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.
Acts 17 to 20 covered.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. All hail Naoko-hime!
Chapter Four. I'll Chase Forever
Hikawa Jinja.
Rei absentmindedly swept the ground with her bamboo shafted broom.
-- You must never leave Sailor Moon's side, even for a second. My orders as the Princess. --
-- I told you that you don't have to protect me. --
I really don't understand the Princess. Why is she telling me to do something other that my mission? There's something she isn't telling me.
-- 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?--
Rei paused sweeping. She always did things on her own, the way she wanted to, when she wanted to. Why was it different now as a Senshi?
-- The princess! Save the princess! --
Her hands tightened their grip on the broom handle. There are just some things that are greater than what I want.
"What was taking Luna so long? I called her almost an hour ago." The caw of Phobos and Deimos snapped her out. They signalled Luna's arrival.
Rei leaned her broom on a tree and walked to where Luna stood. "Luna, you're finally here."
"Rei-chan. You said you wanted to talk to me alone?"
"Yes," Rei paused. "I wanted to know more about the Sailor Senshis' mission."
"Sailor Senshis' mission" Luna parrotted.
Sitting down, Rei faced the plushie cat and continued. "Luna, you said we were supposed to protect the Princess, but this that true?" She looked away and wrung her hands. "The Princess says she doesn't need it at all." She looks back at Luna to see her reaction when she'd say, "the Princess is kind of strange."
"Ahhh," Luna answered. "I've been pondering that myself. I'm having difficulty contacting Artemis, the one who's with the Princess. For now, we should do what they say."
Do what they say? Rei stood up abruptly walking a few steps away. "I will not consent to working with my hands tied like this. Especially by that Princess!"
Luna was surprised at Rei's reaction. "You talked that much with the Princess?"
Rei looked back at Luna. "Kind of." I can't tell her everything. Not yet. Not until I'm sure. She walked back toward the cat. "For now, all I know is something is suspicious. I want to talk to the Princess again."
"You can't," Luna reminded her. "You don't know where or who she is."
Artemis watched as Minako sat in front of her laptop. She seemed to have noticed him.
"Here, I put this on the homepage." There was a poignant look in her eyes as she looked at the picture she created. A Valentine's Day picture meant to lure. A well-planned trap will catch the enemy off guard. "The enemy might move again." The key is to offer a good bait.
"Is your condition okay? You probably should rest a bit more."
"I'm fine," she assured her companion. "If I'm not found, then Sailor Moon would get attacked. We can't let that happen." Our mission to keep Serenity safe means we put ourselves on the line for her.
"That's true, but…" I don't want you to overexert yourself.
"It's a day soon, but here's your Valentine's chocolate." Minako pulled out a small pink box and held it in front of Artemis.
"Arigatou." Chocolates from Mina-chan, that's so sweet of her.
Minako moved her fingers from the lid. Poinggg!
Artemis' eyes grew large. "Waaahh!" He jumped up and away from the desk in his fright.
Minako laughed. "I lied." This time, she held a pink pouch in her hands. "This is the real one," she said still giggling.
Artemis' eyes narrowed. How could he have forgotten Minako's playful side. "Minako… please…" At least she's smiling now.
She continued giggling at her white cat.
Sparring Arena. Moon Kingdom Castle. Silver Millenium.
Mars was surprised when she arrived at the Sparring Arena alone. She was neither late nor early. Usually, it was Mercury who was early.
She walked cautiously to the center. They were always on their toes on how Venus would conduct trainings. She had planned an ambush attack before and that caught the other three guardians by surprise.
As she moved closer, she saw a note on the ground. Sensing nothing out of the ordinary from it, she picked it up. She read the curvy strokes of Venus' handwriting.
"Serenity ordered the company of Mercury and Jupiter.
It's just the two of us today.
Catch me if you can.
…And no transforming."
"Hmmm… this is interesting," thought the Mars princess with a grin on her face.
Suddenly, the paper burst in a golden blast of energy that was calculated enough not to harm the one holding it.
"She's definitely within visual range to be able to do that."
She looked around, sensing and searching at the same time, and saw a flash of orange from the entrance. She had half the mind to transform and chase after the fleeing princess. She stopped herself.
"Venus planned this. If I go after her, I'm sure I'd only loose her trail."
She looked around the Sparring Arena once more, looking for something out of place. She was sure that Venus left clues. Then she saw it, almost unnoticeable in the white marble – a stem of Casablanca lilies with 2 flowers in bloom and one bud still shy. She picked it up and smelled its sweet fragrance.
"To the gardens then," she smiled.
Private Garden. Moon Kingdom Castle. Silver Millenium.
Mars smiled as she entered the gardens. The garden had a pathway going around it and four separate routes leading to the center where benches and a water fountain was found.
The carefully trimmed hedges of roses that kept this area away from prying eyes was one of the reasons she and Venus would go there on early morns before they set off to their Senshi duties. She walked toward the cluster of Casablancas. This was one of their favorite spots especially when the flowers were in bloom. She gingerly touched one of the striking white flowers and took on the spicy aroma. She remembered the first time she tucked one of these flowers behind Venus' ear.
"You're currently on training, Mars." She mentally chided herself.
Again, she looked around for clues. She found none near so she walked the circumference of the garden. When she made a full turn, she hasn't fund any clues yet. She furrowed her brows and walked to the fountain. It was there on the ledge of the fountain that she found her next clue.
"A wooden spoon?" she asked herself as she picked the item up. Dining Hall? Or kitchen? "It doesn't look like one of the utensils we use in the Dining Hall. It must be the kitchen then."
Castle Kitchen. Moon Kingdom Castle. Silver Millenium.
When she entered the castle's kitchen, she hardly knew where to begin. It was huge with an area for storing food, an area for preparing, and a big area for cooking – ovens for baking, stoves for pots and pans, and a place for grilling and roasting. Not only that, the servants were preparing for lunch that they were all over the place.
"Princess Mars," the head of the kitchen came forward and bowed to the princess. "You must be looking for the others. They are using the private kitchen." She gestured toward a door to Mars' right.
"Thank you," she replied. She didn't know whether Venus meant the big kitchen or the private one used by Royal guests who wished to cook or prepare something special. Still, she peeked inside to see Jupiter, Mercury and Serenity in aprons.
"Princess, please let me do that for you," said Mercury snatching the knife that Serenity was about to use.
Serenity pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. "Why am I not allowed to do anything? I asked the two of you here to help me prepare something for Endymion, not for you to prepare it on your own. It's not like I don't know how to handle a blade, I am a skillful swordfighter."
"Apologies, princess." Jupiter addressed the irritated Royal. "Please let us handle the use of cutlery. Here," she passed her a bowl, "you can mix the flour and butter."
Mars stepped inside.
"Ah. Mars!" Serenity nearly dropped the bowl when she saw her feisty guardian. Mars had in a few occasions voiced her concern with her affections for the Earth prince. It was the reason she only invited Mercury and Jupiter to help her. Venus was supposed to keep her busy.
"Princess," Mars bowed to the Moon princess.
"Oh, darn!" Jupiter exclaimed when she saw Mars. "Venus told me to give this to the head of the kitchen outside. It's for you."
Jupiter handed her an envelope which Mars took. "What are you doing?" She asked, curious about what the three were making.
"We're making what Earth citizens call cake," Mercury answered her.
"C-cake?"
"Yes," Serenity cut in. She didn't want Mars to know more and decided to switch topics. "What did Venus give you? A love letter?" She was not unaware of the 'secret' relationship between the two.
Mars blushed but quickly turned around to hide it. "She's leaving clues for me to follow. It's for training."
Mercury smiled. She and Venus had been discussing possible tactics against enemies who would put Serenity at risk. It seemed the Senshi Leader put some of their ideas into actual practice.
Mars turned to face Serenity. "With your permission, Princess." She placed her right hand over her heart and bowed. She turned and left the three.
Mars opened the envelop the moment she was out of the private kitchen. "Where to next?"
"Where it began, there too shall it end."
Sparring Arena. Moon Kingdom Castle. Silver Millenium.
"Venus Love Me Chain!"
Mars didn't have any chance to react. Venus' belt wrapped itself around Mars, pinning her arms.
"You said no transforming!" Mars shouted at the Senshi Leader.
"You'll never know when you'd be attacked, Mars. Didn't I say that before?"
"Hmph." Her trainer-leader always reminded them that, but she was still irritated at being caught.
"Attacks can be either offensive or defensive. Sometimes you know your enemy, other times you don't. Our mission to keep Serenity safe means we put ourselves on the line for her. But it doesn't mean we would always be on the defensive. Luring the enemy away from the target, keeping one step ahead of them, we gain the offensive. A well-planned trap will catch the enemy off guard. The key is to offer a good bait."
"And your bait for this trap is…?"
"Me, of course!" She said with a wink.
"Then I have been at a disadvantage from the start." Mars grinned playfully at Venus. "You must know that I'll chase you wherever you decide to go."
"Hmmm… but who's caught now? The one chasing or the one being chased?" Venus gave Mars a flirty smile.
"I don't know…" Suddenly Mars was enveloped in flames that weakened the hold of the chain around her. A transformed Mars tackled Venus to the ground. "Still like being the bait?"
"I don't think I'm at a disadvantage here," she leaned up and captured the lips of her attacker. Eventually overcome by the passion of their kiss, Mars relaxed her hold of Venus who took advantage of it and rolled on top of Mars. She pulled away, but Mars greedily recaptured her lips.
When Venus felt Mars' hand slowly sliding down her white fuku, she abruptly pulled away from Mars faster than the passionate senshi could stop. "I think you got the lesson."
Venus stood up and returned to her princess gown. As she walked away, she felt a gloved hand grasp her wrist and turned her around. Next thing she knew, she was enveloped in the arms of her second-in-command.
"I got the lesson. Enemy (kiss) lure away (kiss) with a beautiful bait (kiss)." She placed her hand behind Venus' head and whispered to her waiting lips, "and if it were me, I would chase forever if it takes that long to catch you." She passionately kissed her leader.
Venus allowed herself to get lost in the intensity of the kiss. Serenity did order her to keep the Fire Senshi busy, she reasoned to herself. She wasn't going to be insubordinate and not follow her orders.
Rei woke up on her usual time. She was accoustomed to waking up early that she never needed an alarm clock.
This morning, she opened her eyes and looked around her room. She eyed the dream diary she kept beside her bed. Having had the gift of vision, she almost always had vivid dreams that she recorded in that diary. She frowned knowing she wouldn't write anything today for however satisfying she felt her dream was, it eluded her consciousness. What prevailed in her mind was the confusion that came from her princess' actions.
"I really need to talk to her again."
Rei dropped by their HQ at Crown to check for any updates. She only found herself arguing with Makoto.
That didn't do me any good.
As she walked around town, letting her feet guide her, she stopped when she saw a now familiar face on one of the monitors.
"Idol pages have so many special uses. Aino Minako makes an appearance in this cute photo. At this spot, she seems to be planning her new song."
She closed her fists in dismay. "Again." She could almost curse at the circumstance. "Sticking out this much. Isn't it like saying, 'catch me if you can'?"
She pulled herself away from the shop window. "I have to find that place! If you're doing what I think you're doing, I'm going to be there to protect you. Regardless of what you ordered me, Princess."
After dropping by a bookstore to buy a magazine featuring the different buildings in their prefecture, Rei went to the park to go over it.
"Not it." She flipped another page of the magazine to reveal yet another building that was not what she was looking for. Darn it, I have to find it. She flipped another page and saw the picture almost exactly as it appeared behind Minako's smiling face. "This is it."
Rei sprinted to the address indicated in the magazine. Entering, she could hear her breath in the stillness of the place. Even her steps echoed in the empty halls. Nobody was around.
The princess… trying to get caught… luring the enemy… playing bait… maybe… maybe I'm over-analyzing it…
She looked around, starting to doubt herself when she felt it: Dread… a heavy feeling at the pit of her stomach… a blow on her heart. From the floor above. It must be the enemy. So they came after all.
She called up her henshin phrase: Mars Power… Makeup!
Again, she started running to where the negative energy came from.
She entered a room to find the princess lying face flat on the ground with Nephrite's boot on the small of her back.
"Hmp!" Nephrite smirked at her. I got your princess now, what can you do?
"Princess!" Mars called out.
Venus looked up at her. Why is she here? I never intended…
"Too late," the red-haired general arrogantly announced. He grabbed her nape, pulling her head closer. The princess winced.
"Stop!" Mars shouted.
Nephrite did not heed her and continued to get the tiara. Mars was agast that the tiara was now in his hand. He looked over at the Fire Senshi and smiled wickedly. "The Ginzuishou is mine."
Beneath his foot, Venus struggled to no avail. He was physically superior to her and completely immobilized her.
Mars has had enough of the arrogant bastard and decided to act. She charged forward and managed to make Nephrite move away from the Princess.
She placed herself between Nephrite and her Princess. After failing to land a blow on the general, she used her long range attack. "Akuryo Taisan!"
Nephrite very easy blocked the attack using his cape. Pleased with himself, he looked at the tiara in his hand. "With this, Queen Metallia will be under Queen Beryl's control," he boasted.
"Wait!" Mars shouted at him.
This is my chance. "Get down!" Venus ordered Mars, whi immediately complied. She stood up and directed her energy toward the tiara.
The tiara exploded in a golden blast of energy, injuring Nephrite's hand. He couldn't believe what happened. "What have you done to the Ginzuishou?"
Venus smugly smiled at him. "You really thought I'd hand over the real thing that easily?" She showed off an orange bag and let it fall open. A couple of fake tiaras falls to the ground.
As though each second moved twice as long, Mars watched the fake tiaras fall. What? Why does she have so many fakes?
"Darn you!" Nephrite cursed at Venus. He shimmered away.
At the sight of the vanishing enemy, Venus faced Mars. Why do you always come?
The two de-transformed still facing each other.
"Why are you here?" Minako asked in a sharp tone.
"I wanted to talk to you one more time," Rei explained. "That's why I searched for you."
"I said you didn't need to worry about me, didn't I?" You were always so stubborn, Mars.
"I can't understand your actions at all!" She met Minako's gaze. "It seemed like you were trying to get yourself caught. Offering yourself up as bait." She was speaking out her thoughts without knowing where they led to, yet she knew the girl before her could clear things up for her. "There's something wrong… something off. Are you really—?"
Minako cut her off. "Remember it on your own."
"Huh?"
I can't tell you. You have to awaken as I have. "When you awaken as a senshi on your own," Minako continued, her voice void of the harsh tone she usually used. "You will be able to understand everything…" Maybe when that time comes… "That is what I'm waiting for."
What do you mean? Why do you keep on speaking to me in riddles?
Minako turned around and began to walk away.
"Wait!" Rei started to run after her.
Minako looked back at her. "Don't waste your time following me," she told her. "You should be capable of being the leader of the Senshi. You know what to do as a Senshi." Learn to fight and live without me, Mars. It's all for the best.
Rei watched as the other girl walked away again. There were too many unanswered questions and every encounter she's had with her only added more.
In the veil of the night's darkness, Minako walked back to return to her hotel. The trap successfully caught Nephrite unaware. Hopefully, it would keep him at bay for some time.
Minako felt the first signs of her dizzy spell. The uneasy, clammy feeling… the shallowness of breathing… the throbbing pain in her head. Not again.
She braced herself against the railing beside her. I can't die yet. I can't this defeat me.
"Minako? Are you all right?" Artemis asked her.
She nodded. I'll be all right. I can survive this. Oh, Mars… if only…
Hikawa Jinja
Rei Hino closed the door of her bedroom. She looked outside her window to see the moon shining beyond the branches of the Japanese elm.
-- Don't waste your time following me. --
"Princess," she whispered to the dark night. Why are you as distant as the moon above? Is it because you are the princess? Even if you keep pushing me away, you should know that I can't do that.
-- When you awaken as a senshi on your own… That is what I'm waiting for… --
Am I unworthy of your presence while I have yet to awaken? What are you waiting for?
-- Remember it on your own --
What is there to remember in a life where we existed in a Kingdom in the Moon? What is so important for me to remember?
She remembered how easily Nephrite deflected her attack.
-- You should be capable of being the leader of the Senshi. You know what to do as a Senshi. --
If I am stronger, maybe I'll awaken my senshi powers. If I am stronger, I can protect her. I need to be stronger.
XOXOXOX
Author's Notes:
I'm really really sorry for taking too long on this update. ' Real work got in the way of this chapter. I also wrote a different version of the SilMil dream-memory that I scrapped (for now). The 'Catch Me If You Can' training seemed more apt.
Making this chapter, I noticed a continuity error (or is it translation error? shrug) in Act 19. Ami and Makoto were talking and Makoto says "Today is Valentines Day…" but it was the day before Valentines day.
"I'll Chase Forever" is part of the lyrics of Sakura Fubuki. Doesn't Rei keep on chasing after Venus at this point? Also felt that choosing a Rei-song would be good since this chappy focuses more on her.
Shingetsu's episode summary, Genvid summaries, and TVNihon fansubs helped finish this chapter! Big big thank you!
Added Phobos and Deimos. They weren't exactly named in the series but Act 3 showed crows in Hikawa Jinja.
Off to another chapter…Oh, it's the beginning of the Darkury arc…