All Right Reserved.
Sailor Moon is a product of Bandai, Toei, and the illustrious Naoko Takeuchi.
You can take this fic and put it on your page/blog, just shoot me a message and tell me that you did.
Just as long as I receive credit for the story.
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This is a continuation of Chapters 7 & 8. The Senshi and Shitennou are still in the process of regaining some old memories, of the past and present. And of course there will always be some bumps and growing pains along the way.
xSmallLadySerenity13: Yes! It was definitely dark! I was shooting for a future setting that would be a complete 180 from what I actually think happened. And thank you!
vinterthunder: That chapter was so fun to write. I'm slightly bias though with that pairing. And yes, making Mako the forward one was fun as Neph is typically the one written as being the forward one! Glad you liked it!
Isis Aurora Tomoe: Definitely will! Glad you liked it! ;)
I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for their wonderful reviews and pm's! It's so lovely! I am glad everyone enjoyed the last Reincarnation chapter about our Bohemian Minako! lol I have several others planned, but if you have suggestions feel free to pm me! Off topic, sort of, anyone else loving the new Crystal episodes? And no, it's not because of the new hotly contested art! I am really enjoying the story lines, the cohesion between the Senshi seems much more believable this season. The Michiru/Haruka love is fantastically written, as are their personalities. I love the Usagi/Rei banter! Rei cracks me up with her subtle harsh jokes. So awesome! And for all of us Makoto and Minako fangirls, their dynamic is on point this season; just how I have always envisioned it being! And Jupiter's COCONUT CYCLONE! Whaaaa? I easily watched that scene 25 times! It was amazing! I was a little nervous, at first. A friend told me that she used the attack from the manga in this new season; I hadn't got a chance to watch it until several days ago. Her Flower Hurricane was ok, in the first season. But that Coconut Cyclone kicked some ass! I am genuinely excited about this season! Anyone else like it? Hate? Somewhere in between? Anyways! On with the story!
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Universe: Modern Day Tokyo
Who?: Everyone
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Mamoru jolted up, his face and hair were drenched in sweat; he could feel the hot beads running down the nape of his neck. His heart was pounding, and it was taking everything he had to try and control his rapid respirations. What a hellish few weeks this had been. No one, himself included, ever imagined that recalling past memories could be this agonizingly painful. He had always wanted to remember, even if it was just a glimpse, and now regretted it with everything that he had. He closed his eyes tightly, in hopes of willing away the images of his screaming entrapped Mother. He clutched his chest as slowly his breathing began to stabilize; he reached up wiping the sweat from his brow.
The entire crew was here at the Hikawa Shrine. Rei's grandfather would be away from several weeks and there was no sense in suffering alone; although, tensions were running rather high. Whatever, dreadful thing Minako, Rei and Makoto had remembered several weeks ago was still bothering them, he could tell. They were distant, cold even, to the Shitennou; considering two of three were currently married, that could only mean that it must have been something truly gruesome. Noburo had recalled whatever it was, when he tried reconciling with Mako, it had shaken even him; which made Mamoru that much more concerned. Whatever could rattle Nephrite to the point of tears must've been quite horrific, he only wished they would share and perhaps it would help the healing process.
He felt the urge to go into the next room and demand answers from one of the Senshi. Not about the Silver Millennium but of this lifetime. Mamoru had gotten a quick glimpse of something, something that he was not supposed to see. He surmised that it was that particular moment in time that sealed his fate for developing "amnesia". He was now inwardly struggling, mightily, to control his temper; which rarely reared its ugly head. It was then that he glanced up, his sapphire orbs locking with emerald eyes; eyes that looked just as weary as his own. She was breathing heavy; he noticed the rapid nearly uncontrolled rising and falling of her chest.
"She….." Was all she started to say, her trembling fists balled so tightly her knuckles were white, and her jaw clenched. She was hurting.
It was then he lost all resolve. He leapt up, quickly striding over to the papered door sliding it open with force. He stood there in doorway; he could feel Makoto walk up beside him. Mamoru locked gazes with the woman across the room. She sat in silence, Minako, Rei and Usagi looking equally as bewildered as to why he would make such an entrance. He paused, regaining his composure and mustering up the correct words to say.
"You were there, Setsuna? You were there and did nothing?!" He shouted, it was out of character. Usagi sprang to her feet, rushing to his side and grabbing his hand.
"What's wrong Mamo?" Usagi softly inquired, she could tell something was very wrong.
"Answer me! I deserve an answer!" Mamoru bellowed.
Setsuna let out a sigh, and stood. Her orphaned duo stood there, it pained her to see them so angry and hurt. In that moment they both looked so scared and vulnerable, it reminded her of when they were children.
"You know I cannot defy the Fates, Mamoru. If there was anything that I could have done for either of you, understand that I would have." Mamoru's facial featured softened slightly, but the anger still flowed through him.
"I'm done. No more. I did not need to start reliving that on top of everything else the past few weeks. So, make it stop. Make me forget. I don't care. You could've at least given us one of them. Just saved one." Mako brewed, the air became thick with static as she stormed out.
Mamoru lowered his head, before glancing at Setsuna and heading out himself. He tiptoed around his sleeping Shitennou, heading for the door. He stepped out onto the covered porch of the ancient temple, flopping down on the stairs.
"She's going to catch a cold out there." Minako murmured from behind him, as she started after her. Mamoru grabbed her wrist. He squinted through the current deluge of rain and saw Makoto perched on the staircase, acting oblivious to the current state of the weather.
"Let her simmer for a bit. That usually helps me. Besides I'm sure this pop up thunderstorm, isn't of a natural origin." He raised his eyebrows, sticking his hand out into the rain. The large drops pelting his skin nearly leaving welts. "I wouldn't suggest going out there quite yet." Mamo managed a half laugh.
"What's all this about, Mamo?" Usagi asked, carefully taking his hand and sitting down next time.
"We both, apparently, are just remembering details from this life. Details neither of us really wanted to remember. I guess that's the price you pay when you ask for all of your memories back. Eh? It's just a little overwhelming. Between these memories and the glimpses from the Silver Millennium, it's just been a 24/7 onslaught. Nothing is Setsuna's fault; it's just difficult knowing…." He trailed off, his mind wandering in a thousand different directions.
"She could've done something." He looked up at the voice, Makoto stepped up on the porch a wet sopping mess. She tugged on her signature hair tie, letting her long drenched tresses down as they clung to her face. She stepped passed them, attempting to wring them out as she sat down.
"I wanted to." Setsuna spoke up, stepping outside. Usagi and the other inner Senshi shifted uncomfortably. This wasn't something that Mamoru or Makoto spoke of, rarely if ever.
"But I was not permitted to do so. My objective was to save Mamoru from that burning vehicle and you from the plane wreckage. I was not sanctioned to do or save anyone else. Not that those facts will give either of you any more comfort during this time." The Senshi of Pluto sighed.
"But why Sets? I just don't understand. I get they were taking us away from our duties, away from Usagi. But I just don't understand why you couldn't have intervened. You and Luna erase and rearrange memories of people all the time. Why couldn't you have done the same thing for our parents? I saw you. I saw you as you were dragging me from that burning car. So then I had to suffer with years of lost memories because of it? It just seems incredibly unfair." Mamoru asked his voice sincere.
"I was not permitted. That's really all I can say. I had specific orders, move you out of harm's way and allow you to be easily found. Nothing more. Anything else could've altered the time stream irreparably. I am genuinely sorry for the loss of your parents. If I could've intervened more I would have." Setsuna's voice, they noticed was not as sure as normal.
"It isn't just about our parents…." Mako muttered her voice barely audible as she managed to tie her hair back up. "How about the other 200 people that died with mine? You couldn't have saved a single one? Do you know what it's like at four years old to watch 200 people die? Bleed out? Burned alive? Picked off by sharks? That's right 200 people! 200 had to die for me to stay in Tokyo. All while you watched! And then I get to suffer for a decade wondering why I was the only one who lived. It didn't make any sense, it still doesn't. I had managed to suppress the screaming, and now it's back. I can hear them all dying, praying to live, and begging for help. So, keep your pity." Mako turned away from her, tears brimming in her eyes. She shifted, sliding down the wall of the temple and sitting down, bringing one knee close to her body and leaving the other outstretched. She tipped her head back and closed her eyes, her bent knee nervously bouncing. Minako knew the signs all too well, she was internalizing all that pent up frustration and would soon be itching to bolt home. The blonde slid over towards her friend, hoping that she might open up to her, but Mako kept her eyes clenched. Minako forced her hand, into Mako's giving it a reassuring squeeze. There was an awkward silence. Makoto sighed. "I'm sorry Sets, I didn't mean that. It's just been a shitty few weeks. I didn't mean to take it out on you; I know your intentions are always good. I'm just acting like a child, ignore me."
"…I wanted to take you both in." Setsuna said her voice quivering. "It only made sense. I had viewed the time stream; I knew Haruka and Michiru were permitted to raise Hotaru. I couldn't make out faces then, but I saw two Senshi raising an orphaned one. If you both knew how much I begged you might better understand how devastating it was just to leave you behind. How hard it was to watch you both grow up without any one to encourage you, to whisper in your ear about the greatness that lay ahead. But know that even during both of your darkest times, when you felt like you were totally alone, that you were not. I have always been watching both of my little foundlings, always secretly routing you on. I am sorry all of these memories are painful for all of you. But hiding them is doing no one a bit of a good; it is only delaying the inevitable." Setsuna gave them both a smile through tear filled eyes.
"Thank you, Sets. That means a lot. At least someone wanted me." Mako half heartily chuckled.
Mamoru and Makoto gave Setsuna a silent nod, which is all that she needed before she excused herself.
"You have nothing to feel guilty for, Makoto. Understand that." Mamoru stared at her. "We have no control over the Fates, and what they dictate. That doesn't make it any easier though, I'm certain."
"I'm going to head home for a bit, I'll be back later." Mako hurriedly stated, immediately beginning to start down the stairs.
"Not alone you're not." Minako fussed, Mako put up a hand to protest but just let out a sigh accepting defeat.
"Well since we are all already emotional. Why don't you tell Ami, Mamoru and I what it is that you three remembered that is causing so much heartache?" Usagi pleaded with Rei.
Rei swallowed hard. Glancing into Usagi's hopeful eyes. "Not today, Odango. Maybe tomorrow. I'm just not up for it." She leapt up retreating back to her fire room.
"What did they see you think?" Usagi asked Mamoru, who only shrugged. "Just give them some space Usako, they will tell you when they're ready." He managed a smile for her.
"Thank you, Setsuna. I always knew someone was watching." He thought to himself.
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This is sort of a prequel if you will, where the Senshi and Shitennou will finally have to deal with the transgressions from the past. I have it almost completed, it's a little on the angsty side but that's to be expected when dealing with such things. As always, thank you for reading! And feel free to review or pm!
-Lady D
