SECONDS OF TIME
Series: PGSM / Sailor Moon Live Action
Pairing: Shoujo-Ai (Rei x Minako)
Synopsis:
Basically a re-write filling in parts of the story for what to many (me included) see as an intense relationship between Rei and Minako. PGSM Scriptwriters and Staff did a fantastic job at teasing us with these two. Allow me to make it happen the way I felt it did.

Chapter Three. To Be By Your Side

She found the Sailor Senshis at the gym. She was surprised when she saw that they were not only against the youma she and Mars previously fought but two of the Shitennou as well.

"I guess I was seen transforming," she whispered to herself.

The Sailor Senshis were having difficulty fighting. Her heart lept as the three enemies fired at her comrades at the same time. They fell to the floor. She could see Mars beginning to get angry. It was her second time to hit the floor in just a few minutes.

"It's not time for you to be reckless again, my angel." She jumped to the upper section of the gym.

"The Princess should be with you," said Nephrite.

Sailor Mars wasagast by his remark. Oh, no! They saw her transform.

Along with the other senshi, she stood up. I won't let you harm her.

The four friends were so used to fighting together, they knew each others' movement without talking. As they moved, Rei felt more confident in beating the three. But it took only one combined attack for them to fall helplessly to the wooden floor.

She felt angry. She wouldn't be defeated this easily. Not again. Not after her princess told her she was weak. Not when they are after her princess.

She watched the enemies step closer to the fallen senshis. She raised her voice to attract their attention. "Wait right there!"

Sunlight reflected on her crystal tiara, making her entrance more dramatic. Everyone looked at her.

She glared at the enemies. "Aren't you looking for me!"

From the corner of her eyes, she noticed her raven-haired comrade stand up before the others.

She was speechless seeing her Princess taunt the enemies knowing she was a target.

One by one, her friends stood up, still awed by their princess' presence.

"Why…" she asked though she wouldn't have been heard by the one she was asking. Why is she putting herself in jeopardy? For us? This seems all wrong.

She glanced back at Mars. She could see a thousand and one questions in her eyes. She couldn't tell her the answers, though. This was her mission, her fight. One day, they'd all remember and know why I'm doing what I'm doing. One day, but not today.

"Princess," Nephrite called out. "I've been searching for you."

She looked back, undaunted by the impetuous general. She jumped down between the opposing groups.

She looked at her comrades and noticed that Mars still glared at her. Let her pour all that anger to the enemies, not me.

As she stood there in front of the Senshis, she felt the strength and courage return to them. Yes, believe in yourselves. The Shitennou was never a match against the Guardians of the Moon Princess.

She was alert for what her princess would do, so when Sailor Venus suddenly ran away to the other exit, she immediately followed.

Jadeite and the youma attacked with dark energy, but they were able to dodge.

Sailor Venus looked back only to check if the enemies would follow. She didn't seem to notice that she had another senshi near her.

"Follow," Jadeite ordered the youma.

As she ran, Sailor Mars could see this was her tactic. I won't let you put yourself in danger.

"Everyone, take care of the rest."

Sailor Mercury and Sailor Moon nodded. "Got it," Sailor Jupiter assured.

She turned around and followed Sailor Venus and the youma. This time, I'll defeat that youma.

She ran with the youma close to her heels. The chapel is small enough for me to be able to corner this youma.

She backflipped into the chapel with the youma following her. As she stopped, she arrogantly faced the advancing enemy alone. The youma was also confident having nearly beaten her the previous night.

She fired two short bursts of her Crescent Beam which the youma intercepted using her sword. The youma didn't waste time in launching a counter-attack.

"Ah!" She felt the powerful blast of the youma's dark energy beam. The strength of it made her fall to the floor.

As she entered the chapel, she saw the bright light of the youma's attack and the princess falling. No!

The youma stepped closer to the fallen princess.

"Princess!"

She sprang into action placing herself in a defensive position between the two. I won't let you harm her.

Behind her, she felt Venus regain her strength and stand.

She had been fighting alone too long, it was a surprise to have Mars with her.

She should be with Sailor Moon, not me.

She was both irritated that Mars didn't go with her tactic and relieved that Mars was once again fighting with her.

We should be capable of beating this youma. We've fought so many stronger ones in the past.

She returned her attention to the youma who powered up its sword again and sent energy beams their way.

Dodging the youma's beams with cartwheels, they both gracefully evaded the attacks.

"Princess, attack at the same time."

Judging from her previous fights, simultaneous attacks had the best chance of success. It was a wonder that it was Sailor Moon who first thought of it.

She and Mars stopped beside each other. Both were cautious about the youma's next attack.

Mars turned to her. "Princess, attack at the same time."

She nodded. Would she know the way we used to fight?

Sparring Arena. Moon Kingdom Castle. Silver Millenium.

It was a tag team battle between Jupiter with Mercury and Mars with Venus. After an hour of changing fighters, the four decided for an all out match.

Venus moved beside Mars. They stood shoulder to shoulder like the other two Senshis who were shifted to a fight stance. They looked at each other and smiled. They understood without the need for words. Between them, energy sparked.

Like a dance, the partners switched places with Venus twirling to the side of Mars who moved forward reaching out to touch the other girl's shoulder. Venus followed suit. Looking intensely at each other, they focused on combining their powers.

The space between them cracked with gold and red energy. The red rubies on Venus' golden belt seemed to come alive. The flames that emanated from Mars was licked with gold.

Ever curious, Mercury dropped her guard as she observed how the two were increasing their own power levels. Jupiter noticed the change and quickly moved in front of her.

Venus kissed her fingers as she did when she used Crescent Beam. Amused, Mars smiled warmly before doing the same. They both looked at Jupiter and Mercury. Mars' smile turned vicious, knowing this fight was theirs to win.

It was time to attack.

It felt like dancing. She didn't know whether she was leading or following. She felt was that every step they took, every move they did together, all that felt natural. As though they've learned the steps and practiced them many times. As though a part of her knew exactly what to do and she didn't even have to think.

She could feel their powers increasing with each syncronized movement. This is different from fighting with the others. Maybe it's because she's the princess.

They twirled, moving closer to the altar. She then positioned herself for Akuryô Taisan.

Venus jumped over the youma then looked over it to glance at her.

She winked. This feels right, fighting with her like this.

Venus followed what her past self did during that sparring match. She jumped over the opponent to sandwich it between her and her partner. Just as Jupiter and Mercury had been before, the youma was scared. Its confidence faltered.

She let her eyes wander beyond the enemy to the Fire Senshi. Mars winked at her. Unconsciously, her heart sighed. She moves as gracefully as before. She's so beautiful, my Mars.

Venus couldn't help it and winked back.

Even though she was ready to attack using Akuryô Taisan, an inner voice whispered to use the fireball attack instead. It's the attack to use. Youma Taisan, just like before.

She didn't quite understand, but as always she had trusted her intuition. She concentrated her energy to her hands to form a ball of flames.

"Youma Taisan!"

The flames lept from her hands toward the enemy.

Just like before. Venus grabbed her belt.

"Venus Love Me Chain!"

Their attack met the youma exactly at the same time. The splash of gold and red energies lit the entire chapel.

In that split second, Venus enjoyed seeing their attacks combine. They had not held back this time as they did in the past. The youma was finally vanquished with a burst of energy.

Venus relaxed her stance with a small smile gracing her lips.

It's just a small memory. I'm sure she doesn't still remember, but… it was good fighting with her once again.

As the youma disintegrated in an explosion, she put down her hands and smirked.

The attack may have been successful, but I won't let her get away with a tactic like that. She shouldn't ever have to put herself at risk.

She walked toward the Princess. Each step was charged with controlled temper.

"I thought I told you not to show yourself." She stopped in front of Venus. "I'm your protector."

"I'm your protector," said Mars.

You don't know what you're saying. Don't tell me that Mars. "I told you that you don't have to protect me."

"You would have been in danger if I didn't follow." Mars seemed relentless in her point.

"Doesn't matter." My life doesn't matter. Is that difficult for you to understand? "You must never leave Sailor Moon's side, even for a second. My orders as the Princess. Understand?"

She turned around and walked away leaving Mars to herself.

Rei found her bike parked in front of the priest's office. She entered and saw Taro eating heartily. She scratched the dog behind its ears.

"It's good you're well now, Taro."

Some minutes after, the priest entered. He looked troubled and she knew it was because of the strange events that happened earlier.

"Ah, you are here." The priest was a little startled to see her.

"I came to see if Taro is doing well." She smiled at the dog.

Later that night, the dog's owner picked him up. Rei helped load the trolley with the dog food she and Venus bought.

"Clavis," the owner called the dog. "Thank goodness." His little girl was also happy to see their dog. "Thank goodness," she said as well.

Rei and the priest stood by the gate to see the dog off. Rei was unfocused and was thinking about her princess' orders.

-- You must never leave Sailor Moon's side, even for a second. My orders as the Princess. --

She was once again told, no, she was ordered to stop protecting the princess.

If she's the princess, then why?

Luna had told them the opposite. "You are the Guardians of the Princess, the soldiers of the Moon."

Why be so conspicuous like that?

-- I told you that you don't have to protect me. --

It's almost as if…

-- Aren't you looking for me? --

… she were trying to get caught.

-- My orders as the Princess. Understand? --

I don't.

Artemis' stomach was in knots when he woke up to find Minako gone. She had been gone the entire day snd it worried him. He knew Minako, the idol, did not have any scheduled activites for the day. He was only relieved when Minako opened the door and entered.

"We're leaving," she announced as she took her bag from the closet and placed it on the bed.

Artemis jumped on the bed. He watched as she picked her items and started placing them in the bag.

"Moving again?" She gave the slightest hint of a nod, but continued packing. "Luring the enemy and fleeing sure are a lot of work." He didn't want her to be over fatigued due to her condition.

"… Sure are a lot of hard work." Artemis said.

"Yeah," she agreed. She remembered watching the Sailor Senshi fighting a while ago. They have grown a lot as fighters. "But looking at Sailor Moon, this might not last much longer."

She paused and looked at the plushie.

"That's good if it were so…"

She straightened up. "When that time comes, I'm looking forward to Mars' reaction then." A hopeful smile graced her lips as she said that. Our fight earlier, she must remember something on a certain level. A mental image of Mars winking at her earlier surfaced in her mind. She blushed.

"Minako," Artemis spoke in a concerned tone.

She looked at him.

"The reason you can't make friends isn't for the mission," he continued.

She felt her small light of hapiness fade away. He's right. I can't make friends. I can't spend time on trivial matters.

"It's so no one will be saddened."

She reverted her eyes away from her guardian. How can I be so foolish to forget. Minako, you can't put her through that again.

Artemis realized the effect his words was to her. The hope he saw in her eyes had faded. "Minako," he called out again. Minako had him promise to remind her of this if she would ever forget.

"About half a year left?" Yes, no one should be sad when it's over… especially not my beautiful Mars.

Inside the fire room, Rei sat in her miko garb. Here, she allowed her mask of being in control fade. She was dealing with a lot of mixed emotions.

"Why does the Princess fight alone? She's giving the enemy a chance to capture her!"

-- It doesn't matter. You must never leave Sailor Moon's side, even for a second. Understand? --

No, no I don't! You're not making sense, princess.

-- I'm disappointed in you! You may be a Soldier, but you still have a lot of growing up to do! --

Rei's fists tightened.

Suddenly, she felt a presence in the room. "Distracted, aren't we? You always were too emotional when she's involved."

The speaker was standing in the shadows just behind Rei. Rei stood up and faced the visitor. She was ready for a fight, then relaxed as she felt nothing antagonistic from her guest.

Rei observed what she could. The woman was tall and looked to be in her early twenties. She had very long dark hair that blended in the darkness. She was well hidden that her features and clothes were impossible to make out. However, Rei saw that she held a long key-shaped staff with a garnet jewel at its heart-shaped top.

"W-who are you?"

"You can say that I'm a very old friend."

"What do you want?"

"It's not what I want, little miko. It's what you want. You are searching for answers, aren't you? You seek the flames to tell you of the past. I'm a much better source."

"What do you know of the past."

Her uninvited guest laughed. It was a sophisticated laugh without trace of malice, still Rei's eyes narrowed with ire.

"I'm sorry, I was not laughing at you. It was just a question that I find much humor in. You are very much like your past self, do you know that?"

"You knew my past self?"

"As I said, I am a very old friend."

Rei scowled. She was not getting direct answers from this woman. "You are from the past then," she surmised. "Do you know why the princess is acting the way she is?"

The question made her visitor smile. "It depends on which princess you are speaking of. All Sailor Senshis are princesses of their own home planet, including you, Princess of Mars."

She was surprised at that new knowledge but she quickly filed that in her mind. She was going to get her answers. "I'm talking about the Princess of the Moon Kingdom."

"The Moon princess? She is full of worry and unexplained grief. Some things in life are not bound by time or death." Rei could not see the amused smile on her lips. She was answering the questions, yet the miko didn't know she was asking the wrong questions.

"But why doesn't she want us to protect her?"

"The Moon princess is not as in need of protection as you think, princess of Mars."

"But," she replied, "Luna told us that it's our mission to protect the princess."

"That is the mission of the Sailor Senshi."

She didn't respond. The conversation didn't help clarify things for her. She still didn't understand her princess' actions.

"Tell me, princess of Mars, do you do things because you are told to do them or because you choose to do them by your own accord?" The unknown woman paused, waiting to see if Rei would answer. "I would leave you with that question, then."

Rei felt the woman's presence dissapear.

She sat down again and faced the sacred fire. She still didn't know what to do.

It is my mission to protect the princess. It is the mission of the Sailor Senshi. But then, why is the princess ordering us not to do that? Maybe Luna can help.

After packing in a frenzy, Minako finally finished. In her room, she picked up her suitcase from the bed when she felt her knees weaken and give way. She fought to keep herself from fainting.

Artemis entered the room to see Minako sitting on the floor beathing heavily. "Minako, are you okay?"

"Yeah." She replied. "We have to move again, don't we?" She willed her strength not to fail her tonight. We need to leave before the enemies find us.

XOXOXOX

Author's Notes:

'To Be By Your Side' is part of the song Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. I felt this was a good title for this part of their story.
Forgot to mention the following: Lyrics Translation is from Ballads & Bows (http/ while Dialogue Translation is a mix of TV-Nihon subs (more) and GenVid's synopsis (only a few lines). I know very little Japanese.

And thus at the last scene, Pluto makes an appearance. (Round of applause as Setsuna gracefully bows.) I felt like adding her. Probably because I want to watch them with the Outers as well. Pluto seemed a good character to add, being able to watch the past, present and future. I'm still going to keep the fic running well alongside the real story, so this isn't exactly AU. What do you think?

By the way, this is also available at (http/huracan.i.ph/blogs/reiminako/) where I have links to some ReixMinako videos I made. Yes, I am addicted to this pair.

Now off to make the part for Valentines Day (or to get some real work done)…