Chapter 23

DISCLAIMER: The only character that is mine is that of George Aino, Minako's step-father. He is all mine. I am not the owner of any other characters.

Well, I've been getting lots of reviews and I'd like to thank you guys with a special chapter. It's basically a really long flashback from Mina's point of view, hope you like! Please keep up the reviews!

I did some research on Sailor V, but couldn't find much so I just made up the rest. I don't know what her parents are actually like so please don't judge, this is my take on Minako's story (:

Minako is 14 in the flashback. Again, this is all from my imagination, I have no idea if this ever happened in the manga or anime.

The bold italicized letters indicate Minako's thoughts in the flashback.

MINAKO'S POV

Hanging up the phone, I sighed deeply and sank down onto my bed. That was definitely not easy!

As soon as mum had realized it was me, her voice became frigid and emotionless. I shivered. She had snarled me, asking if the notorious 'bad girl' was crawling back to her parents.

In the end we had decided I would meet them at our old house in London in a few hours. I had told her I was already in London, and that I would be bringing a friend. My princess should be present; she would make sure things went right. Besides, I really didn't think I would be able to face mum without Sere as my backup.

As if he knew what I was thinking, Artemis nuzzled my arm gently, making me smile. He would be there too. Artemis had always been there for me. He had never kicked me out onto the streets. He'd always stuck straight by my side, no matter what sort of trouble I got into.

Flashback

A particularly strong gust of wind blew over streets of London. The moon was obscured for a minute, leaving the rooftops with no light. I could hear my opponent shifting, trying to sense my position, and I knew it was blinded. I grinned fiercely. My red mask gave me the ability to see in darkness so I was at an advantage; I knew exactly where the creature was and it had no idea where I was.

It took a step closer and I readied myself for my weakest physical attack, "Sailor V, KICK!" With a sharp whack to the youma's head, it fell to the ground growling.

I took advantage of its disorientation to take a look at the monster. I already knew that it was the typical energy collector. My observation revealed that it had two sharp blades sticking out of the lime green skin of its back, sharp yellow canines for teeth, and blades for its right hand. However frightening it may look, I knew its meow was worse than its lick; metaphorically speaking. The only thing that made it dangerous was it stunning speed and agility. Even so, I had landed several hits to it and it would most definitely be destroyed by my next attack. I frowned as I saw the terrified woman its slimy arms grasped. I would have to be careful not to hit her instead.

A hard punch to my stomach threw me back a few yards; I slammed hard against the asphalt until I lay unmoving like a rag doll.

I silently inspected my body and determined that I probably had a few broken ribs, a twisted ankle, and a skinned arm. It was lucky that the youma had punched me with its left hand and not the other. Had I been thrown a little further, I would have fallen off the building. It hurt, but I'd had much worse.

Gritting my teeth, I hauled myself up and faced the cocky monster with a feral grin. The bloody bastard was going to pay for that! My voice rang out loud and clear, "Ready to die? 'Cause I can see your death coming straight at you!"

I only saw a fearful look cross its ugly face before I pointed my index finger at it and shouted, "Crescent Slender Beam!"

A smile of satisfaction crossed my face as it yowled, "Vigor!" and disintegrated; its captive falling to the ground.

Its victim, a businesswoman in her late thirties fell to the ground in a heap. She looked at me appraisingly as I helped her up, "Thank you Ms. V! We need more people like you to keep the streets safe!"

I saluted her with a weary grin, "Just doing my job, Ma'am."

After setting her down gently on the street, I held my gloved hand over my head in my infamous V sign and winked. Artemis rubbed against my legs and after pulling him into my arms, I took to the rooftops on my way home.

Searing, white hot pain ran through me when I landed on my bad ankle and I winced, stumbling slightly. I hid it as well as I could, but Artemis sniffed the air and looked at me with a worried look. I flashed him a fake smile quickly and mustered, "I'm fine, Arty! Just a little bruises here and there, nothing I can't handle!"

He narrowed his calculating blue eyes at me, "Sailor V! Don't lie to me. You've been injured, and it's pretty bad!" He pawed at my side and I yelped then cursed under my breath.

"Yeah, I know, I have to be more careful when crime-fighting. You've bloody said this day and day again." I complained.

Artemis groaned and corrected me, "It's time and time again, V. And I keep saying the same thing because you keep getting yourself hurt."

I waved my hand at him dismissively just as I alighted on my balcony, "You know it'll heal in a week tops so why're you being such a worry rat? Now be quiet, it just won't do to have the 'rents catch me again!" Artemis scowled at me but complied as I dropped the transformation.

The door wouldn't budge when I tried to open it. Just my luck, Mum had probably locked it after school.

Guess I would have to go in through the lobby!

I peered over the edge of my 14th story balcony and looked down skeptically. Looking down at my red, ripped jeans, pink off-the-shoulder top, and strappy, silver gladiator heels, I knew it wasn't the ideal outfit for what I had planned but it wouldn't be too much of a bother. Telling Artemis to stay put, I closed my eyes and launched myself over the edge. Too bad I didn't see the curtain being pushed aside.

The wind was rushing past my ears, it felt exhilarating! My long blond hair fluttered behind me as I plummeted to the ground. I opened my eyes to see the ground coming up quickly and positioned myself. Upon hitting the ground, I bent my knees and rolled to absorb the brunt of the fall.

Standing up, I dusted off my skirt and walked into the lobby of my apartment building. Ol' man Walter was snoring on his desk, the loud animalistic sounds easily covering up my footsteps.

I rode the elevator up to my floor and quietly unlocked the door to my apartment. Taking my heels off, I was tiptoeing to my room when something brushed against my ankles. I stifled a scream when I noticed it was only Artemis.

"Artemis you scared me! Wait, how did you get in here?" I whispered. Panicked blue eyes met my own and I frowned when he meowed in return. "What's wrong?" Still there was no response. Something was wrong.

I pushed at the door to my room and froze when it creaked open. When I didn't hear anybody coming to investigate, I closed the door behind me and breathed out a sigh of relief. "Well I'm glad that's over!"

In the darkness of my room, my mum's furious voice startled me as she turned on the lights. "And what exactly do you think you are doing, young lady?"

She and my step-dad were standing next to my bed; united against me.

I swallowed uncomfortably and scratched my head, trying to think up an excuse, "Well… err, you see I was just umm…"

"That's what I thought. I am bloody sick and tired of this rebellious attitude of yours. You will not tarnish the Aino name with this persona of yours; dancing in clubs, hanging around gangs, and have you been fighting?" She circled me, wrinkling her nose in disgust at my bruised skin and swelled ankle, and continued with a note of finality in her voice. "You are nothing more than a disrespectful, stupid, mutinous, dishonoring, rude, irresponsible, spoiled brat. You are a disgrace to the Aino name. From this moment onward, you are not my daughter and you are not part of my family. I want you out of my life in less than an hour."

My eyes filled up with tears when she punctuated her point with a stomp of her heel. I knew she hated me, but this was too much, even for her. I guess I had just pushed her limits for too much. There was no way out of this. I raised my head up high and stared her in the eye. While she may not consider me her daughter, she would forever be my mother. "I understand and I will be gone from both of your lives in a few minutes. Don't expect to ever see me again."

Mum hadn't always been the cruel and emotionless woman that now stood before me; before daddy went to heaven she was very happy and loving. We would go shopping together and she would help me pick my outfits when I went on dates. We had been really close, but it all changed when daddy died. She went into a state of depression and holed herself in her room. I had to take care of her. I taught myself how to cook and made her eat, convinced her to bathe and opened the curtains in her room and let the sunlight stream in. I had to get a job to support us as she had stopped going to work. In those few months, I lost most of my positive outlook on life, I grew up faster than any person should have and I fully dedicated myself to my Sailor V duties and to taking care of mum.

Then one day, she changed. She got up and dressed herself and found George. After that, mum had become a sick, twisted woman. I watched as this happened, and I mourned for the loss of my real mother. This woman had no heart nor remorse, but she was intelligent. She used her stunning looks to ensnare my step-father, and he had no way to see it coming.

George was a cowardly man with an accepting attitude. He had mousy brown hair and glasses, but he was rich and that was all mum wanted. George was hopelessly in love with mum and always agreed with her. He didn't have his own opinions and never stood up for himself. He let mum step all over him, believing she loved him when she was just using him for his money. I despised him for replacing my daddy and for being such a terrible father figure.

Walking straight past them, I packed a large duffle bag with many pairs of sturdy jeans, T-shirts, underclothes, thick jackets, and comfortable shoes and boots. Who knew how long it would be until I could buy more clothes. My cell phone and camera went in next, along with my computer and all the chargers. I grabbed my makeup purse and the emergency kit so I could properly tend to my injuries. I packed Artemis' collar in as well. Then I reached into the secret compartment in the back of my closet and pulled out my Sailor V things, sneaking them into the bag when I felt that the piercing stare was no longer pointed at my back. I also pulled out a large envelope from the compartment. It was filled with several thousand pounds; my mother had not known, but daddy had left the largest part of his will to me. There were only two things of sentimental value that I brought along. The first was my first trophy; I had won first place at my first beauty pageant when I was only 3 years old. The latter was my most prized possession; a framed photograph of our happy family on my 8th birthday, 6 long years ago. I had worn a sky blue dress with white sandals and my ever-present red bow. A blinding smile had lit up my features as mum hugged me tightly, daddy hugged us both from behind and he looked down at us lovingly. We had been a perfect family, but when daddy died, it all went downhill. I placed a soft kiss on my middle and index fingers and pressed it to daddy's cheek before carefully tucking the picture frame into my duffle bag.

Well, guess I'm all ready now! I glanced around my childhood room, where I had so many memories, and committed it to memory.

Then I turned on my heel and left the room, hearing Artemis' paws padding on the soft carpet behind me as he followed my lead. Artemis. Always there for me, always on my side, he'd never turned his back on me.

Neither of the adults tried to stop me and I never once looked back. Unlike her.

End Flashback

I blinked my eyes and shook the memory out my head. With every step I had taken away from her, my heart had broken into smaller pieces because I still loved her, and I always would. When I had finally stepped out into the cold night, I'd barricaded my heart and closed myself off from all emotions. It remained like that too, until I met a cheerful girl who shone like the blinding sun. Her name was Usagi and she turned out to be the best thing in my life.