SsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSs
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon (aka Tsukino Usagi), Tsukino Ikuko, Tsukino Kenji, Tsukino Shingo, Sailor Mercury (aka Mizuno Ami), Dr. Mizuno, Sailor Mars (aka Hiro Rei), Sailor Jupiter ( Kino Makoto), Sailor Saturn ( aka Tomoe Hotaru ), Sailor Uranus (aka Tenou Haruka ), Sailor Neptune ( Kaiou Michiru), Sailor Pluto (Meiou Setsuna), Tuxedo Kamen (Chiba Mamoru), Oosaka Naru, Uwara Ryo, Kenichi, Kumada Yuuichirou and Umino Gurio, and the Hikawa Shrine/ Cherry Hill Temple (Americanized) and Juuban Junior High School are the copyrighted Property of Takeuchi Naoko, Toie, and DiC. They are not mine.
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The morning was not going well for Kelly. That was not news. Mornings hardly ever went well for him. But these past few mornings seemed rougher than most for some reason. It was those dreams. They were plaguing his mind. They weren't nightmares. But there was something about them. And the girl in them. He'd never seen her before, or anyone like her, in his life. But it was the familiarity of the woman that stuck him. It was as if he had known her- all his life ! And where were they talking ? It looked a bit like the moon ! But the sun was too big- close ?- to have been the moon. Yet, that felt like home, too.
"Lovely picture you've drawn." Kelly's mom said. "Know who she's supposed to be, yet?"
"I haven't a clue. Other than she seems to be speaking Japanese." Kelly said over coffee and eggs. " What beats me is how I know it and can traslate it! The landscape looks lunar, though. I wish I had a way of figuring this puzzle out! It seems too familiar to give me anything but the creeps! You know I'm not much on logic, mom, but this has got to add up, somehow!" Kelly felt a scratch at his leg, and dropped the picture of the girl that fluttered to the floor.
" What is it, Fu?" Kelly said to the family's Shih-Tz'u. Fu looked closely at the girl in the picture. Kelly petted the dog. "What is it, Fu?" Kelly asked again. "You know who's in the picture?"
" I think I do, young Master." The shih-tz'u replied.
" Did Fu just.. talk?" Kelly's mom asked after a minute of stunned silence.
" I'm glad I'm not the only one who heard that." Kelly answered her.
" I had a feeling I had my right Master." Fu Continued. "This prooves it!" He bowed- as much as a shih-tz'u could bow- to the red-haired boy. "Graceous Master ! It is I, your humble servant, Shieh-T'zu Fu! Your father cast his spell wisely to send me to you!"
" My.. father?" Kelly managed to ask.
" Yes." Fu answered. "The last King of Mercury!"
" I feel a story being born." Kelly said.
" May I sit down, young Master?" Fu asked.
" You may, Fu." Kelly spoke.
Fu vanished in a whirl of gray mist- to reappear as a slender Oriental gentleman, with a full mustache and goatee a bit on the gray side. He bowed to Kelly and his mother in his ministerial robes and boots. H then took a chair at the table and sat down. Kelly's mom offered Fu a drink. He took some coffee.
" Mistress Graham, the son of your body is also the last male heir of the House of Mercury! The woman in your son's picture and in his dreams is his younger sister, Ami. She was born to be the temporal ruler of Mercury, and a member of the royal Court of the Moon-Princess, Usagi."
" Wait a minute, Fu !" Mrs. Graham said, "Kelly's sister was born to rule? Not the first born ?"
" A thousand years ago, Mistress, the Kingdom that ruled this Solar System was ruled by two classes. There were the Senshi, warriors and the temporal rulers, and the houshi, the priests. Kelly was born to be the priest of the House of Mercury."
" Sort of makes sense", Kelly smiled. "Fu! You said my sister was a member of someone's Court?"
" Yes, Master ! At the age of 13, your sister was introduced to her Highness, Princess Usagi, to be brought up as a royal confidante. But, until then, you and your sister shared everything together."
" Then," said Kelly, " I guess we lost track of each other." Kelly looked out sadly.
" On the contrary, young Master !" Fu smiled. "Your sister did, indeed, become a sister to the Princess ! But ! She never forgot her brother ! In fact, the Royal House of Mercury was all present when.. when.." Fu's voice began to fail him.
" 'When'?" Mrs. Graham asked. "When what, Fu?"
" When", Fu said sadly, "everyone died."
Silence spread over the table.
" A thousand years ago," Fu continued, "The Moon Kingdom was embroiled in a war of survival with an alien force from within our solar system, led by the queen, Metallia and her underling, Queen Beryl. The last House to stand was the Lunar House of Serenity. The Houses of Mercury, Venus, Mars. and Jupiter were linked to the House of Serenity by blood. So, as each house fell, the survivors fled for protection to Earth's Moon. But, even with our forces marshalled, Metallia and Beryl almost prevailed.
" The House of Serenity won the battle. But, our victory was pyhrric. All died, save Queen Serenity. Your father gave his life so his power could be wielded by Serenity. And Serenity gave her life so the Princess and her Court and kindred could live again.
"It was the wish of your father that, if you died, you would one day live again. And that I look over you. As it was my honor to do so long ago."
Kelly finally broke the silence a couple of minutes later. "After all this time." Then, he added, "Fu? I saw my sister in my dream! Is she alive?"
"I believe so, young Master ! In fact, I may even know where she is! As you figured, the language she speaks is Nippon. And the uniform she wears is of the Senshi!"
" 'Nippon', Japan... 'Senshi'..." Kelly repeated thoughtfully. "Mom, haven't the
papers run a few stories out of Japan about a super-group called the 'Sailor
Senshi"
" I think you're right, Kelly." Mrs. Graham thought sipping her coffee. "Could she
be one of these 'Sailor Senshi'?"
" She is." Fu said. "What is more, we should be able to contact her."
" Contact her?" Kelly asked, very surprised. "How?"
" Over your computer." Fu said. " I think the lunar-computer systems have remained the same and intact over the past mellinium !"
After breakfast, the family Graham removed to the computer room. With a bit of direction from Fu, Kelly typed out a greeting to Ami and sent it out. Kelly smiled slightly. "Now," he said a bit nervously, "we wait."
Ami appeared a bit more energetic than she had been the past few days. Usagi, Naru, and Makoto noticed the old Ami as soon as she met them at Juuban Junior High. The bright- ness had reappeared in her blue eyes and the animation had returned to her speech. When lunch period came, the girls huddled around Ami. They waited for her to answer how she had recovered her old self.
" I received a letter from my brother this morning !" Ami said. "It came over my computer !" She took the printed copy of the e-mail out from her book bag. Then, the girl's re- moved to a corner of the building to hear Ami read the letter:
Dear Ami,
How are you doing ? I guess I should introduce myself.
I am Kelly Graham. I think I'm your brother. At least, that's what I seem to be Learning from a dream I keep having. Also, a friend of mine has said you and I are brother and sister. You are a princess, and I seem to be not only a prince, but the family-priest. I've also been told we were very close, even after you became a Senshi and part of Princess Serena's Moon Court. I know precious little other than this. Except that, according to the story I've heard, our entire family- you, me, and dad- died on Earth's moon about a thousand years ago.
What am I doing now ? Not much. I'm attending University, and plan to be a Teacher. I'm living with my mom and the friend who told us about you- our dog, Fu.
Anyway, since I doubt I can make it to Japan anytime soon, if you can ever get to Houston, Texas , please feel free to check up on me and mom.
Kelly Paul Graham.
The girls were silent after the letter was read.
" Wow," said Makoto in a whisper, "your brother sure said a lot in a short note!"
" Hai. He does." Ami folded the letter and stuck it back in her book bag. Ami smiled. "I've got a brother."
" Ami ?" Dr. Mizuno called out as she entered the apartment that evening. "Where are you?"
" In the living room, mom!" Ami called back. "How was the hospital? You're home early?"
" Iie !" Ami's mother answered. "I was just finally able to get home without any extra duty. Ami ? How would you like to visit your brother ?"
Ami stood speechless.
" My.. my.. brother ?"
" Hai. I have been requested to attend a seminar on pediatrics in the U.S." Dr. Mizuno said. "The hospital hosting it is in Houston, Texas. And, it is supposed to be a week-long seminar. I have asked your Sensei at Juuban Junior High School. He assures me your grade average will not suffer." She smiled at her daughter. "And I would love your company."
" When is the seminar ?" Ami asked trying to hold in her excitement.
" In six weeks." Her mother said. "Enough time for immunizations and passports."
Mizuno Ami felt like the luckiest person in all of Japan at that moment.
"Ami-chan !" Makoto said during lunch period, " Are you all right ? You've almost walked into your fifth person today ! Hello ? Earth to Ami ! Earth to Ami ! Come in Ami !" Makoto waved her hand in front of Ami's eyes then checked her pulse. "Mission Control," Makoto said, "we have lost contact."
" Nani ?" Ami snapped back to consciousness. "Oh ! Gomen, Mako-chan ! What did you say ?"
" She's back in the world of the living !" Makoto said proudly. Ami blushed.
" What's wrong, Ami ?" Usagi asked. " You've been floating in the clouds all during lunch!"
" Gomen, Usagi-chan ! My mind has been elsewhere." Ami smiled. " Mom is going to a pedia- tric seminar in the U.S. in six weeks. It is in Texas." Ami giggled a bit. "I will get to meet my brother !"
Makoto, Usagi, and Naru huddled around Ami to laugh with her and share tears of happiness. Until finding out she was a Sailor Senshi, the only family Mizno Ami had known was a mother and divorced father. And, although she and her mother were close, life was lonely. So, learning she had a brother had turned into a pleasant shock.
" Ami ?" Naru asked. "May I have the sketch of your brother I made back ?"
" Certainly, Naru !" Ami smiled and, gigling, handed her the drawing from her book bag. "Since you drew it, it is yours !"
" Arigato." Naru whispered. She unfolded to paper. The others saw a tear run down Naru's cheek as she gazed at the drawing. Ami's giddiness ceased.
" What is it, Naru ?" Usagi asked, wrapping her arms protectly around Naru.
" A.. memory..." was all Oosaka Naru could say.
Every few days, since it was learned that Usagi and Naru were sisters, as the European storytellers would say, "once-upon-a-time", the Tsukinos and Oosakas would find time to have meals together. The dinners were nothing fancy. But then, neither were the Tsukinos and Oosakas. This night's dinner, however, was a bit more special, as there were guests. Dr. Mizuno and Ami had come by. So had the Sailors Jupiter, Venus, and Mars, and Tuxedo-Kamen. Naru's reaction to Ami's brother's picture had almost demanded a meeting. In fact, Usagi had requested a Senshi-meeting after dinner.
After dinner (a fun affair despite the reason for it), the Senshi and friends gathered to discuss Naru's reaction to Ami's brother.
" Gomen." Naru tried to reassure them. "It is nothing. Just a remembered moment. I didn't mean to startle you."
" It is something, Naru !" Usagi emphasized. " If it weren't, you wouldn't have cried over the picture !"
" If he hurt you before ..." Usagi's face grew dark.
" Iie, Usagi !" Naru shrieked. " It is not.. was not.. that ! In fact, it is.. was.. the opposite !" After calming Usagi, Naru composed herself. "Do you remember how you said our mother, Queen Serenity, told you how Beryl's forces destroyed the moon ? Well, I could feel you as you died. Ami's brother tried to save me by hiding in a corner of the palace grounds. His sword and dagger drawn to defend us to the death. Then, Nephrite appeared with some of the Dark Kingdom forces to clean up the pockets of resistence."
" Nephrite !" Usagi almost screamed the name. The Dark General had fallen in love with Molly as he hunted for Sailor Moon. He had even lost his life protecting Naru from Zoisite's youmas . Usagi had begun to even think kindly of his spirit. But that kindness was now being eaten away by thinking that he was personally responsible for her sister's death. "May his spirit burn in whatever Hell awaits him !"
" No, Usagi !" Naru cried. "Nephrite did not kill us! In fact, he offered to spare us- to let us flee this solar system ! When both I and Ami's aniki said we would both rather die, he offered the mercy of a quick death. But then, another came and called Nephrite back to Beryl. The next General was not so lenient. It was he who slaughtered us, slowly and painfully. He took great pleasure in it. As a wolf gorging on a kill !" Mrs. Oosaka , Dr. Mizuno, and the Tsukinos whitened at this news and trembled. But they did not draw away. Usagi's and Naru's hearts were crying, and they needed support.
" Who was this General, then ?" Makoto asked Naru.
" Zoisite", Usagi stated.
" Hai", came Naru's whispered reply.
Everyone gathered protectively around the storyteller as she shook with the tears of a mil- lenium-old memory. "Oh, my prince.." Naru quietly sobbed. "I miss you !"
" Gomen. I didn't mean to bring terrible images of the past." Naru spoke softly through her tears.
" Naru," Ami smiled, "you did not remember this from pain. Not all of it. You loved my brother very much ! That is plainly shown." She hugged the trembling Naru lightly. " When I see my brother, I will mention you if you wish."
" Iie !" Naru said. "He may not remember me !" She then felt around her neck and pulled out a pendant, a small alebaster pheonix. " Mom found this many years ago." Naru told Ami. "It is only recently that I remembered your brother, Palu, giving it to me . Give it to him. Maybe.. he will remember !"
" I will deliver it, Princess." Ami hugged Naru and kissed her. Then she giggled. "Palu ? It sounds rather like his second given-name. 'Paul'."
After the Mizunos had gotten back home, Dr.. Mizuno was checking the e-mail one last time before she and Ami readied for bed. "Ami ?" Her mother called, "You've got mail ! It's from Uwada Ryu !" Ami ran to the computer. It wasn't a rare occasion to hear from Ryu, but it was a joy.
Usually.
But not tonight.
Ami read the e-mail.
Ami,
I had to write before you left for America. I have seen trouble ahead for you and your brother. I saw you and your brother coming to Japan. And I saw someone attack your brother. Then I saw him become a monster. Ami, you must be prepared for whatever comes. So should Usagi. For I see her involved in this as well. Ami. You will not lose you brother, if you are ready for whatever happens. I thought you should be warned.
Ryu.
Ami turned to her mother, with tears in her eyes. "Mom," Ami cried as she held onto Dr. Mizuno tightly, "I'm so frightened. Ryu is able to see the future ! Will I meet my brother, only to lose him ?"
" Iie, Ami-chan !" Her mother tried to reassure her. "Not if you do as says, and prepare your- self, and remember your brother as he is." The night was long and dark at the Mizuno house.
To be continued in.
Chapter 3