Chapter 3

One week later, Rei was close to going crazy. She wanted to go back to the shrine and to her quiet school.

Her classmates were loud and annoying. She didn't like it one bit. Minako had come back to class three days ago without even sparing a glance at her. They were next to each other in class, and Rei never felt so big a distance between them before. It was like a wall had somehow appeared.

Really, it was so unfair. After all they had been through, that was how it would end?

Rei wanted to believe Usagi's theory. She wanted to believe that when the world had been righted Minako had been brought back to life without sickness and pain, without the weight of two past lives full of fight, violence, duty and death.

But the thing was, Rei just knew something was wrong. She felt it, whenever Minako was near her. She felt it in her nightmares, when she dreamed about the girl's death, about the pain, about the sadness. She felt it during her meditations, when the Fire just wouldn't obey her and showed her obscured figures and signs.

Something just wasn't right. And she didn't know what, or why, or how to do something about it.

"Rei?" asked Makoto while they slowly left the school.

"Yes?"

"Are you alright? You seem tired."

"No, I'm fine. Just preoccupied I guess. Are you going to see Motoki today?"

Makoto blushed.

"Nice change of subject."

"So, you will see him."

"Yeah, I know, guys are a waste of time."

"I'll never hear the end of that, will I?"

"Never."

Rei bit her lip.

"Motoki is fine, I guess," she reluctantly said.

"So, does that mean that I have your benediction?" Makoto laughed.

"Don't push your luck."

"And you," Makoto asked, turning to Ami. "When are you seeing Naboru?"

"Nephrite?" Rei questioned. "You have a date with him this week?"

"N… not a date," Ami protested quietly, red in the face. "We are just going to… the park."

"A date."

"Definitely," Rei smiled.

"What do you think of Minako's attitude?"

"She knows how to change the subject too," Makoto kidded.

Rei nodded with a laugh.

"Yep. But I'll have to pass. I have to go back to the shrine. See you tomorrow!"


"Oh no! I'm late! I'm so late!"

It certainly wasn't a first for Usagi Tsukino.

But there were two occurrences where she hated to be late.

One, when she was meeting Rei. Rei was a sweet girl, really kind beneath her cold and passionate nature, but she was also a little too strict for Usagi's taste and a little… scary.

Two, and that was the case that day, when she was going on a date with Mamoru.

Mamoru didn't mind so much, but Usagi always wanted to be perfect for him. Really, he was such a nice guy. He was a little too serious for a 19 year old guy, but he was funny, handsome, altruistic and intelligent. He was everything.

"Late, late, late!"

She ran as fast as she could, which was in fact really fast. But if Usagi was a fast runner, she was also known to be very clumsy. That was how she found herself on her butt, having violently run into somebody.

She held her head and moaned, slightly dizzy. She stood after having picked up her bag, embarrassed and out of breath.

"Aw, I'm sorry…I'm really sorry!"

"I was running myself, but didn't you see me coming?"

Usagi's eyes widened when she saw Minako before her, who also seemed to suffer from her head.

"I'm so sorry! Are you alright?"

"Yeah."

She couldn't stop herself. Usagi just took Minako in her arms quickly and hugged the stunned girl for a few seconds before forcing herself to let go of her friend.

"I'm glad you're fine!" And Minako would never know how much that was true. "Really glad!"

Minako looked at her, seemingly astounded, before she let despite herself a soft giggle escape her lips.

"You're…"

"What?" Usagi asked curiously.

"Nothing."

"Ah, I really have to go! I'm sorry! I'm late! We should talk another time!"

"I am late myself. So… good run!"

"You too!"

Usagi waved and ran as fast as she could toward her destination, seeing Minako doing that on her side. She smiled.


She was seven. She was cold. She was alone.

She was lost.

She didn't understand. It wasn't the first time she played outside the house. She had wanted to go explore the street, but mom and dad had been occupied with their fight so she had left alone.

Now she didn't know which way was the house, and it was night, and she was really, really scared.

Minako didn't like the night. On TV bad things always happened when it was night.

Nights were dark and cold.

Trying her best to be strong and heroic, Minako bit her bottom lip and continued walking slowly on the sidewalk. Her parents should have seen that she was missing by now. Unless they were still fighting and screaming. They always did a lot of that when they were home. Minako could be right there sitting down at the dinner table or somewhere in the too large propriety it didn't make a difference.

It was really cold. She was shaking. There were a lot of weird and worrying sounds. And what if a bad man came here to kidnap her?

Could it be possible that she had walked all the way to another city? That district weren't familiar at all. Minako knew that to go to another country she had to take a plane, like when she had gone to Greece and like they would go to China next summer. So she was still in Japan.

But it seemed that she had been walking for an eternity.

She was tired, and she was feeling weird.

She knew why. She always felt a little sick when she was in the dark, when there wasn't enough light near her. She had understood that recently. She knew when the sun would rise and when it began to set. She knew when someone turned on a light or shut one, even if they were in another room. If it was in Minako's vicinity, she would feel it, and she would always be more happy or better when there was light around her.

Light was her thing. Her special thing. Like emotions.

She sat down near an old and half broken wood portal. She tried, really tried, but tears came anyway. She didn't like feeling weird, she didn't like trembling, she didn't like being scared and alone in the dark. She wanted to go home, even if her mother would scream at her.

"Hey."

Minako screeched and quickly stood up. She couldn't see very well, but there was a man behind the portal. An old man, way too thin. He looked like a skeleton with glasses.

"What are you doing here alone, little one?" he asked.

His voice was raspy, he looked annoyed. Minako tried to stop crying.

"Are you going to eat me?"

He looked at her, frowning.

"What?"

"Are you going to eat me?" Minako repeated, slowly.

Really, if he was going to devour her, at least he could be more intelligent!

His eyes seemed a little more alive. His voice softer, more… human.

"Eat you? I don't eat little girls."

"Ah. Are you sure? Because I can run really fast if you're hungry."

It was weird. His eyes seemed to smile, but with hesitation, like they didn't know how to do it anymore. He opened the portal which creaked.

"What are you doing here?" he asked softly.

Minako sniffed, new tears on her cheeks.

"I lost my house."

"Oh. Where are your parents?"

"At my house."

"Were you outside alone? It isn't really safe. You shouldn't do that. Well, I can help you, if you want. You could come with me and we could call your house so they can come pick you up."

Minako looked at him suspiciously and tried to read him. She was still a little clumsy with her gift. But what she felt from him wasn't dangerous. Sadness, and loneliness, and currently, affection.

"Ok."

She took his hand but jumped when a sudden noise came from the garage, which was opened because the man had been working in it.

"It's nothing. It's my pets."

Minako wasn't reassured.

"It's just so dark everywhere."

"Are you alright? You don't look well."

She felt sick, but suddenly there was light. A little, but still, it was warm and soft. She blinked and looked at the little flashlight before her nose, and then looked curiously at the man-skeleton.

"There's nothing better against the dark than light. Here, take it. It's for you. It's a gift, if you want to keep it."

Minako smiled and took the flashlight, already feeling a little better. They went into the house and Minako watched as the man phoned Hayao. When he hung up, she frowned.

"Are you really sure you're not hungry?"

"Why are you asking me that?"

"I think you are too thin, even if you're old. You need to eat more. But not me!"

He smiled. Minako found it weird, his smile was rusty, she decided.

"Ok," he said.

"I'm sorry."

"Now why do you apologize?"

Minako sniffed again and looked at the flashlight in her hands.

"I shouldn't have cried. Crying is for little girls."

"I think crying is very human. And you look like a little girl to me."

"I am not! I'm seven!"

"Oh," he said, awkward. "Sorry."

"Besides, my mom doesn't want me to cry."

"Oh."

Silence.

"Do you live here all alone?"

"I'm a big boy, you know."

"Yes. But… you're so sad."

"What?"

Minako glanced at him, compassionate.

"You are really sad. I don't like it. Is it because you lost someone? I've found that people are always sad and angry like that when they lost someone."

"You really are an observant child, aren't you?" he asked quietly.

She lowered her eyes.

"N…No. Not really. I just…"

"… It was my wife. She died two years ago and… life isn't the same without her."

She didn't like to hear his voice so… fragile.

"You must have loved her very very much."

"Yes. Yes, I did."

"I'm glad. Love is shiny, I like it."

"You like love? You're a weird little girl."

Minako reddened nervously. Weird never was a good thing in her parents or classmates' mouth.

"Sorry."

"Don't be. I think it's a good thing to be special. Don't you?"

She glanced at him, surprised.

Special. Special was a good word.

It was better than weird.

Special.

She liked it.

His aura seemed brighter. He was lonely, and he really liked to talk to her. She was lonely too.

She liked him, she decided.

"My name is Minako. But you can call me Mina. I like it."

He smiled, and it was a little less rusty this time, making Minako grin.

"I'm Etso."

"Hi."

"Hi."

There were dried tears on her pale cheeks, and he looked like a skeleton.

"So, little Mina, have you ever seen a guinea pig?"

And it was the beginning of a great friendship that would help both of them to survive the years that were coming.


Friendship helped to survive.

There was Asaki. He was smiling, he was nine, and he was saying that he bet she couldn't scare the doctor that was coming in the children ward corridor. He was eleven, bald, and he kept on smiling, saying that he had just a few years to live and that he wanted to live his life at its fullest. He was twelve, and he had made a list of things to do before dying, he wanted her to do the same, because goals were good. He was fourteen, and he smiled, and it was faked, and he was tired, he had hair again, and he gave her her first kiss.

He was fifteen. He was looking at her. She just beat him at a game of ping-pong. He looked sick, but handsome, too thin, but she was too. He was looking at her with tenderness and love, and he was reddening. She knew why, but she just smiled. It was on her list, too. Time was coming short, more for her than for him. So, well, they did it, and it was fun and tender and awkward. It wasn't the first experience everybody was hoping, but it was theirs. They made love because they wanted to, because they understood each other, because they didn't know each other by heart but they knew what it was like to be fifteen and dying, and because they loved each other sincerely, even if it wasn't really a romantic love. They weren't in love. And maybe they were too young, and it was true that they hadn't been really ready to take that step in their sexuality but they did it anyway, because they wanted to discover what it was to make love before it was too late.

Both of them were really distrustful teen. They knew they would certainly not have the time to fall in love and learn to trust their possible partner to that point.

So, it had been only logical.

Asaki was still fifteen, he was sick again, and he was tired. He joked with her, and he smiled, and she smiled, and she knew.

Too late.


Too late.

The world was in ruin.

Like her home planet.

She had failed. Her home, her House, her Queen, her Princess, her Senshi, her people.

She had failed.

They were all dead. Massacred. There was blood everywhere.

"Venus?"

Blood, and corpses, and horror.

"Venus?"

It was a soft voice. Strong and soft. Sad and resigned.

"Mars?"


"Mars, you don't understand the importance of our mission!"

Mars didn't. She couldn't remember.

The mission.

The princess.

The world.

They had to protect it.

Minako could not fail again.

She could not.

Life was good. She had fulfilled her dreams. Asaki would have been proud. All of it, done.

So, her life wasn't that important. All she had wanted to do was done. She could die, as long as she accomplished all she could for the mission.

"If it were me, if the chances aren't zero, I'd undergo the surgery."

She didn't understand.

She didn't!

But suddenly, she wanted to live. Suddenly, she found other things to put on that list of things to do.

Suddenly, she was so cold, and alone, and so scared.

And it hurt…

So much…


Minako woke up with a start, choking on her breath, trembling and trying to keep the tears inside.

Her head hurt. It was horrible.

She tried to take her pills, but her hand was shaking too much.

These dreams… They had begun a few weeks before… Wars, and violence, and planets, and duty…

But every time Minako tried to correctly remember it, it eluded her. She remembered the horrible things, the things that almost forced sobs out of her, the things that froze her with fear. But she knew there was more than that…

Music, and… and voices… A male voice, and a female one too…

They were important. Other girls too…

God, she couldn't remember!

She was going to throw up.

It wasn't normal, she never was that sick only a few days after her treatment.

It was a bad thing. An abnormal and very bad thing.

But then, nothing seemed to be right anymore.

And the fact that this happened after she had run into Usagi Tsukino didn't escape her.


"Minako Elizabeth Rina Aino!"

Minako winced and sighed. She had seen the limousine, which meant that her parents were home. They hadn't warned her that they were coming. Typical.

There was only Yumi Aino to use her full name like that. Minako took her time to change her shoes. Then she smoothed over her uniform and decided to finally go to the large living room.

"Mother, father, hello."

"Hello," her father said. He looked cross. He never raised his voice when he was angry with Minako, but he certainly knew how to be cold. Minako almost shuddered when she felt his burning emotions. "You are late."

"I'm sorry."

Never mind the fact that she hadn't known she was expected.

"Still love these childish things, I see," her mother noted disdainfully, seeing the few new magazines that were sticking out of Minako's bag.

"There is nothing wrong with liking music and cinema."

"No, but loving all these idols and pop things is not worthy of your time. But enough about that. I've spent three months in London taking care of business there and when I come home, what do I discover? That my only child is still incapable of getting respectable grades in almost all her classes! What are you trying to do? Ridicule us? I want you to work on this, and fast! I don't want people to think that my daughter is a lazy idiot!"

"I'm not!"

"Then prove it! Or we will put you in that private school and there you will have to work on your grades, is that clear?"

"Crystal," Minako replied, not knowing if she was more hurt or more angry.

"To be sure that you will have time to work on that," her father said, all business, "we have taken the liberty to cancel all your piano lessons."

"What? You can't do that!" Piano was the last activity they had let her do. "I thought you loved the fact that I was taking music lessons!"

"We did, but school is more important. I hope you obeyed us about all these sports you were doing on the side."

Minako didn't look at them, too angry, too tired. She had a bad headache, she knew it was because of all this. She was cold.

"Another thing," her mother said. "We came home this morning. Before school time. You weren't there, Minako."

Minako felt that the headaches weren't leaving anytime soon.

"I don't want to know where you are all these nights you're not there, but I want it to cease," Yumi ordered her with a strange voice. Her eyes were looking at Minako with something akin to worry and prudence. Emotions that weren't directed at Minako, the girl knew. "People talk, we don't need that on top of everything else."

Everything else? Her grades? Her sickness? So what, she didn't like studying, she felt that there were many things really much more interesting to do in life. And she secretly loved the fact that her low grades were annoying her parents. That was why she didn't make any effort after all.

But she didn't like the possibility that her mother might think of her as a whore or something. There only had been Asaki. Only him, last year.

Minako always spent her nights at Hitomi's when she wasn't home, and she certainly never did all these things that people were gossiping about. She wasn't that stupid. So, she flirted, and she had gone out two or three times with one or two guys that she had liked, but there never had been more to it than that. It was what normal teenagers did, wasn't it?

Flirting was easy for her. People were often interested in her, fascinated by her. She never really understood why, but it was like that. She had trained a lot and now that she manipulated her gift perfectly she knew how to control conversations or situations by playing with others' emotions.

"And about that maid…"

Minako looked at her mother, astonished, while Yumi talked with her husband. That was all? Her mother thought she was sleeping with guys regularly and she just… Where were all the screams? The drama? The fight? Well, Minako shouldn't be surprised. Her mother had seemed to ignore her more and more as the years had passed.

She frowned when she thought about all she had lost these past weeks. If she bent to her parents' rules, she wouldn't do anything before her death besides studying. No motocross (which, Minako had to confess, was very dangerous for her because of her dizzy spells), no volley-ball, no ping-pong, no party, no music. And if they one day found her playstation and her wide collection of video games, hidden in the little living room upstairs where they rarely went, they surely would forbidden her to play that too.

Well. Too bad.

Minako was her parents' daughter. She was proud, stubborn, arrogant, good at scheming and manipulative.

And she hated rules.

"No, it would be best if we could fly there soon."

Minako raised her head when she heard that bit of their discussion.

"Where are you going?" she asked, keeping her voice leveled.

She certainly didn't want them to know that their absence upset her.

"To Rome. We have a few business partners there."

Rome. Minako had always dreamed of going to Italy. Traveling to discover the world was one of her childhood wishes, like being a singer and an idol.

And there she was, at 15 and at the end of her life, singing only to herself and hospital kids and going nowhere.

"Oh. So, you are only staying a few days here?"

"Yes," her mother said, her voice softer, and Minako didn't like the fact that the woman could still read her so easily. "We have a lot of things to do before Christmas."

Minako idly wondered if her father had mistresses in Italy too. And if her mother would one day skin him alive for it all.

Maybe Minako had a few half brothers and sisters in the world?

She nearly laughed out loud.

God, her head hurt.

"When will you come home after that trip?"

"It should take two to three weeks. But we'll return next week-end because of a social gathering."

"Oh."

She didn't bother to tell them that in 17 days, it would be her birthday. Her last one. They certainly knew it, in a corner of their busy mind. They just didn't care. They never really did.

She would go see Etso and Hitomi and then she would find something special to do alone. Asaki wasn't there anymore to occupy her, so she'd have to improvise.

But presently, she had to lie down.

"I'm going to my room."

"Yes, you look a little pale."

Of course, she did. She always was pale now.

They would know that, too.

If only they cared.


"Stop it, Usagi!"

"But, Rei! You have to sing at least once with us!"

"No!"

"Please!"

"No!"

"Am I intruding?"

"Minako! Hi!"

Minako looked surprised by Usagi's enthusiasm and almost took a step backwards when the girl jumped to her feet. Rei stayed on the bench where the girls had been, in a park near the school.

"Hello," Minako smiled politely. "I just wanted to give that back to you. I must have taken it with my things when we violently met the other day."

Usagi smiled brightly and took her notebook.

"Thank you so much! It's really nice of you!"

"It's nothing," Minako mumbled.

"Do you like to sing?"

"Huh? Ah, yes. I love music."

"Rei, here, has a nice voice. But she doesn't want to sing with us!" Usagi whined, as if Minako could do something about it.

"I hate karaoke," Rei said.

"But, Reiiiii!"

"Usagi, stop it, you're like a three years old!"

"Minako, you should come with us to a karaoke one of these days!"

"Maybe."

"Are you going to that party, the one of the seniors' classes? I heard they're going to throw it at a girl's uncle's house because he was on a holiday. Heard you had an invitation."

"No, I'm not going. I have a lot of things to do, I can't be everywhere fans want me to be," Minako said with a wink. "Ah, here's my ride."

Rei looked toward the street to see a black car coming. Minako rarely had a ride come to get her, not directly at the school anyway.

"Ah, Mamoru!" Usagi cried happily.

She ran to him and he smiled at her.

Minako looked at them embracing before raising an eyebrow.

"That's her boyfriend?" she asked Rei, surprise on her face.

"Yes. He's studying medicine. First year."

"Wow," Minako smiled. "She is a lot more capable than what I thought."

Really, she couldn't fathom how a fifteen year old girl like Usagi could interest a handsome and intelligent nineteen year old guy like that one. Minako wasn't thinking that with jealously or nastiness, it was just a conclusion born of years of watching others and feeling their emotions.

Usagi was cute enough, and she certainly wasn't as stupid as she looked. She was nice, and kind of funny. She had an aura so bright and sparkling… Minako never felt one like that before. And her boyfriend, Mamoru… he looked the same. Serious and elegant, intelligent and regal. His aura was special too. His emotions were calm and warm.

Something… There was something about him that seemed familiar…

A prince, in a castle of white. He shouldn't be there, he could be a threat. She had to keep an eye on him.

A boy in a tuxedo, he had a mask, and he had something she wanted…

She had known it! She should have been there to stop it, to stop them, their love, their egoism… It was too late. Everything was lost, destroyed, dead.

She had failed.

The pain made her staggered.

"Hey! Are you alright?"

The worry in the miko's aura made it worse. The warmness of her hands on her made it worse. She made it worse.

"I'm fine," Minako said, her voice cold.

She took a step back, leaving Rei's arms. Her head was pounding, she couldn't see straight.

"I have to go."

The car weren't far. She walked toward it, focused on it, fighting the pain and the dizziness. She let the dark take over only when inside.

She closed the door, informed Hayao that she wasn't well, and fainted almost immediately.


"At least, you're really nice, Soleil."

The pet took the piece of apple and beat into it happily.

"I wish I could take you with me at the house. Wouldn't it be nice? But it would only cause more problems. My parents aren't like yours. And they don't like animals."

Minako sighed. She was sitting on the table in the middle of the garage, Soleil next to her. The others guinea pigs were with Etso in the garden. The man wanted to let them play on the grass before winter.

She looked at her pet and smiled. She was tired, in fact, she should be in bed. After she had fainted she had been brought to the hospital where she had stayed the night. Her parents had come to speak with the doctor. He had said that she needed rest, needed calm. That she was stressed and that it was a very bad thing for her health. Her parents had nodded and left. This morning it had been Hayao who had come to get her, because his bosses had left for Kyoto for the day. Minako had stayed in bed long enough to collect enough energy to leave.

And there she was, tired from the treatment and really confused.

"You know, Soleil, I more or less met a few very strange people. They don't seem do be like other people. They are… special. At least, their auras are. And it's like they're protected from my gift, but sometimes I can read them anyway. Don't you thing it's weird? And there's this girl, Reiko… when I'm near her I am… calmer. I feel… almost safe. I don't really know her! I just know what I've heard and what I've felt coming from her. She's beautiful, and noble, and intelligent. But since I've met them my nightmares are worse. They are always more or less the same and… and now I have flashes even when I'm awake, like yesterday, when I was looking at that guy. It's because of them. The five of them are linked to it. I know I should stay away but… I don't know why, I just know it's important to keep an eye on them. Especially on Usagi. And on the girls too, but it isn't the same feeling." She sighed, annoyed. "It's just so frustrating, you know?"

Soleil just kept on chewing happily. Minako giggled.

"You don't really care about that, huh?"

She raised her head when she felt another presence. She frowned when she just saw a white cat there.

"Hey! What are you doing there? You're not welcome!"

She stood up too fast, she had to let the dizzy spell end before going to the strange cat. He was all white and he didn't have a collar. He was looking at her with big green eyes like he was assessing her.

"Didn't you hear what I said, kitty? You won't eat guinea pigs today, go back!"

He sat down. Minako frowned.

"Are you an idiot? Woosh, goodbye!"

He still stayed. She sighed, suddenly exhausted, and took a broom to push him toward the exit. Gently, even if she always preferred dogs over cats, she didn't want to hurt the poor thing.

"See, that way, cat. Nice cat. Bye."

But once outside the garage, he didn't go away. He turned to glare at her, apparently highly vexed.

"What?" Minako asked, feeling weirdly amused and sorry at the same time. God, that was just a cat! "Don't look at me like that! You didn't even knock! Anyway, have a nice day!"

She closed the door and went back to the table and Soleil that was calling for more vegetables or fruits. With a smile, she gave him another piece of apple.

Still, she didn't know why, but she felt anxious.

She could have sworn that the strange cat had an aura that had been almost like a human's one.

Which was impossible. Minako couldn't read animals' aura or feelings.

She was just really tired.

And that was all.


"You weren't there yesterday."

Minako glanced at the girl next to her and frowned. She wasn't in the mood.

"Did you notice it yourself, Reiko?"

The other girl ignored her icy tone. Damn it. Where was the teacher when you needed a distraction?

"You missed a lot of days. And Miss Kitawa wants me to help you with your homework."

Great.

"It's fine. I'll manage."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I am."

"Because that doesn't look like an equation at all."

Minako glanced at her notebook and frowned when she saw weird signs all over her calculus.

What the hell? She hadn't even noticed that she had been drawing. And what was this anyway? It almost looked like hieroglyphs or something. She closed the notebook quickly.

"Equations are boring."

"Maybe."

"Shopping is better. And it's what I'm going to do after school, so you see, I'm really too busy to study with you."

Rei snickered.

"What a noble occupation."

"You don't like to shop? I love it. Clothes, albums, movies, video games, make-up, jewels and, yes, shoes."

"Spending your allowance on it I presume?"

Minako almost giggled.

"I'm not sure it should be call allowance. My father give me enough money for me to have troubles spending it all. But it's good. I've bought my guitars and my piano that way, and my motocross too. I had to save money for a few months for that one, but it was worth it."

"You're spoiled."

God, she couldn't be farer from the truth.

Money was all she had, and she had decided long ago that if it was all her parents would give her, then she would take full advantage of it.

"Look who's talking," Minako teased.

"Excuse me?"

"I know who you are. Rei Hino, only child of the senator Hino, only heir to the Hino family and to the Utsumi family. I think you're higher than me on the heirs list."

"I'm not spoiled!"

"I know. You live in a shrine, don't you? That's cute."

"Excuse-me? It isn't cute."

"Yes, it is."

Rei sighed, annoyed.

"You should be more preoccupied with your studies."

"I hear that a lot lately," whispered Minako. "Don't worry about me!" she said with renew energy.

Suddenly, and she didn't know why, she was really looking forward to go shopping. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that the math teacher had entered the room and was saying that they were going to do difficult equations and that they had to have finished ten of them before the end of the class.

Yep, shopping sounded good right about now.

"I bet you wish you were shopping now," said Rei's voice.

Minako looked at her, surprised, and didn't answer. How could that girl guess what was on her mind? Like she knew how she thought…

Could it be her gift?

No…

"What?" whispered Rei, self conscious under her gaze.

Minako smiled as she hid her thoughts.

"I was thinking about what the loud one said. One of these days, I expect to hear you sing."

"She is called Usagi, and I don't sing."

With a little smile, Minako said nothing and concentrated on her newly opened notebook. She thought it would be great if she could scheme to force Rei to sing something. The look on her face surely would be priceless!

Her silent enthusiasm crumbled away when she saw the weird signs on the sheets.

Ah. Yes. There was that.

That, and the fact that she had to stay far from Rei.

And apparently, it was going to be harder than what she had thought.


She was walking calmly in the streets.

The school day had been long. Rumors apparently still circulated around about her. She was tired of all these glances and whispers. Tired of it all.

She went into an alleyway and frowned when she felt a strange aura behind her. It was familiar… She turned around and raised one eyebrow.

"You again? What are you doing here? We're far from Etso's house!"

The cat mewed. Minako shrugged.

"Sorry. Not understanding. Bye."

Ten minutes later, she sighed.

"Look, cat, you must have a lot of things to do, and I really don't like to be followed. Go away."

She went to her favorite ice cream parlor and when she went back out she decided to eat her delicious sweet in a little park almost deserted. She sat on a bench, and wasn't that surprised to see the white cat before her.

"Still here?"

She looked at him, noted the weird little jewel he had on his forehead and giggled.

"You master has weird tastes. Or is it you?"

She ate a little of her chocolate and cherry ice cream with extra caramel and saw the way the wide emerald eyes of the feline were fixed on it.

"What? You're hungry, huh? Do you even have a master?"

She grimaced and, thinking she really was too soft, she nodded.

"Okay, cat, come here."

He promptly jumped on the bench and looked at her expectantly. Minako looked at him, astonished.

"You're really an intelligent cat, aren't you?" She put the ice cream between them. "Here. Eat. Too much sugar is bad for my health anyway."

The cat devoured the sweet before meowing and going to Minako to rub himself against her and lick her hand. She laughed before petting him.

"You're welcome. I have to go home. If I'm late my mom will kill me. So… see you around!"

She left, and felt the cat's eyes on her until she disappeared in an alleyway.

Her life surely had taken a strange turn.


"Yeah, come on, genius, answer us!"

The three others laughed. Minako narrowed her eyes and sighed. This corner of the school was deserted besides them. Three boys and a girl were laughing at someone and taunting them. She didn't want it to be too known, but Minako, despite her distant demeanor, hated it when people picked on others, especially when it was a group against one. But she had promised herself to not get in troubles in that new school.

Well, that one will have to manage. After all, Minako did for years when she was younger and others kids laughed at her.

She began to turn left when suddenly she recognized the aura. A special aura, calm…

"Come on, give it to us!"

"No."

"If you –"

"Hey!" Minako didn't know why she did it. It was pure instinct. "Stop it."

She glanced at Ami Mizuno, who looked more exasperated with her tormentors than scared, and glared coldly at the four idiots.

"Get lost," she warned.

"No, thanks."

"Hey, you're the new girl!"

"Not so knew," Minako replied. "You are slow."

"You little –"

"Watch you mouth, kid."

"Kid?" he repeated, pale with shame and rage. "I'm older than you!"

"Ah? Damn, you look like a boy," she giggled, making sure to anger him to the point of blind rage. Boys were so easy, they would do anything to keep their pride intact. "No woman will ever want you, not until you grow up!"

There. She felt the exact moment when his humiliation pushed him to act irrationally. She side stepped his hand easily and smiled smugly.

"Trying to slap a younger girl? Wow, you're a true man."

He blanched and clenched his fists. Minako smiled coldly.

"Before doing anything stupider, you should know that I'm pretty good at martial arts."

"Come on," he hissed to his friends, who followed him while looking weirdly at Minako.

She shook her head. Really, kids, these days!

"Thank you. But you didn't have to do that."

Minako didn't answer to Ami, who was behind her. Unconsciously, Minako had stayed between her and the others. It was strange. She felt annoyed that the girl hadn't defended herself, as if it concerned her. And at the same time she had acted on instinct, like the well being of Ami was her responsibility.

She found the girl nice enough, but really…

Minako sighed and just shrugged.

"Next time, do it yourself."

She left, but a second later stopped herself.

There was her instinct, and her mind, and her heart.

One told her to stay away from them all, especially from Reiko. One told her to try to know more, to understand what was happening to her. The last wanted her to spend time with them, especially with Reiko, to be near her, to learn more about her.

Well…

"I'm looking for Reiko. Would you know where I could find her?"

Ami nodded.

"Of course. Come on, I think that she is at the library."

"Great," Minako mumbled.


"So, you need me to help you."

"I don't need help, exactly," Minako corrected, still walking. "My parents are strict about it, and if I want to keep my last liberties, I have to work on my homework. But, hey, not definitely, you know, one good mark will suffice."

"Ok," Rei smiled, amused. "But you will have to cut down your shopping time, are you going to survive it?"

"Ouch. It's going to be so hard. But don't worry, I'm tougher than I look."

"Good to know."

"Are you free Wednesday after school? I can't the other days. I've… other occupations."

"It's fine. But we will have to go to the shrine. But you wouldn't want me too close to your house anyway, would you?"

Minako rolled her eyes.

"I explained myself for that. So, I'll see you on Monday. Have a good week-end."

"Ok. You too."

Rei looked at Minako until she couldn't see her anymore. She didn't know if she was relieved. She would see Minako outside of class, which was a good thing. But she didn't know what the other girl had in mind. One day she seemed friendly and the next so cold…

One thing was for sure, one way or the other, her presence was troubling Rei. It was the same feeling she had when she had been near Venus. It was powerful and warm and irrational. It was… troubling.

She couldn't have this sort of feelings for Minako. It wasn't right. Kami, the girl didn't even remember her. At least Rei now knew how Venus had felt.

She couldn't stop thinking about her. Couldn't stop dreaming about her, and her death. She loved it when she could see in this girl a ghost of the idol she had known and come to…

No. It couldn't be that.

That would complicate things too much.

She just wanted her to be happy and safe.

Then… then it would be time to think of other things.

One problem at a time.

Still, it was nice to learn new elements about Venus, even if it was from an amnesic Minako.

Rei sighed.

Sometimes, she was sure that destiny was against them.


Destiny was against her.

"What?"

"You knew about it, Minako," her mother said while putting her vest on. "We attend it every year."

"And each year is worse than the last."

"It's really important, you know that. This cocktail is –"

"I know," Minako sighed, sitting down at the dinner table where only one plate was set.

"Good. I want you to be ready. Next Saturday. We'll be home in the morning and we will leave soon after the cocktail."

"Ok."

"Yumi! We have to get going!" her father called.

"I'm coming. Oh, where is she?"

Minako listened while her mother, in the kitchen, berated maid number 8 on things that didn't have any real importance. Then the woman came back in the large living room and sighed.

"Really, these employees! I don't want to have any bad surprises waiting for us when we'll come home, Minako. No sports, no skipping class, no fight and better marks. For god's sake, Minako, sit straighter than that!"

"Sorry. Could I…"

"What?"

"No. Nothing."

"If you don't feel well stay in bed, don't take risks, you know the rules. Be a good girl, and have a great time. Did your father leave you money?"

Minako nodded and glance at the pile of bills that in certain families would represent a month's salary.

"Good. Take care. Goodbye."

"Bye. Have a nice flight," Minako said quietly.

But her mother had already left.

"Bye, Minako!" her father from the other room cried just before closing the door after them.

"Bye, dad," she whispered to her empty plate in this big and cold room.

Silence. She hated it. She felt tired and awkward, and she without a doubt would pass the week-end in this atmosphere.

Maid number 8 entered the room with Minako's dinner. She put the plate before the girl with shaking hands. Minako studied her rapidly, which she hadn't done before because she knew her mother would fire the lady sooner or later. The last one had lasted little over ten months. Number 8 was 40 or so, chubby, a little stuck up. She wasn't married but was living with a man and had no children, that much Minako knew because she had heard Hayao talking with her.

"Don't worry," Minako said quietly, feeling the need to appease the feelings of sadness and humiliation that were coming from the woman. "She's like that with everyone."

The employee looked at the girl with surprise, Minako being rarely serious or quiet when alone with the woman or Hayao. She liked being full of energy and happiness in front of the others, because somehow they would always get happier at her contact.

Minako never did remarks at employees about their work, good or bad. She didn't really care, and she felt it wasn't her place. But she felt cold that evening, cold and tired.

Being weary was never a good thing.

"I think you're not the best they've employed for the housework, but you're by far the best cook I've known. You know, I've never eaten at home as often as I do since you're here."

"Thank you, miss Aino," the lady said quietly, her surprise showing in her voice.

"I think I did tell you to call me Minako," the girl smiled while she began to eat.

"Of course."

"It's divine. Thank you. I didn't realize how hungry I was."

The lady smiled.

"I'm glad you like it."

When she began to leave, Minako looked at her plate.

"Could you… could you stay? Have you eaten? You could take your dinner with me. Well, that is, if you have nothing to do…"

The lady looked at her, and Minako almost winced when she felt her compassion, her sadness and her affection. But she took a plate and sat down at the table, looking pleased to do so, and not forced like number 5 at been once. Minako never had asked again after that, until now.

Minako smiled. She felt like she should know more about this woman.

"Hum, what's your name? Sorry, I don't remember it," she said sheepishly.

The woman (Emi) was not offended, but highly amused.

Yep, decided Minako, maid number 8 was very interesting.

She should stop to ignore people like that. She had the nasty habit to not attach any importance to people that weren't particular or that she didn't deem interesting. Granted, she hadn't wanted to get to know employees that wouldn't stay for long but still, Minako wasn't very fond of this side of herself.

Emi was staying with her instead of going home, that was proof of kindness and selflessness. It was also a sign that she was fond of Minako, but the girl didn't want to think too much about that.

Minako wondered what she could discover in Rei Hino if she just tried, if she learned more about her.

And where that would lead her, and them.

She just knew in her heart that something about that girl called out to her. It was a little scary, how much Minako wanted to know, to understand, to spend time with Rei. It was scary that every time she was near Rei or near one of them she felt so much sicker.

But Minako never was one to be too cautious.