As more and more people make their way up the Hikawa shrine steps, Phobos and Deimos keep watch for someone they know their Boss WOULDN'T want to see today. Anime Canon. Post-Stars. Written for Rei's 30th Anniversary.
Rated: T - English - Friendship/Romance - Words: 2,623 - Rei H./Raye/Sailor Mars, Takashi H./Mr. Hino, Phobos, Deimos
A/N: A segment of this fic uses English translations of Japanese lyrics. The specific translationsions came from sailormusicDOTnet
Also a 'Torii' is the kind of 'archway' you see at the top of the steps to Rei's family shrine.
This story is a gift for Rei'sPinkOveralls and SinJazz
A BIG thank you to both A_Reptile_Dysfunction, Lin_Lamont and Seren_Kat32 for beta reading this fic for me and MAJORLY helping me with fashion descriptions.
You can check out Reptile's work under the names areptiledysfunction1107 on tumblr and A_Reptile_Dysfunction on Ao3.
Find Lin_Lamont on FFN, AO3 and tumblr under the same username.
/users/Lin_Lamont/pseuds/Lin_Lamont
An ebony avian perched atop the Hikawa Shrine Torii. At the fluttering of wings, she looked up and saw another crow swoop down and land beside her.
"Any sign of 'You know who'?" Asked Deimos.
"Nope," replied Phobos, shaking her feathery head. "You were right, I should have stayed here. A bird's eye view isn't too useful when everyone is travelling by car."
"Well, with any luck he won't show up in the first place."
Phobos nodded. "Not showing up is the least he could do for the Boss today."
"But, just in case, you and I are going to keep a lookout from here, even if it takes all day." Deimos pointed to the Torii with her beak.
As one, they trained their beady eyes upon the steps, watching as passengers in smart dress exited cars, buses and other vehicles, steadily making their way up the shrine steps.
"Hmmm, who's that?" said Deimos. "He seems a little familiar."
She was looking at a tall and sturdily built man, his white stretching over consistent firm muscles. He made quite the dapper picture, with his neat, dark brown ponytail and dove grey three piece suit. A fire red bow tie hugged his neck and his shoes were a shiny black like the crows' feathers. Finally, he had a dark red pocket square which added just a flash of colour.
He was carrying a beautiful box of handcrafted pots.
"Oh wow, I think that's the Boss's cousin Kengo."
"Kengo!" exclaimed Deimos. "No wonder I didn't recognize him. Last time he visited he was a lot younger."
"And he didn't look nearly as healthy either. Although he forgot to get his suit hemmed."
"Probably got too into crafting his 'art' to remember."
"Actually, I think the Boss mentioned he's been a lot more stable ever since Usagi healed him seven years ago. Personally, I think it has more to do with her going to the lake more often to see him."
A confused expression crossed Deimos's face. "Didn't 'You know who' ward him off from visiting because he was unstable? If he got himself together, why wouldn't he visit more?"
Phobos cocked a feathery eyebrow at her companion. "You really have to ask? Wouldn't look good if 'You know who' was ever connected to someone with mental issues. Much better for 'crazy Kengo' to stay out of sight."
With disgust, both birds looked back down and spotted a young woman with a slightly plump face and stars in her eyes. She was practically skipping up the steps.
Her ginger hair was pulled back into long tails that looked like falling embers held up with sunshine yellow ribbon, accentuating her plump face. She was adorned in a tea-length dress made of sky blue satin that had small capped sleeves and a boatneck collar. The skirt fell halfway between her knees and ankles and flared out prettily, casting a small shadow above dainty feet covered in blue satin flats that glittered with rhinestones.
Phobos' expression immediately softened. "Oh, look, here comes Nanako!"
"With all the time she hangs out with the Boss, I'm honestly surprised she wasn't here at the crack of dawn," said Deimos.
"I'm surprised she didn't spend the night."
"Well, she wasn't doing that even when she was dressing up like the Boss."
The pair chuckled as Nanako passed under the archway and waved cheerily up at them.
"Oh, hi Usagi!" she said, looking back down and across the shrine grounds.
The crows swivelled their heads around and saw a blonde bun-headed woman with pigtails running across the shrine grounds and towards the stairs. She wore a red dress held up by thin spaghetti straps. It was simple yet elegant, with ruching along the top of the bodice and a skirt that fell to her hastily moving feet.
"She better be careful she doesn't trip."
As Usagi jogged down the stairs, a car pulled up and three people stepped out.
"Oh, thank goodness you're here!" Usagi exclaimed. "Did you-"
"Don't worry Kitten, we brought it." Haruka cut her off as she hoisted something out the boot of her car and began carrying it up the stairs.
"Looks delicious," commented Phobos. "Another triumph by Makoto."
"Hope we get a taste," added Deimos.
"Papa, let me-"
"I'm fine dear, really," Professor Tomoe reassured Hotaru, grasping his walking stick firmly.
"He will be fine today, Hotaru. Trust me, I know." Michiru threw a wink at the sixteen year old girl.
"Do you think Michiru is fibbing?" asked Phobos.
"Not sure. The Boss never used her foresight to look into someone's health before, but maybe hers is different."
Phobos seemed to puff herself up slightly. "Well, personally, I think she must be fibbing. I know she's a bit older, but if the Boss couldn't know something like that, I don't think Michiru would."
"Tell you what Hotaru, why don't you and Michiru head on up and say hello to everyone. I've been here since this morning so I'll stay and help your Papa up the stairs."
"Are you sure, Usagi? Papa would you mind if I-"
"Go on ahead honey," smiled Professor Tomoe.
Michiru and Hotaru made their way up the steps whilst Usagi took the elder man's arm and helped him maintain his balance.
"That's our Usagi." Deimos nodded.
"Is it any wonder the Boss honoured her today?"
"I hear that's more common over in Europe. Probably something the Boss picked up from her travels."
Deimos frowned. "Hmmm… I feel a bit uneasy with the Professor coming here though."
"Oh come on, he's not evil anymore. He even had a new tree planted as a gift."
"Least he could do since it was his Daimon that uprooted the old tree."
Another group arrived, this time composed of four glamorous women. As the door of their car opened music dimly carried up the stairs.
'Even more than the spacious sky and the sea
My dreams have no limits
I have realised that because I am in love'
"Want to bet which one of them insisted on playing the Boss's hit on the drive here?"
Phobos inclined her head at the quartet of women mounting the steps. Leading the charge was a fairly tall woman with a very slender, willowy build. Her long dark purple hair was partially pulled back and the rest fell around her shoulders in long waves. Her pale periwinkle sheath dress was long too, just brushing against her ankles and held up by thin spaghetti straps. She had a translucent shawl draped around her shoulders and her feet were adorned with beautiful high heels that subtly sparkled like her violet eyes.
"Koan!"
As the quartet passed through the Torii, Minako, in a dress identical to Usagi's, moved across the shrine grounds and embraced Koan, then Calaveras, and finally the remaining Spectre Sisters.
"Glad to be coming back here under nicer circumstances," teased Koan.
Minako rolled her eyes. "Honestly, you've been making that joke for years."
"Do you think she still feels guilty about the shenanigans she and her clan got up to here?" Inquired Phobos.
"Maybe. She does hand out a lot of free beauty products to the Boss," chuckled Deimos.
"Where can we put these?" Petz asked, holding up several beautifully wrapped boxes.
"Oh, follow me, I'll show you."
Phobos and Deimos eyed Minako carefully as she directed the sisters indoors.
"I have to say Minako has thrown herself into the day hasn't she," commented Deimos
"Heartbreak?" Offered Phobos
"No. I don't think so. She and the Boss aren't like that. Not in this life anyway."
"Well, they would've been a better match than the Boss and Mamoru in any case."
"Of course," Deimos half cawed. "But then, we both know why the Boss really went after him, even if she won't admit it herself. Her issues with-"
"You know who," they both chorused.
"Although, Mamoru is much nicer than he ever was," said Phobos.
"And probably would have paid for the Boss to go to music school too," added Deimos.
"Or, you know, have just been around, in gen-"
Their eyes immediately snapped to the sleek black car pulling up a little way down the hill. A tall, imperious looking man with glasses and a moustache exited the ebony automobile and made his way up the slope.
"The nerve of the man," hissed Phobos.
"And after the Boss made it clear she didn't want him to come," Deimos practically growled.
"Look, he hasn't even brought anything with him."
"Nothing except his personal photographer."
"Well, he was never one for missing an opportunity… except when it came to parenting."
The two avians locked eyes. Silent understanding passinged between them.
Snap.
The photographer having caught his shot, Takashi strode beyond the first shrine step. Every so often he paused, allowing the photographer to take another photo of him. It was when he was halfway up the steps, still out of sight of anyone actually on the shrine grounds proper, that he heard a soft, tiny sound.
Plip.
For a moment, a confused expression ghosted across Takashi's face, but he repressed it (as he repressed so many things) and continued posing for the camera.
Plip.
This time Takashi couldn't help his brow furrowing. His eyes darted to the left then the right. The shoulders of his suit were adorned with large, wet, white and brown stains. The splatters ran over his shoulders in a crude parody of epaulettes.
Snap.
Teeth gritted, he practically tore the suit jacket off himself.
Plip.
Plip.
Snap.
Snap.
Now his white shirt was also stained.
Plip.
Plip.
Plip.
Snap.
Snap.
Sn-
"Idiot! Why are you still taking pictures!?" Takashi's spat furiously trying to wipe down his tie, shoes and trousers.
"S-sorry minister, I-"
Plip.
The photographer gasped in horror as the lens of his camera dripped with the white-brown substance.
Plip.
Plip.
Plip.
Plip.
Plip.
Plip.
Plip.
Arms over their ducking heads, Takashi and his photographer flew down the steps. The barrage continued even when they made it into the car, the sleek bodice now also a mess. The assault only abated when the car sped off down the hill and out of sight.
"You don't think anyone heard the commotion do you?" asked Phobos.
"Nah, they'll be too busy by now. Let's get back before we miss it."
With Deimos's word, the black birds glided through the sky, and back towards the Hikawa Shrine.
The crows swooped over the shrine grounds.
Over the room where the Boss had knelt before a sacred fire and divined the future.
Over the buildings where she'd sold charms and chastised her beloved Grandfather.
Over the bedroom, porch and yard that had been the sight of countless Senshi meetings and study sessions.
Finally, they flew over a rich green grassy area where two groups of chairs had been set. They were all facing an archway decorated with ribbons and flowers of a fiery hue. Their colours were complimented by the blazing red discus steadily setting in the sky.
The avians descended, landing a foot or so away from the front row of chairs.
"O-o-oh hi you t-t-two. I-I-I w-wondered wher- where'd you g-g-gotten to," blubbered Usagi in a whisper.
To Usagi's left, a squat, slightly tanned but very bald old man, wiped one of his own tears and patted her arms. Then he, Usagi, Phobos, and Deimos turned their full attention forwards.
Their timing couldn't have been more perfect.
The crimson Sun seemed to come into alignment with the archway bringing the two figures beneath it into perfect silhouette.
One was a tall man with a kind face and a mane of shaggy brown hair that practically covered his eyes.
The other was an elegant woman garbed in a creamy white dress that sported a sharp sweetheart neckline, elegant off the shoulder sleeves, an embroidered brocade, and a ballgown silhouette. The only dash of colour on her person were the tiny studded earrings as violet as her eyes.
They were holding hands and lost in one another as the ceremony came to its end, the woman's long black hair gently billowing in the wind.
When the final word was at last spoken, Rei's eye darted briefly to her Grandfather, her avian companions, and her Maid of Honour. A smirk crossed her face, accompanied by a burning determination behind her eyes. Abruptly, she released Yuuichiro's hands and instead flung her arms around his neck and pulled him close, lifting her leg to reveal shiny red high heels beneath her dress.
Yuuichiro's guests gasped. Rei's Grandfather guffawed and cheered, as did the rest of her guests. Usagi performed all three actions whilst still sobbing with joy.
Phobos and Deimos by contrast simply looked at one another and shrugged.
"That's our Boss."
A/N: Consider this fic as also celebrating the anime version of Phobos, Deimos and the Hikawa shrine in general.
For those unaware due to using the English lyrics, the song that played was 'Eien no Melody'. It is both one of Rei's Image songs but also the song she actually sings in episode 54.
I had this fic idea for well over a year. When I decided all the anniversary fics for the Inners were going to be post-Stars (but not Crystal Tokyo) this idea leapt out to me for Rei because I always loved her relationship with Yuuichiro and wished they got together in the anime.
However, a month or two ago I felt compelled to change up this story significantly, having a series of scenes set in the past from Phobos and Deimos' alternative POV. The idea was each vignette would revisit one significant Rei episode or moment from each season of the anime, dropping hints to her Dad and culminating in the wedding.
Maybe that would've been cool to see but in the end I felt going with my original vision would be better and also a little bit more consistent with how I've done the other AnimeInner Senshi anniversary fics. They've all been set squarely in a post-Stars point in time and then made references to the past, even if the Anime fic cheated a little.
Finally, I'd like to let you know I am involved in a discord called 'Moonlight Legends' which is dedicated to sharing all sorts of Sailor Moon fanworks, including other fanfics. If you would like to join so you can share your own work, get help with your current projects or just connect to other fan creators shoot me a PM and I'll send you an invite. All are welcome!