Iie! Kawaii Kono Sailor Tin Nyanko..

 Written by Horousha

 Chapter 2

 The Coming War

Translation note: The word 'kohai' in Japanese means "younger member(s)"..for example, in a 
company, this is someone who joins a company after someone else. In Japan, it is a duty of 
someone who goes before (sempai) to lead the kohai, and teach them. There are more details
that might change whether a person is considered a kohai or not, but they are not relevant to 
this fanfic. Kohai is the opposite of the word 'Sempai'.

 Suzuko sighed and laid her head down on her arms in front of her on the table in her
room. Things the next few days were not quite as different as Suzuko had hoped. Kyoko still 
seemed apprehensive about whatever she sensed. Sometimes, when they were together, her friend 
seemed grave, giving her serious looks when she felt that Suzuko wasn't being serious enough, 
trying her friends' patience. Kyoko had never been like this before..of course, she was 
serious about her mission, but Suzuko was starting to feel like her friends' newfound 
strictness was starting to become a little much. Still, she dealt with it as best as she 
could. A few times, they came close to arguing but she had avoided it, either giving in, or 
brushing it off. She wondered what was wrong with her..didn't she know that if this continued, 
their friendship would..?
 As she looked up at the mirror, she thought back to her first meeting with Kyoko. She
had been 11, and had newly transferred to the school..she had been quiet, and cautious, 
observing people more than interacting with them, at first. On one of those days, she was 
swinging by herself when she had looked over to her left, and saw a girl a little distance 
away, watching her. She was a few years older than she was, with gentle blue eyes, and an
attentive, intelligent-looking gaze. The girl had offered her a smile, and though Suzuko
had not yet tried to make friends, something in her had compelled her to not just smile
back, but to go over to the girl, and sit down, and talk with her. Despite that she, up
until then, had not made friends with any girls that were older than she was, preferring to
stay around her age, she had enjoyed her time talking to Kyoko, as she found out that her
name was. It was like talking to a caring older sister. When Kyoko's friends had started to
tease her about talking to someone that young, she had stuck up for Suzuko, and made her
friends apologize. As time grew onwards, and they became better friends, Suzuko realized
that it wasn't friendship alone that bonded them..something that she couldn't place her
finger on..something deeply rooted in them, and yet hidden from her knowledge..
 Suzuko smiled. It was a year later that Kyoko had finally revealed to her who she
was..the planet's protecting soldier..Sailor Mau. She had been so shocked, that night..and
then, the next shock had followed immediately after. Her friend had told her that she,
herself, was a Sailor Soldier, too, and presented her with her transformation brooch. 
Everything changed from that point. She was aware of new senses growing and expanding within
her..what she had once felt as a slight ability to sense premonitions had begun to grow..and
she began to participate in fighting evil on the planet.
 "That really doesn't seem a very long time ago.." she mused to herself. She was 13,
now. Kyoko was 16..a little over a year and a half had passed since they met. Suzuko had
grown and was still growing in many ways..in understanding, in body, in thoughts, in dreams,
in many other areas. Suzuko sighed, feeling envious. Kyoko had already had a couple of
boyfriends..she had yet to have any.....she thought to how bright and happy Kyoko's eyes
had seemed, and how excitedly she had talked to her about what was going on between her
and the guy she was with..how she seemed so passionate, and light, and also..even more
feminine. Suzuko shook her head, her arms moving so that her hands could hold the sides
of her head as her chin rested on the table. "What am I thinking about at a time like this!"
Here her and her friend were in trouble, and she was thinking about herself. When did
you become a selfish person? she asked herself, looking in the mirror. At that moment,
her mother called her for dinner, and Suzuko sighed, getting up, pushing in her chair, and 
walked out of her room and down the hall, towards the kitchen..

 Suzuko ate her dinner quietly, aware of her mother's eyes on her. She had noticed the
change in her daughter's mood, and knew that something was wrong..Suzuko was coming home in
bad moods and seeming to be distracted..Suzuko's mother was in her early 30's and looked
pretty, yet mature. She had shoulder length straight black hair, and grey eyes.
 "Did something happen?" her mother asked quietly. Suzuko looked up at her a moment with
her golden eyes, and looked back down at her plate, nodding slowly. Her mother was silent,
just for a moment, and said gently. "If you don't want to talk about it, thats ok, but..its
hard for a mother to watch her daughter in pain. I want to help.." Suzuko looked up into
her caring eyes for a moment, then felt her lip begin to tremble. A lump formed in her
throat, and she looked down and away, wrestling with sudden tears that were trying to come
up to the surface. Her mother got up from her side of the table, moving over to her
daughter's side, moving the chair close beside her. She reached out to Suzuko, and though
Suzuko usually prided herself on being independant and strong enough for herself, she
leaned forward into her mother's arms, feeling her arms hold her gently close to her..her
hand gently brushing through the back of her hair tenderly, holding her close while her
daughter's body wracked against hers with sobs. Feeling a little like a baby, but not
minding too much, Suzuko clung to her mother, feeling a torrent in her heart coming out
in her tears. When she had calmed down enough to speak, she did so, through her gasps.
 "Actually..Kyoko and I...Kyoko.." she paused again, fighting to get control of her
breathing and the emotions that were trying to come up again. After a few slower breaths,
she continued. "Kyoko and I have been..fighting..a little.." her mother nodded, looking
into Suzuko's eyes, listening closely. "She..she thinks I'm not being serious enough..and
she is always getting on to me..its really hurting our friendship.."
 For a moment, she was worried about what her mother might think she was in to..what
she had said had been vague..but..she couldn't tell her mother that she was Sailor Senshi,
and her daughter is fighting evil, could she? To her relief, her mother smiled softly,
looking down at her. "I don't know what is going on very well between you two..but..Kyoko
is a very gentle girl, isn't she?" Suzuko nodded. "She has been your friend for a year and
a half, now..I've seen how much she cares for you..she is like an older sister who loves
you.." At this, another sob escaped from Suzuko's throat, but she kept steady, looking up
into her mother's eyes as she spoke. "I think..if she feels that there is something that
you should be more serious about..that she is only thinking about keeping you safe."
 Suzuko frowned, looking down, thinking about what her mother had said. "That may be
true, but..she is so strict with me.."
 Her mother smiled. "Suzuko..do you remember..when you were small, and I was strict
with you?" Suzuko nodded. "That was because you weren't mature enough to know what was
right, and I had to be strict so that you would grow to be able to handle yourself maturely
when you were older..that doesn't stop even when you start to grow up, like you have, now.."
Her mother's smile seemed warmer, as she looked down at her. "Of course, your mother doesn't
have to be strict with you, now..you've grown to be a daughter that I am very proud of..but
for even bigger, more important things..sometimes, someone has to be strict..but I want you
to understand..that they do that because they love you..not because they want to hurt you.."
 Suzuko looked into her eyes for a few moments, before nodding, smiling at her through
misty eyes. "Yes..I understand.." she looked around for the phone, leaping to her feet. "I
have to call her now!" She ran towards the phone, then paused, turning and running back to
her mother, hugging her tightly. "Mother, thank you!" She ran for the phone, picking it up
and dialing Kyoko's phone number, waiting anxiously for her to pick up the phone, her
slender finger playing with the cord. "Kyo-chan! Oh..I'm sorry..is Kyoko-chan there?" her
listened for a few moments, then her expression fell. "Oh..I see..thanks.." she hung up
the phone, walking back to the kitchen. "Kyoko-chan isn't there..mother..I'm going to go into
town. I have to reconcile with her as soon as I can." With that, she went to the door, putting
on her shoes. "I'm going!" she called back to her mother, and opened the door and stepped out
into the night.
 Suzuko's mother sat at the table, looking out towards the door, frowning. "Really, I
wonder what she's in to.." she sighed, resting her head on her hand. "Mothers are always the
last to know.." 

 Kyoko stood on the roof of the observatory building, looking out over the night below.
The city was full of energy..she could feel its pulsing heartbeat within her..her eyes looked
at the dark buildings, illuminated slightly by lights..and towards the centers of nightlife,
illuminated with lights of many colors. Her head tilted upwards and her breathing deepened
a little, her hand moving to her chest. She could feel it..what was an evil premonition
before was now bearing down upon the city..no..the planet with some force. She could feel
its weight upon her body, pushing her down, trying to crush her into the earth, it seemed.
Her hand touched the cold metal of the telescope mounted on the roof that she had looked
through a few minutes ago, and shivered. Despite what Suzuko had said, she could not believe
that the battle would not come..for it to be this strong in her..and the ominous signs that
she has seen. She was surprised that Suzuko hadn't felt it yet.
 "I wonder if we'll still be friends by then.." she asked herself softly, thinking about
how things had changed between them..maybe..she was being too harsh? She could feel the
pressure on their relationship growing..but..if her feelings were right..this battle may be
too big for even the two of them, together..if so..then..Suzuko had to be prepared..and
fight to the best that she could..and maybe more..as the eldest, it was her duty to make sure
that her kohai was prepared..she felt that strongly..but..Suzuko was maybe too immature yet,
to understand why she was being so strict with her. To really understand and appreciate the
full extent of how deep their duty went..
 Her eyes stung a little bit as she struggled with tears. I have to be strong, now..
the battle is almost here.. she told herself, but even so, she didn't want to lose her
friend, even though she was trying to help her..even if she didn't understand..
 "Kyo-chan.." Suzuko's voice said from behind her. Kyoko straightened, surprised, turning
around to face her. "What are you doing up here..? Its so cold.." she paused a moment, seeing
the tears in her eyes. "You weren't thinking of..?"
 Kyoko shook her head softly. "I was looking at the stars.." she said, her voice a little
thick. "Actually..I want to show you something.."
 Suzuko took a step forward. "Actually..before that..I have something I want to tell you,
too.."
 Kyoko paused. "Eh?"
 "I'm sorry for not understanding..I thought you were just being strict, because you were
upset, but..you're trying to teach me something, aren't you?" Suzuko looked at her.
 Kyoko paused a moment, not having expected this, but suddenly her face blossomed into a
smile. "Thats right.." her expression became serious again. "I'm sorry..maybe..I was too
strict.."
 Suzuko smiled. "Thank you.."
 Kyoko nodded, smiling. "So..you understand what I was trying to teach you, right?"
 Suzuko laughed a little embarassedly, her hand moving behind her head in her
embarassment. "Not really.."
 Kyoko sweatdropped, her expression falling for a moment. "Somehow..I don't feel
surprised.."
 The girls laughed a bit and Suzuko ran forward, embracing her friend tightly. Kyoko
started and gently pushed her back a little. "Hey, hey..we're on top of a roof, you know!"
 "I understaaand.." Suzuko said in a singsong voice, laughing a bit, smiling at her.
Both of them had tears in their eyes. Not tears of pain and fear like they had had before,
but tears of relief and joy.
 "I'm glad..I thought we-" at that moment, a surge of energy made both girls shiver where
they stood. "What??" Suzuko asked in confusion, still in the grip of this energy that made
her skin crawl from head to toe. From the city below, they started to hear murmurs and gasps.
Kyoko and Suzuko ran to the side of the roof, looking down to see what they were looking at,
but it was too dark. Suddenly, Kyoko grabbed ahold of Suzuko's shoulder. "Suzuko..look!"
Suzuko looked up at the sky where Kyoko was pointing, and gasped. "The stars!!" Across the
blackness of space above, a shadow seemed to be moving over the stars, obscuring them from
view, one by one.
 "They're going out.." 
 Suzuko turned to her friend, feeling scared. "What does it mean?" The veil began to
slow, but did not stop, instead creeping slowly onwards, as if some darkness was spreading
across the planet, or space itself. Kyoko looked over at Suzuko, her eyes again very grave
and serious.
 "Its what I've been trying to tell you..a new enemy is coming..we have to be prepared.."
 Suzuko looked over at her for a few moments, then back up at the veil..suddenly, she felt
as though her anger over Kyoko's strictness hadn't been as founded as she had thought..a new
enemy was coming..bigger than she had ever faced..she felt Kyoko's hand on her arm, and
realized that her body was quivering.