After Mel paid for breakfast the group of Senshi left the restaurant. Minako smiled slyly. "You guys wanna go hit the racks at the mall? We might as well make a day of it. I mean we rarely ever see each other outside school and Senshi duties."
Usagi smiled. "As future queen I command we all go to the mall."
Mel laughed. "Yea well I'm a rogue Senshi so I don't have to go if I don't want to."
Usagi walked over to Mel. "Look you wanna date my strongest Senshi you'll follow my orders." Usagi smiled evilly at Mel. "So there." Usagi stuck her tongue out at the older girl.
"Usagi-chan never stick your tongue out at a lesbian ok. You might regret I mean enjoy it later. You make it soooo hard to say no you know that. If I go I'm not buying anything for you other then maybe lunch got it. So if you need money get it now." Mel smiled and winked at Usagi. Makoto looked at Mel and whimpered. "Oh so now you want me to buy you things. Piss a bitch about the dress but now you want me to huh." Makoto nodded. Mel smiled and chuckled. "You make it even harder to say no. Fine, fine ok what it is you want?"
Ivory ran over to Mel and wrapped her arms around her waist. "You gonna buy me stuff too." Ivory looked up at Mel and smiled her ice blue eyes twinkling in the sun. "Pleeeeeease Mel." Ivory begged.
Mel looked at Ivory and smiled. "I'll give you money you buy your own stuff."
"Thank you Mel. Your soooo cool."
"Hey you owe me. You gotta make dinner tonight since the yoma attack got ya outta breakfast."
"Ok promise I'll make dinner tonight."
"You hear that guy's dinner at my place tonight at 6 ok."
Ivory scowled at Mel. "You suck."
Mel smiled and took what cash was in her wallet and handed half to Ivory and half to Makoto. "There now you two leave me alone."
After the group of girls were finished at the mall they decided to all go back to Rei's temple and discus the recent yoma attacks. Mel stopped dead in her tracks at the stairs of the temple, and grabbed her chest. She slowly took a few steps backwards. It was hard for her to breathe until she got back by her car. Makoto stopped in the middle of the stairs and looked next to her where Mel should have been standing. "Mel answer me." Her eyes got wide as she saw Minako was next to her. "Where's Mel?"
Minako shrugged her shoulders. "Thought she was on other side of you."
Makoto turned around and saw Mel leaning against her car. "I wonder what's up with Mel."
Minako looked over her shoulder. "Probably smoking a cigarette."
Ivory's eyes got wide. "You guy's Mel's a demon she can't step foot on holy or sacred land. If she does it'll probably kill her."
Rei's eye's got wide. "Your right she is. I thought that she only held the spirit of a demon within herself." Rei looked at Makoto. "I'm so totally sorry Mako-chan I flaked. We better go see if she's ok. We'll have our meeting at the park ok."
Makoto walked over to Mel and a look of concern fell on her face. "Mel you ok?"
Mel looked up at Makoto her face pale and her voice soft. "Yea angel I'm fine."
Rei put a hand on Mel's shoulder. "I'm soooo sorry Mel. I didn't know that you yourself were a demon I thought you only held a demon spirit within you. I'm really sorry."
Mel's breathing was shallow. "It's ok Rei. But I'll tell you guys the truth for a change."
FLASHBACK
Queen Eliana knelt down in front of a statue of a demon panther and next to her was a girl of about 13. A black hooded cape concealed her face. Chestnut hair fell out of the sides of the cape. The Queen lowered the hood of the young girl. The girl looked at the queen and smiled softly. "Okasa."
Queen Eliana smiled. "Melanie dear I thought I told you not to talk with that accent. If you keep it up they won't allow you to take the throne."
"Oi I dunt want the damn throne mother. I 'appen ta like this accent. Ta 'ell wha everyone else thinks. Father was your royal guard. So as far as I'm concerned noble blood still run's through my veins."
Eliana sighed. "Well not for much longer Mel dear."
"Wha? Wha in the 'ell are ya saying?"
Before Eliana could answer the eyes on the panther statue began to glow red and the stone began to crack and fall off of it. Before Mel could react a large red winged black panther lunged at her.
When Mel came too she felt funny. Her body was numb but hot. She looked around and saw she was in her chambers. Everything seemed different. Colors were much bolder and sharper. Sounds were clearer and louder. Was I dreaming? She thought as she slowly sat up in bed. When she swung her feet over the side of the bed her feet hit something furry. Mel froze and looked down at her feet. Sleeping there on the floor was a large black panther. A gasp escaped her lips.
The sudden gasp woke the panther up. "So you're finally awake I see. It's been 3 days. Sorry about your face by the way. I truly didn't mean to hurt you. I'm Ahriman your new guardian."
"M-my guardian?" Mel rubbed the sleep from her eyes but twinged in pain when she rubbed her left eye.
"Careful it hasn't fully healed yet."
"Wha 'asn't 'ad time ta fully 'eal yet?"
"When I lunged at you a few days ago you struggled and I sort of cut you. It wasn't on purpose I swear to you."
Mel looked at the panther and raised her right eye brow. "Can ya tell me jus what 'appened that day?"
Ahriman nodded. "You held the spirit of Reyu Warrior demon goddess of the stars with in you. Your mother was instructed that on your 13th birthday you were to be brought to the shrine and Reyu awakened. Upon awaking her 2 other spirits within you were awakened. The demon Enyo and the Sailor Senshi of the stars Sailor Super Nova. So you may notice that you can do things you couldn't before like use magick and your fighting skills have increased greatly. I'll teach you techniques with a sword any knight on this planet would kill to have. When I get through with you, you will be one of the strongest warriors in this galaxy."
Mel glanced over at the panther as she finished getting dressed. "Super Nova 'uh. Guess my 'air color will 'ave ta change. Any magick spells fer that?"
Ahriman nodded and told Mel everything she would need to change her hair color. "All you have to do is concentrate really hard on the color then run your hands over all of your hair and wa la new hair color that will never fade and never grow out."
Mel smirked and did as she was told. When her hands fell back to her sides her once thick chestnut hair was now a bright rainbow. "Well what ya think?"
Ahriman whimpered slightly. "Different I'll give you that much."
When Mel walked down to her mother's chamber's the king glared at her. "Great first you won't ditch that peasant accent and now your hair is multicolored. What a queen you'll turn out to be. And dress like a lady for god's sake. You're not a guy so stop trying to be one." The king pushed Mel aside.
"Oi screw you I'll talk and dress 'ow I want to. You're not my father so stop trying to be. No blood binds us so I'll be damned if I'm gonna please ya."
"Melanie Jayne Chase hold your tongue." Her mother scolded. "You have no right to talk to him like that. Granted no blood binds you but he's still your father and you will mind yourself around him."
"If ya say so okasa." Mel left the room quietly. She went out into the court yard and was sparing with one of the knights.
The king walked out and took a sword from one of the knights. "Let's see how well your swordsmanship has gotten shall we." He tossed Mel one of the swords. She was doing well till the king threw a cheep shot and cut her diagonally across her abdomen. He smirked and cut her diagonally in the opposite direction.
Mel looked down and saw a large 'X' across her stomach. "Those were cheap shots ya know." Mel staggered back and dropped the sword. The knight she was sparing with caught her as she passed out. Ahriman saw Mel fall and lunged at the king and swiped him across the face with her claws.
The king struggled and got away from the panther. Later that night he chained Mel up by her wrist's to a tree and gave her 200 lashing with a whip.
After 7 years of training Mel was sitting in the count yard reading a book when the Queen from Jupiter came calling. "Europa how are you." A warm voice came from a nearby chair.
"Eliana, I'm fine how are you."
"I'm good. What brings you all the way out here"
"I came here looking for a guard for my daughter Makoto. She's 16 now and her father is worried about the resent wars that have been breaking out. He requests a female though. Last male guard he caught trying to rape poor Makoto. She really hasn't been the same since."
Mel heard the conversation and approached the Queen. "Excuse me your majesty I couldn't 'elp but 'ear the conversation. I would be 'onored to protect your daughter."
"Europa meet my daughter Melanie. She's been training the last 7 years. She's our planets best and strongest warrior. She also contains Reyu within herself. She's the best one for the job that you're trying to fill. If you can over look the fact she likes girls A LOT." The two women laughed.
Mel crossed her arms and glared at her mother. "You're lucky you're my mother ya know that."
For the first time Mel's mother looked at her daughter. "I never noticed how muscular you've gotten Mel. Standing there in your knight armor I can see the definition in your arms."
Mel smirked and crossed her arms across the chest plate of her armor. "So does that mean I get the job or no?"
Europa smiled. "Yes you may guard my daughter. I'll send a shuttle for you in a week. That will give us time to prepare, and give you time to pack whatever you need."
A week came quickly and a knight from Jupiter met Mel in the throne room. "This is all you're taking?" The knight rubbed his head as he picked up the duffel bag Mel had on the floor.
"All I need is my armor and what I'm wearing so yes that's all I'm taking."
The knight nodded and Mel said goodbye to her mother and her and the Jupiter knight left.
END FLASHBACK
Rei hugged Mel tightly. "I'm so sorry Mel-chan."
"It's ok Rei-chan you didn't know. None of you knew."
Makoto looked at Mel with hurt in her eyes. "Why Mel? Why would you lie to us at first and now all of a sudden decide to tell us the truth? I mean first you were just her holder, now you're telling us that she's you. That you're not even human." Mel nodded. "You mean to tell us that you're a fuckin demon? Not even human?"
Mel hung her head. "Yea Makoto that's what I'm saying. Here take this I jus need to be alone right now. Hopefully I'll see you back at the loft later. If not I'll understand." Mel handed Makoto the keys to her jeep and walked off.
Ami looked at Makoto. "Don't just stand there Mako-chan go after her."
Makoto looked at keys in her hand and a tear rolled down her cheek. "No Ami-chan I'm not. I gotta sort some shit out before I even think about talking to her. You guys care so much you go after her."
Ami sighed and looked at Makoto. "You have every right to be hurt and maybe even a little mad but don't throw away everything you two have over this."
Rei ran after Mel. After about a minute or two she caught up to her. When she did she pushed the button to link her communicator to Makoto's. That way Makoto would hear what Mel had to say. "Mel-chan don't be like this. Your not completely demon there's still part of you that's human. If there wasn't you would never have fallen in love with Mako-chan, and you sure as hell wouldn't be feeling this sad. Demon's are evil, your not. Even as Enyo you still cared for Mako-chan and couldn't leave her to die. Come on now that has to prove that you're still half human."
Mel looked at Rei and sighed. "Yea maybe Rei-chan, but I hurt her. I doubt she'll ever fergive me for not telling her. And what I did tell her was a lie. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. When I found out you were a priestess I was like 'oh shit hope I never have to go to the temple' and if I had said no to coming here I would have had to explain any ways. So no matter which way you slice it I was bound to hurt her."
Rei frowned slightly. "That's not true Mel-chan. She just needs a lil time to sort things out that's all. Give her a few hours she'll come around. She love's you girl so don't sweat it."
Mel looked at Rei and sighed. "Yea well she has every right to be hurt and pissed. If she sorts things out and decides to come back cool. If not I'll live. I'm used to rejection and such. So do me a favor and stop worrying about me." Mel sighed and pulled a cigarette out of her pack and lit it.
Rei crossed her arms. "What the hell kind of pissy attitude is that? I've never seen someone with such a self defeatist attitude like yours. So you're just gonna let her go? Is that it?"
Mel looked over at Rei. "Rei-chan I don't own her there for I don't have her. She's free to do whatever she wants when ever she wants. So if she decides she wants to go I'm not gonna force her to stay."
Rei sighed. "That's no way to talk Mel. Come on I'm sure by now all of us have noticed that ring on her finger so, and you'd have to be Usagi not to know what it meant. So be honest with me Mel-chan. Tell me truthfully how you feel about her."
Mel looked at Rei and took the last hit from her cigarette then sighed. "I love her heart and soul. If that's possible."
"If what's possible?"
"For a demon to have a soul. Look Rei I love her and would gladly die for her but none of that matters, none of that will take away the hurt of knowing that I lied to her. By the goddess I wish it would but I know it won't."
Makoto listened quietly to what Mel and Rei were saying tears streaming down her cheeks. She hit the locate button on her communicator and Rei's now acted like a homing devise. Makoto walked quickly in the direction Mel and Rei were headed in. It didn't take Makoto long to catch up. Rei hearing the footsteps stopped and grabbed Mel's arm and told her to look behind her. Mel turned around slowly and saw Makoto standing there. As far away as they were Mel could tell Makoto was out of breath and was crying. Mel looked at Rei and shook her head, then slowly started to walk towards her breathless angel. When Mel finally made it over by Makoto, Makoto threw herself into Mel's arms and cried softly. Her face buried in Mel's shoulder. Mel slowly wrapped her arms around Makoto. "Don't cry angel please. You have every right to be hurt and mad at me."
Makoto looked up at Mel and shook her head. "No ai I didn't. I had no right to act how I did. I'm sorry. My reaction was so totally selfish. And yes Mel it's possible for a demon to have a soul. I mean you have one. If you didn't you wouldn't care as much as you do about how others view you."
Mel blinked a few times. "How do you know what I said?"
Makoto held her communicator up and showed Mel the direct audio link button. "This is how."
Mel raised her left eyebrow. "Ah I see so you were spying on us huh."
Makoto blushed. "Yea sort of. I'm sorry I just had to know how you felt about all this and I was nosey. I wanted to see what Rei-chan was gonna tell you."
Mel smiled. "Let's get Ivory and go home. And to make it up to you I'll make love to you on a bed of rose how's that sound?"
"Better if we leave Ivory with Usagi or Haru-chan."
"That can be arranged angel." Mel smiled and chuckled softly.
Rei walked over to her two friends. "So everything is ok again between you guys?"
Makoto smiled. "Yea Rei-chan it is."