Author: Abigail aka Moonchild aka Drive Me Mercury
Email: abigail@makenai.org
Rating: PG-13
Chapter started: 4-19-03 Chapter ended: 5-07-03
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and all characters and settings belong to the one-and-only Naoko Takeuchi. All created characters and plots within this story are my own.
Note: I hope it doesn't seem like I'm carrying Miya's obsession with Seiya too far and giving her Chibiusa-syndrome. She's not in love with him or anything like that and she doesn't wanna be his girlfriend. -_-;; It's just that because she's never had a father before, she feels this deep want to know him and have him love her, so she's almost idolizing him in the way children sometimes do, even though she hasn't even spoken with him yet. That's all. :P
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*Chapter 7*
-Guess Who? Surprises-
Tomorrow. Tomorrow night she would leave. Miya lay on her back, staring up into the darkness of her bedroom, wide awake. How could she sleep when there were so many things to think about, so many things to wonder still?
In two days, she would meet with her father. (Setsuna informed her the journey would take at least a day.) Would he remember her from the 20th century? Would he be happy to see her? Miya was sure he would. For whenever she imagined their meeting he would greet her with a smile, and then she would embrace him in her dreams…
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Setsuna knew the risk she was taking. By not telling the Queen, she was surely setting herself up to face Serenity's wrath. Even if she did wield great knowledge and controlled the sentinels of Time, Setsuna knew her place, and usually she would be the last one to commit any slightest act of disloyalty. But for her own hidden reasons, Serenity would not act on her own.
The longer a secret is kept hidden in the shadows of one's heart, the harder it becomes to finally reveal it. Setsuna understood that all too well. But if she reveal herself only to the child, no one else need know. No, there was something deeper in Serenity's hesitation to meet the girl. What did she fear? Rejection? Sooner or later the truth would have to be told. And now, Setsuna told herself, she only wanted to avoid greater pain in each one's heart. If this was how she must do it, so be it.
No one else knew, of course, and Setsuna wasn't so brash as to betray the Queen's secret to the world. As far as the Princess Venus was concerned, Miya was Seiya's daughter and nothing else. A hint of amusement passed through the Time Guardian's eyes as she remembered the morning's conversation.
"H – hey, wait a minute! 'Father's planet?' You can't mean that Miya… and Seiya…"
Setsuna nodded silently, as Venus' mouth dropped open.
"Seiya had a…"
Setsuna nodded again.
"Don't tell me Yaten has a…"
Setsuna shook her head negative.
"But Seiya has a…"
Setsuna placed a single finger to her lips. "You understand, Minako, that this is something that shouldn't be told to just anyone. Particularly Serenity, for reasons I think you can figure out."
Venus had nodded as if she understood, even though she didn't completely. She assumed that Setsuna referred to the close friendship which Seiya and Usagi had enjoyed years ago, and that Usagi might be hurt if she knew of this secret. In any case, she was still too stunned at this point to do anything but agree.
Whether the girl would put two and two together in the next few days and deduce who Miya's mother might be, and whether she broke her pact and did speak with Serenity, it couldn't matter to Setsuna. Serenity would know soon enough, if Seiya did as Setsuna expected her to, and brought the child back to Tokyo to speak with her once-lover.
If that happened, who knew what sort of storm these winds of the past might stir up again. And that was another risk Setsuna was more than willing to take.
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She felt her body growing slowly heavier, her eyelids wanting to fall shut, in the bubble-like capsule where she was enclosed. Setsuna had told her since the journey would take nearly a whole day, it would be easier and less stressful on her if she were to sleep for the entire trip. The older woman had already given her all the instructions she would need, such as what to do on the unlikely occasion that the capsule should begin to malfunction. It was set on autopilot to drop her just outside the palace on Kinmokusei, and Setsuna assured her the princess there would be able to lead her to her father. All preparations were made and her transport was ready to go, now the only thing left… was to fall asleep.
As the sedatives inside the bubble's air did their work, Miya felt a smile cross her face. She lifted her hand in a 'V' sign for victory to Setsuna, who stood outside the capsule's clear walls. The last thing she saw was Setsuna's smile and her two fingers raised to return the gesture, as the capsule began to rise upwards…
When she opened her eyes again she was looking down on a vast green world that was not Earth. The land below her was spread with mostly a deep green vegetation. Here and there the blue jewel of a lake stood out or an orange-red mountain rose toward the sky. And gathered in big and small clusters were brown cities that looked like drawings on a map from way up here.
Miya shook the sleepiness from her head and stood, pressing her hands against the wall of her capsule, which continued to descend steadily toward one of the largest cities. She couldn't help being awed by its beauty. For a girl who had grown up in the crowded metropolis of Tokyo, seeing so much pure green land spread out beneath her was incredible. So this is Kinmokusei.
Before long, it was clear to see exactly where her transport was taking her. The bubble moved on autopilot toward the huge structure on the outskirts of the city – the palace. As she drew closer she was able see the intricate architecture and ornamental design of the palace building. It was truly impressive, in an exotic and beautiful way – very different from the beauty of Tokyo's Crystal Palace yet just as breathtaking. Huge red-brown columns, entwined with delicate vine, rose up in front to support the curved roof, while behind that the building towered even higher, sprawling out in several different directions. Silver-trimmed windows and edgings gleamed gold in the dying sunlight. As she admired the majesty of all this, Miya's bubble came to hover high over a small enclosed garden attached to the palace. And then it popped.
With a startled scream Miya fell six feet into the thick branches of a tree. "Owwwww…" she whined as she attempted to untangle herself from the sharp limbs that scraped her arms and face, and was rewarded with a branch that slapped her squarely in the face. "Stupid capsule, what kind of landing is that?" she ranted. "You took me all this way, and you couldn't at least drop me nicely in the flower bed?! Oh no! You have to drop me in the TREE!" She continued to struggle and got slapped with yet another branch. "I can't believe this! Kuso! Whatever Setsuna paid for that piece of junk, she got RIPPED OFF!" Her words were then cut off when the flimsy tree branch that had been supporting most of her weight cracked underneath her and Miya plummeted to the ground with another scream. With an "oof!" she landed unhurt (besides a bruised elbow and a good chunk of her pride) in the topsoil below.
"Sure… now I land in the flower bed," she muttered. She stood and brushed the dirt off her blue capris, taking the chance to survey her surroundings. It looked surprisingly like a semi-tropical garden on Earth, obviously well-tended. She closed her eyes and took in her first deep breath of Kinmokusei air. Smells so beautiful…
No one seemed to be around, so gathering courage as she went, Miya skipped across the flower beds towards the palace building, feeling a heady mix of trepidation and nervous exhilaration.
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Deep inside the ornamental halls of the palace, a single pair of black heels clicked against the jade floor, echoing and fading just as quickly into the stillness. Then they silenced, when their owner paused for a moment in the wide doorway that opened into the expansive main throne room. "Princess? You asked for us?"
The red-haired beauty smiled. At her side already was one of her three guardian soldiers, Sailor Star Maker, a tall auburn-haired woman with cool grace. Her violet eyes turned toward the door as the second soldier entered.
"Forgive me, Healer, it's nothing of importance," the princess began.
"The Princess is lonely for company," Maker spoke with a wry smile.
"Mou… Maker," Kakyuu chided demurely.
Sailor Star Healer was the silver-haired, emerald-eyed member of the Starlights, smallest but quite often deadliest of the three. She approached the other two as a grin crept over her face. "Is that all? You interrupted my beauty sleep and it's not even a matter of dire emergency?"
Maker cocked an eyebrow at her fellow soldier. "You were sleeping on duty?"
"I merely thought you might wish to know of the progress with the remodeling, since it does affect the area of the palace where your quarters are," Kakyuu spoke.
"Ah, that's good. I hope the crews are finished soon. It's getting to be a pain," Healer replied.
"But neither of our suites are affected by it," Maker pointed out.
"I know, but they've torn out part of the wall in the hallway and I have to walk by it everyday. It's ugly."
"Only you would find that an inconvenience, Healer." The owner of the fourth voice stepped up to join her three companions. Curly black bangs and cobalt eyes characterized Sailor Star Fighter's boyish face, and she wore the same low ponytail and black leather uniform as her fellow soldiers. A hint of amusement passed her eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"In any case, I've been told the remodeling crews should be finished within the week," the princess said. "So you'll only need to bear it for a little while longer, Healer." She raised an eyebrow at the silver-haired Starlight as she spoke.
"I didn't say I couldn't bear it," Healer pouted at the princess' mild remonstration.
"Perhaps if the construction bothers you so, you could move into the Princess' room," Maker teased. "And then she wouldn't have to call useless meetings simply because she craves company."
"Now, now, wouldn't Kakyuu-sama's husband be jealous if he knew she was sharing her bed with someone else while he's away?" Fighter added, more than willing to join the playful ribbing.
"Why of course not," Healer spoke with a smile, resting her head cutely on Kakyuu's shoulder. "It's common knowledge that I'm the Princess' mistress."
Kakyuu's musical laugh sweetened the room at Healer's comment, while Fighter took the opportunity to roll her eyes at Maker. "I'm not sure Kaoru would take that so well," the princess laughed. "Although I'd be more than honored to have you as a mistress, my dear. We'll just keep it from my husband, shall we?" After a moment she continued on a more serious note. "But there was another reason I asked you to come here."
"Forgive my interruption, your Highness," a servant standing in the doorway broke into the conversation.
"What is it?" the princess asked calmly.
"It's, well…" the man hesitated as if unsure how to explain something. "There was a young girl found outside the palace, my lady."
"A girl?"
"That's right. One of the gardeners says he swears he saw her fall from the sky… but she doesn't seem dangerous at all. She won't tell anything about herself… she only insists that she wants to speak to you, Princess. She won't say her name or where she comes from… "
"Bring her in," Kakyuu instructed, her lovely brow furrowed curiously.
With a bow the servant left and reappeared soon after. But the eyes of everyone in the room were now focused on the dark-headed child about ten years old that was following behind him. The servant bowed again to the princess and left the room, leaving the girl to approach the four Kinmokuseijin women on her own. She wore loose blue capri pants with a flower-print design, tennis shoes, and a white t-shirt with a cartoon frog printed on the front. Earth clothes, were Healer's immediate thoughts. But what were the odds?
Miya put one foot in front of the other telling herself not to be afraid. The red-haired woman in the long formal dress, who had to be the princess, looked beautiful and kind. Surely she would help her. She dared to glance up once to meet the woman's fire-red eyes and she smiled. Blushing, Miya felt a sudden warmth flow through her and she quickly looked down again, focusing on the princess' skirt and nothing else. When she reached the spot where they stood, she dipped into an awkward curtsy like she had been taught to do should she happen to pass the King or Queen in the halls of the Crystal Palace back home.
"Greetings, Princess, and I humbly beg your favor. I apologize for the interruption of my presence, and I hope that you are feeling well. I am Kawabe Miya and I ask that you graciously accept me," she recited with eyes level to the floor, one of her mother's "polite" greetings, and one which she had been practicing over and over in her head since she entered the palace.
"Welcome, Miya." The kindness in the princess' voice gave Miya the courage to finally look upwards. "What may I do for you?"
"I – I want to find my father."
"Your father?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"I will do my best to help you. What is your father's name?"
"His name is Seiya Kou."
A weighted silence accompanied that name and fell across the throne room and its occupants. Miya waited expectantly. As she did, she studied up close for the first time the three people who stood behind the princess. They each wore the same odd ensemble of thigh-high boots, gloves, shorts, and bikini top, all in black leather and adorned with accessories. And in their faces… there was something familiar in them that she couldn't place.
"Seiya Kou?" Healer finally broke the astonished pause. "But that would be impossible…"
"Young lady, are you sure you aren't mistaken?" Maker was just as incredulous. "There's no way Seiya could be your… unless…" She trailed off as her mind worked to consider the far-fetched possibility.
"Fighter?"
Only Kakyuu had seen the face of her lead warrior grow suddenly pale. At the soft mention of her name, Fighter's eyes tore away from the child and met the knowing face of the princess. By now Healer and Maker had both turned to confront their companion.
"It was just… just one time," Fighter's lips moved as her eyes traveled once more to the child who was looking innocently up at her.
"Then you mean that… on Earth…?" Maker spoke, waiting her friend to offer the explanation she hoped would come.
Healer was quicker to jump to the one inevitable conclusion her mind reached. "Usagi?!" Fighter's silent look spoke everything.
"Shit, why didn't you tell us about any of this!!"
"Well, I didn't know there was a kid!" she snapped back at the silver-haired woman.
"But still… you and Usagi!!"
"Did Usagi send you here, Miya-chan?" Maker looked down at the pigtailed girl.
"Who is Usagi?"
The room fell dead silent once again. Fighter balked under her two comrades' inquiring looks. "I don't know what she's talking about! There was no one else, I swear!"
"What if the kid's not even telling the truth?" Healer said, adding aside to Fighter, "Even if she's not, I still have a bone to pick with you about this." Fighter simply cast her a sullen look in response.
"Now, now," Kakyuu held out her arms for calm. "Perhaps we should let Miya-chan speak before this becomes a misunderstanding. What is your mother's name, dear?"
Miya stared back at the princess with the realization that she didn't know her birth mother's name. She had never asked, and Setsuna had never said. "I – I don't know my real mother's name," she admitted. "I only know my adopted mom's."
"So she is Seiya's child?" Healer questioned, getting confused by the moment.
Fighter ignored the question and stepped past the other two toward Miya. There was something about this girl that seemed so familiar, that drew Fighter to her. Something that made her think she might really be who she said she was.
As the raven-haired woman stepped toward her, Miya couldn't shake the odd feeling of nervousness. And then she knew why she was so familiar. The curled black hair and the same piercing blue eyes – it seemed almost absurd, but could she be… Seiya's sister?
"Do you know Seiya Kou?" she asked the woman who looked so much like her father.
Fighter looked down at her several seconds before touching her hand to the star brooch at her chest. As the leather uniform faded into casual trousers and blouse, she knelt in front of the young girl.
"I am Seiya Kou," she replied.
