THE BIRTH OF CRYSTAL TOKYO
Chapter 7: "For The Opposition"
A Sailor Moon fanfic
By Bill K.
In a hospital room in Niigata, Junko Tenoh sat in her bed practicing writing with a large pencil that a first grade student would use. The hard casts on her arms and chest had recently been replaced by splints and she was now free to build the strength back up in her arms. But the frustration at not being able to make a single digit without her arms shaking made her grit her teeth. She had been practicing for several days now and her control wasn't getting any better.
"Don't worry," her father gently advised her. "It'll come."
Her father had, with some exceptions, been by her bedside for the past three weeks. He sat with her. He read to her. He watched television with her when the broadcast networks came back on. He fed her while she was in the hard casts and wiped her chin when she was free of the casts and tried to feed herself. Gert Tenoh doted on her like a parent who had come perilously close to losing a child. He also doted on her like an old man who didn't have anything else.
"Yeah, but when?" Junko exclaimed. "I didn't write this badly when I was five."
"Actually, you did," Gert smiled, one of the few times he smiled anymore. "But you got better then. You'll get better now. Your arms have been inactive too long. You need to build up your muscles again." For a moment he seemed like her old dad.
"I could say the same about you," Junko replied. "You sit too much. If you don't give your legs more exercise, one of these days you won't be able to get up out of that chair."
"I'm an old man," Gert sighed. "It's too late for me."
And he lapsed back into the melancholy that had been his mood for much of his stay since he arrived from Tokyo three weeks ago.
"Dad," Junko ventured. "Are you up to talking about Mom now?"
A look of immense sadness crossed his face and Junko immediately regretted bringing it up. But then he sighed with resignation.
"What do you want to know?" he said softly.
"Did she suffer?"
Gert exhaled. "I hope not. When I woke up, I looked for her. She was laying on the kitchen floor. I tried to wake her up," and he paused to let some emotion pass, "but she was gone."
"I still can't believe it. I'm never going to see her again," Junko mused. "What are you going to do, Dad? Going to go back to the bank?"
"I suppose," Gert said unenthusiastically. "When you're well."
"They going to let you do that?"
"I think they will," Gert said. Then he shrugged. "If they don't, I quit."
"Dad," Junko fumed impotently.
"You don't worry about it," Gert told her. "You just get well."
Gert noticed that Junko was looking at the door. He glanced over and saw Haruka and Michiru framed in the doorway. Scowling, he pried himself out of his chair.
"I go make some calls," he grunted.
"Dad, you don't have to go," Junko told him. But Gert shuffled out of the room. He didn't speak, look or acknowledge the couple and they didn't acknowledge him. Junko frowned. "Honestly, I don't know which one is more stubborn: You or him."
"You," Haruka replied. "You won't get it through your head that this bridge has been burned." She sauntered up and glanced at the sheet of paper in front of Junko. "You're getting better. I can tell what the numbers are supposed to be now."
"Bite me," Junko shot back. "How do you put up with her, Michiru?"
"I married her for her looks," Michiru responded. "What's the prognosis on your injuries?"
"Well it doesn't hurt to breathe anymore," Junko reported. "Doctor says I get the splints off in two weeks and two more weeks of physical therapy after that. I'm hoping I'll be done with it before classes start in September - - if classes start in September."
"I saw the campus on the way up," Michiru nodded. "A lot of it held up. I wouldn't worry."
"So have you voted yet?"
"I'm not registered up here," Haruka shrugged.
"Haruka!" gasped Junko. "This is only the most important change in our governmental system since the end of World War II!"
"I'll take what comes," Haruka replied. "If they want Dumpling as their queen, OK. If not, I'll live with the old system."
"Don't be too hard on her, Junko," Michiru smiled. "Haruka was occupied with other things and hasn't really thought about the referendum."
Realizing the implications of that statement, Junko glared impatiently at her older sister. Haruka returned her stare unapologetically. There were things to her that were more important than politics and government.
Rei heard the door of the shrine slide open and then shut. Someone was seeking enlightenment she really didn't feel like giving. But the priest went to see who it was, because ever since Knorr she really didn't feel like being alone for prolonged periods.
Entering the outer room, she found Serenity.
"Rei," Serenity offered contritely. "I'm sorry about what I did. How can I make it up to you?"
"I'm not sure you can," Rei replied, looking away.
"Rei, don't be like this!" Serenity pleaded.
"Me? You altered my brain," Rei shot back with animation she hadn't shown since returning from the other dimension, "WITHOUT TELLING ME! And you don't even realize what you did! You come in here begging forgiveness like you missed a lunch date!"
"I do understand," Serenity told her contritely. "I was wrong. It's just - - getting so easy to use this power. I figured as long as I was helping someone, what did it matter if I asked permission."
"Well that's something you have to remember now," Rei stated firmly. "Because you're above us all now. Maybe not in here," and she pointed to her head, then to her heart, "and maybe not in here. But that crystal makes you as far above us as we are to a fly. You can't afford to be 'impulsive Usagi' anymore. And we certainly can't afford it. Not if you're going to lead an entire country. And not if you're going to be that woman we met in the thirtieth century."
And a sensation flashed through Rei's mind. It was a sense of Serenity's deep remorse and her overwhelming fear that she'd lost Rei as a friend forever. It was like her second sight had blinked back on and then receded to wherever it was hiding. But was it her second sight? Or was it something Serenity had planted in her mind, like her sudden and overwhelming desire to marry Derek had been planted? She just couldn't be sure.
"I will, Rei!" Serenity said, suddenly lunging forward and grasping the priest by the shoulders. "I'll learn! I swear! Just please forgive me! I don't want to lose you! Not as a friend or a senshi or an advisor or . . .!"
Serenity still touching her, Rei seized up rigid. Her eyes bulged and her mouth parted in horror. Scared, Serenity snatched her hands away and put them to her mouth. Gradually Rei relaxed. She sagged against a wall and slid down until she was sitting on the floor, her arms limp and trembling.
"I'm sorry," Serenity sniffed. Turning, she glided forlornly out of the shrine.
Rei absently brought her hands up to her throat. She sat there for a few moments, trying to gather her strength back. Swallowing several times, the priest brought a shaky arm up and engaged her senshi communicator.
"M-Minako?" she whispered into the device.
"Rei?" came the report. "What's wrong?"
"I-I need to speak to you."
From his office in the Diet, Jinro Takahashi had been making calls, trying all the last ditch efforts he could think of to avert what his political senses were telling him. If what he suspected was right, this could be his last day in office. He was doing all he could to avert that.
"Let me put you on hold, Kaioh-San," Takahashi said into his phone. "I'm being paged by my assistant." He paused for the response. "Very well. But this is a serious matter. I'd like to know I can count on your support."
Frowning at the response, Takahashi disconnected and pushed the button to connect with his assistant.
"Hideki Akutsuki wishes to see you," the assistant told him. Hideki Akutsuki was the CEO of Rising Sun Telecommunications, a major government contractor for decades and one of Takahashi's close associates. Takahashi buzzed him in eagerly.
"Akutsuki," Takahashi rose and greeted the man. Akutsuki was fifty-nine, with gray hair and a gray mustache, thick black horn-rim glasses resting on a flat, drawn face, and pinched eyes behind the thick lenses. His slight frame was draped in a gray suit. Usually confident and controlled, the man now seemed nervous.
"Is it going to happen, Takahashi?" Akutsuki asked anxiously. "Are we going to just hand the government over to this magical girl?"
"Not if I can help it," Takahashi assured him.
"Can you help it?" Akutsuki demanded. "I've heard the speculation. The people are either enchanted by her celebrity or her charm, or they're disenchanted with the government. How can you say she won't be Emperor tomorrow - - or Queen or whatever?"
"What do you think I've been doing here? I've pulled in every favor, done everything I know to do to sway this referendum our way." Takahashi leaned back. "And even if it does go against us, it's not the end of the world."
"Not the end of the world?" demanded Akutsuki. "I've heard some of the proposals this 'Endymion' has been floating about re-examining government purchasing procedures, breaking long-standing relationships, eliminating amakudari! Rising Sun depends on those government procurements! We're heavily invested in this! The loss of even one of those contracts would be a severe blow, particularly now when we have to expend so much in repair and maintenance on our production facilities because of the disaster!"
"Akutsuki," Takahashi tried to calm him.
"Don't forget that you're as heavily invested in this as I am!" Akutsuki continued. "You've profited as much as I have from these government partnerships! I've contributed heavily to your party! I've given cushy jobs to more than one of your losing and retiring candidates! You need to do something!"
"A wise man doesn't try to fight a hurricane," Takahashi replied. "A wise man takes steps to insure that he's still standing after the hurricane has passed. Rest assured, it's handled, Akutsuki."
"How?"
"Do you really want to know?" Takahashi asked him.
"Yes," Akutsuki nodded firmly. "This is my future I'm gambling with, and the future of my company. If the game has been rigged, I want to know which number to bet on."
"Do you know Yoshiki Morobishi?"
Akutsuki scowled. "I have to deal with his Sokaiya at every board meeting. That parasite is going to bleed me dry some day." He grew serious. "How is Morobishi involved in this?"
"I've contracted with him to make certain that Sailor Moon's reign as queen is a short one," Takahashi said bluntly.
"So it's come to that?" Akutsuki scowled.
"You're not opposed to it, are you?"
Akutsuki exhaled. "I suppose it's her or us. I hope you can rely on this Yakuza thug, Takahashi."
"I think so," Takahashi replied. "Killing is one of the things the Yakuza is very proficient at."
"And in the referendum to decide whether Japan continues as a legislative democracy or reverts back to a monarchy, the vote tally so far is still a lead for the monarchy," reported the anchor at the network news desk. "Vote counting has been hampered by unreliable communications in parts of Japan, particularly in the northern prefectures, owing to as yet incomplete restoration of utilities and facilities damaged in the ice disaster of one month ago."
"What's to decide?" howled Minako as she paced back and forth behind a sofa in the palace. She and the other senshi were gathered in a room furnished with amenities to make the room a social gathering place for the palace residents. In addition to the senshi, Makoto's family and Ami's husband were present, as were Luna and Artemis. Even Rei had emerged from the shrine, though she seemed depressed and edgy. Derek was with her and she was nestled next to him.
Conspicuous by their absence was Serenity, Endymion and Setsuko.
"Not everyone is comfortable with a return to a centralized monarchy," Ami responded. She sat next to Hayami, her glasses pulled down on her nose to view the wide screen television they were all watching.
"Yes, what looked to be a victory by acclamation just one month ago," a television political analyst stated on the television, "is a lot closer now. It seems to be an indication in my opinion that the country has had a chance to step back and realize all the benefits they receive from a legislative democracy. In my opinion, this is a sign that there is a large segment of the public that is reluctant to vote those benefits away."
"Or they're reluctant to invest so much power in one individual," added a second commentator.
"Yeah, like the Diet has done such a great job," muttered Makoto. Ichiro was asleep and resting against her right hip, while Akiko struggled to stay awake on her left.
"Well, with a democracy, you can always theoretically vote out poor or unresponsive governments," Hayami offered up. "With a centralized monarchy, your only means of redress is revolution. I imagine a lot of people are influenced by that corollary."
"And for me, the only question is do you trust the Diet or do you trust Sailor Moon," Makoto answered. Then she shook her head. "Serenity. Gods, I keep calling her Sailor Moon!"
"That's one more yen in the kitty," Sanjuro smiled and tapped her on the arm. Makoto made a face at him.
"With most of the returns from the major urban areas counted, the pro-monarchy side holds a four percent lead over the pro-democracy side," the newscaster reported. "This is closer than expected, leaving the rural areas to possibly decide the issue. We go to Yumi Nagoya in Yamagata for a report."
Minako had eased up to Rei. Rei was watching the returns with some visible anxiety.
"Sorry if this is a rude question," Minako murmured to the priest. "But have you felt anything? Seen anything?"
"No," Rei said, glancing down.
"Don't try so hard," Minako offered. "The harder you swing, the more likely you'll strike out. Just relax and do it."
"Sounds like something I'd say," Derek commented. Minako grinned.
"My Dad's a baseball freak," Minako replied. "I heard stuff like that a lot when I was a girl."
Minako noticed both Ami and Makoto looking at her with a serious expression. Careful not to let Rei notice, she gave them both a helpless shrug. Makoto nodded and returned her attention to Akiko. Ami frowned, but nodded and turned her attention back to the returns.
Noticing Artemis pecking on his computer, Luna eased up next to him. She rubbed her chin against his, then peered at his screen.
"That's the Election Ministry's central computer," she said. Everybody turned to him.
"Just trying to get the up to the minute returns," the white cat told them. "The delay in the network feed was getting to me."
"Not trying to 'fix' the results?" Minako jabbed.
"Of course not, Minako," scowled Artemis.
"Then what good are you?" Minako asked. Artemis shook his head wearily. Then something grabbed his attention.
"Returns are coming in from the north!" he gasped. Everyone's attention was riveted on him. As they waited, Endymion and Serenity entered. They all could see that Serenity was very subdued.
"Results are looking good," Artemis said. He pressed a couple of keys. Then he smiled broadly. "These are enough to project a monarchy victory."
Minako pumped her fist. Makoto hugged her husband and daughter. Ami merely nodded in satisfaction. Rei, though, seemed even more troubled. They all looked to Serenity.
"I'm sorry," she said gravely, eyes cast to the floor. "I can't accept it."
"What?" Makoto gasped. Everyone, even Endymion seemed surprised by the statement.
"I won't accept it," Serenity repeated. "I-I'm not worthy. I don't deserve to have that much power."
And she turned and fled the room.
"And with key precincts in the north reporting in," the newscaster reported, "we are now projecting a victory for the centralized monarchy side of the ballot referendum."
Continued in Chapter 8
