A/N: . I'm getting there, yes! I can feel the writer's insistent block lifting like some kind of hazy fog from my eyes. Muahahahaa! ^^
DISCLAIMER: Sailor Moon and Coffee Prince are awesome belongings and are true to themselves and their cool creators! ^^ I'm just using them for my amusement.
The Past Isn't Going To Stay Buried: Move Ahead
Makoto heard the creaking turning of a knob before she saw it. The gentle clicking of lock sliding back to welcome the intrusive tug to enter made her skin crawl, and she glanced around widely as time seemed to stop.
Everything was closing in on her, the wet room seemingly the churning dark waves of the ocean pulling her under, reminding her of the bad days, back when she'd been forbidden to see HER. . and those haunting green eyes that condemned her from recieving pleasure.
In the distance she faintly heard the calling of her name, tried to shake herself out of it.
She wasn't back there, she wasn't. Yet the more she tried to convince herself, Makoto found the past threatening to consume her, threatening to devour her whole. It had been so long ago, she wasn't responsible, she could explain. .!
And Makoto was thrown back into a nightmare.
A memory.
"Kino-san? What the hell do you think you're doing? Get off, get out, I swear to the Gods, I'm going to kill you, you hear me? I don't ever want you to see my daughter again, I thought you were better than this! OUT!"
Makoto shuddered, her body reacting on frozen instinct.
She couldn't move, she was trapped inside, within the clenching folds of non-forgiving female, those eyes above her somehow turning into something poisonous, condemning her to dream every night of this horrid act.
"N-No. .! Kyoune, why, y-you. .!"
A growled snarl, and the girl under her ripped herself away, stumbling to her clumsy feet, those same feet that had hindered her all her life, all the time she'd known her, and those legs rippling strong from all her time discovering the joys of walking.
Makoto's head reeled.
She'd been bouncing around from schools all her life, forever hated by seemingly everyone, running on her own terms in the dark alleys, building herself up from all the beatings, and one day, she met Kyoune Hitoke.
The girl who had changed everything for her.
With a soft voice that rasped whenever she sang or laughed, Kyoune was a redhead who had been born with disabled legs. Ever since she'd been able to draw breath, Kyoune had forever been strapped to a wheelchair, to sympathetic looks and hated whispers.
Makoto had instantly been taken in.
She was fifteen, and even though fresh from being left and used by Miki's parents and the stings of cold winds after nice warm family moments, Makoto was ready to look for happiness again.
It was her undoing.
Kyoune was now staring at her, those strong legs pumping rythmically as she dashed the close steps to her step-father, a dark grin underneath that oily beard. He had been a drunken bastard to Kyoune, and now her best friend was turning into her worst nightmare as she turned to him for protection, screaming Makoto's deliberate taking of her. . innocence.
The walls were closing in, that obvious lie slapping her in the face.
Makoto felt her chest constrict, her heart shatter, and she ran out of the dingy house, the garbage neighborhood, feeling the hot tears pour out of her as she tried to forget.
She couldn't forget.
Kyoune had hurt her, had played her, anticipating the cruel blackmail, and when she'd found out Makoto had nothing except her kind heart and strong will, she'd turned and shamed her, forcing her into something she didn't want and blaming her for the act.
Makoto chopped her hair off that summer.
With Miki, she'd moved to the new school, again, the move uncountable among all the others.
But she'd met Usagi and had become a senshi, and when Rei had forced it out of her, Minako joking around and protecting her from the snobbish bullies lurking around the halls, Luna and the Outers always there to lend a shoulder and ear, Makoto had healed.
But it was still there.
"Mako-chan."
Makoto knew she was not breathing, knew she was probably sweating like crazy and scaring the bejeezus out of whoever was around her. There was an angelic voice calling to her, she had to snap out of it, she had to, or all the years she'd spent alive would mean nothing, she had things to live for, she was a karate tutor, she'd be a partner for Andrew, a sister to Miki, a friend to Usagi, Rei, Minako. . .
Ami.
"MAKO-CHAN!"
The cold water drenching her flooded her soul, and Makoto jerked, crying out in surprise. Shaking her head like a dog would, the brunette broke surface of her nightmare and curled in on herself. Instantly she noticed the darkness around her, the heavy breathing, the sharp smell of terrified human.
"A-Ami-chan. . ."
"Shh, Mako-chan, I'm here."
And Makoto felt herself being drawn into a tight embrace, felt the warm hold of Ami rocking her, keeping the horrible shuddering from her body. It was stifling, she realized.
Before it was so cold, so cold, but now it was hot.
Too hot.
Pulling away, Makoto breathed in the cool air and for once was glad Ryohizu was splashing around from Ami's cup and back to his aquarium and vice-versa, sending small droplets of cold spray in the air.
". . . I'm sorry."
The sharp softess of Ami's voice had Makoto flinching, but only in a warm way.
"Don't you dare say that, Kino Makoto! You went through the most utter garbage out there and you're saying 'sorry'? That wheel-chair ANNOYANCE should be sorry, and if I ever get a hold o' her, she'll be needing more than a wheelchair to get around!"
Ami's angry words turned into a silent blush as she turned away quickly, getting up and slamming the door with a small 'bang!'. Hearing the tell-tale wood meeting frame, Makoto glanced up and scanned the room.
"Who entered?"
It reminded her of the pathetic shock-trap she'd placed on her own door. Well, technically it wasn't really her own strategic thing, since Miki was always whining about being shocked to death by the doorknob if it ever really came down to it, but Makoto knew if she fried someone with her lightning, then it would really cause havoc.
Just having that small dosage of electricity hanging out on her knob was something she couldn't really feel, so Makoto would have to rely on the shock being good enough to bug people off. It wouldn't be good if the landlord came and found a couple of french-fried mortals twitching at the foot of her door.
Ami appeared in front of her and plopped down on the bed.
"Artemis. He came back from TunaLand with Luna and Diana and looked pretty smug about himself, saying the restaurant was superb. I heard that those two got their vows renewed."
Makoto nodded, closing her eyes and leaning back against Ami's now-dry headboard.
"Ah, I'm glad for them. A-Ami-chan?"
The senshi of lightning could feel the smaller girl's questioning gaze on her, and she felt her lips curling up in a satisfied smile. Inside, Makoto slapped herself, instantly dragging the grin away. Too much expectance too soon was too much if the answer was no.
"Yes, Mako-chan?"
"Are we partners, now?"
There was a quick breath, but Makoto could feel it was good.
Opening an eye, she watched as Ryohizu flopped back into the aquarium and grinned at them, signalling he was filming this with a nonchalance only a smiling dark green fish would have. Makoto let out her barriers fall, and she could easily feel Sherona's presence tampering with something in the kitchen downstairs.
Only the cold presence of Ami's aunt was missing, but Makoto honestly didn't care about her now. What she cared about was sitting right by her side, emanating a bouncy aura of clean water-blue.
"Blue?"
Makoto looked at Ami then, smiled and rolled her wrist around the broken collar of her shirt, showing her cleavage. There was no need for teasing, because Ami smiled back and put her hand behind Makoto, ruffling in her back pocket and taking out the senshi communicator.
It was a rough design made out by a fashion maniac Minako, aided by Miki, but it worked nonetheless, acting as a good replication of personal messages and calls only for the senshi. Speaking of which, Makoto made a note to herself she should get the senshi of ice one.
"Mako-chan? Call me Ami."
Makoto cocked her head and grinned.
"Sure, Ami-chan."
"See? Told'ja they'd work it out."
"Stop grinning, Setsuna. I thought you were going to go and spy on the 'beautiful, most perfect blonde in the whole bubbly universe' right about now?"
"*blush* Go 'way, Haruka. I'm entitled to being correct. I AM the guardian of time."
"Yeah, and I'M the one who has to hear all the mushy stuff you whisper to yourself and the wind when you go and stare at Koneko-chan all the time. Geez, Setsuna, go and ask her already, you're just like the fireball. Tall, dark, and-"
"Now, now, Ruka-love, don't tease her. I didn't particularly like the little stunt she pulled with ChibiUsa and Hotaru. Normally our little Sets-chan here likes her privacy as we do OURS. No need in educating our children way before their time. Health teachers can do that."
"*smirk* Even when they raise their cute wittle hands and ask questions involving sexy little pairs and couples like you, Michiru?"
"Setsuna! Okay, woman, you win. Go on, strut your stuff out there. We're watching."
". . . Nope. I've changed my mind. Let's see how the Inner Senshi are doing, eh?"
"Wow, Sets-chan, I love it that you can carry the Gates of Time around with you now, in mirror form. Hmm, could you move that a little to the right, ah, that's better. . ."
". . . Someday, Michi, electronics are going to make a mockery of what communicators we have now."
"Mmm, just enjoy the present, love."
Usagi Tsukino laughed hysterically as she bounded over Minako's hospital bed, grasping the metal bands of the bed and rolling herself over to the IV stuck in Minako's twitching arm. With a happy smirk and suggestive eyebrow rolls, Usagi took the bag and started dancing with it, twirling about and dipping herself low.
Minako was enjoying the scene, laughing along as Rei dove at the bunny-blonde, growling fiercely when her swipe of arms came up empty. Snarling, the miko jumped over Minako's bed herself and smirked as she lowered her head, bracing herself above the suddenly-still patient.
"Meatball-head, you'd better stop right now or I'm gonna defile your precious li'l sister here."
Usagi froze like a deer caught in monster-truck head lights.
"Sh-Sh-She's, Minako-chan, sh-she's not my sister, Rei-chan, I-I. ."
"Put the IV bag back into its proper place, Meatball-head. We've got to get Mina-chan back to healthy as soon as possible. No telling when Thunder will be free to help us in fighting later on."
Rei's voice was calm, the fire underneath something only Usagi could hear, and Minako. The blonde in drab hospital garb was breathing slowly, forcing the air through her lungs as heavy as she could make them.
It was something for Rei Hino to lean over her and teach her something in math.
It was another for Rei Hino to lean over her and threaten her non-defilement to protect her well-being and health.
Minako closed her eyes and tried hard to breathe normally.
"Hey, Mina-chan, where's your communicator?"
Usagi popped in and plopped the communicator in Rei's hand, grinning as she noticed the hot connection between the two of her senshi. Prancing away, Usagi sighed softly and saluted her good-bye.
Aw, well.
It was just a crush, after all.
"Who're you gonna contact, Rei-chan? The Outers are probably sleeping by now, and Mako-chan's over at her place, taking care of Miki-chan and her new boyfriend. It's kinda funny how he's actually tamed her down, eh? Used to, it was non-stop boys! Now Mako-chan won't have any males hanging around to box up, eh, Minako-chan?"
Rei glanced over at the fast-talking bunny.
There was a crazy glint to her eyes, and her posture was oddly slumping. Sighing slightly herself, the miko pulled away from Minako and walked over to her princess. Pulling her up by the shoulders, she steered Usagi out into the hall and leaned her against the wall.
"Meatball-head."
Those blue eyes darkened.
"Usagi-chan."
They lightened slightly.
Rei nodded, tilting the girls' chin up slightly and looked her directly in the eyes. Usagi was trying hard to keep herself in check, she knew, but this was something that had to be done.
"Usagi-chan, I'm in love with Minako. I love being sparring partners with Makoto. But most of all, Usagi-chan, I'm loving having to deal with you, every day, because you're someone who I can rely on to not let me be overly demanding, overly stressed-out. You shaped me to what I am today, Usagi-chan. Please, Meatball-head, I still want you to be happy."
Rei let her voice fade, letting the fire she knew was inside her service the princess she was holding. Usagi nodded, her eyes serious but smiling as she realized all this was true. All of it. Everything.
Things would not change.
The miko sighed in relief and bent to hug her best friend.
Usagi hugged her back, hard, laughing as she wiggled around playfully and bounced, drawing Rei with her and then pulling back, her eyebrows wiggling in that familiar manner. Voice dropping conspiratorially low, Usagi whispered,
"So, Minako-chan really is that hot, huh? Remember that time when she slipped on the eggplant youma and you had to catch her? I swear, she slithered right out of her clothes!"
Rei blushed.
Trust her princess to bring up everything indecent.
But it was pure fun, and Rei was glad their friendship was cemented in confession.
"So, ladies, it seems your friend is doing better. She's a fast healer, and has quite a pleasing spirit about her! I'm sure she'll be out in two days!"
Rei turned to the nurse and smiled, then froze slightly.
Something was hauntingly cold about this woman, her dark blue locks lashed strickly about her in a short stub of ponytail, and the casual posture she held, her gloved hands in the pockets of her long white doctor's suit, spoke volumes of misled training.
Grey eyes bore into them, and Rei shivered inside.
Her planet warmed her to the core, heated her insides and never failed her, but this woman had something that iced over her soul, those orbs of dark grey unsettling as she smiled at them, her teeth straight and too perfect.
'Sailor Mercury. Oh, Kami-sama, she looks almost exactly like Ami-chan!'
Unconsciously, Rei edged in front of Usagi, drawing her princess behind her and faking her own smile. Minako was just beyond that door, and Rei had a feeling that if this woman went through, something bad was going to happen.
Cold emanated from this woman, making her short stature dominant in this small hallway, but Rei flared, Mars coming to life inside of her and vowing for the uncountable time she would protect Usagi and Minako.
Even if it cost her life.
"Oh! Flent, just WHAT are you doing here? Wow, are you dressing up as slip-in detective, again? I swear, you haven't changed."
A new voice floated over, and Rei wouldn't have looked if Usagi wasn't pulling on her shoulder so hard she thought it would rip it out of her socket. Turning to scold the blonde, Rei caught a glimpse of light blue hair and practically fainted.
Coming around the corner was an exact version of Ami, and if Rei hadn't heard Ami's voice before, she would never have known this woman was not the strong Sailor Mercury who had teleported with Sailor Pluto Minako to the hospital.
Light blue eyes sparkled at them, the healthy blue locks free of any bonds, the grin full and warm as the woman drew close. Rei's mouth opened in shock as the newcomer pulled the suspicious nurse in for a hug.
*TRING! TRING!*
Heck of a time for Minako's communicator to go off.
Usagi snatched it out of Rei's hand and held it behind the miko, flashing a quick picture of the two women embracing under her senshi's arm, concealing it nicely, and Rei dimly heard the hushed gasps of astonishment.
Well, no use in not thinking if Makoto had told Ami now.
Before Usagi turned off the communicator, she heard the blue-haired girl on the communicator whisper, excitedly, her voice high and joyous.
"Mako-chan! We've got to go to the hospital! It's my mom! She's back from Germany!"
A/N: Warning! Don't do to hospital water bags what Usagi was doing earlier! . 0.o A SURE BIG FAT NO-NO! ^^ Unless it's April Fool's. . . *snicker* I've got a disclaimer up, and I'm sure as heck not taking responsibility for the wierd antics Usagi-cosplayers are doing out there. ^^
Ahh, the niceties of coming-back-home parents. Maybe NOW something will clear up, eh? .