited her in but said she hates clinics in general. She told me her name is Rei Hino."
The information surprised Ami. Rei never left the shrine since the final battle without being forced by them. And it's really shocking to hear that Rei had left the shrine in her own free will. And it's been a long time since the last time she had heard from her priestess friend.
Rei stood in front of the clinic, hands in the pocket of her jeans, facing the busy streets of Tokyo, and her mind wondering why she even came. She's not very fond of being pushed around, but she made a promise to Michiru, and she's not the type who breaks promises.
"You took forever." Rei grinned as she felt the presence of her friend doctor behind her.
"Your psychic ability has improved, I see." Ami grinned back as she stood beside Rei. She tried to be as quiet as possible upon approaching the fire senshi, but still, Rei felt her. Her friend's ability still amazes her sometimes.
"Weird. I didn't have to use it to know you're standing behind me." Rei turned to smile at Ami. "Great to see you, Ami."
"Same here." Ami turned to face her friend. She noticed Rei's hair had grown longer. "Longer hair suits you."
"Thanks."
Pause…
"Let's go." Rei said.
"Where?" Ami frowned.
"Michiru's art show." Rei started walking, and Ami caught up with her.
"Wait, I have a car. We don't have to--"
"It's not very far from here. And besides, I really just want to walk. Would it be fine?" Rei asked hopefully. Ami smiled in assurance.
"Sure, Rei."
And the two walked side by side, heading to the gallery where Michiru is showing off her paintings.
"Michiru actually managed to get you out of the shrine to watch her show?" Ami was amused. Although the inner senshis had become friends with the outers after those years, Rei never hang out with Michiru and Haruka; the two just having fallen into their lives all of a sudden. Both are bossy, though Michiru is more tolerable, but had the same strong determination. A year ago, Rei turned down and rejected the free tickets to watch Minako's biggest concert, when she came back for a very short period of time.
It makes Ami wonder…
"Haruka's a pain in the ass." Rei shrugged. With that, Ami chuckled. Sometimes, she couldn't help but compare Rei to Haruka, but she didn't dare voice it out because Rei wouldn't be so happy about that. They just had so much in common…
"I have to thank Haruka for forcing you out of the shrine then." Ami teased, and Rei rolled her eyes.
"She wouldn't be getting such gratitude from me, so she better stay away." Rei joked, and the two of them laughed…
It's only now that Rei realized how much she missed her friends…
x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x
"Michiru-chan!"
The familiar voice of Princess Serenity, a.k.a. Usagi, made Haruka and Michiru turn around, the former with a grin, and the latter with an adorable smile on her face. The two were standing outside the gallery, which is yet to be opened. The ribbon cutting haven't started, luckily.
"Usagi-chan." Michiru greeted her, and wasn't very surprised when Usagi threw her arms around her. Usagi is, indeed, very touchy. "Your belly is getting bigger and bigger." She chuckled.
"And it's getting really heavy, actually." Usagi replied.
"Princess, where are your friends?" Haruka looked around, and saw Makoto walking towards them.
"I thought we're going to be late. It was Usagi's fault, you know." Makoto smiled at Haruka and Michiru. Usagi rolled her eyes.
"No it wasn't." Usagi protested.
"It's alright. Our guest of honor hasn't even arrived yet." Michiru looked around. No any familiar men in black, nor any shiny limousine that would indicate the arrival of their 'very special' guest…
"Ami's not usually late." Haruka pondered louder than she thought.
"I'm not." Ami's cheery voice came from their right and all heads turned simultaneously. Usagi's eyes particularly widened in disbelief; beside Ami was the one person she never even expected to see tonight. Makoto was surprised herself, while Haruka and Michiru looked like they expected to see Rei.
"Rei-chan?!" Usagi stared in disbelief.
"Yes, it's me, Usagi." Rei had to laugh at Usagi's reaction.
"Rei-chan!" Usagi came running towards the priestess and gave her a big hug; one that almost suffocated Rei.
"Ouch! Usagi, I can't breathe!" Rei was giggling as she was trying to pry Usagi's hands away.
"We missed you Rei-chan!" Although Usagi loosened the hug, she remained hugging Rei close; which was a bit awkward for Rei considering Usagi's big belly.
"Your belly's kind of hard." Rei remarked as Usagi pulled away.
"Ami told me it's normal." Usagi smiled at Ami and Ami smiled back.
"Of course it is." Ami said.
Haruka and Michiru looked on as the inners catch up. Both of them are glad to have been able to convince Rei to leave the shrine for a while and to bring all of them together again, only if their guest would arrive in time…
Just then, a black limousine pulled up in front of them. Haruka and Michiru exchanged looks, while Usagi, Makoto and Ami stared at the limousine in awe, wondering who was inside. But Rei looked apprehensive. Her eyes narrowed. Her forehead contorted. The arrival of the black limousine did not give her a very good feeling at all…
It was as if time stopped, almost everyone held their breath… And as the limousine door opened, they finally saw who the passenger was…
"Minako!" Usagi squealed. Although it was hard, she gave her best to be able to approach Minako ahead of everyone else.
"Minako!" Ami ran after Usagi.
"Minako!" And there goes Makoto.
Rei stood still, watching her friends excitedly conversing with Minako Aino, pop idol. Other people around started to gather around Minako too, which prompted Haruka to make her way towards the fashionably dressed idol and start the ribbon cutting, and finally proceed to the gallery without being mobbed by enthusiastic fans.
It was until the ribbon was but by Minako, and after a slight poking on her side by Michiru, that Rei realized she spaced out. She could remember seeing Minako throwing a look at her direction, but couldn't figure out whether she was smiling or not…
And she remained that way all through evening.
Hiding from her friends wasn't easy, Usagi always catches her trying to be incognito in a corner, or behind a group of people, and she had to find a new inconspicuous place just to avoid being near Minako…
"You can't always run away from me, you know."
That soft yet incredibly sexy voice made Rei turn around, and the face that she saw reminded her of all those agonizing years, and of that most heartbreaking moment…
Flashback…
The pair of those soft, tempting lips crashed with her own, with 6passion Rei could never have expected, dominating her, taking away every sense of right reason or everything else for that matter… It felt so great, she didn't want to stop… She never ever wanted to stop…
Until Minako stopped… She pulled away, her eyes locking with Rei's. Rei looked back. It hasn't been long but she missed feeling Minako's lips already… But she realized what kind of moment this is. This isn't just about the kiss… It wasn't just the kiss that brought them here now… It was Rei's long repressed feelings that brought them together, right this very moment…
But Minako turned and walked away… Rei had to say it out loud now, or it might be too late…
"I love you…" It was the sincerest words Rei had ever said in her life. God knows how much she feared this. But she has to let Minako know…
Minako stopped. Rei felt hopeful. Maybe there was a chance, maybe--
"I'm sorry, Mars…" With that, Minako was gone…
Then Minako died, along with Rei's heart…
End of Flashback…
And Usagi brought Minako back to life again as she reset the earth. It's crazy that now, Minako is standing in front of her, and breaking her heart again, without so much effort… It wasn't fair…
Rei turned to leave. She didn't plan on saying anything to Minako. Not a word ever again…
"Reiko…" Minako called after her. Rei stopped walking and turned around again. She tried to hold Minako's stare, but it was easier to look away, to not look at her and avoid the eyes that haunted her in her dreams…
"So you'll just start calling me Reiko again?" Rei said sarcastically. Minako usually calls her Reiko, when they are not arguing, and she calls her Mars, when Minako's not feeling very happy. But the pop idol never said one word to her over those years. The closest she got to Minako was Usagi's television set during the few times she came to visit her friends.
And you have the nerve to call me Reiko again…
"I missed you…" Minako admitted. Rei almost believed her…
"Whatever, Venus…"
"Don't turn your back on me… Not after you told me that you love me." Minako was unyielding. Rei chuckled, in mockery.
"You really want to discuss this now? How long had it been? Do you even remember? Years had gone by, you're farther than where I could reach you… Look, I'm sorry if I made you feel weird, but--"
"I love you too, Reiko…" Minako took a step closer to Rei, making it slightly harder for the latter to breathe…
"What?"
"I love you…"
It was shocking; unexpected, a confession she never thought she would hear ever… But all she feels right now was pain… If Minako loved her, why did she let her suffer all these years? Why did she have to wait so long to tell her that she feels the same way?
WHY?
"You said you didn't love me…" Rei stared at Minako.
"No… I said I was sorry…" Minako's voice was breaking…
"Well…"
Pause… Rei looked into Minako's eyes. She had to swallow the lump in her throat just to be able to speak what was on her mind…
"I moved on…" Rei turned her back around, and walked away…
x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x
MY IMMORTAL
i'm
so tired of being here
suppressed by all my childish fears
and
if you have to leave
i wish that you would just leave
'cause
your presence still lingers here
and it won't leave me
alone
these wounds won't seem to heal
this pain is just too
real
there's just too much that time cannot erase
chorus
when
you cried i'd wipe away all of your tears
when you'd scream i'd
fight away all of your fears
i held your hand through all of these
years
but you still have
all of me
you used to captivate
me
by your resonating life
now i'm bound by the life you left
behind
your face it haunts
my once pleasant dreams
your
voice it chased away
all the sanity in me
these wounds
won't seem to heal
this pain is just too real
there's just too
much that time cannot erase
chorus
i've tried so hard
to tell myself that you're gone
but though you're still with
me
i've been alone all along