Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Descended
Episode Four - Child's Play
A world obscured, forgotten deep in its pocket of space. A lonely place, where the planet's life energy ebbed and drained, slowly dying. A pain washed over the world, over the lost people that wandered. Wars broke out, death and mayhem ensured, and a deep and unforgotten, as well as un-forgiven, loathing grew even more stronger.
But dotted in this desolate land, lay people, the young and the old, who thought of saving themselves. To return their people and themselves to the lands that their ancestors called home so long ago. And so a plan was devised, a delicate plan.
But even in a band of good morals, a bad apple fell not too far from the tree and hidden from the plans to save themselves, a dark plan of destruction plotted just under the mist of the world.
A young woman moved with restlessness. Her red auburn hair was a thick mass of locks, tied up high in a half ponytail, strands straggling over her face as bangs, nearly as long as her face. The rest tussled downward, sweeping past her shoulders, lingering for a moment before reaching the near middle of her back. She was a slight woman, pale and thin. Her vivid ice blue eyes shone, light collected as the sigma of the Black Moon clan's sign blazed upon her brow.
"Opal?" Came a hesitant voice. A tiny little slip of a girl peeked out. With the same red auburn hair, she had it perfectly manicured into French braid pigtails, pulled over her front to tie with a black metal square clasp. She had a slight middle part, the hair pulled downward with a few thin, thin strands for bangs before tucking behind her ears and braided into the tails. Those same startling ice blue eyes were sad, as often as when she was awake, and the Black Moon clan's singma, a lonely black crescent moon upside down, pressed into her brow. She was as pale as the other, still nothing more than eight or nine years old. "I can't sleep. The storms have stolen the stars again."
The young woman smiled gently. "They'll be back, Garnet." But she waved the younger one to her. "Sister, you look so tired. Why can't you sleep?"
"I'm scared of the night," Garnet whispered, curling into the sitting woman's lap. Her head tucked carefully in her older sister's lap, the fear that she constantly lived with abated, bringing a slow relief. "I want to go home."
Home, worlds away. Opal knew how to get there but it was proving more difficult than ever. Without the proper amount of energy, the portals were enough for single souls, not a huge world of a dying race.
But the Elder was helping them. She was gathering an rapid amount of energy just for this purpose. She, too, wanted for their salvation. Though Opal had a sick feeling in her stomach. She wished then, that they had never been born on this refused world.
"I think Iolite wants to come in," Garnet was whispering, bringing Opal to her senses.
"Oh?" She looked over with a slight smile. Indeed, a young man about her age was peeking in.
"I was merely walking by," the man stated, though he flushed. He was impossibly tall, with snow white hair that was rooted upward and brushed to the left, even bangs flitting over his emerald green eyes. The sign of the Black Moon clan was on his brow as well, nestled easily between groomed eyebrows. He wasn't as pale as the girls were, though in relativity, he was still quite pale than peach. The red made him stand out as bizarre. He waved his hand in the air. "I went to check on Garnet first." He offered.
Opal smiled, that slow, careful smile that told him that she knew, personally, that he was lying. He always came to her when it involved her sister. That and he always had to make sure that she, too, was all right.
"She's afraid of the night," Opal told him. "The storms have taken her stars."
He nodded, very solemn. "Oh dear but you know, little Garnet, they will come back to you. They always will."
Garnet was half-asleep by this time as she smiled sleepily.
"Sleep, sister. I will watch over you," Opal brushed her hand delicately in the soft locks.
Iolite sat down next to Garnet, leaning back to close his eyes. "Sleep well, beloved," he told Opal gently before she settled back for the long night.
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Ame was waving a piece of string in front of Apollo, hoping to goad the cat into a playful mode. Apollo tried to not look insulted but it caused a consternated look that had Kochi do a double take.
"Ame, stop that. He's not a kitten anymore. He's what, eight? Nine?" Kochi mused in the open air.
Ame giggled as Apollo transferred his glare to Kochi. "I am not THAT old."
"Sure. Then why do you act like an old man?"
"I do not act like an old man!" He turned to Ame. "Give me that damn string!"
Ame gasped. "I'm telling Mom!" And indeed, he ran off.
"What is she going to do to a cat who swears?" Apollo asked dryly.
"I don't know. It depends on which one he gets," Kochi said thoughtfully.
Apollo gulped. Really, Haruka wasn't that bad, she was just strict sometimes.
"All right! Who said a bad word?" Haruka fixed a steeled look at Kochi. "Kochi, how many times.."
"Mom!" Ame dragged out the word as long as possible in one breath. "It was Apollo!" He justified this by pointing rapidly at the feline slowly backing away on his hind legs.
Her gaze shifted and Apollo flattened himself instantly.
"While under my home, you will follow my rules. I do not allow any swearing, period!"
"So why does Mommy let you swear?" Ame asked Haruka innocently.
Haruka floundered for a moment. "I don't mean to swear. I try not to." She gave a quick glance as Kochi who had snorted, trying to cover his chuckle vainly. "She punishes me just as much as would punish the two of you for..."
She looked over at Kochi, who was covering his face but it was pointless. He couldn't stop his laughter even if he knew how to. "How does she punish you?" He began to laugh again.
"Kochi.." Haruka said his name very softly. "Do I need to have a -talk- with you?"
"No ma'am." He stood up straight, biting his lip to keep the smile from coming back. He practically wiggled with his need to laugh.
"As I was saying..." Haruka turned and saw Ame studying her. "What?"
"How -does- Mommy punish you? Does she send you your bedroom?"
"Pointless since they share it," Apollo snorted and shut up at the black glare.
"Mommy... takes away privileges."
More chuckles came from Kochi, seen from the corner of her eye. "And I do not want you to swear, Apollo! My children are very impressionable and Kochi! Stop laughing!"
"Sorry, sorry," he waved his hands wildly in front of him, smilingly widely.
"What's so funny?" Michiru poked her head in.
And Kochi took off, laughing hysterically as Ame scratched his head in confusion, Apollo smirked, and Haruka threw up her hands with a roll of her eyes.
"Kochi has learned about adult issues," she said pointedly. "And how you 'punish' me."
Michiru sighed. "Will he be needing 'the talk' soon?"
"He's known all about that since he was twelve."
"How?" Michiru asked suspiciously.
Haruka suddenly looked nervous. "Nothing at all."
"He found your magazines!"
Haruka flushed. "Wh...what magazines?"
"The ones I told you to throw out! Years ago!"
"I think I'll just go give him a talk," Haruka said sheepishly. "Ame, try not to break anything."
And she fled.
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Kochi was outside the home, fiddling with a rose bush.
"How sweet," Kaichou smiled warmly. She was leaning slightly on her bike, having ridden it to get to his place. "I didn't know you had a green thumb."
Kochi blinked. "I don't mind being a gardener," he grinned. "Nice ride."
"Yes, well, it's a bit ancient."
"Looks reliable."
"Yep."
There was a moment of a unsettled silence before she coughed delicately. "I just wanted to say hello."
"Oh... um, Ame is inside. So is Apollo."
"So?"
"I don't know.. just thought you'd like to know or something," Kochi was starting to feel hot under the collar.
"I see," Kaichou flashed him a brilliant smile. "Actually, I wouldn't mind talking to one of your moms."
"Why?"
"I wanted to talk about my mom."
"Is it anything about having no father?"
Kaichou must've looked really shocked as he waved a hand. "It's just... sometimes you seem really interested in your mother's coming and going and I mean, if I were in your shoes, I'd be curious and.."
"Well, what about you?" She asked crisply, crossing her arms. Her eyebrows carefully pinched together, her lips pressed slightly. It was a stance that told him he had asked the wrong thing. But if he hadn't gotten that message from her body posture, the cool tone certainly confirmed it.
"What about me?" He asked carefully.
"Don't be stupid. What about -your- father?"
"Haruka is my father figure."
"Father 'figure'," she quipped.
He flushed. "I'm happy with what I have. Maybe you should learn that."
"I don't know why I ever wanted to talk to you," she glared. "You're insensitive!"
"I'm insensitive! I'm not going behind my mother's back to find out something you can just ask her!"
"Don't you think I haven't tried that?" Her arms uncrossed. "I used to ask her when I was younger but it was pointless. She never told me anything!"
"And maybe there was a reason for it!"
"NO!" He jumped at the venomous tone. Her eyes watered. "My mother loved someone. Enough to have me. I want to know who he is!"
"And how do you know it wasn't a one-night stand?" He asked waspishly.
Kaichou's face paled. "Monster." She whispered to him.
He looked at his face, swearing. "I'm sorry..."
"I'll bet you are," she hissed. She tugged at her bike, rage bubbling from her as she swung her legs over.
"Kai...Kaichou.." Kochi began. "Please, I'm sorry!"
She rode off, without a backward glance. He swore and rubbed his face.
Michiru found him, sitting down at an old oak tree, looking at his feet with a listless gaze.
"Kochi?"
He looked up at her with wounded eyes.
"What?"
"I blabbed my mouth." Came the clipped answer.
"Oh dear," Michiru sighed. Kochi was known to be tactless at times, saying the first thing that comes to mind. He was brutally honest but sometimes, words did more damage than anything physical. "To who?"
"Kaichou," he whispered.
"About what?"
"She wanted to talk to you about her mom."
"Kaichou.. is very concerned about her mother's personal happiness," Michiru said carefully.
"She wants to know who her father is," Kochi shrugged.
"Not just that. Ami told me that Kaichou was always a sensitive girl, wanting the best for her mother because she subconsciously felt that Ami wasn't completely happy with a child and being single. To be honest, she never seemed like the type to go it alone but she did and she really is happy."
"Why can't Kaichou see that?"
"She wants to believe that her mother has love somewhere for her," Michiru rubbed his head affectionally. "Loneliness can be very harrowing. She doesn't want her mother to feel it."
"But in actuality, Kaichou is the one who's lonely?" Kochi asked carefully.
"You're a smart man. Maybe you could help her there? Kaichou does well with people but she doesn't have a posse like you do."
"I don't think Ame qualifies," Kochi said dryly.
She laughed. "No but you have each other."
He sighed. "Why are girls so confusing?"
Michiru's eyes widened slightly. "I think it's time for a good, long talk with Haruka," Michiru nodded with a small smile. "You've been kept in the dark for too long."
"About what? I know all about 'the birds and the bees'."
Michiru gave him a gentle look. "It's not about the know how. It's how to be able to understand the fairer sex."
He blinked. "Okay..."
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Seiiko danced in Michiru's and Haruka's living room, carefully perfecting her movement with grace.
"She takes after me," Minako said proudly.
"I thought you weren't going to force her into anything?" Haruka asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, I thought she needed some movement training. She's going to learn to be good on her feet. Dancing is the perfect thing!"
"So is track," added Haruka.
Minako sniffed. "She likes doing girl things."
"Girls can do track," Haruka frowned. "Don't group the sexes as apart, we all know it's a lie."
Minako rolled her eyes. "Anyways, she seems to like it."
"I'm not so sure about that," Haruka was studying the girl who when she danced away from her mother, grimaced angrily.
"Why?" Minako was only shown the tiny smiles whenever Seiiko saw her mother watching her.
"She's just trying to please you," Haruka looked away. "And Ame, don't pick that up!"
Ame was about to pick up a small statue that he noted was in his way, though he could've gone around it. "It's in my way!" He wailed.
"Is not!" Seiiko forgot her dancing, tapping her toe.
"Is too," Ame sulked. Having Seiiko here but unable to play with at the moment had hurt his pride. "I wanna play!"
"I wanna play too!" Seiiko wailed along with him.
"Maybe you have a point," Minako sighed. "She doesn't like anything girly."
"At least she's not like Zokusei."
"There is nothing wrong with her, Haruka," Michiru said sharply. "She's just got a prickly personality."
"She's a diva!" Minako exclaimed.
"As if you weren't?" Haruka teased.
"Oh, leave me alone," Minako huffed.
"MOM!" Kochi took Haruka's seat and tugged. "Drive me to the Mizuno household?" He asked, pleadingly.
Michiru raised an eyebrow. "We could call them over?"
"For dinner!" Haruka gave a wide grin. "That'd be great!"
"What about the others?" Minako asked.
"Do we have enough time?" Haruka asked Michiru.
"I'll head to the store, Minako, you call the others. Don't worry, Kochi, you'll be able to apologize," Michiru said firmly.
"Apologize for what?" Haruka was heard asking.
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"I don't want to go," Kaichou was lying on her side, nestled in her comforter. Ami blinked slowly before she neared. She saw the picture and smiled slowly, picking it up.
It was her, just hours after giving birth, holding a tiny bundle whose wide eyes were sparkling in the neon white light of the hospital room. Behind her was a window, thrown open carelessly, the sunrise peeking out casting the skies into a brilliant sea of cool colors, chasing away the night.
"Oh, you were a beautiful baby," Ami murmured, touching the picture gently. Her eyes misted over. "I know what you've been doing, Kaichou."
"What?" Kaichou leaned over, looking wary.
"About going around the hospital grounds. Asking my friends. Kaichou... I know I must've given you the impression, as a child, that there are things you cannot ask of me. I'm sorry for that."
Ami sat down on the bed, both had backs to each other. "I love you, Kaichou. You are my world, my happiness. I never wanted anything more."
"All you wanted was a child?"
"All I wanted was love," she smiled, a tender look spreading into her eyes by that smile. "Love is a powerful thing and from it can be born the most beautiful of the entire world. I was blessed by love and given you. You are my treasure, my gift."
"Then why, why aren't you married? Why is it that this 'love' isn't around? Mom, if you loved..."
"You cannot hold onto what must go," Ami smiled gently. "I could not tie down someone who wanted freedom. I received what I wanted, I know I was and am loved. It doesn't matter the distance between."
Kaichou pulled off her bed, anger vibrating from her. "So.. so Kochi was right."
"Kochi?" Ami asked, confused.
'And how do you know it wasn't a one-night stand?' The words echoed in Kaichou's ears.
Kaichou unclenched her hands. "Did.. did my father love you, Mom?" She looked up, tears gathering in her eyes, falling to the corners to drip agonizingly slow down her cheeks. Her head held up, her chin jutting out, she looked wildly rebellious, wanting to hear something that she could relate to.
Ami smiled then. "Yes. Even more than I loved him."
Kaichou covered her face, a sob breaking out. "But he left you!"
"Kaichou! Oh, Kaichou," Ami ran around to hug her daughter close. "Oh.. how tall you've gotten."
"Mom!" Kaichou wailed.
"He gave me a promise," Ami whispered, her fingers tightening in her daughter's hair. "A promise to return. I will keep to that always. Kaichou, he will come home again."
Kaichou blinked.
"Now what is this about Kochi?"
Kaichou flushed. "It's just between us.." She trailed off.
"Then wash your face and get ready to go, all right? Bring a jacket, just in case."