Chapter Eight: Peak-A-Boo..Found You!
Miki had been disappointed when the spell didn't work as planned. He wanted to drop off Serena and just go home. So much for her helping to find Sailor Moon. He was silent all the way there, only wanting to go home. Home..orphans like me don't have homes... That's all he thought about driving. He wanted a home to go to. A family. A past to go back to. And that damn necklace that Pluto gave him didn't do it's job. He had rage building up and needed to get away from Serena as soon as possible. He didn't want his queen to see him get angry. She never liked it when he would bloody someone up. She would always cry and shout out his name and to stop. He always did as she told him to. Afraid that she would hate him and never want him. Then he wouldn't have anyone. Alone..again...
Once they stepped out of the car and walked up to the door, Miki had a sudden urge to rip off the necklace and crush it. Crush it into small little pieces and damn it to hell for being the only thing standing between him and his family. He pretended to check the time and worry about Jupiter coming home to find him. He nodded good-bye and rushed out of there. The drive wasn't pleasant either. Miki only thought about how he was going to fail this mission. How he was going to fail his queen and everyone in the future. They were going to relive their deaths. His heart broke as he thought about the images of everyone dead. It hurt to remember seeing his queen lay down on her lover's chest, holding onto him as she drew her last breath. Vowing that she would see him in the next life.
Miki walked into the hotel not noticing the viewers that passed him by. Ellen, the woman at the front desk, would always smile and welcome him back. She tried to do the same when she saw him, but with one death glare she froze. He marched up to his room and bolted the doors shut, closed all the windows, shaded the room 'till it was almost pitch black. Miki felt himself sweating. Weakening. Then it hit him, the urge to let out everything. he ran into the bathroom and retch in the toilet. He hadn't eaten any food since last night, so he knew that it was mostly the water coming up. The images of the future made him so sick to his stomach. He couldn't stand the sudden feeling. Tears sprung to his eyes. Half because of the awful smell and the other half from remembering. Why did he have to be in his ship that day? What if he had sent someone else in his place? What if he had canceled all the appointments and stayed there? What if he knew about the attack and prepared everyone? A lot of 'what ifs' came up, nothing making any sense. Why couldn't he be there for his queen? Why couldn't he have died with the rest?
Miki finished up and turned the sink water on. He washed his face and mouth out. A shower sounded nice and that always helped calm his nerves. Miki started the water in the tub and began taking of his shirt when he heard a banging sound. He took a minute to register what the sound was and where it was coming from. For the love of Selene! Can't a man be pissed in peace! Miki put back on his shirt and turned off the water. He mumbled a few words. He went over to the night stand and turned on a lamp. The knocking wouldn't cease so he shouted.
"I'm coming!"
Miki got to the door and swung it open. He was annoyed that someone would disturb him. He specifically told the Ellen to let NO ONE see him unless by his permission. When he saw that it was Serena, his stomach did flips. He wasn't ready to face her yet. He needed time to get over all this. Maybe if he got straight to the point of why she was here, then maybe she would go away. Let's try that idea..
"What do you want?"
"I know who you are..and I know who your searching for."
Miki's eyes went wide, then refocused into its cool status. He raised an eyebrow. The spell couldn't have worked. Other wise he would have known about it. It would have taken a sudden affect on both of them. Miki saw Serena step inside his hotel room without his permission and stood in the middle of the room. He turned around and shut the door.
"Be my guest and come right on in. Now what are you jabbing about?"
"I know why you are really here, Miki. You need me to tell you who your mother is."
Okay maybe it did work..wait..stop it Miki..this is how Serenity used to get information out of the enemy. She would pretend she knew something and then they would jab. Get a hold of yourself.
Miki rolled his eyes and pressed his index finger to his chin.
"Hmm...and who do you think my mother is..better yet..who am I?"
Miki didn't have to act anymore. Serena was easily getting on his nerves with this game of her's. He saw that she had tried to swallow her dry throat. What is she getting at here?
"Your looking at your mother..Miki...you're MY son."
This was getting out of hand! Miki let out a sound that sounded half moan and half a growl. He walked over to her and stood in front of her. Peering down at her with the same glare he did Ellen. Serena lifted her chin up and almost challenged him to get mad at her.
"What is this? Some kind of joke, Serena? If you were my mother, then you would have been -2 years old when you had me!"
"You came from the future..just like Rini...your younger sister..."
"I want you to leave, Serena!"
"No, not until you hear me out. I saw it..I saw a flash of my future. In it was your father, me, and you only months from being here."
"Do you even know what you're talking about? This is crazy! I know who my mother is..and you are definately not it!"
Serena stayed quiet trying to find out why he was acting like this. He was searching for his mother..she knew he was...and she was it. Then another thought came to her. What if he didn't know who she was? She looked down at her necklace and narrowed her eyes. A charm in the shape of a clock...a charm that could send you through time..a charm that deals with time! Pluto!
"Miki...Pluto gave you this necklace didn't she? She is the one that told you to come for me? Something has happened to the future..hasn't it?"
Miki sighed and rolled his eyes. He turned around and cursed, knowing he was defeated. If she knew about Pluto...then she knew about him. He turned back around to face her with a sad expression in his eyes. His face remained as cold as a stone. Geez does that run in Darien's family or what!
"Yes. She sent me to look for you. Pluto said that if I gave you the necklace that you would know."
"Know what?"
"How to find Sailor Moon..my mother...NOT YOU!"
Serena stood their and for a second she couldn't control herself. She busted out laughing. Miki raised his eye brow again and curled his hands into fists. How dare she make fun of him? Of his mother? He followed her with his eyes as she fell low to the floor. He growled and picked her up by the shoulders.
"What the hell is so funny? This is not a laughing matter! I need to find my mother!"
Serena covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing so hard. With a few shakes from Miki, she ceased her laughed into only minor giggles. Serena cleared her throat and smiled wildly.
"..Like I was trying to tell you... I am your mother..or atleast I will be in the future..."
"No...my MOTHER..is Sailor Moon... you are merely the future queen..."
Serena bursted into another set of giggles. How could he not know! Serena sighed and shook her head.
"Sailor Moon is a legend in the future right? Only stories told to the young ones?"
"..yeah...she helped bring Earth to piece...created a great Utopia for everyone. No one knows what happened to her..she just vanished...then you came and took over."
Serena placed a hand on Miki's shoulder and he put her down. She bowed her head and when she rose, there was a determined look at her face. The same determined look he saw on the queen many times before. He relaxed a little, knowing she was going to tell him something important.
"Suddenly vanished huh? Along with Tuxedo Mask..and the Sailor Scouts?"
"Yeah...well the Sailor Scouts stayed for some time. After a few 100 years the left. Went back to their own planets and established new kingdoms like Crystal Tokyo. You all united with other planets and began the Neo Silver Alliance. The palace and outer regions still needed protection..and the Scouts' children were very young...they couldn't handle it yet. That's were I came in. I heard about you and King Endymion needing the best warriors. Although, when I joined up to begin, I had to go through specific types of training. None of the others did...You told me that I needed to prove to carry the burden. When I completed my session I began General Miki Taro, Head of the Royal Guard."
Serena was taken aback. She couldn't believe what was going to happen. She took a breath and nodded. It was a lot of information to take in.
"Sailor Moon...and Tuxedo Mask are your parents right?"
"...yeah..."
"They didn't just vanish out of thin air, Miki. The transformed into the people you protected. Sailor Moon becomes Neo Queen Serenity...and Tuxedo Mask becomes Neo King Endymion."
Serena could see tears welling up in his eyes, she reached out to touch him. He only backed away refusing to believe anything. Serena stood their trying to find a way to convince him. How can I make you see I am her, Miki...Miki?
"Miki? Have you ever wondered where you got the name?"
"No. I never really cared."
"Miki Taro...am I correct?"
"...Yes..."
"...Do you not go by Chiba?"
"Chiba? Why would I do that?"
"..because it was your father's last name..."
"My father?"
" We named you Miki Taro Chiba...it means 'First born son of the Moon..Protector of Earth'. And that's exactly what you are. The very first son born of the moon. It's always been women...but I can see why you are a boy. Your father's family could only make boys. You were born of the mark of the moon..and the mark of Earth. The first son of the Moon...me...and Protector of Earth...your father's home...Do you believe me now?"
Miki was silent and stone still. Too many thoughts..voices...images in his head. Every one confirmed what she was saying as true. Is that why they always made him feel so welcomed at the palace? Is that why he felt a link to them all? Serena moved forward and wrapped her arms around his waist. Tears of happiness streamed down her face. She was holding her son. Her baby. The one they took away from her.
"..You found me, Miki...I'm your mother...please believe me...I am who you are looking for. You're home."
Home? He was home? He was home all along. This is where his past rooted itself? He glanced down at the figure and placed his head on hers. His hands wrapped around her and hugged her. His own tears mixing with her hair. He didn't realize that he was crying until Serena let go of him and wiped the tears from his eyes. Then he asked something he's been waiting to ask for a long time.
"Why did you abandon me?"
"Oh, baby...they never told you...I never told you?"
Miki shook his head as a child would and Serena let out a long breath. She moved to the bed and patted the spot near her. He nodded and sat down, facing her.
"Miki...you are my first son...your father's and mine. We wanted to keep you. We did. You should have seen your father's face when he learned you were a boy. He cried. I've only seen your him cry very little...but when he found out he was going to have you..he cried for hours. A few months before you were born, Sailor Pluto came to us. She told us that if you were born..then you would become power-crazy.."
"power-crazy?"
"Miki, you hold the blood of two VERY powerful families. One that holds the Silver Crystal..me..and one that holds the Golden Crystal. Both crystals were going to pass to you. One person cannot stand two crystals at once. My crystal drains me of life power every time I use it. Your father, I don't know..maybe he is stronger than I am. But if you were passed with both crystals..then the power would consume you. Your soul would no longer exist. She told us you were going to have to die."
"...Die?..."
"Your father got angry and was going to kill Pluto for even making the suggestion. Vowed that no hand would ever touch you. She told us the only other way to prevent this, was to give you up. The day you were born..she would take you and place you in the Farfalla Temple. There you would train as a warrior...for them...and perhaps us some day..which from what I can tell of your story..you did. But you were not allowed to know who you really are. Who we were. That's why we gave you up. Sweetheart, we didn't abandoned you...we loved you even before you were born...we never wanted this..."
More silence filled the room. Neither knew what more to say. Miki realized that he had completed half his mission. He had found Serenity...and discovered who is mother was. Now it was his turn to tell her of the rest of the reason for him to be here.
"...There's more.."
Serena lifted her head, which was placed down in the silence.
"More?"
"The reason why I am here. It is a mission I must complete..a last job before I can be relieved of my duty. First I had to find you...get you to reveal that you were the queen..then lead me to Sailor Moon."
"Yeah..well that part complete...what else is on the agenda. I know it has to do with the future..otherwise you wouldn't be here."
"Umm..yeah..about that I have to tell y-"
Miki was interrupted by a phone ringing. He looked around, knowing it wasn't his. Serena pulled out something from her back pocket and flipped the top. He watched as she looked into it.
"..Serena where ever you are..get down town. Ami is picking up some new vibes."
Miki recognized the voice to be Venus and cocked his eye brow. What enemy? There wasn't suppose to be a new enemy for the next 900 years. Something suspicious was going on and he didn't like it.
"Got it..I'll be right there..I promise."
Serena flipped the top down on her communicator and looked up at Miki.
"This is going to have to wait. When I get down with this, I'll come back."
She stood and bent over to kiss the top of his head. He smiled and nodded. Serena ran out the door. When Miki was sure she was out of sight and hearing range, he glanced up at the ceiling.
"PLUTO!"
"You yelled?"
Miki turned around to the mirror near the window and narrowed his eyes. He walked up to it and growled, showing her a fist.
"There is no enemy...I know you are behind this. What's the meaning of it? We are running out of time and Serena must know everything."
"..You were going to reveal everything to her. She must not know too much about the future."
"Why not..its better this way. Now they won't all die with her knowing what's to come."
"You don't get it. People of the past should NEVER discover their future. It would corrupt the time line. I cannot allow that. I sent you back on a mission. You have found Sailor Moon..now you must train her...put her through the ritual."
"No. I don't think doing all that would be necessary. If she is given the whole story..then she can prevent it from happening."
"That's not how things work..and you know that, General. Sailor Moon MUST complete the ritual..she must release the spirit of Kumori. This enemy is too strong. His past self is already beginning to explore farther into the universe..killing innocents..taking over lands. If he comes here everything is over..he will conquer the entire universe. Sailor Moon must become Kumori...she will defeat him. She's the only one with enough power."
"..I can't..I won't do this to my mother..."
"You have to. You have to complete this mission. Do you want to see them all die again? Beacuse you 'can't do it'? Do you?"
"..No..."
" Good. Do what you are told. Say the spell..have her relive the past two days of her life. Convince her that she will have to take on the spirit Kumori. She must sacrafice herself to save others. Do you understand?"
"...Yes...I understand. As soon as she comes back I will move forward in our plan."
"Good. You are doing the right thing, Miki. It doesn't seem that way now..but it is."
As fast as she was here, Pluto vanished from the mirror. Miki bent his head down cursing himself for being weak. He knew he had to do it. He rose his head and looked in the mirror. His reflection. Disgusted with the image, he pressed his fist forward and smashed the mirror into small pieces. He had a shity job.
Hehe..how did you like that? Solve the craving you had after the cliffy? Only a few more chapters and I will have the past complete...then I can move on to the GOOD stuff. I really hope you enjoyed the chapter. Thank you for the reviews!
