A/N: Hi. I have been trying to upload this chapter four times already and it always ends up crashing—I don't know what it is. Thank you so much for your reviews and support, I know these couple of chapters have been going slow but I think the story builds up as we move along.
I wish you all a fantastic weekend and remember, let's keep the good vibes flowing!
Divinity: The Fates and the Afterlife
Chapter Thirteen
The chase didn't last long; Megumi was completely lost and didn't even know where the park where she had hidden previously was anymore. She felt trapped in a dimension she didn't even know it existed. Her heart was torn, divided—confused. Minutes after of being wandering around, she found a small alley and sat with her knees close to her face and couldn't fight her desperation anymore and broke into tears.
Megumi was blinded by the flashing lights from the streets and the loud and strange noises that came with it. For so many years, she traveled to places she never imagined she would visit, all with high hopes to find an answer and follow her new purpose. Her life was put on hold the moment she made the decision to continue with a mission that she knew would change everything forever and ever since that moment she was given the task, she owed it to that future she still hoped to be achieved. She missed her home, she missed seeing those rose gardens; the sound of the fountain dripping water in a soothing rhythm. She missed her friends and family and she missed him.
Megumi's brown eyes opened wide when her nose caught a familiar scent. She turned her head, desperately looking for its owner and soon felt her heart skip a beat when she saw the silhouette of that person she thought, would never get to see again. She tried to stand up to follow it, but her legs didn't respond giving Minako the opportunity to find her. "Here you are." The girl widened her eyes and looked up, surprised to see the blonde standing in front of her "I thought I lost you." Minako kneeled in front of her and gave her a kind smile while extending her hand out to her, "Don't be afraid, I am not going to hurt you."
Megumi finally took a moment to assimilate the situation and realize she was not hallucinating. Her heart was telling one thing but her reason was in another different place still questioning her mere existence. "Impossibile." she whispered, still in shock.
Minako tilted her head and looked down at Artemis, who had the same confused look on his face, "I am going to take you to a safe place tomorrow—I promise. But for now, let's go back home." she pressed her lips tight and took a deep breath, "I need to know if you understand what I am saying to you."
"Maybe she's not from here," Artemis muttered loud enough for her to hear. Minako sighed and shook her head, her patience was coming low but at this point she was now aware that if she did not handle this situation with care, things could get out of control later, "I don't know what to do," she turned to the cat "I don't understand her language—Ami-chan would know or at least she would be able to know which language this is."
Artemis sweat dropped and sighed, "Well, you did not want to alert the girls."
Minako turned to the white cat, "I can't leave her here Artemis..."
The girl looked at the blonde with wonder and felt familiar with the situation. Considering her options, this was the best, hoping this to be the answer she had been asking all this time; her hand reached out for Minako's, startling her. Minako's eyes widened with hope and offered her other hand to help her stand up and walked back to the apartment in silence.
Luna waited at the entrance of the apartment with a worried look on her face, "Where were you?" she asked Artemis the minute he walked inside only to be answered with silence, worrying her even more. "Why are you…" Luna trailed off and widened her big burgundy eyes when she saw Minako walking in with a girl behind her. Artemis sat next to Luna and leaned closer to her ear "I will explain it to you later."
"Come on inside." Minako welcoming voice echoed as she went to turn more lights inside the living room and began putting some of the couch pillows and the pile of magazines out of the way. She turned to the girl and tilted her head, "Are you hungry?" she frowned and kicked herself mentally for her dumb, obvious question. "Of course you are…" she muttered and went to the kitchen to fix her something quick. Luna looked at the girl and the clothed object she hugged close to her chest and narrowed her burgundy eyes as she tried to figure out where she had seen that face before. There was something about her she could not explain but made her feel a great sense of familiarity.
Minako walked back to the living room with a sandwich and a glass of orange juice to offer the girl, "Sorry I couldn't make you anything more nutritious…you see, I'm single and—" she stopped in her tracks, surprised to see the girl profoundly asleep on the couch. "She fell asleep very quickly." Artemis explained, feeling relieved to be able to speak freely again, "Maybe she did not feel threatened anymore." Minako nodded and leaned on the wall before putting the plate and the glass down on her dining table, "I will be taking her to the shrine tomorrow, I think she will be better there. Rei-chan would be able to read her aura and see if she is related."
"Can somebody care explain what is happening?" Luna looked at both and shook her head "Who is this girl?" Artemis took a deep breath and began explaining, already knowing it was going to be a long night. "I just found out that there have been strange events happening lately,"
Luna frowned "What kind of events?"
"Rei has been having visions—strange ones, and one of them was about a girl," Minako waved her hand and motioned both cats to follow her to her bedroom to continue the conversation. Once she closed the door behind her, she sighed heavily "I just learned about this today, Rei-chan called me to tell me this."
"A girl," Luna muttered "What kind of girl?"
Minako shrugged her shoulders "I don't know,"
"What makes you think this girl is the one Rei-chan has mentioned?"
"Because she called me Venus."
"Venus?" Luna widened her eyes "But—" she shook her head and turned to Artemis, "This is all new for me too Luna, Minako was just giving me all this information when the girl suddenly escaped,"
"Well, have you tried to ask her directly?" Luna frowned and turned to Minako, "I have but I can't understand her," she pursed her lips, "Not that she says much, she just mumbles some words and that's pretty much it."
"We need to tell the girls."
"Minako doesn't want them to know."
Luna turned to look at Minako wide-eyed, "They need to know."
"I don't want to put Usagi-chan through another battle, she is getting married soon!"
"This is not—" Luna sighed with exasperation, "Do you really think you can keep this information from her? She will eventually know, she's a Sailor Senshi too, she deserves to know."
"You were supposed to be more comprehensive than Artemis…" Minako narrowed her eyes, "She is about to get married. I cannot ruin this moment for her,"
"Minako…" Artemis warned her, Minako shook her head and went to sit on her bed, "Rei-chan and I concluded that if it is something really important, Mamoru-kun would have sensed something too."
"Well, have you spoken to him?" Luna arched her brow hoping to hear a more positive answer but her wishes soon turned into dust when she saw Minako bit her lower lip "—No," Luna sighed and shook her head again, "Then how are you going to know? Are you expecting him to reach out and tell you? Because it is most likely not going to happen. He is very reserved about these things unless you talk to him you will never know and before you say something, the same applies with Michiru-san."
Minako let out an exhausted puff of air, both in frustration and annoyment. She hated when the Mauians were right, and they were almost every time which bothered her more. "Mamoru will never want to put Usagi on the line for something he can handle on his own." Artemis said softly "If he has sensed anything, he is probably keeping it to himself in order to protect her."
"See? It's the same thing we are trying to do."
"But the situation with him is different. He is her fiancé." Artemis alleged his point against Minako's but the blonde was still reluctant, "We're her friends."
Luna stepped into the discussion with a more tranquil approach, "Alright, if you don't want to talk to him, talk to Michiru-san, Haruka-san or Setsuna-san."
Minako pursed her lips, really considering if going straight to the Outers would help at all considering their methods to fight and elaborate a strategy. Luna noticed Minako's sudden change and sat next to her on the bed, "You are the leader, you have to make a decision."
Minako's fingers curled tight around her comforter at the mention of the word "Leader—" she muttered with a sad smile on her lips, "Luna, it has been a while since I did something as a leader." she turned to look at the Mauian advisor, "Now things are different, I cannot just make a decision and change everyone's lives." With a heavy sigh, she turned to both cats, "The best thing I can do right now is to take her to the shrine so Rei-chan can see her and I still need to figure that out because tomorrow I have an important meeting at work and I have to be there before everyone else." she stood up and walked out the door, making sure not to make any sounds that could wake the girl sleeping on her couch. She looked so calm, like if she hadn't slept well in a very long time, her hair was long and tangled, her clothes worn out and dirty—no shoes.
Her eyes were soon fixed on the object she hugged close to her chest, it was obviously large in size but could not see anything due to the many clothes wrapped around it "What is that?"
"I saw it too." Luna whispered, "She does not let go of it—whatever that is."
Minako fell silent and analyzed the situation; the more she looked at her, the more she was certain this was not an ordinary homeless girl. She had a secret and she felt the intrigue to find out what it was. Soon, her train of thought drifted off to a more turbulent situation: What if her suspicions are right? What was she going to do? How was she going to break the news to the girls, to Usagi? Maybe it was time for the best performance of her life—she thought with concern.
O—o—o—O
The next morning she woke up very early and got ready for the day, as soon as she had everything she needed set to go she walked to the living room and was surprised to find the girl sitting on the couch, eating the sandwich Minako made her the night before. Minako sat in front of her on the coffee table and gave her a warms smile "Morning." she bit her lip, imagining that the sandwich was probably stale by now "You don't have to eat that... let me make you a new, fresh one."
The girl stayed silent and continued chewing the half eaten slice in her hands. Minako sighed, already feeling the stress of how the day was most likely going to be "Listen, I would like you to come with me to this place," she smiled reassuringly, "It's very nice, you'll like it." she leaned to her side, looking for the girl's eyes to make sure she was listening to her, "I have a friend who lives there and I would like you to meet her."
The Mauian cats sat by the window in silence, Luna still feeling the same about the strange girl. Megumi swallowed the last bite of the sandwich and nodded her head without saying anything else. She tried to stand up but her body was already taking accountancy of her traveling and constant change of dimensions making her feel weak and dizzy. With a hazy stare, she looked around the small apartment and realized how long it had been since she slept without feeling any pain or mortification becoming too overwhelming for her to bear.
"Hey, it's okay, you're safe here." Minako helped her stand and then turned to grab the clothed object which made Megumi bolt from the couch with urgency, pushing Minako out of the way before holding to dear like to it, "Non tibi habere eam,"
Minako turned to both cats and then at the girl, "I'm sorry. I won't try to hold it again—I was just trying to help you stand up," she sighed softly "Shall we go?"
The girl looked at her and slowly attempted to stand up again and nodded in response. Minako half smiled and motioned the girl to follow her to the door, feeling hesitant and unsure of her decisions. If she did, she began to wonder— What was going to happen next? The once leader of the Senshi felt trapped between her former and actual self, ignoring any flag that could lead to her to a solution. Deep inside, Minako knew that once she opened the door, things would never be the same as she knows it, and this was not something that it was only going to involve her, but everyone.
She turned the knob on her door but the continuous sound of her cell phone urged her to look for her phone inside her large nude colored purse and swiping the screen with her finger quickly, "Yes?" her eyes closed immediately showing annoyance,"I told him I would be a little late today, why is—" she sighed heavily when Aiko began to tell her her boss was yelling and making a tantrum despite her having explained and justify her tardiness the day before. "I know," she continued and listened to her co-worker's worried voice at the other end of the line, "He is asking for you. He said that this meeting is important and that should be here. Minako-san, he says he is going to fire you if you don't come and you know how that might end..."
Minako felt defeated by her boss, once again and bit her lip with frustration. "Alright, alright—I will be there soon." without giving poor Aiko a chance to continue talking. Minako hung up and to Artemis "The plan has changed," the white cat widened its eyes with slight panic, knowing that he was bounded to remain quiet, "I have to be on the damn meeting, like, right now. Otherwise, he will fire me." by the look in her mentor's eyes, she already knew what Artemis would say if the girl was not around, "I know you hate the man and trust me, I do too—but, he has the power to trash my name and if I want to make it in the business, I need to suck it up for a little while longer."
Artemis never approved her decision to stay in the network with Saruto, his intentions were never clear and as much as he promised a raise and a chance for her to shine in the network it still hasn't come. The last few months have been hell for the blonde, and not even her bubbly personality has been able to make her keep afloat in the situation. Her career was getting farther away from her main goals because of this man and she was officially stuck on the 'he pays the bills' wagon. As his friend and guide, he tried his best to make her realize her mistake but she wanted to move on with her life, her previous relationship had dragged to a dark place where she has been barely breathing ever since. Despite her positive attitude, her talent and her good heart it was not enough. Since she graduated from high school she tried to make a living doing what she loved, and she did score many projects until she met her previous boyfriend that soon led her to meet her boss who, with false promises of turning her a star, kept her trapped inside the walls of a cold, grey office, putting all her talent to waste.
Minako put her phone back on her purse, knowing it was a matter of minutes before it would be ringing again and turned to the girl "I will not be able to take you to my friends' house right now, but, can you please stay here until I get back?" The girl looked back at her in silence and pressed her lips together "I promise I will come back very soon!" Minako said in her usual quirky way "Please?"
The girl turned on her heel and went to sit on the couch without saying a word, leaving Minako alone with Luna and Artemis "Minako..." Artemis said in a warning tone "What are you doing?"
"Please Artemis! I have to go!" Minako brought her hands together, pleading compassion from the white feline "I cannot let him fire me. I need this job!"
Artemis shook his head in annoyance, ignoring her pled "We will look after her, Minako." Artemis turned surprised to see a very serious Luna "Go to your meeting."
Minako sighed in relief and pet Luna behind her ear "Thank you, thank you, thank you so much!"
"But please be back as soon as you can. We need to take measures on this matter at once." Artemis warned. Being a cat didn't stop Minako from feeling intimidated by his authority; she knew that during the Silver Millenium, he was a good advisor to the queen when it came in political decisions and the legendary forces that protected their kingdom. Artemis was very wise, very kind, and also very patient with her but she also knew she should never abuse of his good will or otherwise he would scold her until the end of time. After all, he was the one who showed her her previous life and continued training her as a Sailor Senshi.
"Please call me if anything happens." she waved her golden bracelet on her wrist, the same one she used as Senshi. None of the girls stopped using it, in case something like this happened. Deep down, they wished peace would linger as much as it has, until now. Her phone began ringing again, Artemis waved his paw motioning her to leave. With a nod, Minako turned to grab her keys and closed the door.
Artemis turned to Luna and sighed "After all this time, she is still the same."
Luna sat and turned to look at the girl sitting in silence on the couch "Something about her..." she trailed off "There is something about her that makes me feel something,"
"What?" Artemis asked.
Luna turned to him "Like if I knew her from somewhere before."
O—o—o—O
O—o—o—O
Swarmed in work, Ami went from one end of the hospital to the other to assist the doctors that asked for her presence in many consultations alongside many of her colleagues looking for a residence. She looked down at her watch and sat in her usual spot in the cafeteria to take a break. She grabbed her phone from one of her pockets and started to check her messages and smiled when she found one from her father.
"Good news?"
Ami looked up and smiled at Mamoru who had two styrofoam cups in his hands "Coffee?"
Ami nodded and grabbed the cup from him "Ahh yes, thank you. How did you know?"
Mamoru smiled "You looked like you needed one." he pointed at the empty chair in front of her "Is this free or are you expecting somebody?"
Ami shook her head "Yeah sure, like I am always expecting somebody—" she laughed and shook her head, "Not at all, join me." pointing her cup of coffee she took a deep breath "And yes, I really needed one," she turned to grab a packet of sugar and cream "I never learned how to drink it black."
Mamoru chuckled, "It's a matter of taste—coffee is very forgiving, you can put anything to it to make it your own kind,"
"You say it because of the way Usagi-chan drinks hers, right?"
"That's a totally different level of coffee." Mamoru arched his brow and took a small sip of his hot beverage, making Ami chuckle "Good point. So, how's your day been going? I kind of hoped I got to assist you or Motoki-kun today."
Mamoru gave her an apologetic glance, "Yeah, sorry about that—you were but, we've been studying a case that has been taking our time almost completely."
"Still nothing, huh?"
Mamoru sighed softly and shook his head, "Let's say that just when we find a good lead, something else happens—It's a virus, that is for sure, but either it is mutating or becoming stronger by the minute and that is not allowing us to counterattack, it's complicated. The antibiotics are not doing what they are supposed to be doing and it is driving everyone insane, including me."
Ami pursed her lips, "I'm sorry Mamoru-kun," she reached out and patted his arm in sympathy when her eyes suddenly caught the image of a certain person, letting Mamoru know who she was looking at and quirked a brow, "So, why haven't you talked to him, by the way?"
Ami widened her eyes and turned to her friend "W-What?" she looked down at her coffee but her blushed cheeks gave her away, "I-I don't know what you are talking about."
Mamoru turned to look over his shoulder and saw Akashi buying some lunch and then back at Ami "Come one, really?" Ami sighed, "Really? What can I possibly say to him?" Mamoru took a sip of his coffee again, "You could start by letting him know that we are not dating. Ami-chan, I know you want people to know you for your merits and not by the relationship between you and your mother or any of us but this is crazy—everyone knows how smart you are. You don't need to prove anything to anyone."
"Hey! In my defense... you don't tell anybody you are engaged!"
"That's a totally different thing Ami-chan, I don't need the whole hospital to know my relationship status." Mamoru tapped her forehead playfully, "And besides, we are not talking about me—we are talking about a guy who likes you and if you don't do anything about it—" he widened her eyes when he saw Ami dunk her head lower with frantic, "What are you doing?"
Ami lowered her gaze and started to panic, "He's coming, he's coming, he's coming..."
"Ah," Mamoru sighed and stood up, "I will personally talk to your supervisor myself Mizuno-san." his words caught Ami by surprise, "W-What?"
"You have to do it—it is not request, you need to talk to the patients to know more about them, otherwise..." he shrugged his shoulders, hoping Ami would follow the lead. The bluenette widened her eyes and nodded, "Yes, Chiba-san, I understand—will do."
"Please, because it will save us a lot of problems in the future." he turned to leave and saw Akashi standing close to them, "Satomura-san." he acknowledged his presence and walked away. Akashi looked both at Ami and Mamoru with a confused face and pointed his thumb in his direction, "What's with him?"
"Oh," Ami chuckled nervously, "I didn't follow a suggestion he gave me for the millionth time—a patient complained and gave me a warning as a result, you know how this is." she bit her lip and took a sip of her coffee, "Huh," Akashi took the seat Mamoru was taking previously without asking Ami if it was free and looked at her, "Are you two dating or something?"
Ami looked up at him surprised, she sure was not expecting to be this blunt and of course, she didn't imagine he could be so intense. A lot of things Ami believed, she has seen monsters from another dimension, has met her future self, has traveled through time, has been a soldier for justice but to believe she was a girl who could get someone's attention was not on her list. She never dealt well with the dating part of her life and she preferred not to do much. Sure, she hoped she could meet somebody in the future but never thought that someone could appear during her pursuit of success—it was a tricky situation. "What?" she finally managed to say.
"You don't need to lie to me, Mizuno-san, I see you two hanging around all the time, you talk to him like if you two were close. I am not here to judge but, he has every nurse and female personnel in this hospital sighing all the time—he is good to the eye and he's talented, I get it. I just want to know where you stand with him, if—"
"—If?" Ami quirked a brow.
"Just answer me."
Ami looked at him and shook her head no. "We are just friends."
"Just friends?"
"Yes."
"Ah," Akashi simply said and lowered his gaze, completely ignoring his lunch in front of him "I see."
"Listen, Satomura-san,"
"No, no—I get it." Akashi half smiled, "You two are just friends—cool." he stood up and nodded, "I have to get going, I have a consultation to assist."
Ami blinked, "Wait, what about your lunch?"
"Ah... yeah, I am running late. I forgot I had this thing—sorry." he stood up and walked out of the cafeteria leaving a very confused Ami behind. With a heavy sigh, she leaned her head back and wished for the day to be over. She considered her options, either she could tell him the truth, or she could just ignore what happened and move on with her life but, did she want that? It was probably the first time she liked somebody and that he at the same time liked her back, also he seemed genuinely interested in her but now, she did no longer know.
Ami looked down at her watch and while realizing she was late for her next assignment she cursed Motoki and Mamoru under her breath for being right and stormed out of the cafeteria, hoping again, this day would end soon.
O—o—o—o—O
O—o—o—o—O
Meanwhile, back at the T.V. station, trapped in her meeting Minako sat in silence, annoyed by Saruto's voice and bad choice of clothing and wondered how he still believed he was cool looking. From time to time, she wondered why her presence was so required in the first place since she hasn't been asked anything in the last two hours. Her mind was not in whatever Saruto was talking about or how good looking his new project partner, Kenji Hikoya was but with the situation surrounding the mysterious girl. Just knowing that she was alone with Luna and Artemis made her feel impatient as she thought about the many possibilities for her to be there or to know about her past.
Maybe she is foreign and I am taking this to a whole new level—she thought. she bit her pencil and looked down at her notes. But, if she is foreign, then why did she call me Venus? —the same question caught up to her, again. Sighing, she looked back at the man spitting while he talked, feeling disgusted by his lack of etiquette.
Minako felt torn between her reality and her beliefs. She tried to be reasonable for once and think that maybe, she understood wrong and that she was not called Venus, or maybe she looked like a girl she knew as Venus. Venus was a common name, during the Silver Millennium, What the hell, Minako? —she thought and frowned. It could be real—she said to herself. Nothing has happened that could lead us to believe this girl is related to something paranormal.
She looked at her boss again and sighed for the hundredth time, wondering if it was really a bad thing to happen. If there was something going on, it was her duty as soldier to be in front of the line and defend the planet and her Princess. Her path was settled the moment she was chosen as Senshi many years ago and in this present time, she could have chosen to ignore Artemis when he showed up, looking for her but instead, she felt the calling and decided to take action. Why was such a big deal now? —she wondered with urgency but then her heart sunk in her chest, Usagi—she answered her own question with a heavy heart.
"Aino-san!"
Minako snapped out of her thoughts and blinked in surprise at Haruto "Yes?"
"Do you have it?"
"Do... I?" she mumbled, confused.
"Have you been listening?"
"Y-Yes."
"Well, do you have it?"
Her hands began to shake, 'Oh my, oh my, oh my, oh my... "Dammit, Aino-san!" Saruto slammed the crystal desk and frowned with anger at her, "She gave me the information a few days earlier Saruto-san, don't you remember Aino-san?" Minako turned to Hikoya Kenji and shook her head, not knowing a single thing they were talking about. With a dashing smile, she leaned towards her "Remember? You came up to me and gave me Casanova Akira's contact information from the Museum..."
"Ah—their con...yes, yes—I did." she followed the charade. Of course, she didn't because she hasn't even been mentally present and up to date with what they were talking about, at this point it could have been about a new actress stealing her roles. "We need to get an interview with them," Saruto said with insistence, "They are the talk of the moment, it will sky rocket our ratings."
Minako frowned and wrote in her pad to contact their manager or whoever she needed to talk to schedule a meeting for an interview as mumbled her name as she glided her pen on the paper. Saruto turned and pointed the large screen at the end of the conference table, "We must regain our popularity, once we score the exclusive we will schedule it for prime time news. That will give the competence a nice blow in the nuts."
Minako sweat dropped at the comment made by her always impertinent boss, "Classy..." she muttered with disgust. "They had been quite silent for the past few weeks," Kenji mentioned "Not one single of my contacts has been able to score an interview, not even by phone."
Minako leaned back on her chair and watched the whole ordeal between Saruto and Hikoya until finally, the meeting ended. Finally—she thought and stood to leave the room. Hikoya stood next to her and whispered loud enough for her to hear, "Can I see you for a moment in private?" Minako stopped in her tracks with surprise and nodded while waiting for everyone to leave the room in silence. Much to her disgust, Saruto was reluctant to do so.
"Do you think we will be able to get that interview?" he asked with concern. Hikoya Kenji looked at him and patted him in the shoulder casually, "I am confident. But we must be insistent, they have something every station in the world want right now."
"That would skyrocket our rating numbers—It's a good deal." Haruto insisted, Hikoya looked at his watch and nodded, this time with a little less interest in him "Haruto-san, excuse me, I need to make a call..."
Haruto widened his eyes and nodded "Oh yes, sure—go ahead." he turned to sit on a chair when Hikoya interrupted, "In private."
"Oh right, right—sure." Saruto half smiled and gave Minako a cold look on his way out, confirming her suspicions. He was still upset for her tardiness but in her defense, everything put the man in a bad mood lately so, his anger was a problem she could deal with it later. Now, she was intrigued by this other man in front of her. This other handsome, charming man—she thought.
Hikoya walked and closed the door "You were late today." he said, breaking the silence. Minako bit her lower lip and took a deep breath "I know, I am sorry—" she answered with a soft voice, "I had to attend a family emergency."
"Everything okay?" Hikoya asked, showing concern. The blonde nodded "Yes. I did give Saruto-san notice yesterday afternoon but I suppose... he forgot." she exhaled, a little nervous "Thank you for helping me out with the information Haruto-san was asking me. It was poorly professional of me to be that distracted during the meeting."
Hikoya sat in one of the chairs in front of her and pointed at her with his pen, "I remember you now."
"What?" Minako frowned, confused.
"You are the snappy girl from the audition."
Minako looked at him with a strange face, trying to connect all of her auditions to his face until a spark of realization made her wide her eyes a little, as she tried her best to disguise her surprise. In silence, she waited for him to explain this random meeting and the moment she could get out of there. Hikoya looked at her and half smiled "Well, it doesn't matter but if you must know, I thought your tantrum was rather impressive."
Minako frowned slightly, the man kept his eyes on her "One of the reasons I joined the team at this station is because I am going to be producing several shows in the near, coming future. I might be needing your assistance."
Minako's eyes widened "I—" she trailed off "Don't know what to say."
"Say you will take it." Hikoya leaned back in his chair, "It's my way to give you another opportunity after what happened at the audition."
"About that—"
"Leave it." Hikoya looked at her and crossed his hands on the table, "You made your point very clear and I appreciate the honesty, it's not something you find very often in the media."
Minako looked down at her watch and widened her eyes when she saw it blinking a yellow light, indicating someone was trying to communicate with her, "This is all too surprising," her voice trembled.
"Think about it. Saruto doesn't have to know." Hikoya crossed his arms, "Not yet."
The blonde looked at him with mixed feelings, this could be the break she has been waiting for so long but even with that amazing proposal, it didn't feel quite right. Hikoya smiled softly, and waved his hand "Should we discuss this with a cup of coffee?"
O—o—o—o—O
O—o—o—o—O
"She doesn't answer—she is probably still in that meeting," Luna said as she walked back to the living room and sat next to Artemis who was still staring at the girl curled into a ball on the couch in silence. The white sighed, "This is so strange." He muttered. Luna, never leaving her burgundy gaze from the girl, nodded. "We have no news on anything that could give us a reason of why this girl is here."
"She hasn't said a word since Minako left, either." Artemis muttered, Luna turned, "And she cannot know we speak, so we are tied." Both cats looked at the girl in silence, both serious, both worried. "I wonder what she is thinking, what she is feeling," Luna whispered.
The girl silently and slowly started to fall deep asleep again. The silence in the room was soothing to her ears and the warm blanket she used to cover herself felt protective. Her breathing slowly paced, lips lightly parted started to mumble, like if she was talking to someone in her sleep.
She found herself walking alone through a long fancy hallway that oddly felt very familiar. She looked around and found the resemblance in the intricate and delicate design on the tall walls and dome ceilings, she had been there before, of that she was sure. The fresh scent of flowery perfume that lingered in the air, the soft sound of the chimes dancing in the air in the distance, everything felt too real. As he continued walking, she later found herself at the top of a long staircase and saw a garden court in the distance.
The sound of water trickling caught her attention and slowly walked down the stairs and towards the smithy doors that led to the small, private garden. Her eyes watered when she saw the pebbled floors and greenery around, many bushes and small flowers—roses. The place was so peaceful, so beautiful and again, she felt a tug of nostalgia pounding in her chest, later she realized it was the scent what made her feel nostalgic, the sweet scent of roses. She looked around and saw hundreds of rose bushes that led her all the way to the stone fountain, Megumi took a deep, cleansing breath and reached her hand to touch the cool water playfully trickling from the top of the fountain, wetting her long sleeves and cooling her skin.
Her eyes widened when she then realized something, "Sleeves?" she muttered and looked at her new clean clothes in her reflection in the water. Her hair was short and perfectly curled and tucked back in a messy bun, there was no trace of dirt on her face; the more she looked at herself the more she admired how it was like time never escaped her hands the way it did, and that she was still a maiden, serving her..."Kingdom," she breathed, while slowly looking over her shoulder with wide eyes, realizing now, where she was.
She saw a figure standing close to the doors where she first walked in. A woman, she could tell, but her long hair was covering her face. But Megumi could tell she was aware of her presence in the garden, "Qui venturus est" she said.
(He is coming.)
Megumi shook her head, still in disbelief, "Quid tibi vis? (what do you mean?)" her eyes widened when she saw the maiden fall to her knees and was having a difficult time breathing, "Vultus pro praesidio, est custos,"
(Search for the Guardian, find the Guardian)"
Megumi ran over to her to help her but soon after her body stopped responding to her command, making her freeze just a few meters away from the sick maiden. "Quid tibi vis!? Nescio quid faciam."
(What do you mean?! I do not know what to do)"
"He is coming..."
Megumi felt a strong chill down her spine and noticed a sudden change in the woman's voice and gasped when she saw the once regal lady become woman wearing black. Her long dark hair covered most of her pale face and soon after a pool of tar began to melt around the woman in black. "I am coming for you—he is looking..."
Megumi gasped in horror when she finally looked at the woman's face looking back at her with void, deep black eyes and smirked the most unnatural way, "Te invēnī,"
(I found you.)
Megumi screamed and woke up with horror shadowing her face, she looked around and turned to grab the clothed object and ran straight to the door. Luna and Artemis ran after her, trying to stop her but it was futile when the girl finally unlocked the door and ran away as fast as she could out of the apartment.
"Artemis!" Luna yelled in panic when the white cat ran after her. "Call Minako! I will go after her—again." Luna turned and ran back to Minako's bedroom where she kept her communicator and sent the signal while waited for the blonde to answer, "Luna, what is it?"
"Minako this is an emergency!" Luna said with desperation in her voice, "You need to come back!"
"What happened?!"
"The girl... she escaped—again."
I do not own Sailor Moon, just this plot and some of the characters.