BISHOUJO SENSHI SAILORMOON
~MIRAI~
PART VI: GIFT
by: Komillia (komillia@hotmail.com)
Disclaimer: Sailormoon belongs to Takeuchi Naoko and Kodansha, not me.
Although most of the characters in this fanfiction are original and
created by me.
Some Japanese words I use:
moshi moshi = a phrase used when answering the phone
ja ne = bye
sailor fuku = sailor suit
onegai = please
domo arigatou = thank you very much
sayonara = farewell, goodbye
chotto matte = wait
nani = what
Note: In this part I two Swedish words as well, although I tried to
stay away from it. It's all because Yasha's home country is Sweden.
The Swedish words I use:
pappa = dad, daddy
mamma = mom, mommy
* * * *
"Moshi moshi, Sakura residence. Yamazaki Kenji speaking."
"Good day, may I speak to Marika Dahl, please?"
"Just a moment, please."
Yasha put down the pencil on her desk and sighed. She stared at the
empty paper that was lying there. The empty paper was mocking her lack
of ideas. Normally she could sit all day and draw, but something had
been troubling her ever since she had gotten back from the hospital.
Leaning back at her chair, she picked up the pencil again and drummed
at her desk with it. She sat like that for a while, before getting up
and walking over to the opened window. Hikaru was sitting outside on
the porch with a couple of cards in his hands, waiting for Kenji to
get back and resume their poker game. Yasha leaned against window sill
as she watched Hikaru sitting their and thinking about his card
strategy while waiting. Yasha swore that the only time Hikaru was so
serious and dedicated, except for in battle, was when he was playing
cards.
Things at been calm at home lately, she and Hikaru hadn't
argued since she got back from the hospital. That was because each
time she saw him she was reminded about the kiss they had shared at
the hospital. The kiss had been brief, but her confusion hadn't ended.
She had asked herself at least a hundred times why that kiss even
happened, but most of all how she could like it. She and Hikaru
weren't supposed to like each other, it had been that way ever since
he joined the Shin Senshi. They were supposed to fight, yell at each
other, throw things at each other, not kiss. But that still didn't
explain why he had kissed her. Yasha didn't even think that he was
trying to hide that fact that he was avoiding her. Everytime she
entered the room he was in he would get up and leave only moments
afterwards. At the dinner table Hikaru quickly finish his dinner and
leave. If not for the converstations that passed between Chie, Usagi,
Kenji and Tomo, the house would be dead quiet. Occasionally Misao
would come over and then she, Tomo and Usagi would behave like they
were best friends who had grown up together. It was the one happy
thing in the house, to see that Usagi had grown so close to the two,
very much younger, girls.
Yasha herself had preferred to remain alone many times, she
needed time to think. About Hikaru, about her Senshi identity, about
the reason why she was in Crystal Tokyo. And about everything else in
her life.
[I wish that I had the answers I need...] she thought,
withdrawing from the window with another sigh. [What's the point with
being in Crystal Tokyo and being a Senshi? I get injured, I nearly
die. And still I fight to protect people who would gladly shoot me at
first sight. What am I doing... why am I staying? Is it because of my
friends? If I weren't a Senshi... would they still be my friends?]
Shortly afterwards she heard someone knocking on the door. She knew
that it was either Usagi or Kenji, since only she, Hikaru, Usagi and
Kenji were at home. Besides, Hikaru hadn't made any attempt to talk to
her ever since she got back from the hospital.
"Come in," she answered casually. The door opened and she was
right, it was Kenji.
"There's a phone call for you," he told her. "It's someone
who's talking English and who uses your real name."
"English?" Yasha repeated. Kenji nodded then left. Yasha went
downstairs and picked up the phone that Kenji had left for her. "Yes,
this is Marika Dahl," she answered in English. The response she got
shocked her more than Hikaru's kiss had. It was in Swedish.
"Hello Marika."
"Pappa?"
* * * *
Dear Diary,
I'm not sure how I should explain this but... things have been
a little quiet for some time. Yasha and Hikaru are very quiet,
it doesn't seem right. Lately, Yasha has been very quiet and
depressed. I'm not very used to it. I tried talking to her but
she said that nothing was wrong. I don't believe her though. I
hope that it will turn out alright anyway, I mean... It did
with Akira. I don't know if 'alright' is the right word, if
I'm correct he still hasn't told Misao about her Silver
Millenium background. I wonder what's keeping him from doing
that. But maybe it's because he and Misao aren't getting along
too well, they don't talk unless it's neccessary. What more is
there to write about? Usagi has been doing well, but I think
that she's bothered by the fact that she isn't able to
transform. We don't blame her for not being able to fight
along with us, at least I don't. Otherwise she is stable and
a very down to Earth person, which is something that many
think isn't possible for a princess. But there are times when
I'm afraid that she'll wander off like she did last time. I
wish that we could take Usagi out more often, but that way
more people will see her and eventually the NSS people will
too.
And myself... I miss Diana a lot. She was a great leader, she
always knew keep the team together. I wish that she was here
right now. Yasha would surely have confided in her. Diana
could probably convince Akira to tell Misao too. And be a
great support to Usagi. All at the same time.
~Sakura Chie~
* * * *
"What's with the hair?" Kenji asked of pure curiousity. He
looked at Yasha's hair. It was still long, but Yasha had cut it so
that it reached to her waistline. Which was something that really
surprised both Kenji and Usagi, Yasha had always said that she would
keep her hair as long as she could. "It's so... new."
"I just felt like cutting it," Yasha replied as it was no big
deal. She started to put her shoes on, Usagi was surprised that Yasha
needed high heeled shoes since she was already so tall without them.
"It was so long and beautiful," Usagi sighed. "Well, at least
you can grow it back whenever you want to."
Yasha smiled faintly towards Usagi and then put her jacket on.
"Someone will have to cook instead of me tonight," she told. "I have
a meeting with two very important people and won't be home until in
time for dinner."
"Don't worry, Chie and I will cook," Usagi assured. "Misao's
coming for dinner today so Chie said that we should try out some new
recipes that she had gotten. Should we save some for you?"
Yasha smiled again and opened the front door. "Thanks, but no thanks.
I'll have dinner with the ones I'm meeting. Besides, if I were you,
and for your own sake take my advice, I would stay away from Chie and
the kitchen when she's trying out new recipes. Ja ne."
With that she left the house and closed the door after herself. Usagi
turned to Kenji with a surprised look on her face. "What did she mean
by that?" she wondered innocently.
Kenji chuckled. "Let's just say that we all like Chie's cooking best
when she's not trying new things," he answered.
* * * *
"Are you miss Marika Dahl?"
"Yes. Are my parents here?"
"Yes, I have orders to escort you to their table in the
restaurant. This way please, miss Dahl."
When Yasha arrived that the restaurant and the hotel she was struck by
nervousness. She had dismissed the escort as she had caught sight on
where her parents were sitting. Her long nails dug into her palm as
she began to make her way towards them. She walked slowly, getting
more nervous as each moment passed.
[God, I can't believe that they are actually here,] she
thought as she approached the table. Her parents looked up from their
menus and saw her standing. Jonathan Dahl was a tall man with dark
brown hair and dressed in a grey business suit. His eyes were green,
like Yasha's, but somewhat stern. His wife, Sara, was an elegant lady
who looked younger than she really was. Her hair was raven and put up
in a tidy bun. The hair had the same color as Yasha's but it was
curly. Yasha noticed that none of her parents had changed much since
she had last seen them.
"Marika," Sara began. She rose and gave Yasha a hug. She spoke
in Swedish. "Darling, we have missed you so much."
"You have?" Yasha said in the same language. Her mother
released her from the hug and sat down at her seat again. Sara pulled
out a chair next to her.
"Marika, sit down," Jonathan ordered strictly, but his eyes
had a more gentler look than it had before. Yasha smiled faintly
towards her father and sat down at the chair her mother had pulled
out.
"I didn't expect that you would come here," she told. "But I
am happy that you did."
"So am I," Sara replied and her hand on her daughters. "You
have no idea how much we have missed you since you left. It's so quiet
around the house now that you're not living there anymore."
Yasha opened her mouth to say that she never contributed that much
noise, since she hadn't been allowed to be loud due to her mother's
often headaches. But she decided to not say anything about it. She
hadn't talked, much less seen, her parents for a very long time.
"I guess you want to know the reason for our... sudden visit,"
Jonathan said.
"It would be good if you told me," Yasha answered in a soft
tone. She surprised herself. She never spoke like that to anyone.
"Your mother and I have been doing a lot of thinking," her
father continued. "We would like you to return home to Sweden with us,
Marika. We feel like we shouldn't have let you come here in the first
place."
That tone in his voice... Yasha recognized it very well. The way her
father had said it made it sound like she had done a grave error to
come to Crystal Tokyo. It hadn't been a mistake, hadn't it? She had
moved to Crystal Tokyo as soon as she had turned eighteen. Even
though she would never admit it she had been very immature before she
had left. Coming to Crystal Tokyo had matured her. But it had also
brought her pain and misery. The feeling of knowing that she was
different from everyone else had followed her. In Crystal Tokyo all
the debates with NSS and it's supporters were a lot more serious than
it was in other countries. Especially since many Sailor Senshi
gathered in Crystal Tokyo. And demons seemed to have Crystal Tokyo as
their favourite attacking place.
But Yasha hadn't thought of that when she had first left. Her
parents had found out that she was a Senshi, which had complicated
things. Their idea of a good life was a normal life, to fit among the
crowd. They had no particular opinion about Senshi, but they didn't
want her, their daughter, to be a Senshi.
"However, there is one condition," Sara spoke. Yasha didn't
know if she wanted to hear that condition. She already knew what it
was.
* * * *
"Misao-chan, I look weird!" Usagi exclaimed when she saw
herself in the mirror. Misao herself couldn't help laughing. Ever
since the dinner that Chie was supposed to cook had got burnt,
everyone had decided that it was best that they would out to eat.
Misao and Tomo had changed some of Usagi's appearance, so that the
people wouldn't be able to recognize her. Now, ten minutes later, they
had added red streaks on Usagi's hair, braided it into one braid and
applied lots of make up.
"I don't think anyone will recognize you now," Misao laughed.
Usagi sighed as Chie entered the large bathroom. She smelled the scent
of heavy perfume as she came in.
"If you ask me, I don't think that people will recognize Usagi
because of the way she smells," she pointed out, looking at the mess
that Misao and Tomo had caused.. "Are you three done with the make up?
The others are waiting for you."
"How are we going to get into the car?" Tomo wondered. "Yasha
took the other car so there's only one left. And there's only five
seats and we're... seven."
"That's why Hikaru and I are staying and ordering a pizza,"
Chie replied.
"That's not fair to you," Tomo said. "I can stay home
instead!"
"And I can stay instead of Hikaru," Misao suggested. "After
all, I can go out and eat anytime. Besides, it will keep me away from
that jerk Akira."
Chie smiled to herself, thinking how Akira would react if he heard
Misao call him jerk.
[He has probably not recovered from the shock he got when he
found out that Misao was his precious Triton,] Chie thought and
brushed her bangs away from her eyes. [I wonder how long it will take
until Misao remembers something about her past.]
"Why are you smiling?" Misao wondered. Chie shook her head.
"It's nothing," she answered. "But I'm staying at home and
that's the end of it."
"Perhaps I should stay," Usagi suggested. "I mean... Then we
don't have to go through with disguises and everything."
"You, of all people, should go with them," Chie said. "You
can't stay locked up in this house all the time. Just be careful so
that you don't attract too much attention."
"Yeah, I'm sure that the make up will make sure of that,"
Usagi murmured, turning to Misao.
"Are you finished yet?" an impatient voice said. Chie turned
around and everyone turned to the doorway. Akira was standing there,
leaning against a wall. Misao sighed.
"Didn't you learn to knock when you were little?" she asked.
"The door was open," Akira replied with his usual calm voice.
He looked at Usagi. "Is that what you call a disguise?"
"She made it up!" Usagi said quickly, pointing at Misao. Misao
looked into Akira's eyes with rage in her own. She knew what he
thought of the make up that she had applied on Usagi, and it wasn't
making her very happy.
"Yes, and it's a very good disguise!" she retorted and grabbed
Usagi's arm. She practically shoved a pair of sun glasses into Usagi's
face. "Let's go."
She dragged Usagi out of the bathroom and Tomo followed them. Akira
was about leave himself when Chie called on him.
"Akira, wait."
Akira stopped and turned to Chie. Only by looking at her serious face
he knew what it was all about. But he let her talk anyway and remained
silent.
"I know that it's not my business but why won't you tell her?"
Chie asked. "Even if she doesn't act or look like the Triton you knew,
it's still her, right?"
"As long as there is no need too, I won't tell," Akira
answered coldly. His last words before he left were: "And you're
right, it's not your business."
* * * *
When Yasha came home it was pretty quiet in the house. The other car
in the garage was gone, meaning that her prediction of Chie's cooking
had been correct. She went through the back door and then up the
stairs. Deciding to take a bath, she picked up a few things in her
room and then headed for the bathroom. Once she was in there, she
locked the door after herself and turned on the faucet. The rather
large bathtub was being filled with steaming hot water while Yasha
braided her hair. Afterwards she put the braid up in a bun and
undressed before stepping into the bathtub. The hot water brought
warmth to her cold fingers. She leaned her head at the edge as she
looked up at the ceiling.
[What should I do?] she asked herself. [If I say no, I'll lose
my parents. If I say yes, I'll lose my friends. Either way, I'll lose
people that are important to me.]
She remained in the bath for a long time, just thinking and staring at
either the ceiling or the wall. When she finally rose she caught sight
on the watch she had taken off. She had been staying in the bath for
over an hour. Luckily she didn't have to dry her hair, normally it
took an eternity for it to dry. Now that it was shorter it was more
convinient.
Ten minutes later she came out from the bathroom, dressed in
her nightgown and a robe. She re-entered her room and only a moment
after closing the door, she heard a soft knocking.
"Come in," Yasha answered, a little surprised that someone was
at home without her knowing it. The door opened and Chie entered the
room. "I didn't knew that you were home. The car was gone when I came
back."
"I know," Chie answered and sat down at the chair that was
placed near the desk. She smiled. "The dinner I made didn't turn out
too good. The others went out to eat but there wasn't enough room so
Hikaru and I stayed and called for a pizza."
"I knew that it was going to turn out that way," Yasha
replied, returning Chie's smile.
"So, I heard that you had this important meeting today."
Yasha's smile faded as she remembered what her parents had told her.
She looked at Chie, the woman was older and wiser than her. Perhaps
Chie could help her to make the right decision.
"Yeah... Actually, I need your opinion on something. Do you
have time for a talk?"
"Sure, what can I do for you?"
Yasha sat down at her bed and pulled her robe closer to her. "I met my
parents today," she told.
Chie looked surprised. "Your parents? They were here? In Crystal
Tokyo?" She didn't mean to ask so many questions, but Yasha rarely
talked about her parents, neither did the others. The only thing that
Chie knew about Yasha's parents was that they didn't seem to have any
contact with their daughter.
"Yeah, they called me two weeks ago saying that they were
coming and that they wanted to see me," she answered. "I went to see
them today and we did a lot of talking. They want me to return to
Sweden with them." Chie looked even more surprised when she heard it,
but didn't say anything. "On one condition, that I never transform
into Sailormedusa again."
"Never transform?" Chie repeated. "They know that you're a
Senshi?"
Yasha nodded. "I told them before I left," she continued. "They
weren't too happy about it, they aren't NSS but not Senshi lovers
exactly. They want me to lead a normal life, like any other and not
fight demons."
"It's understandable," Chie replied. "Your parents are
concerned that you're going to get hurt one day, that's probably why
they don't want you to be a Senshi. Some people consider Senshi powers
to be a gift, other a curse."
Yasha smiled faintly to herself. "The English word for gift... is the
same word for poison in my language..." she murmured.
"So what are you going to do?" Chie wondered. "Do you want to
return to your home?"
[Home...] Yasha repeated to herself. [I don't know where my
"home" is anymore.]
"I don't know," Yasha replied. "I told them that I had to
think about it and that I would call them tomorrow morning and tell
them. So I have until tomorrow to think about it."
Chie looked at Yasha, her eyes held a kind and gentle look. She sat
down beside Yasha on the bed. "Yasha, I'll give you my opinion on
this," she said. "I think that you should do what you want to do and
what's best for you. I won't be upset if you decide to leave us. When
you were lying in the hospital injured, I realized that there is no
guarantee that all Senshi will survive when they step into battle."
Yasha was silent for a long time, so was Chie. Finally, after nearly
two minutes of silence, Yasha looked at Chie. Her eyes were nearly
watering when told Chie her answer.
"I don't think that I can take it anymore... Chie, I... I'll
go back home."
As she spoke, Chie gave her a comforting hug. Tears were threatening
to wet her cheeks, but she did her best to hold them back and to say
comforting words to her friend. Outside the room, Hikaru had been
standing and listening to the converstation. As he hear the final
answer, he shut his eyes tightly. For a while, he stood there with
closed eyes. Then he opened his eyes and went into his room, slamming
the door after himself.
* * * *
Yasha didn't get up at her usual time that morning. Chie sat somewhat
uncomfortable around the table, Yasha had asked her to tell the others
about her decision. Chie decided to do that once everyone, except for
Yasha, had gathered around the table.
"Everyone, I have something to tell," she began. Everyone
turned their gaze to her, except for Hikaru who seemed to pay her no
attention. But Chie knew that he was listening.
"Yasha wanted me to tell you all," Chie continued. "That she
will be leaving us."
Akira's, Kenji's, Tomo's and Usagi's faces held a look of shock. Only
Hikaru remained unaffected by Chie's words, he already knew.
"What?" Akira said.
"For how long?" Kenji wondered.
"...Probably for good," Chie replied. "She'll return to her
parents in Sweden. It will take a while until the paper work is done,
but she'll leave Crystal Tokyo in two or three days."
"Why does she want to leave?" Tomo demanded to know. "Doesn't
she like us anymore?"
Sometimes Tomo could sound like a child that was ten years younger
than her. Usagi put a comforting arm around Tomo.
"It's probably for the best," Usagi said. "I don't think it's
about us, though. Maybe she's just... tired of being a Senshi."
"How can anyone be that?" Tomo asked.
"Please try to understand her, Tomo-chan," Chie said. "Yasha
has made her choice, we must respect that."
Chie looked at Hikaru and expected him to say something but he didn't.
She wondered what was going on in his mind, but knew that whatever he
wanted to say to Yasha, he would eventually say.
* * * *
An hour later, Yasha silently left the second floor and went
downstairs. She walked over to the phone. Everyone except for Usagi
and Hikaru had left, Yasha guessed that they probably knew about her
plans at this time. The only thing that Chie wouldn't tell them was
her parents' ultimatum. It was Chie's idea. It was for the best, Chie
had said. Yasha looked at the phone that was hanging on the wall. For
a moment Yasha doubted, but then she lifted her hand to take the
phone.
"Blaze!"
In the corner of her eye she saw a flame coming towards her. She
ducked and the flame flew right past her and then vanished.
Instinctively she waved her hand and transformed into Medusa. She
raised her hand and the green bow and arrow appeared.
"Poison..." she began, but stopped when she saw that it was
Ares Knight standing behind her. She released the bow and it
vanished. "Hikaru, why did you attack me?" she demanded. "And why are
you transformed in the first place?"
"Take a good look at your Sailor fuku, Yasha, because you'll
probably never wear it again," Ares said coldly. Medusa almost didn't
recognize his voice. He had yelled at her before, many times, but
never spoken to her in such cold tone.
"What?"
"I should be the one to say that," Ares retorted. "What makes
you think that you can just drop out like that? The pride of being a
Senshi, you're just going to throw it all away?"
"What do you mean?" Medusa asked. He couldn't possibly know,
could he? "I'm just leaving the country..."
"And putting your henshin stick away for good," Ares finished.
"I heard you and Chie last night. You're not just leaving, you're not
going to be a Senshi anymore to... blend in with the crowd."
Medusa's jaw dropped. "You eavesdropped on us?" she shouted. "How dare
you?! It was a private converstation between me and Chie, it has
nothing to do with you!"
"Everything that concerns the team concerns me," Ares said.
"That is another reason why I can't understand you're going."
"I am a Senshi, I can be replaced. There are thousands,
probably millions of Senshi out there!"
"Yes, but that's not an excuse to walk out on your team! Why,
Yasha? I don't understand!"
After all the screaming and shouting Usagi appeared, coming from the
garden. She stopped at the doorway to observe the two and wonder why
they were transformed. Ares and Medusa continued their converstation
as if they hadn't seen her arriving.
"No, you don't understand, Hikaru," Medusa replied. "Not at
all. You never had."
They stood silent for a long time, before Ares turned around and left.
He walked past Usagi and transformed back into Hikaru at the same
time. Usagi watched Hikaru leaving, then looked at Medusa. Medusa was
still standing at the same place.
"Yasha..." Usagi began.
"Please leave me alone," Medusa said briefly. Usagi left,
knowing that Medusa would apperciate her leaving. It wasn't the time
to ask what Hikaru had been talking about. As soon as she was gone,
Medusa sank down on the floor. She shut her eyes tightly and
de-transformed into Yasha. She bit her lip, telling herself that it
was ridicoulous of her to cry.
[I shouldn't cry, not because of him,] she thought. [He's
just a stupid jerk. But even could jerks understand, so why can't he?
Hikaru... can't you see? I'm scared...]
* * * *
"Forget it."
"Onegai, Akira-san?"
"No."
"You're the only one I can ask. Onegai?"
"No, Tomo, I won't cook!"
Tomo looked at Akira with her large eyes, trying to look as innocent
and sweet as possible. "Please? Misao-chan have to help me with an
essay, it's very important."
Akira shook his head. "Why can't you ask the others? Chie, I can
understand but why not Usagi? Or Kenji and Hikaru?"
"Usagi and Kenji have been cooking for the last days," Tomo
answered. "And I don't think that Hikaru is feeling very well. So...
please?
Akira sighed. "You owe me one," he said. A wide smile appeared on
Tomo's face and her eyes were sparkling with joy.
"Domo arigatou!" she thanked and made a bow. "I'm in your
debt!"
"I know..." Akira murmured as he began to make his way towards
the kitchen. Misao appeared there suddenly, like magic, and blocked
his way. She smiled sweetly towards him.
"Get out of my way," Akira grunted. Misao tilted her head a
little to her left, not moving.
"Why... I never expected that I would live to see the day you
would cook," she teased. "Even though Sailor Senshi can live for
millenias. Now, how do you say it politely?"
"Politely?" Akira repeated and nearly laughed. "I never
expected that I would live to see the day you would be polite! You
don't even apologize to people you walk into!"
"Walk into?" Misao cried, repeating Akira's words. "Excuse me,
but you walked into me, so why did I have to apologize?!"
"You never admit that you're wrong, do you?"
"Well, unlike someone at least I'm capable of it!"
"Yeah, and cows have wings!"
"Hey, Akira-san, Misao-chan," Tomo began carefully. "There's
no need to be upset with each other, right?"
The two continued as if they hadn't heard her. Tomo sighed as Chie,
Kenji and Usagi joined her. "Those two are bickering again," Tomo
told. Chie shook her head.
"Yasha's not gone yet, but she and Hikaru already got
replacements. Though I never expected Akira to be this... bickerable."
"I agree," Kenji said. "Misao just seems to bring out a side
of him that we didn't even know existed. Interesting, isn't it?"
"Yeah."
They didn't made an attempt to calm down Misao or Akira. Their
bickering automatically stopped when Yasha came down the stairs,
carrying her suitcase with her. Silence fell upon the hallway when
everyone noticed her. Yasha smiled faintly towards her, soon to be,
former comrades.
"You don't have to be so quiet," she said as she came down.
She put down the suitcase. "It's a rare phenomenon."
There was silence again, before Tomo said what she had already said to
Yasha many times the past days.
"Do you really have to go?"
Yasha smiled faintly towards Tomo and gave her a hug. "Yes," she
answered, just like she had done before. "My cab is already here, I
gotta go know."
"You're not gonna let us drive you to the airport?" Chie
asked.
"No, I'm picking up my parents," Yasha replied, releasing Tomo
and giving Chie a hug. "Besides, I'm not a sucker for long goodbyes."
"We'll miss you," Chie said. "You can always come back here,
anytime you want."
"I know."
Hikaru was missing, but Yasha didn't notice that until she was done
with all the hugs and goodbyes. She didn't have to ask why he wasn't
there with the others, ever since their confrontation two days ago he
had been staying as far away from her as possible. Even when the
others followed her outside, there was still no sign of Hikaru showing
up. The cab driver took care of her luggage while she said her last
farewells to her friends.
"You have to promise me to write," Tomo said as she gave Yasha
a last hug. "Or at least call."
"I will," Yasha promised. After that she stepped into the cab.
"Goodbye... everyone."
"Sayonara, Yasha!" she heard them all call as the cab drove
away. She smiled bravely to them, waving one last time. But inside she
was feeling strange. As if she was leaving home. She wondered why she
felt that. After all, she was going home.
* * * *
After Yasha had left, everyone went back into the house. It was Tomo
who showed signs of sadness, the other made their best to not show it.
When everyone was inside Tomo took a look at everyone.
"Where's Hikaru?" she wondered. "He didn't say goodbye to
her?"
"I don't know where he is," Kenji answered. "The cars are
still here, though. So he must be somewhere around here."
"How mean of him to not show up..." Tomo muttered and went off
in a search for Hikaru. She went to his room first, but he wasn't
there. When she had searched through the house she went to the garden,
the only place that was left. Surprisingly she found him there,
sitting all by himself. Tomo walked over to him.
"Hikaru, why didn't you come to say goodbye to Marika-san?"
she wondered.
"Why should I?" Hikaru asked, leaning back at the bench he was
sitting at. He didn't seem to care much about it. "Her departure is
just a classic case of selfishness."
"Why do you such things about her?" Tomo demanded. "I know
that you and Marika-san didn't get along, but you care for her and she
cares for you. You must have hurt her by not saying goodbye."
"Listen carefully Tomo, I don't care about Yasha. I don't care
if she leaves, if she stays, I don't care what she does. She can go
wherever she wants for all I care. It has nothing to do with me
anyway."
"So after all that you saw in the land of fears, it still has
nothing to do with you?"
Hikaru looked at Tomo, eyes wide in shock. She looked at him as if
nothing was wrong. "Land of fears?" Hikaru repeated. "Tomo... how did
you find out about that? Does Yasha know?"
"Not that it matters, but she doesn't," Tomo replied. Then she
spoke in a serious voice, very adult like. It was surprising how Tomo
could sound like a child one moment and like an adult the next. "I
know what happened, I knew about Marika-san's fears. The one fear that
you didn't know about was you leaving and betraying us. Everything in
that world was built up by Marika's fear. So, if you didn't care for
her, why did you go there in the first place?"
Hikaru didn't answer that question. Instead, he said: "It's stilll
very foolish of her to leave."
"You do care about her. Marika fears that there will be
battles during her entire life if she stays. But don't you agree with
me, that there is no place on Earth that is safe from demons?"
Hikaru said nothing, but nodded. Tomo knew what he was thinking about.
She stepped back and waved her hand. Strong light blinded Hikaru, but
it disappeared soon. When it was gone, Archangel stood there.
"I'll go ahead and delay her," she told. "Try to get to the
airport as soon as possible. I think that none of us really wants her
to go."
"Thanks, kid."
Archangel smiled, her wings flapped once before she took off. Hikaru
didn't waste any time. He ran back into the house and found Chie in
the living room, with a book in her hand as usual.
"Chie, I need the car keys," he said. Chie took out the keys
from her pocket.
"Where are you going?" she wondered as she tossed them to him.
Hikaru caught them and began to exit the living room.
"The airport!" he called on his way out.
"The airport?" Chie repeated. Then she realized his intention.
With a smile on her face she put down the book and ran after him. "Hey
Hikaru, wait for me!"
* * * *
Tomo had gotten to the airport pretty fast. After landing in a place
where no one could see her, she had de-transformed and gone into the
airport. Only a few seconds later Yasha and her parents entered the
airport with their luggage. Tomo sighed in relief, happy that she had
gotten to the airport before them.
"Marika-san!" she called and made her way over to Yasha. Yasha
looked surprised when she heard someone calling her name, but looked
shocked when she saw that it was Tomo.
"Tomo! What are you doing here?" Yasha asked in Japanese. "And
how in the world did you get here?"
"I flew," Tomo answered, hoping that Yasha's parents didn't
speak Japanese. She could see on their expressions that they didn't.
Yasha's father asked Yasha something that Tomo couldn't understand and
Yasha replied, probably in the same language. But she could hear her
name being mentioned.
"Tomo, these are my parents, Jonathan and Sara Dahl," Yasha
introduced. "Don't worry, they don't understand Japanese."
"It's nice to meet you, mr and mrs Dahl," Tomo greeted in
perfect English. "I was planning on telling Marika something, but
unfortunately I wasn't there when she left."
"Mamma, pappa, could you please give us a moment alone?" Yasha
asked in Swedish. "It won't take long."
"Of course, dear," Sara Dahl answered in the same language.
Then she turned Tomo and said in English: "It's nice to meet you."
"Same here."
Sara Dahl left, dragging her husband with her. When Yasha saw that her
parents were out of hearing range, she turned to Tomo. "Tomo, what are
you doing here?" she demanded to know.
"I talked to Hikaru," Tomo answered. "We decided that we're
not going to let you leave just like this."
* * * *
"Can't you drive faster?!"
"It's not so easy with the traffic here," Chie retorted. "Why
didn't you say anything earlier, we could have stopped her from
leaving before she left the house!"
"Why didn't you do anything?" Hikaru asked. "There were six of
you and you sure would have been able to convince her to stay!"
"Even if it was a stupid decision I was trying to support
her," Chie said.
"Whatever. Are you sure that you can't drive faster? We have
to get to the airport in time."
Chie smiled towards him. "You really want me to do that?" she asked.
Hikaru was unsure, she didn't like the look on her face. But if it
was going to help them getting to the airport faster...
"As fast as you can," he answered. Chie turned her gaze
forwards, the smile never left her face.
"You asked for it."
* * * *
"Tomo, you know I can't stay."
"Yes, you can!" Tomo said, sounding like a child again. "You
mean so much to me, to Hikaru and to everyone else!"
"Hikaru..." Yasha repeated in a low voice. "I don't think that
I mean anything special to him."
"You do!" Tomo exclaimed. "He hasn't been talking to you
because he believed that he didn't mean anything to you. Please,
Marika-san, stay with us."
Yasha sighed. "If you are telling the truth, then why isn't he here?"
she wondered. "I believe that you're just making this up to make me
stay."
Tomo shook her head. "I'm not! He's on his way. I came here first to
make sure that you stay here until he comes."
Yasha smiled slightly towards Tomo. "Tomo, you are my friend and I
will miss you when I go back home. But I have to go now."
With that, Yasha picked up her suitcase and left. Tomo searched for
something to say but couldn't come up with anything. Yasha was looking
rather sad herself.
[It would be rather nice if what Tomo said was true,] she
thought. [Hikaru, you have given me quite a headache since the day we
met.]
"Yasha, chotto matte!"
Yasha froze. She slowly turned around and saw him running towards her.
In shock, she dropped the suitcase she was carrying. Hikaru was coming
towards her, followed by Chie and Tomo. She could hardly believe it,
what Tomo said was true.
[What am I to you?] she mentally asked Hikaru. [A friend?
A comrade? What was I to you the morning at the hospital when you
kissed me? Does the kiss remain a secret between the two of us or are
you bragging about it to Kenji and Akira?]
"What are you doing here?" she asked Hikaru when he approached
her.
"I don't want you to leave," Hikaru answered. Chie and Tomo
stood next to each other, paying very much attention to the
converstation between the two.
"Why?" Yasha wondered. "Because Tomo wants you to say that or
because you truly want it? Or is it because of the team?"
"All of it," Hikaru answered. "You realize that the only thing
you'll be doing is to run away."
"Then answer my question honestly," Yasha said. She couldn't
believe what she was just about to ask. "That morning at the hospital,
why the hell did you kiss me?"
"Nani?!" both Chie and Tomo called out at the same time. But
neither Hikaru nor Yasha paid them any attention.
"Because I was scared that you would be lost," Hikaru answered
honestly, Yasha could see that. "I needed to see that you were alive
for real and that it wasn't some dream."
Yasha didn't know if she should have laughed. Was that it? She had
expected something long and complicated.
"You could have just pinched yourself," Yasha said, but
inside she was feeling happy. She had been wanting to ask Hikaru that
question for a long time, when she finally got the answer she felt
pleased with it. What was it about Hikaru, Tomo, Chie and the others
that made her so happy? Was it because they were Senshi too? No, they
were her friends. In her heart, Yasha knew that they would care as
much for her even if she wasn't a Senshi. But her parents... they
wanted her to go back to Sweden with them, only if she chose to not
be a Senshi. They would never accept the fact that she was a Senshi,
she knew that.
[How could I be so stupid...]
"Marika, it's time to go," she heard her father said. Yasha
turned to face them.
"Mamma, pappa, I'm sorry," she apologized. "But I can't leave
Crystal Tokyo."
"What?" Jonathan said. "Are you crazy?"
"I'm as sane as I can be," Yasha replied. "I can't go back to
Sweden."
"But all your family is there!" Sara exclaimed. "And Sweden is
your home!"
Yasha couldn't help smiling as she said: "No, mamma. I'm already at
home and my real family, who accept me for whoever I am, stands right
behind me."
Sweet, wasn't it? I've been dying to write this part, which is why it
took me only four days to finish it. Normally it takes about a week
for me to finish a part (Or longer). Well, have a happy new year
everyone and I'll be beginning to write part 7.
Komillia (komillia@hotmail.com)
31 December 2000
Next:
Sailormoon Mirai Part VII: Soldier of Venus (I)
Chie finds herself thinking a lot about her early years with Diana.
She remembers when she first met Diana and the shock of being told
that she was the descendant of the famous Sailorvenus.
~MIRAI~
PART VI: GIFT
by: Komillia (komillia@hotmail.com)
Disclaimer: Sailormoon belongs to Takeuchi Naoko and Kodansha, not me.
Although most of the characters in this fanfiction are original and
created by me.
Some Japanese words I use:
moshi moshi = a phrase used when answering the phone
ja ne = bye
sailor fuku = sailor suit
onegai = please
domo arigatou = thank you very much
sayonara = farewell, goodbye
chotto matte = wait
nani = what
Note: In this part I two Swedish words as well, although I tried to
stay away from it. It's all because Yasha's home country is Sweden.
The Swedish words I use:
pappa = dad, daddy
mamma = mom, mommy
* * * *
"Moshi moshi, Sakura residence. Yamazaki Kenji speaking."
"Good day, may I speak to Marika Dahl, please?"
"Just a moment, please."
Yasha put down the pencil on her desk and sighed. She stared at the
empty paper that was lying there. The empty paper was mocking her lack
of ideas. Normally she could sit all day and draw, but something had
been troubling her ever since she had gotten back from the hospital.
Leaning back at her chair, she picked up the pencil again and drummed
at her desk with it. She sat like that for a while, before getting up
and walking over to the opened window. Hikaru was sitting outside on
the porch with a couple of cards in his hands, waiting for Kenji to
get back and resume their poker game. Yasha leaned against window sill
as she watched Hikaru sitting their and thinking about his card
strategy while waiting. Yasha swore that the only time Hikaru was so
serious and dedicated, except for in battle, was when he was playing
cards.
Things at been calm at home lately, she and Hikaru hadn't
argued since she got back from the hospital. That was because each
time she saw him she was reminded about the kiss they had shared at
the hospital. The kiss had been brief, but her confusion hadn't ended.
She had asked herself at least a hundred times why that kiss even
happened, but most of all how she could like it. She and Hikaru
weren't supposed to like each other, it had been that way ever since
he joined the Shin Senshi. They were supposed to fight, yell at each
other, throw things at each other, not kiss. But that still didn't
explain why he had kissed her. Yasha didn't even think that he was
trying to hide that fact that he was avoiding her. Everytime she
entered the room he was in he would get up and leave only moments
afterwards. At the dinner table Hikaru quickly finish his dinner and
leave. If not for the converstations that passed between Chie, Usagi,
Kenji and Tomo, the house would be dead quiet. Occasionally Misao
would come over and then she, Tomo and Usagi would behave like they
were best friends who had grown up together. It was the one happy
thing in the house, to see that Usagi had grown so close to the two,
very much younger, girls.
Yasha herself had preferred to remain alone many times, she
needed time to think. About Hikaru, about her Senshi identity, about
the reason why she was in Crystal Tokyo. And about everything else in
her life.
[I wish that I had the answers I need...] she thought,
withdrawing from the window with another sigh. [What's the point with
being in Crystal Tokyo and being a Senshi? I get injured, I nearly
die. And still I fight to protect people who would gladly shoot me at
first sight. What am I doing... why am I staying? Is it because of my
friends? If I weren't a Senshi... would they still be my friends?]
Shortly afterwards she heard someone knocking on the door. She knew
that it was either Usagi or Kenji, since only she, Hikaru, Usagi and
Kenji were at home. Besides, Hikaru hadn't made any attempt to talk to
her ever since she got back from the hospital.
"Come in," she answered casually. The door opened and she was
right, it was Kenji.
"There's a phone call for you," he told her. "It's someone
who's talking English and who uses your real name."
"English?" Yasha repeated. Kenji nodded then left. Yasha went
downstairs and picked up the phone that Kenji had left for her. "Yes,
this is Marika Dahl," she answered in English. The response she got
shocked her more than Hikaru's kiss had. It was in Swedish.
"Hello Marika."
"Pappa?"
* * * *
Dear Diary,
I'm not sure how I should explain this but... things have been
a little quiet for some time. Yasha and Hikaru are very quiet,
it doesn't seem right. Lately, Yasha has been very quiet and
depressed. I'm not very used to it. I tried talking to her but
she said that nothing was wrong. I don't believe her though. I
hope that it will turn out alright anyway, I mean... It did
with Akira. I don't know if 'alright' is the right word, if
I'm correct he still hasn't told Misao about her Silver
Millenium background. I wonder what's keeping him from doing
that. But maybe it's because he and Misao aren't getting along
too well, they don't talk unless it's neccessary. What more is
there to write about? Usagi has been doing well, but I think
that she's bothered by the fact that she isn't able to
transform. We don't blame her for not being able to fight
along with us, at least I don't. Otherwise she is stable and
a very down to Earth person, which is something that many
think isn't possible for a princess. But there are times when
I'm afraid that she'll wander off like she did last time. I
wish that we could take Usagi out more often, but that way
more people will see her and eventually the NSS people will
too.
And myself... I miss Diana a lot. She was a great leader, she
always knew keep the team together. I wish that she was here
right now. Yasha would surely have confided in her. Diana
could probably convince Akira to tell Misao too. And be a
great support to Usagi. All at the same time.
~Sakura Chie~
* * * *
"What's with the hair?" Kenji asked of pure curiousity. He
looked at Yasha's hair. It was still long, but Yasha had cut it so
that it reached to her waistline. Which was something that really
surprised both Kenji and Usagi, Yasha had always said that she would
keep her hair as long as she could. "It's so... new."
"I just felt like cutting it," Yasha replied as it was no big
deal. She started to put her shoes on, Usagi was surprised that Yasha
needed high heeled shoes since she was already so tall without them.
"It was so long and beautiful," Usagi sighed. "Well, at least
you can grow it back whenever you want to."
Yasha smiled faintly towards Usagi and then put her jacket on.
"Someone will have to cook instead of me tonight," she told. "I have
a meeting with two very important people and won't be home until in
time for dinner."
"Don't worry, Chie and I will cook," Usagi assured. "Misao's
coming for dinner today so Chie said that we should try out some new
recipes that she had gotten. Should we save some for you?"
Yasha smiled again and opened the front door. "Thanks, but no thanks.
I'll have dinner with the ones I'm meeting. Besides, if I were you,
and for your own sake take my advice, I would stay away from Chie and
the kitchen when she's trying out new recipes. Ja ne."
With that she left the house and closed the door after herself. Usagi
turned to Kenji with a surprised look on her face. "What did she mean
by that?" she wondered innocently.
Kenji chuckled. "Let's just say that we all like Chie's cooking best
when she's not trying new things," he answered.
* * * *
"Are you miss Marika Dahl?"
"Yes. Are my parents here?"
"Yes, I have orders to escort you to their table in the
restaurant. This way please, miss Dahl."
When Yasha arrived that the restaurant and the hotel she was struck by
nervousness. She had dismissed the escort as she had caught sight on
where her parents were sitting. Her long nails dug into her palm as
she began to make her way towards them. She walked slowly, getting
more nervous as each moment passed.
[God, I can't believe that they are actually here,] she
thought as she approached the table. Her parents looked up from their
menus and saw her standing. Jonathan Dahl was a tall man with dark
brown hair and dressed in a grey business suit. His eyes were green,
like Yasha's, but somewhat stern. His wife, Sara, was an elegant lady
who looked younger than she really was. Her hair was raven and put up
in a tidy bun. The hair had the same color as Yasha's but it was
curly. Yasha noticed that none of her parents had changed much since
she had last seen them.
"Marika," Sara began. She rose and gave Yasha a hug. She spoke
in Swedish. "Darling, we have missed you so much."
"You have?" Yasha said in the same language. Her mother
released her from the hug and sat down at her seat again. Sara pulled
out a chair next to her.
"Marika, sit down," Jonathan ordered strictly, but his eyes
had a more gentler look than it had before. Yasha smiled faintly
towards her father and sat down at the chair her mother had pulled
out.
"I didn't expect that you would come here," she told. "But I
am happy that you did."
"So am I," Sara replied and her hand on her daughters. "You
have no idea how much we have missed you since you left. It's so quiet
around the house now that you're not living there anymore."
Yasha opened her mouth to say that she never contributed that much
noise, since she hadn't been allowed to be loud due to her mother's
often headaches. But she decided to not say anything about it. She
hadn't talked, much less seen, her parents for a very long time.
"I guess you want to know the reason for our... sudden visit,"
Jonathan said.
"It would be good if you told me," Yasha answered in a soft
tone. She surprised herself. She never spoke like that to anyone.
"Your mother and I have been doing a lot of thinking," her
father continued. "We would like you to return home to Sweden with us,
Marika. We feel like we shouldn't have let you come here in the first
place."
That tone in his voice... Yasha recognized it very well. The way her
father had said it made it sound like she had done a grave error to
come to Crystal Tokyo. It hadn't been a mistake, hadn't it? She had
moved to Crystal Tokyo as soon as she had turned eighteen. Even
though she would never admit it she had been very immature before she
had left. Coming to Crystal Tokyo had matured her. But it had also
brought her pain and misery. The feeling of knowing that she was
different from everyone else had followed her. In Crystal Tokyo all
the debates with NSS and it's supporters were a lot more serious than
it was in other countries. Especially since many Sailor Senshi
gathered in Crystal Tokyo. And demons seemed to have Crystal Tokyo as
their favourite attacking place.
But Yasha hadn't thought of that when she had first left. Her
parents had found out that she was a Senshi, which had complicated
things. Their idea of a good life was a normal life, to fit among the
crowd. They had no particular opinion about Senshi, but they didn't
want her, their daughter, to be a Senshi.
"However, there is one condition," Sara spoke. Yasha didn't
know if she wanted to hear that condition. She already knew what it
was.
* * * *
"Misao-chan, I look weird!" Usagi exclaimed when she saw
herself in the mirror. Misao herself couldn't help laughing. Ever
since the dinner that Chie was supposed to cook had got burnt,
everyone had decided that it was best that they would out to eat.
Misao and Tomo had changed some of Usagi's appearance, so that the
people wouldn't be able to recognize her. Now, ten minutes later, they
had added red streaks on Usagi's hair, braided it into one braid and
applied lots of make up.
"I don't think anyone will recognize you now," Misao laughed.
Usagi sighed as Chie entered the large bathroom. She smelled the scent
of heavy perfume as she came in.
"If you ask me, I don't think that people will recognize Usagi
because of the way she smells," she pointed out, looking at the mess
that Misao and Tomo had caused.. "Are you three done with the make up?
The others are waiting for you."
"How are we going to get into the car?" Tomo wondered. "Yasha
took the other car so there's only one left. And there's only five
seats and we're... seven."
"That's why Hikaru and I are staying and ordering a pizza,"
Chie replied.
"That's not fair to you," Tomo said. "I can stay home
instead!"
"And I can stay instead of Hikaru," Misao suggested. "After
all, I can go out and eat anytime. Besides, it will keep me away from
that jerk Akira."
Chie smiled to herself, thinking how Akira would react if he heard
Misao call him jerk.
[He has probably not recovered from the shock he got when he
found out that Misao was his precious Triton,] Chie thought and
brushed her bangs away from her eyes. [I wonder how long it will take
until Misao remembers something about her past.]
"Why are you smiling?" Misao wondered. Chie shook her head.
"It's nothing," she answered. "But I'm staying at home and
that's the end of it."
"Perhaps I should stay," Usagi suggested. "I mean... Then we
don't have to go through with disguises and everything."
"You, of all people, should go with them," Chie said. "You
can't stay locked up in this house all the time. Just be careful so
that you don't attract too much attention."
"Yeah, I'm sure that the make up will make sure of that,"
Usagi murmured, turning to Misao.
"Are you finished yet?" an impatient voice said. Chie turned
around and everyone turned to the doorway. Akira was standing there,
leaning against a wall. Misao sighed.
"Didn't you learn to knock when you were little?" she asked.
"The door was open," Akira replied with his usual calm voice.
He looked at Usagi. "Is that what you call a disguise?"
"She made it up!" Usagi said quickly, pointing at Misao. Misao
looked into Akira's eyes with rage in her own. She knew what he
thought of the make up that she had applied on Usagi, and it wasn't
making her very happy.
"Yes, and it's a very good disguise!" she retorted and grabbed
Usagi's arm. She practically shoved a pair of sun glasses into Usagi's
face. "Let's go."
She dragged Usagi out of the bathroom and Tomo followed them. Akira
was about leave himself when Chie called on him.
"Akira, wait."
Akira stopped and turned to Chie. Only by looking at her serious face
he knew what it was all about. But he let her talk anyway and remained
silent.
"I know that it's not my business but why won't you tell her?"
Chie asked. "Even if she doesn't act or look like the Triton you knew,
it's still her, right?"
"As long as there is no need too, I won't tell," Akira
answered coldly. His last words before he left were: "And you're
right, it's not your business."
* * * *
When Yasha came home it was pretty quiet in the house. The other car
in the garage was gone, meaning that her prediction of Chie's cooking
had been correct. She went through the back door and then up the
stairs. Deciding to take a bath, she picked up a few things in her
room and then headed for the bathroom. Once she was in there, she
locked the door after herself and turned on the faucet. The rather
large bathtub was being filled with steaming hot water while Yasha
braided her hair. Afterwards she put the braid up in a bun and
undressed before stepping into the bathtub. The hot water brought
warmth to her cold fingers. She leaned her head at the edge as she
looked up at the ceiling.
[What should I do?] she asked herself. [If I say no, I'll lose
my parents. If I say yes, I'll lose my friends. Either way, I'll lose
people that are important to me.]
She remained in the bath for a long time, just thinking and staring at
either the ceiling or the wall. When she finally rose she caught sight
on the watch she had taken off. She had been staying in the bath for
over an hour. Luckily she didn't have to dry her hair, normally it
took an eternity for it to dry. Now that it was shorter it was more
convinient.
Ten minutes later she came out from the bathroom, dressed in
her nightgown and a robe. She re-entered her room and only a moment
after closing the door, she heard a soft knocking.
"Come in," Yasha answered, a little surprised that someone was
at home without her knowing it. The door opened and Chie entered the
room. "I didn't knew that you were home. The car was gone when I came
back."
"I know," Chie answered and sat down at the chair that was
placed near the desk. She smiled. "The dinner I made didn't turn out
too good. The others went out to eat but there wasn't enough room so
Hikaru and I stayed and called for a pizza."
"I knew that it was going to turn out that way," Yasha
replied, returning Chie's smile.
"So, I heard that you had this important meeting today."
Yasha's smile faded as she remembered what her parents had told her.
She looked at Chie, the woman was older and wiser than her. Perhaps
Chie could help her to make the right decision.
"Yeah... Actually, I need your opinion on something. Do you
have time for a talk?"
"Sure, what can I do for you?"
Yasha sat down at her bed and pulled her robe closer to her. "I met my
parents today," she told.
Chie looked surprised. "Your parents? They were here? In Crystal
Tokyo?" She didn't mean to ask so many questions, but Yasha rarely
talked about her parents, neither did the others. The only thing that
Chie knew about Yasha's parents was that they didn't seem to have any
contact with their daughter.
"Yeah, they called me two weeks ago saying that they were
coming and that they wanted to see me," she answered. "I went to see
them today and we did a lot of talking. They want me to return to
Sweden with them." Chie looked even more surprised when she heard it,
but didn't say anything. "On one condition, that I never transform
into Sailormedusa again."
"Never transform?" Chie repeated. "They know that you're a
Senshi?"
Yasha nodded. "I told them before I left," she continued. "They
weren't too happy about it, they aren't NSS but not Senshi lovers
exactly. They want me to lead a normal life, like any other and not
fight demons."
"It's understandable," Chie replied. "Your parents are
concerned that you're going to get hurt one day, that's probably why
they don't want you to be a Senshi. Some people consider Senshi powers
to be a gift, other a curse."
Yasha smiled faintly to herself. "The English word for gift... is the
same word for poison in my language..." she murmured.
"So what are you going to do?" Chie wondered. "Do you want to
return to your home?"
[Home...] Yasha repeated to herself. [I don't know where my
"home" is anymore.]
"I don't know," Yasha replied. "I told them that I had to
think about it and that I would call them tomorrow morning and tell
them. So I have until tomorrow to think about it."
Chie looked at Yasha, her eyes held a kind and gentle look. She sat
down beside Yasha on the bed. "Yasha, I'll give you my opinion on
this," she said. "I think that you should do what you want to do and
what's best for you. I won't be upset if you decide to leave us. When
you were lying in the hospital injured, I realized that there is no
guarantee that all Senshi will survive when they step into battle."
Yasha was silent for a long time, so was Chie. Finally, after nearly
two minutes of silence, Yasha looked at Chie. Her eyes were nearly
watering when told Chie her answer.
"I don't think that I can take it anymore... Chie, I... I'll
go back home."
As she spoke, Chie gave her a comforting hug. Tears were threatening
to wet her cheeks, but she did her best to hold them back and to say
comforting words to her friend. Outside the room, Hikaru had been
standing and listening to the converstation. As he hear the final
answer, he shut his eyes tightly. For a while, he stood there with
closed eyes. Then he opened his eyes and went into his room, slamming
the door after himself.
* * * *
Yasha didn't get up at her usual time that morning. Chie sat somewhat
uncomfortable around the table, Yasha had asked her to tell the others
about her decision. Chie decided to do that once everyone, except for
Yasha, had gathered around the table.
"Everyone, I have something to tell," she began. Everyone
turned their gaze to her, except for Hikaru who seemed to pay her no
attention. But Chie knew that he was listening.
"Yasha wanted me to tell you all," Chie continued. "That she
will be leaving us."
Akira's, Kenji's, Tomo's and Usagi's faces held a look of shock. Only
Hikaru remained unaffected by Chie's words, he already knew.
"What?" Akira said.
"For how long?" Kenji wondered.
"...Probably for good," Chie replied. "She'll return to her
parents in Sweden. It will take a while until the paper work is done,
but she'll leave Crystal Tokyo in two or three days."
"Why does she want to leave?" Tomo demanded to know. "Doesn't
she like us anymore?"
Sometimes Tomo could sound like a child that was ten years younger
than her. Usagi put a comforting arm around Tomo.
"It's probably for the best," Usagi said. "I don't think it's
about us, though. Maybe she's just... tired of being a Senshi."
"How can anyone be that?" Tomo asked.
"Please try to understand her, Tomo-chan," Chie said. "Yasha
has made her choice, we must respect that."
Chie looked at Hikaru and expected him to say something but he didn't.
She wondered what was going on in his mind, but knew that whatever he
wanted to say to Yasha, he would eventually say.
* * * *
An hour later, Yasha silently left the second floor and went
downstairs. She walked over to the phone. Everyone except for Usagi
and Hikaru had left, Yasha guessed that they probably knew about her
plans at this time. The only thing that Chie wouldn't tell them was
her parents' ultimatum. It was Chie's idea. It was for the best, Chie
had said. Yasha looked at the phone that was hanging on the wall. For
a moment Yasha doubted, but then she lifted her hand to take the
phone.
"Blaze!"
In the corner of her eye she saw a flame coming towards her. She
ducked and the flame flew right past her and then vanished.
Instinctively she waved her hand and transformed into Medusa. She
raised her hand and the green bow and arrow appeared.
"Poison..." she began, but stopped when she saw that it was
Ares Knight standing behind her. She released the bow and it
vanished. "Hikaru, why did you attack me?" she demanded. "And why are
you transformed in the first place?"
"Take a good look at your Sailor fuku, Yasha, because you'll
probably never wear it again," Ares said coldly. Medusa almost didn't
recognize his voice. He had yelled at her before, many times, but
never spoken to her in such cold tone.
"What?"
"I should be the one to say that," Ares retorted. "What makes
you think that you can just drop out like that? The pride of being a
Senshi, you're just going to throw it all away?"
"What do you mean?" Medusa asked. He couldn't possibly know,
could he? "I'm just leaving the country..."
"And putting your henshin stick away for good," Ares finished.
"I heard you and Chie last night. You're not just leaving, you're not
going to be a Senshi anymore to... blend in with the crowd."
Medusa's jaw dropped. "You eavesdropped on us?" she shouted. "How dare
you?! It was a private converstation between me and Chie, it has
nothing to do with you!"
"Everything that concerns the team concerns me," Ares said.
"That is another reason why I can't understand you're going."
"I am a Senshi, I can be replaced. There are thousands,
probably millions of Senshi out there!"
"Yes, but that's not an excuse to walk out on your team! Why,
Yasha? I don't understand!"
After all the screaming and shouting Usagi appeared, coming from the
garden. She stopped at the doorway to observe the two and wonder why
they were transformed. Ares and Medusa continued their converstation
as if they hadn't seen her arriving.
"No, you don't understand, Hikaru," Medusa replied. "Not at
all. You never had."
They stood silent for a long time, before Ares turned around and left.
He walked past Usagi and transformed back into Hikaru at the same
time. Usagi watched Hikaru leaving, then looked at Medusa. Medusa was
still standing at the same place.
"Yasha..." Usagi began.
"Please leave me alone," Medusa said briefly. Usagi left,
knowing that Medusa would apperciate her leaving. It wasn't the time
to ask what Hikaru had been talking about. As soon as she was gone,
Medusa sank down on the floor. She shut her eyes tightly and
de-transformed into Yasha. She bit her lip, telling herself that it
was ridicoulous of her to cry.
[I shouldn't cry, not because of him,] she thought. [He's
just a stupid jerk. But even could jerks understand, so why can't he?
Hikaru... can't you see? I'm scared...]
* * * *
"Forget it."
"Onegai, Akira-san?"
"No."
"You're the only one I can ask. Onegai?"
"No, Tomo, I won't cook!"
Tomo looked at Akira with her large eyes, trying to look as innocent
and sweet as possible. "Please? Misao-chan have to help me with an
essay, it's very important."
Akira shook his head. "Why can't you ask the others? Chie, I can
understand but why not Usagi? Or Kenji and Hikaru?"
"Usagi and Kenji have been cooking for the last days," Tomo
answered. "And I don't think that Hikaru is feeling very well. So...
please?
Akira sighed. "You owe me one," he said. A wide smile appeared on
Tomo's face and her eyes were sparkling with joy.
"Domo arigatou!" she thanked and made a bow. "I'm in your
debt!"
"I know..." Akira murmured as he began to make his way towards
the kitchen. Misao appeared there suddenly, like magic, and blocked
his way. She smiled sweetly towards him.
"Get out of my way," Akira grunted. Misao tilted her head a
little to her left, not moving.
"Why... I never expected that I would live to see the day you
would cook," she teased. "Even though Sailor Senshi can live for
millenias. Now, how do you say it politely?"
"Politely?" Akira repeated and nearly laughed. "I never
expected that I would live to see the day you would be polite! You
don't even apologize to people you walk into!"
"Walk into?" Misao cried, repeating Akira's words. "Excuse me,
but you walked into me, so why did I have to apologize?!"
"You never admit that you're wrong, do you?"
"Well, unlike someone at least I'm capable of it!"
"Yeah, and cows have wings!"
"Hey, Akira-san, Misao-chan," Tomo began carefully. "There's
no need to be upset with each other, right?"
The two continued as if they hadn't heard her. Tomo sighed as Chie,
Kenji and Usagi joined her. "Those two are bickering again," Tomo
told. Chie shook her head.
"Yasha's not gone yet, but she and Hikaru already got
replacements. Though I never expected Akira to be this... bickerable."
"I agree," Kenji said. "Misao just seems to bring out a side
of him that we didn't even know existed. Interesting, isn't it?"
"Yeah."
They didn't made an attempt to calm down Misao or Akira. Their
bickering automatically stopped when Yasha came down the stairs,
carrying her suitcase with her. Silence fell upon the hallway when
everyone noticed her. Yasha smiled faintly towards her, soon to be,
former comrades.
"You don't have to be so quiet," she said as she came down.
She put down the suitcase. "It's a rare phenomenon."
There was silence again, before Tomo said what she had already said to
Yasha many times the past days.
"Do you really have to go?"
Yasha smiled faintly towards Tomo and gave her a hug. "Yes," she
answered, just like she had done before. "My cab is already here, I
gotta go know."
"You're not gonna let us drive you to the airport?" Chie
asked.
"No, I'm picking up my parents," Yasha replied, releasing Tomo
and giving Chie a hug. "Besides, I'm not a sucker for long goodbyes."
"We'll miss you," Chie said. "You can always come back here,
anytime you want."
"I know."
Hikaru was missing, but Yasha didn't notice that until she was done
with all the hugs and goodbyes. She didn't have to ask why he wasn't
there with the others, ever since their confrontation two days ago he
had been staying as far away from her as possible. Even when the
others followed her outside, there was still no sign of Hikaru showing
up. The cab driver took care of her luggage while she said her last
farewells to her friends.
"You have to promise me to write," Tomo said as she gave Yasha
a last hug. "Or at least call."
"I will," Yasha promised. After that she stepped into the cab.
"Goodbye... everyone."
"Sayonara, Yasha!" she heard them all call as the cab drove
away. She smiled bravely to them, waving one last time. But inside she
was feeling strange. As if she was leaving home. She wondered why she
felt that. After all, she was going home.
* * * *
After Yasha had left, everyone went back into the house. It was Tomo
who showed signs of sadness, the other made their best to not show it.
When everyone was inside Tomo took a look at everyone.
"Where's Hikaru?" she wondered. "He didn't say goodbye to
her?"
"I don't know where he is," Kenji answered. "The cars are
still here, though. So he must be somewhere around here."
"How mean of him to not show up..." Tomo muttered and went off
in a search for Hikaru. She went to his room first, but he wasn't
there. When she had searched through the house she went to the garden,
the only place that was left. Surprisingly she found him there,
sitting all by himself. Tomo walked over to him.
"Hikaru, why didn't you come to say goodbye to Marika-san?"
she wondered.
"Why should I?" Hikaru asked, leaning back at the bench he was
sitting at. He didn't seem to care much about it. "Her departure is
just a classic case of selfishness."
"Why do you such things about her?" Tomo demanded. "I know
that you and Marika-san didn't get along, but you care for her and she
cares for you. You must have hurt her by not saying goodbye."
"Listen carefully Tomo, I don't care about Yasha. I don't care
if she leaves, if she stays, I don't care what she does. She can go
wherever she wants for all I care. It has nothing to do with me
anyway."
"So after all that you saw in the land of fears, it still has
nothing to do with you?"
Hikaru looked at Tomo, eyes wide in shock. She looked at him as if
nothing was wrong. "Land of fears?" Hikaru repeated. "Tomo... how did
you find out about that? Does Yasha know?"
"Not that it matters, but she doesn't," Tomo replied. Then she
spoke in a serious voice, very adult like. It was surprising how Tomo
could sound like a child one moment and like an adult the next. "I
know what happened, I knew about Marika-san's fears. The one fear that
you didn't know about was you leaving and betraying us. Everything in
that world was built up by Marika's fear. So, if you didn't care for
her, why did you go there in the first place?"
Hikaru didn't answer that question. Instead, he said: "It's stilll
very foolish of her to leave."
"You do care about her. Marika fears that there will be
battles during her entire life if she stays. But don't you agree with
me, that there is no place on Earth that is safe from demons?"
Hikaru said nothing, but nodded. Tomo knew what he was thinking about.
She stepped back and waved her hand. Strong light blinded Hikaru, but
it disappeared soon. When it was gone, Archangel stood there.
"I'll go ahead and delay her," she told. "Try to get to the
airport as soon as possible. I think that none of us really wants her
to go."
"Thanks, kid."
Archangel smiled, her wings flapped once before she took off. Hikaru
didn't waste any time. He ran back into the house and found Chie in
the living room, with a book in her hand as usual.
"Chie, I need the car keys," he said. Chie took out the keys
from her pocket.
"Where are you going?" she wondered as she tossed them to him.
Hikaru caught them and began to exit the living room.
"The airport!" he called on his way out.
"The airport?" Chie repeated. Then she realized his intention.
With a smile on her face she put down the book and ran after him. "Hey
Hikaru, wait for me!"
* * * *
Tomo had gotten to the airport pretty fast. After landing in a place
where no one could see her, she had de-transformed and gone into the
airport. Only a few seconds later Yasha and her parents entered the
airport with their luggage. Tomo sighed in relief, happy that she had
gotten to the airport before them.
"Marika-san!" she called and made her way over to Yasha. Yasha
looked surprised when she heard someone calling her name, but looked
shocked when she saw that it was Tomo.
"Tomo! What are you doing here?" Yasha asked in Japanese. "And
how in the world did you get here?"
"I flew," Tomo answered, hoping that Yasha's parents didn't
speak Japanese. She could see on their expressions that they didn't.
Yasha's father asked Yasha something that Tomo couldn't understand and
Yasha replied, probably in the same language. But she could hear her
name being mentioned.
"Tomo, these are my parents, Jonathan and Sara Dahl," Yasha
introduced. "Don't worry, they don't understand Japanese."
"It's nice to meet you, mr and mrs Dahl," Tomo greeted in
perfect English. "I was planning on telling Marika something, but
unfortunately I wasn't there when she left."
"Mamma, pappa, could you please give us a moment alone?" Yasha
asked in Swedish. "It won't take long."
"Of course, dear," Sara Dahl answered in the same language.
Then she turned Tomo and said in English: "It's nice to meet you."
"Same here."
Sara Dahl left, dragging her husband with her. When Yasha saw that her
parents were out of hearing range, she turned to Tomo. "Tomo, what are
you doing here?" she demanded to know.
"I talked to Hikaru," Tomo answered. "We decided that we're
not going to let you leave just like this."
* * * *
"Can't you drive faster?!"
"It's not so easy with the traffic here," Chie retorted. "Why
didn't you say anything earlier, we could have stopped her from
leaving before she left the house!"
"Why didn't you do anything?" Hikaru asked. "There were six of
you and you sure would have been able to convince her to stay!"
"Even if it was a stupid decision I was trying to support
her," Chie said.
"Whatever. Are you sure that you can't drive faster? We have
to get to the airport in time."
Chie smiled towards him. "You really want me to do that?" she asked.
Hikaru was unsure, she didn't like the look on her face. But if it
was going to help them getting to the airport faster...
"As fast as you can," he answered. Chie turned her gaze
forwards, the smile never left her face.
"You asked for it."
* * * *
"Tomo, you know I can't stay."
"Yes, you can!" Tomo said, sounding like a child again. "You
mean so much to me, to Hikaru and to everyone else!"
"Hikaru..." Yasha repeated in a low voice. "I don't think that
I mean anything special to him."
"You do!" Tomo exclaimed. "He hasn't been talking to you
because he believed that he didn't mean anything to you. Please,
Marika-san, stay with us."
Yasha sighed. "If you are telling the truth, then why isn't he here?"
she wondered. "I believe that you're just making this up to make me
stay."
Tomo shook her head. "I'm not! He's on his way. I came here first to
make sure that you stay here until he comes."
Yasha smiled slightly towards Tomo. "Tomo, you are my friend and I
will miss you when I go back home. But I have to go now."
With that, Yasha picked up her suitcase and left. Tomo searched for
something to say but couldn't come up with anything. Yasha was looking
rather sad herself.
[It would be rather nice if what Tomo said was true,] she
thought. [Hikaru, you have given me quite a headache since the day we
met.]
"Yasha, chotto matte!"
Yasha froze. She slowly turned around and saw him running towards her.
In shock, she dropped the suitcase she was carrying. Hikaru was coming
towards her, followed by Chie and Tomo. She could hardly believe it,
what Tomo said was true.
[What am I to you?] she mentally asked Hikaru. [A friend?
A comrade? What was I to you the morning at the hospital when you
kissed me? Does the kiss remain a secret between the two of us or are
you bragging about it to Kenji and Akira?]
"What are you doing here?" she asked Hikaru when he approached
her.
"I don't want you to leave," Hikaru answered. Chie and Tomo
stood next to each other, paying very much attention to the
converstation between the two.
"Why?" Yasha wondered. "Because Tomo wants you to say that or
because you truly want it? Or is it because of the team?"
"All of it," Hikaru answered. "You realize that the only thing
you'll be doing is to run away."
"Then answer my question honestly," Yasha said. She couldn't
believe what she was just about to ask. "That morning at the hospital,
why the hell did you kiss me?"
"Nani?!" both Chie and Tomo called out at the same time. But
neither Hikaru nor Yasha paid them any attention.
"Because I was scared that you would be lost," Hikaru answered
honestly, Yasha could see that. "I needed to see that you were alive
for real and that it wasn't some dream."
Yasha didn't know if she should have laughed. Was that it? She had
expected something long and complicated.
"You could have just pinched yourself," Yasha said, but
inside she was feeling happy. She had been wanting to ask Hikaru that
question for a long time, when she finally got the answer she felt
pleased with it. What was it about Hikaru, Tomo, Chie and the others
that made her so happy? Was it because they were Senshi too? No, they
were her friends. In her heart, Yasha knew that they would care as
much for her even if she wasn't a Senshi. But her parents... they
wanted her to go back to Sweden with them, only if she chose to not
be a Senshi. They would never accept the fact that she was a Senshi,
she knew that.
[How could I be so stupid...]
"Marika, it's time to go," she heard her father said. Yasha
turned to face them.
"Mamma, pappa, I'm sorry," she apologized. "But I can't leave
Crystal Tokyo."
"What?" Jonathan said. "Are you crazy?"
"I'm as sane as I can be," Yasha replied. "I can't go back to
Sweden."
"But all your family is there!" Sara exclaimed. "And Sweden is
your home!"
Yasha couldn't help smiling as she said: "No, mamma. I'm already at
home and my real family, who accept me for whoever I am, stands right
behind me."
Sweet, wasn't it? I've been dying to write this part, which is why it
took me only four days to finish it. Normally it takes about a week
for me to finish a part (Or longer). Well, have a happy new year
everyone and I'll be beginning to write part 7.
Komillia (komillia@hotmail.com)
31 December 2000
Next:
Sailormoon Mirai Part VII: Soldier of Venus (I)
Chie finds herself thinking a lot about her early years with Diana.
She remembers when she first met Diana and the shock of being told
that she was the descendant of the famous Sailorvenus.