MINAKO
Yaten and I have come to the school library to work on our history project. Maybe we can get some stuff done before the rest of the class even starts! That'd be great! "Hey, Yaten, pick a topic!" I say as I show him the hand-out sheet.
"YOU pick a topic," Yaten mutters as he looks at some books on the shelves.
I shrug and look at the handout sheet myself, "OHH!! Entertainment of the 1800s! That sounds cool!"
"Sure," Yaten replies, not really listening as he sees a Three Lights poster on the opposite wall advertising their next concert, "Great, even in the library!" He mutters angrily. He seems really annoyed, and tries to keep out of the sight of any over-zealous fans. I know how he feels.
I go to the library computer and try to find books for our topic. It seems they're all on the top shelf! Oh well. I climb up the ladder against the bookshelf, "Yaten, come here, I have some books.." He finally comes to the ladder, and I throw some books down at him. He catches them easily. "Oooh.. this one looks good!" I say as I reach for another book. It's a little too far away, and I end up slipping off the ladder just as I grab it. I close my eyes, ready for the impact of the floor, but instead I find that Yaten has caught me.
"You didn't say that you were throwing YOURSELF down with the book!" He says as he looks at me, annoyed again.
"Heh... sorry! I slipped," I laugh, a little embarrassed.
"Yeah.. whatever," he replies, and puts me on my feet.
"Well.. hey.. at least I got the book!!" I say as I wave it in front of him.
"Oh... so it wouldn't of mattered if you broke your neck.. just as long as you got the book, huh?!" He snaps.
"Uh.. well..." Boy, he is REALLY annoyed!
"Never mind... lets grab a table and start taking notes," he replies. I nod. But our work is interrupted when we suddenly hear a scream. We run to investigate it, and are faced with a monster sent by Galaxia. This isn't good!
"Yaten! Transform!!" I shout. We find a hidden corner and quickly transform, "Venus, crystal power! MAKE UP!!" I shout. Not waiting for Yaten, I run off to fight the monster.
I hear him yell, "Healer, Star Power! MAKE UP!" as he begins to transform into his female body.
When StarHealer finally joins me, I'm busy trying to get the bystanders to safety, "Get out of here! Hurry up!" I shout as I try to block the innocents from the monster's attack. "VENUS LOVE-ME CHAIN!!" I yell, and an orange chain of energy shoots towards the monster. It doesn't do much but phase it.
An odd looking woman with large wings looks at my rude interruption, "Can't get rid of my monster that easily, Sailor girl!"
"Lead Crow!" I shout.
"That's SAILOR Lead Crow to YOU, Venus!"
"How can evil people call themselves Sailor Soldiers?!" I demand.
"Because," Lead Crow begins, "It's fun! And it annoys you!!" Then Lead Crow pulls out her whip, and quickly attacks me. "This is for Aluminum Siren!" She shouts. Sailor Aluminum Siren had been Lead Crow's partner in crime. I always wondered what happened to her. Soon, I find out. "It's because we couldn't get rid of you Soldiers that Galaxia killed her!!" Lead Crow shouts angrily. "She was my best friend!! I refuse to end up like her! I'm going to do my job, and do it RIGHT! For my mistress, Galaxia, and in memory of Siren, I'm going to kill you!!"
"Lead Crow..." I whisper. I feel sorry for her. One of my flaws, I suppose, is that I always try to find the kindness in people, or something I can relate to that explains their actions to me... even if their actions are cruel, or deadly. I mean, I don't know what I would do if Usagi or the others were ever killed. I don't know if I'd end up like Lead Crow, but I still feel sorry for her. For a moment, Lead Crow stops attacking, and looks at me. I can see she has much pain over her loss... but the evil inside her takes over. Still, I try to get through to her, "I... I'm sorry for your loss," I begin. Big mistake. That just makes her angrier.
Lead Crow shakes her head, "I don't need your pity! I came here to find the star seed, but I'll kill you in the process!"
How silly I was being trying to get through to her. It makes me sad to see how someone who's lost a friend could still be so heartless and uncaring when it comes to taking someone ELSE'S life!
I'm too busy thinking this over, and I don't realize she's raised her whip until it's too late. Suddenly, someone jumps towards me, knocking me to the ground, out of the way. "Baka! You're not supposed to stand there like a dummy when someone is trying to kill you!!" StarHealer says as she looks up from landing beside me. "Now get up!"
I'm thankful that StarHealer pushed me out of the way. If it weren't for her, I would have been in majorly deep trouble. Instead of saying thank you, though, I apologize "I'm sorry! But... I thought... I thought for a minute that Lead Crow..."
"That she would WHAT?? That she'd break down in tears and ask for a hug?! Keep dreaming, little girl!" StarHealer snorts as she stands up. Though I won't admit it, that WAS what I was hoping. I guess I'm just used to thinking with my heart instead of my head.
StarHealer notices I haven't stood up yet, and grabs my hand, pulling me to my feet. Even in his female form, Yaten still has the strength of a guy!
But, before StarHealer gets any angrier, I decide to thank her. "Arigatou, Yat -- StarHealer," I correct myself.
StarHealer just replies with a "hmpf!" Yup.. he may look different, but he's still Yaten!
Lead Crow's now noticed StarHealer. "Oh, look!! A Star Soldier too!! I'll get to kill TWO sailors with one monster!" Lead Crow laughs. "Sailor Wrecker!" She calls to the monster, "Get over here!" The monster listens, and comes to Lead Crow. Lead Crow smiles evilly, "Kill those two... and make it quick!"
The monster runs towards StarHealer and me. I quickly make the first attack, "VENUS, LOVE AND BEAUTY SHOCK!!" A heart of orange energy appears in my hands, and I throw it at the monster, and the energy heart explodes around him. The attack is effective. All we have to do is wait for Sailor Moon. This monster is a farce. In other words, it was once human! Sailor Moon seems to be able to heal the monsters. Unfortunately, she will never get the chance as StarHealer takes it upon herself to destroy it.
"STAR, SENSITIVE INFERNO!!" she yells, and a beam of energy emerges from her hands, hitting the monster and turning it to dust.
"NOOOO!!" I shout, but there's no time to stop it. We are soon swamped by the bystanders. Everyone in the library is cheering, and running towards StarHealer and myself.
"You saved us all!" The librarian says.
"Can we have your autographs?" A girl asks.
"Will you marry me, Venus?!" A cute guy says. I can't help but blush. After all, he really IS cute!
"StarHealer, are you single?!" This from another cute guy. If only he knew!!
"Of course she is!!" I laugh out loud, prompting an angry look from StarHealer.
"You're not funny!" she mutters.
Soon, though, the library is louder then EVER. I start to feel a little closed in. Too much attention. I have to get out of here! I see the clock on the wall of the library, and realize my class started twenty minutes ago. Oh.. that's just great! I'll be late AGAIN! Both Usagi and I are well known for being late to class! "Umm, thank you all for your support!" I begin loudly so everyone can hear me, "But StarHealer and I have to leave... there are other people we have to save! Good bye! I love you all!" And that's true. I do love them all. I am, after all, named after the goddess of love!
I wave to everyone, and decide to make a dramatic exit. In one, high jump, I teleport away. I imagine StarHealer quickly follows my example.
* * *
After school, I see Yaten on my way home, "You're good at making dramatic exits," he says as he walks up to me. Even though I know about his female identity, I still think he's cute!
I shrug, "I've had to do that a few times in my life. The attention gets to be too much sometimes,"
"What attention??" He asks, "That's the first time I've EVER seen Sailor Venus mobbed by fans! I have to go through that EVERY day!"
I look at him, "You don't understand!" I say. "Yeah, ok.. so that was a first for Sailor Venus, but Sailor V, now THAT'S a different story!"
"Sailor V is a comic book character, and a video game! She's not a real person!" Yaten snaps
My happy mood has faded, and I sigh heavily, "Is that really all I've become now? A comic book?" I say out loud.
Yaten looks at me, "What do you mean??"
I look back at him, "Have you ever looked closely at a picture of Sailor V??" I ask.
"No.. I've just heard of her. Why?!" He replies.
Oh boy, now I've got to go into the whole story! Well, here goes! I take Yaten's hand, and drag him down the street, "Come with me, and I'll show you why!" In a few minutes, we arrive at a block of stores. I pull him into the first one, and grab a Manga off the shelf, "Look at this!" I say.
"I don't read Shoujo Mangas!" he replies.
"Baka! Just look at it!!" I say louder, making it clear that I'm serious. I hold the Manga in front of his face. It wasn't JUST a Manga. It was a Sailor V Manga. "Does she remind you of anyone??!" I ask.
"With that mask.. it's hard to tell," he begins. He's not really paying attention. Oh well. On to example number two.
I put the Manga back down, and drag Yaten to the video game arcade a few feet away. I point to the little girl who's playing one of the games, "Look at that!" I say to Yaten.
He looks at the game, "So.. it's a Sailor V game. What's the big deal?" He replies. HA! And they say I'm dense!!
"You STILL don't get it??" I ask. Well, example number three then, "Come with me!" and we head to the nearest movie theatre. On the marquee are big, bold letters. SAILOR V: THE ANIMATED MOVIE PART 5. There's a large poster on the steps of the theatre, with Sailor V in her typical pose. Actually, it's a pretty good likeness for an anime! I think I'll buy it at the movie poster store tomorrow. But on to the point I was making to Yaten.
I walk up a few steps and stand in front of the poster, and imitate the pose - one hand on my hip, the other hand making a "V" with my fingers over my left eye.
Yaten looks at me, and I can see the realization come to him, "YOU'RE Sailor V?!" he gasps.
I smile proudly. "Yes I am!" Soon, my smile fades as I remember what he said earlier. I throw it back at him. "But how can I be Sailor V if you said she's not a real person?!" That was the reason I STOPPED being Sailor V in the first place. "As you can see, I AM a real person!! I'm flesh and blood!" I hold out my hand to him, "SEE?!! I'm NOT a cartoon!! I'm NOT a video game! And my life is NOT a Manga!!" I shout, then tears begin to flow down my face. I don't intend for this outburst, but I can't stop it! "I'm a real person!" I shout, and sit down on the steps as I bury my head in my hands. Of course, breaking down and crying in front of someone like Yaten isn't exactly the smartest thing to do. He's not exactly the warm nurturing kind. But, I've always worn my heart on my sleeve and I've always let my emotions show ... no matter who's there. I look up at him, "Sometimes I wish I NEVER became Sailor V!"
"But you still ARE Sailor V!" Yaten says, a little impatiently. I should stop now. The last thing he cares about is my feelings, I'm sure. But still... I want him to understand.
I sit on the steps in front of the movie theatre, "No.. I'm Sailor Venus.. that's different. That's not Sailor V," I sigh as I begin to explain what happened to Sailor V -- the woman who was me once and then became someone else. Someone who I didn't know. "You see," I begin, still sniffling. "I found out I was a Sailor Soldier before Sailor Moon ever came on the scene. So, I gave myself the code name Sailor V and I wore a mask. I did what I could to stop crime. There was only one Sailor Soldier at the time. And everyone loved me," I smile sadly, "They loved me a little too much! Soon I was getting offers from agents to represent me but I refused. That didn't stop people from writing about me, or making Mangas, or video games," then I look up at the marquee, "Or movies..." I shake my head.
"The stories about me became more magnificent then the truth! People rather go see a Sailor V movie then hear about my REAL adventures. Slowly the REAL Sailor V faded into the background. People expected me to be perfect. To act as I did in the movies, or Mangas! To be someone I WASN'T!" I pause, "The Sailor V they knew... the Sailor V they were expecting... that wasn't me! That wasn't Minako Aino!" I sigh again, "So, I stopped being Sailor V, and became Sailor Venus. No one knew who Sailor Venus was and reporters went crazy trying to find reasons why Sailor V disappeared. Some of them were rather creative," I let out a small laugh as I remember stories I had read in the paper about myself, but then I become serious again.
"Of course, the Mangas and video games were getting more and more popular. I was still around but I had a different look, a different name. No one noticed. I was so relieved! I was Minako Aino now, aka Sailor Venus! Not some Manga character," I look up at Yaten. He's still paying attention! I'm surprised he hasn't laughed in my face and walked away by now. I continue. "Finally, I found out about Sailor Moon and the others, and I was more then grateful to be a part of a team! To blend into the background and just be known as a Sailor Soldier,"
I look up at him, my voice serious, "You're right, Yaten. Sailor V ISN'T a real person. Not anymore!"
NEXT: YATEN