Disclaimer: Do you need a silencer if you are going to shoot a mime? Ah, that is a good question. However, I mean to tell you that I do not own Sailor Moon.
Chapter 3: Ex Gratia
I was having a very attractive--however inaccurate--dream when a ring shot through the vivid images that had captivated my slowly wakening mind. I turned in my bed and struggled to get my hand free from my sheets. Hand free, I struck my rectangular alarm clock with unnecessary force but soon realized it had not been ringing at all. Beside the alarm clock on the night table, my phone chimed cheerfully; signalling a long-distance phone call. I blinked and rubbed the sleep from my eyes before re-checking the time on the clock. I grinned and picked up the phone.
"How's the dear little soldier of love doing on this fine morning?"
"Just fine, Rei-chan. But of all people, you should know best never to wake the goddess of love from her beauty sleep."
I heard Rei snort sarcastically and mumble something about vengeance. I laughed lightly and sat up against the headboard of my bed.
"I need to see Michiru-chan today anyway. What have you been up to?"
"I'd say nothing but you know I'd be lying." She said.
"Please relax a little bit."
I knew she would never ask anyone for help. Far too much pride and that's why I didn't tell her to ask for more help if she needed it. At this rate she'd be sick again within a few days.
"I'm sure I'll be fine. Just a little bit more unfinished business and most of the problem will just go away on it's own."
"Is Ami helping you with that?"
"As much as she can. I don't want her to drop her studies just because of me; she's in school and I know it requires more attention than she's been giving it lately."
"She just wants you to be safe."
"Just like you do."
"Yes. We all do."
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence on the line. I frowned and thought of something relatively blonde and girlish to reply with and the conversation ended on something of a happy note. These morning calls were going the be fun; the sleep deprivation was not. I padded out of my bedroom and into the bathroom to prepare for my morning meeting with Michiru. Who cares if I was six hours early? All the while that I spent showering and preparing and clothing, I thought of how the relationship between Michiru and I had strengthened…
The violinist was as she ever was: enchanting and mature. But she often made an effort to seem more approachable. When I arrived at a small coffee shop, I spotted the beautiful woman sitting at a booth. Another had been sitting across from her and she did not look at all pleased by his presence. Rabid fan; that was my guess. Michiru must have accidentally caught the heart of a young man who now seemed to be proposing to her. I equip myself with a grin and a strode happily to the table.
"Honey? Is this man bothering you?"
If Michiru had been startled then she had not shown it. Instead, she looked at me with a slow and sexy smile. Obviously, great minds think alike.
"You're late." I saw Michiru reach with a hand and take one of my own. "I missed you."
"Traffic was bad. Is this a friend of yours?"
"Oh, no. Just a young man dead set on winning my heart."
I grin and look down at the thoroughly confused suitor.
"Sorry buddy, she didn't get your hopes up did she? Ah...Michiru, love, you should be more gentle with the boys."
"Are you jealous?" She asked.
"Maybe."
"You're with...her?" Suddenly the young man seemed horrified.
"Three years and steady." I answered.
The young man stood abruptly and turned red. He apologised profusely and went back to his own table. His expression was priceless and Michiru laughed when he made his retreat. I sat and laid my hands on the table. Michiru's smile still graced her face far after her laughter subsided. I think I had just made her day.
"I bet you don't even remember our anniversary." She said and I laughed.
"You have entirely too much fun playing these games. What would Haruka say if she saw us?"
"Something about a threesome, I suppose."
I could feel my face go red and Michiru hid a giggle behind her hand.
These were the beginnings of a beautiful friendship that continued even when Haruka had been with us. She must have been the most amused of all. I simply enjoyed being a tease. Of course, you can't be close to Michiru without being close to her counterpart and I enjoyed conversing with that overconfident, self-absorbed blonde quite a bit too. Time passed quickly as long as I kept thinking of the past. What was it that they always say…? How we spend our days is… Nevermind. I forgot that one. It's just better to live for now. I grabbed my purse and left the house.
There was still two hours before my meeting with my dear Michiru. I was anxious to see her and desperately wanted to lift her spirits. If I knew anything about concerts, no matter the size, it's that they can be stressful. And as dutiful as she constantly was there were times that I think I saw her need to not be tied down to rehearsals and concerts. Above all, she wanted to be where Haruka and Hotaru were. I set off to the flower shop and picked up a colourful bouquet of mixed blossoms.
A scream shatters my thoughts and pulls me out of the past. The innocent scream of a victim are notes from a song heard so many times before. They are screams heard by the senshi when no one else can hear them and from miles away because of the superior hearing we acquired. Hidden away in an alley, I pull my henshin wand from my purse and transform.
As Sailor Venus, I hurdled myself onto a rooftop and leapt building to building in the direction of the cry. I came to a stop across from a multi-story car park and I leapt carefully from the tall building to the fourth level of the parking garage. Landing with cat-like grace I ran towards the shouts which echoed throughout the level. Upon spotting the victim and the demon that threatened her I immediately shouted for it to stop. There was no reaction from the monster as it plunged it's entire right arm into the light emanating from its prey's chest.
"Venus Love-me Chain!"
The golden whip wrapped itself around the demon's neck and I tried to pull it away from the woman. It was strong but it put up no fight. I dragged its form from the victim and it dragged with it an ethereal spirit from inside the light. Confusion brought with it realization and I released the monster from the chain. Before I could register what I had done, the monster devoured the soul and flew towards me with a series of strikes. I evaded with a simple back flip and countered with a crescent beam. It soared over the beam and over me. I heard it's ghastly laugh from behind me and then a horn. Turning, the mirror of a fast moving vehicle clipped my shoulder. The monster had been hit as well but it seemed to explode into a green slime on contact with the front of the vehicle and left the victims light like a cloud in the tracks of the van.
The driver screeched to a stop, rushing out of his van and running over towards me. I didn't register him because of the sight in front of me. The cloud took form and approached me; the vision of a pure and young girl. It's light was warm. I looked to the victim on the floor and then back at the apparition in front of me.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I am the girl inside the woman. I am her innocence."
The light offered me her hand and I took it; leading the form back to it's body. When it stopped before the body, I waited patiently for the girl to return to itself…
…But it never did.
"I can't go back." She said.
My chest tightened and I looked down at the girl. "Please?" I dropped to my knees and begged and pleaded.
"You're so strong and good. You won't let them take our souls."
I felt warm tears fall onto my cheeks and I pleaded again as though the girl had a choice in the matter. There was no use. I failed her.
"Don't cry. Protect us."
"But…I don't know what they want!"
The apparition faded before me, the warmth of its hand in mine was gone. The woman on the ground was dead.
"Lady..? Hey! Is she alright?" The driver of the van approached from behind me and I glared over my bleeding shoulder.
"Don't stand there! Call an ambulance!"
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I sat, secluded from view, on the building opposite the parking garage and watched the scene unfold while wrapping my wound. Police were questioning the man but they only looked at him in disbelief because whatever slime had been left on his van had managed to vanish. I picked up the bouquet of flowers from where I had left them and made my way back towards the alley I had transformed in. Once on ground level, I de-transformed and made my way to the café.
Inside, Michiru sat at a table near the back of the small coffee shop. She smiled kindly and gave a slight nod. I approached the table and greeted my friend.
"You're late." I always am.
"Mm. What is it they say? If absence doesn't kill you, it only makes you fonder."
I presented Michiru with the flowers and seated myself across from her. She game me a simple thank you and a soft laugh.
"How have you been?" I asked.
"Fine I suppose. Everything is going as planned."
"In other words, you can't wait to get back home?"
She only smiled demurely and took a sip of her drink.
"How is everyone at home?"
"Happy." She sighed. "Hotaru is overjoyed with the news of Chibi-usa's due date. Haruka is thinking about teaching."
"Teaching? Teaching what? Flirting techniques 101? Blonde Ed? This should be good." I laughed.
"Actually, she was thinking about physical education so as to involve herself with team extra curricular activities."
I smiled at the idea of Haruka teaching swarms of hormone-driven teenagers how to throw a javelin. How to run the hundred metre dash. How to throw a curve ball. I watched as Michiru contentedly relayed to me the events I had missed since leaving home. With the smile plastered on my face I couldn't quite bring myself to listen completely. The others… they were so happy. How could I take that away from them? I don't have the right.
"You look as though you have something on your mind? That smile really can't deceive me…"
"Oh? You've figured me out. But it's nothing really." I lied.
"Is it about Rei-chan?"
"Something like that." I lied again.
"She's been doing a lot better. Ami has helped her organize the shrine so that it would be easier to balance her tasks. She still tires herself to no end but her spirit is back and I think she will be fine. We'll keep an eye on her. And as long as things are peaceful, there is no added pressure."
"I'm glad." I smiled.
No.
I would not let them take away their happiness…
Author's Notes Part 2: I don't really know what to say. Um… I hope you liked it! This chapter just gave me problems because I was at point A and I needed to get to point D but I had no idea the route I needed to take. Points B and C were just out of my reach. I hope the rest of the story is easier to write and I hope I don't make you all wait so long next time!