Remember Me
~0~
Ch. 2 Farewell
"Has she spoken to you yet?"
Ami shook her head as she quietly closed Makoto's apartment door. Blowing out a breath her steps took her to the couch that in less then a week would be put in storage. She got into medical school in the States. Usagi would be coming with her. Somehow they all managed to leave Japan on the same day. They all would leave.
She wasn't ready for this.
"How are you Ami?"
Ami shrugged, answering, "Fine I guess." But they both knew it was a flat out lie.
Makoto still couldn't get the picture of Rei watching Minako walk away out of her mind. And being senshi they had seen a lot of things that no one should have had to experience. It wasn't just the seriousness of the situation though that bothered her. It was the finality of Rei's words and actions. The acceptance that this was the way it had to be. More than that was the way she had effectively cut herself off from everyone which served as a domino effect and now they were cutting each other off.
"Ami, please lie to someone else. I know you better then that."
Standing Ami crossed to the window staring out lost in thought, "Sorry. We're all leaving. I guess I'm having trouble believing it."
"Usagi is still going with you?"
Ami closed her eyes. "Yes."
Makoto clenched her fist. As more memories returned she worried that Ami was still in love with Usagi. There had been a time where Ami would have done anything for their princess. Now it was Rei who would do anything for her. She could remember that night. Rei lying in the infirmary while Minako sat next to the bed kissing Serenity. She understood the problems but what she had never understood was why Rei had turned so loyal to her.
Usagi in this life and their last had been a selfish brat. She cared for those she loved with her whole heart but she was still a brat. Back then Rei had paid the price for Usagi's choices. Who would pay the price for Rei's?
"We're living together and Mamoru will be a half-hour away so she should see him often."
Deciding to change the subject for her own sanity Makoto asked, "Did Rei really turn you away?"
"Her Grandpa did actually. She has only spoken with Setsuna and from what I hear it didn't go well. Yuuichiro had seen the end and made a appointment for the eye doctor. I guess Rei shot fire at her in warning. Usagi is saying she still can't see her yet. Minako is stewing. And Haruka is still fuming, Michiru has been keeping Haruka from killing Rei-"
"By keeping her in bed?" Makoto interrupted laughing. Ami barely managed to contain her blush. It was hard, because it was true. Michiru had been using sex to keep Haruka in bed and away from Rei.
Ami joined in the laughter but soon it turned to tears. They cried for their friends, each other and themselves.
~0~
"I understand how you feel Mina-chan but you love her still don't you?"
Standing up from the bed Minako sat on the floor next to Usagi, pulling her knees up to her chest. Her face pinched into a frown as the question wrapped around her mind and heart. It would be so easy to speak out of anger. She could deny it. Forget about it. Then maybe move on from all the heartache that loving someone entailed. She could still remember Ace's words, 'Your love will be hopeless for all eternity'.
His prediction had come to pass. Her love was hopeless, and unneeded. Rei loved their princess. They all did but now she couldn't help but wonder if Rei cared for any of them. She had heard from them all how Rei was refusing their visits. A week had passed and Rei hadn't so much as called her. They had only seven more days and then they would all be gone. They agree for six years to never step on Japanese soil again.
She had called in a few favors back in England; she would be meeting with an agent once she touched down. But she wasn't fine with it. This, not once, was how she thought her life would go, to be alone once more.
"Minako?"
"I do love her Usagi. I just can't stand her right now."
"But if you just talk to her. Make her understand that you love her then maybe…"
"No. I think somewhere in her heart she has come to care for each of us but I know Usagi, you are the one she dreams of. Her heart is forever yours."
"It's not." Minako scoffed but Usagi continued, "She doesn't feel that way about me. Not now, not ever. She cares and protects me like a guardian should; maybe more then the rest of you do but it's not because of romantic or misplace feelings of love. She is not in love with me."
Her body shook with rage. How could Usagi know? She herself had seen the red thread tied to Rei's finger. She didn't have to follow it to see who the other person attached was. Every action, gesture, look, and word spoke of the miko's love for her. Why couldn't Usagi see that? Minako scoffed at the idea. Even two years later she still had no clue how deeply Seiya felt for her. Rei made this choice so she wouldn't have to endure the pain of watching Usagi and Mamoru ride off into the sunset someday soon. But she would have to watch whether it was now or six years from now, Rei would have to watch and then she would have to watch as Rei's heart was eventually broken.
"Minako, Rei is suffering. More then you can imagine."
Minako snapped her head up to stare at Usagi. "What do you mean?"
"Do you remember anything more about the Silver Millennium then what you did after your battle with Ace?" Artemis asked softly as he walked into the room.
He had been in the hall listening the whole time. Torn between walking in or walking away. So much pain and confusion and he could understand why. Minako's curse was still in play and Rei's vows and memories plagued her. He could still remember when Rei had asked him to drop by the shrine over a year ago. At first he wondered why it was him she went to and not Luna or the other girls. According to gossip between the girls the other night Rei had suddenly lost it.
At first he thought she had gone crazy but after hearing more he learned that a sudden headache had consumed her before knocking her out. During those two hours of worrying for the other girls her hair had change ever few minutes to red then black and back to red again. When she had come to Rei had lashed out, shouting at them all to leave but what really concerned them all was that she lashed out at Usagi and Minako the most. He had had a idea of what could of happen but thinking of something and seeing her sitting on her bed chilled and pale with her knees drawn up to her chest as sobs wracked her body was…there were no words to say it.
The girl had spent almost 24 hours either throwing up or in bed, broken and sobbing. There were so many times that she would look at her hands expecting to see something that wasn't there. She shut them all out. And her question, that horrible question spoken aloud with such a hoarse voice and eyes that shifted between dead and fear.
"No."
Minako's answer pulled him out of his memories.
Usagi looked down at the floor. Should she tell her everything? Would it change this feeling of dread in her heart? Chibusa's words rang in her mind.
They lived for her. They died for her.
It was time to let them go.
~0~
Setsuna only raised her brow as a haggard, barely dressed Haruka wobbled down the stairs, resembling more of a zombie then the proud warrior that she maintains to be. Haruka's gaze settled on Setsuna as a frown curled her lips in annoyance. Taking a glance back she made sure that Michiru wasn't behind her ready to drag her back to their bedroom. The past couple days she had only slept, had sex, eat, then sleep again before she was woken up to have sex once more.
"Setsuna what is going to happen? And don't give me those cryptic remarks either," she blasted, coming into the room and storming the Time Senshi.
Setsuna barely glanced up from her book quirking her eye up at the Senshi of Wind. Instead she picked up her teacup, took a sip, placed it back down then turned to the next page in her book.
"If you cannot understand plain speech then what are you doing out of elementary school. Also add to the fact that you are over 1000 years old."
Before where there was only a gentle breeze, a harsh when whipped around Setsuna stirring up her pages. Haruka across the room to stand in front of her with her arms crossed demanding the answers to her questions. Michiru has slipped quietly down the stairs taking a position near the entryway.
Ignoring the jib she asked again, "what's going to happen down the road?
"Haruka, besides the fact that I am not supposed to reveal the future to the Queen much less you, I don't know what will happen." She huffed out that last part not really expecting the Wind Guardian to believe her.
"No."
Michiru stepped into the room. "Setsuna, you must no something that can help us."
With a shake of her head her eyes glazed over. Haruka and Michiru waited patiently for Time to wade through all the difference time continuums. Five minutes later her eyes focused and the same frustration that had been there since Rei spoke of everyone leaving was there.
"Nothing."
Haruka clenched her fist tight. The guilt of the betraying her princess still lingered. She'd do anything to keep them all safe, anything to make sure that the past mistakes were never repeated. "That can't be right! Look again!"
"Nothing will change you know, even if I looked again. I don't know." Setsuna retorted bitterly. "I can't see anything."
~X~
Two pigtails bounced up-and-down with the step she made forward. Over the years it had become easier to climb them. Now she could take them two, sometimes three, at a time. When she reached the top she saw the same scene that had become accustomed to her for the last four years. Rei stood in front of her sweeping away the leaves while Phobos and Deimos watched from their perch on top of the shrine.
"Rei– chan!" Usagi shouted while waving her hands and jumping up and down.
Turning briefly Rei nodded once more then continued her chores. Usagi stood there on the path then walked to the porch, sat and watched. Checking her watch she realized twenty minutes had passed.
"You have to talk to me sometime Rei. Or if not me then someone else."
"I'm more in the frame of mind to hurt you."
Letting out a chuckle Usagi continued to observe her friend. "If you just go to Minako and make with the love love then everything will be fine."
Rei threw down her broom.
"You think so!? I was devastated when I woke up to you both kissing!
..…I wanted her to notice me!
….I wanted her to love me Usagi!"
"Then why are you letting her go now?"
"Because I don't want to hold her back. Because I wanted her to follow her dreams. I want her to be free to love who she wants even if it will never be me!"
Usagi stood there looking at her feet in shame. "So you do remember."
Rei sagged against the tree exhausted from the weight of her burden. "I'm glad Minako never remembered this. At least this time we were able to be friends with another."
"Rei that's not true! She cared! We were friends back then too, have you forgotten that?!"
"Do you still love me?"
Usagi bite her lip. Her eyes swept up to the sky seeing the moon above them. Happy memories and sad ones too and at the source of many of them was her. She had known better. What did destiny really mean? She couldn't honestly say that she didn't love Rei. The feelings of then and even now wrapped around her heart squeezing it painfully into one mess of emotions.
"I do."
"Then I'm sure nothing has truly changed. If she ever remembers then we will be right back at the beginning: her hating me."
Usagi was about to take a step forward but stop. The eyes that started back at her, she remembered those haunted eyes.
The eyes to a dead woman.
"Rei, I know we all promised to meet up at the airport before we all say good bye and that you won't be leaving for another two weeks, but please promise me again that you'll be there."
"I promise."
~X~
The door slide open as Minako raised her hand to knock. It always amazed her that Rei knew whenever they were coming. It shouldn't because of who she was but it did.
Putting her hand down the two senshi stared at one another in silence till Minako began to squirm. Rei wasn't going to make this easy for her. She knew that before she that even came so why now that she was standing in front of her was she losing her nerve.
"Venus."
That single word shattered Mina's heart. And strangely sounded familiar in the cold way Rei delivered it.
"Rei. Can we talk?"
Standing aside Rei let her enter the shrine.
"Come in Venus."
~0~
She watched as the others all headed to their flights. There was no certainty for when or if they would see each other again, only a hope in the deepest parts of their hearts.
An two hours later the intercom buzzed to life.
"All passengers bound for England on flight 523 are now boarding."
Minako grabbed her bag, giving the airport one last look. She was the last to leave. The last to see their home.
The only one to know for sure, that Rei never came.
Preview Ch. 3
From: Vbabe hotmail
To: soulblaze hotmail
Rei,
Please forgive me. I- I'm sorry. Write me. Let me know you're fine. Alive would work too. But mostly please tell me that you still love me. I'm not too late. It's not too late for us.
I love you Rei. I'll find you and when I do I'll stay by your side forever.
Please write me Rei.
I miss you
I love you,
Minako