THE PATH TO REDEMPTION
Chapter 11: "Sailor Valiant's Plan"
A Sailor Moon fanfic
By Bill K.
Ami Mizuno was in the room of one of her assigned patients. The patient was Akibari Nokozuma, a forty-six year old laborer who had been admitted with pneumonia. As Ami listened to his lungs with her stethoscope, she noticed again the resemblance in build to Makoto's husband, Sanjuro. Nokozuma had been working construction in the rain to stay on schedule. He'd developed a cold and continued to work in the rain and cold for several more days until the cold developed into pneumonia. Ami continued to listen to his lungs while the huge, muscular man lay in bed, weak as a kitten, and looked at her expectantly.
"Your lungs are sounding better, Nokozuma-San," Ami told him, to his infinite relief. "I think we caught it in time."
"That's great," the burly man smiled. "How soon can I get back to work?"
"Work?" Ami exclaimed with surprise. "Not for another month, at least."
"A month?" gasped the man. That set him to coughing again.
"Nokozuma-San, you have to be careful," she told him as his coughing quieted. "You can't resume strenuous work until we're certain that your lung tissue is completely healed, particularly if you're going to be working in the elements again. You'd run a significant risk of contracting pneumonia again and you'd be even worse off than you are now."
"But I can't take a month off!" he exclaimed, trying not to speak too emphatically so as not to trigger his lungs again. "If I'm laid up a month, they'll replace me on this construction. How will I provide for my family?"
"I sympathized, Nokozuma-San," Ami said, putting her hand on his shoulder. "But if you come back too soon, you do so at great risk. Pneumonia can be fatal if not handled correctly - -and how will you provide for your family if you're dead?"
The man let his head flop back on his pillow and stared up at the ceiling.
"If you continue to progress, I think you'll be able to leave the hospital in two or three days," Ami offered as some consolation. "At least you'll be able to be with your family."
"Yeah," sighed Nokozuma. Ami wrote some instructions for the duty nurse and then left. Giving people bad news was never pleasant. She wished she could do more, but her duty was to heal his body, not his financial situation. If she had to choose one or the other, healing the body had to take precedence.
Out in the hall, Ami noticed the duty nurse at the nurse's station point her out to two people. Moving to meet them half way, Ami looked them over. They were a couple in their forties, the man tall and angular with a sagging face and thick black frame glasses. He wore a suit that seemed like a uniform more than a fashion choice. The woman was dressed conservatively and had a reserved attractiveness to her. Gray began to fleck her black hair, but she chose not to color it.
"You are Dr. Mizuno?" the man asked. When Ami said yes, the pair bowed to her. "Is there a place we may speak to you in private?"
"Concerning what, if I may ask?" Ami inquired.
"My brother died here," the man said, the weight of the words seeming to crush him. "I wish to know how and why and no one will answer my questions. He was my brother. I have a right to know how he died."
"I sympathize," Ami answered. "What was the pat . . . I mean, what was your brother's name?"
"Ryounosuke Atasi," the man told her hopefully. Ami thought a bit. She had no patients named Atasi that she could recall, and she hadn't had one of her patients die since the Nakamura death five months ago - - and he had been eighty-four, too old to be this man's brother.
Then it hit her.
"Atasi-San," Ami began. "Your brother wasn't my patient. Dr. Yamaguchi was the attending physician on that case."
"I know," Atasi said, ill-feelings curling his mouth slightly downward. "Dr. Yamaguchi has been - - of little help. And I have found out that you have a peripheral interest in my brother's case. So I come to you, Dr. Mizuno. Why did my brother die?"
Two concerns pulled at Ami's decision: Helping this man find the answers he sought, answers he deserved, versus how the truth might affect the legal position of the hospital and of Dr. Yamaguchi. Someone was going to get hurt no matter what she chose, possibly someone who didn't deserve to get hurt. But in the end, Ami saw only one path that would allow her to keep her soul.
"There's a counseling room right over there," Ami pointed to a room next to the corridor junction. "We can speak in private there."
Usagi strolled over to where Senenthia Om was laying in the grass on the side of a small hill. Senenthia was just looking up into the alien sky, doing nothing. Brushing her blonde hair trails over her shoulders, Usagi approached her cautiously.
"Senenthia?" Usagi inquired. "You're not bothered by what happened, are you? Between you and Sailor Valiant?"
"It's nothing I haven't experienced before," Senenthia said, still gazing up at the sky.
"Sailor Valiant is just upset," Usagi began.
"I know. And I'm the root cause," Senenthia turned to her. "And if I could change the past, I would. I've encountered so much hatred and suffering these last years, and all of it directly traceable to me. But I learned over time that I can only do so much to atone for my actions, and if that's not enough for people, then that's how it has to be. I can only make myself worthy of forgiveness. Whether someone chooses to forgive me is their decision. After all, I was the one who couldn't forgive the universe for birthing me on that miserable hell hole that was my home planet. And look what it got me. We all make our own beds, Usagi." She grinned at the woman. "I bet yours is really comfortable."
"Senenthia," Usagi looked at her sadly. "You sound so lonely."
The woman shrugged. "I've always preferred being alone. It's not so bad now. The star seeds I'm still shepherding keep me company. I don't know what I'm going to do when they're all reborn - - but at the rate I'm going, that's not going to happen for quite a while."
Without any urging from Usagi, Senenthia got to her feet. She turned back to Usagi, who rose with her.
"My work on this planet is done. On to the next one," she said. "I'll drop you off on Earth first. I'm sure a lot of people are missing you."
"What about Sailor Valiant?" Usagi asked.
"Sailor Valiant can choose her own course," Senenthia replied. "I offered to help her as best I could and she spurned it. She can stay here. She can go back to her world, or to another world, or she can come after me again and try to avenge her planet. It's up to her. I can't spend any more time wondering about her. There are more pressing things on my list."
"Sailor Galaxia!" they heard a woman call. Turning, they both saw it was Sailor Valiant approaching at a determined pace.
"Oh dear," grimaced Usagi. Without any prompting, she transformed into Sailor Moon. When Sailor Valiant got close enough, Sailor Moon moved to intercept her. "Sailor Valiant, please don't start another fight! There's nothing to be gained by violence!"
Sailor Valiant allowed Sailor Moon to stop her advance, but she continued to stare intently at Senenthia. The former Sailor Galaxia returned her stare with a silent challenge to do anything she liked to her, but to not raise a hand against Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon looked anxiously from one to the other and back.
"I have not come for battle," Sailor Valiant scowled as she spoke. She glanced at Sailor Moon. "Your words have reached me, Sailor Moon. I see their wisdom. Her death will not bring back my planet, my friends or the man I love."
"I'm glad," smiled Sailor Moon.
"I come with a request of you," Valiant began, turning back to Senenthia. "I do not require your assistance. I will do the job myself, if I must. But you have offered to - - to repair my wounded home planet and restore it to what it was, as penance for what you did. Do you still stand by that offer?"
"Yes," Senenthia replied, though unclear as to what the senshi was driving at. "I'll come to your world and undo any of the physical damage I did, on my own or in conjunction with you. It's the very least I can do." A hopeful light sprang up in Sailor Valiant's eyes and it concerned both Senenthia and Sailor Moon. "You still understand, though, that I can't restore the star seeds of your friends and your people to humanoid life, don't you?"
"I understand," Sailor Valiant told them, almost with a sense of pride rather than anger or resignation. Valiant noticed their confusion. "Your efforts on behalf of the star seeds of my planet will not be necessary. I will bring them back to life - - human life, not as an insignificant insect."
"I-I don't understand," Sailor Moon interjected. "Can you do that?"
"I don't see how," Senenthia added. She was suspicious of Valiant's demeanor and just a little concerned. "Not without expending so much energy that it would prove fatal to you."
"Is that what you mean?" gasped Sailor Moon. "Sailor Valiant, you can't!"
"No, not that way," Valiant replied serenely. "I shall do it in the most natural way known to a woman. You forgot, Sailor Galaxia, that while you are a senshi, you are also a woman - - as am I."
The truth began to dawn on Senenthia, while Sailor Moon remained mystified.
"I have taken Kalen Tu's star seed into myself," Valiant explained, placing her hand over her abdomen. "I fused it with one of my ovum. He grows within me even now. In time, he will be born - - reborn. And he will be born human."
"You're going to recreate your mate," Senenthia struggled to vocalize, "as your child?"
"I love him," Sailor Valiant began to mist up. "Could I love him any less as my son? I love Sanai, Tuula and Linae, like the sisters I never had. Could I love them any less as my daughters? I owe them this. They all sacrificed so much for me. I stand here now, instead of up there as part of your cluster of star seeds, because of their sacrifice. I owe them the chance to be reborn as humans."
"You'd give birth to them?" Senenthia asked Sailor Valiant. "Raise them?"
"I have nothing else left to me," Valiant answered. "I have no home, and now that Sailor Moon has shown me the folly of my desire for vengeance, no purpose. If I am to live on for as long as we live, better it be spent bringing my people back to life - - nine months at a time."
A gentle breeze wafting over the meadow was the only sound that could be heard.
"And I thought I'd given MYSELF an impossible task," Senenthia marveled. "Are you certain, Sailor Valiant? This isn't just a whim of desperation, is it? You need to be sure, because there's no turning back. You can't change your mind six months in."
"I am certain," Sailor Valiant proclaimed.
"Are you? This is the goal you'll be setting for yourself for the rest of your life," Senenthia repeated. "Believe me, it won't always be easy. There will be times when you may wish you'd never been born.
"You need not concern yourself over the strength of my will," Sailor Valiant bristled. "I was taught to honor my commitments and do what is right."
Senenthia looked into Sailor Valiant's eyes as if she were trying to see into the woman's very soul. Sailor Moon watched anxiously, silently praying that this was the peaceful solution to everyone's problems. Tense moments passed.
"I believe you," Senenthia said at last. "Well, if you're going to bring a planet back to life one person at a time - - unless you're planning on having a lot of twins - - I think giving them a nice, lush green planet to live on would be an excellent present for the, um, expectant mother." She turned and smirked at Sailor Moon. "Don't you think?"
Sailor Moon nodded heartily.
It was late in the evening for the Ikegami family. Her family had enjoyed another of Makoto's sumptuous meals. Conversation at the table had once again been dominated by Akiko relating every minor detail of her day at pre-school. Ichiro had felt well enough to join them and sat mesmerized by everything Akiko said. Makoto was now washing the dishes. Sanjuro had even volunteered to help dry, and endured his wife correcting him when he didn't dry the dishes "just so".
"Got a call from Minako today," Makoto told her husband. "The licensing deal for the images of the senshi was finalized."
"How much are we talking about?" Sanjuro asked.
"More money than we could make in five years, San-San," she exclaimed, "even IF I went back to cooking in the restaurant. San-San, it's amazing! Minako threw around figures that made my eyes pop, and she said they were just rough estimates!" A huge grin sprouted on Makoto's face. "I think we can do it now. You know, that bakery I've always wanted to start? I think we can do it now!"
"They guaranteed these figures?" Sanjuro asked.
"Well," Makoto grimaced, "Minako seemed pretty sure."
"Consider that last statement," Sanjuro smirked at her. Makoto deflated some.
"Yeah, it is Blondie talking."
"Maybe we should wait until the money actually starts coming in," Sanjuro recommended. "Then, if it looks like what they promised - - maybe we can take a Sunday and look at storefronts."
Makoto looked up at him with the light of hope dancing in her eyes. Oh, how he loved seeing her like that. Just then the door buzzer sounded.
"I'll get it!" Akiko shouted from the other room.
"No, I'LL get it," Sanjuro replied, grabbing a towel for his hands.
"BUT I WANT TO GET IT!" retorted Akiko.
"You're going to get it," warned Sanjuro.
Makoto stifled a laugh. She went back to washing dishes.
"Babe! There's a doctor in the house!"
"Ami?" gasped Makoto. She snatched up a towel and dried her hands. As she exited the kitchen and entered the living room, she found Ami there.
"I'm sorry to impose, Makoto," Ami began. She seemed to be functioning in spite of very low spirits. "I wanted to check on Ichiro, and - - well - - perhaps if you're not too busy, we . . .?"
"Sure, Ames," Makoto said, gathering her friend in and herding her to the kitchen. "I'll make you some tea."
The cup sat ignored as Ami related what had happened at the hospital the previous day. Makoto listened intently as Ami recounted how she'd told the Atasi family how their brother had died. She had told them everything, even her suspicions about Dr. Yamaguchi. Ami had stressed that her suspicions were unproven, that even if they were true the death was accidental, and that Atasi had poor chances of survival regardless.
Then she explained that the Atasi family must have contacted the hospital administration. The very next day, this day, Dr. Yamaguchi had been pulled from his rounds and "promoted" to an administrative position - - one that didn't involve hands on medical practice. The announcement stated that it was a reward for years of meritorious service to the hospital. No sooner had the announcement been made than Ami was called into the administrator's office.
"He questioned me about any contact I'd had with the Atasi family," Ami related mechanically. "I didn't see any point in lying. I'd done nothing wrong."
"And?" Makoto asked.
"It wasn't welcome news," Ami said. "The director admonished me for over-stepping my bounds. He said that my statements had put the hospital in a potentially litigious situation, and at the very least brought shame and dishonor to it and to Dr. Yamaguchi. He ordered me not to speak to any family members of any patient who wasn't my own."
"But he didn't fire you?" Makoto asked anxiously.
"No," Ami said with a frown.
"That's a relief," sighed Makoto.
"I resigned on my own," Ami added.
The three senshi gathered on a field near the wooded thicket on Mau. Sailor Valiant turned to Sailor Moon.
"Again, I wish to apologize for the brutish manner in which we first met, Sailor Moon," Sailor Valiant said, flipping her thick mane of black curls back from her shoulders. "You have reminded me that anger and force is not the way to gain one's ends. And apologize to your senshi and your mate for me. They fought bravely on your behalf."
"It's all right, Sailor Valiant," smiled Sailor Moon.
"Please," Sailor Valiant said shyly. "My true name is R'Temis."
"Really? I know a cat with that name!" squealed Sailor Moon.
Sailor Valiant and Senenthia both looked at her strangely.
"This is a noble thing you're doing," Sailor Moon continued, oblivious to the looks. "Can you feel him?"
"I can," Sailor Valiant nodded happily. "I can feel the life growing within me. And more - - I think I can sense the aura of Kalen Tu. Perhaps I'm imagining it."
"Oh, that's wonderful!" squealed Sailor Moon. She flung her arms around Sailor Valiant and hugged her. "Congratulations! Now you be careful and take very good care of yourself! That life within you is very fragile! You can't do anything to endanger it!"
"I will, Sailor Moon," Valiant replied.
"Please, make it Usagi," Sailor Moon told her. "We're all friends here."
"If you're ready, we'll be going now," Senenthia said to Sailor Valiant.
"Back to R'Temis's planet?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Back to Sailor Valiant's home planet," Senenthia replied. "I still have a world to rebuild so Sailor Valiant's children will have a home worthy of them. It wasn't my next stop, but I can juggle my schedule."
"You're OK with that?" Sailor Moon asked Sailor Valiant.
"She will take some getting used to," Sailor Valiant said, eying Senenthia. "But I no longer desire her death - - and I can better concentrate on rebirthing a world if I do not have to rebuild it as well."
Senenthia took Sailor Valiant's hand. Their bodies were surrounded by a transport bubble of gold and blue, then shot off into the sky. Sailor Moon waved at them as they sped off.
"That's nice," Sailor Moon said to herself amid the flora of Mau. "I'm glad they could settle things peacefully." Then a thought dawned on her. "Wait a minute. How am I going to get home?"
Concluded in Chapter 12