AN: Let's call this my belated present to everyone, because quite frankly, I don't foresee putting up two chapters together again in quite a while. Unless I do another OHC Anthology and don't decide to start posting them until I've gotten a couple written. Anyway, like ADABN 18, this one languished in a mostly completed form for longer than I care to admit. You can thank real life and its plot to either steal all my time or ruin my mood. (Some small blame can be sent David Tennant and William Peterson's way for breaking my heart by quitting their respective shows. Two of my all-time favorite shows, without their distinctive -- and in David's case, gorgeous -- personalities. Bummer.) Much love and thanks to my reviewers who actually said something on top of "update" and of course, to my beta and sounding board, the lovely snowbunny GoddessUsagi. I'm kinda curious, does anybody ever review with "don't update!" or "stop writing!"? I mean, I assume my readers want to know what's going to happen next. . . ;P
Ah well, I'm actually quite anxious to get chapter 8 into your hands. Yep, I'm that suicidal. I might actually be scared to open the reviews next time. :)
Take care and let me know what you think. Spell all flames correctly, please! ~B 1/2/09
PS: I am still looking for fanfic recommendations. I am interested in the following: SM, Labyrinth, Twilight, and Doctor Who. Just saying.
Motoki greeted Usagi in an overly enthusiastic manner, but she didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary. Mamoru gave him a slight frown, but it was just as cheerfully ignored. The blonde whirlwind sank down into the bench across from them, a wide grin giving him a manic appearance. "Hey, Usagi-chan! How are you?"
Mamoru rolled his eyes at Motoki's nosiness, but Usagi took it in stride, assuming their friend had missed seeing her every day. "I'm just fine, thanks. You?"
Mamoru ignored their banal banter, giving up on his attempt to psychically tell Motoki to go away. Instead, he focused his attention on the arcade itself, scanning the clientele absently, until he was distracted by Motoki's energetic departure.
"How was school today, Mamo-chan?" Usagi asked.
Mamoru wondered if Motoki had hinted at something, but he found no trace of amusement or suspicion in her eyes. "Well, it didn't start off great. Kimiko pulled one of her weird stunts. She papered my locker with a giant heart," he confided, flattered by the jealous anger that sparkled in his girlfriend's eyes. "But I talked to her after school and told her I had a girlfriend and that I didn't appreciate this behavior. I think she'll leave me alone now."
Usagi smiled, trying to imagine her quiet boyfriend telling off a girl whose behavior obviously gave him the creeps. She was relieved that he had handled it, though, so she didn't have to. Or more accurately, try to handle it and end up needing Makoto's help. "Well, one problem solved then," she grinned.
Motoki sped over, placing their milkshakes on the table and rushing away again as an influx of teenage boys surrounded the register, eager to trade their allowances for video game tokens. The couple silently indulged in their sweet treat for a long moment.
"So, what did I miss at the meeting?" Mamoru finally asked.
Usagi's brow furrowed in thought. "Um, first she told the girls that because I have the strongest attacks against the youma right now, they are to protect me at all costs, even over her." Mamoru looked bemused by that, so she confided, "Maybe she said it to keep the peace. Ami and Makoto have pretty much made it clear today that they still consider me to be their leader and first priority. But Rei looked really upset. I can't help feeling there's more to it," she murmured, trailing off in thought.
"Hmm," Mamoru agreed, also not sold on the theory that Minako made the announcement to avoid dissension. "Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that you are also Lunarian," he suggested. A horrible thought occurred to him, "Minako mentioned something about the crystal only responding to a Lunarian, right?" Usagi nodded uncertainly, unnerved by the agitated tone of Mamoru's voice. "So if Beryl got the crystal, she would need someone to use it. Maybe Minako is concerned the Dark Kingdom is out to acquire a senshi. It wasn't until we all showed up that Zoicyte and Kunzite started trying to kill us," he plowed on, warming to his theory. "If they could turn a senshi to their side . . ."
"So you think they were trying to capture Mars yesterday?" Usagi broke in, her voice breaking in horror.
Mamoru could have kicked himself, but it was too late to sugarcoat things for her. "If Beryl took Earth's army with impunity, what's to stop her from trying to take the senshi? A converted senshi is worth more than a dead one."
Usagi stared helplessly at her boyfriend. His tone of voice had changed. No longer did he seem a high school student with lofty plans to help humanity. Now he sounded older, somehow battle-weary, and just a bit angry. "Mamo-chan, are you alright?"
Mamoru turned to face her, his hands gripping her shoulders, his beautiful blue eyes stormy, "Promise me something," he demanded, his jaw clenched tightly as he studied her. "Promise me that if anything happens to me or to your friends, you won't give up."
Confused and flustered by his intensity, Usagi nodded vehemently, hoping to appease him, the look in his eyes stealing her voice.
Her nodding did nothing to appease Mamoru. "I'm serious," he stressed, his grip becoming slightly painful in his desire to wring her promise from her. "No matter what, you have to live."
Usagi wasn't sure what to make of Mamoru's sudden desperation, but the sight of her strong, self-controlled, confident hero begging her to survive pained her. How could she promise she would survive, the one thing she believed she had no control over? "I promise, Mamo-chan, I promise I won't give up," she murmured, hoping it would be enough to satisfy him.
"You won't surrender?" he pressed.
Shock filled her. Surrendering hadn't occurred to her. "Of course not," she gasped, knowing that surrendering would leave the Earth defenseless. How could he think she would do such a thing?
He aptly read the offense in her eyes. "If you had to go on alone, could you? Think about it! By yourself, everyone else dead, or severely wounded, or worse, do you promise to see it through? Alone?"
His doubt blended with hers and it stung. She knew the extent to which she depended on the others. But she had fought, on occasion, alone. Very rarely, thankfully, but still, it had to count for something! Okay, they were just pathetic youma and not a Shitennou, let alone Beryl herself, but didn't it show her commitment? Her mind railed silently at the both of them, and yet Usagi said nothing.
Still clutched in Mamoru's desperate hold, Usagi looked away from his burning eyes, letting the image he painted fill her consciousness.
The image that surfaced horrified her with its clarity and realism. About her, the bodies of three of the other senshi lay scattered: Mercury, crushed under large white rocks; Jupiter, splayed out on the ground, head lolled awkwardly to the side; and Mars, a bloodied, almost unidentifiable mess. She caught sight of Venus, desperately struggling with a savage Kunzite and knew she was lost. And then her comforting Mamoru was being pulled away from her, his swirling black cloak causing him to vanish even more quickly into the darkness. And Usagi knew she was alone.
Tears flowed freely and Mamoru immediately dragged the broken girl into his arms tightly, burying her head against his chest. He hated himself for forcing her to think about losing her friends to the Dark Kingdom. He couldn't remember now why he had even done it, what had compelled him to think it so important. Regret coursed through him as she sobbed brokenly, grieving for their friends. He opened his mouth, intending to beg for forgiveness.
"I promise, Mamo-chan," she gasped out against his tear-soaked dress shirt. Her voice shook with the depth of her emotion and she grimaced in shame. Forcing herself to calm down, wiping harshly at her tears, she broke free from the loving prison of his arms and glared up at him, her eyes shining with damp resolution. He was silent in the face of her blazing determination. "Even if I'm all that's left between this planet and Beryl, I will not surrender. I promise to protect your planet with my life," she vowed, her newfound intensity scaring and humbling him.
Then her face gentled, a soft smile gracing her lips, and she was the one pulling him closer, comforting him, forgiving him. "We're going to win this together, Mamo-chan. All of us. It will be different this time, I'm sure of it. Beryl won't massacre the senshi. Not again," she murmured, her voice soft and soothing, yet spiced with a hard determination, a conviction that this time around, the senshi would be the ones kicking butt and taking names.
Motoki silently watched the two, wondering at the vagaries of their emotions. He wondered if Usagi has noticed just how regal and mature Mamoru had looked during their initial altercation. It had given him chills from across the room and Usagi hadn't seemed to flinch. And then her body language had shifted, becoming so gentle and still, like a fast moving stream suddenly becoming a still, deep pool of water, tranquil and calm, her whole focus on Mamoru and whatever was bothering him. He smiled indulgently at the tightly embracing couple and muttered, "Ah, true love," before returning to work.
Ami knelt near the pond, grateful Makoto was no longer hovering over her. She was at a loss as to how she was going to communicate with her element. Makoto clearly had an advantage over her in the endeavor, since the girl was already accustomed to using the plants around her as an alarm system of sorts. The trees seemed to tell her things, to whisper to her, even in civilian form. It wasn't like that for Ami. Although, she thought with a light smile, she supposed she should be grateful water didn't try to talk to every time she flushed the toilet or washed her hands. An embarrassed laugh burst from her as she swirled a hand in the lake and imagined taking a shower while the water babbled at her.
The water burbled in time with her laugh. Ami jerked back in surprise and stared at the now placid lake. She stared at her hand, gazing at the water droplets as they fell to the earth. "What just happened?" she asked her hand absently. Uncertain, she reached for the water again, her hand shaking in trepidation. The pond seemed to tremble in response. "Is it responding to my emotions?" she muttered, incredulous.
She calmed herself with analytical thoughts, pondering how to test this theory. Closing her eyes, thinking of nothing, she slipped her hand back into the water. It felt cool, pleasant, completely normal. She exhaled, refusing to let self-doubt creep in, and thought of things that amused her. Clever comic routines; Usagi bouncing around excitedly while Rei tried to keep from hitting her; the way her dad used to spin her in circles until she was very dizzy; she summoned them up until she was giggling happily to herself. And, she realized slowly, the water was reacting. The bubbles tickled her skin as the water began burbling again. Opening her eyes, she saw that the area surrounding her hand was bouncing about, much like shaking, the way a human's torso does when he or she laughs. As Ami stared in amazement, a triumphant happiness filled her and she giggled again, louder this time, delighted to watch the water leap higher in response to her happiness.
But, with the suddenness of a summer storm, a memory rose unbidden into her mind and she was swallowed up by the past, her hand soaking in the pool, the water falling still as the scene shifted from Earth-bound reality to an impossibly still midnight blue pond on the moon.
Mercury smiled trustingly at her companion and patted the rocky surface beside her, "I want to show you something," she murmured shyly, uncomfortable with showing off, but wanting to share this beautiful imagery with him. He complied with a slight over-eagerness that cause them both to blush, but it was a long moment before either looked away from the other's eyes.
Zoicyte's attention was soon riveted on Mercury's hands. She slowly, carefully began peeling her left glove off. The fabric resisted, determined to stay in place, having not been designed to be removed in such a conventional way. The exposure of the pale skin of her arm was somewhat shocking to Zoicyte, as evidenced by the growing blush on his face that caused an amused laugh to defy Mercury's polite demeanor.
"I'm sorry!" she gasped, shame-faced, horrified at having laughed at his expense.
"Don't be," he murmured quickly, moving to her side and catching her chin, a bold yet awkward move that revealed his passion and insecurity. "I just got…" he pushed back again, muttering in embarrassed frustration at himself, "This is gonna sound stupid."
Mercury finished freeing her hand of the stubborn fabric and waited politely for him to speak.
He did, after moment, his face averted, his visible ear bright red, "I haven't seen your arm before."
If he expected laughter, he was disappointed. Mercury understood right away. One of the things that initially shocked people about their uniforms was the amount of exposed leg. She supposed that the way a female's legs were sensationalized by their constant concealment from male eyes would conversely apply to the senshi's arms, since they were the appendages hidden from view. She smiled softly and leaned towards her shy companion, playfully wrapping her naked arm behind her back, "I'll show you mine if you show me yours," she teased, plucking at the white gloves that he always wore.
Zoicyte stared at her for a long moment, almost long enough for Mercury to regret her rash words and retreat into her shell, before throwing his head back and laughing. It was a breath-taking sight, this image of the proper, stiff Zoicyte dropping all propriety and letting the full force of his amusement free. To say Mercury was dazzled would be an understatement. He raised his right hand, palm inward, and slowly, using only his left thumb and forefinger, began to pull the glove off, one finger at a time, his green eyes locked on Mercury's face as he did so.
Although her face blushed hotly at what Mars would deride is the world's most ridiculous strip tease, she refused to look away. When his hand was as naked as hers, he reached behind her back, running his fingers lightly down her arm and capturing her bared left hand, threading his fingers through hers as he pulled it forward. The intimate caress sent shivers down Mercury's spine, the surprise of her reaction momentarily causing her brain to shut down.
Zoicyte broke the moment by splaying her hand out on top of his, examining her shiny blue manicure. When she attempted to jerk her hand away in embarrassment, he resisted her for a brief second, pouting at her desire to break their contact, before releasing her hand as slowly as he'd captured it. "Now, what were you going to show me?" he queried politely, as if they hadn't just shared this intimate moment.
Recovering just as quickly, Mercury smiled and simply said, "Watch." She dipped her left hand into the icy water and noticed Zoicyte flinch out of the corner of her eye. The frigidness of the water didn't bother her and her smile never faltered. Closing her eyes, she let her emotions loose, focusing on the happiness she felt when she was with Zoicyte. In return, the water began to bubble and leap, ribbons of water beginning to bound about, writhing like sparkling eels dancing above the water's surface. They rose, higher and higher, twisting into mind-bending shapes. And then as Zoicyte stared, slack-jawed beside her, Mercury summoned up a new emotion. Recalling the day she left her village forever, to be isolated with the other senshi, sadness filled her. The emotion immediately transmitted to the water's surface and the whole thing, twisting ribbons and all, immediately froze over. A towering ice sculpture rose out of the lake.
She shyly studied the awestruck Zoicyte. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" she asked softly.
"It's fabulous," he breathed, shocked at what she'd made the water do. "Not as fabulous as you are, though," he murmured softly, as he pulled his gaze from the sculpture to the girl whose hand was still frozen in the lake. Emboldened perhaps by their previous interlude, Zoicyte placed his bare hand on her cheek, tracing her cheekbone. The ice sculpture shuddered audibly, but neither heard it as he leaned forward slowly, ever so slowly, and gently captured her lips with his own. Mercury's eyes drifted shut, leaning into his kiss.
And then, the ice sculpture shattered in a million bits, showering the gently embracing couple in ice flakes.
The memory faded, releasing Ami, who was now sobbing brokenly, hunched forward over the edge of the pond, her dry arm wrapped tightly about her stomach, as if in pain. Her tears fell onto the pond, freezing as soon as they touched its iced-over surface. It was several long moments before the numbing cold in her fingers clued Ami in to the fact that she had frozen several feet of the lake, extending in sharp, jagged streaks away from her hand. Anger began to fill her, anger at herself for crying over that traitorous monster and anger at Zoicyte for seducing her past self. The water began to churn, choppy waves breaking up the ice and swirling about, lapping anxiously at the grassy shore as if seeking some way to appease her rage.
"Ami-chan?" Makoto called worriedly, having heard the girl's sobs and shocked by the reaction of the water. She began to run as Ami turned a shamed, tear-streaked face in her direction.
Makoto's shout had caused Ami to pull her near-frozen hand out of the water. She wrapped it awkwardly in the hem of her long skirt, absently noting that the water had already returned to normal. She began apologizing as soon as Makoto skidded to a stop beside her. "I'm sorry, Mako-chan," she murmured, trying to sound less depressed than she felt, "I didn't mean to scare you."
Makoto ignore the apology, "What happened?"
Ami shrugged, "I was experimenting with the water and discovered it responds to my emotions." She wanted to leave it at that, but Makoto simply waited for more information. After a long moment, she sighed softly in surrender, "I had another flashback," she admitted reluctantly.
"To when we died?" Makoto asked in horror.
Ami shook her head vehemently, her short locks flying about her face, "No… To when…" she flushed, "to my …" Her tongue stubbornly refused to work and she was forced to take another deep breath. Staring at her fingers, she forced the words out in a rush, "To the first time Zoicyte and I kissed."
Makoto pulled her friend into her arms, knowing the pain of loving someone unworthy all too well. Okay, so none of her ex-boyfriends in this life had destroyed everything and everyone she loved, so Ami had her beat there, but she hoped those experiences would help her when she finally remembered her own murderous lover. Ami clung to Makoto, sobbing in hate and pain, guilt and confusion.
Rei sank to the floor of the Fire Reading Room. Exhaustion filled her battered body and she finally let it win. Proud as she was of her stubborn will, it wasn't inexhaustible. A self-mocking smile faintly curved her lips as she remembered Yuuichirou telling her that on more than one occasion. At least, she thought fuzzily, it might have been Yuuichirou. She frowned as she tried to remember a specific time when he'd said that to her, but all she could see were laughing blue eyes. She didn't think Yuuichirou had blue eyes, but how could you tell with that shaggy mop? Actually, she wondered, how could he even see with all that hair in his eyes? She'd have to tell him to cut his stupid hair again, she decided. But first, she would just take a short nap.
Luna found her there, an hour after Usagi and Mamoru had left the shrine grounds. She tsked worriedly over the prostrate miko. The heat of the fire and the weight of Rei's ceremonial robes had caused her to sweat profusely and Luna was worried Rei would to catch a cold. She pulled at the girl's clothing in a futile attempt to drag her from the room.
Agitated, she gave up and debated who to call. Minako was in no shape to help, Makoto was probably still too angry, and she wasn't sure where Ami stood in the argument. That left Usagi and Mamoru. With any luck, she thought as she pressed the moon symbol, they'd still be together. She doubted Usagi could move Rei to her room, at least not without klutzing out.
"Hey Luna," Usagi chirped, "what's up?"
"Can you come back to the shrine?" Luna asked, her nervousness crackling over the connection. "Rei's passed out in the Fire Room and I can't wake her."
"We're on our way," Usagi and Mamoru chorused. Mamoru gave Motoki a meaningful glance as he and Usagi rushed from the arcade.
Motoki nodded in reply, then hurried to the front window to watch them race off, worry evident in his features. He decided, as he went to clear their table, that maybe he didn't want to be in the know after all. He was going to worry about them far too much.
Usagi fretted the whole way, her nervous hand-wringing making Mamoru anxious. He smoothly parallel parked outside the shrine, and Usagi was unbuckled and out of the car before he'd turned the engine off. Sighing, he followed her, delayed by the necessity of closing and locking her door. Still, he'd caught up to her before the she reached the top step. She glowered at his lack of breathlessness as they headed towards Luna and Rei.
Luna's anxiety seemed a mirror image of Usagi's, Mamoru noted with dry humor. As soon as they were shoeless and inside, Luna ran back into the inner sanctum. As Mamoru checked Rei's pulse and assessed her condition, Luna and Usagi paced, occasionally running into each other. It was giving the upperclassman a headache.
"She's just overtired," he stated. "Let's get her to her room and cooled off. I'm sure she'll be fine." So saying, he scooped the sleeping girl up and waited for Usagi to lead him to Rei's room. She hurried in front of him, sliding the doors open widely and arranging his shoes so that he could easily slip them on without putting Rei down. Then it was a quick walk across the gravel-scaped grounds to a small building that Rei alone occupied. Usagi threw open the door to Rei's room, then left in search of an electric fan. Luna began anxiously pacing again as Mamoru juggled holding the sleeping girl and pulling back her blankets.
Rei shifted as he tried to stretch her out on the bed, curling towards the wall. Frowning, he tugged her arm, wanting to lay her on her back so her body would radiate, not store, heat. Rei mumbled in protest, "No, Jadeite, stop." She curled back up into a ball and Mamoru gave up, wondering what exactly the spitfire was dreaming.
Usagi returned then and handed him a fan. Apparently she expected him to set it up. Usagi plonked herself down on Rei's bed and began tugging at her friend's clothes, trying to remove the billowing top she was wearing. Mamoru hustled, shoving aside a stack of manga to get to an outlet. As soon as he plugged it in and aimed it in Rei's general direction, he fled the room.
He slipped outside, caught at once by the view of their little corner of Tokyo. The sun was sinking behind the skyscrapers, creating an early dusk that people in mountain country know all too well. Lights were flickering on in areas that lay in the shadows of the skyscrapers, while outlying housing areas still enjoyed the natural, undimmed sunlight. It was beautiful, this glimpse of ordinary, peaceful human life and his stress faded away as pride in the human race filled him.
Those were his people, he thought, people who would find ways to carry on in the face of any adversity. To keep the dark at bay, they had created artificial lights. To keep from destroying all of Earth's precious resources, they had learned to recycle their waste into new material. They had survived innumerable wars, unspeakable tragedies, unimaginable plagues, and inescapable natural disasters. And they would continue to survive, he vowed as he stood there, vigilantly watching over them. The light breeze ruffled his dark hair, tossing a few locks into his eyes. He absently brushed them back as he contemplated the resiliency and resourcefulness of his people. Politicians, dictators, generals, powerful corporations, even countries might come and go. Time marched ever forward, the only constant in their lives. Progress and change, war and famines, wealth and poverty, even terrorists and youma – nothing stopped the species in its tracks. How could he not be proud to be their ruler? Their indomitable will infused him and his head spun slightly.
"Endy, come here, my boy," a booming voice commanded, a thread of authority demanding compliance within the warm, jovial tone. The sound of it filled the lad with high energy and he rushed forward from his tutor's room into the hall, ignoring the dark-clad man's irritated groan.
A bushy-bearded, red-haired man clad in armor plate and traveling clothes grinned widely at him, laughter dancing in his light brown eyes. "Well, well, young prince," he greeted jovially, "you've grown at least a full head taller!"
Endy straightened proudly, pleased to have impressed the older man, even if it was with something he had no control of. Still, he knew his place, and merely inclined his head coolly towards the towering man at the end of the hall, "Welcome back, Grilph. I do hope you hadn't expected me to shrink."
His ridiculous style of court wit baffled the life-long soldier a moment, but then he threw his head back and laughed. "Oh, dear, I can see I'll have to have a word with your father about your education." He shook his head scoldingly at the approaching prince, "Sarcasm, my boy, is for the weak! Why, words are not necessary at all when one is skilled with this," he declared loudly, brandishing his gleaming sword.
"On the contrary, windbag," a nasal voice interrupted. Endy didn't have to turn around to know his tutor was frowning from the doorway in disgust at Grilph, "it is better to have a rapier wit that can avoid bloodshed than to be a witless fool with a bloodthirsty rapier."
Grilph rolled his eyes as he sheathed in his sword, "Oh, blimey, Herns-by, don't be so serious," he scolded. "I'm merely concerned that Prince Endymion is getting a well- rounded education."
"Don't call me that ridiculous name," Hernard snapped in irritation. "The prince's education is my responsibility and I will not be questioned by a ragged, bleating bully who thinks all things can and should be solved at the point of the sword."
"You'd be surprised how reasonable men can become when their life is at stake," Grilph answered mildly.
"I think you forgot to qualify that," Hernard replied archly, "only some men become reasonable. If the sword were pointed in your direction, for example, I doubt you'd be suddenly moved to consider their side of things. No," he pushed on, "you'd lop their heads off and call it a good fun."
"I do not find ending another's life entertaining," Grilph growled blackly, "but I do believe polite diplomacy can only go so far."
Endy's head ached from twisting back and forth to study the debating men, who had not moved one inch toward each other.
"Well, humanity is grateful," Hernard sniped, "that you at least let diplomacy have a chance before you go hacking the heads off anyone who might disagree with you."
Endy thought Grilph's face might catch fire from the blazing red his skin had rapidly turned, but both men jumped involuntarily when the warrior's good-natured laughter resounded loudly through the stone hall. "Ah, Herns-by, I've missed your lectures. Wouldn't be right, somehow, if your sourpuss wasn't here to greet me." Hernard huffed indignantly, but Grilph ignored the glowering educator, instead grasping Endy's upper arm and guiding the boy towards the main doors, "Now, tell me what you've been doing in your weapons training."
"Kunzite and I have been focusing on sword fighting the past few months" Endy told Grilph excitedly. "Though he's older and stronger than me, I've won a few times. At first I thought he'd let me win, but I know Kunzite well enough to trust him to always do his best." The main doors swung the open, exposing the well-manicured palace lawn to their view. "At first, I thought he was going to be like Herns-by," Endy confided, "always going on about strategies and techniques. But once you're facing him in combat, well, he's a force to be reckoned with."
"Hot tempered, is he?" Grilph asked.
"No, he's probably the slowest of our group to get angry or provoked into violence," Endy mused, his stride slowing a bit as they left the paved walkway and headed towards the training grounds.
"Sounds like a good role model, slow to anger and quick to act," Grilph murmured, assessing Kunzite's nature well.
Endy nodded, "He's very serious, usually quiet, but everyone respects him implicitly. He takes the military's role as protectors very seriously," he added as an afterthought.
"The welfare of your people is important to him, then?" Grilph nodded sagely, "Sounds like a general in the making." He paused in their journey and stared down at the crown prince of Earth in all seriousness, "You should surround yourself with people who value human life over political glory, my boy." A sad look entered his eyes, but he didn't look away, "Pride in the Earth is only natural, but arrogance is another story completely. There is nothing honorable about throwing away lives to gain another feather in your cap. Your grandfather learned that the hard way."
Endy bowed his head, knowing Grilph spoke of the war that had ended his grandfather's reign, the war that had claimed most of Grilph's family. The war was the reason his father's reign was so dedicated to finding diplomatic solutions to their problems, to letting people have a say in local government, and to rebuilding the world's artistic and literary reputation. Both were silent as they surveyed the palace from which they'd come, especially the people going about their business peacefully. Endy knew Grilph was remembering a darker time, perhaps when castle had been reduced to a smoking ruin.
"Right there," Grilph spoke suddenly, pointing to the gates of the interior wall, "that's where I stood with Hernard, flanking your father, the prince, as his father surrendered his crown to the Bishop. In full view of the White Queen's emissary, he renounced his authority and turned the reins of his kingdom over to his son, your father. And it was the briefest coronation ceremony this world had ever seen." Grilph quieted, a strange emotion passing over his face, one Endy couldn't identify. "When it was done, he turned to the Queen's emissary and instructed him to ask the Queen for a ceasefire. He wanted to negotiate a truce with her Empire, to end this war that had claimed so many human lives. He wanted to preserve this planet's independence, nay, even its existence. Your grandfather called him a coward, but I think the old man knew deep down that he'd been in the wrong. They never spoke again, to my knowledge," he muttered.
Endy nodded, having heard numerous versions of this tale, usually from Herns-by, sometimes from his father. "Herns-by said the White Queen was very reasonable," he commented, uncertain as to what to say.
"Reasonable?" Grilph roared, outraged. "That woman could have wiped humanity from the universe with merely an irate thought!" He shook his head incredulously, "Trust that old biddy to minimize her abilities." He glowered intensely into Endy's eyes, "Never forget this, Prince Endymion, that woman is benevolence herself. She has the power and authority to obliterate any threat to her or her kingdom. She spared us because she wanted us to survive. I don't know why the people on this planet mattered to her, but they did. Don't forget that!"
"Mamo-chan?" Usagi asked again, tugging at his sleeve in agitation.
"Hmm?" he murmured, shaking off the remnants of the past and turning to stare down at her.
"Where did you go?" she pouted petulantly," I've been calling your name for five minutes now." She didn't wait for an answer, so he merely listened to her, "Rei's sleeping better now, but Luna wants to stay with her, and someone needs to look after Hino-san and Yuuichirou, so I got permission to stay here, too." She looked up at him, half-hoping he'd insist she stay with him again.
"Okay," he murmured, kissing the top of her head. "I'll go get some things for them to eat and then do you think I could at least steal you away for dinner?"
Usagi nodded happily, content to at least have him with her for now. She watched him leave, shocked as always at the sharp disappointment she unfailingly felt at his departure. Reluctantly, she turned away as he faded from view and returned to her companions.
Mamoru's thoughts were focused on the memory of his past youth. Forgoing his car, he opted to walk to the nearest supermarket. He examined the memory, using it as a touchstone, each concept or person revealing new information. It was exhilarating, the way the memory opened itself up to his probing, allowing him to trace things back to his past self's earliest remembrances. He saw a very young Endy learning to wield a wooden sword under Grilph's guidance or learning his letters with a much less crotchety Hernard. He could examine the common knowledge of the war and the destruction and rebuilding of his planet. Other people were revealed: his playmates, lords and ladies, servants. Indistinct memories of his parents filtered towards him, impressions of what kind of people they had been.
He very carefully avoided only two areas of thought. First, he chose not to explore in the direction of Kunzite and, most likely, the other three Shitennou. He was not being a coward. Rather, he had decided to open himself up to that past when he'd arrived home, so as to prevent Usagi from worrying about him. The other train of thought he was resolved to ignore, for as long as he humanly could, was one that travelled in the direction of the Moon Princess. Memories of his romancing Minako were hardly ones he would find value in, he had told himself, but deep down he knew he was afraid, afraid to see her standing there, adoring him.
The bright lights of the grocery store beckoned him in and he put aside his musings as he searched for ingredients that would best nourish and strengthen his unofficial patients. The sooner they were strong enough to get out of bed, the faster their recovery, he believed. Rei would benefit from some hearty food as well, he decided confidently. It would help her body keep up with her will.
His concern for Rei naturally led him to wonder about the other girls. He was worried about how were Makoto and Ami doing. Both girls were devoted to Usagi and he was grateful to them for it. It was selfish, of course, but since his whole world revolved around her, he needed her to survive, against all odds.
He cringed as he realized how callously he'd been thinking of her friends. As if they were nothing more than bodies to jump in front of his beloved Usako and take the attacks meant for her. Was that how Endymion had seen people? He doubted it, but the thought, the attitude had to have come from somewhere. He tried to pinpoint it and another memory swept over him.
Jadeite and Mars stood arguing in a corner, unaware that Endymion had stumbled upon them. Guiltily, the prince began to retreat, but the tone of their conversation drew him in and he spied on them.
"Mars," Jadeite whined petulantly, "don't be like this! You want this as much as I do. Why do you keep fighting it?"
Mars glared at the demanding man and Endymion wondered if Jadeite was misreading her. She looked like she'd rather be talking to a slime-coated cave monkey whose breath recalled a freshly opened grave. "I don't see the point in this discussion," she stated baldly, "just as I see no point in your insistence of 'us'."
Jadeite winced, but refused to back down, "That wasn't what you were showing me an hour ago in the garden."
Mars' hand raised with stunning speed and both men braced themselves for a punishing blow, but it never came. Instead, her hand fell slowly as Mars closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall, her posture radiating defeat. "Fine, I'll tell you. But you won't like it, probably won't accept it, and are just going to keep annoying me like a spoiled two-year old," she groused.
Jadeite merely waited, watching her closely as she reclined, eyes still closed, mixed emotions playing out on her face.
After a long moment, Mars opened her eyes and began to speak, "From the day I was born, I was marked as a senshi. As soon as I could walk and talk, my parents sent me to a small village to be protected and trained. At first, I was full of anger and defiance. The more I studied, the more I learned what a senshi was, the more I rebelled against it. But there was nowhere to run and isolation made me except my fate, because no other option presented itself. By the time I was ready to leave and join the other senshi and the Princess, I was proud of being a chosen senshi."
She took a deep breath, "Well, perhaps you think you understand my role, but let me clarify this. From my third birthday on, I have trained, prepared, and dedicated myself to the protection of the Moon Princess. Even at a time when I had not yet seen or spoken to her, I was learning how to live and die for her.," Mars' eyes burned into Jadeite's, "That is the whole point of my existence. To die to keep her alive. This relationship you desire does not benefit the Princess, so it is not something I should indulge in. It was a mistake," she stated flatly, turning to go.
Endymion rarely saw Jadeite angry, but his temper was boiling over at this assessment of her life, "So you believe you're just a throwaway person?" He grabbed her arm and hauled her back into their cranny, pressing her against him, "Damn it, Mars, do you believe you were created to be nothing more than a thinking piece of armor? Is that all you really want from life? To be a good soldier who valued herself so cheaply?"
Mars' eyes filled with angry tears, "To die for the most important person you know is not cheap. Would you not die for your Prince?" she challenged.
"At least my Prince puts his life at risk," Jadeite sneered thoughtlessly.
This time when Mars' hand rose, it did find a target, cracking across Jadeite's face with all her strength, "Princess Serenity is far more worthy of my devotion and love than you'll ever be," her declaration rang out, overloud in Endymion's ears. "I'd rather lose my life for her tomorrow than spend an eternity in your arms."
As both men watched her storm away, Endymion believed her vow completely.
Mamoru recovered his senses slowly, stunned by the virulence and fanaticism he'd seen Rei's self past self evince. He'd thought Minako's single-minded devotion to the mission scary, but now he wondered if that was the true nature of their past selves. Grilph had claimed the White Queen's power was unimaginable. No wonder Beryl wanted it so badly. No doubt Serenity had been trained by her mother and was capable of wielding the same destructive force once the Ginzuishou was found.
A chill involuntarily ran down his spine. So many questions rose up in his mind. Had Mars' rejection of Jadeite driven him to Beryl? Was it is truly the way of the senshi? Would Usagi's past self demand she separate herself from him? Could he accept it, if she did? Or was Mars the victim of an overzealous teacher, impressing a vulnerable young girl with fanatical devotion to a leader whose abilities could well be seen as god-like?
He shook his head sharply, trying to clear the questions away. The senshi were young girls who risked their lives to protect vulnerable people, he remind himself. They were heroes, using their unique abilities for the sake of others, at great cost to their personal and educational lives. If Mars' devotion to her Princess had driven Jadeite to Beryl, he concluded, then it was a sign of Jadeite's weakness, to betray everything he stood for over a broken heart.
The thoroughly modern Mamoru pushed aside the distant past, carrying his purchases to the register, determined to enjoy a quiet evening with his girlfriend, all the while pretending he'd never heard of this Endymion chap.
Kunzite was slouched in an oversized chair in front of a fire that, despite its size, failed to radiate much in the way of heat or light. He stared into the flames, their eagerness to consume whatever scraps of paper he chose to feed them pleasing him in a dark way. He really liked fire, especially the way it danced out, claiming every square inch it possibly could before really settling in to destroy everything it touched. It seemed to have a personality, a greedy cheerfulness that posed, at times, childlike, and at others, masochistic. Watching a hungry fire beat watching that idiot box the humans preferred anyway, at least to his way of thinking.
A faint groan interrupted his musings and he leapt to his feet. Yet, habit checked his haste and he took his time sauntering into his bedroom to check on his newly conscious companion.
Zoicyte had propped himself up in bed, confused as to where he was at first, and oblivious as to the cause of all his injuries. He pushed back the shoulder of his dress shirt to better view the bandages wrapped about his torso, grimacing in pain and anger. The soft scrape of boot at the door caught his attention and he glanced reflexively up, only to lose all his senses as he stared at Kunzite in silent appreciation.
He leaned against the door jamb, silver locks flowing over both shoulders. His dress shirt was still tucked into his uniform pants, but unbuttoned to the waist and pulled open in a distracting V, exposing his broad chest and well-muscled stomach. The light from the fire danced faintly behind him and his face was concealed in the shadows, the lamplight in the bedroom sparkling in his grey eyes. Zoicyte told himself to look away and finally, with great strength of will, dropped his gaze to the sheet that still covered his lower half, his loose curls veiling his blushing face.
Kunzite had taken the opportunity to study his lover as well. The younger man's bandage-wrapped torso seemed more delicate. His bared shoulder was pale and alluring in the dim light, the fabric of the shirt artfully draped in silent invitation. His dark golden curls were unruly and begging to be touched. He frowned as he noticed the dark smudges under Zoicyte's eyes, proof that his rest had not been peaceful as his body had struggled to heal. He knew it was the result of the dark energy they were infused with. It forced their metabolisms and cellular processes to work harder, faster, especially when they suffered an injury. The energy fed off the emotions and stamina of the wounded person, weakening them in soul while strengthening them in body.
"I'm glad to see you finally awake," he spoke, pretending not to notice Zoicyte flinch and stare up at him. "Are you hungry?" he enquired solicitously.
Zoicyte nodded, finding it hard to speak when Kunzite looked so . . . casual. He pushed the sheet away, attempting to rise, only to find himself suddenly flat on his back with Kunzite's hand gently but firmly planted in the middle of his chest.
"I would advise against pushing yourself just yet," Kunzite scolded softly. "You've been asleep for two days now while Metallia's energy works to heal you. I'll bring you something to eat and then, we shall talk. We must pick a new target and," he paused thoughtfully, "this time, I think we should go farther than just trying to get them to talk. No, I have bigger plans for our victim."
Leaving Zoicyte to wonder what Kunzite was thinking and examine the progress of his healing wounds, the foremost Shitennou and Beryl's most trusted warrior locked up his private quarters and went in search of some food.
Minako shifted awkwardly on the couch, trying to hide the pain from her parents as they talked at her about how they were adjusting to life in Tokyo. Her mother was already becoming a stereotypical Tokyoite, obsessed with fashion and outspending her husband's significant pay raise. Not that Minako's father would scold, she thought in irritation. The man might act as if she didn't exist, but the way he pampered her mother would have galled even a self-indulgent celebutante. Her mother did try to make up for her father's disinterest, the girl admitted sourly, but that was out of guilt for having produced a daughter instead of the much desired son. Never mind that they could have tried for another. No, her dear old dad had declared in a fit of tyrannical pique that they would not try for more children. It was insulting enough to not have a first-born son, he'd sneered. Why add insult to injury by risking a second-place finish for a son, or worse, being saddled with two female offspring?
What, she wondered darkly, as she stared with fake interest at her self-absorbed, oblivious parents, would they think if they discovered that not only was their daughter a strong warrior who protected them and everyone else on the planet most every night, but she was also a princess? Not the Princess, of course, she knew. Though she was of lesser rank than the Moon Princess, she was still the sole survivor of the ruling family of Venus. And that was far more impressive than being the only daughter of a Regional Manager in one of Japan's top companies.
Minako's mother watched her sharply, reading correctly the emotions the young girl struggled to conceal from them. She saw the teenager's boredom and irritation and knew where it was directed. It stung a little to know the child held her in such contempt, but really, the girl hardly made an effort to be likeable. Sadness next filled the girl's face and the older woman wondered if there was boy trouble bothering her normally vivacious child. But her concern was erased by the sudden arrogance that broke through the clouds, stiffening her posture and chilling her eyes. She shuddered at that look, rattled by how well the cold, distant, superior attitude fit Minako. The pampered housewife (to use the term loosely) contemplated her bleakly, wondering if the child she'd given birth to was not her daughter after all, but someone else completely, hidden inside all these years.
Her husband cleared his throat, irritated at the loss of his captive audience. His irritation was immediately soothed when his wife turned her full attention his way, though he gave Minako an extra-stern glower for effect. He did not notice when Minako's mother sent her daughter a sideways glance, her suspicions evaporating at the sight of her childishly innocent appearance. She'd conveniently forgotten, of course, that Minako's favored method of escaping trouble was to hide behind a child-like mask.
Minako carefully scooted to the edge of the couch, bracing herself to rise, her muscles tensed in anticipation of the pain her torso would feel at the motion. With a theatrical yawn, she interrupted her father's long-winded rambling with a falsely apologetic tone. "I'm really sorry, Papa," she murmured tiredly, "but I have school in the morning. I'm glad everything is going so well for you at the office. Good night." Waving politely at the adults, she slipped away from the both of them as quickly as she could.
"Honestly," she grumbled at Artemis once she'd escaped to the haven of her temporary room, "I'd rather eat glass than suffer through another family dinner!" Artemis could only empathize with the irritated young girl. Fate had not been kind to Minako when it had picked out her second family.
None of the senshi had really known their birth families in the past, Artemis reflected, glad to have a new line of thinking to shake his morose obsession with Luna. Minako danced about the room, getting ready for bed, oblivious to the white cat and his melancholy. He could remember royal visits, as the families of the senshi were always welcome to visit, but having to give your child up by their third birthday ensured very little lasting bonds were formed between the parents and senshi-in-training. The small villages they moved to were made up of teachers and attendants who were devoted to caring for, but not necessarily about, the child in their custody. Just like senshi, the people who lived in the training village were born to the task, the position one that was inherited from father to son and mother to daughter.
Artemis remembered when the four senshi had finally met. He'd been aboard the shuttle that had collected them, starting with Jupiter. Jupiter had been tall and athletic, with a sparkling smile and a simmering temper. Mars, the second to be picked up, had really enjoyed testing Jupiter's self-control. Her arrogance and sixth sense had made Artemis uncomfortable around her. He'd been thrilled with his third charge, Venus, naturally. Her cheerful demeanor set the two higher-strung girls at ease and she was naturally chatty and engaging. Unfortunately, she did have a tendency to turn every male around her into a lovestruck, awkward 13 year old version of himself. Well, except for Artemis himself, of course. Mercury was Artemis' salvation, the cat recalled with a sardonic smirk. They'd sat for hours discussing history or science or simply watching the other three interact in ways that baffled the both of them, if on different levels.
Once they'd arrived on the Moon, the four girls had been quickly whisked around the palace on a hasty tour before being allowed to settle into their new quarters. Artemis hadn't joined them, he'd been busy attending to their luggage and then reporting to Queen Serenity. Luna had met them at the gate and assumed responsibility for them immediately.
Thoughts of Luna again claimed his attention. He thought back to their discreet romance.
Luna waited patiently for the shuttle to complete its docking maneuvers. She wondered what her new charges would be like and she tamped firmly down on the excitement of seeing Artemis again. It wouldn't do to let her emotions, her personal life, interfere with her responsibilities. She was grateful to have found in Artemis someone who understood this attitude.
As the shuttle had neared the Moon, Artemis felt his spirits rising to new levels of cheerfulness. He knew the first face he would see when the doors opened would be his stern, proper, beautiful Luna. For a moment, he briefly entertained a vision of his dark-haired beauty running towards him, arms flung wide, anxious to embrace him. As the shuttle entered the dock, he could see her from his porthole and laughed at himself, only slightly rueful. There she stood, waiting for them, but there was no sign of loneliness or relief on her face or in her body language.
Knowing that he would not be receiving a loving, enthusiastic welcome home, he helped the senshi extricate themselves from the buckles and straps necessitated by the landing procedures and directed them to the exit. He heard her voice, soft and officious, float towards him as he followed Jupiter out of the shuttle.
"Welcome, senshi. It is a great pleasure to finally meet all four of you. I trust your journey was pleasant?" The tall, impressive woman ran an assessing glance over the girl, then raised her eyes to Artemis, only the sparkle in her eyes at the sight of him communicating her pleasure at his return. "Welcome back, Artemis," she murmured softly, sounding as if it were only common courtesy but a faint hint of her feelings for him floated over the girls' heads. He grinned shamelessly, inordinately pleased by her muted reaction, because at least it was a reaction. She scolded him by continuing in that officious voice, "Please see to the girls' belongings and then report to the Queen. I will show the senshi around while you get their things settled."
Artemis shook his head in silent amusement, his long white-blonde hair swishing about him, but replied, "Of course, Lady Luna." Sending a flirtatious wink at Luna, he then addressed the group, their attention swiveling towards him, saving Luna the embarrassment of blushing in their presence, "Ladies, I take my leave. I'm sure I will see all of you shortly. Enjoy your tour." With a jaunty wave he left them, returning to the shuttle. But once inside, he turned to watch Luna lead the group of teenage girls away, anxious for the evening to come, when it would be just the two of them, and propriety could be well and truly damned. He returned to his assigned task with a wide grin.
Artemis sighed heavily as he returned to the present. Minako had turned off the lights and was curled up in bed, oblivious to her cat's heavy heart. He couldn't blame the girl. His past romance with Luna was not something he had shared too deeply with her. He'd only told her that they'd been a couple before the fall of the Moon Kingdom. He'd never shared with her how much he missed Luna or, for that matter, how desperately he missed his human body. If the kitty admitted it, he was afraid Luna would not find him attractive in their feline forms. He'd radiated his love for her, but she'd always been reserved and shy, rarely letting the depths of her feelings for him show, always consumed with her obligations and her concept of position. As Artemis leapt up on to Minako's bed and found a comfy spot well away from the girl's feet, he found himself wishing that Usagi would rub off on Luna, even just a little. It would be nice if, in this lifetime, at least, he didn't have to always say "I love you" first.
Mamoru dropped Usagi off a block away from her parents' house, waiting patiently while she dashed in to get her clean uniform and some pajamas and whatever else she would need. They'd just finished dinner and he would have to return her to the shrine in far too short a time. He was anxious about leaving her alone there with just Luna. If something happened, would Rei awaken? Would Rei even be able to help out?
As these thoughts bothered him, Usagi popped open the passenger door and tossed a duffle bag on the floor. She flopped down into her seat, greeting him cheerfully, but quickly noting his apprehensive face. "What's wrong, Mamo-chan?" she demanded.
Mamoru shook his head, not sure he wanted to talk about it, but Usagi mulishly refused to buckle up or close her door if he didn't start talking. Giving in with a grudging sigh, he admitted, "I'm worried about you being alone at the shrine with just Luna. If something happens, who will help you?"
Usagi smiled in what she hoped was a reassuring manner, "I'll call the girls. Minako may not be able to come, but Ami and Makoto surely will be here in a flash." Now that he'd opened up, she pulled the door shut and secured her seatbelt. "Is there something else?"
Mamoru was frowning darkly as he turned the key in the ignition and smoothly accelerated away from her neighborhood. "I know when you're in trouble when you transform, and I'm grateful for that ability, but I guess I just worry too much." His hand found hers and he twisted their fingers together. "I should get you a cell phone."
Usagi laughed, appreciating her boyfriend's desire to keep her safe, but her laughter died sharply, "You do realize that I'm the one who has reason to worry about you, right? You don't have a communicator and I don't get a warning sensation that lets me know when you are in trouble. What if you are the one who gets attacked?" Her voice had begun taking on a more panicked tone as she envisioned her beloved Mamoru facing down Kunzite and Zoicyte with only his cane to protect him.
Mamoru pondered that, accepting her point as valid, but commented dryly, intending to calm her down, "Do you know what a blow it is to my ego, to know my girlfriend thinks I'm the one that needs protecting?" Usagi's face fell as she fretted over having hurt his feelings and he took advantage of her invasion of his space to steal a tiny kiss, not enough to distract him from the road, but enough to startle her into silence. "Alright, I'll get us both cell phones, how's that?" he asked lightly as he pulled back into his now familiar spot on the street in front of Hikawa Jinja.
Usagi clambered out, protesting lightly when Mamoru took her bag from her. Mamoru claimed her hand and they slowly climbed the staircase for the third time that day. A part of Usagi was anxious to scamper to the top and check on Rei, but she knew that Luna would have called if anything had happened. She leaned into Mamoru, tamping down on her anxiety, relishing his arm slipping around her, and enjoying the soft sounds of evening in the woods surrounding them. Every step took them further from the sounds of the city, deeper into the peaceful illusion of the shrine, and closer to the moment when they had to say goodbye.
Makoto stretched out on Ami's sofa. She'd finally gotten the girl to fall asleep with a hot toddy. She felt bad about slipping some of Dr. Mizuno's small decanter of whiskey into the hot milk, but it had done the trick, sending Ami off to dreamland in no time. She couldn't guarantee Ami would find pleasant dreams, but it would stop the grieving and raging long enough for her body to find some rest.
She lounged there for a long while, debating whether or not to get up and make up the couch for the night. They'd gone to Makoto's apartment originally, since it was closer, and Makoto had whipped up some dinner in the hopes of cheering Ami up with food. That had failed, however, and Makoto had begun to feel a bit like a harassed mother trying to get a child to eat. She'd finally decided to take the morose girl home and now was unwilling to leave her here alone. Ami had not seemed upset to find a note on the fridge from her mom, apologizing for having to work overnight again, but it had bothered Makoto. Even now, hours later, she found herself angrily wanting to tear the note up, as if to vent her hostility towards the casual attitude of the note. Didn't the woman worry about her daughter being all alone?
Of course, if Ami had been in a communicating mood, Makoto would have known that Dr. Mizuno was a conscientious, loving parent who had risen to a point of high authority and responsibility that few women achieved in Japanese society. And she would have also learned just how proud of her mother Ami was. The two had seriously discussed all the benefits and sacrifices her current position would entail. Ami was no more concerned about being alone than Makoto was. She just didn't have the pain and disappointment and sense of abandonment that Makoto did.
Uncomfortable with the silence, Makoto turned on the TV, slightly jealous that Ami and her mom could afford all the channels available on satellite. Finding a Japanese dub of Good Eats starring Alton Brown, she grinned and found her frustrations ebbing away as she finally allowed herself to relax. As the show progressed, she soon abandoned all pretenses of politeness, stretching out on the firmly upholstered designer sofa and burying her feet beneath one of the throw pillows.
It wasn't long before sleep claimed her, despite Alton's best antics and the less-than-comfortable couch.
It was very early in the morning. The rays of the distant sun had just begun to lift the darkness, casting the plain in muted shades of grays and blues. She had been up all night, working with her element, training to perfect the art of sniping with a burst of fire as her arrow. She was both proud and disdainful of the knowledge that if someone should be foolish enough to intrude upon the Palace, she could flambé him before he even glimpsed the Princess. Proud, because acquiring the skill demanded single-minded determination and strength, because it had taken her mother far more time to progress to this level. Disdainful because she had never met this Princess, knew nothing about her other than she was beautiful, gentle, and sheltered.
She'd let go of the majority of her bitterness, mainly because it interfered with her training. Her motivation as a Senshi-in-training was merely to be the absolute best, to surpass her predecessors. Her most common criticism was that she was prideful. The teachers warned her that she would be joining her teammates soon and that they would all be strong warriors. As she gazed upon the stark Martian terrain, she wondered if they really would be. Would she find within the group rivals whose abilities would motivate her to keep striving for perfection? Or would she find girls who bore their title as a fact of life rather than their purpose?
A faint breeze ruffled her training robes, and she welcomed it. The announcement that a shuttle was coming for her, to take her from the only home and family she remembered, had affected her emotions. She found herself paying a great deal of attention to every tiny detail in her existence here at the training compound. In the morning, she would put on her Sailor Mars uniform for the first time. A blessing ceremony would be held and then a farewell meal would be shared with all those who had spent her life aiding in her preparations for this moment. Then her top three teachers would travel with her to Martian Palace, to greet her Royal Family for the first time as Sailor Mars.
Her mother, father, and older sister had visited her on occasions, but they were only slightly more familiar to her than the Princess was. More concepts than people, she didn't miss them and doubted she would miss them much when she moved to the Moon. Those thoughts didn't trouble her conscience. Her mother had visited most often, but usually as an intervention to deal with her bad attitude towards the obligation of becoming a senshi. Her father seemed more proud of her station than interested in who she was. But it was her older sister she'd be glad to see the back of. Kisa was beautiful, intelligent, and generally even-tempered, but felt being born Crown Princess and heir to the throne but not Sailor Mars was an unfair slight at the hands of the gods. Her sense of having been cheated of the honor and responsibility confused and aggravated Rei and had permanently damaged their relationship. She dreaded seeing her again, knowing the Martian Court would turn out in great excitement to finally see the 14-year old girl who would be the new Sailor Mars.
The wind picked up, now scudding about the dry dust of the freshly harvested fields, further soiling her ashy garments. She realized that the ceremonies were only hours away and if she wanted to rest, she would have to tear herself away from the lonely, shadowed landscape that spoke so eloquently to her and find her pallet.
Rei tossed about on her bed, lost completely in her past self. Her soft modern bed felt as if it were merely a thin woven reed mat laid out on a dirt floor. Her shifting disturbed Luna, who was curled into the miko's side in an attempt to share body heat and stop the girl's shivering, but the chill her body was responding to was the Martian air in her dream memories and not a reaction to the temperature in her room.
Rei was led from her hut to the bath house, where two maidservants fussed over getting her hair and nails trimmed, her face and body scrubbed ruthlessly. Once she was dried, they assisted her in putting on the uniform. After years of running around in tattered grey robes that hid or distorted her figure, Rei was flustered by the uniform's exposition of her body. The tiny skirt and skintight bodice felt strange, the former too breezy and the latter too constricting. She was not self-conscious. She knew she was beautiful and she knew the uniform flattered her. She accepted those things as simple facts. But she was awed and humbled by the auspice of the uniform, by the realization that today she would leave here to claim the Power Stick and the Holy Jewel of Mars that her mother possessed.
Everything about this day was a step on the journey. The Martian High Priest said a rite of blessing over her and the compound broke out into a celebratory breakfast feast. She barely got to sample the fare as she was suddenly caught up in a whirl of emotional well-wishes, fond remembrances, and tearful farewells. The outpouring might never have ended had it not been for the arrival of her coach to take her to the Palace. The cook tucked a lunch into her arms as the stern officious lord bustled her into the vehicle and closed the windowless door. It signified the end of a chapter in her life quite appropriately, but she didn't appreciate the symbolism. She would have preferred to watch her home slip into the distance and to watch the terrain change as she approached the Palace. Instead, she ate her lunch and catnapped during the four hour journey.
Even before they arrived at the capital city, commoners began to throng the sides of the road, singing out praises to the new Senshi. The noise unsettled Rei, who was used to the relative peace and quiet of the compound and she was glad the carriage was windowless, so there would be no one to take offense at her displeasure at their celebrations. It took all her willpower to appear composed and unaffected when the carriage finally rumbled to a stop within the palace walls and she stepped out into the noonday sun, the area filled with nobility and upperclass citizens all cheering and waving red cloths. She was led through this group quickly and ushered into the main hall, where her parents sat on their thrones and her sister stood beside the dais. There was a soothing hush once the entry doors were closed. Only those closest to the King and Queen waited for her appearance here.
Rei stood in the shadows, waiting for the herald to announce her and for the great doors to open wide. At the moment, they stood open enough for her to see in. Her father and sister were dressed in elaborate finery, but her mother wore her Senshi uniform. A twinge of sadness touched Rei. Her mother had been so proud of her role as a senshi. She'd been disappointed by Rei's resistance; in fact, she'd been completely befuddled by it. And now, Rei stood here in the shadows, ready to take away that part of her mother's identity. Never again would Queen Arienne call upon her planetary power and transform into Sailor Mars for Queen Serenity. She felt an odd sense of guilt about this ceremony. Two women who wanted this position, who valued it so highly, were waiting for her, the one who would gladly have relinquished it, to claim it.
Never had the weight of being a senshi felt as heavy as it did now. When the Power Stick and Holy Jewel were given to her, the Princess' claim on her life, her soul, her mind would be complete. Rei would no longer be a reluctant Senshi-in-Training. She would be responsible for the Princess' safety and well-being and the glory of Mars would be resting on her. If she failed in her duty, she would not just endanger the Princess, she would dishonor her people. She would cease to be a person and would instead become an avatar, the latest in a long line of Sailor Marses, living out her life in accordance with the pre-established pattern. Unlike her mother, she was not in line for the monarchy. Kisa would become queen and only if she failed to bear a senshi child would Rei ever be called upon to procreate. For her there would be no mandatory arranged marriage and the likelihood of her falling in love seemed as possible as the Princess abolishing the Senshi.
The trumpets blared abruptly, jolting Rei out of her dark thoughts. She carefully composed her face, too proud to let her negativity show in her face or posture. The doors swung open and she gracefully strode forward, unescorted, radiating confidence. Her parents rose in welcome, pride glowing in their faces. Her mother came forward, standing on the top step of the dais, watching her daughter's approach with a senshi's critical eye. If she saw some flaw, it was her obligation to turn her away, to reject her as an unacceptable candidate for the job. Rei would wonder later if her mother had feared that Rei would intentionally present herself as blatantly unsuitable, but at the moment, she was caught up in demonstrating the correct respect for the retiring Sailor Mars and the solemnity of the occasion.
Kneeling before her mother, Rei bowed her head and awaited judgment. Queen Arienne's hand rested on her head briefly and then she was asked to stand. Into her right hand was pressed a small red stick with the zodiac symbol for Mars atop it. Words were said, but the sensation of the Power Stick in her hand interfered with her ability to process the ceremony. The only other event that stood out to her was when the Holy Jewel of Mars was removed from her mother's bow and pinned onto hers. Then she was turned about to face the assembly.
Again, she was unable to enjoy the feast as people continuously approached her. This time it was far more aggravating as people attempted to ingratiate themselves with her, behaving as if they knew her. She was grateful when the announcement of the shuttle's arrival was made and she and her family left the banquet for the small space dock. She walked beside her mother, absently listening to the former senshi's prattling about the Queen and the Palace and how her life would be filled with adventure and that she was sure she would like the other senshi since their mothers were her dearest friends. A white-haired man was waiting for them and he quickly came over to congratulate her and greet her family. She didn't pay attention to his introduction because she could see a green-clad senshi watching her from the shuttle door. She deduced immediately that this was Sailor Jupiter and she burned with the desire to speak with her.
Her mother wrapped her in her arms, clinging to her as if they had never been separated before. Her father was effusive in his praise of her status, though he only shook her hand in farewell. Kisa, for her part, stiffly embraced her younger sister, most likely because their parents expected it. She pulled away quickly, but gripped Rei's arms and glowered at her, an unexpected depth of hatred and hurt in her eyes, and whispered, "Don't screw up, Rei. And don't think about coming back here. I don't want to see your face again until it's time for you to make my daughter Sailor Mars, the right you usurped from me."
Stunned, Rei could only stare at her sister and let the man lead her away, into what would be the first of many altercations with Sailor Jupiter.
Rei jerked awake, drenched in a cold sweat, shivering in her thin pajamas as the fan chilled her further. Luna was startled awake as Rei shot into a sitting position, alarmed by a faint snoring sound. Both cat and girl stared through the gloom at the sleeping blonde sprawled on Rei's floor. An irrepressible giggle burst from Rei's lips and Usagi stirred in response, slowly awakening with a protesting groan.
Both girls stared blearily at each other for a long moment. Usagi rolled over, rising to her hands and knees, and crawled over to Rei's side. "How are you feeling?" she asked in a voice thick with sleep.
Rei frowned in confusion, "I'm just fine. Why?"
"Luna found you passed out in your Fire Reading Room. She called us and Mamo-chan and I got you settled. Are you hungry?"
Rei flushed in embarrassment at the image of Mamoru hauling her exhausted butt back to her room, but she pushed it aside, "Well, thanks, I guess. And yeah, I'm a bit hungry. Why are you still here though?"
Usagi clambered to her feet and Rei could hear her moving about the small kitchenette. The telltale beeps and hum of her microwave preceded Usagi's return. She leaned in the doorway, light spilling in around her. "Mamo-chan and I fed Yuuichirou-kun and Ojii-san and Mamo-chan checked their injuries. I thought I should stay in case they or you needed anything. I didn't like the thought of you being by yourself in a potentially weakened state." Luna glowered at her, insulted, and Usagi offered her a weak grin.
The aroma of a simple meat and vegetable stew filled the small building and Rei closed her eyes in appreciation. "Who cooked?" she asked, her voice a teasing lilt, knowing the answer before hand. Usagi laughed sheepishly, mildly embarrassed that the cooking duties had fallen to her boyfriend.
They felt silent. Usagi brought Rei a large bowl of the stew and a tall glass of ice water. Rei ate quickly, while Usagi dozed, reclined against Rei's dresser. The thunk of the empty bowl being placed next to the blasting fan woke her and she met Rei's purple-black gaze. "Thanks for the late dinner, Usa-chan. I guess you can stay." Mirth danced in her eyes, the first sparkle of genuine happiness that Usagi had seen in Rei's eyes in a long while. She smiled back, knowing the miko would not have kicked her out at this hour. "But," Rei's tone hardened, "you have to get up when I do. And help with the early morning chores. It's been backbreaking, taking care of this place alone." Usagi's protests died and she nodded mutely. "No complaining?"
"I promise, Rei-chan," Usagi murmured as she collected Rei's dirty dishes and rinsed them in the sink. "Good night," she called, snapping off the kitchenette's light and finding her makeshift pallet on the floor, sound asleep in seconds, oblivious to whether or not Rei replied.
AN2: Well, what did you think? Lots of backstory getting explored. I'm kind of disappointed that people hate Minako so much, actually. Maybe you're skimming over her instead of giving her a chance? She's pretty impressive from where I'm standing, forced to live this deception, believing that she has no value as anything more than a decoy, and stuck trying to whip our beloved senshi into a team that this time around won't lose to Metallia. Oh well, it is up to the reader how s/he responds to what I've written. I like hearing your thoughts, even when they surprise me, do please don't take that as a complaint or criticism. Oh, and I really want to know what it is you think I'm going to have happen in Chapter 8 that will make you want to kill me. :)
~B
