Chapter 7

"I… don't understand."

Yumi smiled, before getting up and going to the window. She felt her daughter's gaze on her.

"I'm sorry."

"Why?" Minako asked, her tiny voice reminding her mother of a five year old form of her child.

"I know I haven't been there for you these last years."

"It's okay, I'm a big girl, I know how to take care of myself."

"This does not mean that I shouldn't have been there."

She heard Minako getting up and putting her shoes on. She knew her daughter hated to stay still, especially when she was uneasy. Yumi turned toward her and softly smiled.

"Am I making you nervous, Minako?"

The girl looked at her with an impassive expression and crossed her arms, her eyes defiant.

"No. The situation is kind of weird, though."

"Why? Because I'm here?"

"Why aren't you in Paris? The fashion shows are really important for the company, aren't they?"

Yumi sighed quietly. It wasn't easy for her to be there, to have this conversation. Maybe she was too proud. She didn't like to have to admit her faults. It didn't help that hazel eyes identical to hers bored into her and seemed to strip her soul bare.

"The fashion shows are important to the company, but nothing is more important to me than you."

There was irony and anger in those eyes. Yumi saw it easily, and she marveled at her daughter's self-control because Minako's face showed nothing.

"Interesting," Minako said, her tone holding a trace of sarcasm and of something darker.

"Mina –"

"No, I would really like to know when that idea has come to you. Because, really, I was there these last few years, and strangely it didn't feel like I was taking the first place in your heart."

"It's complicated."

"Of course, it is. It always is in this family."

"The company has taken a lot of my time, and I'm hard on you, but it's because I don't want you to…"

"Don't worry, I'll never be you. What? Didn't know I understood that much about you, huh?"

"I shouldn't be surprised. You always were a perceptive child."

"I'm not a child. I haven't been one in a long time."

Yumi averted her eyes. She knew that, but sometimes, she just couldn't understand. There was something in her daughter, something strong, powerful and ancient that scared her sometimes.

"It doesn't mean you have no innocence."

"You wouldn't know that."

Silence. Yumi hated it. She had the impression that Minako knew it perfectly. The girl was controlling the conversation, manipulating her emotions.

And she was good at it.

But Yumi had a few secret weapons.

"I saw you. At the final last year."

The eyes widened.

"What?"

"I came back from Kyoto. I wanted to be there. It was a beautiful match. It reminded me of my time as a player in my youth. You are really an amazing player, far better than I was. And you were a great captain."

Minako lowered her eyes, whispering her thanks. She seemed tensed and tired.

"Why didn't you tell me?" the girl asked.

"I left directly after it."

"Of course. But we saw each other after that day, even if it was rather short encounters. You could have told me then. And if you didn't take that plane the other day, then where were you?"

"I was worried about you."

"That's new!"

"No, it's not! I always worry about you."

"Yeah, doesn't feel like it. Where were you when I was throwing up blood three months ago and fell into a coma for a day? Where were you during all these treatments, all these days and nights when I was so sick that I couldn't even sat down? Where were you when I needed someone to come to school reunions, when I needed advise, when I needed…" Minako closed her eyes once more, and controlled her emotions. "You weren't there."

These words were legitimate, and they would haunt Yumi for a long time.

"I know. I know that I missed a lot of things, and… that I should have been there to help you and –"

"I don't need anybody! And certainly not a mother. I'm not a kid, I grew up, it's too late. There is nothing in me that need a mother anymore."

"Then, why are you this angry?"

"This had nothing to do with you. A lot is going on."

"I know that –"

"You don't know anything!"

"Please, Mina, calm down, you're shaking."

"Don't touch me!"

"Ok," Yumi softly said, taking a step back. "But sit down, please."

"I'm fine," Minako replied, not moving. "So, when are you getting back to work? Dad must be waiting for you."

There was irony again. It pained Yumi that she hadn't been able to shelter her daughter from her father's habits.

"Well, like you just said, you're not a kid, we both know that your father must be in pretty good company right now."

Minako raised her gaze toward her, eyes showing her sudden hesitation.

"Hum, maybe."

"I didn't know you were an optimist. Anyway, I am not going back to work for a while. I… I'm tired. I hate this job. I hate the long hours and the trips and I hate not being there when you're unwell or when something important is happening in your life and I hate having to constantly fix Naoki's mistakes."

"Why don't you divorce?" Minako asked quietly. That question threw Yumi totally off guard and she stayed silent. "Why don't you divorce? Dad and you, you don't love each other. You never did."

"Oh, Mina. That isn't true. I loved your father when I married him. We loved each other. But things… have changed."

"Then why are you still with him? If you don't love him, then leave him."

"It's not so simple."

"Love is important."

There was so much conviction in her… Yumi smiled.

"Of course, it is. You know, I almost left your father once. But then, I learnt that I was pregnant." Minako looked at her with surprised and curious eyes. "I never told you, but the reason why we had you so late was because we thought that we couldn't conceive. You were a big surprise, a really welcome one. Everybody told us that it was a miracle. And you were."

"I wasn't planned?"

"No, you followed your own rules, like always. The pregnancy and your birth were so simple, it was a miracle in itself. I was happy raising you in our home and playing perfect family."

"So you stayed with dad because of me?"

"Not because of you. For you."

"You can divorce, I don't care. It's not like we spend a lot of time together anyway. Not since…"

"Since what?" Yumi asked worriedly.

Minako couldn't think that her absence had anything to do with her. Could she?

"Since I was 8."

"I had to work, Minako."

"Of course."

"Your father –"

"Was too occupied with getting himself drunk. What? Thought I didn't know that too? One day I found him in his study. He couldn't walk straight and couldn't finish a sentence."

Yumi nodded slowly.

"I was hoping that you didn't know that."

"Yeah, well, I've always known."

"Minako, all of this has nothing to do with you. Your father… was already heading this way before your birth. And I…"

"I know. It must not have been easy to find out that your daughter was abnormal."

"What?"

Minako looked at her in the eyes, her gaze somber and full of tormented feelings.

"I mean, after the… after that it happened, there wasn't anything you could do to ignore it."

"What are you talking… I thought… I thought that you had forgotten about those nightmares."

"I didn't."

Realization hit her, and Yumi went to her daughter to gently take her face between her hands and raise the girl's head.

"Hey, Mina, look at me. Look at me. My decision to work with your father has nothing to do with that. Nothing."

"But…"

"You've been a special child from the moment you were conceived. You shouldn't be there, but you are, and I'm so grateful for that. The first time I hold you, I knew that you were the best thing that could happen to me. Before having you I was just one of those wives that don't do anything more than spending money and gossiping, you made me who I am today, stronger, wiser, you made me better. I would never have thought that raising a baby would make me happy, but it did, and I was proud of being a mother. I am proud of being your mother."

"B…but…"

"I knew you were special long before you. You were such an happy baby, you know, radiant and perceptive, always spontaneous, always trying to make people smile, even complete strangers, as if the fact that people weren't happy disturbed you. You commanded attention, something in you attracted everybody's gaze, even when you couldn't even walk yet. And I don't care about that, I never did. I don't explain your birth, those nightmares, your extra sensibility, your impressive charisma, because before all of this, you are my child."

A few tears escaped Minako's eyes, and the girl lowered her head, as if ashamed of it. Yumi took her daughter in her arms and kissed her head.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I didn't know you remembered that, I didn't know that you thought that my absence was because of that. I'm so sorry, sweetie. I… I just needed to work for the money and… after a while, it became easier to stay away than to see you change too fast for me to see. It was easier to… I'm sorry. I just couldn't… Seeing you sick is so hard for me, you know…"

Minako took a step back and Yumi let her go. She watched as her daughter erased the few tears on her cheeks and shook her head.

"Don't," she said. "I don't want to talk about it."

Her voice was raspy. Yumi wondered what Minako meant but she chose not to ask.

"Hitmoi said that she has found drawings in your room."

"Hitomi?" Minako asked, surprised and suspicious. "Since when are you friends?"

"We're not," Yumi explained with a little disgusted grimace. "One day we met by chance and… I know you often spend time at your aunt's home."

"Great."

"I'm glad you do. I…"

"I like her. She's a fun aunt."

"Fun?" Yumi said, doubtful.

Minako looked defiant.

"Yes."

"I know you won't forgive me easily. You're not my daughter for nothing. But… about these drawings, it –"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Mina, since when do you –"

"It's nothing. Doing them help me calm myself down after the nightmares. No need to call a psy."

"The nightmares. They've returned."

"I don't want to talk about it," Minako repeated slowly, a hard edge in her voice.

"Ok. But –"

"I want to leave the hospital. I'm tired of being there."

"You don't look too well."

"I'm fine."

"Mina, about the operation…"

"I don't want it."

Yumi's heart broke.

"Minako, please. It's your only hope."

"I know," Minako replied impassively, taking her bag and her jacket without looking at her.

"It could save your life."

"I know."

Yumi enclosed her daughter's hand in hers before the girl could leave the room. Her voice shook with her emotions.

"Please, don't leave. We need to talk about this. I should… I shouldn't have let you choose without talking to you about it. Minako, I want you to fight. I want you to undergo the operation."

"Why? It could kill me. I could still be sick after it."

"But it's the only thing that could prevent your death!"

"So?"

"I don't want to lose you!"

Minako looked at her, her eyes showing her surprise and darker thoughts. Yumi knew that she never had been this emotional or sincere in front of her daughter before now. But if it was what it would take for her to save her child, she would gladly do it.

"I love you. I can't lose my baby. Children are not supposed to die before their parents, seeing you this sick is already killing me, losing you would be…"

Without visible emotion, Minako freed herself from Yumi's hand.

"You don't know me."

"Then explain it to me, Mina."

"I'm sorry."

Yumi couldn't say anything. Minako left, and the woman was left alone in the empty hospital room, alone.

And she realized that she had never felt colder.


"You're late."

Rei frowned upon seeing Minako in her room, a manga on her knees. She put her schoolbag near the door and crossed her arms over her hated uniform.

"Excuse me?"

"School ended an hour ago," Minako said, putting the book away.

"I had to… What are you doing here? I thought you were angry at me."

"I am."

"Ah. Good. Because I am angry at you too."

"Great."

Rei waited. But Minako didn't move and didn't explain her presence. She was looking at her nails like they were the most fascinating things in the world.

"So, why are you there?"

"Well, my mother and Hayao are at home, my aunt Hitomi apparently knows my mother, and Etso isn't at home today."

"Okay…?"

"Actually, that's just excuses. I wanted to come here."

"Ah."

"I told you. I like the shrine."

"You didn't escape from the hospital again, did you?"

Minako smiled cutely.

"No. I was released this time."

"Good girl."

"Can I have a reward?"

Rei shook her head.

"No."

"Too bad," Minako said with a low tone, her eyes running over Rei's body from head to toe.

Blushing, Rei glared at her.

"Stop that."

"What?"

"Minako!"

"Yes?"

"Nevermind."

Minako grinned happily. She stood up and looked around her.

"Where is the cat?"

"He's with Luna and my friends. And… I'm late. I'm supposed to meet them."

Rei debated with herself. She didn't want to leave Minako alone, but she was going to the Crown, to the secret room not so secret anymore, the only place that hadn't been affected by what Usagi had done to restore the world. It meant that the pictures were still there, like Minako's three CDs. At least, the banner for Minako's party had been thrown off the week before. It had killed Rei inside to enter that room with all the decorations, knowing what had happened.

Anyway she didn't have a choice. Maybe Minako would remember…

"Want to come?"

"Me?"

"No, I was talking to my bag."

Minako glared at her.

"Very smooth, Reiko. And I'd like to."

"I have to change."

"Okay."

"Huh… can you wait for me outside, please?"

Eyes sparkling, Minako smiled, stopping just before Rei.

"Why?" she whispered.

Rei looked at her nervously and fought with herself to stay where she was.

"Minako."

"Yes?"

God, being so close to her was torture. She could smell this scent that was so her, could see every detail of her eyes and her glossy lips…

It was in these moments that Rei was highly grateful for her childhood spent in a shrine and all her priestess' trainings.

Self-control was everything.

She took Minako's arms and made her turn on herself before pushing her toward the door.

"Wait there."

She briefly saw an amused and disappointed glint in the other girl's eyes before she closed the screen door.


"So, where are we going?"

"To the Crown."

"A karaoke?" Minako smiled. "Does it mean that I'm going to hear Reiko sing?"

"What? No!"

"Come on! I think I would love it…"

Minako heard a voice in her head, Rei's voice, singing. She frowned.

"Minako? Are you alright?"

"Yes. It's nothing."

"Other… flashes?"

Minako tensed.

"On my past lives?"

"You're still denying it."

"No. I simply have other things on my mind."

"Ah."

"I had an interesting conversation with my mother this afternoon."

"Really? It's… a good thing, isn't it?"

"I… guess. How was she?"

The question was out before Minako could stop herself. She winced, regretting it as she stopped because of a red light.

"Who?"

"Your mother. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"It's okay," reassured Rei quietly. "She was… always smiling. Quiet. Intelligent. I've only my memories and I was a young girl when she died, so I don't really remember her as she was, I suppose. But she was an amazing mom."

"Mine was too," Minako found herself saying. "I… I mean, before she decided to work so much that I found myself alone most of the time. She always was a little strict and she cries a lot, but… she taught me a lot of things and took good care of me. Still do, I guess."

"I'm sad that you don't get along. Mothers are important."

They crossed the road, and Minako sighed.

"It's not that we don't get along. It's complicated, you know. I had to do without my mother for a lot of things. Today she told me she loved me. It was the first time in years, well unless she did come into my room to whisper it to me last month, but I'm not sure it wasn't a dream."

"You don't believe her?"

She didn't know why she was telling Rei all this. She had always hated talking about personal things, and especially about that. But Rei was such a good listener, she didn't judge, she was so calm and warm.

Well, she did live in a Shinto shrine, after all. She might have learnt the art of listening or something.

"I know she loves me. I… felt it when she talked to me."

"You know, our mothers knew each other. Apparently they were friends."

"No, really?"

"Yes. Your mother told me that she met me when I was a little girl."

"Oh, I'm sure you were absolutely cute!"

"Hey!"

Minako giggled suddenly.

"Hey, wouldn't it be weird it we met when we were little too? I mean, I was surely with mom when she was with your mother and you."

"Yeah," Rei whispered thoughtfully. "Weird."

"What are you thinking?"

"Nothing."

"You… Reiko?"

"Wait!" Rei suddenly cried toward two kids that were playing football.

She ran toward them just when one of the boys went after the ball on the street. Minako watched with horror the car coming too fast and ran too, but Rei had already caught the kid's vest and was pulling him to her and safety.

"Don't play near the road, eh?" Rei said to the shaking boy. "Go to the park."

"Y…yes."

Minako looked at Rei with renewed amazement. She laughed and took the girl in her arms, kissing her cheek with affection.

"Minako! What…?"

Minako used all her willpower to let go of Rei and smiled at the blushing girl.

"You're so sweet."

"Wh…what? I'm not… sweet."

"Yes you are."

"Whatever," Rei mumbled. "Come on."

"Ooh, bossy."

"You're annoying."

"You're grumpy."

"I have to tell you… The girls will be there with their boyfriends and all of them know about Artemis and the things that are linked to it."

"You mean all of you are believing this past life story?"

"I mean we are all involved in it. Well, besides Motoki, in fact."

"Oh my god, you are all crazy."

"Maybe. But then, why are you following me if you think it's stupid?"

Minako kept silent, displeased. But something in herself pushed her to follow Rei, to listen to her.

To have faith in Mars.

They entered the Crown and went to a room that Minako thought at first as a closet. Everybody was already here and they looked worryingly at Minako. But the girl was looking at the room while descending the stairs.

It felt… familiar. There was energy in it…

Wasn't it weird? What a room like that was doing in a karaoke?

Maybe she shouldn't have left the hospital…

"Ah, Minako!"

Minako winced when Usagi ran to her with a too big smile on her face, her eyes shining with love and adoration and kindness. All her emotions were glowing and coming from her in big waves of positive feelings.

"Hi," Minako said, not knowing how to react to Usagi's ever enthusiasm toward her.

She found herself taking a step to her left, unconsciously coming closer to Rei who immediately intervened.

"Huh, Minako, you know Makoto and Ami? And Artemis of course, and the other cat is Luna."

Luna went to her and meowed. She was like Artemis, her aura and feelings were as special as his. She nodded, not knowing how to proceed. More flashes came to her, but she couldn't really understand them. The boys were looking at her weirdly, with cautious, wonder, worry and amusement, it was disconcerting.

"And this is Motoki Furuhata, Mamoru Chiba and Naboru…"

"Suwa," Ami helped quietly.

"Ah. Guys, Minako Aino."

Minako nodded to their greetings, feeling their awkwardness and indecision. Suddenly she felt very uncomfortable, almost sick. She saw the pictures on the wall, pictures of the smiling girls. Saw the five chairs, the five lockers, in five colors. Blue, green, orange, pink and purple.

Five. But only four girls.

Why did it bother her like that?

Orange…

She liked that color. Like yellow.

Sunny colors. Bright and joyful.

Artemis was rubbing his fur against her legs. She picked him up and he mewed contently, looking into her eyes with his green ones.

Why was he so attached to her?

Minako, you can't transform now! Minako!

I love Minako Aino! I want you to live!

She winced and almost dropped him.

"Are you alright?" Rei asked worryingly at her while her friends were occupied making drinks.

Minako nodded.

"Headache."

"Do you need to sit down?"

Minako wanted to say no, but her blurry vision told her that it wouldn't be a bad thing. She nodded and decided to go to a chair but her gaze met Naboru's nervous and dark one.

Something… something in him… in his aura…

There was a trace of something dark, but it was faint, it was barely there. Minako knew it wasn't in the young man's feelings, it was more like something that was linked to him, to his… past?

Still, she felt something in her react to that. She let go of Artemis, tensed and full of sudden energy, her gifts were taking over her mind, rage, protectiveness, wariness and mistrust invaded her heart.

She didn't understand, but something in his eyes and feelings showed her that he knew what was happening. He lowered his eyes, ill at ease, afraid maybe.

What was happening to her? She felt so… angry… Her very nature was responding to that, she could feel energy gathering in her, in her hands, she felt strong, she felt…

"MARS!"

The terrian general plunged his blood red dagger shining with energy into the guardian's side violently and smirked down as the fatally wounded woman fell. His cold and empty eyes raised with Venus' scream, a victory glint in them. The Senshi Commander killed the youma she was fighting against and gazed at her dying best friend with despair and hate.

"Mars!"

But the triumphant expression on the human's face was short lived, because suddenly, at his feet, his martian opponent smiled. She raised her arms toward him and he burst into flames that engulfed him before he could even understand. He screamed horribly, the inferno destroying his flesh and muscles in seconds.

To Venus, it wasn't long enough, she wanted him to suffer. She ran and kneeled despite her own wounds, taking her last Senshi in her arms, already knowing that she was losing her.

Mars was dying.

Nephrite…

She looked into his eyes once more, and when he met her gaze, something in her just snapped.


One second she was normal, and a second later…

Rei looked at Minako, sensing that something was really wrong. Venus' face was pale, her shining eyes glaring at Naboru. The young man always seemed ill at ease, but Rei had never seen him react with this much nervousness before. He was avoiding Minako's eyes, as if he knew what was happening to the girl.

"Minako? What is it?"

But Minako seemed lost in a world that Rei couldn't reach. Artemis watched his charge worriedly and tried to call her, then he looked at Rei and mewed, but she couldn't understand him. He certainly knew, too, what was happening there.

A terrible pain and rage showed into Minako's face. Her eyes turned icy cold, and suddenly, with inhuman speed, Minako violently pushed Naboru against the wall, her right hand squeezing his throat with evident strength. His feet weren't on the ground anymore and he didn't try to fight.

"Oh!"

"Minako!"

"No!" Mamoru cried, keeping them at bay. "Don't touch her! It isn't Minako anymore."

He was right. On Minako's forehead shined the golden sign of Venus, a golden and orange aura surrounding her body and for a moment the miko was sure that her eyes had taken a crystal blue color. Rei hadn't felt this sort of sacred power since the end of the war.

"Naboru!" Ami called when she saw her boyfriend trying to stop Minako to strangle him.

"Nephrite," Venus breathed, her voice low and strong, her accent as strange as the bright halo around her.

"Princess… Venus…" Naboru said, trying to talk despite his position.

Venus said something that the others couldn't understand. It wasn't a language they were familiar with, but Naboru, having his memories, answered:

"Nephrite is dead. He isn't… me."

It didn't seem to calm her. She said something to him that sounded like a death sentence.

"The wars ended, we're at peace now… We all died... and more than once. We all have our second chance… You have too…"

Venus didn't seem impressed. She smiled coldly and said two words. Naboru shook his head.

"She's alive too. All the princesses are dormant in their reincarnations. They are living their life despite the past. We all are. Damn it, listen to me! We all have paid for our sins and our failures. You… too…"

She was bleeding, but Venus didn't seem to see it. Rei tried to go to her, but Mamoru stopped her.

"No. Let him."

"You're hurting her, Venus…" Naboru said, his voice less raspy now that the princess was holding him less fiercely. "You're hurting Minako… You love the girl, don't you? She's hurting, can't you feel it? Her mind…"

Suddenly Venus let go of Naboru who fell at her feet, coughing. She raised a hand to her nose and looked at the blood on her fingers. And then she passed out.

"Minako!"

Rei took her in her arms. The bright aura disappeared, but not the symbol on her forehead. Minako looked at Rei with teary eyes and whimpered painfully.

"Calm down, it's going to be alright… Mamoru, what's happening?"

The boy kneeled beside her and put a hand on Minako's forehead.

"She just needs to take control again," he explained.

He closed his eyes, concentrated on his gifts and didn't move for a few minutes. When he removed his hand, the sign had disappeared and Minako had lost consciousness.

"What the hell was that?" Motoki explained.

"Yeah, since when the senshi can control us?"

"They can, Makoto, but they're dormant most of the time, like Endymion in me, except when we were transforming," Mamoru explained while standing up. "But Minako is sick and her memories are all over the place. Seeing Nephrite in Naboru must have triggered something in her."

"More like enraged Venus! What did she said to you, Naboru?"

He averted their eyes.

"She just… wanted revenge."

"On what?" Rei asked, but found that he couldn't meet her eyes.

"I'm sorry," he said, bowing. "I should have known… But she never reacted like that before, even when we were fighting."

"What? You killed her in the past life or something?" Motoki asked, still lost despite what Makoto had explained to him.

"No. Not her."

"Minako?" Rei called when the girl in her arms moved.

Ami kneeled down beside them to use a wet handkerchief to wash off the blood on her friend's face.

Minako moaned, slowly sitting up.

"What happened? I feel… Ow…"

"Can you stand? Are you alright?"

"Yes…"

"Are you –"

"I'm fine, Mars. I mean, Reiko. God, what the…?" Her eyes fell on Naboru and she frowned, tensing. "You."

"Maybe we should go get some fresh air," Rei proposed, fearing another Venus' thing. "Come on."

To her relief, Minako complied easily. They sat down on a bench in the street and Minako swallowed a few pills.

"Don't look at me like that, I'm fine," Minako said without looking at her, her voice distant. "What you said about past lives, it's true, huh?"

"Yes."

"Of course."

"What… happened?"

"Bad memory. But after that…"

"Your past form took over your body and attacked Naboru."

"Ah. Well, it isn't like he's innocent. I mean, I would have done the same thing."

"What did he do to you?"

"It doesn't matter."

"It does."

"He killed someone I… I mean, someone close to Venus."

"Oh. In the war?"

"Yes."

"Was it…"

Rei couldn't really say it, but as always, Minako knew.

"Yes," she answered quietly. "Nephrite killed you."

"He killed Mars. I'm right here," Rei said softly.

She didn't know how she felt about all that.

"You killed him too, you know. Roasted him."

"Charming."

"Well, Venus was really pissed off about your death apparently," Minako said lightly.

Rei sensed her discomfort, and for the first time, she wished she remembered the past life. She was beginning to wonder if there wasn't something she should know about Mars and Venus. Something that would explain why Minako had always been angry at her for not remembering anything, for not remembering her.

"Is your headaches fading?"

"Not… exactly. Did they know me?"

"What?"

"You said we met before. In this life." Rei didn't correct her, didn't tell her that for Minako, it was in a past life too. "Did they know me?"

"More or less."

"Interesting. Were we friends?"

"You didn't really have the time."

"Ah. I'm hungry. I need sugar. Come on!"

Rei didn't really have a choice, Minako took her by the hand and pulled her with her toward a café. She ordered cakes and tea and sat down with energy. Rei sighed and did the same. She never could follow Minako's way of thinking anyway.

"Don't you have more questions to ask me?"

"No."

"Really?" Rei asked, confused. "It doesn't bother you more than that?"

Minako smiled to her.

"Why? It should?"

"I… You are weird."

Rei didn't know why she had said that, it just tumbled out of her mouth like that. But she loved the sound of Minako's laughter.

"You are weird, Reiko."

They ate in silence for a while. Minako made rhythmic sounds with her heels under the table, seemingly without a care in the world. It was disturbing Rei. The fact that Minako compartmentalized her emotions and the various aspects of her life bothered her. Rei wasn't like that. She was passionate about things, she threw herself into her life. She couldn't understand how one could just bury their feelings like that, but she knew that, Minako having lived being an idol, a teen and a guardian with past life memories all at once, the girl had had to develop a coping mechanism.

It didn't mean that Rei had to be the same.

"Are you still decided to refuse the operation?"

Minako stopped stirring her tea for a second.

"I don't want to talk about that."

"That's a child's answer."

"Maybe."

"What? You don't fight? That's not like you."

"What do you know? You're kind of annoying, Reiko, do you know that?"

"Why? Because I don't follow your rules? I just want you to live, why don't you understand that?"

Minako stood up, left enough money to pay the bill and walked toward the door. Irritated, Rei put her jacket on and followed her quickly. She found her near a little park, the night was falling and it was almost deserted.

"Always running away, huh?"

"I wasn't running, Reiko," Minako calmly stated, turning to look at her.

"I don't understand," Rei said, wincing at the pleading tone of her voice. "Why don't you undergo the operation?"

"Why do you want to understand?" Minako replied. "It's my choice. My life."

"But you should be free to live it now! What, are you so scared of the probabilities?"

"No!"

"Then what?"

"Nothing, ok? I don't want to talk about that, and especially to you! Why don't you respect it?"

"I can't! I can't accept that! I didn't then and I won't now!"

"I don't understand what you're talking about," Minako sighed angrily. "It doesn't matter anyway. I'm free to do what I want."

"And what you want is dying at 15?"

"16. If it doesn't happen in the next three days."

"Don't say things like that!" Rei cried, fighting to keep the tears at bay. "I forbid you to joke about things like that."

"I'm not joking! I'm sick, and this illness is killing me, and I've known that for years! I had to live with it and to grow up with it these last four years, and I accepted it. I'm dying, it's like that, I can't do anything about it! I'm almost 16 and dying, my body is betraying me as we speak, I won't become an adult, I won't marry or work or learn to drive or anything, and I don't say I'm not angry at the fact or bitter, but… it's not like I chose it or anything. And I won't spend my last weeks fighting with you over this."

"Then accept the operation! Why won't you take this chance?"

"Because I don't want to!"

"For Kami's sake! You're not making any sense!"

"Why are you so adamant on this?"

"Because I'm your friend!"

Minako froze, but only for a second.

"Well, I'm sorry. I should go home anyway."

"You know what? I think it's easy for you, to make this choice!" Rei bitterly retorted.

"Oh, yes? And why are you saying that?"

"Because it's not you that will have to stay behind!" Rei screamed, angry at Minako and angry at herself for the tears that were escaping her. "It's not you that will have to receive the phone call or person that will let you know, it's not you that will have to grieve and it's not you that will have to go to the burial and to live with the memories!"

Minako visibly didn't know how to react to Rei's outburst. She looked at her, eyes shining, and struggled to find words to answer her with.

"I know how that is," she replied, her voice softer. "And I'm sorry. But I made my choice a long time ago."

"So, you've decided to die from day one?" Rei said, averting her eyes and ignoring her tears.

"No," Minako replied softly. "Not so long ago, I wanted to call my neurologist to tell him that I wanted to try the operation. But… things changed."

"What? Why?"

This time, it was Minako's turn to lower her eyes, crossing her arms against her middle.

"You don't know me, Rei. I should leave."

"No! Wait," Rei caught her arm gently.

"Let me go."

"Never. I… I mean, no." Minako raised an eyebrow at her and Rei did all she could not to blush again. "I mean, explain."

"I don't have to. Not that I'm complaining but could you…?"

Rei let go of Minako's arm and took a step back.

"Sorry. I won't let you go home until you explain that decision to me."

"I don't want to explain it to you and if I want to leave, I –"

"Could you be more frustrating?"

"Could you be more annoying?"

They glared at each other, until Rei sighed and went to sit down on a bench. She was cold now that the night was there, and she suddenly remembered that she had a lot of homework to do before morning. On top of that, they still hadn't found the answer to Luna and Artemis' problem.

And if it was linked to Minako's problem, what could they do about it? Minako still didn't really remember, and she seemed decided to die anyway. What did it mean for Luna and Artemis?

"Asaki."

The word, quiet and trembling, seemed to have been forced out of Minako's mouth. The girl hadn't moved, but she was looking at Rei with hazel eyes full of sadness, hesitation and guilt. Rei didn't know what to do or what to say, she didn't understand what Minako's friend had to do with all of this, so she chose to keep quiet.

"I'm not…" Minako's voice broke and she lowered her eyes. Her hands were fidgeting, she stilled them against her stomach. "Asaki was… It's my fault."

Rei frowned.

"What?" she asked softly.

"It's my fault that he's dead!"

Rei stood up and stopped when she saw Minako's tears. She hated to see her cry like that. It was contrary to the cheerful, sometimes solemn and always strong girl that she knew...

"Minako…"

"I was with him, the day before he… I knew. I saw it in his eyes. I felt it in his emotions and I knew because…" A sob broke her voice and more tears fell. "Because I had felt these feelings myself. This tiredness and weariness and… you know, it begins slowly and one day you're looking at an open window at the hospital and you're all alone and you're on the tenth floor and a little voice in you say: hey, it could all end, the pain, the treatment, the headaches and heartache, you could just… just end it all…"

More sobs. Rei's stomach was protesting, she felt like she could throw up any minute.

"And Asaki… he hated being sick, you know? When he knew that he had to go through chemo again, he was so angry. He was feeling down since a few weeks, distant. And I knew, I felt it and… and I didn't do anything! I just let him leave, he smiled at me and he said goodbye and I just… I said goodbye… I didn't say anything!" Minako cried. "I didn't say anything to him to dissuade him and I didn't say anything to anybody! I didn't warn his parents or… I didn't… and he hung himself the morning after it and… I knew it… I let him die, it's my fault…"

Rei didn't know what to say, so she opted for acting instead of speaking.

"No…" Minako sobbed, trying to escape Rei's tender hug. "Don't… don't!" She pushed her and punched her on the shoulder but Rei didn't care. "Don't! Don't you see? I killed him! I'm not… I'm not good, I… He would still be alive, he had years to live for god's sake! He could have been in remission in a few months and he…"

"Shhh," Rei soothed, hugging Minako more tightly against her. She had ceased to struggle and Rei felt her sobs against her and her tears on her shoulder. "Calm down. Calm down…"

"I should have said something… I… but he had made his choice and it was his life and I was…"

"It's not your fault," Rei whispered with the calmer voice she could manage, trying to sooth her. "It was his choice, he killed himself, you couldn't have done anything, maybe it would have delayed it, but he would have found a way to... You said yourself that he was depressive. You're not responsible for his death."

"Yes, I am! And I don't know what to say to his parents and brothers when I see them and… Do you see now? It's him that should be alive, not me!"

Rei abruptly understood the situation with utmost clarity.

"You… that's why you don't want the operation?" she breathed with stupefaction. She took Minako by the shoulders and gently pulled her at arm's length to look at her in the eyes. "You're feeling guilty about Asaki's death?"

Minako couldn't meet her gaze.

"I don't deserve to have a chance to live," she murmured brokenly.

"What? Of course you deserve to live! Don't say that! It wasn't your fault! And anyway, you already died once of this damn sickness!"

"What?" Minako hiccupped between her tears.

"You have to live! You deserve to, you've guarded this planet and you didn't do anything wrong! Well, besides being stupidly stubborn. And your parents, your aunt, Etso, Artemis, have you thought about them? What about Hayao and your friends? What about me and the others? You can't die, don't you see? You have people that love you here, and life is a great thing!"

"Reiko… You're shaking me."

Rei stopped but didn't release her hold on the girl, as if letting her go would mean losing her.

"Sorry, but… what can't you see it's not your fault?"

"I… Because it –"

"No, it is not your fault. Asaki chose. He made a choice, and you have to make yours too. You have to let go of your guilt."

"But…"

"Don't force me to hit you."

"What?"

"I really don't think that you should be feeling guilty, Minako."

Minako wasn't sobbing anymore at least, but she seemed exhausted. With her hair up like that and these tears on her cheeks, she looked like a little girl. She rubbed her eyes with her fists and sighed.

"Are you ok?" Rei asked quietly.

"Yes, besides feeling a little pathetic."

"Don't."

"I drenched your jacket," Minako frowned.

"Huh? Ah, it's nothing."

Minako's phone rang and she grimaced without looking at it.

"I suppose that it's like that, to have a parent at home that worries about you."

"We should leave," Rei acquiesced, letting go of Minako's shoulders, feeling suddenly very tired.

They walked slowly toward the main street, neither knowing what to say, until Minako's soft voice broke the silence.

"Reiko?"

"Hmm?"

"If… I chose to try it, you would come see me at the hospital?"

Rei felt hope and joy appearing in her heart, giving her more energy. She turned her head to see her friend's face and smiled.

"Really?"

"Is that a yes?"

"You idiot! Of course I would go to the hospital to see you! Somebody is going to have to bring you your math homework, after all."

"No math in my room."

Minako glared at her playfully, a little smile on her face and her eyes betraying her anxiety about all that would happen.

"So, you're going to do it?"

Minako almost shyly nodded and frowned.

"Yes. I think."

With a spontaneity unknown to her but that came out more often when she was in Minako's company, Rei hugged Venus tightly with all the happiness, hope and relief that she was feeling at this moment. Minako returned the embrace easily, sighing softly against her throat. Her breath on the skin just below her earlobe triggered a delicious shiver that traveled in Rei's whole body.

"Hum… Reiko? Why are you shining?"

Rei opened her eyes and frowned.

"You are shining, not me."

"No, we are."

They let go of each other. Rei looked at herself and saw that the white glow around her was intensifying and that it was the same for Minako.

"What the…?"

"Well," Minako said, looking at herself calmly, "that's so against this season's trend."

Rei wanted to say something sarcastic about the other girl's comment but couldn't, because suddenly all was white and she had to close her eyes.

And after that, it was all black.