*looks at list of stuff she owns after Sylphimon action figure and this
fic* nope. Still don't own Sailor Moon. Wanna trade? It's a good action
figure ^_^
Life after senshi-hood.
Day
I looked at the clock on the wall. It showed 12. 12 more hours.
'12 more hours before I hang the normal clothes and go back to being Sailor Mars, burning champion of love and justice.'
I most have been crying, since Yuuichiru wiped some tears from my cheeks.
"So, Rei-Chan..."
I like hearing it. I NEED to hear it more. Rei-Chan... Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?
"...Have any plans for tonight?"
I 'strained' my brain. Do I wanna return to the palace early and make a sort of fool out of myself after begging to stay late, or spend an evening with the man I care for?
"No, but I suppose YOU do."
He laughed a bit and embraced me. I welcomed it.
"How about you and I go to this little club my family owns? You could catch me play with my band. We play all through the night."
Oh uh.
"Yuuichiru-Kun, I..."
"Please, Rei-Chan? PLEASE?! It'd mean the world to me, and this is why I even came to the temple in the first place! You seeing me perform would mean everything for me and would mean I won. Please, Rei-Chan? For me?"
I'm gonna regret this. Right?
"One condition. Ojii-San comes too."
Yuuichiru laughed at that.
"What's so funny?!"
I said, hitting his arm lightly.
"Ojii-San practically LIVES there after dark! Sure, he gets a bit drunk, but that's only to..."
He paused and I begged him with a look to continue.
"...Only to ease the pain of losing you 10 years ago."
I hugged him tightly and went to my Ojii-San.
"Oh, Ojii-San, I'm so sorry. I never though... I mean, I did, but... I couldn't come and be there for you. I'm so utterly ashamed of my self. Gomen. Gomen nasai."
"Oh, Rei-Chan. It's all right. I'm just happy to see you here again, safe and sound."
I took time to examine my Ojii-San as he went to sweep the floor. Crystal health treatments working their charms, he was probably in a better condition than me, what with me doing practically nothing at the palace. He was well built, for any age, and that childish smile in his eyes was there. Something that wasn't when I looked at him during that press conference, no doubt arranged by my father.
"Re, Rei-Chan. Konnichiwa."
I turned around to face my father.
"Otou-San."
He looked like he was about to say something, but I hugged him. I didn't want to start a fight. Not now, not with him.
"I missed you, daddy."
I was thrilled when he hugged back. My Otou-San was never the type to hug back. And there weren't even reporters around to tell the world how caring he is!
"I missed you too, Rei-Chan. Why'd you do something like that? If you wanted attention, all you had to do was ask."
"Oh, daddy, it never worked. Only... Only with mom."
He hugged me tighter, and for the first time in maybe my life, I learned that my pain for my mother was greater than I thought. As well as was the comfort by my father.
"It will now, sweetie. 10 years without you can change anyone, even me."
We stayed like that for several more minutes, breaking apart slowly. He wiped his tears quickly, but I already saw they were there. Oh, Otou-San...
"Say, you wanna go shopping?"
"HUH?!"
"Don't get me wrong, Rei-Chan, you're a knock-out in that outfit, but wouldn't you say it's a bit... OLD?"
Putting it mildly, aren't you dad?
"Sure thing. And then maybe I'll buy you coffee and a pie."
"Sure sweetheart, that'd be grand, and... Did you say YOU'll buy ME coffee?"
"-giggle- just give me that car keys, dad, and give me directions. Tokyo has changed since the last time I drove around it."
~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~
Serenity sat on her throne, her gaze sat on the window.
'Have I done the right thing? If it was anyone else, would I let them go?'
"Mamma?"
"Small Lady! Come in, come in!"
Chibiusa closed the door lightly behind her and ran to sit by her mother.
"Where's Sailor Mars, mamma? I looked all over the palace for her."
"I... She's... That is..."
'I can't possibly tell her!'
"She's on a mission, Small Lady."
"Oh. Ok. Bye mamma!"
The little girl ran out the door and giggled.
'On a mission... But will she return?'
~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~
I was still laughing when I dropped all the clothes I bought on the floor of my old room and let myself fall on the bed. On the ceiling was my old poster of Megumi Hayashibara. My once idol winked back, like she has since I bought the poster. In her honor, I started singing.
"Oh, Starry Night... How will I know, will his love show, is he my one true loooooooove..." (A/N- told you it'll be a mix ^.~)
Clapping woke me up. Yuuichiru was at the door, clapping.
"Think you could sing like that tonight?"
I was caught off guard. Something that seemed to happen ALOT that day.
"Maybe. If you'll get out and allow me to get dressed!"
I threw a pillow at him and his laughter escorted me all the way through the afternoon.
I was about to hit the shower, when two black birds sat on my window. My tired sad smile returned.
"Hello, Phoboes. Daimos."
The two flew towards my bed, and landed as their little humanoid selves.
"Princess, we thought... We FEARED that..."
I picked them up and hugged them gently as a five year old would her dolls.
"I'm here. I'm ok. And I'm glad to see you two again. It's been a while."
The two of them then went on about how Yuuichiru and Ojii-San were crushed that I wasn't there after the rebirth. How worried they themselves were. And how... How Ojii-San stopped visiting my mother.
"OJII-SAN!"
I stormed down the stairs, almost knocking Yuuichiru out.
"Gomen, Yuuichiru-Kun. OJII-SAN, WHY ON EARTH HAVE YOU STOPPED VISITING OKAA-SAN?!"
He was caught a bit off guard and I could see the subject caused him pain. However, I was not going to back down from this.
"Yuuichiru-Kun, could you..."
Without another word from my Ojii-San, Yuuichiru left and within moments was outside, sweeping the floor.
"Then why? What made you stop visiting her?!"
He sighed, collecting himself.
"I visited her during the first three years of your... ABSENCE. The first year, I was full of rage, and prayed for her to guard you, look after you. The second, I was hopeless. I prayed hard, and wished for you to be found. The third year, I came to the graveyard, and turned back even before I made it to her grave."
I was about to ask why, but he beat me to it.
"I was ashamed, Rei-Chan. Ashamed and full of self-hate. I couldn't face the tombstone, you know, where we put her picture. You two look too much a like. I couldn't face the family plot, from fear you might be there. And I couldn't face Misako-Chan's memory, knowing I failed her so much. Failed to guard her only child once the world got another chance at life."
We were both crying by the time he finished, and I knew what I had to do. Time to pay my mother a visit.
~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~
"Your highness? May I trouble you with something?"
Sailor Venus asked as she entered the throne room.
"Yes, Venus. Come in."
Venus walked in and bowed. The queen immediately noticed something was wrong.
"Rise. What can I do for you?"
Venus sighed and told the queen everything, about how they spotted the thief earlier, to how worried she got when she noticed Mars was missing.
"What's happening, your highness?"
'I better talk to Mars about stealing the ribbon.'
"Nothing, Venus. The thief has been caught and you'll have your sister's ribbon back by tomorrow."
"And Mars?"
Venus wasn't afraid to show her concern for Mars. Although was it for a friend, or beyond, she didn't know.
After a long pause, the queen answered.
"Sailor Mars is... On a mission. Of the highest importance."
"And none of the senshi know about this because...?"
"The mission is quite dangerous. Mars did not want to upset you by telling you where she was going and why."
That wasn't the whole truth, nor was it a lie. As far as Neo-Queen Serenity was concerned, anywhere out of her sight was a dangerous place for her senshi. And if she told the other senshi where Mars was, they would start a commotion. Serenity couldn't afford that.
Venus could sense the queen was hiding something. After all, she has known her ever since they became senshi together, and although she knew her queen a bit less better than Mars or Mercury, she was still closer to her than most sailors. However, she chose not to say anything.
"With your permission, your majesty."
Bowing again, Venus left the throne room. Closing the door, she leaned against it and allowed several tears to fall.
'Mars... Rei-Chan, where ARE you?!'
~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~
'Hello, mother.'
I kneeled next to the grey tombstone, allowing dirt on my suit. The picture of hers that was on the tombstone was covered in dust, so I cleared it off. I was the spitting image of my mother. And I was damn proud of it.
'It's been a while, ne, Okaa-San? So long since I was able to walk freely wherever I chose, whenever I chose it. And most of all, to come and visit you. Mina-Chan once asked me who I think got off lighter, me or Mako-Chan. Mako-Chan losing both parents, me only losing one. I told her I envy Mako- Chan. Don't get me wrong, I love Ojii-San with all my heart, and I'd never have met Yuuichiru-Kun outside of the temple, but... Its worse, having the parent that IS alive ignore you and abandon you. I started crying, and we never touched the subject again. I...
I missed you, Okaa-San. All those years, I kept sane, knowing you were there, watching over me. Keeping me safe. It's for you that I fought. It's for you that I brought forth this paradise. If only you were alive, maybe... Not maybe, SURELY a cure was to be found! But you're not... And the hospital I founded at your honor saved lives. I know that's what you wanted.'
I stayed there for a while longer, feeling the guards getting edgy. Making sure they weren't looking, I relit some of the candles that were next to Okaa-San's grave. I was just about to leave, when a voice kept me there.
"It IS what I want, Rei-Chan. It IS."
I turned around, and it was like looking into a mirror.
"Okaa-San..."
I stood there for a while, just staring at my dead mother's spirit.
"It's good to see you, Rei-Chan. My, how you've grown!"
"Arigatou, Okaa-San. It's good to see you too."
"I can see this is a bit awkward for you, Rei-Chan, so I'll be quick about this. Are you happy?"
"Wha..."
"Are you happy? Not was, not going to be, but now. At this moment, with your daily freedom."
"Of course. It's what I wished for for months!"
Hino Misako (A/N- I'm pretty sure that's her real name ^^) laughed a relieved laugh. I stood there, more than a bit confused.
"I was afraid you'll say no. I was afraid you'll want back to the palace."
"Why would I want THAT?!"
"Rei-Chan, listen to me. I know of things to come. The senshi... The senshi are disappearing. They... They have lost themselves. No matter what they claim, they're not the same."
"I... I know, Kaa-San. That's why I just HAD to get away from there!"
Kaa-San hugged me and I hugged back with all my might.
"Promise me you'll make the right choices, Rei-Chan."
"I promise, Kaa-San. I won't fail you!"
She kissed my forehead, and suddenly the conversation's content was erased from my memory. I guess I wasn't allowed to remember what she said.
'I won't fail you, Kaa-San. I won't.'
I returned to the Hikawa Jinja temple and took a long bath. Phobeos and Daimos were there, listening to me bickering. They were so happy to have me back, and I sure missed them. After the bath I changed into a long red gown, one that Otou-San and I bought earlier. I kept checking myself over and over again, when Yuuichiru came in.
"Rei-Chan... You look absolutely stunning! I'm almost afraid to take you outside!"
I blushed at his praise and allowed him to lead me to the car. But before that, I had to make another promise.
"Rei-Chan, something tells me that... That this is our only night together."
I looked down. I was afraid of the truth.
"So I want you to promise to me that it'll be the very best we could have."
"I promise, Yuuichiru-Kun. I want this just as much as you do."
He kissed my forehead and let me in the car.
"Where to, sir?"
My Ojii-San was sitting in the driver's seat, pretending to be our private driver.
"You know where, Hino-San."
"Right. One Kamada club, coming right up."
We began driving, and I asked Yuuichiru everything I could think about concerning his band.
"Well, Rei-Chan. I guess we'll just have to wait and see."
I nodded and looked at the watch. 9:00 PM. 3 hours. I can take it. 3 more hours with my loved ones. Only 3 more hours. I can take it. Right?
Life after senshi-hood.
Day
I looked at the clock on the wall. It showed 12. 12 more hours.
'12 more hours before I hang the normal clothes and go back to being Sailor Mars, burning champion of love and justice.'
I most have been crying, since Yuuichiru wiped some tears from my cheeks.
"So, Rei-Chan..."
I like hearing it. I NEED to hear it more. Rei-Chan... Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?
"...Have any plans for tonight?"
I 'strained' my brain. Do I wanna return to the palace early and make a sort of fool out of myself after begging to stay late, or spend an evening with the man I care for?
"No, but I suppose YOU do."
He laughed a bit and embraced me. I welcomed it.
"How about you and I go to this little club my family owns? You could catch me play with my band. We play all through the night."
Oh uh.
"Yuuichiru-Kun, I..."
"Please, Rei-Chan? PLEASE?! It'd mean the world to me, and this is why I even came to the temple in the first place! You seeing me perform would mean everything for me and would mean I won. Please, Rei-Chan? For me?"
I'm gonna regret this. Right?
"One condition. Ojii-San comes too."
Yuuichiru laughed at that.
"What's so funny?!"
I said, hitting his arm lightly.
"Ojii-San practically LIVES there after dark! Sure, he gets a bit drunk, but that's only to..."
He paused and I begged him with a look to continue.
"...Only to ease the pain of losing you 10 years ago."
I hugged him tightly and went to my Ojii-San.
"Oh, Ojii-San, I'm so sorry. I never though... I mean, I did, but... I couldn't come and be there for you. I'm so utterly ashamed of my self. Gomen. Gomen nasai."
"Oh, Rei-Chan. It's all right. I'm just happy to see you here again, safe and sound."
I took time to examine my Ojii-San as he went to sweep the floor. Crystal health treatments working their charms, he was probably in a better condition than me, what with me doing practically nothing at the palace. He was well built, for any age, and that childish smile in his eyes was there. Something that wasn't when I looked at him during that press conference, no doubt arranged by my father.
"Re, Rei-Chan. Konnichiwa."
I turned around to face my father.
"Otou-San."
He looked like he was about to say something, but I hugged him. I didn't want to start a fight. Not now, not with him.
"I missed you, daddy."
I was thrilled when he hugged back. My Otou-San was never the type to hug back. And there weren't even reporters around to tell the world how caring he is!
"I missed you too, Rei-Chan. Why'd you do something like that? If you wanted attention, all you had to do was ask."
"Oh, daddy, it never worked. Only... Only with mom."
He hugged me tighter, and for the first time in maybe my life, I learned that my pain for my mother was greater than I thought. As well as was the comfort by my father.
"It will now, sweetie. 10 years without you can change anyone, even me."
We stayed like that for several more minutes, breaking apart slowly. He wiped his tears quickly, but I already saw they were there. Oh, Otou-San...
"Say, you wanna go shopping?"
"HUH?!"
"Don't get me wrong, Rei-Chan, you're a knock-out in that outfit, but wouldn't you say it's a bit... OLD?"
Putting it mildly, aren't you dad?
"Sure thing. And then maybe I'll buy you coffee and a pie."
"Sure sweetheart, that'd be grand, and... Did you say YOU'll buy ME coffee?"
"-giggle- just give me that car keys, dad, and give me directions. Tokyo has changed since the last time I drove around it."
~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~
Serenity sat on her throne, her gaze sat on the window.
'Have I done the right thing? If it was anyone else, would I let them go?'
"Mamma?"
"Small Lady! Come in, come in!"
Chibiusa closed the door lightly behind her and ran to sit by her mother.
"Where's Sailor Mars, mamma? I looked all over the palace for her."
"I... She's... That is..."
'I can't possibly tell her!'
"She's on a mission, Small Lady."
"Oh. Ok. Bye mamma!"
The little girl ran out the door and giggled.
'On a mission... But will she return?'
~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~
I was still laughing when I dropped all the clothes I bought on the floor of my old room and let myself fall on the bed. On the ceiling was my old poster of Megumi Hayashibara. My once idol winked back, like she has since I bought the poster. In her honor, I started singing.
"Oh, Starry Night... How will I know, will his love show, is he my one true loooooooove..." (A/N- told you it'll be a mix ^.~)
Clapping woke me up. Yuuichiru was at the door, clapping.
"Think you could sing like that tonight?"
I was caught off guard. Something that seemed to happen ALOT that day.
"Maybe. If you'll get out and allow me to get dressed!"
I threw a pillow at him and his laughter escorted me all the way through the afternoon.
I was about to hit the shower, when two black birds sat on my window. My tired sad smile returned.
"Hello, Phoboes. Daimos."
The two flew towards my bed, and landed as their little humanoid selves.
"Princess, we thought... We FEARED that..."
I picked them up and hugged them gently as a five year old would her dolls.
"I'm here. I'm ok. And I'm glad to see you two again. It's been a while."
The two of them then went on about how Yuuichiru and Ojii-San were crushed that I wasn't there after the rebirth. How worried they themselves were. And how... How Ojii-San stopped visiting my mother.
"OJII-SAN!"
I stormed down the stairs, almost knocking Yuuichiru out.
"Gomen, Yuuichiru-Kun. OJII-SAN, WHY ON EARTH HAVE YOU STOPPED VISITING OKAA-SAN?!"
He was caught a bit off guard and I could see the subject caused him pain. However, I was not going to back down from this.
"Yuuichiru-Kun, could you..."
Without another word from my Ojii-San, Yuuichiru left and within moments was outside, sweeping the floor.
"Then why? What made you stop visiting her?!"
He sighed, collecting himself.
"I visited her during the first three years of your... ABSENCE. The first year, I was full of rage, and prayed for her to guard you, look after you. The second, I was hopeless. I prayed hard, and wished for you to be found. The third year, I came to the graveyard, and turned back even before I made it to her grave."
I was about to ask why, but he beat me to it.
"I was ashamed, Rei-Chan. Ashamed and full of self-hate. I couldn't face the tombstone, you know, where we put her picture. You two look too much a like. I couldn't face the family plot, from fear you might be there. And I couldn't face Misako-Chan's memory, knowing I failed her so much. Failed to guard her only child once the world got another chance at life."
We were both crying by the time he finished, and I knew what I had to do. Time to pay my mother a visit.
~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~
"Your highness? May I trouble you with something?"
Sailor Venus asked as she entered the throne room.
"Yes, Venus. Come in."
Venus walked in and bowed. The queen immediately noticed something was wrong.
"Rise. What can I do for you?"
Venus sighed and told the queen everything, about how they spotted the thief earlier, to how worried she got when she noticed Mars was missing.
"What's happening, your highness?"
'I better talk to Mars about stealing the ribbon.'
"Nothing, Venus. The thief has been caught and you'll have your sister's ribbon back by tomorrow."
"And Mars?"
Venus wasn't afraid to show her concern for Mars. Although was it for a friend, or beyond, she didn't know.
After a long pause, the queen answered.
"Sailor Mars is... On a mission. Of the highest importance."
"And none of the senshi know about this because...?"
"The mission is quite dangerous. Mars did not want to upset you by telling you where she was going and why."
That wasn't the whole truth, nor was it a lie. As far as Neo-Queen Serenity was concerned, anywhere out of her sight was a dangerous place for her senshi. And if she told the other senshi where Mars was, they would start a commotion. Serenity couldn't afford that.
Venus could sense the queen was hiding something. After all, she has known her ever since they became senshi together, and although she knew her queen a bit less better than Mars or Mercury, she was still closer to her than most sailors. However, she chose not to say anything.
"With your permission, your majesty."
Bowing again, Venus left the throne room. Closing the door, she leaned against it and allowed several tears to fall.
'Mars... Rei-Chan, where ARE you?!'
~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~
'Hello, mother.'
I kneeled next to the grey tombstone, allowing dirt on my suit. The picture of hers that was on the tombstone was covered in dust, so I cleared it off. I was the spitting image of my mother. And I was damn proud of it.
'It's been a while, ne, Okaa-San? So long since I was able to walk freely wherever I chose, whenever I chose it. And most of all, to come and visit you. Mina-Chan once asked me who I think got off lighter, me or Mako-Chan. Mako-Chan losing both parents, me only losing one. I told her I envy Mako- Chan. Don't get me wrong, I love Ojii-San with all my heart, and I'd never have met Yuuichiru-Kun outside of the temple, but... Its worse, having the parent that IS alive ignore you and abandon you. I started crying, and we never touched the subject again. I...
I missed you, Okaa-San. All those years, I kept sane, knowing you were there, watching over me. Keeping me safe. It's for you that I fought. It's for you that I brought forth this paradise. If only you were alive, maybe... Not maybe, SURELY a cure was to be found! But you're not... And the hospital I founded at your honor saved lives. I know that's what you wanted.'
I stayed there for a while longer, feeling the guards getting edgy. Making sure they weren't looking, I relit some of the candles that were next to Okaa-San's grave. I was just about to leave, when a voice kept me there.
"It IS what I want, Rei-Chan. It IS."
I turned around, and it was like looking into a mirror.
"Okaa-San..."
I stood there for a while, just staring at my dead mother's spirit.
"It's good to see you, Rei-Chan. My, how you've grown!"
"Arigatou, Okaa-San. It's good to see you too."
"I can see this is a bit awkward for you, Rei-Chan, so I'll be quick about this. Are you happy?"
"Wha..."
"Are you happy? Not was, not going to be, but now. At this moment, with your daily freedom."
"Of course. It's what I wished for for months!"
Hino Misako (A/N- I'm pretty sure that's her real name ^^) laughed a relieved laugh. I stood there, more than a bit confused.
"I was afraid you'll say no. I was afraid you'll want back to the palace."
"Why would I want THAT?!"
"Rei-Chan, listen to me. I know of things to come. The senshi... The senshi are disappearing. They... They have lost themselves. No matter what they claim, they're not the same."
"I... I know, Kaa-San. That's why I just HAD to get away from there!"
Kaa-San hugged me and I hugged back with all my might.
"Promise me you'll make the right choices, Rei-Chan."
"I promise, Kaa-San. I won't fail you!"
She kissed my forehead, and suddenly the conversation's content was erased from my memory. I guess I wasn't allowed to remember what she said.
'I won't fail you, Kaa-San. I won't.'
I returned to the Hikawa Jinja temple and took a long bath. Phobeos and Daimos were there, listening to me bickering. They were so happy to have me back, and I sure missed them. After the bath I changed into a long red gown, one that Otou-San and I bought earlier. I kept checking myself over and over again, when Yuuichiru came in.
"Rei-Chan... You look absolutely stunning! I'm almost afraid to take you outside!"
I blushed at his praise and allowed him to lead me to the car. But before that, I had to make another promise.
"Rei-Chan, something tells me that... That this is our only night together."
I looked down. I was afraid of the truth.
"So I want you to promise to me that it'll be the very best we could have."
"I promise, Yuuichiru-Kun. I want this just as much as you do."
He kissed my forehead and let me in the car.
"Where to, sir?"
My Ojii-San was sitting in the driver's seat, pretending to be our private driver.
"You know where, Hino-San."
"Right. One Kamada club, coming right up."
We began driving, and I asked Yuuichiru everything I could think about concerning his band.
"Well, Rei-Chan. I guess we'll just have to wait and see."
I nodded and looked at the watch. 9:00 PM. 3 hours. I can take it. 3 more hours with my loved ones. Only 3 more hours. I can take it. Right?