Makoto wiped the tears out of her red puffy green eyes. How could he be so cruel? She did nothing to deserve that kind of treatment. She had always been loving and had always been there for him. Grasping her pillow tight, Makoto sobbed harder. After four years of happiness with Shinozaki, he had broken her heart. After high school, Shinozaki went off to study engineering at a university in America. Makoto went to Paris to study cooking. After a short while, the phone calls from Shinozaki began to have more and more distance between them. Finally, the phone call that Makoto had come to expect came. Shinozaki had found someone new in America. The distance just was not working between them.
Makoto looked up at the picture of herself and Shinozaki, taken at the Senior picnic. Where did the happiness go, Makoto thought. Where did it go? Makoto jumped as the green phone beside her four-post bed rang. Picking the phone up with a shaking hand, Makoto feebly spoke into the receiver.
"Hello?" Makoto said, sniffling.
"Mako-chan? Are you okay?" the voice on the other end asked.
"No, Mina-chan." Makoto said, trying not to cry.
"Mako-chan, what's wrong? This isn't like you to be so down."
"Shinozaki...he...found...someone else." Makoto choked out.
"Nani!?!? Baka! How could he? You are the perfect girlfriend!"
"I just don't know what to do Mina-chan..."
"Mako-chan, I am going to fly out there. You shouldn't be alone at a time like this."
"I am used to being alone, Mina-chan...but I would like company." Makoto sobbed.
"Okay, I will fly out tomorrow Mako-chan. Try to be strong until then, okay?"
"Okay Mina-chan."
Makoto set the phone back on the hook. She would try to be strong. But, she had been through so much in the past. Galaxia had been defeated four years ago, and things had been quiet since. The senshi no longer were needed. Usagi had moved to America with Mamoru their sophomore year of high school. She finished her schooling in New York. Usagi rarely called anymore. The same went for Ami. She had stayed in Tokyo in order to pursue a career in the medical field. With all of her studies, Ami barely had time to keep in contact. Setsuna had gone back to the gates of time. Michiru and Haruka had left Tokyo to live in Switzerland. Hotaru was still in school in Tokyo, but did not keep in touch. Shinozaki-sama, Rei-chan, and Mina-chan where the only ones Makoto had been able to keep in touch with. Now, Shinozaki had become distant from her. Makoto had lost him to the arms of another. Just like Freddie, Makoto thought out loud. Makoto began to cry again. She didn't need this stress right now, not with finals so close. Just two more weeks. Makoto glanced at the clock by her bedside-midnight. Slowly, Makoto fell asleep thinking of Shinozaki, and of Freddie.
...The wind blew through Makoto's brown hair, sending chills down her spine. Her body shook from the almost unbearable coldness of the barren landscape around her. Makoto took note of the green light beam that seemed to come out of the castle in the distance. Henshining, Makoto ran toward the castle. As she approached the giant oak doors, two figures attacked her. They wore the clothes of generals, and had strength beyond belief. Makoto punched at them, but it was no use. Two more generals had shown up and were trying to restrain her. As she was being drug to the ground, she could see two figures in the doorway. One figure looked like the other generals. But the other figure-it was female! In her hand was a long rod with a glowing green gem on the tip of it. The same green light Makoto saw when she approached the castle. The four generals now had Makoto to the ground. She couldn't move a muscle in her bruised body. Even though she fought to get free, the generals were too strong. If only the other senshi were here..., Makoto thought. The general that held her right arm down put his free hand over Makoto's mouth and nose. She couldn't breath! Slowly, Makoto lost consciousness...
Makoto shot awake, her big white night shirt drenched with sweat. What was that dream, Makoto thought. Was it a prophecy of things to come? But I never have these kinds of dreams...Rei does, Makoto mouthed, pulling away the green blanket that had been tightly wrapped around her. Who were those generals in my dream, and who was the lady? Makoto looked at the clock by her bed-3:30 a.m. Mina would probably be at the apartment at 9 a.m. That left only five and a half hours to clean, Makoto though as she mindlessly plugged in the vacuum sweeper. For the next three hours, Makoto cleaned her small apartment. Outside, the sidewalk market was being set up. Makoto took her shower and put on a pair of blue jeans and a green long-sleeved blouse. I should make Mina a cake for when she gets here, Makoto thought.
Outside, the marketplace was now booming with customers trying to haggle the prices down. As Makoto walked through the shops, she bought flour, sugar, and all the ingredients needed to make a cake. She also bought a loaf of bread and a whole chicken in order to make chicken curry for dinner that night. When Makoto got back to her apartment, she proceeded into the kitchen to start making the cake. Carefully measuring out all of the ingredients, Makoto went to work. But, all her thoughts seemed to be on Shinozaki and what had happened the night before. No matter what Makoto did, she could not stop thinking of him. Makoto leaned over the counter and turned on the CD player. Maybe a little music will distract me enough, Makoto thought. The first song was a love song that sent Makoto even more into the depths of her mind.
Makoto shot awake as the doorbell sounded. Minako had arrived. Glancing at the clock as she walked towards the door, Makoto yawned. Must have fallen asleep, she thought. Minako hugged her friend as she stepped in the doorway, suitcase in hand. It was good to have someone around, Makoto thought. Even though she was strong, she needed someone in her life right now.
"What are you cooking?" Mina asked as she sniffed the air.
"Oh! I decided to make a cake in honor of your visit. It's probably done now." Makoto replied.
The two friends went into the kitchen. Mina sat at the small table while Makoto opened the oven door. Makoto's face twisted with a look of horror as she set the cake on the countertop. The cake looked alright, but it was still flat. It hadn't risen at all while cooking. Makoto had never made a bad cake in her entire life, yet this cake was not right. Mina walked over to Makoto and peered at the cake over Makoto's shoulder.
"Uh, Makoto? What's wrong?" Mina asked.
"I...I'm not sure. I did everything right, but the cake is flat! It didn't rise at all. I don't understand." Makoto said as tears formed at the corner of her eyes.
"Ah, there's your problem. You didn't add in the yeast." Mina said after scanning the kitchen.
Sure enough, the yeast still sat on the counter. Makoto glared at the misplaced yeast. In her thoughts of Shinozaki, she had missed a step in the cake making process. Breaking down into tears, Makoto slammed her fist into the marble countertop. Mina placed her hands on her friend's shoulders. She had never seen Makoto like this. How do you tell someone who lost someone so close to her that everything will be okay?
"I know this may not be of any consolation to you, but I do know somewhat how you feel." Mina said, patting Makoto on the shoulder.
"You do?" Makoto asked, turning to face Mina.
"Yes, I do. Before I joined you guys as Sailor Venus, I was Sailor V. During that time, I fell in love with a boy named Alan. He was wonderful, but being Sailor V kept getting in the way. In the end, there was a huge explosion. I almost didn't make it out alive. Alan and Katerina were there too. After coming to, I stumbled down the alleyway, and saw the two of them embraced. It was at that time I knew it was over. I ended up losing him to Katerina. I left England that night. I pretended to be dead because I couldn't bear to see them together. I mean, I was happy for them, but it still tore me up inside." Mina explained.
"I understand. I just don't know what to do right now, Mina. I keep thinking about him. Everything reminds me of him." Makoto cried.
"Things will be like that for a while, Mako-chan. But it will get better. It will get easier. You just gotta trust in that. Until you can stand on your own, you can lean on me."
"Thanks, Mina-chan. You're a really great friend. Sorry about the cake." Makoto said as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"That's what friends are for." Mina replied, hugging her friend.
Makoto stepped out of the shower. After towel-drying her long brown hair, she went into her walk-in closet to pick out clothes. It was fairly warm outside, so Makoto pulled out a hunter green tank top and a khaki skirt, knee length. Back in Tokyo, Makoto would never have worn short skirts. She had always been self-conscious of her height. But in Paris, a lot of girls were tall. Makoto did not feel so out of place there. Makoto grabbed her hair and started to put it up in her usual ponytail, and stopped. Routine. Everything was routine. Today, Makoto would be different. Maybe that was all she needed...something different to help her forget about Shinozaki. Makoto plugged in her curling iron and brushed out her hair. When the curling iron was warm enough, Makoto curled her hair in spirals, then used her fingers as a comb to loosen the curls. Sifting through her jewelry box, she bypassed the heart-shaped necklace Shinozaki had given her for an emerald pendant. Her one routine thing was her rose earrings. She would never stop wearing those. After lightly applying blush, green eye shadow, and a dab of lipstick, Makoto joined her friend in the living room. Today they would go sightseeing. I should tell Minako about that dream, Makoto though. But it was just a dream. No need to worry Mina more than what she was already.
Makoto looked up at the picture of herself and Shinozaki, taken at the Senior picnic. Where did the happiness go, Makoto thought. Where did it go? Makoto jumped as the green phone beside her four-post bed rang. Picking the phone up with a shaking hand, Makoto feebly spoke into the receiver.
"Hello?" Makoto said, sniffling.
"Mako-chan? Are you okay?" the voice on the other end asked.
"No, Mina-chan." Makoto said, trying not to cry.
"Mako-chan, what's wrong? This isn't like you to be so down."
"Shinozaki...he...found...someone else." Makoto choked out.
"Nani!?!? Baka! How could he? You are the perfect girlfriend!"
"I just don't know what to do Mina-chan..."
"Mako-chan, I am going to fly out there. You shouldn't be alone at a time like this."
"I am used to being alone, Mina-chan...but I would like company." Makoto sobbed.
"Okay, I will fly out tomorrow Mako-chan. Try to be strong until then, okay?"
"Okay Mina-chan."
Makoto set the phone back on the hook. She would try to be strong. But, she had been through so much in the past. Galaxia had been defeated four years ago, and things had been quiet since. The senshi no longer were needed. Usagi had moved to America with Mamoru their sophomore year of high school. She finished her schooling in New York. Usagi rarely called anymore. The same went for Ami. She had stayed in Tokyo in order to pursue a career in the medical field. With all of her studies, Ami barely had time to keep in contact. Setsuna had gone back to the gates of time. Michiru and Haruka had left Tokyo to live in Switzerland. Hotaru was still in school in Tokyo, but did not keep in touch. Shinozaki-sama, Rei-chan, and Mina-chan where the only ones Makoto had been able to keep in touch with. Now, Shinozaki had become distant from her. Makoto had lost him to the arms of another. Just like Freddie, Makoto thought out loud. Makoto began to cry again. She didn't need this stress right now, not with finals so close. Just two more weeks. Makoto glanced at the clock by her bedside-midnight. Slowly, Makoto fell asleep thinking of Shinozaki, and of Freddie.
...The wind blew through Makoto's brown hair, sending chills down her spine. Her body shook from the almost unbearable coldness of the barren landscape around her. Makoto took note of the green light beam that seemed to come out of the castle in the distance. Henshining, Makoto ran toward the castle. As she approached the giant oak doors, two figures attacked her. They wore the clothes of generals, and had strength beyond belief. Makoto punched at them, but it was no use. Two more generals had shown up and were trying to restrain her. As she was being drug to the ground, she could see two figures in the doorway. One figure looked like the other generals. But the other figure-it was female! In her hand was a long rod with a glowing green gem on the tip of it. The same green light Makoto saw when she approached the castle. The four generals now had Makoto to the ground. She couldn't move a muscle in her bruised body. Even though she fought to get free, the generals were too strong. If only the other senshi were here..., Makoto thought. The general that held her right arm down put his free hand over Makoto's mouth and nose. She couldn't breath! Slowly, Makoto lost consciousness...
Makoto shot awake, her big white night shirt drenched with sweat. What was that dream, Makoto thought. Was it a prophecy of things to come? But I never have these kinds of dreams...Rei does, Makoto mouthed, pulling away the green blanket that had been tightly wrapped around her. Who were those generals in my dream, and who was the lady? Makoto looked at the clock by her bed-3:30 a.m. Mina would probably be at the apartment at 9 a.m. That left only five and a half hours to clean, Makoto though as she mindlessly plugged in the vacuum sweeper. For the next three hours, Makoto cleaned her small apartment. Outside, the sidewalk market was being set up. Makoto took her shower and put on a pair of blue jeans and a green long-sleeved blouse. I should make Mina a cake for when she gets here, Makoto thought.
Outside, the marketplace was now booming with customers trying to haggle the prices down. As Makoto walked through the shops, she bought flour, sugar, and all the ingredients needed to make a cake. She also bought a loaf of bread and a whole chicken in order to make chicken curry for dinner that night. When Makoto got back to her apartment, she proceeded into the kitchen to start making the cake. Carefully measuring out all of the ingredients, Makoto went to work. But, all her thoughts seemed to be on Shinozaki and what had happened the night before. No matter what Makoto did, she could not stop thinking of him. Makoto leaned over the counter and turned on the CD player. Maybe a little music will distract me enough, Makoto thought. The first song was a love song that sent Makoto even more into the depths of her mind.
Makoto shot awake as the doorbell sounded. Minako had arrived. Glancing at the clock as she walked towards the door, Makoto yawned. Must have fallen asleep, she thought. Minako hugged her friend as she stepped in the doorway, suitcase in hand. It was good to have someone around, Makoto thought. Even though she was strong, she needed someone in her life right now.
"What are you cooking?" Mina asked as she sniffed the air.
"Oh! I decided to make a cake in honor of your visit. It's probably done now." Makoto replied.
The two friends went into the kitchen. Mina sat at the small table while Makoto opened the oven door. Makoto's face twisted with a look of horror as she set the cake on the countertop. The cake looked alright, but it was still flat. It hadn't risen at all while cooking. Makoto had never made a bad cake in her entire life, yet this cake was not right. Mina walked over to Makoto and peered at the cake over Makoto's shoulder.
"Uh, Makoto? What's wrong?" Mina asked.
"I...I'm not sure. I did everything right, but the cake is flat! It didn't rise at all. I don't understand." Makoto said as tears formed at the corner of her eyes.
"Ah, there's your problem. You didn't add in the yeast." Mina said after scanning the kitchen.
Sure enough, the yeast still sat on the counter. Makoto glared at the misplaced yeast. In her thoughts of Shinozaki, she had missed a step in the cake making process. Breaking down into tears, Makoto slammed her fist into the marble countertop. Mina placed her hands on her friend's shoulders. She had never seen Makoto like this. How do you tell someone who lost someone so close to her that everything will be okay?
"I know this may not be of any consolation to you, but I do know somewhat how you feel." Mina said, patting Makoto on the shoulder.
"You do?" Makoto asked, turning to face Mina.
"Yes, I do. Before I joined you guys as Sailor Venus, I was Sailor V. During that time, I fell in love with a boy named Alan. He was wonderful, but being Sailor V kept getting in the way. In the end, there was a huge explosion. I almost didn't make it out alive. Alan and Katerina were there too. After coming to, I stumbled down the alleyway, and saw the two of them embraced. It was at that time I knew it was over. I ended up losing him to Katerina. I left England that night. I pretended to be dead because I couldn't bear to see them together. I mean, I was happy for them, but it still tore me up inside." Mina explained.
"I understand. I just don't know what to do right now, Mina. I keep thinking about him. Everything reminds me of him." Makoto cried.
"Things will be like that for a while, Mako-chan. But it will get better. It will get easier. You just gotta trust in that. Until you can stand on your own, you can lean on me."
"Thanks, Mina-chan. You're a really great friend. Sorry about the cake." Makoto said as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"That's what friends are for." Mina replied, hugging her friend.
Makoto stepped out of the shower. After towel-drying her long brown hair, she went into her walk-in closet to pick out clothes. It was fairly warm outside, so Makoto pulled out a hunter green tank top and a khaki skirt, knee length. Back in Tokyo, Makoto would never have worn short skirts. She had always been self-conscious of her height. But in Paris, a lot of girls were tall. Makoto did not feel so out of place there. Makoto grabbed her hair and started to put it up in her usual ponytail, and stopped. Routine. Everything was routine. Today, Makoto would be different. Maybe that was all she needed...something different to help her forget about Shinozaki. Makoto plugged in her curling iron and brushed out her hair. When the curling iron was warm enough, Makoto curled her hair in spirals, then used her fingers as a comb to loosen the curls. Sifting through her jewelry box, she bypassed the heart-shaped necklace Shinozaki had given her for an emerald pendant. Her one routine thing was her rose earrings. She would never stop wearing those. After lightly applying blush, green eye shadow, and a dab of lipstick, Makoto joined her friend in the living room. Today they would go sightseeing. I should tell Minako about that dream, Makoto though. But it was just a dream. No need to worry Mina more than what she was already.