Michelle, Sailor Neptune, sat on the edge of the building roof looking down at Tokyo. Next to her, her lover Amara, Sailor Uranus, sat holding her hand.
"Did Pluto say what the name of this person was? I mean, if she's our new mission, we should figure out her name," Amara muttered as she softly stroked the back of her girlfriend's hand.
"She told us to listen for the song of the Earth. The girl is supposed to be called Kristen, although I still don't know why she's so important to our futures," Michelle replied. "All we need to know is that Pluto has seen the future. What she tells us has always turned out to be right."
"So, tomorrow you plan on playing all day Neptune? Do you think that will draw her to us?"
"I don't know Uranus," Michelle sighed gently," but something tells me that we'll know if she comes."
Kisha was walking quickly down the street, dressed as Autumn. At just a little over five feet tall, it was hard for her to see through the crowd. Tucking her head down, she practically rammed her way through. When she finally broke free in the park, she took a small empty path. Kisha really just felt the need to get out and away. Singing in the club was a nice job and it paid well, but she didn't feel safe enough to be herself. Instead, she felt the need to wear a disguise and pretend to be a person she was not. Everything about her freedom was also frustrating. For almost two years she had been out of the orphanage, but still on her own. Friends would have been nice, but she just couldn't stop thinking about her dreams and what they were supposed to mean.
Every night started out the same. Kisha would go to sleep and dream about a man. He was tall and dressed well, but wore a shadow over his face. His heart seemed to beat in the same rhythm and time as hers. Also, there was a young girl that she felt was important to what she was trying to find. Then, every night for the last week, something new appeared in the dream. There was an evil, oppressing violence one night. The next she saw the shadows of a group of people, but she still never saw any faces. Life was just so unfair. Even her dreams were a stressful mystery.
Coming out of her reverie, Kisha stopped in her tracks. Someone was playing a beautiful melody on, what sounded like, a violin. With a small skip in her step, she raced to find the source of the comforting sound.
Amara turned when she felt the presence of someone else approaching. Through the leaves she saw a glint of bright colored hair and closely watched a small, beautiful female come to an abrupt halt. The girl seemed to be about her age, but was so tiny that she could have passed for a girl in Junior high. Her doe brown eyes caught with Amara's and the girl took a step back. "I'm sorry," she said softly," I don't mean to intrude. It was just that, well, I heard the music on my walk and had to stop to appreciate the beauty of it."
Michelle had ceased playing and smiled down at the girl. "You are welcome to stay. How could I turn out one who takes pleasure out of my playing? Are you a musician?"
Kisha nodded her head enthusiastically. "Yes, in a sense. I sing. Actually, my job is at the new Time Lounge downtown. I'm the singer known as Autumn."
"What a fitting name," Michelle replied with a smile. "Would you like to put words to my song?"
Kisha looked at Michelle in horror, yet with a need to say yes, she turned to see if the other woman was okay with it. Amara nodded her head and went to take her seat again.
"Okay," Kisha said," hear goes nothing."
Michelle started her song again from the beginning. It was an old lullaby that had come to her in a dream and just seemed right in the moment. At just the right time, she heard an amazingly clear and light voice start to sing words that she never would have imagined on her own.
As the sun and the stars are aligned
The Earth and the Moon combine
To work towards a wondrous morn
In which all can be loved in kind
Amara sat and patiently listened to what seemed to be a story that she had heard before.
It takes more than one can give
So all things must work as one
We try our best to fight
While still remaining strong
Blow hard wind
Crash loud waves
Fly high birds
Let love soar
Grow tall trees
Bloom beautiful flowers of the meadow
This is the Earth's Lullaby
This is the Earth's Lullaby
Michelle felt tears streaming down her face as she continued to play. The girl's voice was truly magnificent and it really made the song come together. Yet, that wasn't what was making her cry. The words were words to a song of old, a song that was once sung to her in a dream. That realization had hit her very quickly and with a need to hear the rest, she pushed on.
There are secrets here
Whispered words of joy and pain
Tales are spread o'er and o'er again
One day this place will rise
And blessings will fill the skies
As a lost one returns to home
To help lead in the future fights
Raised up from the hard turned soil
Oppressed by the people near
One soul will someday shine
And cleanse this place
With a song that we all love to hear
Blow hard wind
Crash loud waves
Fly high birds
Let love soar
Grow tall trees
Bloom beautiful flowers of the meadow
This is the Earth's Lullaby
This is the Earth's Lullaby
"You, what is your name again?" Amara asked a little roughly. She knew that this was the girl that they were looking for.
"K.. Autumn," Kisha replied softly.
"I don't believe you," Amara growled. Stepping up to Kisha, she looked down with an intimidating glare. Kisha backed up and tripped over Michelle's violin case. Michelle gasped and reached out, but she wasn't quick enough. Kisha went sprawling and her wig flew off.
Amara took a step and knelt down to retrieve the wig. "See, you aren't all that you appear."
"Amara, stop it," Michelle gasped. "We don't want to scare her off."
With tears welling up in her eyes, Kisha pushed herself up and stood to face the two women that had seen through her. "Why is my name important? Why am I important? I've always been a nobody and I'd almost rather stay that way."
"Of course you are important. You have a beautiful smile and a beautiful voice. I don't know if I'll ever be able to play again without you next to me. You've ruined me," Michelle teased with a soft, understanding look in her eyes.
"Come on, we know that you are hiding your true self," Amara pressed. "You might have good reason, but we would like to help you and we would like to be your friends," she continued, " if that's okay.. Kristen."
Kisha gasped and her eyes got even wider. "H-h-how did you know my name?"
"Let's just say that you must be important," Amara responded, "because you and your name fell right into our laps."
"Who exactly are you?"
"I'm Amara and this is Michelle. Would you like to come with us to have lunch?"
Kisha looked at Michelle, still a little confused, but not wanting to stand in the way of what seemed to be an honest chance at friendship. She couldn't help but trust the beautiful and soft musician, even if she had some doubts about the tall and intimidating one.
"Yes, I'll go and have lunch with you," she finally choked out. "But, before we go, let me be quite frank with you." Pulling out her brown contacts to reveal her startling eyes, she put her hands on her hips and gave Amara her most prideful and arrogant look. "I don't go by Kristen. You can call me Kisha."
With a loud and true laugh, Amara gave Kisha her most stunning smile. "Alright then, Kisha, let's go."
