Disclaimer: With the exception of some OCs, all characters contained herein are the property of Naoko Takeuchi. Monetary profit was neither sought nor gained with the writing of this story.
Note: This symbol: 8~8~8 is being used for a minor scene separation, where the horizontal bar was a bit too much. Otherwise, horizontal bars indicate a scene change.
Ballads
A BSSM Fan Fiction
Chapter 1: Longing (Part 3)
As the elevator door opened with a common chime, Setsuna stepped out into the hallway which led to Michiru's door. Honoring Ami's request from the night before, she was on her way to check on Michiru before she set off to her post and a day's worth of interstellar guardianship. With coffee in one hand and a grocery bag in the other, she walked briskly down the long, narrow passageway, her feet falling lightly on the carpet. She was wearing sneakers today and their comfort was both greatly welcome and appreciated after yesterday's heels. Her thoughts were focused on the task at hand and her surroundings passed by unnoticed. However, the sound of a door shutting followed suddenly by footsteps coming her way drew her attention, and Setsuna stood to the side of the hallway as she watched the stranger approach.
Did that guy just come from Michiru's apartment, or her neighbor's? As the stranger drew closer, Setsuna was offered a slight bow and a quiet good morning, which she returned after a moment's hesitation.
Scratch that, she thought, as the stranger reached the elevator and pressed the call button. Did she just come from Michiru's room, or-
Setsuna's eyes suddenly grew wide, and as the stranger stepped onto the elevator, Setsuna was now running the last few steps to Michiru's door. Her worry was evident as her hands fumbled with the key to the apartment.
Not again. Please tell me it didn't happen again.
Pushing through the door, Setsuna didn't bother to slip off her shoes as she hurried to the bedroom, her coffee and shopping bag still in hand.
"Michiru!"
Setsuna stood in the open doorway and studied the bedroom, her eyes scanning for her friend.
"Michiru!"
"What is it, Setsuna?" Setsuna turned toward the weak voice to see Michiru step out of the adjacent bathroom, her cheeks flushed and a bathrobe pulled tight around her. Setting the bag on the floor, Setsuna reached out a tentative hand and grasped Michiru's shoulder.
"Michiru, are you okay? Did anything happen?" Michiru stared at the other woman for a moment and then slowly walked past her to sit on the edge of the bed.
"I'm fine, Setsuna. A little under the weather, but I'm alright. I don't really remember much after I left the club, but isn't that sometimes normal when a person goes drinking? I'm sure the fever didn't help at all, either. Obviously, though, I made it home safely, and I feel as though I slept a sufficient amount. I'm feeling a little better, though I'm not back to normal just yet. Now, would you mind telling me what's going on here? I only had a fever, granted a pretty high fever, but there's no reason for the 'overprotective big sister' act." Michiru glared at Setsuna with the best stare she could muster, though in her current state it was a far cry from the cold, scolding stare of Sailor Neptune. "Besides," Michiru continued, reclining into the covers of her bed, "didn't you just leave here? I woke up when I heard the door shut." Michiru closed her eyes and relaxed, but she bolted upright when she heard Setsuna's next words.
"That wasn't me, Michiru."
And suddenly, Setsuna's inquiry made sense. Michiru blanched not from fever but from fear, and she didn't move as Setsuna came to sit beside her.
"That wasn't me that you heard leaving, Michiru. I saw a woman I've never seen before in the hallway, just after I stepped off the elevator. It looked as though she might have left from here, so I rushed in here to make sure…"
Setsuna's voice trailed off, but it wasn't necessary for her to continue. Michiru now understood why her friend was worried: she wanted to make sure the events of two years ago had not been repeated; she wanted to make sure that Michiru had not again compromised her career and her life.
Setsuna watched as Michiru brought a hand to her mouth and ran back into the bathroom. Sighing, she stood from the bed and went to console her friend. Her visit to the Door of Space-Time would have to wait.
Hand in hand, Haruka and Hotaru made their way through the city, their destination not too far away. Haruka had arrived home that morning with the intention of driving Hotaru to school as a way to apologize for being late, as it was Hotaru's first day at her new school, but the energetic girl had refused to travel in any way but by foot, and Haruka soon found her mind occupied by only one thought.
Why did it have to rain last night?
As it was, Hotaru was happily splashing her way through every puddle in sight, with Haruka standing right beside her for every jump. To Haruka's relief, Hotaru's school soon came into view, and upon seeing it she quickly scooped the still splashing girl into her arms. Hotaru giggled at the action, and to Haruka's surprise the young girl did not protest to no longer being able to splash in each and every puddle. They continued a few moments in silence, enjoying the quiet morning, and had nearly reached their destination when Hotaru's curiosity grabbed hold of her.
"Papa, where were you last night? And why was it Fumi-neechan that woke me up this morning? I thought you would be home."
Pausing at the young girl's words, Haruka sat her down and knelt before her, gently placing her hand on the girl's shoulder.
I made a promise and broke it in just a few days. I'm sorry, Hime-chan.
"Haruka-papa, are you okay?"
Breaking out of her trance, Haruka stood and began walking again, then returned to the question she'd originally been asked. "I had a late meeting and something came up afterwards. I wasn't able to make it home until this morning. Don't worry though, Hime-chan; it won't happen again."
"Oh, I'm not worried, Papa. I knew you would come home, because you always do. Fumi-neechan's the one who was worried."
"Is that so?" Haruka asked as they reached the gate to the elementary school. Reaching down to adjust the cap of Hotaru's uniform, she was curious to receive an answer.
"Yes," replied Hotaru, striking a pose as she began to mimic the mentioned woman. "I swear, if that Tenoh doesn't get back here soon, I'll end up missing my date- er, meeting, and she'll surely regret that."
So that's why she was in such a hurry to leave this morning. Haruka could not help but to laugh at her daughter's expression, and watched as it changed from one of mimicked anger to confusion.
"Haruka-papa?"
"Yes, Hime-chan?"
"What's a dater?"
"A dater?"
"Fumi-neechan said she had a dater meeting this morning."
Haruka quickly realized her daughter's misunderstanding and began to walk Hotaru through the school's gate. Smiling, she told Hotaru it was another one of those things she'd understand when she was older, and the small girl began to pout at the answer.
"Taru-chan!"
Both Hotaru and Haruka turned to see who had called the girl's name, and Hotaru's pout soon turned into a large smile when she saw the girl running to catch up with her.
"Chibiusa-chan!" Hotaru cried, jumping and waving her arms excitedly. Haruka, however, was too lost in her own thoughts to notice the child next to her was currently jumping in a puddle.
Taru-chan?
"Hime-chan, who is she?"
"That's Chibiusa, Papa. She's the friend I made at the park the other day." Haruka nodded in understanding and Hotaru continued. "She's a year younger than me but she was smart enough to skip a grade, so now she's in my grade."
Haruka glanced back and forth between the two girls, Hotaru at her feet and Chibiusa who was still a little bit from the school gate. She remembers all this from such a short time together at the park? thought Haruka, looking at her daughter, and then she turned her gaze towards Chibusa. And she skipped a grade? It may have only been kindergarten, but still! How much could two little girls talk about in such a short amount of time, especially when they had only just met?
Haruka was torn from her thoughts, however, as the girl running towards them tripped and began to fall. Without needing time to think, Haruka rushed forward and caught the girl with one arm, her other hitting the pavement.
"Th-thank you," Chibiusa whispered, looking up to see who had saved her from guaranteed scraped knees and the worry of her parents. Her eyes caught a small smile on Haruka's face as the tall woman set her back on her feet.
"Wow, Haruka-papa! That was so cool!" Hotaru shouted, running to the other two. "I didn't know you could do something like that!"
Haruka smiled down at her daughter and patted her on her head. "Come now, Hime-chan, how old do you think I am?"
The two girls began laughing at the comment when Chibiusa suddenly stopped, having realized just who had caught her.
"Taru-chan, is this your papa?" she asked, looking between the two.
"Yes, it is," Hotaru replied proudly, the sentiment not going unnoticed by Haruka. "Chibiusa-chan, this is my Haruka-papa. Haruka-papa, this is Chibiusa-chan." The two indicated gave polite bows and then all three began to walk towards the school building as the warning bell sounded.
"It was nice to meet you," Chibiusa began, a bright smile on her face. "Taru-chan told me all about you. I'm sorry you got hurt catching me," she said, pointing to Haruka's arm.
All about me? Seriously, how much did they talk about in those fifteen minutes, two complete strangers who'd never met before?
"It was nice to meet you too, little one, and don't worry about the scrape; it's alright. Now get to class, you two. I'll not be blamed for your being late."
To Haruka's surprise, she was given a good-bye hug by not only Hotaru, but Chibiusa as well. The two then made their way into the building and Haruka turned to leave. She stood there a moment, looking out across the school yard deep in thought.
It wasn't me as Haruka that caught that little girl. I'm not sure, but for just a few seconds I think my powers kicked into action; but why would they? I did not summon them, I haven't for years, and I didn't intend to ever do so again, so why does it feel like that's what happened?
Haruka glanced at her arm and any doubts she had were cast away as the scrape she had received quickly healed and faded away.
Why? Why did my powers activate on their own will?
Sighing, Haruka began her trek home, ignoring the stares she received as her pants were now completely soaked thanks to Hotaru's puddle splashing.
Across the district from Juuban Elementary, Setsuna looked at the woman sleeping on the bed in front of her. Michiru was sleeping peacefully now, a drastic change from the scene fifty minutes ago. Sighing as she released Michiru's hand, Setsuna gave a frown at their current predicament.
The possibility of what could have happened the night before was too much for Michiru's already fragile system to handle, and as nausea settled in her fever quickly returned as well. She couldn't remember the events of the night before and she'd quickly fallen asleep as she searched her memories for anything that could be of use.
It'll be alright, I'm sure.
Their situation was, unfortunately, a familiar one, one for which Setsuna blamed the absent senshi of Uranus with the whole of her being.
If that woman ever shows her face again, I'll beat it.
It was Setsuna's belief that had Uranus not gone AWOL eight years ago, and Michiru had not had her heart broken, then the circumstances that led to the current event would never have occurred.
Setsuna loved and respected Michiru, just as she did all the others. However, when Michiru happened to fall in love with the silent and distant Uranus, Setsuna couldn't help but to think her a fool. She'd warned Michiru that her heart would be broken, but Michiru was stubborn and refused to believe her. When Setsuna's prediction came true, she hadn't expected that it would be at the same time that they lost Hotaru. That had been one of a pair of finishing blows.
None of us had even considered the possibility that Hotaru would not be saved.
At the time, they all believed that Hotaru would be returned to them. However, Pluto, Neptune, and even Uranus warned the others that when that time arrived, the adolescent Hotaru could not and would not be reunited with her father. When that time came, it had been decided that it would be their duty to care for the young girl. For her part, Michiru had been excited about the prospect of a family, something of which she'd not been a part of for quite some time.
Then, in one fell swoop, she lost everything. On that night eight years ago, the other in the pair of finishing blows was delivered as Michiru watched her first love cruelly turn her back and walk away, just minutes after Hotaru vanished from this world.
And now, every year since, her behavior grows reckless this time of year as she is reminded of what happened. She tries a little too hard to prove she's alright, that she's trying to move on from the past.
Setsuna stood from the bed with a heavy sigh and began walking toward the hallway when she suddenly faltered, catching herself on the bedroom doorway.
What was that just now?
The sound of bed sheets caught her attention, and as Setsuna turned around she was startled to find Michiru standing at the foot of the bed, her eyes wide open.
"Uranus."
It was just a small whisper, but Setsuna's eyes narrowed as she heard the name.
"Ura…nus." Michiru repeated the name and then stumbled a bit as she took a step forward, her hand outstretched. Setsuna closed the gap between them and caught the other woman, bringing her back to sit on the edge of the bed.
"Michiru?" Setsuna received no reply, and she called the woman's name again as she looked her in the eyes.
"Michiru?"
It was then that Setsuna realized that Michiru was, in fact, still asleep.
Sleep walking, huh?
Setsuna sighed in relief as Michiru's eyes fluttered shut, and she watched as the slow, steady rise and fall of a person sleeping returned to Michiru's chest. Adjusting the sleeping woman so that her head was now resting on the pillow, Setsuna pulled the covers over her and returned to the chair.
So… she was dreaming about her, right? The fact that this occurred in tandem with that energy spike is pure coincidence, right?
Right?
Rei sat before the flickering fire in deep concentration. The fire was to Rei what the violin was to Michiru: her greatest comrade. It was through the fire that Rei was best able to connect with her spiritual powers, an act for which she was most often rewarded with visions, though they were not always good. In past sessions her visions often forebode of impending doom, but now all she was ever shown were scenes of the past, of both times long ago in the Silver Millennium and times not so long ago, as with today's vision.
Today had brought the memory of a battered Sailor Moon holding a distraught Chibiusa, both crying over the loss of Hotaru.
This must be due to the anniversary last week.
It was not a happy memory for any of them, and Rei pushed through it, seeking a different time. For many years, Rei had been attempting to peek in on Neo Tokyo, the future of Japan. Yet, try as she might, she was only met with a haze of white.
Today, though, she was determined to change that. Drifting in the haze, her vision granted her nothing but white in every direction. This continued for many minutes, and as Rei was about to resign in frustration, she realized that a dark mist was encroaching on the white haze. It was faint, but it was there. As it drew closer, a brief, golden flash of light caught her attention, and the black mist withdrew into the horizon.
An energy spike. It lasted for only a second, and yet-
That was the first glimpse of the future I've seen in years.
Hoping to pursue the light, Rei was left empty-handed when it dawned on her that it was not only Rei Hino the priestess who'd sensed the energy, but also Sailor Mars, one of the guardians of the future royal family.
That means it was either a possible enemy or one of us, and if it was either of those options, surely I'd have received a message…
Her phone beeped just then, and as Rei withdrew from her meditation she found a message from Ami stating that her sensors had registered an energy pulse near Juuban Elementary and she was on her way to investigate.
Rei hurried out the door without bothering to change her clothes. The fact that the energy had been detected at the school was no coincidence. Juuban Elementary was Chibiusa's school, and with all of them silently keeping watch over her, anything to happen within a mile of the future princess was almost certain to be detected.
8~8~8
As she reached the school, Rei turned the corner to find that Ami and Minako had already arrived. They shared a small, hesitant laugh at each other's attire; Ami in a lab coat, Minako in pajamas, and Rei in her shrine robes.
"Where's Usagi-chan?" Rei asked, looking at Minako, who, pajama-clad or not, was still their leader.
"She's inside. She is Chibiusa's mother, after all, so she was allowed in to check on her daughter's safety. We'll call her once we can be sure there's no threat here."
Rei nodded in understanding of the instructions, and turned to look at the school gate.
"Who else is coming?"
"Mako-chan's on her way. I didn't message Michiru, because I'm sure she's still ill. I asked Setsuna to check-up on Michiru, so I didn't message her, either. Besides, I think today is her scheduled 'visit' to her post."
Minako nodded her approval of Ami's actions, and turned to Rei who was pacing in front of the gate.
"Calm down, Rei; I'm sure everything is fine. Chibiusa probably just got excited about something and her inherent powers reacted to the situation."
"Maybe," mumbled Rei, staring at the large iron gate. "Still, I wish this gate could tell us what it saw."
The sound of hurried footsteps approaching drew the attention of the three women, and they turned to see Makoto running towards them.
"Hey guys! What's with the costume party?" Makoto asked, out of breath from her jog. She had arrived in jeans and a light sweater, the only "normal" clothed of the group. She couldn't help but to laugh at the scene before her: a doctor, a miko, and a… bed head. Wincing as she received a hit from Minako, Makoto rubbed the small bump forming on her head.
"Don't get the wrong idea, Kino," Minako stated coolly. "I just ran from a photo shoot, not my bed. Now, let's start searching for any clues. Stay in civilian form if possible; don't transform unless it's necessary. I don't want to worry the others with a false alarm."
Nodding in consent, the four split up to search for any signs of danger. The search would conclude with them left empty-handed, but the day would end with an overly excited Usagi, who was ecstatic about her chance to spend the day at school with Chibiusa.
Minako had arrived at Michiru's apartment early the next morning with a disgruntled Rei in tow.
"You're right, I can never remember important things," she'd offered as an excuse for the other girl's presence, and Michiru invited the two of them in, smiling as an unhappy Rei was dragged inside. Minako led Rei to the nearby sofa as Michiru prepared some tea, and the banter between the two girls was an unusual but welcome occurrence in the normally quiet apartment.
"Thank you for coming today Minako-chan; Rei-chan." Smiling as she set the tray in front of them, Michiru sat down in an adjacent chair, Minako to her left and the windows across from her. "Due to time constraints I'd hoped to discuss things with you yesterday; I apologize for any trouble I caused." Michiru gave a slight bow in apology, and then took a tea cup from the tray.
"You were sick in bed all day, Michiru-san, nobody would blame you for not wanting to discuss things yesterday." Minako gave Michiru a warm smile, which Rei supported with a small nod. "Besides," she continued, "even I can tell that what you'd like to discuss is somehow beneficial to me, so it is I who should apologize for being a burden."
Rei stared at the girl next to her in disbelief, and the look did not go unnoticed by Michiru, who gave a small laugh before taking another sip of tea. Words were not needed; Michiru knew the look well enough to understand its meaning.
When did Minako come to be so mature? More importantly, though, Michiru realized that the two before her did not know what had happened the other day. In regard to the mystery stranger that brought her home, nursed her to health, and –
"Michiru-san?" Michiru blinked as a hand was waved before her.
"Are you sure you're not still ill? You kind of spaced out there."
"Yes, I'm fine," Michiru replied meekly, her eyes downcast. "I suppose I just have a lot on my mind."
"That's understandable. You do have a concert this weekend."
Michiru glanced up at Minako and only gave a small nod as a reply. The truth was, however, that her thoughts were focused on anything but the concert ahead. Ever since yesterday Michiru had felt that there was something different about her hom- her apartment. Knowing that a stranger had been in the room was enough to make it feel different, but the sensation Michiru felt was the opposite of what would be expected. Her apartment now gave her the impression of being warm and welcoming, the same feeling she had when she looked at the purple flowers on the table before her.
Wait… I had those flowers by the door!
Glancing over her shoulder, Michiru could see that the flowers she'd received from the young girl the other day were still by the door. As she turned her focus back to Minako, who was talking eagerly about what fun the club had been, another set of small purple flowers in the kitchenette caught her attention. Michiru's eyes widened as a new thought dawned on her.
Did that woman go to the park and get more flowers?
It was not an improbable idea. The park was only a few blocks away, and if she wanted, Michiru could watch over the park from her window. Her apartment's location had one of the best views of the park, but it was a place which held sad memories for her so she usually kept the curtains shut.
Michiru stood suddenly and moved to the window, her gaze settling on the field of purple below. Bracing herself with an unsteady hand on the window, Michiru was unable to move as everything suddenly began to make sense.
The curtains were open. That was why everything felt different. It was the reason that everything looked brighter, the reason why the room was more welcoming, and why the atmosphere was warmer. Michiru spun around and cast a glance over her surroundings to catch any more changes the stranger might have made.
"Michiru-san, are you alright? You're acting a bit odd; and I think you should sit down, you're ghostly pale." Rei was at her side now, taking her hand and leading her back to the sofa. Michiru sank into the cushions and looked up at Rei with a sigh. As they stared at each other, Michiru could see in the other girl's eyes that Rei knew something other than the concert was bothering her.
Minako was seated next to Michiru on the couch now, her face wrought with worry. She hesitantly reached out to place a hand on Michiru's arm, the other reaching up to Michiru's forehead.
"Minako-chan, I'm fine. I no longer have a fever."
"You might not be physically ill, Michiru-san, but you're definitely not 'fine.' Would it be too much to tell us what's going on here?"
Michiru glanced from Minako, who'd posed the question, to Rei, who stood hovering over her. Both were looking at her intently, and she knew there was no way she could not tell them.
"Alright," Michiru whispered, sighing in resignation. "I'll tell you what happened. But first," she sat up right now, and gestured for Rei to sit in the adjacent chair. "First, let's talk business, then we'll discuss my worries."
"Fair enough," Rei stated with a grunt, relaxing into the chair.
"Alright then Michiru-san, what is that you wanted to discuss?"
Michiru looked to Minako now with the best smile she could muster.
"Minako-chan, I'd like you to perform with me this weekend."
Setsuna returned home that morning exhausted, her mind swarming with worries and questions. Setting her things on a nearby table, she collapsed onto her bed with a sigh, an arm draped over her weary eyes. Her whole body ached from the stress of the week, and while a nice, hot bath could remedy that, she was too preoccupied to enjoy one. With another sigh, a wince, and a couple groans, she slowly rolled onto her back to stare at the ceiling.
Her main concern was Michiru. She'd only been able to stay at the other woman's apartment for a couple hours, and when she'd left they'd still come no closer to knowing what had happened the night before. While it didn't seem as though the stranger had done anything to bring harm to Michiru, they could not deny the fact that the person now knew who Kaioh Michiru, the violinist, really was, and armed with that knowledge they could threaten what remained of Michiru's career. Setsuna had spent a couple hours with Michiru, but eventually she could not postpone her trip any longer. She'd wanted to stay, but Michiru protested the idea, so Setsuna left the apartment, her destination: the Door of Space-Time.
That was where her next concern had developed. Eight years ago, the time stream of this world had slowed drastically, a situation which Setsuna believed to be directly related to the loss of Saturn and that woman's departure. A year later the future grew darker, a crisis that was resolved with the defeat of Chaos via Galaxia. The future was once again visible, and within a year time had begun to flow at a normal pace yet again, a development which all the senshi believed to be a sign that no future threats would arrive before Neo Tokyo. However, that was the problem; no matter how much time passed, the future that Setsuna saw never drew closer. And now, two months ago, darkness once again began to cloud the future of this world. It was still just a haze, so Setsuna had decided against worrying the others. If it grew darker, that decision would change. For now, she'd decided to increase the frequency of visits to the Door until she could figure out what was happening.
Her last concern was more a curiosity than a worry. That energy spike the other day had piqued her interest, and she hoped that Michiru's actions at the time were just pure coincidence. She'd have to ask the others if they found anything suspicious. Though they hadn't said anything about it to her, she knew they'd felt it as well, and it was likely that they'd done an investigation.
She reached a hand into her pocket to fetch her cell phone, and in doing so her hand brushed against the key to her apartment. She suddenly froze, and a frightening thought chilled her.
How did that woman enter Michiru's apartment? If she searched Michiru's purse for the key…
Setsuna suddenly sat up, a light sweat forming on her skin.
If she searched Michiru's purse for the key, she would have found her henshin pen.
Setsuna frantically flipped open her cell and scrolled to Michiru's number.
If that's the case, Michiru's in greater danger of blackmail than we first thought.
As her thumb moved to press the call button, Setsuna suddenly paused to look at the clock. Michiru was most likely meeting with Minako now, a meeting which Setsuna knew was important for both of their careers. Deciding against making the call, Setsuna slumped back into her bed, her weary body welcoming the soft cushion of the pillows and mattress. Yes, this was an important issue, one that required their attention. At this point, though, a few hours wouldn't make any difference, and the call to sleep was too hard to ignore.
"So what other changes has she made?" Rei asked sternly, glancing around the room. Michiru had just shared the story of the stranger who'd brought her home and taken care of her, though she didn't know how or why. Minako and Rei had apologized profusely, as what little Michiru did remember allowed her to know that sometime after she'd left the club she'd passed out and been found by this seemingly good Samaritan. The other two had felt guilty then for not escorting Michiru home, but Michiru told them not to worry about it. After all, it was she who had insisted that she didn't want anybody to walk with her.
"Aside from the purple flowers, the curtains, and a new welcome mat, there don't seem to be any major changes. It seems as though she may have tidied the place up a bit and dusted. She left a glass of water and some Alka-Seltzer on the night stand, for which I was extremely grateful, and I think she made breakfast, or at least tried to; there were burnt what I believed to be eggs in the wastebasket. Ah!" exclaimed Michiru, remembrance apparent in her eyes. "She may have tended to the laundry as well." Michiru gave a small, embarrassed smile as Rei and Minako stared at her, dumbfounded.
"So," began Minako, somewhat hesitant. "This stranger, a total hottie-"
"What?" shouted Rei, giving Minako a quizzical look. "Who said anything about this woman being a total hottie?"
"Because she just has to be, Rei! It's like a story straight from a shojō manga, so stop ruining my mental image! Now, where was I?" Minako turned back to Michiru, who had been laughing at the girls' antics.
"I believe you were at, 'a total hottie'," stated Michiru, a hand covering her amused smile.
"Yeah, so, this stranger, a total hottie, rescues you, brings you home, takes care of you while you're sick, goes out in the rain to pick you flowers to decorate, cleans your house, does your laundry, and tries to make you breakfast, and this is a bad thing?" Minako was standing now, out of breath and flabbergasted, with her hands in a gesture of confusion. With a sigh, Rei pulled Minako back down onto the sofa.
"Yes," replied Michiru calmly. "This is a bad thing because I don't remember any of this; this is all merely conjecture. All I know for sure is that a woman I don't know was in my apartment, and while she was apparently a very big help, I can't remember what happened. This is a bad thing because if this turns out to be anything like the last time I was reckless when I went out drinking, my very career could be in trouble."
Minako's mouth formed a small 'o', and Rei grunted her disapproval at the mention of two years ago.
"Still," Minako began, "it's a shame she didn't leave you with any contact information. This woman sounds like a keeper." Minako winked at Michiru, who simply cast her gaze aside with a slight blush. "I wish somebody would do all that for me." Shifting her gaze to Rei, Minako's eyes glistened with fantasies. "Won't you come do all that for me, Rei-chan? Please?"
"No!" Rei yelled, blocking the impending hug from Minako. "If you want somebody to wait on your every need, Minako, go find a boyfriend!"
"Aw, Rei-chan, you're so cruel!"
As Michiru made her way to the kitchenette to prepare a small lunch for the group, she couldn't help but to laugh at the two girls before her. Casting a glance through the open curtains, she was relieved to see that the bad weather of the past few days had finally ceased.
Haruka took a long drag on her cigarette as she stood staring out the open window of her home studio. She could see the bay, and while the rain had ceased, she could tell that the wind was still powerful enough to create large waves out on the water. Running a hand through her hair, she took a long breath and exhaled.
Another day full of employment failures.
That made five days in a row now. The third had been the day she'd struck out six times in one day and wound up drinking at a club downtown. She'd had a cigarette then and the day after, and here she was enjoying yet another. Sighing, she sat down on the open window's sill and propped a foot up for balance.
I'm beginning to rely on these things too much. Again.
The thought came to her as she inhaled the scent of the tobacco, then exhaled and watched as the wind carried the smoke away. Yes, it was her third cigarette in a week, let alone a month, but she'd be damned if she didn't deserve one, and she was sure that this one wouldn't be the last.
This can't go on; I need to find a job. My savings won't last forever.
Haruka closed her eyes as she thought back on the events of the past week. She'd been denied employment everywhere she'd applied, despite the fact that she had more than sufficient credentials for the low-level jobs to which she was applying. In fact, the highlight of the week had been her unusual run-in with Hotaru's beloved Kaioh Michiru, an event which she dared not tell the young girl.
Kaioh may have troubles, but at least she's employed.
Rubbing the back of her neck, Haruka sighed again and took another long drag. Just then, a knock sounded at the door, and Haruka didn't bother to move as she answered.
"Yes?"
"Haruka-papa, may I come in?"
Shit. Haruka quickly jumped off the windowsill and frantically searched for an ashtray.
"Just a minute, Hime-chan."
Rule number two: No smoking in front of Hotaru.
Finding an ashtray on the far wall, Haruka stubbed out the cigarette and raced back to the door. Opening it, she found Hotaru looking up at her wide-eyed.
"Well, don't just stand there. C'mon in, Hime-chan. Did you need something?" Haruka flashed the girl an innocent smile, which was answered with a quizzical look.
"I just finished my homework and wanted to see what you were doing. Papa, what's that funny smell?"
Ah, crap.
"Well," Haruka began, making her way back to the window sill. "Haruka-papa was just thinking a little too hard about some things, so all the gears in her head started smoking under the stress. They're not used to working that hard."
Hotaru stood looking at her with a look that screamed I'm six, not stupid; you expect me to believe that?, but before Haruka could make up another excuse, the young girl had shaken the whole thing off and wandered over to the studio's piano. As she pecked away at the keys, she began to beat out the old melody that Haruka had taught her.
"Haruka-papa?"
"Yes?" Haruka replied, moving to sit next to the young girl at the piano.
"Why don't you play the piano anymore?"
Reaching a hand out to the keys, Haruka added a simple harmony to the familiar melody her daughter was playing.
Why haven't I played lately?
"I guess… Papa liked racing better. I wanted to focus on being faster, so I didn't have as much time to play."
"Mmm." Hotaru climbed into Haruka's lap and rested her head on her papa's shoulder. Reaching out around the little girl, Haruka now rested both hands on the ivory keys. Slowly, she began to play the old melody she'd taught Hotaru, the one Haruka had learned from her mother. They stayed this way for quite a while, and Haruka found that her hands had begun to wander on the keys, expanding the song beyond the simple old melody.
"Papa?" whispered Hotaru, her voice betraying her sleepiness.
"Yes?" replied Haruka, lifting the small girl into her arms and planting a light kiss on her head.
"I like that song."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. I like when Papa plays the piano."
Humming the melody, Haruka stood and began to make her ways towards the door with the sleepy Hotaru still in her arms.
"Hey Papa?"
"Yes, Hime-chan?"
"I bet other people would like that song too."
"Is that so?"
"Mmm-hmm." Hotaru fought a small yawn and quickly fell asleep as Haruka paused in the doorway. Turning back to face the piano, a small smile graced her face, and she bent down to place another kiss on Hotaru's forehead.
"Thank you, Hotaru. You were a big help."
Shutting the door to the studio, Haruka carried the sleeping child down the hallway to her bedroom, only to return to the studio a few minutes later, Hotaru tucked safely into bed. Carrying a near empty pack of cigarettes, Haruka quickly lit one, took a small drag, and went to grab the ashtray from the table in the corner. Returning to the piano, she took a seat on the bench and set the tray to the side. A minute later, the old melody again resounded throughout the house before drifting out the open window, carried by the wind through the night sky.
Hotaru awoke the next morning, sat up, and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Her hands drifted down to her sides as realization slowly dawned on her, and her sleepy morning smile was quickly replaced by a triumphant grin.
Tenoh Hotaru, age six, had just discovered the secret to avoiding a night time bath. All she had to do was fall asleep before bath time. She liked sleeping better than bath time, so this plan was acceptable. With this new knowledge at hand, she decided that today would be as good a day as any to sneak in and wake up her Haruka-papa.
Being careful to make as little noise as possible, Hotaru quickly slipped from her covers and tip-toed to her bedroom door. Opening it just wide enough to peek out, she quickly glanced right, then left, and right again before creeping into the hallway. Staying tight to the wall, she swiftly made her way down to Haruka's room and slowly opened the door. Eyeing the big bed inside, she paused, took a deep breath, and exhaled quietly.
1…2…3!
"Good morning, Haruka-papa!" she shouted, running towards the bed and then going airborne with a big, flying leap. Giggling at the success of her attack, she forcefully landed on… an empty bed.
"Huh?" Looking at the empty covers beneath her, the confusion was evident in her eyes. She had come to wake up her Haruka-papa, but Haruka-papa wasn't there.
Where-
"Looking for me, Hime-chan?"
Hotaru turned in surprise to find Haruka in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe. She had a towel draped over her shoulder and her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows.
Uh-oh, thought Hotaru, as she climbed out of the big empty bed. Seeking a solution to this latest development, she quickly ran over to Haruka and wrapped her in a big hug. Scrunching her nose in disgust, she glanced up at Haruka, who was running a hand through the young girl's hair.
"Haruka-papa, you smell funny, like the smell from yesterday." Hotaru felt Haruka's hand stop, and she buried her scowling face into Haruka's shirt. "I don't like it."
"Well," Haruka began, taking a step back from Hotaru and kneeling to match the young girl's height. "I think it smells better than a certain trouble maker who didn't take a bath last night."
Hotaru's eyes widened in fear, a sign which Haruka recognized, and she quickly snatched the girl into her arms before she could escape. Squirming in an attempt to get away, and yet giggling all the while, Hotaru protested their trip to the bath that Haruka had prepared.
"C'mon, Hime-chan. You didn't think that I'd let you get away with not taking a bath, did you?" Hotaru shook her head 'no', but the look in her eyes betrayed her, and Haruka laughed as she dunked the now pajama-less Hotaru into the warm bath water.
"First a bath, and then breakfast," Haruka stated as she sat down on the edge of the large, Western-style tub. "After that, Papa needs to go back into the studio room, so Fumi-chan will be here in a little while to walk you to school."
Hotaru nodded in understanding as she played with the bubbles on the water's surface. Perhaps, not everything about bath time was so bad after all. Still, she'd be a fool not to try to get out of bath time again tomorrow.
Minako was surprised to find that she had arrived at the studio first, a situation which was so unfamiliar that she stepped back out into the hallway to double check the room number. Shrugging off the unusual feeling of being on time, Minako once again entered the studio and sat down on the piano bench to wait.
Yesterday, Michiru had invited her to perform at the concert this coming weekend, as well as at a charity event a couple weeks from now. After leaving her friend's apartment, Minako had gone straight to her talent agency, and the collaboration was quickly approved. Informing Michiru by text message that everything was set-and-ready, Minako had stopped in at Crown to treat herself to videogames and ice cream before she finally went back home.
Sighing, Minako rested her chin in her hands and thought about what Michiru had told her yesterday about the other night. Although Minako could understand Michiru's fears, the goddess of love inside her couldn't help but to daydream about the whole situation.
In one of her darkest hours, Michiru was rescued and cared for by some unknown stranger.
The whole idea made Minako tingle with excitement. She wanted to find this person. It was Minako's belief that this person was the key to breaking Michiru's devotion to a certain someone who had cruelly abandoned her eight years ago. Unfortunately, there were no leads. The storybook ending Minako desired for her friend was not meant to be.
For now, I'll have to focus on adaptation and practice.
The plan for today was to adapt some of her songs so that Michiru could accompany her, and if time permitted she would sing some new lyrics for one of Michiru's songs. Then it would be practice the rest of today, all day tomorrow, and the morning of the concert.
The door opened then and Minako jumped up excitedly. Michiru promptly entered, violin in hand, followed by a tall, pale middle-aged man Minako figured to be the piano accompanist.
"Good morning!" Minako called, beaming at the two musicians. The three wasted no time, and music soon drifted out of the studio.
"And then I turned around, and there was Haruka-papa in the doorway with a towel on her shoulder. That's when I knew I was in trouble."
Fumi nodded and sighed as Hotaru told her the story of the morning's events for the third time on their way to the elementary school. She couldn't blame the little girl for her excitement, though. Hotaru had thought she'd gotten away with not taking a bath, only to have her hopes dashed just a few minutes later. And, to the best of Fumi's knowledge, Hotaru had never tried to get away with anything.
"Ah, look! There's my school!" exclaimed Hotaru, releasing her grip from Fumi's hand and running up to the gate. "And this is the exact spot where Haruka-papa did a super awesome move and caught my friend Chibiusa when she was falling."
Fumi simply nodded again, as she'd heard this story quite a few times over the past two days. Noticing that the over-energetic girl had grown quiet, Fumi looked down to see Hotaru looking off into the distance, a curious look in her eyes.
"Is something wrong, Hotaru-chan?" Fumi asked, kneeling before the little girl and adjusting her uniform.
"Well, the other day when Papa did that super awesome thing and caught Chibiusa, she scratched her arm up pretty bad. But this morning during my bath, her sleeves were rolled up, and there were no scratches on her arm."
Hotaru was looking at Fumi now with a look of pure bewilderment, and as Fumi stumbled to provide an answer she didn't know, the look quickly left Hotaru's face as it was replaced by the familiar look she wore when she'd been assigned an important task. Reaching into her pocket, Hotaru withdrew a folded piece of paper and handed it to Fumi.
"What's this?" asked Fumi, taking the paper and rising to a standing position.
"Dunno; I can't read that much. Haruka-papa said to give it to you when we got to school."
Fumi shot Hotaru a quizzical look and then opened the note. Seeing the look on Fumi's face as she read the note, Hotaru gave her best impression of Haruka as she delivered a stern message.
"I know they're bad for me, but buy some anyway."
"Huh?" Fumi blinked, looking down at the little girl.
"Haruka-papa said that you would probably make a sour face, and that if you did, I'm supposed to tell you, 'I know they're bad for me, but buy some anyway'."
Smiling at Hotaru's impression of Haruka, Fumi reached out a hand to tousle Hotaru's hair.
"Alright, Hotaru-chan, message delivered. Now, get to class; you don't want to be late!" Hotaru nodded a confirmation and began running away when she turned back to Fumi.
"Fumi-nee, if they're bad for Haruka-papa, I don't think you should buy them, whatever they are."
"Don't worry about it," Fumi replied, waving the girl away. "It'll be alright, I'm sure." It had better be alright. Hotaru stood still a moment and stared at Fumi before finally turning and running into the school.
What an intimidating stare, thought Fumi, turning her back to the school and heading for the gate. She paused and turned when she heard Hotaru call out to her.
"I bet Haruka-papa's secretly a superhero! That's why her arm is all better! That's why she'll be okay with those bad things she asked for!" Hotaru shouted with a grin.
Haru-nee, a superhero? Yeah right. Fumi chuckled as she gave a wave and continued in the direction from which they'd come. Stopping in at a nearby convenience store, she purchased two packs of the import cigarettes, then paused a moment as she stepped back outside.
Haru-nee, why are you smoking again? The last time you smoked this much was eight years ago.
Makoto took a look around the small bakery and sighed. Resting her chin in her hands, she watched as dozens of people walked by, not one of them stepping through the doorway. In need of something to do, she slowly withdrew from the counter and began the task of watering the flowers that decorated the eating area.
Working at the bakery was a full-time job for Makoto. It was a way for her to pay the bills, namely the tuition at the culinary school, and to keep her from depleting her parents' insurance money. It was enjoyable enough, but there were some days, like today, when customers were few and far between, and Makoto soon grew bored.
Today's down time was an exception. Instead of growing bored, Makoto's thoughts kept returning to the text message she'd received from Rei yesterday afternoon. She'd be lying if she said the news hadn't disturbed her. After leaving Michiru's with an elated Minako in tow, Rei had texted to inform Makoto about what had happened to Michiru after she left the club the other night. Makoto had spent the time since feeling guilty, wishing she had ignored Michiru's protests and walked her to the station, if not all the way home.
Pausing to watch the people outside, Makoto smiled at a young couple that was pointing at the displays in the window.
C'mon, come in and buy something. Give me something to do!
As the young couple walked away sharing a laugh over something the man had said, Makoto heaved a sigh and grabbed a nearby broom. Sweeping away at nothing, she hummed Minako's latest single as she attempted to occupy her brain with happier thoughts. A few minutes and window shoppers later, Makoto received another text, again from Rei.
[Meet at the shrine tomorrow. Don't tell Minako, Michiru, or Usagi; the first two have enough to focus on, and Usagi worries too much.]
Makoto returned her phone to the pocket of her apron and leaned against the broom.
A secret meeting, huh? It's been years since we've had one of those.
The bell on the door caught her attention, and Makoto spun around to see a small group of high school girls had entered the bakery.
"Welcome!" she called, making her way back to the register. Finally, something to do! "How can I help you today?"
Giggling all the while, the young girls made their selections and then sat at the table nearest the windows. Makoto returned to occupying herself with small tasks, and was surprised to find that her thoughts returned not to the texts she'd received, but rather to the young couple she'd seen earlier.
Ah, to be young and in love.
Makoto caught herself blushing as an outburst of giggles from the high school girls brought her back from her daydreams.
Setsuna accepted the tea cup Rei offered her with a smile, and then stole another quick glance at the clock on the wall. It was a few minutes after one o'clock and she'd left work early today to be here at the shrine. Makoto had arrived a few minutes before Setsuna and had helped herself to the small kitchen; she was now busy preparing a light lunch, something they could eat and at the same time accomplish what they'd all come here to do.
Rei took a seat opposite Setsuna and spread a newspaper neatly before her. Sneaking a peak at what had caught the girl's attention, Setsuna could see it was the political section, full of briefings and summaries on the latest regulations and developments that had occurred within Japan's governing bodies.
Like father like daughter, thought Setsuna, though she'd never admit it.
Senator Hino, Rei's father, was now Prime Minister Hino, and though she wore an air of indifference, the others could tell that Rei was proud of her father despite their past aggressions. The now Prime Minister Hino was the youngest in Japan's history to hold the position, though his rise into it was not without controversy. His opponent, who was older and had been involved in politics longer, was expected to be the favorite, but the voice of the people proved otherwise.
What was that man's name again? Taizō, maybe?
Ironically, Rei's father now seemed to have more time to devote to repairing his relationship with his daughter than he did as a senator, despite the increased political strife that accompanied his victory and promotion.
And that time together appears to have had an effect on her. Casting a glance at Rei, who remained oblivious to Setsuna's ponderings, Setsuna couldn't help but to think about the kind of politician Rei was bound to become, both leading up to and throughout Neo Tokyo. Setsuna and the others all expected that Rei would follow in her father's footsteps, though they would never tell her that. It was a path which Rei had to recognize on her own.
Setting her tea cup on the table, Setsuna decided to simply relax and enjoy her time away from the office. The sound of a door sliding open caught her attention, and as she turned she was met with the image of an out-of-breath Ami stooped over in the doorway.
"Sorry… I'm late," panted Ami, standing up to slip off her shoes.
"That's fine, Ami-chan. Mako-chan's still preparing the food anyway." Rei stood to offer Ami a hand and walked the worn-out girl to the table. "What'd you do, Ami-chan? Run up all the steps to the shrine?"
Rei and Setsuna couldn't help but to laugh as Ami suddenly froze, wide-eyed.
"Guilty as charged," whispered Ami, stretching her arms and resting her head on the table in a very un-Ami-like manner. "I got held up in class, and it was already so late, so I thought-"
"You thought you'd make up some time by taking the steps two at a time, huh?"
The three turned to the newly arrived Makoto, who was hiding behind a tray of sandwiches and snacks. As she approached the table she set the tray between them and then took a seat opposite Ami.
"You're too easy to read, Ami-chan," Makoto stated, passing out the sandwiches. "Out of shape, too; as a senshi, you shouldn't be panting that much." Setsuna and Rei both laughed as Ami blushed at Makoto's teasing.
"Well, you can't blame her, Mako-chan," Rei offered in Ami's defense. "We've all fallen a bit behind in our training. We haven't done anything more than a few patrols in the past six years."
"Hey!" Makoto shouted. "Speak for yourself, Hino; I work out every week." Setsuna couldn't help but to laugh at their banter. Rei and Makoto were now being scolded by Ami for their childish behavior. Clearing her throat, Setsuna gained the attention of the other three and quickly sought to bring the discussion around to the topic they had gathered to discuss.
"It is that very reason we are here, though, is it not? It has been too quiet for years, and suddenly, just a few days ago, we had that energy spike." Seeing the younger girls staring at her in disbelief, Setsuna gave a small smirk and continued. "What? I'm a senshi too, you know; don't think I didn't sense that energy spike. And, don't think I didn't know you went to investigate it." The others turned away, embarrassed at having been so predictable. "So, tell me," Setsuna ventured. "What did you find?"
Makoto and Ami looked at Rei, their second-in-command. Noticing their looks, Rei set down the sandwich she'd been eating and took a sip of her drink.
"The energy spike registered at Juuban Elementary, roughly a few minutes before classes were to start. When I arrived there I was able to sense a faint, lingering power in front of the gate; I believe that's where it occurred. We searched the grounds but found nothing. Minako accredited it to Chibiusa, believing she subconsciously tapped into her latent power in excitement."
"It lasted for only a few seconds," chimed in Ami, retrieving a small computer from her bag. "I've increased the range of the monitors at the school by two hundred yards, just to be safe."
Setsuna nodded to show she was listening, and Rei took it as a cue to speak up again.
"I didn't tell Minako yet, but when I returned back to the shrine that afternoon I tried focusing on the latent power I sensed by the gate. I wasn't able to learn anymore, but I did get the feeling that this wasn't a negative energy."
"Ura…nus."
Setsuna's eyes widened as the memory of Michiru's actions returned to her, but her reaction went unnoticed by the others.
"Well, that's a relief," sighed Makoto, voicing what she and the others felt. "Still, I can't help but to be a little nervous."
"That's why I asked you here, Mako-chan," Rei asserted as she took another sip of her drink. "And you, too, Ami-chan. Minako and Michiru will be busy with the concert a couple weeks from now, and Usagi is busy caring for Chibiusa. I don't want any of them to have to worry about this. If something comes up, I want the three of us to handle it without bothering them." Makoto and Ami nodded their consent, the strength of Jupiter and Mercury present in their eyes.
"And me?" Setsuna asked.
"I wanted to ask you about the future," Rei replied, the leadership of earlier no longer present in her voice.
"I'm listening." Seeing Rei's glances to Makoto and Ami, Setsuna quickly added, "These two stay. They'll need to hear as well."
Nodding, Rei shifted her position and took a deep breath. Looking Setsuna in the eyes, she began her inquiry.
"Setsuna-san, I know you have rules you must follow, and that there are some things you cannot tell us. I also know that what you can see is not definite."
"That is all true," Setsuna confirmed. "The future I see is simply a possible outcome of the current situations of the present. If you start dating a man tomorrow, I'll see him in your future. This doesn't mean that is the set-in-stone outcome; the minute you break up, he'll disappear from the future. Every little thing you do has a great effect on the future."
"I understand," answered Rei, hesitant to continue. After a few moments of quiet, she spoke again. "Setsuna-san… when you went to the Door of Space-Time the other day… was the future still visible?"
Setsuna looked at Rei for a moment, the question left hanging in the air. Studying the younger woman, she tried to understand the meaning behind the question. For Setsuna, the future wasn't something she did or didn't see. Rather, the future was either good or bad.
"I take it your visions are still failing you, Rei?" Rei bowed her head, and Setsuna paused a moment before she continued. "Neo Tokyo is still there, lingering in the distance. There are small changes made to the future every day. However, I think a big change is about to happen. Good or bad, I don't know, but there is a haze settling over the current future."
Makoto gulped audibly, and then quickly stood from the table.
"Any of you want more?" she asked, clearing the empty plates from the table. The others shook their heads 'no', and Makoto quickly left the room, only to return a moment later, empty-handed.
"Rei-chan, are you okay? You're awfully pale."
Rei turned to Ami, her first movement in a few minutes. Reaching a handkerchief to Rei's face, Ami wiped away the beads of sweat that had appeared on the other girl's brow.
"Rei-chan," Ami began, concern evident in her voice. "Is it possible that what Setsuna-san just told us collaborates with something you saw in your visions?"
Rei, unable to speak, only shook her head in affirmation. Deciding to give Rei some time to collect her thoughts, Setsuna excused herself and stepped outside to check her phone. Looking at it, she realized that she was yet to inform Michiru that it was possible her identity as Neptune had been compromised; then Rei's words repeated in her mind.
"They're busy with the concert; I don't want to worry them right now."
Sighing, Setsuna returned the phone to her pocket with a smile. They've grown up; they've all become respectable adults. Returning inside, Setsuna found that Makoto had taken the opportunity to introduce a small cake, one she recognized as being a specialty from the bakery where the aspiring chef worked. As Setsuna sat down, Rei spoke again, her voice calm yet emotionless.
"I saw a dark mist consuming the white mist that represents the future in my visions. I was going to pursue it when the flash of that energy spike forced it to retreat, if only temporarily."
Taking a moment to think about this latest development, Setsuna took a small bite of cake, and then another as the sweet taste filled her mouth.
"I can always get you more cake, Setsuna-san."
Setsuna looked at Makoto, spoon in mouth, and smiled in embarrassment. As she took another bite, she reached for a napkin to wipe her mouth and then took a sip from her refilled tea cup.
"Rei, I think that for now, at least, everything will be okay. It would be best for us to just sit tight and see if anything happens. Hopefully, this is all just temporary; the result of someone's confusion or doubt, and not a threat to Neo Tokyo."
Nodding in agreement, Rei turned to see that Makoto and Ami were doing the same.
"Alright, Setsuna-san, I understand. Mako-chan, Ami-chan, just stay alert and keep an eye out for anything unusual. Contact me, not Minako; at least until the charity event is over." Again the other two nodded in understanding, and it was Makoto that decided to break the somber atmosphere with small talk.
"So, Setsuna-san, did you hear that Ami-chan had a date a few days ago?" Makoto was smiling widely, and as Ami turned beet red the others couldn't help but to laugh.
"A date, huh, Ami?"
"Yeah, how'd that go, Ami-chan?" Rei asked, interest clearly present in her voice. Ami, embarrassed, was unable to answer.
"He wasn't the one," Setsuna answered for the shy young woman. Ami stared at Setsuna, wondering how she could know, but then remembered exactly who the older woman was and the conversation they'd just held.
"No, he wasn't," Ami started. "He was… nice, but… I don't know. He seemed a bit boring, and that's saying something when I think so. And… he was a bit too traditionalist; he didn't seem as though he would support my having a career, and being a doctor is one of the things I want most in life."
"And a damn good doctor you'll be," asserted Makoto, the others agreeing.
"Thanks, Mako-chan. I guess… the best thing would be to say it just didn't feel right sitting there with him; it was almost… uncomfortable. He couldn't make me laugh, he couldn't hold my interest. It wasn't nearly as fun as being with all of you and the others. I think dating just isn't my thing, but that's okay, because when I'm with all of you I'm more than happy." Ami looked up smiling then, a slight blush on her cheeks, and Rei and Setsuna would have to have been blind not to see Ami's gaze unintentionally come to rest on Makoto, who had busied herself with the task of clearing the dessert plates. Then, as the conversation took another direction, Makoto sighed in relief, an act which also did not go unnoticed by Rei or Setsuna.
Eventually, Ami would return back to school, Makoto would walk with her on her way home to prepare a "Concert Eve Dinner", and Setsuna would stop in at work again before going home. Rei was left with a suddenly empty room, and her attention was soon drawn back to the newspaper.
End Chapter 1, Part 3
As before, reviews are welcome. (Please be gentle.)
