Konnichi-wa minna!
This is my first solo fanfic, so please don't be afraid to tell me
what's wrong with it! I'd like to say a special arigato to Sailor
Sista for helping to come out of my shell. I would have never
written this fic if it were not for her! *blows kisses*

DISCLAIMERS: Sadly, I do not own Sailor Moon *shock horror*, I have
merely borrowed it for the time being.

* * *

The rain was coming down hard, pelting me with ice from every direction.
The fog was so thick I couldn't see 100 yards ahead of me. No problem
though; I was used to the dark, dreary atmosphere of England.
My grey tracksuit was barely visible above the brightness of my orange
runners. Artemis had mentioned something about Japan, where a bunch of
people are apparently waiting for me. Still, I seriously doubted we'd
actually go there. I found it hard to believe that someone actually
wanted me after all this time. Life had been hard on me, what with my
father committing suicide when I was only nine. It had been only a year
since my mother had mysteriously and tragically disappeared, without
leaving behind any traces of her disappearance or her whereabouts. She
had left without warning, and no-one knew her. She had led a very lonely
life, and only ever had my father and myself for company. Perhaps the
Aino's are all to tread strange and unloved lives. Maybe I'll end up
like my mother, leaving others to cope by themselves. Not that her leaving
has helped me particularly in anyway, although I think it has taught me to
survive by myself as a Sailor Scout. Perhaps I am destined to do something
or be someone important.
'These other Sailor scouts; who are they?' I wondered, as I trudged through
the icy slush on the side of the road. Not looking where I was going, I
walked straight into a metal post, right in the middle of the sidewalk.
"Ugh! Honestly! Who would put such a thing in the middle of a sidewalk?"
I cried in anguish, rubbing my sore backside as I picked myself up. I walked
up the frosty steps of my apartment block and rang the intercom.
"Moshi-moshi?" a female voice said in flawless Japanese, even though we
were in the middle of London.
"It's Mina. Let me in, it's fucking freezing out here!" I told the girl.
The door swung open and I greeted the blazing fire graciously.
"Oh my Goddess! Do you know how cold it is out there?" I complained
bitterly to the girl at the front desk.
"Your room has been cleaned and the fire lit, Miss Aino," she said,
looking up. You see, I can afford to employ a maid and rent a fabulous
apartment in the centre of London due to the success of my very own
clothing range, 'Hime'. I'm only 16, and quite professional for my age,
or at least so I'm told by all my stockists and customers.
"Thankyou," I said curtly. I turned towards the long corridor and slowly
shuffled my way to my room. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the key
and opened the door.
"Artemis!" I called, shutting the door firmly behind me. "Artemis! Ooh!
Where is that cat when I need him?!" Stomping across the room and flicking
on as many lights as possible, I flung myself on the double bed and waited.
"Waited for what?" I asked impatiently, as though I expected someone to
answer me. I glanced over at my orange alarm clock. 8:43pm. Too early to
sleep, but too late to play the drums. The neighbours would give me enough
scoldings to last a lifetime!
'Well who cares about them?' I thought. I stopped, wondering where this
rebellious new whisper had come from. 'Still, it's got a point,' I agreed
giggling, as I walked into the lounge room. I sat down infront of my drum
set, picked up the sticks and began to play. Already I could feel the
creative energy flowing through me. All my anger and frustration seeped
out of my fingertips and were absorbed by the music. I let everything
around me fade and let go of my fears and problems temporarily. I smashed
the drums over and over again, making as much noise as I possibly could.
My other hand drummed on the tambourine, making a funny jingling sound,
at which I giggled uncontrollably.
"Mina...Mina! MINA!!" I heard a voice say through the commotion. I
reluctantly dragged myself away from the music and back into reality.
A white cat with that oh-so-familiar crescent moon on his forehead
standing at my forehead, staring up at me.
"ARTEMIS!" I screamed, throwing my hands up in despair. "Why must you
always appear at the most inconvenient times? And why are you never there
when I need you?!?!"
"Me?!" he asked incredulously. "ME?!"
"No Artemis...the black cat standing right next to you!" I screamed,
storming into the living room. As you can see, my life isn't exactly
harmonious now, is it?
"Talking about black cats...Luna contacted me today...or at least, she
contacted Central...which is also me...but that's beside the point..." he
chuckled.
"Luna being who exactly?" I said smugly, picturing a beautiful black cat
snuggling up to Artemis.
"MINA!!" he cried shocked. "She's....We're...I'm...I mean...she's not...
exactly...we wouldn't..."
"Sure, sure," I said, cutting him off and patting him sarcastically on the
head. "I believe you Artemis..."
"You can be so pathetic sometime, you know that Mina?"
"Me?? PATHETIC? You've convicted the wrong person Artemis!" I said, as
I stomped into my bedroom. I flopped down on my orange-sunned bedspread
and stared dazedly at the ceiling. I sighed and closed my eyes, only to
feel something poking me incessantly in the ribs. I opened one eye while
screwing up the other to see a crescent-mooned face peering intently at me.
"Oh go away Artemis," I told the cat sternly before I turned away.
"Mina, please...please listen to me!"
"Look, Artemis. Whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait. Can't you see I'm
busily trying to occupy myself here?" I said in a huff.
"Mina..." he said pausing, adding a rather dramatic tone to his voice.
"Mina, we have to go to Japan."

* * *

I know it's short, but I'll make up for it in the next chapter!
I promise I will! Cliffhanger, ne?
How is Mina going to react to Artemis' sudden announcement?
Will she be overjoyed at the idea, or just plain angry?
Tune in next week for Chapter 2!

Flames? Rants? Raves? Or just general comments?
Please email me at satansmistress78@hotmail.com
*hugs* Indigo