Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon
The Second Story

AN: Wee Plot advancement. Annnnnd I'm done for the day.

Tokyo, Late Summer, Present Day

The fire burned dark and ominous before her as Rei settled down in front of it as she'd done for the past few days. Every day was the same – there were no answers for her here. The pen lay forgotten on dresser as she moved about her duties to the shrine. She was the priestess now, at least part time. Soon though, she would take up the mantle full time. She was looking forward to the day.

She pulled all distraction to the front of her mind and then forced it back and away, her mind focused singularly on the terrifying vision that she wanted to know more about. Bile rose up in her throat and she felt her face pull downward into an angry frown as she tried to keep from gagging.

The destroyed city, all of their bodies crumbling away into nothingness. They had to find the talismen, or the messiah would come and bring the silence. The desperation was terrifying, and Rei raised her hand, stretching it deep into the fire. She would pull understanding out of the flames even if they did not want cooperate.

You are a most stubborn individual, Hino Rei, a voice whispered at the corners of her mind. Why not just ask?

Rei frowned, snatching her hand back. "Ask who?" she demanded.

If you don't know that, then I will not help you, Hino Rei. The voice sounded almost annoyed. Search within yourself, the answers are already there.

Rei brought her hands up to cup the flame and draw it towards her, her control steady and constant. The flames played across her palm as she marveled at the amount of power she now held in her hands. "Is this a maturation?" She asked.

The voice in the back of her head, Rei knew who it was now. Mars Reiko had never been one for subtlety. When you were attacked in the park, that was a maturation, this is merely your power now, Hino Rei.

She pretended she didn't remember the past, she didn't remember how Minako had looked back then as Venus, how enticing and powerful and how in love they had been. She didn't want to think about it. Not with Usagi being threatened by some alien force and their peace crashing down around them.

The flame danced before her, her breathing steady. "I am at my prime now."

You should praise Father Mars.

"I will not go back to the old ways." Rei shook her head, clapping her hands together and watching as the flames dispersed and vanished.

It is by his will that you can do this.

Rei's brow furrowed. She was not going to allow herself to become like Minako, so aware of the past that she allowed it to rule her present identity. She knew what the songs on this latest album were about – and why she needed a violinist to accompany her. "Minako cares enough about the past life for the rest of us."

A hollow laugh. You'll find that that isn't the case, Hino Rei. Give libation, just this once, they are old gods, a prayer and a sacrifice will do no harm.

Rei hesitated, nervous of the implication of her actions. She pulled a fresh stick of insence from the packages and setting it into the holder, two fingers closed over the tip. The tip smoked under her fingertips for a moment, before coming alight. So this is the power of Mars, Rei thought, frowning at it.

She claps her hands together and says the ancient words in the language she doesn't remember. They're all becoming like they were in the past life it seems.

That doesn't mean she has to like it.

Only when Mars Reiko was silent in response did Rei realize that this was the answer she was so desperately looking for.

x

They were rehearsing, discussing the first song off of Minako's new album. It was a quiet song, like a lullaby - and one of the few where Michiru's violin was front and center as the only musical accompaniment to Aino Minako's voice other than the piano that the girl herself played in the original recording song. There was debate between their two respective managers about how, exactly, they were going to film the PV for this song.

It was so quiet and melancholy in comparison to much of Minako's previous work. The usual standby of Japanese pop music videos with lots of close ups and cute outfits simply would not fit, her manager was arguing - and Minako's manager was still trying to find a way to work in some of that nonsense.

Michiru had already decided her part, and had already shot her scenes from the video - on a cliff side over the crashing ocean that reminded her so distinctly of the cliffs at Dover she'd visited as a child. She had felt at complete peace there - standing barefoot with her violin cradled under her chin. Even as a civilian, as far from Neptune as she could make herself, she still felt the draw of the ocean. She had wanted to jump, to fall into that loving embrace that she knew would do her no harm.

It was strange, Michiru reasoned, how her thought process had changed since she had finally accepted Neptune's consciousness against her own. They had to be one in order to complete the mission, but Michiru could feel her personality changing against Neptune's - becoming more like the seemingly heartless warrior against her will.

That sensation made her want to step off the cliff. To fall into her element so she would not have to dirty her hands and her soul any more with this ruthless pursuit of the talismen. She would not die then, and she knew that. But she wanted the sensation of falling and of control once again. Everything was so out of control now. She hated it.

Aino Minako had stared at her then, on that dawn by the seaside, a strange look of realization on her face that made Michiru wonder just how comprehending she was of the reason why they had picked this particular location to film. The idol was so wrapped up in her own conflict right now, and Michiru had caught her, several times, staring off into space, her hand moving aimlessly over the steno pad that she brought with her to their meetings. She was writing in that swirling and backwards language once again - writing in Venusian as though no one knew what she was doing.

As their respective managers' voices grew louder, Michiru leaned over to get a better look at the pad upon which the idol had been scribbling.

"Maybe you should stick to Japanese." She commented quietly, noting Minako's hastily written verses of a prayer to Aphrodite in Old Venusian, as well as a few bars of a melody that Michiru could hear quite clearly in her head.

Aino blushed ever so slightly and pulled the pad closer to herself. "They're just doodles." She muttered, not meeting Michiru's eyes.

Michiru nodded, her expression carefully neutral. "The tune sounds nice though. But I think we should both concentrate on getting this concert series done so that I can go home and you can move on to bigger and better things."

"I know that I have been distracted recently, and I'm sorry for that." Minako said in a hushed voice. She still would not meet Michiru's inquisitive gaze. "I just have a lot on my plate right now and I've gotten out of the habit of this balancing act."

Well if that wasn't an admission Michiru didn't know what was. She shrugged. "Suit yourself, Minako. Just keep in mind that your duties are more important than personal crusades." She was taking a risk there - and she knew it. She didn't want Aino to read too much into what she had said - but she had been warned to stay out of their way, and she had steadfastly refused to do just that.

Aino Minako, who was almost never at a loss for words, opened and closed her mouth several times before airily saying, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Michiru wanted to continue their conversation, but her manager had rounded on her and was firing off rapid-succession suggestions for the rest of the PV and Michiru found herself hurrying to answer as Minako carefully flipped to a fresh page on note book and began to take real notes.

This ruse was not going to last much longer, Michiru realized.

x

Mizuno Ami was glad to have been granted a fellowship at the hospital where her mother worked so soon after graduating from medical school, but she was not at all surprised at the fact that her mother's stellar reputation had raised the bar unimaginably high for her daughter. She worked hard, did her job well, and was well-liked by the hospital staff. Her white coat was always neatly pressed and she always had stickers or temporary tattoos in her pockets for her young patients.

She felt professional, even if inside she was panicked.

Usagi had become the princess again. Usagi was in danger of losing herself once more. Fear gripped Ami as she tried not to think about what had had happened the last time she herself had lost control. It was painful, terrifying and still gave her nightmares. She tried to be better, and she didn't let the torch she still oft-carried for Usagi get in the way of her best friend's marriage.

Ami had someone now, just like Mako did. Rei had Minako and Minako had Rei – Ami wasn't a fool and could see it even when they didn't speak to each other. That was a carry-over from the past life, she'd figured that out after Rei had told them all what it had been like being the only one who knew Minako was sick.

"Dr. Mizuno, your two o'clock is here," The floor nurse knocked on her office door and jerked Ami from her thoughts. Her two o'clock was a particularly interesting case and Ami did not want to be late.

The poor girl – Tomoe Hotaru – had been injured in a laboratory fire several years ago and was still undergoing surgeries to correct the damage that had been caused by the fire. Her father was a scientist, and a strange man.

Ami tired not to judge the girl's scarred appearance – instead offering her expertise and a smile.

It was all she could do.