Road To Discovery
AN: This story comes after The End of Evangelion and Sailor Moon takes place after the Sailor Stars season, set in Crystal Tokyo.
Chapter 1 ~ Je vous présente...
Happy New Year! It's 2936! Already?! Escaping from the tangle of bed sheets, I realise that last night we had a party, judging by the tangle of party clothes strewn on the floor and incessant light shining in my eyes promising the lateness of the day. In fact I don't feel so good. I feel as though a million little pixies are pounding my head with sledgehammers. Seriously. I can't even remember what happened last night! Thank god I woke up in my own bed... god knows what would've happened in the state that I must've been in. What's the time? Urgh, 1.30.
In the afternoon.
That's the longest sleep I have ever had, mind you, that depends on what time I _went_ to bed. Up and at 'em! Ouch, head rush, I can't even see a thing as though I'm still drunk. Everyone tells me to drink loads of water as I drink, but I always forget. Dammit, where _is_ that bathroom! I stumble down the small stairway and meet with Sorrell. She's the type of person who even in a bright yellow tracksuit and smelly barber can still attract men from anywhere she walks. It's almost as though the ground she walks on is holy. She's a blonde bimbo who doesn't know when to stop. And she's one of those people who you can't decide if you like her or not. The kind of person, who can be a right bitch, but can be really sentimental and generous. At the present moment I hated her. Can't seem to remember why. Oh yeah, the guy last night who I really liked, what was his name? Oh yes, Toji. Anyway, I stupidly told Sorrell that I thought he was cute, and when I got to know him by the counter, she grabs him by the jacket in the middle of _our_ conversation and tries to dance with this infuriatingly smug look on her face as she looked at me. I gave her the evil eye and realised to my relief that he actually _left_ her in the middle of the song. Then... I can't remember. Oh well, it'll come with time, I hope!
"Morning..." I mumble to the girl, who did not deserve my acknowledgement, and judging by the screwed up face she gives me, I guess she can't understand a word I say and there's the fact that it's not even morning anymore.
"Good afternoon Naru-chan, had a good night's sleep?" Of course the only answer she gets is another mumble as I bang through the doorway and practically slam the bathroom door. Ugh. Who is that girl staring back at me? Is she some kind of deranged clown in the mirror? Fumbling for a headband, I tie up my red hair into a disaster of a ponytail, and splash my face with cold water. Brr, that was nasty. But already I am awake and aware of the never-ending hangover presently thumping my head with a hammer is being compressed into a slab by a piston.
Metaphorically speaking.
I wash the smudged mascara and eye shadow to accentuate my green eyes from my face and slump onto the closed toilet, massaging my temples in a vain attempt to remove it. I can hear the shrieks downstairs in the flat that I share with 4 other people, probably coming from Akiko and Hoshiko. They always argued for the tiniest of reasons, but I believe that underneath their spite, they have a great friendship. When they're in the mood, I see them in the sitting room, sipping cups of tea and talking in a friendly- like manner and actually engaged in a conversation. At the time I thought interrupting their convo was not a good idea. Anyway, as a description, they were both pretty in their own right. Akiko has long black hair in a side parting that was always clipped up by a red barrette. She was a bit on the short side, but her curved figure made up for it. Hoshiko had long brown hair tied into braided pigtails that gave her the look of a playful attitude, and that was just what peeved Akiko off. After all, the two were polar opposites. Hoshiko's taller than I am, and she has a rather muscular appearance despite first glance. Probably to defend herself from her 4 older brothers.
Ow! Damn electric toothbrush. Just when you least expect it, it _has_ to clip your mouth and carry on as though nothing happened. I glare at it as though it would smirk back at me but instead I drown it under the never- ending supply of water that cascaded down like a waterfall. It made me think of the endless swishing and swirling of the boundless water of the oceans and the 100 metre high waterfalls surrounded by a large plunge pool and gorge of recession that used to be filled with water ages back. Studying geography has that effect on people's minds.
Oh god I need to go.
Just as I flush the toilet I faintly hear the quiet voice of the most mysterious girl in the universe. Her name was Rei Ayanami. An albino I suppose, who never tanned no matter how long she spent in the sun therefore her skin was milk white. Her hair was a short pastel blue that fell into her face and hugged it, drawing you into her blood red eyes. She was small, thin but not overly so, and quiet. Too quiet. At first I invited her to stay with us out of sympathy that she hadn't many friends, but now I knew why. This girl was unemotional, nonchalant, but occasionally she placed a well-put comment of truth. But her words were way too formal to be normal.
"Do you require a neurofen?" See what I mean? Not very many people I know would say 'Do you require.'
"That would be nice, thanks." I say in response, as I find my way to the door and find the girl had disappeared. Going into my room, I put on my black tracksuit pants and a huge shirt I found somewhere beneath Mount Clothes. Thumping my way downstairs into the sitting room and on the sofa, I turn on the TV and find the Looney Tunes. Nothing like something you only needed half a mind for. After watching Coyote falling into the huge gorge again, I find a large glass of water and a pill in two white hands shoved into my face. I look up and see Rei looking down at me with completely no emotion.
"Thanks Rei..." I said, taking the items and gulping them down.
"Your welcome." She replied and walked away as though she was floating. I could tell that I was whom she considered as a friend, since I was the only one who got so much as a word out of her. The only other people she spoke to were Asuka the devil and Shinji the wimp. They are a trio in university, they were never seen apart. I wonder how such different people got mixed together and became friends. But they always held some mystery around them. Not to mention they always seem to disappear once a week for two days. I tried to ask Rei where they went, but she always replied a, "That is not your concern." Typical. But one thing I can tell for sure about the trio was that Shinji and Asuka are together, no matter how much she teased him and he apologised, I can see the way they look at each other when they think no one is looking. It's almost creepy how much they seem to _need_ each other. I've also noticed that every time someone talks about the past, they frown, leave or simply get this hurt look. I wonder if it has anything to do with the eye patch over Asuka's eye...? Or the glove she always wears over her arm...? I also remember the time when they freaked out one day...
~Flash back~
"My parents are engineers for the production of moto vehicles." Akiko said, nibbling on a sandwich. She looked up to me. "Yours?"
"I...I don't think I have any."
"God, I'm sorry." Said Akiko, placing a hand on my hand in comfort. "Since when?"
"I don't really know. It's funny; I can't remember anything from six years ago... Can you?" The group fell silent, trying to think back as far as they could, when they were interrupted by the sounds of Rei, Asuka and Shinji standing up to tower over them. They stared impassively at my group of friends and I.
"You don't understand do you?!" Asuka shrieked.
"Your parents aren't dead." Shinji continued, grabbing Asuka's bare hand. Her other gloved arm didn't move.
"They do not have the will to return." Rei said quietly. To be honest the look in their eyes creeped us out and I could feel us all shiver. The will to...? Before I could ask anything more, they turned and walked away in silence.
"Hey wait a minute!" Hoshiko yelled. "What are saying?! That Naru-chan's parents don't _want_ to see their daughter again? You bitch! How can you say that?!" I stared as they continued to walk, ignoring us and keeping us in their ambiguity. Damn them and their constant answers that give rise to more questions! Hoshiko made her stool screech in the café as she ran after them. I got up, followed by the Akiko and caught up, wanting to know the deal. Hoshiko grabbed Asuka's gloved arm and she let out an ear-piercing screech.
"Schei(e! How _dare_ you!" She tore Hoshiko's hand off her arm and narrowed her eyes. I saw Shinji get some kind of bandage from his pocket as he started to wrap it around Asuka's neck and arm. But she pushed him away and yelled, "You want to know why your parents aren't here?!" But before she could continue, Rei placed a hand on Asuka's shoulder and she instantly calmed down.
"I will deal with them." She said quietly. Shinji and Asuka nodded and left, as Asuka grumbled a little thanks as Shinji calmly wound the bandage around Asuka again. I vaguely hear a, "Does it still hurt?" Asuka nodded a little and they rounded the corner of the block.
I don't get it. How would they know where my parents are? I found Akiko behind me and she said, "I don't remember anything from before six years ago. The first thing I remember was when I was going to school." Hoshiko also nodded her head in agreement.
"Neither do I."
"Rei?" I asked her. She stared back at me in tired and age-old eyes. I shivered.
"Those who should be here do not wish to become a separate entity."
O...kay.
What the hell what that supposed to mean?! That people aren't separate? That doesn't make any sense! Urgh. I think instead of wrapping my brain around Rei's metaphorical words, at least I hope they were, I'll just continue watching Looney Tunes...
~End Flash back~
Ahh... the pill is taking effect. The weight is being lifted off my shoulders and the piston has stopped it's beating. But the pixies are still there with minuscule hammers in their tiny hands, giggling like maniacs. I laughed along with them as Tweetie again escaped Sylvester's claws.
Suddenly a mad pair entered the room and carried on shouting at each other but they paused to say,
"Good morning, Naru-chan."
"Do you want a bucket to puke in?" I nodded and shook my head for their answers, making it seem like a simple wobble of the great bowling ball instead of what was supposed to be my cranium. And they carry on their stupid argument of something about the washing up as far as I can tell.
And that was the morning, no, afternoon of the first day of being 22 years old.
~~~
With my request, I did nothing for my birthday in order to relieve the symptoms of my hangover. Instead I took a walk around the Crystal Moon Palace. Staring through the crystal gates of the palace, I saw rainbows glitter over the home of Neo-Queen Serenity. The woman was kind and gentle, but apparently with a power that no one could comprehend. Sighing I laid my head on the gates, closing my eyes with a sigh. Every time I look at the palace and at the queen, I always see this pretty, lively, klutzy girl with pigtails done into buns on the top of her blonde head. Who was she? This image had always appeared in my mind, as far back as I can remember, but that was only six years back. When I was 16. What happened before then? I suppose it's amnesia, but how come had I remembered where home was even though I had never been there in my recollection?
"You there!" a voice startled me out of my reverie and I looked up seeing brown hair in a high ponytail and rose earrings.
I blurt, "Hi Makoto!" Whoops. Where did that come from? I brush my wavy red hair with my fingers, uneasily continuing, "I mean... Sailor Jupiter." The tall girl who seemed to be the same age as me, stared at me for a moment and said,
"Wh... What did you call me?"
"Sailor Jupiter." I reply quickly.
"No no, before that."
I go red and tug at my cream polo neck. It felt like it was strangling me. "Umm... Makoto?" The woman ahead of me sighed as though relieved.
"You remember me?"
I raise my eyebrow in question. "Remember what? I'm afraid that name kind of spilled out of my mouth..."
"That's good enough." Jupiter replied and I find myself being pushed into an alleyway and to my very eyes, Sailor Jupiter, SAILOR JUPITER detransformed. In a flash of green radiance, I saw a woman, the same age as me, looking exactly the same as Jupiter yet wearing a green shirt and brown suede skirt. I did all that came to me.
I gaped.
Sudden memories or images surfaced my mind of a strong girl who removed all the bullies from the playground. She brought in cookies on peoples' birthday that tasted delicious and was friendly to anyone who didn't fear her. That included the cry-baby Usagi who happened to be my best friend.
Huh? Best friend? Usagi? The images of the blonde klutz entered my mind again. So _that_ was her name. And Makoto, was a friend of hers AND a Sailor Senshi. Did that mean that Usagi-? Then another, new vision appeared in my head. A forest, a stream, floating lights, no, fireflies were hovering everywhere and multicoloured flowers that changed it's identity streamed up huge trees, and at the top, I realise, is a city.
A city in the trees.
Suddenly interrupting my thoughts, Makoto tugged at my arm and took me into a small bar. No one seemed to recognise her for who she really was. If they did they'd stop what they doing and bow down to the almighty Senshi of Jupiter.
Plonking me down on a stool, she opened her watch and said into it,
"I need someone else to cover my position. Something urgent just came up." The watch seemed to reply and I saw a brief flash of blue light coming out of it. "Get going!" Makoto said and she closed her watch again ordering a pint of beer. She turned to me and said, "I was hoping you might remember someday. You didn't remember before the merge and I hope you do now as soon as I tell you." She paused as she thanked the barman and took a sip of her drink. "Do you get any visions, any memories?"
I raise an eyebrow. "Why am I talking to one of the senshi?" I ask, changing the subject. If anything the woman sighed and downed her beer. With a sweep swipe of the mouth she turned to me with a glint in her eye. I became nervous.
"Who do you think you are?" Makoto asked. What can I say? The question startled me since I thought she already knew who I was, even though I didn't have a proper clue to call this woman a friend to trust.
"Umm...Osaka Naru?" Why was it a question? I know my name, but coming from my lips at that moment made it feel like it was wrong. Makoto smiled at me sympathetically as I brushed my finger through my hair again in anxiety. What was wrong with me? Why was I chosen out of all these people around me? I'm...Osaka Naru! Just, Naru!
"Do you think it fits you?"
I shook my head slowly. I can't believe we're talking about my name. Hey! What about my question?! "You haven't answered my question." Makoto raised her eyebrows and nodded.
"I know, I'm coming to that. And you haven't answered mine."
Of course. An answer for an answer. "I have had some memories that don't seem to have any relevance to me. Every time I look at the palace or at Neo- Queen Serenity, I see a young girl, of about 13 years old. She's happy, a little klutzy and forgiving. She looks like the queen, but she isn't at the same time..." I pause to look at Makoto who is looking at me intently and with interest. To say the least I'm surprised she doesn't think I'm a crackpot. "But when I saw you, I saw another girl a little older than the one looking like the queen. She was tough, a great cook and kept the bullies away. She had her hair done like yours...And I thought that she was you, because you look so alike. And the other girl, I got a name in my mind and I think it's hers."
Makoto smiled. "What was she called?"
"I...I think she was called Usagi. Apparently she was my best friend."
"She still is. You just need to find her."
I scrunched up my face in an attempt to seem condescending. I don't think it worked. More like some kind of lop-sided, fail attempt at a smile. Surprise surprise. "What do you mean?"
"All in due time, but first, you have to sort out your identity."
"Do you know who I am, I mean, really?"
"...I think so. The only thing I'll be able to do would be to show you the way. You'll have to walk it." I hung my head and held it in my hands. Should I trust her? I should, she's a Senshi. They serve the queen and that is honourable in itself. I looked around the room, seeing a load of women of around 30, drinking and looking like wrecks in the corner of a very smart and tidy bar. Looking to the barman, he grinned at me as he cleaned the glasses and continued to serve other customers. Suddenly more women burst through the doors of the bar and laughed merrily, though I think they were drunk in the middle of the day, and made fun of the barman as he tried to remember their order from their gibberish.
"What kind of identity do I have?" I asked Makoto quietly, not even facing her.
"Your truth. Your birthright." Makoto responded.
I turned to her and my eyes seemed determined and my mouth set into a firm line of resolution. "Take me there. I want to know who I am." Makoto beamed and grasped my wrist, running out of the bar after tossing the barman some coins. Her speed of footwork was commendable, even if she wasn't in her Senshi fuku, and I had trouble keeping up. "Where are we going?!" I shout over the wind whipping my face. Makoto didn't reply, but suddenly her forehead glowed brightly of green and she reappeared, still running and holding onto me, as Sailor Jupiter.
But then she shouted to me, "What's the first thing you remember?"
"First thing?" Good question. Unlike what I thought most people thought, I couldn't remember anything from 6 years ago. In fact, I was sixteen, getting ready to get to the first day of school. "Um... getting ready for school when I was 16!"
"Anything before that?" Jupiter asked. I suddenly realised where we were headed. The Palace loomed in the distance and sparkled in all its glory. As Jupiter ran, and I was pulled through the air, she thrust her arm out and the gates that kept me away from the Crystal Palace opened.
I was on the premises.
Looking around me, I saw gardeners, stable boys, servants, princesses, princes, kings, queens.
I felt like an intruder from the sewers in the Golden City. I realised that Jupiter had stopped running, and I was walking beside her, suddenly very conscious of my baggy jeans and white polo neck. I stepped beside Jupiter like glue to the shoulders and managed to keep my gaze in front of me.
As we approached the majestic entrance, of large French doors and crystal windows, I stopped short and froze. Jupiter carried on walking, and as soon as she realised there was no presence at her shoulder, she turned back and saw me frozen on the spot. No civilian could enter, and for some reason I was given access. Why? Why why why oh WHY?!
Somehow Jupiter heard my plea and replied, "You'll find out, I don't think I should be the one to tell you." I nodded timidly and took my first step on the marble floor. I felt as though my heels would make a crack on the beautiful patterns, but I refrained from thinking so stupid. Mars and most other Senshi had high heels!
Once I reached Jupiter, we carried on walking as my eyes fell onto many beautiful paintings of the Moon family and the Solar System's family. I stopped at a painting of a beautiful woman with short red hair that hugged her pale face, and her garments were too hard to describe, yet her wooden staff intrigued me. It seemed to grow vines, which wound around the staff and the wielder. At the top was a large blossom, which glowed eerily. The setting was night-time, but many twinkling lights hovering in the air lit the image that was framed by multicoloured flowers.
I could feel Jupiter's smirk on the back of my head. Turning around, indeed she was, but with crossed arms she looked like a no-nonsense woman. I tore my gaze from the painting but it remained in my mind as we approached a fork in the hallway. We took the left, but from the right, another woman with long blonde hair tied into a half ponytail with a red ribbon ran after us.
"Jupiter!" she yelled. I turned around and was bombarded with more images in my mind. A bubbly girl, always in trouble and enjoyed her volleyball. She looked just like the other Senshi in front of me, apart from that she wore her fuku. Then I saw the other girl, Usagi, run after the other blonde, linking her arm with the other saying eerily and echoed, "Minako- chan! Where have you been!" The memory abruptly stopped and I collapsed onto the varnished floor. I could faintly hear them saying words along the lines of,
"Is she ready?"
"...Getting there..." But I couldn't hear anymore as I dissolved away into the black realm of unconsciousness.
###
Whaddya think? I always seem to come up with these weird ideas, don't ask where they come from! And just to let you know, I CAN spell 'colour', for you American pple out there, I AM BRITISH (...and French...my mom's side).
Oh and, as a disclaimer, I DON'T OWN SAILOR MOON. That belongs to Naoko Takeuchi and Neon Genesis Evangelion belongs to Yoshiyuki Sadamoto/Hideaki Anno/Gainax. I won't be bothered to put up this disclaimer on the other chapters, so this'll apply to them too.
Don't forget to REVIEW! I'd like your comments and how I could improve it. This is Juni Juni, signing off.
###
AN: This story comes after The End of Evangelion and Sailor Moon takes place after the Sailor Stars season, set in Crystal Tokyo.
Chapter 1 ~ Je vous présente...
Happy New Year! It's 2936! Already?! Escaping from the tangle of bed sheets, I realise that last night we had a party, judging by the tangle of party clothes strewn on the floor and incessant light shining in my eyes promising the lateness of the day. In fact I don't feel so good. I feel as though a million little pixies are pounding my head with sledgehammers. Seriously. I can't even remember what happened last night! Thank god I woke up in my own bed... god knows what would've happened in the state that I must've been in. What's the time? Urgh, 1.30.
In the afternoon.
That's the longest sleep I have ever had, mind you, that depends on what time I _went_ to bed. Up and at 'em! Ouch, head rush, I can't even see a thing as though I'm still drunk. Everyone tells me to drink loads of water as I drink, but I always forget. Dammit, where _is_ that bathroom! I stumble down the small stairway and meet with Sorrell. She's the type of person who even in a bright yellow tracksuit and smelly barber can still attract men from anywhere she walks. It's almost as though the ground she walks on is holy. She's a blonde bimbo who doesn't know when to stop. And she's one of those people who you can't decide if you like her or not. The kind of person, who can be a right bitch, but can be really sentimental and generous. At the present moment I hated her. Can't seem to remember why. Oh yeah, the guy last night who I really liked, what was his name? Oh yes, Toji. Anyway, I stupidly told Sorrell that I thought he was cute, and when I got to know him by the counter, she grabs him by the jacket in the middle of _our_ conversation and tries to dance with this infuriatingly smug look on her face as she looked at me. I gave her the evil eye and realised to my relief that he actually _left_ her in the middle of the song. Then... I can't remember. Oh well, it'll come with time, I hope!
"Morning..." I mumble to the girl, who did not deserve my acknowledgement, and judging by the screwed up face she gives me, I guess she can't understand a word I say and there's the fact that it's not even morning anymore.
"Good afternoon Naru-chan, had a good night's sleep?" Of course the only answer she gets is another mumble as I bang through the doorway and practically slam the bathroom door. Ugh. Who is that girl staring back at me? Is she some kind of deranged clown in the mirror? Fumbling for a headband, I tie up my red hair into a disaster of a ponytail, and splash my face with cold water. Brr, that was nasty. But already I am awake and aware of the never-ending hangover presently thumping my head with a hammer is being compressed into a slab by a piston.
Metaphorically speaking.
I wash the smudged mascara and eye shadow to accentuate my green eyes from my face and slump onto the closed toilet, massaging my temples in a vain attempt to remove it. I can hear the shrieks downstairs in the flat that I share with 4 other people, probably coming from Akiko and Hoshiko. They always argued for the tiniest of reasons, but I believe that underneath their spite, they have a great friendship. When they're in the mood, I see them in the sitting room, sipping cups of tea and talking in a friendly- like manner and actually engaged in a conversation. At the time I thought interrupting their convo was not a good idea. Anyway, as a description, they were both pretty in their own right. Akiko has long black hair in a side parting that was always clipped up by a red barrette. She was a bit on the short side, but her curved figure made up for it. Hoshiko had long brown hair tied into braided pigtails that gave her the look of a playful attitude, and that was just what peeved Akiko off. After all, the two were polar opposites. Hoshiko's taller than I am, and she has a rather muscular appearance despite first glance. Probably to defend herself from her 4 older brothers.
Ow! Damn electric toothbrush. Just when you least expect it, it _has_ to clip your mouth and carry on as though nothing happened. I glare at it as though it would smirk back at me but instead I drown it under the never- ending supply of water that cascaded down like a waterfall. It made me think of the endless swishing and swirling of the boundless water of the oceans and the 100 metre high waterfalls surrounded by a large plunge pool and gorge of recession that used to be filled with water ages back. Studying geography has that effect on people's minds.
Oh god I need to go.
Just as I flush the toilet I faintly hear the quiet voice of the most mysterious girl in the universe. Her name was Rei Ayanami. An albino I suppose, who never tanned no matter how long she spent in the sun therefore her skin was milk white. Her hair was a short pastel blue that fell into her face and hugged it, drawing you into her blood red eyes. She was small, thin but not overly so, and quiet. Too quiet. At first I invited her to stay with us out of sympathy that she hadn't many friends, but now I knew why. This girl was unemotional, nonchalant, but occasionally she placed a well-put comment of truth. But her words were way too formal to be normal.
"Do you require a neurofen?" See what I mean? Not very many people I know would say 'Do you require.'
"That would be nice, thanks." I say in response, as I find my way to the door and find the girl had disappeared. Going into my room, I put on my black tracksuit pants and a huge shirt I found somewhere beneath Mount Clothes. Thumping my way downstairs into the sitting room and on the sofa, I turn on the TV and find the Looney Tunes. Nothing like something you only needed half a mind for. After watching Coyote falling into the huge gorge again, I find a large glass of water and a pill in two white hands shoved into my face. I look up and see Rei looking down at me with completely no emotion.
"Thanks Rei..." I said, taking the items and gulping them down.
"Your welcome." She replied and walked away as though she was floating. I could tell that I was whom she considered as a friend, since I was the only one who got so much as a word out of her. The only other people she spoke to were Asuka the devil and Shinji the wimp. They are a trio in university, they were never seen apart. I wonder how such different people got mixed together and became friends. But they always held some mystery around them. Not to mention they always seem to disappear once a week for two days. I tried to ask Rei where they went, but she always replied a, "That is not your concern." Typical. But one thing I can tell for sure about the trio was that Shinji and Asuka are together, no matter how much she teased him and he apologised, I can see the way they look at each other when they think no one is looking. It's almost creepy how much they seem to _need_ each other. I've also noticed that every time someone talks about the past, they frown, leave or simply get this hurt look. I wonder if it has anything to do with the eye patch over Asuka's eye...? Or the glove she always wears over her arm...? I also remember the time when they freaked out one day...
~Flash back~
"My parents are engineers for the production of moto vehicles." Akiko said, nibbling on a sandwich. She looked up to me. "Yours?"
"I...I don't think I have any."
"God, I'm sorry." Said Akiko, placing a hand on my hand in comfort. "Since when?"
"I don't really know. It's funny; I can't remember anything from six years ago... Can you?" The group fell silent, trying to think back as far as they could, when they were interrupted by the sounds of Rei, Asuka and Shinji standing up to tower over them. They stared impassively at my group of friends and I.
"You don't understand do you?!" Asuka shrieked.
"Your parents aren't dead." Shinji continued, grabbing Asuka's bare hand. Her other gloved arm didn't move.
"They do not have the will to return." Rei said quietly. To be honest the look in their eyes creeped us out and I could feel us all shiver. The will to...? Before I could ask anything more, they turned and walked away in silence.
"Hey wait a minute!" Hoshiko yelled. "What are saying?! That Naru-chan's parents don't _want_ to see their daughter again? You bitch! How can you say that?!" I stared as they continued to walk, ignoring us and keeping us in their ambiguity. Damn them and their constant answers that give rise to more questions! Hoshiko made her stool screech in the café as she ran after them. I got up, followed by the Akiko and caught up, wanting to know the deal. Hoshiko grabbed Asuka's gloved arm and she let out an ear-piercing screech.
"Schei(e! How _dare_ you!" She tore Hoshiko's hand off her arm and narrowed her eyes. I saw Shinji get some kind of bandage from his pocket as he started to wrap it around Asuka's neck and arm. But she pushed him away and yelled, "You want to know why your parents aren't here?!" But before she could continue, Rei placed a hand on Asuka's shoulder and she instantly calmed down.
"I will deal with them." She said quietly. Shinji and Asuka nodded and left, as Asuka grumbled a little thanks as Shinji calmly wound the bandage around Asuka again. I vaguely hear a, "Does it still hurt?" Asuka nodded a little and they rounded the corner of the block.
I don't get it. How would they know where my parents are? I found Akiko behind me and she said, "I don't remember anything from before six years ago. The first thing I remember was when I was going to school." Hoshiko also nodded her head in agreement.
"Neither do I."
"Rei?" I asked her. She stared back at me in tired and age-old eyes. I shivered.
"Those who should be here do not wish to become a separate entity."
O...kay.
What the hell what that supposed to mean?! That people aren't separate? That doesn't make any sense! Urgh. I think instead of wrapping my brain around Rei's metaphorical words, at least I hope they were, I'll just continue watching Looney Tunes...
~End Flash back~
Ahh... the pill is taking effect. The weight is being lifted off my shoulders and the piston has stopped it's beating. But the pixies are still there with minuscule hammers in their tiny hands, giggling like maniacs. I laughed along with them as Tweetie again escaped Sylvester's claws.
Suddenly a mad pair entered the room and carried on shouting at each other but they paused to say,
"Good morning, Naru-chan."
"Do you want a bucket to puke in?" I nodded and shook my head for their answers, making it seem like a simple wobble of the great bowling ball instead of what was supposed to be my cranium. And they carry on their stupid argument of something about the washing up as far as I can tell.
And that was the morning, no, afternoon of the first day of being 22 years old.
~~~
With my request, I did nothing for my birthday in order to relieve the symptoms of my hangover. Instead I took a walk around the Crystal Moon Palace. Staring through the crystal gates of the palace, I saw rainbows glitter over the home of Neo-Queen Serenity. The woman was kind and gentle, but apparently with a power that no one could comprehend. Sighing I laid my head on the gates, closing my eyes with a sigh. Every time I look at the palace and at the queen, I always see this pretty, lively, klutzy girl with pigtails done into buns on the top of her blonde head. Who was she? This image had always appeared in my mind, as far back as I can remember, but that was only six years back. When I was 16. What happened before then? I suppose it's amnesia, but how come had I remembered where home was even though I had never been there in my recollection?
"You there!" a voice startled me out of my reverie and I looked up seeing brown hair in a high ponytail and rose earrings.
I blurt, "Hi Makoto!" Whoops. Where did that come from? I brush my wavy red hair with my fingers, uneasily continuing, "I mean... Sailor Jupiter." The tall girl who seemed to be the same age as me, stared at me for a moment and said,
"Wh... What did you call me?"
"Sailor Jupiter." I reply quickly.
"No no, before that."
I go red and tug at my cream polo neck. It felt like it was strangling me. "Umm... Makoto?" The woman ahead of me sighed as though relieved.
"You remember me?"
I raise my eyebrow in question. "Remember what? I'm afraid that name kind of spilled out of my mouth..."
"That's good enough." Jupiter replied and I find myself being pushed into an alleyway and to my very eyes, Sailor Jupiter, SAILOR JUPITER detransformed. In a flash of green radiance, I saw a woman, the same age as me, looking exactly the same as Jupiter yet wearing a green shirt and brown suede skirt. I did all that came to me.
I gaped.
Sudden memories or images surfaced my mind of a strong girl who removed all the bullies from the playground. She brought in cookies on peoples' birthday that tasted delicious and was friendly to anyone who didn't fear her. That included the cry-baby Usagi who happened to be my best friend.
Huh? Best friend? Usagi? The images of the blonde klutz entered my mind again. So _that_ was her name. And Makoto, was a friend of hers AND a Sailor Senshi. Did that mean that Usagi-? Then another, new vision appeared in my head. A forest, a stream, floating lights, no, fireflies were hovering everywhere and multicoloured flowers that changed it's identity streamed up huge trees, and at the top, I realise, is a city.
A city in the trees.
Suddenly interrupting my thoughts, Makoto tugged at my arm and took me into a small bar. No one seemed to recognise her for who she really was. If they did they'd stop what they doing and bow down to the almighty Senshi of Jupiter.
Plonking me down on a stool, she opened her watch and said into it,
"I need someone else to cover my position. Something urgent just came up." The watch seemed to reply and I saw a brief flash of blue light coming out of it. "Get going!" Makoto said and she closed her watch again ordering a pint of beer. She turned to me and said, "I was hoping you might remember someday. You didn't remember before the merge and I hope you do now as soon as I tell you." She paused as she thanked the barman and took a sip of her drink. "Do you get any visions, any memories?"
I raise an eyebrow. "Why am I talking to one of the senshi?" I ask, changing the subject. If anything the woman sighed and downed her beer. With a sweep swipe of the mouth she turned to me with a glint in her eye. I became nervous.
"Who do you think you are?" Makoto asked. What can I say? The question startled me since I thought she already knew who I was, even though I didn't have a proper clue to call this woman a friend to trust.
"Umm...Osaka Naru?" Why was it a question? I know my name, but coming from my lips at that moment made it feel like it was wrong. Makoto smiled at me sympathetically as I brushed my finger through my hair again in anxiety. What was wrong with me? Why was I chosen out of all these people around me? I'm...Osaka Naru! Just, Naru!
"Do you think it fits you?"
I shook my head slowly. I can't believe we're talking about my name. Hey! What about my question?! "You haven't answered my question." Makoto raised her eyebrows and nodded.
"I know, I'm coming to that. And you haven't answered mine."
Of course. An answer for an answer. "I have had some memories that don't seem to have any relevance to me. Every time I look at the palace or at Neo- Queen Serenity, I see a young girl, of about 13 years old. She's happy, a little klutzy and forgiving. She looks like the queen, but she isn't at the same time..." I pause to look at Makoto who is looking at me intently and with interest. To say the least I'm surprised she doesn't think I'm a crackpot. "But when I saw you, I saw another girl a little older than the one looking like the queen. She was tough, a great cook and kept the bullies away. She had her hair done like yours...And I thought that she was you, because you look so alike. And the other girl, I got a name in my mind and I think it's hers."
Makoto smiled. "What was she called?"
"I...I think she was called Usagi. Apparently she was my best friend."
"She still is. You just need to find her."
I scrunched up my face in an attempt to seem condescending. I don't think it worked. More like some kind of lop-sided, fail attempt at a smile. Surprise surprise. "What do you mean?"
"All in due time, but first, you have to sort out your identity."
"Do you know who I am, I mean, really?"
"...I think so. The only thing I'll be able to do would be to show you the way. You'll have to walk it." I hung my head and held it in my hands. Should I trust her? I should, she's a Senshi. They serve the queen and that is honourable in itself. I looked around the room, seeing a load of women of around 30, drinking and looking like wrecks in the corner of a very smart and tidy bar. Looking to the barman, he grinned at me as he cleaned the glasses and continued to serve other customers. Suddenly more women burst through the doors of the bar and laughed merrily, though I think they were drunk in the middle of the day, and made fun of the barman as he tried to remember their order from their gibberish.
"What kind of identity do I have?" I asked Makoto quietly, not even facing her.
"Your truth. Your birthright." Makoto responded.
I turned to her and my eyes seemed determined and my mouth set into a firm line of resolution. "Take me there. I want to know who I am." Makoto beamed and grasped my wrist, running out of the bar after tossing the barman some coins. Her speed of footwork was commendable, even if she wasn't in her Senshi fuku, and I had trouble keeping up. "Where are we going?!" I shout over the wind whipping my face. Makoto didn't reply, but suddenly her forehead glowed brightly of green and she reappeared, still running and holding onto me, as Sailor Jupiter.
But then she shouted to me, "What's the first thing you remember?"
"First thing?" Good question. Unlike what I thought most people thought, I couldn't remember anything from 6 years ago. In fact, I was sixteen, getting ready to get to the first day of school. "Um... getting ready for school when I was 16!"
"Anything before that?" Jupiter asked. I suddenly realised where we were headed. The Palace loomed in the distance and sparkled in all its glory. As Jupiter ran, and I was pulled through the air, she thrust her arm out and the gates that kept me away from the Crystal Palace opened.
I was on the premises.
Looking around me, I saw gardeners, stable boys, servants, princesses, princes, kings, queens.
I felt like an intruder from the sewers in the Golden City. I realised that Jupiter had stopped running, and I was walking beside her, suddenly very conscious of my baggy jeans and white polo neck. I stepped beside Jupiter like glue to the shoulders and managed to keep my gaze in front of me.
As we approached the majestic entrance, of large French doors and crystal windows, I stopped short and froze. Jupiter carried on walking, and as soon as she realised there was no presence at her shoulder, she turned back and saw me frozen on the spot. No civilian could enter, and for some reason I was given access. Why? Why why why oh WHY?!
Somehow Jupiter heard my plea and replied, "You'll find out, I don't think I should be the one to tell you." I nodded timidly and took my first step on the marble floor. I felt as though my heels would make a crack on the beautiful patterns, but I refrained from thinking so stupid. Mars and most other Senshi had high heels!
Once I reached Jupiter, we carried on walking as my eyes fell onto many beautiful paintings of the Moon family and the Solar System's family. I stopped at a painting of a beautiful woman with short red hair that hugged her pale face, and her garments were too hard to describe, yet her wooden staff intrigued me. It seemed to grow vines, which wound around the staff and the wielder. At the top was a large blossom, which glowed eerily. The setting was night-time, but many twinkling lights hovering in the air lit the image that was framed by multicoloured flowers.
I could feel Jupiter's smirk on the back of my head. Turning around, indeed she was, but with crossed arms she looked like a no-nonsense woman. I tore my gaze from the painting but it remained in my mind as we approached a fork in the hallway. We took the left, but from the right, another woman with long blonde hair tied into a half ponytail with a red ribbon ran after us.
"Jupiter!" she yelled. I turned around and was bombarded with more images in my mind. A bubbly girl, always in trouble and enjoyed her volleyball. She looked just like the other Senshi in front of me, apart from that she wore her fuku. Then I saw the other girl, Usagi, run after the other blonde, linking her arm with the other saying eerily and echoed, "Minako- chan! Where have you been!" The memory abruptly stopped and I collapsed onto the varnished floor. I could faintly hear them saying words along the lines of,
"Is she ready?"
"...Getting there..." But I couldn't hear anymore as I dissolved away into the black realm of unconsciousness.
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Whaddya think? I always seem to come up with these weird ideas, don't ask where they come from! And just to let you know, I CAN spell 'colour', for you American pple out there, I AM BRITISH (...and French...my mom's side).
Oh and, as a disclaimer, I DON'T OWN SAILOR MOON. That belongs to Naoko Takeuchi and Neon Genesis Evangelion belongs to Yoshiyuki Sadamoto/Hideaki Anno/Gainax. I won't be bothered to put up this disclaimer on the other chapters, so this'll apply to them too.
Don't forget to REVIEW! I'd like your comments and how I could improve it. This is Juni Juni, signing off.
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