Thanks for reading part one, and the review. ~_^ Between this chapter and the next, you should find out what happened to the earth, and Aiko's mother.
Part 2: IntroductionsAiko nervously followed Jake and Ella up the sidewalk of her new home. She watched Ella ring the bell. The sound of approaching footsteps made her stomach feel like it was doing flip-flops. She stared at the opening door, and at people she would now call her family.
"Welcome Aiko. Thanks Jake and Ella for bringing her." Mr. Kitoko was the first to speak. He stepped aside, "Come on in."
Jake and Ella removed their shoes and sat on the couch. Aiko set her bag down and followed suit. She perched herself on the edge of the other sofa watching the adults great one and other. She looked up as she felt a hand on her shoulder. Her grandmother smiled at her before sitting next to her.
"How was your trip Aiko-chan? You didn't have to wait to long for the Woods did you?"
Aiko felt a little better because of her Grandmother's kindness. "My trip was ok. I slept for part of the time, so it wasn't that bad. Jake and Ella found me right away at the spaceport."
"Well, we had better be going," Jake, said to the group. "Ella and I promised Helena that we would take her someplace, and I'm sure you folks have stuff to do also."
"Thanks again for your help. Aaron and I appreciate it." Suki said to the departing couple.
"Aiko, it was nice to meet you." Ella said as her and Jake left the house.
"What would you like to do first Aiko?" Her grandfather asked. "We can have dinner, you can get your stuff settled, or we can go on a drive through the town.
"I am hungry, dinner sounds nice."
"I can get dinner started then we can help you unpack, how does that sound?" Suki asked Aiko.
"Ok"
Aiko followed Suki into the kitchen, being interested in what was for dinner. Aaron picked up Aiko's bags and took the up to her room. Aiko and her grandmother talked while Suki started the dinner preparations.
"What are you making Grandmother?"
"I wasn't sure what you would like, so I figured a roast would be good, with a side of green salad and ice-cream for desert. "
"That sounds good. I'm not picky when it comes to food."
"We have all of tomorrow to get you settled, and take you shopping if you want to. I noticed you only had 2 bags with you. I did buy you some cloths, but I wasn't quite sure of your size. You start school Monday, and Helena can walk with you."
"Who's Helena?"
"She's one of Jake and Ella's children. They only live 2 houses away, and your school isn't far."
"What about my school uniform?"
Suki couldn't stop herself from laughing a merry little laugh. "Only private schools make their students where uniforms and not all of them do. All you have to worry about is making yourself neat and presentable. Do you have a favorite color by the way? Your Oji and I were thinking of painting your room, and picking out new sheets."
"Yellow is my favorite color, and I also like Orange."
Suki finished up what she was doing and wiped the counters down. She walked over to the table and sat next to Aiko. "Well, that's done. Shall we go unpack your things?"
"Sure"
Aiko tuned over in her bed. So far it had been a long night for her. She kept thinking about her first day in her new home and all the things she had seen. She would have to start school tomorrow, and none of her friends would be there. Her Grandma already told her that Helena was a year ahead of her, so Aiko would only be able to walk to school with her.
Aiko sat up and rubbed her eyes as a strange light filled her room. Slowly a ghostly figure in an orange senshi fuku appeared before her.
"Kitoko Aiko, I am the soldier of love and beauty, Sailor Venus. There is an evil entity approaching this world, one that has already laid much waste to the earth." The apparition spoke.
"Sailor Venus, how are you here, why are you in my room?"
Venus could see the confusion and disbelief on Aiko's face, so she chose her words carefully. "I'm not really here in the physical sense. I have projected an image of myself for you too see. However, I cannot explain it; there are more important matters to discuss.
"As to why I am here, I have come to awaken your powers. Aiko, you are a direct descendant of Aino, Minako and you carry the power of Venus. You must fight the evil and unite the guardian senshi of this era."
"Guardian, Venus?"
"You are not an ordinary sailor senshi, you are a guardian. Go forth Aiko smite your foe, bring glory to the moon kingdom and crystal Tokyo."
Aiko watched as Sailor Venus faded from her room. 'Me, a senshi? Ya right.' Those were her last thoughts as she drifted off to sleep.
"Aiko, time to get up."
Aiko slowly opened her eyes and saw her Grandma in front of her. She sat up, and noticed the bright sunlight streaming through her window.
"You can get dressed while I finish breakfast. Your book bag is downstairs with the school supplies that you need."
"Ok, I will be down in a few minutes." Aiko put on the outfit that she chose the night before and fixed her hair. She tied to long blonde strands back into a ponytail with a red ribbon to match the orange border on her sailor collar. Her orange skirt and red Mary Jane's completed the outfit. She then made her way downstairs into the kitchen.
"Aiko, your grandfather and I have something for you," her Grandma pulled her over after they had finished eating. "This necklace has been in my family for generations, and I felt that it would be nice to give it to you on your first day of school."
"Thank you Obaba, it's very pretty" Aiko looked at the pendant on the chain. It was orange in color with a golden Kanji on it. Aiko looked closer, and saw that it was the Kanji for love.
"Good luck Aiko," Suki called after her Grand daughter as she left with Helena. 'I hope that school goes well for her here, I know this place is much different then her old hometown.'
Aiko eyed her new classmates nervously from the front of the room next to the teacher. It would be weird having a real teacher; in her old school they used web cams to communicate with a teacher somewhere else.
"Class, this is Aiko Kitoko. Today is her first day, so make her feel welcome. She comes all the way from Earth."
"Yes Mrs. Sendai" the class answered.
Aiko studied the students as Mrs. Sendai introduced her. It seemed weird to look at a group of students all wearing different clothes. One girl caught her eye. She was dressed in slacks and a dressy blue shirt. Her dark hair showed blue highlights from the sun coming in through the window. She also noticed a tall brown haired girl sitting in the back daydreaming.
"Aiko, you can sit next to Misu and she can help show you around." Mrs. Sendai's words brought Aiko's attention back to her as she noticed the teacher motioning towards her new seat.
"Thank you sensei," Aiko walked over to the empty desk next to the blue haired girl, trying not to notice the weird looks from the class.
Misu walked with Aiko to the café for lunch. Aiko took in everything she saw on the way down. When they got there, they sat at a table next to a little fountain. Aiko ate a school lunch, while Misu pulled a sandwich out of her bag.
"So where on earth are you from Aiko?"
"I'm from Tokyo, Japan."
"That's nice. I've read about Japan, and it's really interesting."
"It was better back in the 30th century before everything happened. Now most of earth is barren, and barely habitable." Aiko stumbled over the last words; she hadn't used them very often. It was never necessary to tell another person from earth how desolate the place was.
"Do you like Virgo and New Hope so far?"
"Pretty much. I still miss my friends from home, and my local hangouts. This place has charm though. It's so nice and green, like it's alive. I know that probably sounds silly, but I can't think of a better way to put it."
Misu laughed at that one. "I know how you feel. I have read many books about other places and researched them on the net. Virgo is the best natural environments around. I don't know if it would help, but you can hang out with me if you want too. I go to the palace after school."
"The palace?"
"Sorry about that, I wasn't sure what you had seen around town yet. The palace is a nice little dinner type restaurant that I like. The food is good, and it's a nice place to study, or meet with friends."
"Sure, that sounds like fun. I just have to tell Helena, that I won't be walking home with her. That way she won't be waiting for me."
Aiko rushed to meet Misu at the palace. She had to talk to the teacher, so she told Misu that it would be easy to find the place. She turned a corner and stopped in shock. Misu was trying to defend herself from some huge green monster.
'What should I do? I can't beat that thing, but I have to save Misu, she has been so nice to me.'
"Concentrate on your power Aiko" a voice came from behind her.
Aiko spun around and found herself looking at a gray and white kitten with a crescent moon on its head. Somehow after seeing the yoma, a talking cat was nothing.
"How do I transform?"
The kitten jumped and did a back flip. Akio grabbed the orange wand that appeared and closed her eyes. The pendant on her necklace glowed and the sign of Venus appeared on her forehead.
She spoke the words that seamed like second nature, "VENUS GARUDIAN POWER MAKE UP!" A bright flash left Guardian Venus standing where Aiko had been.
Misu screamed as the yoma knocked her into a wall. She looked up with a dazed expression, and saw someone coming between her and the yoma.
"VENUS ROLLING HEART VIBRATION!" Venus yelled throwing her attack at the yoma. It howled as the hearts hit it square in the chest. The angry Yoma threw a green bolt at Venus who barley managed to dodge it.
Nokomis worriedly watched the new warrior take on the yoma. Venus seamed to be loosing ground, and fast. Something caught her attention, making her turn. She noticed a bluish glow forming around Aiko's friend. Her eyes flew wide open as she saw the blue pendant with the wisdom kanji on it glow. The sign of Mercury then appeared on the girl's forehead.
Misu sat up and touched her now glowing forehead. Sensing that nothing was broken she stood up to face the beast that had thrown her into the wall. Nokomis watched as the Mercury wand materialized in front of Misu. Misu grabbed the wand, and instantly new what to do.
"MERCURY GARUDIAN POWER MAKE UP!" A quick blue light left Mercury standing where Misu had been. She jumped over to where Venus was fighting the Yoma.
Venus saw the yoma's next strike coming, but didn't have the energy to attack. Suddenly something blue flew in front of her and attacked the yoma.
"MERCURY AQUA MIRAGE!" A wall of water separated the senshi from the yoma as Mercury helped Venus stay standing. The water surrounded the yoma, turning it into nothing more then a puddle of green slime.
Nokomis walked over to the two senshi. "Thank goodness you showed up when you did Mercury. Venus, you did well for your first fight. I am Nokomis, advisor to the guardians."
Mercury looked around and saw the people starting to gather. "We better get out of here before people ask questions. At this point I wouldn't be able to respond to them, even if I wanted to."
Mercury helped Venus jump into a nearby alley so they could detransform. They both stared at each other in shock once the senshi fukus were gone.
"Venus?"
"Mercury?"
"Are you too all right? I don't know your civilian names yet." Nokomis cut in.
Misu recovered first and smiled at the kitten. "I am Misu Minerva, age 14. I attend New Hope JR high with Aiko."
"I am Kitoko Aiko, age 14. I just moved here from Japan on planet Earth"
Misu looked at her watch after hearing Aiko's stomach growl. "It's getting late, we should probably head home. Did you want to eat at my place tonight Aiko?"
"I like that idea, but my grandparents are probably expecting me home soon. I'm sure Helena told them I was meeting you, but I hadn't planned on being out late."
Misu looked at Aiko. "Will you be able to make it home ok on your own?"
"I'll be fine, don't worry"
"I'll walk home with her Misu, so everything will be fine" Nokomis added.
Aiko opened the front door and held it open for Nokomis. The two of them walked into the living room together.
"I'm home," she announced.
Suki stormed out of the kitchen with a sour look on her face. "Where have you been young lady, I was worried about you. Dinner has been ready for a half hour."
"Gomen Nasi Obaba. My friend was having some problems, so I was helping her and I lost track of time and …"
The look on Suki's face softened as she listened to Aiko. 'I'm glad she has made a friend, and was nice enough to help her out. If the friend is a her.' "It's all right Aiko. Come and eat, I kept your food warm for you. Try to call home next time ok?"
"Hai, I will Grandma. Thanks." Aiko walked into the kitchen and sat at the table. Her grandmother set a plate of food in front of her, which she ate hungrily.
Nokomis sat patently on the floor next to Aiko waiting to be fed. After Aiko was finished she set her plate down for the hungry cat. Suki watched the kitten eat and had to ask what was on her mind.
"Aiko, where did that cat come from?"
"She's a stray. She showed up when I was talking to Misu, and she helped her feel better. I figured giving her a good dinner was the least I could do."
"Let me guess, you want to keep her too?"
"May I Grandmother? She's so sweet; I would hate to make her leave. I really like her. Please may I keep her?"
"What's her name? She needs a good name to go with her nice new home."
Aiko jumped up and hugged her grandma. "Thank you so much! Her name is Nokomis"
Aiko sipped her strawberry smoothie as Misu read her book. The two girls were enjoying some free time inside the palace.
"Is Nokomis going to stay at your house?"
"Yes, my Grandmother said I could keep her. I always wanted a pet."
Misu smiled thinking about her aquarium at home. An ordinary cat would be a problem, but Nokomis was ok. It was just as good though that she would stay with Aiko. Aiko needed a pet of her own.
Aiko looked out the window and noticed a dark haired girl dressed in Shinto robes walk by. "Misu, how big is Shintoism here?"
Misu looked up at Aiko from behind her book. "Quite a few People practice it, especially native Virgans. They consider it the holy religion. Someone started it here, in a similar way as is was started on earth. Why do you ask?"
"I saw someone walking past in Shinto robes, and was surprised to see that outside of Japan."
Aiko and Misu looked at each other with the same expressions on their faces. Misu left a tip on their table as they ran out to see what was causing the dark energy that only they could see.
Next time: Guardian Mars? Who is that brown haired girl?
Thank you for reading. ^_^
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Character spot:
Misu Nadia Minerva
Name meaning: Misu=ripples in the water Naida=water nymph Minerva=goddess of wisdom
Age 14, attends New Hope JR high
Dark blue hair, blue eyes
Blood type: A
Favorite food: sandwiches
Hobbies: studying/reading, computer games
Weakness: shy
Strengths: intelligence, understanding
Necklace: blue stone with Kanji of "wisdom"
Birthday: September 3 (Virgo)
(not all the birthday's match the original Senshi, but the signs should)