Chapter 3: A Picture's Worth
Ikuko entered the little room at the top of the stairs. Too small and out of the way for a real guestroom, the children had used it as a playroom when they were little. More recently, it had been used as a storage area for outgrown toys and games and other household items. When Rini returned for another extended visit, they had cleaned it out and fixed it up for her. The girls were getting along much better now that they had their own space. Serena's room was definitely lived in- not dirty, but unorganized. Rini tended to be neat as a pin, everything in its' place. She kept her room very clean for a young child. There were some things she wasn't expected to do, so Ikuko had come in to change the sheets and mop the floor.
Approaching the bed, she spied a stray sock peeking out from underneath. *Not perfect after all* she chuckled, then looked under the bed for it's mate. What she found was a stack of drawings. Pulling them out, she sat down to look at them. *Rini does draw well and she has a good imagination,* was her first thought. There were a few she dismissed as some fantasy story while noting that she used Serena, Darien and herself as models. They were labeled 'Queen Serenity' 'King Endymion' 'Small Lady' 'Crystal Tokyo'. They were very pretty with the girls in white gowns in front of a star-like castle.
There were a number of pictures that showed Sailor Moon and a man in black- Tuxedo Mask, and other Sailor Scouts fighting odd people or creatures. Sailor Moon looked remarkably like Serena and the smallest Scout looked like Rini. The others were familiar, too. *She seems to have a fascination with the Sailor Scouts. The colors are so bright, you can almost feel the fight.* Another thought crossed her mind, leaving it disturbed. *Serena and Darien have both witnessed monster attacks. Has Rini been with them and seen something, too, or even been in danger? Is drawing herself as a Scout her way of coping with the fear?*
She considered the remaining pictures. The subject matter was normal: playing in the park, being with friends, getting ice cream. But almost always, there was the trio: Rini, Serena, and Darien. *"Playing games", my foot. What games? That young man spoils both those girls too much. I should spend more time with Rini instead of sending her with Serena. I should also encourage her to do things with kids her own age, perhaps an art class.* So thinking, she put the pictures back under the bed and started her chores again.
AN: Intrigued? Good things are coming, please review and tell me what you think of this.
Ikuko entered the little room at the top of the stairs. Too small and out of the way for a real guestroom, the children had used it as a playroom when they were little. More recently, it had been used as a storage area for outgrown toys and games and other household items. When Rini returned for another extended visit, they had cleaned it out and fixed it up for her. The girls were getting along much better now that they had their own space. Serena's room was definitely lived in- not dirty, but unorganized. Rini tended to be neat as a pin, everything in its' place. She kept her room very clean for a young child. There were some things she wasn't expected to do, so Ikuko had come in to change the sheets and mop the floor.
Approaching the bed, she spied a stray sock peeking out from underneath. *Not perfect after all* she chuckled, then looked under the bed for it's mate. What she found was a stack of drawings. Pulling them out, she sat down to look at them. *Rini does draw well and she has a good imagination,* was her first thought. There were a few she dismissed as some fantasy story while noting that she used Serena, Darien and herself as models. They were labeled 'Queen Serenity' 'King Endymion' 'Small Lady' 'Crystal Tokyo'. They were very pretty with the girls in white gowns in front of a star-like castle.
There were a number of pictures that showed Sailor Moon and a man in black- Tuxedo Mask, and other Sailor Scouts fighting odd people or creatures. Sailor Moon looked remarkably like Serena and the smallest Scout looked like Rini. The others were familiar, too. *She seems to have a fascination with the Sailor Scouts. The colors are so bright, you can almost feel the fight.* Another thought crossed her mind, leaving it disturbed. *Serena and Darien have both witnessed monster attacks. Has Rini been with them and seen something, too, or even been in danger? Is drawing herself as a Scout her way of coping with the fear?*
She considered the remaining pictures. The subject matter was normal: playing in the park, being with friends, getting ice cream. But almost always, there was the trio: Rini, Serena, and Darien. *"Playing games", my foot. What games? That young man spoils both those girls too much. I should spend more time with Rini instead of sending her with Serena. I should also encourage her to do things with kids her own age, perhaps an art class.* So thinking, she put the pictures back under the bed and started her chores again.
AN: Intrigued? Good things are coming, please review and tell me what you think of this.