She came into it on her own. The memories had seeped and crawled back into her mind like worms into wet soil. The destruction, the horror, the dreams that haunted her sleep, they had changed a cheery, happy teenager into a battle scarred woman.
Aino Minako remembered everything, right down to the last breath of air leaving her lungs and the anguish in her princess' eyes. If her strict British parents had noticed the change in their only child they merely chalked it up to her hormones. . Maintaining her previous self's demeanor with friends and loved ones she no longer cared for had been difficult. Mr. Ainos' sudden opportunity to move to the island of Japan had been a blessing to say the least. Her new school mates found the golden tressed girl to be cold, and abrupt. Her enemies found her ruthless and calculating.
Tonight her nightmares had sent her prowling the streets of Tokyo searching for something to fight. Two hours into her stroll she had still not located even a petty thief to pulverize. Trained to be sharp her hearing suddenly picked up distant cries for help and she allowed a rare grin. The old proverb ask and you shall receive crossed her mind. Spotting a nearby darkened alley she slipped in her shoes slapping the pavement and sending some stray rodents running for cover.
Noting that she was indeed alone she called on her power. The warm golden tendrils wrapped around her body forming the familiar white armor and orange skirt. When she felt the security of her sharp heart linked whip settle on her hips and the transformation complete, she dashed back to the street and followed her instincts to the nearby park.
The crescent of the moon was thin and low in the night sky, affording little light and less comfort. The scene she came upon gave her little pause. A youma, newly formed, was getting its first taste of seductive energy from a human. Lifeless the man hung from its tentacles, a pale white wisp of smoke that could only be his life energy streamed continuously from human to youma.
Winding her deadly chain around her fist she stepped forward. She might hate this planet but damn if she didn't hate this dark kingdom trash more. The monster didn't register the soft click of her orange heels against the sidewalk, nor did he register the hiss of her chain thru the air, but she definitely caught his attention when her weapon severed his head from his shoulders. Immediately apron his termination the spell was released and decapitated body and victim fell in separate directions.
The sound of guns clicking off their safeties alerted her to their presence and she cursed herself a fool for not scanning the area properly. They came from the shadows, ten of them, all wearing black uniforms with the symbol of Terra on them. He followed silently behind. If his trademark silver hair didn't give him away his cold grey eyes did.
"Venus?"
The name rolled off his lips a note of desperation in its depths. For a single moment she felt his voice wrap around her soul in a caress. It brought back memories of heated nights and lazy summer days under a hot Venusian sun.
Malachite, first in command to high prince Endymion of earth. A tall handsome man who had been both friend and lover to her. A man who had betrayed her.
"Traitor." She hissed, powering her whip for another attack.
The hopeful glint in his eyes went out like a flame devoid of oxygen. He snapped his fingers and both soldiers and youma disappeared.
She growled low in her throat, angry at a lost opportunity to avenge her kingdom and allowed her transformation to fade.
It was no coincidence that he was here in this time and place with her. His prince and the other traitors were not going to be far off.
Her golden eyes glinted with new determination and purpose. If they were here on this accursed planet then so were her sisters. If her sisters were here then maybe, hope whispered gently in her ear… maybe her princess was as well.