Again, sorry for my English.

This takes place a few weeks after the Final Act.

What if a problem occurred when Usagi saved the world? What if Minako didn't remember the senshi, her death, being Venus? Worse, what if she wasn't even an idol? How will the girls handle it, knowing that Minako has just a few weeks to live if she refuses the operation?

Nouveau Monde

By youte

Chapter 1

"Usagi, it's okay."

"No, it's not, Ami," sighed the sad girl.

The fact that she was eating her food so slowly was a vivid proof of her state of mind.

"I broke the world."

"You saved the world," Makoto reassured. "There was just a little mistake, that's all."

"A little mistake? Luna and Artemis have disappeared, Minako Aino isn't a star and we don't even know where she is and it has been three weeks! I love her! Why would I create world where she doesn't sing?"

"It isn't your fault," Ami said. "Maybe we can fix it."

"Hey!" Naru smiled, sitting down with them. "Usa, a really cute guy just talked to me!"

"Ah? It's great!"

Her smile wasn't really convincing.

"You're still in your weird mood? Is that handsome boyfriend of yours treating you well?"

"What? Mamoru? No, Mamoru is great!"

"Great. So, what's the problem?"

"Nothing, I'm fine! Come on, class is going to begin!"

Usagi took Naru's hand and ran toward their classroom. Makoto and Ami sighed.

"How is Rei?"

"Still trying to find an answer in the fire. She's really worried, I think."

Ami nodded.

"Yeah. Minako and her were friends."

"Am… Ami…"

"What?"

"Isn't that…?"

Ami turned her head to see in the corridor none other than Minako Aino, in the same uniform as them, walking toward a classroom while talking to one of the boys of Makoto's class. Minako had the slightest smile on her face, and every time she talked to the guy his cheeks reddened. He wasn't the only one to be that interested in the girl. A lot of students had their eyes on her, because she was new and was walking with grace and elegance, her presence was luminous. Even Makoto could see that idol or not she had kept that mystifying aura. Venus' aura.

"Oh my…"

"Yeah," Makoto nodded. "Isn't it weird to see her there? Ah, she must be in my class."

"Ok. Have to go. I'll tell Usagi and try to explain to her that she can't hug Minako to death. Good luck"

"Huh, good luck to you. Keeping Usa away won't be easy."

Makoto watched her ex leader in class.

The girl looked as beautiful as she had been. Even in that school uniform she looked perfect. She held herself with the same care and assurance that she had when she was an idol, she had the same easy smile, maybe a little more contrite and cold. Makoto knew enough to guess that her expressions weren't sincere, they were automatic, calculated or just a reaction to this or that. All her gestures were controlled and gracious.

By the end of the day, Makoto concluded that, even if she looked friendly, Minako was an expert at playing all of them. She had talked to the ones that curiously asked her where she came from or if she wanted to go with them to the arcade or karaoke, but she hadn't tried to really know them or to make friends. Without even realising it, Makoto's classmates were already under Minako's charm (especially the guys) but they all knew to respectably keep their distance from her.

It was… disconcerting.

Minako flirted again with one of the cutest boy in the class (to the dismay of a few girls – which suddenly weren't that glad that Minako was there) and left the school, not bothered by all the eyes fixed on her or the whispers.

"So, so, that's her?" Naru asked when Ami, Usagi and a few of their friends arrived. "Ah. Yes, she's really beautiful. Are you sure she is our age? She seems really solemn."

"She is younger than you all, in fact. She's born in October. She's not 16 yet."

"She's so cool!" a boy exclaimed. "So calm and nice and pretty."

"Not so nice. You should have seen how she reacted when Naburo made fun of Rina. I never saw someone treat him like that without fearing to be on his black list," warned a classmate of Makoto.

"A protector of the innocents," the boy sighed dreamily. "I'm in love."

"Not so fast. She teased others too. She's not that nice, and she's kinda cold."

"Yeah," Naru's friend nodded. "She seems to believe that she's better than us. You should see how she looks at us!"

"I bet she's egoistical. She's so weird."

Makoto and Ami took Usagi by their arms before she exploded and defended her idol. They hastily said goodbye to the others and left the school. Usagi was fuming.

"Well, you know," Makoto began with hesitation, "she was really like they said."

"No, she isn't cold! She's just… just lonely and distrustful."

"Usa," Ami said, "that's who she was. But here, she isn't Venus or an idol. She's a girl like us, and she goes to school and she surely has friends. You heard like us that she said she was going to see her friends and that's why she didn't want to stay with Sakura and the others. It's possible that she isn't really like the girl we've known."

Arms akimbo, Usagi had tears in her eyes.

"Maybe… maybe she's happier now, then. Maybe… that's why all have changed for her. Maybe now that she has a normal life, she's happy, because she doesn't have all these horrible memories of Venus' life and she doesn't remember the mission and her duty. And she doesn't miss Artemis because she doesn't remember him either. Maybe she's even healed now. It would explain things."

Ami nodded gravely.

"Yes. It may be true."

Usagi blinked her last tears away and smiled.

"Maybe we could become friends again and she could become an idol later! I have to go see Mamoru, I'm late! See ya!"

She ran toward a bus stop and Makoto and Ami watched her with amusement and worry.

"You don't think it's that simple, do you?" Makoto asked her friend.

Ami sighed.

"No. I think that it's highly unlikely that Minako happened to be transferred in our school by coincidence. And even if she doesn't remember… I mean, we knew we weren't like anybody even before we became senshi. Minako must feel that too, at least. All of these memories, they must be in her subconscious."

"We should go to the shrine. Rei would want to know that."

"I need a favour."

Takashi Hino looked at his only child, impassive but secretly surprised and suspicious. Rei never had come to him. And she had certainly never barged in his office like that, without asking entrance or contacting him before.

He looked at her disapprovingly, knowing that it wouldn't have any effect on the stubborn girl (she was his daughter after all), and wondered how their relationship could have become this unbalanced these last months. He felt it was an improvement, but it wasn't really a decided fact. Rei refused to obey him, which highly displeased Takashi. She wanted that he called, and she wanted their meetings to be private. That she could impose her conditions like that made him proud. She was a true Hino, after all.

Her temper came from her mother, like her beauty. But even Risa hadn't been this beautiful. Sometimes, he wondered about the girl, about her future. She wasn't the most level headed teen, but she was intelligent, mature, sensible, gracious, strong, responsible and she worked hard. Takashi knew that she was also humble, gifted and altruistic. She wasn't arrogant because of her beauty or her name, but because of her pride and beliefs.

She was a good girl, with a good mind and a good heart. A young woman any man would be proud to call daughter.

Takashi knew all that. And, even if he didn't show it or knew how to show it, he was proud. He knew he had made the right decision to leave the little girl at the shrine. She had been well raised, far away from money and corruption, and far from him.

"You need a favour," he said, his voice all business.

Rei didn't sit down. She looked a little awkward. She didn't know how to hide the fact that she was ill at ease and disgusted to have to ask him something. Takashi hoped that in time she'll learn to hide these emotions better.

"Yes."

"Is it money?"

The burning glare she threw him held all her indignation.

"Of course not!" she spat. "I don't need money. I have enough at the bank."

"I know that you don't touch it."

"Well, I could if I wanted."

"What is it then, Rei?" he asked with impatience.

"I need to be transferred to another school."

He sighed.

"I know that being in the Academy is difficult for you because of you faith and of your classmates, but it's the best school in the city and you are doing really well."

"No. You don't understand. I don't want to change school for good. I know that my school is the best, and I want the best. I don't care about the rest. But for a few weeks I need to go to the Juuban district public school."

"A public school? No."

"Listen to me!" she demanded. "I have a friend who goes there. I think she's in danger, and she doesn't want to see it. I need to go to her school to convince her."

"In danger?"

"I think she's sick."

Of course, thought Takashi. For her to come to him, it had to be something terribly important to her. Something noble.

"Fine," he said crisply. "I'm going to make a few phone calls. Your new uniforms will be brought to the shrine as soon as possible. Rei, I don't want to hear anything even remotely bad about you or your time at this school. Or I will pull you out. You have a few weeks, but after that, you will return to the Academy."

"Of course. Thank you," she said quietly but her eyes as defiant as ever.

He nodded.

"And you will have to come with me to a cocktail in two weeks."

"What?"

"A cocktail. With colleagues and other members of the high society and their family. It's an annual tradition."

Rei seemed ready to explode. The disgusted spark in her eyes was almost funny.

"A cocktail with politicians and other untrustworthy rich people and their heirs?"

"Rei, you are one of them."

"I am not!"

"You are my heir and your mother's heir."

The mention of her mother seemed to soften her a bit. He couldn't help but be amused, she looked so much like a five years old form of herself when she was this angry.

"Fine. But I'll choose my dress."

"Fine."

"Goodbye."

"Oh, Rei?"

"Yes?"

"Next time, don't scare my secretary, and knock."

She just scowled and left the office, closing the door behind her.

Takashi allowed himself to smile, his eyes caressing his late wife's picture.

He doubted that they would one day have a really close father-daughter relationship, but it seemed to get better and better.

It was a good thing.

"You are late, miss Aino."

Minako smiled brightly at the teacher.

"I'm really sorry! My alarm clock didn't wake me up this morning."

"And yesterday you missed the bus, and the day before you were on time but your dog had eaten your homework."

"Of course I punished him for it," Minako said with the same sheepish energy.

The students laughed at her antics.

"You will stay after class, miss Aino," the teacher frowned.

Minako bowed and went to sit down at the back of the classroom.

Makoto sighed. Minako was almost another Usagi, but in a more arrogant and less innocent form. She was often late, and told their teachers obvious lies with a smile on her face and an unapologetic gaze. She rarely did her homework, and was apparently a disaster in almost all their classes. She never tried to participate in class, and when a teacher asked her a question she nearly always gave a wrong answer (if she had been even listening to the class). Makoto was sure that what Minako was scribbling on her notebook during class wasn't related in any way to math or history.

In fact, the only classes in which Minako seemed to be interested were geography, English (where she had proved that she was already bilingual), French, music and sports.

During breaks, Minako was seen with the cooler and envied groups of the school, often students in their final year. She rarely was with the same people two times in a row, and already had the reputation to be highly flirtatious (the girl every other girls disliked but who they all wanted to be like). Every guy (and even a few girls) dreamed to go out with her but didn't dare to hope to even ask her out.

Makoto was discussing this with Usagi and Ami when Naru and Usagi's other friends went to sit next to them on the grass.

"Hey, we have news!" Naru said excitedly.

"What news?"

"About the new girl. She was in the Shiba Koen school before."

"That school isn't well reputed."

"Yeah, apparently her parents wanted her to go to a private school but they decided to transfer her there. Maybe they didn't have the money."

"So, what do the people from that school say about her?"

"Well, she was more or less the princess of the school, but she was so distant that she didn't really have friends. She's really full of herself, she even stole boyfriends from girls there."

"No!"

"Yes."

"It's just rumours," Ami tempered. "I'm sure she was just flirtatious and she made enemies being that way."

"Well, it's not surprising," Naru said. "Usa, how would you react if that girl flirted with your Mamoru?"

"Mamo and Minako?" Usagi repeated. And then she couldn't stop her giggles. "That's a weird thought!"

"Did she have a boyfriend?" Makoto asked to keep the others from being too interested in her princess' reaction.

"More than one. Some say that she was going out with a senior of her school and that she had another boyfriend on the side, one that didn't go to their school. She was often spotted with that boy and when the rumour began to be too real she ditched the senior. He didn't take it well, but they went out together only two times anyway."

"Did you hear what happened to the other boy?" Eiko asked.

"No. What?"

"He died."

He savoured the stunned silence before continuing dramatically.

"Six months ago. It seems that he killed himself."

"No way!"

"Because she was flirting with another girl."

"What?"

"Maybe the fact that she's half a lesbian pushed the poor guy to hang himself."

"Don't be stupid," Makoto snapped, exasperated. "We don't know if that's true or not."

"The fact that she's a lesbian?"

The glare she threw him made him shut up.

Naru shrugged.

"Anyway, she missed a lot of classes apparently. Days. And she was often late. She must really like to party! Oh, and she was captain of her volley-ball team. They even won the championship. She's amazing with a ball it seems."

"Really?" Usagi asked. "Maybe she could play for our team. We haven't even been in the championship in years."

Naru giggled.

"True. But keep your voice down! I don't see her playing for anybody. She's more the type to give the orders."

"Yeah."

"Guys! Guys!"

They looked at Umino that was running to them.

"There is a new girl. Again."

Usagi couldn't stop her giggles.

Rei sighed.

"Stop it!"

"Sorry. But it's so strange to see you in that uniform."

"It's ugly."

"Well, it's you who wanted to mingle with the low populace," Makoto teased.

"And your classmates are fools."

"That's true. But if you keep throwing them these nasty looks they won't stop talking about you."

"I don't care as long as they stop asking me stupid questions."

"You're kind of scary, Rei," Usagi said. "You intimidate them."

"Only an afternoon and nobody can look at you in the eyes," Ami smiled. "I never saw Eiko stammer like that before."

"It doesn't help that your reputation of witch is known there too."

"I've seen a few of them at the shrine. I've even helped a few of them."

"Good."

Usagi couldn't keep it in anymore.

"I don't care! Rei is in our school!"

"Usagi! I need to breathe!"

"Sorry!"

"And it's only temporary."

"Yeah. Of course."

"Can we go now? Everybody is looking at us."

Makoto laughed.

"They didn't know we were friends with you before. But don't worry, Naru will have clear all that come tomorrow and we will be free of the stares."

"It won't be the same with Minako," Ami said. "She seems to enjoy being a mystery."

"Good for her," Rei said. "I just want to be sure she's fine."

"It won't be easy."

"I know."

"We need sugar! Sweets!" Usagi declared. "Ice cream!"

Makoto eyed her suspiciously.

"I thought that you already spent all your money?"

"Yes! It's terrible! I am so hungry but these mangas were so great! I am hungry!"

Ami, Rei and Makoto looked at each other with wariness.

"You are the second in command," Makoto declared suddenly to the miko. "You are the first in row when it's necessary to help the princess."

"What?! No!"

"Ami?"

"Yes."

Rei rolled her eyes.

"Usagi, I'll pay for your ice cream. One ice cream. If you want more, you have a boyfriend that can pay for it. But I want to go change first."

"Don't be snob!" Makoto teased, pushing her toward the bus stop. "We're all in these uniforms!"

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Rei! You're the best bodyguard of the whole universe!"

"Usagi, you're not a princess, and I'm not a Senshi anymore. This excuse will work just this one time, ok?"

"Ok! So, where are we going?"

While they decided their destination, Rei silently sighed. She wondered if she had made the right choice.

One, the school and the uniform were horrible.

Two, she will have to see Usagi all week and put up with her enthusiasm during hours. She was sweet and Rei loved her, but still…

Three…

Three, Minako.

God, seeing her in class that afternoon had been almost too much. She had been here, next to her, so alive. She still had that annoying smirk and she was also forced to wear that stupid uniform but she was still so beautiful that it was bothering Rei. Really, who could be so regal in that thing?

She just wanted Minako to be fine. Happy. Safe.

Then Rei would return to her school and to her life.

It was the plan, anyway.

Minako Aino wasn't one to stay at school longer than necessary.

Her teacher gave her another homework for punishment because of that morning and Minako went on her way. She expertly avoided the groupies and the boys that wanted her to be their girlfriend or at least their lover (Minako wasn't a fool).

She had great plans for tonight. Video games and chocolate. If she was lucky, the maid number 8 had left her this divine curry rice that she had made the evening before. Minako didn't bother to retain the name of the lady, but she knew that the woman could cook better than the last one. Number 7 had only been good for cleaning after her. She had been a nasty one, too. At least number 8 was quieter.

Minako loved variety. She loved to go to parties, to flirt with boys and sometimes girls, she loved to dance one evening and to watch silly TV the next, she loved to spend a night on her music and the next evening to go practice martial arts or ping-pong. She loved doing all that, especially when it was forbidden by her parents.

One thing she didn't like.

Not understanding something.

She didn't know why, but since she was going to the Juuban school she was feeling… weird. Like she was tingling. Or at least like her mind was tingling. It was really annoying.

But that was nothing compared to what she had felt when that new girl sat next to her. That feeling was… strong, and burning, and overwhelming. The girl was stunning, Minako had seen that much. Gorgeous eyes, skin, body, all of it. She was gracious and composed and mysterious. And really… well, not the most sociable creature, that was for sure. It seemed that she was a miko, with a really weird reputation. She had transferred from a snob catholic private school, like the one Minako had avoided with difficulty.

Minako smiled. It could be fun to push that girl. How would she react if Minako flirted shamelessly with her? She was from an all girl school, but if she was religious she really could be offended by this type of attention from another girl. Well, Minako was somehow sure that the girl would also kill any poor man who would tried to show romantic interest in her.

Oh yeah. Could be great fun.

And Minako liked fun.

But she had instinct, and it screamed to her to run away from the miko. She couldn't really read the emotions of that girl, not totally. As if her gift was short-circuited by something in that girl's aura. A strong aura, powerful, special. Maybe Hino had a gift, too? That wouldn't be the first time Minako met another human with a power.

Anyway she had to stay away. A shame, really.

She suddenly felt the girl near her, and she turned her head to see Hino with her friends They were walking across the street. How could these girls be friends? Minako knew how worked social networks. She was an expert at playing them. She had never seen that before, such a strong and bright link between four girls that different. Minako knew that real friendships were rare, and the one these girls shared was really special. A genius, a stupid and overly happy girl with no manners, a tomboy and an asocial but fascinating beauty? Yeah, Minako had never heard of such things before.

Life was so weird sometimes. Humans were truly surprising. That was why Minako just loved to be one. She was never bored, not with a city full of them and a gift like hers.

She watched with disdain as the annoying girl proclaimed she was hungry, loudly. Really, that girl was ridiculously stupid. But almost everyone at the school seemed to like her. Apparently, she was nice and sweet with everybody.

Huh, an innocent, without a doubt. Minako bet she lived in a cotton candy world. Pink, at that.

That thought made her snicker.

She watched them until the bus left, then she went on her way. Nobody noticed her. If she wanted, Minako could become the centre of everyone's attention when she entered a room. But she also knew how to become invisible. And it was really useful.

Well. It was time to go home.

A playstation and chocolates were waiting for her.

Still, she couldn't keep that miko girl out of her mind. And it annoyed her.

Greatly.