Before The Dawn Book 3
I Don't Want To Be Forgotten
Chapter 3
By Michi-chan
Week three, and Makoto was confused. People talked about her everywhere she went. Two middle schoolers chatted about her heroic deeds on the train, two house wives relayed a recent battle she had with a band of bank robbers, hell, even little boys praised her efforts instead of calling her a silly girl. Sailor Jupiter was slowly becoming the best thing since sliced bread. There was no way that she could disappear from the world without at least one person knowing. So why wasn't she any happier? Why wasn't she more pleased with her accomplishments?
"Makoto, there you are." Makoto was pulled from her thoughts when she heard Natsuko's voice as she walked into the store. She didn't need anything, she just automatically went there. Habit?
"What's up Natsuko?"
"It's mother." She was frantic as she moved from behind the counter and started to pull off her apron. She shoved the garment into Makoto's hand as she tried to explain the situation in more detail.
"Lina-san?"
"She, she collapsed on the street. She's in the hospital now and I have to go to her. Please, can you just watch the store for a little while? I'll be back before closing time, I promise." Makoto must have nodded because in the blink of an eye, Natsuko was gone. Makoto stared after the door that was still swinging close. Originally she had planned to transform and go patrolling. It was almost dark since the change of seasons. But the thrill of the fight was gone, and so was her tolerance for it. Maybe she was going about it all wrong. Maybe she should just stop now.
Behind the store counter with nothing but her thoughts, she reflected on her life, the meaning of her being a senshi. They spent so much time fighting the dark forces that threatened the earth and protecting the princess that would soon become the queen of Neo Tokyo. They sacrificed any dreams of having a normal life. They gave it all up to fighting, but they could not die in battle. They had to live on. So, was it right for them to just go quietly into the night? No, it was wrong. They were mice in a maze of hardships and disasters and they deserved some cheese at the end of their journey.
"So what do you want?" Makoto looked up and saw sailor Jupiter standing before her, hands on hips, waiting for an answer.
"I don't know what I want," Makoto said.
"How can you not?" Jupiter asked.
"I don't know." Makoto whispered. Jupiter disappeared from her sight only to reappear behind her. Gloved hands came around Makoto's shoulders and held the young woman tightly. No breath came from her lips as she whispered into Makoto's ear.
"Yes you do, but you don't want to say it, do you?"
"No…"
"Show me that dark side you have." Jupiter smiled. Outside it started to rain, hard. Fat droplets pounded on the rooftop and lighting illuminated the sky as it ran across the darkness. Jupiter faded with the light and came back once the store become dark again.
"My dark side," Makoto whispered.
"You want people to remember you, but as who? As Jupiter or as Makoto?" Jupiter smiled. A transparent gloved hand mover over Makoto's heart. It melted past the skin and stroked the heart.
"Makoto, the greatest…" Thunder drowned out the words, but Makoto knew them. She needed no repeats.
"The greatest…"
"Mako-chan." Natsuko stood at the door, dripping wet. Makoto watched her silently. "I didn't know it was going to rain. Sorry I'm so late. Thanks for staying, but why are you sitting here in the dark? People will think we're closed already."
Makoto sat in silence. She squeezed her hand. Once. Twice. Three times. There it was. She had it now. She just need to wait. Yes. Makoto counted the seconds.
"Mom's alright. She works so much, I'm always scolding her." Natsuko laugh. "Funny how the roles are switched now that she's old." Natsuko moved behind the counter. She saw Makoto's balled up fist.
"What's wrong?" Natsuko asked. She listen to the mutters. "Why?"
"I want… to be remembered… as the greatest…" Natsuko's eyes widened. She stumbled back, falling over a stool. She scrambled, but she was too slow. Lighting struck and the thunder rumbled, blocking the scream.
Lightning.
Makoto stood over Natsuko. She only had a little time. She could feel her body becoming light. When Natsuko wakes she will have no recollection of the girl that shop-sat for her.
But that was alright. Because Makoto had taken her sweet time carving her name onto Natsuko's arms. Every time Natsuko saw her arms, she would see the name. She would see that name and either remember or she would remember that pain and fear the name that had no face.