MAKOTO'S MISSION
Makoto awoke to a fresh new day. Birds were chirping in the tree outside her window as she sat up in bed and stretched. Immediately, she left her tidy bedroom for the pristine conditions of her kitchen. Tying an apron over her pyjamas, she opened her cupboards and surveyed the interiors.
"What should I make for breakfast today?" she thought aloud.
Taking a few boxes and cans, she set to work making blueberry pancakes. In no time, the batter was prepared and Makoto reached into the fridge for the key ingredient. An empty spot in the fridge where the blueberries once were stared back.
"Oh no!" Makoto sighed. "Out of blueberries. Now I know what Usagi was snacking on last time she was here. I better go get more."
She headed back into her bedroom to quickly change before grabbing her purse and keys and setting out for the grocery store, all the while muttering about how Usagi never asks before eating.
*******
The supermarket was packed with early morning shoppers. Makoto greeting the employees as she past and headed for the fruits and vegetables. Selecting a basket of ripe blueberries, she headed to the cash.
"I disagree," one lady was saying to her friend. "You use vanilla with cookies, not almond."
"No," the other woman objected. "Almond extract is much better, otherwise your cookies will go flat and tasteless."
Makoto stepped beside them and politely tapped one of the ladies on the shoulder. The woman turned around to glare at the interrupter.
"I'm sorry," Makoto said, "but I couldn't help but overhear your argument. I think I can answer your question."
The ladies waited.
"Typically, vanilla is used for baking," Makoto explained, "but if you want something new, almond is good too. As for making the cookies flat, all the vanilla and almond do is add flavour. If your cookies are flat, try adding more baking powder to the mixture."
The woman stared in shock. Makoto reddened in embarrassment and left them quickly. She paid for her berries and was leaving the store when she noticed a group of older boys chasing a young kid. The kid noticed her as well and ran to hide behind her. The gang was in hot pursuit as the smaller boy used Makoto as a shield against their attack.
"Hey!" Makoto cried. "Leave him alone!"
The trio of boys slid to a stop in front of the tall girl.
"Hand him over," the obvious leader of the group demanded. "He owes us."
"For what?" Makoto asked.
"Crossing our street," another boy replied. "His grocery money should cover it."
"This money is my mom's," the boy behind Makoto spoke up. "I need to buy food with it."
"Tough break, kid," the leader told him. "You should have thought of that before you crossed our street."
"The street is not yours," Makoto told the gang, "and no one has to pay you for anything. Beat it."
"Nice try, lady," the third boy said. "Why don't you go home to your own kids?"
Makoto's eyes flashed angrily, but she managed to keep her temper under control. "Listen, either you leave this kid alone forever or you answer to me, got it?"
The gang could see the anger in her eyes and they backed off a step. The leader, however, was not phased.
"Why should we be scared of you?" he asked.
"Because I'm older than you," Makoto told him, "I'm stronger than you, and I have a very quick temper."
She picked up a thick tree branch that had been lying on the ground and snapped it in two with one hand. The leader of the gang stared in shock before turning tai land running.
"Thanks," the boy said with a smile.
Makoto smiled back. "Any time. Now you better go get your mother's groceries."
The boy waved once and ran off. Makoto watched him go and turned to see one of the women standing behind her with an elderly man. Makoto bowed respectfully.
"I'm sorry to have interrupted you," she began, "but I didn't want you ruining your cookies."
The woman waved the comment aside. "You're Kino Makoto, aren't you?" she asked.
Makoto blinked in surprise. "Yes, why do you ask?"
"My husband is head of the school board and we've been watching you for some time," the woman continued. "We would like to ask you to volunteer to lead a cooking class for troubled kids. We're trying to get them off the streets and into the kitchens where their energy can be used more creatively."
"We saw how you handled that gang," the elderly man spoke up, "and we've seen you in various cooking competitions. I personally bought several of your cookies at the hospital fundraiser and we think you'd be perfect for the job."
"Really?" Makoto said. "Wow, thanks! I'd love to!"
The couple smiled. "Terrific. Your class begins at noon Saturday at the community center. Be there a bit earlier to set up. We've already got a recipe worked out for you to cook, but if you like you can design your own menu. See you then!"
Makoto waved as the couple departed and ran back to her own apartment. Her blueberry pancakes momentarily forgotten, she phoned Minako and the others to let them in on the good news.
*******
"That's terrific!" Minako exclaimed.
The group had met at Makoto's apartment where the brown haired girl was busily thinking of recipes she could teach. Minako and Usagi were seated at the kitchen table while Rei, Ami, Luna, and Artemis were on the couch. Chibiusa was helping Makoto find ingredients and look through her many cookbooks.
"Can anyone sign up for this class?" Chibiusa asked, eyeing Usagi. "Tsukino-mama let Usagi cook last night. My stomach still hurts."
"It wasn't that bad," Usagi protested. "My beans were just a little spicy."
"Usagi-chan," Makoto said, looking up from her book, "beans aren't supposed to be spicy."
"See what I mean?" Chibiusa said with an exaggerated sigh.
The others laughed, much to Usagi's dismay. She rubbed the silver sun shaped ring on her finger absently as she watched the others continue their preparations.
"When's the first class?" Rei asked.
"Saturday," Makoto replied, her head buried in a deep cupboard.
"That's tomorrow!" Ami exclaimed. "Are you sure you'll be ready by then?"
Makoto withdrew herself from the cabinet and smiled at her friends. "The first recipe is prepared for me already. How hard can it be to teach kids to cook?"
*******
Makoto stood at the front of the class and sighed in frustration. She had about fifteen kids attend her first lesson and already there were troubles. Half the kids were ignoring her and cooking their own mess while the other half insulted and yelled at her while she tried to teach. Makoto was rapidly losing patience.
"That's it!" Makoto screamed as an egg sailed past her head and splattered on the wall behind her. "Everyone, SIT DOWN!"
The class dissolved into stunned silence. All eyes turned to the teacher as Makoto slammed her wooden spoon on the counter.
"Who wants to be here?" Makoto asked.
No one put up their hand. Makoto pursed her lips and decided on a different approach.
"Who likes to eat?"
Tentatively, a few hands raised. Makoto smiled. She had found a way through to them.
"Great. If you like to eat, you should like to cook. How else will you get the great food from the recipe page to your stomach?"
A soft giggle sounded from several people in the back of the room. Makoto quickly went through the recipe and split her students into groups. She then patrolled the kitchens, solving problems and stopping fights. From the corner of her eyes, she watched a single girl with short purple hair and large blue eyes. The girl was doing nothing but sitting on a stool with a scowl on her face. When Makoto was sure the others were on their way to making good cookies, she approached the loner.
"Hi," Makoto said. "Do you have a question?"
"Yeah," the girl said rudely. "Why don't you make my cookies for me so I can tell my father I learned something?"
Makoto frowned. "Why don't you make them yourself?"
"I'll beat it out of you if you don't do it," the girl said, leaping to her feet, her fists held ready to fight.
Makoto held her ground. The purple haired girl swung a fist and Makoto easily caught it with one hand. The rest of the class had turned their attention from the baking to their teacher. The girl screamed in frustration and swung her other fist. Makoto caught that one as well. With a simple twist, Makoto had the purple haired girl backed against the wall and Makoto had pinned both her arms to her chest.
"Any other questions?" Makoto asked.
The girl said nothing.
"What's your name?"
"Akina," the girl muttered.
Makoto released her. "Well, Akina. Either join a group and bake some cookies or go back to beating people on the street. Just think about the consequences of your decision. No one likes a bully."
As Makoto turned to go back to the head of the class, the other students quickly got back to their work. Makoto smiled as she realized she had just earned the respect of every body in the room - with the possible exception of Akina.
*******
The next weekend, Makoto brought her own recipe for seaweed wrapped sushi and spicy shrimp. She immediately could see the difference in her class. They were more polite and respectful as she taught the lesson, and even cook the meal with only a few problems.
Except Akina.
The purple haired girl sat in the back of the room again, this time with her back to the rest of the class. Makoto went up to her and put a friendly hand on her shoulder. She felt Akina tense and wondered why the girl was so jumpy.
"Are you going to join us today?" Makoto asked.
"No," Akina replied without moving.
Makoto gently turned the girl around so Akina was facing her teacher. The girl tried to keep her face covered.
"What's wrong?" Makoto asked.
"Nothing," Akina said. "Leave me alone."
Through the purple hair, Makoto saw a bruised eye and some dried blood. She sighed and released the girl.
"I see you made your choice," Makoto said. "If that's your decision, this class can't help you. You should leave."
"I can't," Akina wailed. "You don't understand."
"Then tell me," Makoto said.
She looked up from her conversation to see that the entire class was focused on them. Makoto turned to her other students.
"Shouldn't you be watching your shrimp?" Makoto asked them. The class returned to their work. Makoto turned back to Akina. "Talk to me after class. We can see if I can help you."
Akina nodded and Makoto returned to the front of the room.
*******
When the classroom was deserted, Makoto sat down with her troubled student. Akina kept her eyes down and her hair covering her face.
"What's wrong?" Makoto asked again.
"My friends," Akina began hesitantly. "They say I'm going soft. They're afraid I'm going to tell the police about them."
"How old are you?" Makoto asked.
"Eleven."
"Did your friends bruise your eye?"
Akina nodded, tears sliding down her cheek. Makoto sat back, wondering what she should do.
"They only wants what's best for me," Akina continued. "I'm not smart enough for school, so I make money stealing and fighting. I have to live somehow."
"There are always other ways," Makoto said, "and you're not stupid."
Akina brushed away her tears and stood up angrily. "What do you know anyway? Why am I even talking to you? You're just a kid, like me!"
Before Makoto could say another word, Akina had run out of the door. Makoto watched her go, not knowing what else she could do for the girl who needed no one.
*******
As Akina ran down the street, another figure was watching her. Chaos in the body of the Dark Scout watched the girl with interest. This child had such strong, conflicting spirits within her. She must be the Cosmic Child, the only one in the galaxy that Chaos could successfully control, the only one with the power to undo Order. With a sly smile, Chaos disappeared.
*******
The next two Saturdays, Akina didn't come to class. Makoto continued her lessons with the others, but a part of her wondered what had happened to the confused girl. At the end of the fifth class, Makoto decided to search for her missing pupil.
She wandered up and down the streets of the neighbourhood, checking out the parks and local hangouts. She found no sign of Akina. She was about to give up and go home when a scream ripped through the still air. Makoto headed off at a run to the source of the cry.
Behind a local store, Akina crouched behind some over turned garbage cans. Floating above the ground in front of her was a humanoid figure shaped like a knife. Its face was embedded in the blade and it reached out for the girl.
"Hey!" Makoto cried. "Leave that kid alone!"
Both the monster and Akina looked over to see who had interrupted. A flicker of hope flashed in Akina's eyes and the monster smiled wickedly.
"This does not concern you," the knife creature said in a metallic voice.
Makoto ran at the monster, slamming into it and knocking it aside. The monster lashed out at the girl, cutting her shoulder. Makoto winced and instinctively clasped a hand over her bleeding cut. She turned to Akina.
"Run!" she ordered.
The scared girl didn't have to be asked twice. Makoto kept the monster at bay as Akina ran from the alley and was lost from sight. The knife creature howled in frustration and leapt into the air, landing lightly on top of the store and disappearing from view. Makoto watched it go for a few seconds before running from the alley in pursuit of Akina.
*******
Akina headed for the park, the most populated area of her neighbourhood. As a criminal herself, she knew it was foolish to attack someone when they were surrounded by people. She hoped the beast that chased her would think the same thing. Sliding around a corner, she collided into a girl with long, blonde pigtails. Without pausing to apologize, Akina took off again.
Usagi watched the girl go with a puzzled expression on her face.
*******
Makoto entered the park to find Akina had vanished. Breathing heavily and clutching her injured arm, she searched the park for her pupil. Instead, she found Usagi sitting on the ground, staring behind her.
"Usagi-chan," Makoto said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Usagi turned and her smile faded as she noticed the blood on Makoto's arm.
"Looking for you," Usagi replied, jumping to her feet. "You're hurt! What happened?"
Makoto shrugged off her friend's help. "Did you see a girl with short purple hair run past here?"
Usagi nodded and pointed. "She knocked me over and kept going that way. What's wrong?"
Makoto ran off in the direction Akina had gone. In confusion, Usagi followed.
*******
Akina found herself back at the community center where the cooking classes took place. Exhausted from running, she pressed her back against the cool brick walls of the building and looked around for her pursuer. When she saw nothing, she sigh in relief.
"It's never that easy," a deep, menacing voice said.
Akina lifted her head and saw the knife monster standing behind a girl dressed in a black senshi uniform. Akina inhaled sharply, too scared to scream.
I'm so sorry, Akina thought. Father, please forgive me!
The woman in black came closer to the girl, gently cupping Akina's head in her gloved hands. She smiled wickedly.
"What do you want?" Akina whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Your soul," the black woman replied. "The soul of one who has evil in her heart."
Akina blinked in confusion and wondered if her soul was really as dark as the woman wished it to be. She bit her and tried to keep from crying as the woman in dark stepped back and the knife creature slowly approached.
"Hold it right there!" a new voice called.
The knife monster paused inches away from Akina and both it and the Dark Scout turned to the new voice. Silhouetted by the bright light coming from the community center, two shadows stood.
"Not again," the Dark Scout sighed.
"Cooking is a great pass time and makes delicious treats for everyone. I can't allow you to ruin a young chef before she achieves her dream. Soldier of love and justice, I am Sailor Moon!" the senshi said, stepping out of the light.
"And I am Sailor Jupiter!" Jupiter added, joining her friend.
"On behalf of the moon, I'll punish you!" Sailor Moon finished.
Chaos stepped forward as the knife creature grabbed Akina by the arm. A silvery shadow separated from the girl, who lost consciousness. Chaos watched over its shoulder and growled in frustration. This child did not have the double soul.
"I'm in a very bad mood," Chaos told the scouts.
Chaos threw open its arms and a powerful dark energy pushed the two senshi back. They sunk to one knee against the tide of negative power.
"Supreme Thunder!" Jupiter cried.
The electrical attack bounced harmlessly off Chaos, who laughed at its enemies. Clenching its hands into fists, Chaos intensified the dark energy that was pummeling them.
Sailor Moon managed to raise one hand into the air. The sun shaped ring on her finger glowed in anticipation.
"Mirage!" Sailor Moon called. "We need you!"
The ring exploded into light and colour, briefly illuminating the area in a dazzling light. The sun disappeared behind some clouds, shrouding the Earth in shadow. From the light of the ring, the dim form of another senshi appeared.
"You!" Chaos hissed.
The dark energy that had been holding Sailor Moon and Jupiter down disappeared. The two girls climbed shakily to their feet.
You will never succeed in finding the Child, Sailor Mirage said, facing Chaos.
Chaos moved to face off against Mirage as Jupiter went to check on Akina. The knife monster was still standing over her, waiting for its orders.
"Kill the girl," Chaos told it.
With a cruel smile, the creature lifted its razor sharp hand and prepared to plunge it into Akina's chest. The girl was awake now and stared in horror.
"Sparkling Wide Pressure!" Jupiter yelled.
The electricity hit the metal of the monster and it screamed in pain. Seconds later, it disintegrated into nothingness. Akina looked up in thanks at her saviour.
"Stay here," Jupiter instructed.
Akina nodded and Sailor Jupiter headed back to the fight between Chaos and Mirage.
"Even in this form, you have not realized your full power," Chaos taunted as it attacked Mirage again.
The Phantom Senshi was only barely visible as the attack struck.
You still do not realize your weakness, Chaos, Mirage countered.
She held up her hands over her head so her wrists were touching. A light descended from the sky and rested on her opened palms. Chaos watched with growing horror.
Supernatural Light! Mirage called.
The Light of the Afterworld struck Chaos and knocked it back. Chaos slammed hard into the brick wall. It glared at Mirage and the other two senshi before disappearing.
"You have not yet won!" Chaos yelled as it vanished.
Mirage turned to her two friends. Sailor Moon had tears in her eyes and Mirage smiled fondly.
"I'll never get used to seeing you like this," Sailor Moon said.
You will, Mirage answered. Time heals all wounds. You know that I am always with you.
The sun reappeared from behind the clouds and Mirage faded. Sailor Jupiter turned to Akina.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
Akina nodded, then noticed the cut on Jupiter's shoulder. She looked up at the senshi with wide eyes. Jupiter smiled at her.
"Keep your dreams alive and remember there's nothing you can't do," Jupiter said.
The two senshi jumped onto the roof of the community center and out of view.
*******
The next weekend, Akina appeared at the community center as Makoto was just finishing cleaning. She was dressed in a school uniform and was holding a flower in one hand. Makoto smiled as she came in and went over to see her.
"I've missed you in class," she said. "What have you been up to?"
Akina smiled. "Something happened that changed my life. I enrolled in school and I'm off the streets for good. I just wanted to thank you, Mako-chan."
She held out the flower and Makoto took it.
"You're welcome," Makoto said. "What happened to change you?"
"A visit with the consequences," Akina replied. "I didn't want the world to think I had a black heart."
Makoto smiled. Akina waved to her and started to leave the class room. At the doorway, she paused.
"Hope your shoulder feels better," she called, "and if you see Jupiter, tell her I hope her shoulder heals too."
Makoto stared as the young girl left the room, and Makoto's life, forever.
a href="http://www.angelfire.com/ut/sailorsun/solarshadow.html"Back to the Solar Shadow page/a