Chapter Three: An Apple A Day Keeps The Fox Away
It didn't take long for Mina to find the clinic. She can tell from the long line outside the building that she might have a long wait. "I have time," she concluded to herself as she leaned against the wall and crossed her arms over her chest. She closed her eyes and tried to think of the last thing she remembered before she woke up this morning in this strange place. Let's see. There was a strange energy signature coming from the portal. Usagi moved to the front, followed by Mamoru. I remember a scream, Haruka and Michiru running into the darkness, as I tried to grab Michiru's arm to stop her from following. Mina frowned as she tried to remember what happened after that. She was so intent in her musings that she didn't notice the line had dwindled down until she was the only person in line. With her eyes closed, she failed to notice the strange looks the citizens of Tokyo were giving her. If she had her eyes open, she would have seen the approach of a certain fox with a mischievous smile on her face.
"Tori-atama!" A geta nudged painfully at her leg and Mina opened her eyes with a start. "What are you doing snoozing on the side of the clinic? Don't tell me you couldn't pay your rent and they finally kicked you out?"
"Huh?" Mina replied as she stood up quickly and looked at the woman. Long black hair and a pair of brown eyes stared back at her and for a moment, Mina was speechless. An apron was tied over the kimono and her sleeves were rolled up as the woman crossed her arms. A fox. Now, why did that word pop into her head as she gazed at the woman with just a little bit of awe. Then the woman spoke again. "What are you staring at?" Megumi snapped irritably. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and continued her verbal assault. "It's as if you've never seen me before. I swear, Sano, sometimes I think what little brain you have," she stopped in mid-sentence and glared at him once more. "What?"
Mina was dumbfounded. Her vocal chords refused to function as she tried to think of an angry retort to this woman's blistering tirade. Damn, what a b**ch! Mina thought to herself. I hope that I don't end up as bitter as her when I grow old, the last statement came as an afterthought. "Nothing," Mina murmured as she sighed and started to rub her temples to stave off the approaching headache. Absently, she also rubbed the leg that Megumi had kicked and scowled but refrained from expressing her opinion to the young woman.
Concern replaced her initial shock as Sanosuke refused to respond to her barbs, Megumi's eyes narrowed. She noted that even with his hair out of its usual style, he was still a handsome man. Yet, there was something weighing heavily on his mind as his eyes took on a faraway gaze. Megumi itched to feel his forehead for signs of fever but she figured he might have a heart attack if she showed any sign of concern. So instead she did the next best thing and spoke out loudly. "Come on, Sanosuke. Let's get you something for that headache."
Mina nodded and she followed the other woman into the building. Inside, the lobby of the clinic was almost clear of patients and she noticed an older man walking back and forth into some of the rooms. That must be Takani-sensei, she thought as her body moved to intercept the man. Unfortunately, Megumi was faster. "Where do you think you're going tori-atama?" Before Mina could respond, she heard someone running into the clinic in haste. "Takani-sensei. Come quickly," the man stopped in front of the woman she was walking with. "My wife is in great pain. I think the baby is coming today!" The woman beside him nodded tightly and moved quickly to the other room, grabbing her medical bag in the process before turning to leave the clinic. "Gensai-sensei! I'm going to Kobayashi-san's. The baby is coming!"
Another voice floated in the air as Mina watched in confusion. "Hai, Megumi-san. Good luck!" Mina watched as the woman called Megumi Takani swept past her and she quickly scrambled behind to follow. "What do you think you're doing baka?" the doctor wheeled around to face Sanosuke. "I don't recall asking you to …"
"Aw, cut it out, will you?" the young woman finally retorted, sarcastically. The unfamiliar rumble in her throat registered faintly in Mina's brain but she ignored it as had reached the end of her patience. "It's going to be dark soon." Mina pointed at the sky. "First of all, I don't know how long you are going to be." She pointed at her chest, her open jacket slightly fluttering from the breeze. "Second, I'm a little disoriented and I don't know where I am." At Megumi's surprised expression, Mina continued before she lost her nerve. "Third, we're supposed to be friends so I look out for you," she looked at the woman called Takani Megumi in front of her evenly. "And lastly, my head feels like it's going to explode and your chatter is not helping. So, do you mind?" Startled into silence, Megumi only nodded in agreement and together they followed the young man in silence.
3.2 It's called Moon Gorgeous Meditation, Okashira!
It didn't take long for him to wake from his sleep and notice that he was not in the Aoiya inn anymore. Pink bedspreads and a black cat sleeping at the foot of the bed made him tilt his head in study. Rising from the bed, he stretched out his arms and looked around the room. The first thing that he had noticed was the abundance of pink in the room. Well that and the rabbit motif that seemed to overwhelm his surroundings. Wrinkling his nose in distaste for a split second, he resumed his observation of the room. He felt a presence behind him and instinctively he reached from behind him for his kodachi only to find it missing. Turning around, he saw the black cat had awoken and was staring at him peculiarly.
"Usagi-chan? What are you doing up at," Luna, Sailor Moon's guardian cat, rubbed her eyes and then widened as she read the numbers on the clock. "Five in the morning? School doesn't start until 8:00 AM." She whispered urgently. "Did the communicator go off?"
Pondering his answer for a moment, Aoshi responded with a curt "No." Hearing his voice for the first time, Aoshi frowned at the sudden change. Before Luna had a chance to ask another question, he cut off the conversation by announcing his intention to meditate. With that, he turned around and started to rummage through what he assumed to be the closet. He missed the look of disbelief and shock from the guardian cat's expression. Row after row, his eyes were assaulted with the brightness of the colors that endlessly paraded in front of him. Finally, he pulled out a pair of black pants and a black hooded pullover that was stuffed somewhere in the back. Luna frowned at the princess and studied her careful movements. There was an unmistakable grace that emanated from the young woman yet there was something else. Trying to put her finger on it, Luna observed Usagi quietly.
Aoshi aware of the scrutiny simply ignored the cat and proceeded to dress. Although these circumstances might faze a normal person, being Shinomori Aoshi, he simply filed this incident in the back of his head for future reference. He turned to the dresser and combed his hair when he caught his reflection. Long blonde hair and blue eyes stared back at him and he paused a moment to collect himself. Gathering the hair, he tied it into a high ponytail and moved away from the mirror, refusing to let any emotion come to the surface. As he paused at the door, Luna hurried to his side.
"Aren't you forgetting something, Usagi?"
He looked down at the cat and gave her a blank look. Seeing Usagi stare back at her intently, Luna stepped back a few paces and could almost swear she was looking at a stranger. "Your communicator and brooch," the guardian finally spoke as the silence stretched between them. "There may trouble while you are meditating and the others might need you." He nodded and simply walked to where he noticed the brooch and a small rectangular object with buttons lay by the nightstand. "I shall return in two hours. Do not follow me." Gently, he closed the door and walked soundlessly down the stairs. Luna jumped on the windowsill to watch Usagi turn left at their gate and decided to follow.
Author's Notes:
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin nor do I own Sailor Moon. There is nothing to take from me – except for an Eternal Sailor Moon doll that I got for my birthday! He-he-he. And before anyone gets all huffy about turning Aoshi into Usagi, I have my reasons that will be revealed in the next few chapters. You'll see.