Chapter 6 - Mina
Serena and Darien were thrilled to see Ami and they both confessed they thought I would have been the one to put up a fight about return to Japan. Ami blushed with embarrassment and to ease it, Serena and I launched into a mock argument about my choice of an American name as an alias, Claire Akeda, and ended it with a good old fashioned staring contest to see who would back out first. Once our playing was over, we got to work. Our main order of business: Mina.
"It's about time you got here."
Mina stood in front of us grinning. She was dressed in a black wig, which she took off as she spoke revealing her still very long blonde hair, and an 18th century gown. We were on location in Ireland where Mina was playing the role of Bess in a movie version of Lord Alfred Noyes' "The Highwayman," a dramatic poem Mina had always longed to see made into a film. This role was made for her and it was a dream come true.
Like Serena said that night in my apartment, Mina didn't do many things quietly. After being let go from the scientific institute, Mina, aka Serena, surprised Serena's parents by going by her real name under the story that it'd been changed. Luckily, despite all the news about Mina, Serena's parents didn't make any connection to herself as Mina Aino and had accepted it. Unlike Ami and I who'd disappeared like Serena ordered, Mina used the press coverage to her advantage, scoring auditions in plays and on tv. Mina was an excellent actress. Eventually, she got a break through movie role in an American film, beating out more experienced and famous actresses. She became the Hollywood "It" girl and she loved every second. When the Oscar nominations came out, Mina was on top of the list for "Best Supporting Actress in a Film" but lost to Dame Judy Dench, the seemingly favorite in that category. The Oscar loss did nothing to slow Mina's career. In fact, being the underdog helped it. Mina was held in the highest regard for her acting ability and demand for her was great, if not greater, than that of Julia Roberts, who, Mina said, thought she knew everything inside and outside of acting - more considerably, politics- where Mina disagreed with her immensely. A forgotten child star in Japan and virtual nobody in the States had made it big in the best country in the world. Mina's dream had come true.
Ami admitted she'd followed Mina's career from the start, adding newspaper and article clippings to her scrapbook. I had no idea Mina'd ever gotten that big. I heard bits and pieces at work about her but since I didn't own a tv, prefering a good novel to any of the trash they consider entertainment, or a radio, sticking to various CD's I bought because I thought they looked interesting, there wasn't a lot of Hollywood gossip that I was aware of. I took great delight in knowing that what Malachite tried to use against us to destroy us became our greatest asset, it showing more in Mina than any of us.
"You guys never cease to amaze me, you know?" Mina bubbled as we followed her to her trailer. "I mean, I woke up this morning with the feeling to expect something so I had my assistant - who's the sweetest thing in the world, almost as sweet as Ami - make sure anyone fitting your descriptions was sent to me. Actually, I've been doing that for years since I started acting. Did you know I was Cosette in Les Miserables in London? Anyway, my feeling. It wasn't a premonition or anything like you'd have, Raye, just a gut instinct. Glad you showed up when you did. I was beginning to wonder whether or not I was right and I was! Oh, Serena, I found your parents right after I left Japan, they're back in Tokyo. They lived with me while I was in London doing the Cosette bit but they got homesick for Japan. I send them a check every month to help out with Sammy's schooling and the bills but they've always had plenty with Papa's photography..." Mina's voice trailed off and her eyes met Serena's. "Oh god, I didn't realize what I was saying. I'm sorry, Serena, Papa just comes so naturally to me now..."
Serena smiled. "I understand, Mina. They're your family, too, now. If Mama and Papa knew the truth, they'd say the same thing, I'm sure."
Mina's face brightened and she threw herself into Serena's arms. "Oh thank you, Serena! You have no idea how badly I felt when I had to call him that at first. I just knew somewhere you were wondering if they had any idea that the child they were loving wasn't really their own....I've loved them for you, Serena, tons and tons, I swear. They....they are my family, Serena, just like you say."
For one of the first times ever, an awkward silence fell upon us. Questions I'd first forgotten to ask myself came barreling toward me, nearly knocking me over with the power of uncertainty. We were all back together but now what? What was the next step? How was Crystal Toyko to be built? Did Serena and Darien have everything planned as they said? And if they did, what would they ask of us to give them?
Serena always told me that Luna and Artemis never asked us to do something they wouldn't be willing to do. It was something Serena said she too tried to carry with her when all this happened. But the creation of not only a city but of an entire empire was different than going into battle against a monster. We would be powerless against the sceptics, the naysayers, those who would fear our growing power and would do anything to reclaim it. This was not something we would be able to fight with magic but something we would face with our words, with our very souls. Would Serena be able to keep this principle with her while going through the hardships we would undoubtedly face?
~Continued in Chapter 7 - "Starting Over"~
AN: A few copyrights to acknowledge here:
1: Lord Alfred Noyes "The Highwayman" It's my favorite poem and Mina's dream is my own.
2: The Oscars and "Best Supporting Actress" - While I dislike much of Hollywood, I eagerly watch the Oscars and the people who own the rights to it are very lucky.
3: Dame Judy Dench: Okay folks, you all know she always wins in that category so Mina had to loose it. She was great in "Shakespeare in Love" and she's a cute older lady - cute as in adorable.
4: Julia Roberts. I dislike her immensely so I had to have a little creative revenge in here. Sorry if anyone disagrees with me but it's my opinion.
5: Les Miserables. The author of the book as well as the author of the play own the rights to that, just used it because I loved the play.
Sorry this chapter was short. Next chapter will be longer because now comes the fun part of settling in and starting for real on things. No, it's not outlined or even planned so what's going to happen is beyond my control at this point. The only thing I do know is they will try to get in touch with their families and friends and what Malachite did will be addressed. Thanks! Duchess ^_~
Serena and Darien were thrilled to see Ami and they both confessed they thought I would have been the one to put up a fight about return to Japan. Ami blushed with embarrassment and to ease it, Serena and I launched into a mock argument about my choice of an American name as an alias, Claire Akeda, and ended it with a good old fashioned staring contest to see who would back out first. Once our playing was over, we got to work. Our main order of business: Mina.
"It's about time you got here."
Mina stood in front of us grinning. She was dressed in a black wig, which she took off as she spoke revealing her still very long blonde hair, and an 18th century gown. We were on location in Ireland where Mina was playing the role of Bess in a movie version of Lord Alfred Noyes' "The Highwayman," a dramatic poem Mina had always longed to see made into a film. This role was made for her and it was a dream come true.
Like Serena said that night in my apartment, Mina didn't do many things quietly. After being let go from the scientific institute, Mina, aka Serena, surprised Serena's parents by going by her real name under the story that it'd been changed. Luckily, despite all the news about Mina, Serena's parents didn't make any connection to herself as Mina Aino and had accepted it. Unlike Ami and I who'd disappeared like Serena ordered, Mina used the press coverage to her advantage, scoring auditions in plays and on tv. Mina was an excellent actress. Eventually, she got a break through movie role in an American film, beating out more experienced and famous actresses. She became the Hollywood "It" girl and she loved every second. When the Oscar nominations came out, Mina was on top of the list for "Best Supporting Actress in a Film" but lost to Dame Judy Dench, the seemingly favorite in that category. The Oscar loss did nothing to slow Mina's career. In fact, being the underdog helped it. Mina was held in the highest regard for her acting ability and demand for her was great, if not greater, than that of Julia Roberts, who, Mina said, thought she knew everything inside and outside of acting - more considerably, politics- where Mina disagreed with her immensely. A forgotten child star in Japan and virtual nobody in the States had made it big in the best country in the world. Mina's dream had come true.
Ami admitted she'd followed Mina's career from the start, adding newspaper and article clippings to her scrapbook. I had no idea Mina'd ever gotten that big. I heard bits and pieces at work about her but since I didn't own a tv, prefering a good novel to any of the trash they consider entertainment, or a radio, sticking to various CD's I bought because I thought they looked interesting, there wasn't a lot of Hollywood gossip that I was aware of. I took great delight in knowing that what Malachite tried to use against us to destroy us became our greatest asset, it showing more in Mina than any of us.
"You guys never cease to amaze me, you know?" Mina bubbled as we followed her to her trailer. "I mean, I woke up this morning with the feeling to expect something so I had my assistant - who's the sweetest thing in the world, almost as sweet as Ami - make sure anyone fitting your descriptions was sent to me. Actually, I've been doing that for years since I started acting. Did you know I was Cosette in Les Miserables in London? Anyway, my feeling. It wasn't a premonition or anything like you'd have, Raye, just a gut instinct. Glad you showed up when you did. I was beginning to wonder whether or not I was right and I was! Oh, Serena, I found your parents right after I left Japan, they're back in Tokyo. They lived with me while I was in London doing the Cosette bit but they got homesick for Japan. I send them a check every month to help out with Sammy's schooling and the bills but they've always had plenty with Papa's photography..." Mina's voice trailed off and her eyes met Serena's. "Oh god, I didn't realize what I was saying. I'm sorry, Serena, Papa just comes so naturally to me now..."
Serena smiled. "I understand, Mina. They're your family, too, now. If Mama and Papa knew the truth, they'd say the same thing, I'm sure."
Mina's face brightened and she threw herself into Serena's arms. "Oh thank you, Serena! You have no idea how badly I felt when I had to call him that at first. I just knew somewhere you were wondering if they had any idea that the child they were loving wasn't really their own....I've loved them for you, Serena, tons and tons, I swear. They....they are my family, Serena, just like you say."
For one of the first times ever, an awkward silence fell upon us. Questions I'd first forgotten to ask myself came barreling toward me, nearly knocking me over with the power of uncertainty. We were all back together but now what? What was the next step? How was Crystal Toyko to be built? Did Serena and Darien have everything planned as they said? And if they did, what would they ask of us to give them?
Serena always told me that Luna and Artemis never asked us to do something they wouldn't be willing to do. It was something Serena said she too tried to carry with her when all this happened. But the creation of not only a city but of an entire empire was different than going into battle against a monster. We would be powerless against the sceptics, the naysayers, those who would fear our growing power and would do anything to reclaim it. This was not something we would be able to fight with magic but something we would face with our words, with our very souls. Would Serena be able to keep this principle with her while going through the hardships we would undoubtedly face?
~Continued in Chapter 7 - "Starting Over"~
AN: A few copyrights to acknowledge here:
1: Lord Alfred Noyes "The Highwayman" It's my favorite poem and Mina's dream is my own.
2: The Oscars and "Best Supporting Actress" - While I dislike much of Hollywood, I eagerly watch the Oscars and the people who own the rights to it are very lucky.
3: Dame Judy Dench: Okay folks, you all know she always wins in that category so Mina had to loose it. She was great in "Shakespeare in Love" and she's a cute older lady - cute as in adorable.
4: Julia Roberts. I dislike her immensely so I had to have a little creative revenge in here. Sorry if anyone disagrees with me but it's my opinion.
5: Les Miserables. The author of the book as well as the author of the play own the rights to that, just used it because I loved the play.
Sorry this chapter was short. Next chapter will be longer because now comes the fun part of settling in and starting for real on things. No, it's not outlined or even planned so what's going to happen is beyond my control at this point. The only thing I do know is they will try to get in touch with their families and friends and what Malachite did will be addressed. Thanks! Duchess ^_~