51: Entr'acte
The liberation of Tokyo was a success, but it came about in a very unexpected fashion. A newer and potentially more powerful enemy had emerged, forcing the Senshi and the gods to join forces once more. The battles to free their city had been excruciating and tiresome; most of the Sailors were too weary to walk, let alone leap into a new war. It was decided that Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and Saturn would task themselves with tracking down Nergal and his demonic associates, while the others rested and spent precious time with their loved ones. All of them had the desire to end this matter as quickly as possible, but they didn't argue with the decision to rest: they knew they'd need it, for their enemy was powerful enough to command demons and repulse other gods, and had even killed their two strongest. Besides, with everything that had happened, they needed a moment of respite, if only to think about what had passed, and what was to come.
When Usagi finally made it to her apartment, she found it empty. She figured that Minako must either be staying with her parents or Ami, and either situation suited her fine. All she wanted to do was fall onto her bed and sleep for a hundred years, even though she had already spent quality time recovering at the hospital. Sometime around 11:30 the next afternoon, she was stirred by her phone. No surprise, it was her mother; she wanted Usagi to visit. After showering and grabbing a light snack, she locked up and revved up her moped, taking wary glances around the city as she drove.
This was not the same Tokyo she remembered—not the one besieged by monsters or gods, not the one settled into a comfortable peace, not any she had known. The streets were silent and deathly still; the sky was overcast and cold. Foreboding loomed everywhere she looked, in spite of how calm everything seemed. Somewhere out there, her close friends—and one potential sister-in-law—were looking for their enemies, monstrous creatures dredged from nightmares...
Her mind clouded over with thoughts of Hotaru, and became still as she rolled into her old house. Mother and father had never moved out; they used her old room as storage now, and Shingo's had went through the same transformation when he moved out. Her mind drifted again, thinking of her younger brother...and then she was Home, and the door opened, pouring out the loving arms of her mother and father and the distant wave of her brother. They went down the same predictable list of concerns and praises that they always rolled out, waxing a little more poetic than usual. Usagi weathered it with her normal good nature, but during a lull in their attendance, she pulled her brother aside, smiling warmly and silently at him for a long time.
"What?" he fidgeted. "What is it?"
"I was just thinking about you and Hotaru."
"Oh. So I guess you finally heard."
"Finally?! I'm not sure why you never told me, Shingo."
"Because I knew you'd freak out. You'd go through what you're going through now."
"Yeah, but I would've found out eventually. I've gotten more mature over the last few years, or haven't you noticed?"
"Not at all," he leered. Usagi's nostrils flared in anger, and she struck him on the head smartly. "Ow! See? Why say things like that when you make the case yourself?" She rolled her eyes and turned away, but became sisterly and caring after a moment.
"Are you in love with her?"
"Yeah. And before you ask, she feels the same."
"Oh. ...I heard you've been seeing each other for three years."
"More or less."
A tense, uncomfortable pause followed. Usagi lazily kicked the air, staring at the carpet. In the distance, she could smell tea and cookies, the perfect end to the lunch mother had made.
"Are you going to marry her?" she whispered. Shingo glanced aside, pursing his lips.
"I'd be lying if I said I've never considered it. I'd like to wait until we both graduate before I get serious."
"She's a fine woman, Shingo. I know that if anybody would make you happy, she would. And vice-versa."
"Yeah..." Usagi smiled.
"You don't sound too convinced."
"It's just tough talking about this stuff with you."
"But you'd seriously go through with it...?" He nodded.
"I need a little more time before I'm absolutely sure. I want our relationship to stay strong, so I'm being a little cautious. Heh, I don't want to end up like you."
Another hit on the head followed. "Just couldn't resist that last one, could you?"
"Am I mistaken? Or has Mamoru proposed to you yet?"
"I haven't even spoken to him for years," she grumbled, feeling a tear well up. Shingo nudged her playfully.
"So go find someone else, someone who'll make you happy."
"But Mamoru makes me happy," she insisted, clenching her fists. "Always. Even when he's away. He's always been good to me, and I... I'm sorry," she sighed, dabbing a tissue to her eyes. "I started out talking to you about Hotaru, and things changed to my own problems... I just want you to know that I'm happy for you, Shingo, and I know that Hotaru will be good to you. Still," she grinned, and he grinned with her.
"Yeah. Believe me, bun-head, I'm reeling over it, too." They continued smiling at each other until the doorbell rang; Kenji answered it, revealing Naru and Umino on the other side.
"Ah...hello, sir. Usagi wasn't home, and we were wondering if..."
"Please, no need to ask. Come in, both of you. She'll be overjoyed to see you."
They said hello and settled in just as Ikuko came in with the treats. Usagi couldn't help but notice how firmly they were holding hands, and softly squealed with delight.
…...
Ami smiled gently as her mother joined her at the table, and Saeko smiled back. The two weren't smiling very long, though, choosing instead to gaze at everything but each other. The two had grown closer ever since Ami began her practice, but recent events pushed them closer still, to the point where they really resembled a mother and daughter, and not two strangers who happened to be related. Recent events had rammed a new wedge between them, hence the discomforting silence. Saeko wanted to break the ice, but she didn't know whether she should talk about Sailor Mercury or her relationship with Risa Hino. Ami, meanwhile, had her own burdens she needed to unload, and like her mother, didn't know where to begin. The most obvious of their discussions came up first as Ami blushed and cleared her throat.
"Um, yes, well...I'm sorry I never told you. About...being a Sailor Senshi and all."
"But I already knew," Saeko offered. "I mean, I've known for awhile. I accidentally watched you transform one day."
"Oh." Again, the silence. Ami wished that Minako or Usagi were there; they'd know how to instruct her in these matters. How did their families take it when they learned of their daughters' secret identities? She checked her mother's face for a sign, but only noticed trepidation. "Um...I mean, I'm sorry I never told you sooner."
"And I'm sorry I never let on..." This was getting them nowhere. Saeko kept such a tight barrier around herself that it affected friends and family alike. That had begun to change, though, and there were more than a few cracks in her armor now. She decided to open those barriers completely and poured her heart out, because she needed to be honest. "Sweetheart, I can't possibly tell you how proud I am of you! Never mind your academic record or your career, you have such a wonderful assortment of friends, and... I can't put it into words. I'm stumbling over myself here. How can I come to grips that my own daughter is one of our city's saviors? One of our world's saviors? And all this time, I never suspected it in the slightest, because I was so busy with my career. Ami, darling, I..." Tears formed, and she removed her glasses to wipe them dry. Ami scooted next to her mother, leaning in for an embrace. She didn't know what to say, so she said nothing, and let the moment speak for her.
"I'm just...proud of you, Ami. I don't know how or why someone like me could be blessed with a daughter like you, but... Anyway, there you are." She chuckled sadly, hugging her child, letting her go only to dry her eyes again. Ami had more than a few tears herself.
"I'm glad we could get that out in the open," she said. "There's something else I'd like to discuss with you, something I've been dwelling on for a long time. Mother, sometime in the future, I'm not sure when...I'm going to ask Minako to marry me."
Saeko could immediately tell her child was serious. But just in case either of them had any doubts, Ami erased them.
"I never stopped loving her, even when we went our separate ways, and I know I never will. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. When that happens, mother, I want you to give me away."
Saeko couldn't find any words. The pride and love she felt toward her daughter went completely out of control, erupting out of her until they were all that was left of her. She went to embrace her child again, weeping for joy, only just able to get the words out.
…...
Makoto obviously spent time with her husband and children (and later on, her sister-in-law), but she put a rather unique twist on it, and showed her children manga and DVDs that were inspired by the Sailors' exploits. Little Naoko and Shinozaki were already star-struck when they learned their mother was a superhero, but to actually see her in graphic novels and television put their excitement into overdrive. Makoto couldn't help feeling a little nostalgic as she read and watched all those anachronisms, even when they stretched artistic liberties to their unbearable extremes (she refused to even whisper about the American dubs). Looking back, she noticed more than a few disturbing trends, and felt it necessary to clarify a few for her kids.
"Look, Nao," she said, pointing to the TV. "That's mommy. She's changed a lot, hasn't she?"
"Mommy gween."
"That's right, mommy's wearing green. I wear that color all the time, even now. Oh, you see how we were all bunched up together in a cluster like that? The enemy was able to tie us up because of that."
"Tie clustah."
"We almost never did it like that, but it shows us doing it every single time in the show. Oh, see that? Aunt Bunny got rid of the bad guy that time. Mommy and her friends hardly did anything."
"Aunt Bunny got dizzy?" Makoto laughed.
"She didn't really do all those silly dance moves, you know. Aunt Mimi was usually the only one of us that did. We always made sure to do our best in battle, fighting smart and quick, at least on most occasions. Even when we made mistakes, we never stood around helplessly like that."
"Mommy help Aunt Bunny?"
"Yes, mommy was a big help. Aunt Bunny got rid of a lot of the bad guys, but mommy got rid of a lot, too—and so did Aunt Mimi, Aunt Blue, and Auntie Rei."
"Dada help too?" Makoto smiled feebly.
"Daddy was working and going to school back then. He and mommy didn't get married until all of the bad guys were gone."
"He wasn't hewo?"
"He was, precious," she said, hugging her daughter close. "Your father was more of a hero than you may ever know. You don't need to fight bad guys to be a hero, you know."
"I fight them, too?"
"Maybe," she grinned, "someday." Naoko gestured and gurgled that she was ready to play something else, so Makoto turned off the TV and went looking for her stuffed toys. Shinozaki was hogging most of them in the other room, but Unazuki managed to swipe one away and hand it to her.
"Oh," she called, "big brother has a message."
"About the restaurant?" Unazuki nodded. Ever since Makoto returned to Senshi life, she had left her restaurant to the devices of other managers, and while she and her husband kept tabs on it whenever they could, she was still gravely concerned. Even with her skill and her husband's business know-how, getting their dream off the ground had been a taxing experience. Many days they had gone without rest, even without eating, just to see it come to life. Having children, as much a blessing as they were, complicated things. Even now, after meeting with some success, Makoto wasn't sure how they had managed. Sometimes she imagined fighting evil was easier than running her own business!
"They heard the news—about you being a Sailor Senshi. Well, I guess everyone in Tokyo has now. Anyway, they were pretty shocked at first, but then business began to increase at an alarming rate. A lot of people want to dine at your place now, probably hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous Sailor Jupiter."
"Oh, jeez," she winced. "Does that mean we're gonna get mobbed when we come back?"
"Probably." Makoto deflated with a hopeless groan.
"Everything happened so fast that I didn't have time to think about what would happen in the future. I wasn't even thinking about the repercussions—I just knew I had to save the city. I don't want to say I regret the decision, but..."
"You had no choice," Unazuki shrugged. "You were backed into a corner. The Sailors have always been sacrificing; that's just another example. But for what it's worth, sister, I'm proud of you."
"Thanks." Makoto's smile was very warm; she loved it when Unazuki called her "sister". Motoki strolled into the den just then, armed with a cell phone and a notepad.
"Ladies, I have good news and I have bad news. Now if only I had a yen for every time I've said that or heard that."
"How about a kiss instead?" Makoto said, giving him one on the cheek. He winked at her.
"Even better! Okay, the bad news first: we're obviously going to be extremely busy with the restaurant when we get back to Koriyama. A sudden dose of celebrity can be good for business, but there is such thing as being too good. As it stands, we wouldn't be able to come back to Tokyo or see our friends for a very long time."
Makoto felt like a rock had just fallen into her belly. She swallowed and pressed him for the good news.
"We're making enough money to open a second restaurant. We might actually become a chain in the next ten years or so."
"Well, that certainly is good news, but..."
"And the best part?" he grinned. "We're opening one right here in Tokyo. That means that we can live here and work here just like in the old days."
"ALL RIGHT!" Makoto flexed her arms and leaped into her husband's arms, laughing and squeezing riotously. Once she finished smothering him with kisses, she added, "So I guess this means we'll be keeping a certain ditzy dishwasher!"
"And any other friends we can rope into this! We're staying in Tokyo, pretty girl, for good and for all! Oh, but..." He let his wife go and crossed his arms. "We're gonna need to find a house. We need to move our stuff! Where are we going to..."
Makoto's face turned dark pink as she beamed at him. She already had the perfect place in mind.
…...
If Takashi Hino had any sort of reaction to his daughter's outrageous alternate lifestyle, then he did a very good job of concealing it. Predictably, once telephone services had returned and the Prime Minister's safety was assured, he thrust himself into his work, making calls across the nation, trying to keep his fellow bureaucrats in touch with what was going on, keeping the world safe and sane, all the while ignoring his daughter. Typical fatherly stuff. Rei went to visit her mother's grave on her first day off, again asking her why she had chosen to marry her father, and what she must have gone through during her final moments. She also paused at her grandfather's grave, choosing to say nothing. A brief layover at what used to be Hikawa Shrine capped off day one.
Early into day two, when she returned to see what had become of her job, and city hall, and her father, and everything else she had built up as a life for herself, Kaidou stared at her from across the cafeteria table, with only the steam from a bowl of ramen between them.
"He's taking everything well."
"Too well," Rei snapped. "He's acting like nothing happened. I already overheard him going over a project they had put on hold."
"For once, I think he's earned the right to bury himself like that. It's not easy for one man to comprehend everything that's happened. Hell, I barely understand it, and I've known you for half my life. But I guess I didn't know you well enough."
"Well, you never told me you were getting married until the last minute." He gazed at her, hurt, and she softened. "I'm sorry, you didn't deserve that. You definitely didn't deserve...anything."
"I dunno, it feels like I've earned these noodles." She finally smirked.
"But those taste like crap."
"The Missus makes them a special way," he winked. "She might even be persuaded to share the recipe. Speaking of things we keep putting off, I've been meaning to introduce you two for a long time."
"Yeah. How do you feel about it, anyway?" He shrugged.
"Not all that surprised, to be honest. I always thought you and Sailor Mars were too similar."
"Then it's a good thing she's the one I ended up with."
"Was it a choice?" Rei rested her cheek on her hand, staring off at the wall.
"No...and I don't want to use words like fate or destiny, but that's what it felt like, at least at the time. This time around, though, it was entirely by choice."
"I see." They sat in silence for awhile longer, Rei's focus turning to the broth. She wished she had brought something to eat; she was getting pretty hungry. Trying to ignore the pangs in her stomach, she turned back to scowl at her father, who was pacing around stiffly, phone stuck firmly to his head. Kaidou sensed her growing agitation, and touched her hands.
"I think you should confront him about your mother, once and for all. Hear what he has to say."
"Why should I?" she grumbled. "I know enough."
"But you've never heard his side of the story."
"I never needed to. It's probably just another vapid excuse. Besides, nothing he says will change the way I feel."
"That may be, but I still think you need to go through with it." He squeezed her hand—it was soft and warm from holding the ramen bowl—and her features softened. The trust—and perhaps more importantly, the faith—that she had in Kaidou ultimately won out, and she took a deep breath.
"Just so you know, I reserve the right to say 'I told you so'." With that, she got out of her chair, approached her father, and gestured for his attention. He held his hand over the receiver.
"I'll finish in a moment. Prime Minister Abe is still not clear concerning the more recent developments."
"I want to talk to you about mother. Now." Takashi's eyes flickered, and he beheld Risa's ghost in his daughter's stony countenance. His hand slowly moved away.
"With all due respect, sir, there's been another matter that's just come up. Please allow me a moment to address it, and I'll get right back to you. Okamoto might be able to fill you in on a few things; he was there with me. ...Yes, of course. I appreciate it, sir."
And then Rei witnessed a miracle: her father aborted a conversation with the Prime Minister in order to speak with her.
"Shall we go somewhere private?" Rei wasn't expecting that. She kept her composure and followed him, sparing Kaidou a neutral glimpse. He flashed a thumbs-up as he upended his bowl.
They sat. Stillness. He stared at her, hands folded, eyes firm, face stony. Rei found that most of her earlier ferocity had left her. There was a subtle but profound look of intense sadness in her father, so powerful that it even cracked her cautious shell.
"What would you like to know?"
"Why weren't you there when she died?"
He closed his eyes. "Because she asked me to."
You son of a bitch liar! She wanted to scream it, but she had promised Kaidou.
"So you saw her."
"Of course. I was there about an hour or so before you came. She asked me to leave, and I honored her request."
Instead of screaming, all she did was stare at the floor, and grumble. "I don't believe you."
"I can live with that."
"You never loved her."
"I can live with you believing that. However, it's not true."
"You let her die," she whispered. He sighed.
"She had a final request. I was vehement about staying with her; she wanted me to leave."
"Because she hated you," she hissed.
"Because she believed in what I did," he replied softly. "It's true that I missed the moment of her parting because of my work. Because of that, I'm willing to bear your hatred, and her spirit haunting me, for all of my life. However, you should know that she was aware of what was at stake that day, and knew that if I had stayed at the hospital by her side, everything I had worked for would have been in vain."
Rei could barely restrain her fury. She had to grind her teeth, else she would let loose the fires.
"So what was it that was so important, that you decided to leave her side?"
"A vote was being held that day, which would decide the fate of a certain plot of land. Some people were going to hand it over to a financial development wing, so that it would be made into a series of office buildings. Others wanted to expand their educational facilities and make a private school. The first catch was that the offices would be a front for Yakuza members. The second catch was that my vote would be critical in deciding everything. The third catch...was that you would ultimately be going to this school, as would many bright and talented young women. More than anything else in the world, your mother wanted you to have that opportunity."
For once, Rei didn't have anything to say.
"I was willing to surrender my position on the board just so I could be with my wife in her dying days. She had other plans in mind. I even went so far as to dig my heels in. You think you get your stubborn behavior from her side of the family, eh, but in truth, it's mine. The Hikawa family has always been about grace, poise, and dignity; the Hinos are simply stubborn and defiant. Anyway, I don't need to tell you how everything ended. Believe what you will, but this is the truth. Risa believed that my job was important, and so I throw myself into it to honor her. Whether I have done well or not will be judged by history. Was there anything else you needed?"
Rei swallowed, letting everything she had heard sink in. Just like she promised.
"Two more questions: what do you think...about me being Sailor Mars?"
He merely grunted, shrugging.
"All right...we'll get to that later. But I'd like an answer to this next one right away. What would you say...if I told you I wanted to quit my internship?"
"And do what, exactly?" Rei furrowed her brows, chewing her lip. Mother wanted her to have an education. That education had led her here. With her father. She had vowed to never put herself in that situation, cutting herself off from all humanity...
But if there was even the slimmest shred of truth to what her father said...
"Singing. Acting. Dancing. Marriage. All of my old dreams."
"Honestly?" He stood up, taking out his cell phone again, dialing Abe's number. Then, to her astonishment, he allowed a tiny smile. "I don't see why you can't have both. ...Ah, yes, please excuse the delay, sir. ...Just a chat with an important client. ...Hmm, more important than you, sir? Well, to be frank..."
Rei didn't hear the rest. She was staring at the floor, at the carpet, tracing an imaginary line to the furnace, where a small fire had been set. Once more she found herself staring into the flame.
"Mom," she whispered, feeling a wet streak on her face. The fire danced in reply.
…...
Two days passed quickly; soon it would be time for the Senshi to return to active duty, and hopefully conclude this tribulation. Minako had spent all of her time with her parents, just like her friends, but there were no stunning revelations or upsetting issues she needed to conquer: hers was a time of total relaxation. During the twilight hours of her last free moments, however, she went out on the balcony of her old room, where she always used to go when she needed solace and solitude, and stared out at the city, contemplating her future.
No doubt her former manager would catch wind of her heroic alter ego and insist on her returning to work. Having Minako Aino as a model was one thing, but Sailor Venus? Even international celebrities didn't tout that kind of fame. Minako knew that if she accepted, she'd only go back to her globe-trotting days, busier than ever, and would likely never be able to do anything on her own terms. There was no doubt in her mind that she would stay in the country: she couldn't bear to be apart from her friends and family for so long, and besides, she made a promise. Perhaps if her manager was willing to renegotiate her contract...
Lately, though, Minako's heart wasn't into modeling, or fashion, or the life of a celebrity. That had been her dream growing up, certainly, but she had learned that the dream and the reality were starkly different. Working with Makoto was surprisingly fulfilling, as unglamorous as it was (she had been promoted to waitress), and she had full control of her life and full access to all the people that mattered most. But was that what dreaming, and giving up on dreams, meant? Did she really have to make so many sacrifices to see her goals come to life? Did she have to abandon those goals in order to feel content and fulfilled? The immediate future seemed so simple: being Sailor Venus, fighting alongside the other Senshi, saving the world...all of that came easily, naturally. It was, paradoxically, times of peace which taxed her the most. As Sailor Venus, she knew what she had to do and she knew how to do it, but as Minako Aino...
She heard the balcony door open, and turned to smile at her mother, still bright and full of energy. Without saying a word, she hugged her daughter, and Minako's troubles went away.
"Thanks, mom. I really needed that."
"I thought you would. You know I try to take everything you're going through in stride, but I just thought things might be...different this time."
"Yeah. I'm twenty-eight and I still don't know what I want to do with myself."
"You mean once all this is over? So you're serious about not returning to modeling?"
"I wouldn't go that far. If something local shows up, I might take a look at it. I just don't want to be away from everybody again. I mean, I don't want to compromise my dream, either..."
"I understand. You're in a tight spot. I'm afraid I can't really give you any good advice, at least nothing I haven't said before. All I can do is show my support."
"That's usually all it takes. Well, I guess I don't need to worry about it now..."
"Careful not to procrastinate too much, now," Kinsei smiled. Minako chuckled.
"Knowing me, I just might!" They shared a laugh, and Kinsei escorted her daughter back inside, where her father was still picking apart the dinner they had shared. She walked over to him and gave him a kiss, smiling beautifully.
"What do you think, daddy? Should I spend my future as a waitress or as a model?"
"Why are you asking me? Isn't that your decision?"
"We've got two undecided votes, dad. We need a third to break the gridlock!"
"Hmm... You're very good at modeling. You have a lot of natural talent. You could always branch out into those other fields you obsessed over when you were young. I say do that. However... You also like being here. You've got roots, family, friends, all the familiar comforts. Japan's a progressive country, and Tokyo's at the forefront of it all. I don't see how you'd have any trouble getting a career right here."
"Huh." Minako hadn't thought of that possibility. Then again, as standoffish as her father seemed, he always made everything clear, and always knew just what to say. She kissed him again, thanking him for his sagacity.
"Hmm... Problem solved, then?"
"Yes, daddy, thank you."
"Good. So Minako, I've been wondering: how were you all able to transform the other day? You told us you had your powers taken away, and yet the whole city watched you change." Minako grimaced. With all that had been going on, and all that had went through her mind, she had never given that question any thought. No doubt the answer would remain elusive, for as many theories as she could propose, none of them seemed right and yet they all had their own sense to them.
"Honestly, dad, I don't know. I just figured they came because we needed them."
"Hmm. I guess that's acceptable. Sorry to take up so much of your time."
"Oh, dad," she sighed, leaning down to hug him, "you know I'll never be too busy for you."
She went to bed that evening feeling light and carefree. When the sun rose the next day, Sailor Venus was out there to greet it. Mother and father soon joined her, sharing one last moment of peace together. They didn't really need to say anything; they just needed to enjoy the moment. Sailor Venus held their hands, smiled, and gradually let go, turning around to profile herself against the golden rays.
"All right! This beautiful soldier in a sailor suit's got a bright future ahead of her! Those who dare to stand in my way shall suffer the wrath of Venus! Evildoers beware, for the warrior of love and justice is fighting for our future! In the name of Venus, I shall punish those who would destroy our dreams!"
Her parents smiled warmly at her and clapped. She blushed and bowed.
"It's a little more effective if I have a bad guy to shout at. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you both for everything. I'm going to be all right now."
"We know you will, dear," Kinsei smiled.
"Give em' hell and be safe," her father added. Venus winked, then turned round and ran off to greet the sunrise.
