The following day passed slowly for Minako. Her classes at school had been even more difficult than usual. Minako had never been a model student and concentration, particularly concentrating on what the sensei was saying, had never been one of her strongest points. But the idle daydreams that flitted through her mind usually concerned cute boys, pop bands, or pop bands comprised of cute boys. When it was necessary, she was able to push those thoughts to the back of her mind and accomplish the task at hand.
However, today had been different. Her mind was still stuck in that moment outside Shizuka's house. She winced at the memory of the slap, hard and shocking, causing her face to burn and her eyes to water. Shizuka's face had frozen with a look of shock equal, if not superior, to Minako's own, and then, after an undetermined length of time that felt like an hour but was probably no longer than a couple of seconds, she had turned and ran into her house without saying a word, without looking back.
After the shock had dissipated and her mind began to function again, Minako's first instinct was to knock on the door. She wasn't angry, nor was she hurt. It seemed all too obvious to Minako what had happened. Zetsubun, the shadow that had invaded her friends heart, had not fully been destroyed and was beginning to regain its influence. Shizuka needed help, now more than ever. But something told her that now was not the time, and she had willed her feet out of entropy and slowly made her way back home, the evening breeze feeling harsh against her raw cheek.
She had told Artemis what had happened immediately, and he had reached the same conclusion as her concerning Zetsubun. That night, in bed, Minako had had trouble sleeping, her mind replaying that evening's events in an ouroboros loop. It upset her to think about what Shizuka must have been going through at that same moment.
She had no idea what was happening to her, and judging from the look on her face following the slap, she had not been in control of her own body. Minako had begun to cry, then, not because she was hurt, but because of the thought of her friend, bewildered and afraid and alone in the dark, unable to trust even herself but not knowing why.
A sudden stab of anger had pierced her, then. That thing, inside her friend, filling her with sorrow, eliminating any hope. It made her sick. Shizuka was a wonderful girl. How dare this thing treat her like that?
She had climbed out of bed, then, and begun to dress, to go to Shizuka's house, to put an end to the monster once and for all. Artemis had tried to stop her, first by begging her to reconsider, then by physically standing in front of the bedroom door. Finally, his words had got through to her, and she had conceded to common sense. It was past midnight – even if Minako could get into her house at that time, it was doubtful Shizuka would have been in any state to see her, and considering Minako's fragile state too, there was a good chance it would end badly for all concerned.
Instead, they would both visit Shizuka tomorrow, after school. Artemis didn't think it was likely Shizuka would attend school herself. Hopefully, she would have calmed down after the initial night, take comfort in Minako's forgiveness, and the two of them could help her finally defeat the monster that lurked inside her.
Minako had agreed, although it hadn't made it any easier to sleep.
The school day finally came to an end, and, meeting Artemis at the school gates, Minako had set off for Shizuka's house. She had moved quickly, anxiously, with a walk that was only a rung below a run.
At last, Shizuka's house came into view, and the two treaded the little path that led to the front door. Exchanging a glance with Artemis that was half nervousness and half determination, Minako cleared her throat and knocked loudly on the door.
A few moments passed, before the door finally opened. A pretty woman, who Minako estimated to be in her thirties, stood before them, her striking features soured by a worrisome expression. Noting how similar she was to Shizuka in appearance, Minako correctly assumed her to be Shizuka's mother.
"Excuse me," Minako began politely. "Are you Shizuka-chan's mother?"
The expression on the woman's face was grim as she confirmed what Minako already knew. "Yes, I am," she said.
"My name is Aino Minako," said Minako. "I'm a friend of your daughters."
A faint smile crossed the woman's face before fizzling out. "Ah, you must be the Mina-chan I've heard so much about," she said wistfully. "Shizuka has been talking about you all week."
Minako smiled. "Can I see her? She wasn't at school today and I was worried something had happened to her."
It was a slight lie, but Minako could hardly tell her the truth. She waited, holding her breath, for a reply. She wasn't going to take no for an answer, but it would be a lot easier if she was allowed into the house. A soldier of justice she might have been, and she was most certainly the Goddess of Love, but she wasn't exactly skilled at house infiltration. Her only knowledge of such things came from spy movies, and it wasn't really the same thing.
Shizuka's mother lowered her eyes. "Shizuka…" she said sadly, quietly, almost under her breath. Her eyes looked back up at Minako. "She hasn't left her room since last night. It's just like she was a week ago. I was so worried about her, but then she just cheered right up and I thought she was okay. Until yesterday."
"Could I talk to her?" asked Minako, hopefully.
Shizuka's mother considered this for a moment. "I don't think she's in any condition to see anyone right now," she replied. Minako's heart plunged into her stomach and she opened her mouth to protest, but before she could form any words, the woman continued. "On the other hand, Shizuka has been a lot happier since she met you. If anyone can make her feel better, you can."
Minako's heart rebounded back into her chest and she grinned. "So I can come in?"
Shizuka's mother nodded, and took a step backwards. Minako stepped inside. "Please forgive my intrusion," she said politely as she bent down and began to remove her shoes. Artemis took a step toward the door to follow her, but Shizuka's mother blocked his path. "You, on the other hand," she said, in a voice that wasn't unkind, but left no room for argument, "cannot."
"Nyaaaa!" mewed Artemis, doing his best to sound both cute and disappointed at the same time. It clearly didn't work. The woman turned to Minako, who had finished removing her shoes and was placing them neatly by the door. "I'm sorry, but we don't allow cats in the house," she explained. "My husband is allergic to them."
Minako shot him an apologetic look and shrugged her shoulders. "Wait outside for me, okay?" she said, her tone one of forced condescension that she only used when addressing him in the company of other people, or when she was feeling particularly spiteful. This situation was the former, and Artemis reluctantly obeyed and stepped away from the door, which Shizuka's mother closed.
She turned away from the door to face Minako and gestured to the staircase. "Shizuka is in her room at the end of the hall," she said. "I do hope you can make her feel better. We're terribly worried about her."
Minako nodded. "Me too," she said, and made her way up the stairs.
The hallway at the top was quite a long one, and Minako felt a little anxious as she padded along it. Finally, she reached the door to Shizuka's bedroom, and, swallowing nervously, raised a hand and knocked on it quietly. After a few moments, there was no reply, so she knocked again, louder this time. There was still no response from inside.
She pressed her ear to the thick wooden door. She thought she could hear the sound of movement inside, but she wasn't sure. She cleared her throat again and put her mouth to the keyhole. "Shizuka-chan?" she said, in a tone as kind as she could muster. "It's Minako. Please open the door."
This time, she was sure she had heard movement, but still, there was no response from inside.
"Shizuka, please," Minako said again, keeping her tone soft and speaking slowly, comfortingly. "I'm not mad about yesterday. I just want to talk to you, okay? So, please, open the door."
Movement, again, and then footsteps approaching the door. There was the sound of a bolt being loosened, and then the door swung open. Minako gasped as Shizuka practically collapsed into her arms. She supported her friend, and likewise wrapped her arms around her. "Mina-chan…" mumbled Shizuka with a strained voice that suggested she had been crying for several hours. "I… I…"
Her words were lost in tears, and she began to weep into Minako's shoulder. Her arms tightened around her until it was almost painful. Minako tightened her embrace too, struggling to refrain from crying herself. She had to remain strong to help her through this.
"It's okay… it's okay…" Minako whispered soothingly into her ear. "I forgive you."
Loosening her embrace, she took Shizuka's hand and led her over to the unmade bed. She noticed that Shizuka was still wearing her school uniform from yesterday, including her shoes. She must have been truly upset last night, she thought, with a twinge of sadness that was almost guilt. It was ridiculous, of course, but all the same, it almost felt like her fault.
She pushed the thought away and sat down on the bed. Shizuka sat beside her, and Minako took her hands. For a moment, Shizuka's puffy eyes evaded hers, but she finally managed to establish contact between them.
"Mina-chan…" Shizuka whimpered. "About yesterday… I… I don't know…"
She began to flounder wordlessly. "It's okay," said Minako softly. "I forgive you. I just want to help you. You're going to be fine."
"Mina… cha…" Shizuka whimpered, her eyes filling with tears again, this time due to relief. She crumpled forwards into Minako's arms again without saying another word. Minako held her gently, rocking her back and forth. Sorrow ran through her again, at seeing her friend in such a state.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. Her promise to Shizuka was not an empty one. She was going to be happy.
She was going to be fine.
Concealed in the chest of the distraught girl, the shadow known as Zetsubun felt a flourish of anger and disgust pass through her. What was wrong with this pathetic girl? Over the past few days, Zetsubun had quietly gathered enough energy to assert her influence, and had used it to make her host slap the bitch in her sickeningly beautiful face. That was all that needed to be done, or so Zetsubun had thought. She would never come back again and her host, having lost her only friend, would quickly sink back into a deep depression, this time never to return. Last night it had looked promising, but now, she was holding her and the tears her host was crying were not of pain but of relief.
She could feel the warmth of the bitch's hands, wrapped around her hosts body. This child was so warm, so full of compassion. Zetsubun had never felt anything like it, and it wasn't something she was planning to experience for much longer. She had to do something. Already she could feel herself weakening. There was only one way she'd be free of her, and only one way her host would finally succumb and give Zetsubun the miserable energy she craved.
She was going to have to kill the bitch.
After some time had passed, Shizuka's tears had begun to subside, and they had parted. Shizuka began to wipe her watering eyes and runny nose on the white sleeves of her uniform, but Minako halted her, reached into her breast pocket and produced a white handkerchief. She handed it to Shizuka, who accepted it gratefully and blew her noise loudly. Minako couldn't help but smile.
The next several moments passed like a blur. Minako wasn't sure of the sequence of events or how they had begun, but she recalled that Shizuka had lunged for her, not for another cuddle but in an attempt to wrap her hands around her throat and choke her. Rational thought and linear progression were lost in the moments that followed, but when Minako came to her senses, she had Shizuka pinned to the ground face-first, with her hands holding down Shizuka's elbows and her knee planted in the small of her back.
"Shizuka-chan!" she cried. "Come to your senses!"
Shizuka did not, instead jerking her body upwards, knocking Minako off balance. She slithered out from beneath her and lunged at Minako again, sending her crashing to the ground. She grabbed a handful of blonde hair in each hand and yanked on it, hard. A yelp of pain escaped Minako's throat, and tears pricked at her eyes. As Shizuka attempted to tear out her hair by the root, she struggled to place a foot in Shizuka's stomach and extended her leg, pushing as hard as she could. Shizuka stumbled away and crashed into the table beside the bed. She bounced off to land in a heap on the floor, surrounded by a pile of knick-knacks that had inhabited the table a moment earlier.
Her face red, Minako crawled on her hands and knees across the carpet, towards the prone girl. For a split second, she saw a familiar looking girl with blonde hair and a red ribbon coming towards her, and then the right side of her face, where she had been slapped the day before, exploded with pain and she collapsed to the carpet. Her assailant was a mirror that had fallen off the bedside table. Shizuka had grabbed it, waiting until Minako was close before hurling it at her. Upon impact, it had shattered, showering sharp shards across the room.
In seconds, Shizuka was on top of her, her hands curled like talons. She scratched and tore at Minako's face, at her clothes, at her hair. Minako frantically struggled beneath her, desperately trying to get free, but she couldn't gain any leverage. She looked up, and her eyes met with those of her attacker.
It was not anger that she saw there, but sorrow. A single teardrop loosened itself from her eye and landed with an inaudible splash on Minako's cheek. Seeing this, compassion seized Minako, a longing to help this girl who was a prisoner in her own body.
"Shizuka-chan, please! Listen to me!" she cried. "I know you can hear me! You have to fight it!"
Shizuka stopped dead, as if she were a toy that had been turned off. Her wide, sorrowful eyes stared down at Minako, who smiled, in spite of her face, which was bleeding from several small cuts, courtesy of the broken mirror.
"You have to fight it, Shizuka-chan," she said softly.
She gasped as Shizuka screamed, an animalistic sound full of hatred. It barely sounded human. Minako recognised it, to her dismay. It was the sinister, malicious voice of Zetsubun. Holding Minako down with one hand, she grabbed a nearby lamp that had been thrown to the ground during the fracas and raised it into the air.
Minako stared up at it. So this is it, she thought dazedly. This is how I die. Some soldier of justice I am. What would Artemis think of me?
As if summoned by thought alone, a white shape rocketed through the air with a feline yell, slamming into Shizuka's chest a nanosecond before she brought the lamp crashing down on Minako's head. Shizuka dropped the lamp and fell backwards. Artemis landed on her chest, but before he could make another move, Shizuka's hand had tightened around his tail like a vice and he was hurled across the room. He flew over the bed and slammed hard into the wall.
However, the distraction had given Minako more than enough time to act. She dived on top of Shizuka and wrapped her hands around the girls wrists so tightly that her knuckles went white. She thrust one of her knees into Shizuka's stomach, who yelped with pain. Minako winced as if she had been struck herself. Just as Artemis had said in her first battle with Zetsubun, every bit of damage she was causing was hurting Shizuka too. She apologised silently and held the struggling girl to the ground with all of her might.
"Shizuka-chan!" she yelled, staring intently at her eyes. The rest of her face was contorted with anger, her body jerked and thrust violently under the monster's control, but the eyes were Shizuka's and Shizuka's alone. She spoke to them, her voice soft, despite the writhing body beneath her.
"Shizuka-chan, listen to me. You can fight it. I know you can. I know you want to be happy, and you can be, but you have to fight it. Please."
She paused.
"Do it for me."
Shizuka moaned as if she'd been hit, and her struggling increased. Minako could feel her own shoulders burning as if they were filling with acid. Her strength was giving out. But she knew the same was true of Shizuka. While her struggles were becoming more and more desperate, they were also becoming slower and weaker. Zetsubun had been weakened by their first battle. Now she was limited by the body she inhabited, and it was a body that was quickly losing stamina.
She spoke to those eyes, those clear sorrowful eyes of her friend, again. This time her voice was louder, more insistent.
"Shizuka-chan, fight it!" she cried. "You can beat it! I know you can! You're not weak! You're a strong girl!"
Shizuka grimaced painfully as further bestial growls escaped her throat.
"Fight it, Shizuka-chan!" cried Minako again, louder than ever. "You're strong! You can do it! FIGHT IT!"
Shizuka's face contorted into an expression of agony, and she screamed, a low disharmonic sound that stretched on and on, until it was barely a sound at all, it was a presence in the room, a darkness, a shadow. The air in the room became heavy and oppressive beneath it.
Minako saw it then, an inky blackness that distorted the air around it, flowing out of Shizuka's body, assembling itself into a shape in the corner of the room. It began to solidify and take form, until it was vaguely humanoid, but with no defined edges and no details that Minako could make out.
Zetsubun's true form, she thought, the anger she had felt the previous night flaring up inside her again. She looked down at Shizuka's body, which she still had pinned to the carpet. Her face was still and silent, her eyes closed. Her chest continued to rise and fall softly. She was alive, but unconscious.
More importantly, she was free.
With some effort, Minako stood, her legs threatening to buckle under her. She glared at the shadow that cowered in the corner of the room. It rippled and warped before her eyes, as if struggling to maintain its already rudimentary form.
"Beautiful child…" it rasped in a cold whisper that made Minako's spine tingle. "Will you not have… mercy… on me?"
Minako frowned. "You don't deserve mercy," she replied.
The shadow chuckled, and every part of Minako's body, from her ears to the tips of her toes, went cold. Behind her, Artemis appeared, his eyes foggy but his voice determined. "Mina," he said urgently. "Transform!"
Without taking her eyes off the shadow in the corner, Minako nodded once and reached into her pocket. She pulled out the gold pen and held it above her head.
"Venus Power! Make-Up!"
With a flash of light, her clothes faded away and her combat uniform – the modified sailor suit with its shoulder protectors and miniskirt, appeared in their place. White gloves appeared on her hands and blue shoes on her feet. The red mask appeared over her eyes.
Sailor V stretched out her arm and pointed her finger at the shadow.
"You travel from person to person, contaminating their beautiful souls and exploiting their misfortune!" she cried angrily. "Unforgivable!"
The tip of her finger began to glow with golden energy. Sailor V focused everything on it: her anger, her pain; but mostly her compassion, her desire to help Shizuka, her desire to rid the world of such loathsome beasts as Zetsubun who took pleasure in misery and suffering. It was for this reason that she was Sailor V, pretty soldier of love, beauty and justice, and it was for this reason that she would endure any hardship to help others.
The energy at her fingertip reached a pinnacle.
"CRESCENT BEAM!" she yelled. As she spoke the words, the energy rocketed across the room, from her fingertip to the very centre of the shadow in the corner. Its golden light illuminated the room with a beautiful, ethereal glow, as if they were directly under the light of the planet Venus itself. Zetsubun screamed as her body was torn apart, like a shadow beneath the rising sun. The scream faded along with her body, until it was nothing more than a hum, and then it was indiscernible to the human ear. Her body silently wavered in existence for a moment longer, before it finally disintegrated.
Sailor V stared at the spot where it had been for a moment, before turning to look down at Shizuka. She was beginning to stir. V exchanged a glance with Artemis, who smiled at her, the fog in his blue eyes lifted.
"Good job, Mina," he said with honest admiration in his voice. "I'm proud of you."
Sailor V smiled, and closed her eyes. With a flash, her combat uniform was gone and the mask across her eyes disappeared. Her school uniform returned.
"M… Mina… chan…" groaned Shizuka, from the ground. Her eyes fluttered open to rest on the blonde girl who crouched beside her. Her face was covered in cuts and bruises and her uniform was torn and frayed, but in spite of this, she smiled brightly.
"It's okay now," said Minako. "It's gone."
Shizuka frowned, puzzled, and then she seemed to understand. She smiled back. "Thank-you, Mina-chan," she said, her voice full of gratitude. "Thank-you so much."
"Don't thank me," replied Minako. "Thank Sailor V."
A puzzled expression returned to Shizuka's face. "Sailor V?" she asked, honestly confused. "The videogame character?"
Minako raised a hand to her mouth to stifle a laugh. Shizuka stared at her for a moment, more confused than ever, and then suddenly burst into laughter herself. Minako joined her, and the pair of them laughed, loud and clear, a simultaneous release of relief and joy. They continued to do so until a third voice suddenly spoke up behind them, in a tone several leagues away from being humorous.
"What on earth happened in here!" cried Shizuka's mother, who stood in the doorway, taking in the debris-covered room and her daughter, laying on the floor with Minako, with her torn uniform. Her expression was not so much anger as it was sheer mystification, disbelief at what her eyes were showing her.
Finally, she managed to speak again. "Were you two… fighting!"
Minako and Shizuka looked at one another, then looked at her, and then looked back at one another again. Then, once more, they burst into laughter, even louder and longer than before.
Shizuka's mother stood in the doorway of the wrecked bedroom, staring open-mouthed at the two girls who giggled like idiots amidst the mess. She noticed with a start that the white cat was sitting next to them. If she hadn't known any better, she could have sworn he was grinning too.
Finally, Shizuka's laughs subsided, and she rose to a sitting position with her back against the bed. She smiled at her mother, who was still staring at them expectantly.
"Mama," she said, her voice threatening to erupt into giggles again. "I'm alright now."
She smiled widely at Minako, who smiled back, and then back at her mother.
"I'm going to be fine."
