Chapter 12: "The Descent of Venus"
"Okay, that's great, honey! One more…good…now let's try a different position. Turn your back to me. Good. Hands behind your back, like you're holding something precious. A ring or something, something somebody very important gave to you. Now I know you're not looking at the camera, sweetie, but look as though you're very pensive, like you'll never see this person again, and that this invisible ring you're holding is all that's left. …Oh, wow, that's perfect, darling! Boy, is she a natural, or is she a natural? Okay, great! Three more. Beautiful, lover, beautiful. And one real quick, just spin around really fast—yeah, get that hair flying everywhere, just go nuts—there, we got it! Keep going, keep going…one more…perfect! And that's our time, people! Take an hour for lunch, then we gotta book it for the next shoot. Minako, honey, that was fabulous, really! You made my heart stop back there!"
She grinned proudly, weathering his compliments, every movement a tease, a glimpse, a thrill, a moment where she was just a little bit something else, but still always herself. Minako could be anything, really anything, and it would be her, genuine, as honest as her naked soul. There was no role she could not slip into as easily as she slipped into the arms of a lover, and her manager, photographers, dressers, stylists, and artists knew that. She had an ego, too, but she had more humility than selfishness, and that went a long way in this business.
Of course, a comfortable place to rest never hurt, either…
"I'm beat!" she bawled as she crashed on her loveseat. Her feet found themselves atop the other armrest, arms splayed out, Venus de Milo crossed with Pieta. Never mind that she was wearing nothing but lingerie, or that she wasn't alone. "Utterly bushed! Setsu, could you…?"
Not far from her loveseat, Minako's dresser and lover smiled at her, graceful and mysterious and just a little bit haunting. "Of course. Top or bottom?"
"Bottom please. Feet need love badly."
"Eloquent as always," she sighed, wrapping delicate fingers around Minako's toes. A few seconds of labor and the globe-trotting model had nearly forgotten her agony; a few more and she was purring.
"Hmm…Setsu, you're a miracle-worker! I know you're a godsend to the fashion industry, sweetie, but the world of therapeutic massage has lost a valuable servant! Mmmnnnhh, how do you do that?"
"I had a good teacher," she smiled. Adding a wink, she leaned forward a little, kissing Minako's toes, one after the other after the other. She paused at her two smallest, slithering her tongue out, delicately brushing up against the skin. Minako shuddered as Setsuna licked her toes more firmly, finally taking one into her mouth. She winced with pleasure as her lover gently bit down, and cooed as Setsuna's lips traveled up, to her ankles, foreshadowing greater pleasures.
But of course the door opened. A homely woman much younger than Minako stood at the door, bearing water and a remote control.
"Miss Aino, you forgot these." She nodded to Setstuna as the older woman looked up and waved, placing each of her treasures in one of Minako's lazy hands. She then flicked her on the forehead, warning her that if she must have sex in-between shoots, to at least keep it quiet, because someone was having a migraine right now. Minako smiled cheerfully and promised to keep everything hush-hush; once they were alone, her attention focused on the TV she kept in her room. Setsuna sighed, her efforts in vain, her seductive and submissive wiles replaced by a mechanical talking box.
"At least watch something a little classier," she grumbled, gazing helplessly at the flickering cartoons. Minako laughed at the TV and waved dismissively at her lover.
"No way, Setsu! These are hilarious! I think this channel even runs the old Sailor Moon anime! Umm, in Portuguese, of course."
"My God," she muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration, "talk about something done in bad taste. Aren't you the least bit embarrassed at that atrocity?"
"Hell no, I think it's cool! They even got most of my proportions right! But Ami's way sexier in real life. Aww, I miss Makoto's ponytail! Why'd she ever get rid of it, anyway? Now the next time I see her, I won't get to play with it!"
"You keep saying," she muttered under her breath. Minako sat up, intrigued.
"What's that?"
"I said, 'you keep saying', as in, you keep saying you'll go back to Tokyo and see them again, but except for Makoto's wedding, when was the last time you did?"
"I can find that out easy," she said, taking out her cell phone. Minako had a calendar app where she could keep track of where she had been and what she had been doing on any day of the year—a handy tool for a rolling stone like her. She could even program it to only list certain countries or days—say, if she wanted to know her Saturday schedule for the past year, or how many times she had visited Paris. Her records showing appearances in Tokyo were very sparse, and none of them were more recent than her brief vacation several years back.
That had been the last time she saw Ami in person. They had already went their separate ways long before.
"Four years ago?!" she screeched. Setsuna gave her an "I told you so" expression.
"A long time to procrastinate."
"But I'm kept busy twenty-four-seven! I haven't had a day off in nearly a month!" Minako paled at the realization, and laid back on the loveseat again, focusing entirely on her cartoons. Setsuna stood from her perch at the blonde's feet, made her way to her arms, kissed them, and gently took the remote from her.
"I suppose that even when we get what we want, we're never satisfied. May I at least get what I want?"
"And what is that?" Setsuna kissed her cheek.
"Well, for you to get your cute buns back to Tokyo, like you're always saying you will. But until then, I just want you to smile. And to watch the Tokyo Gran Prix."
"Oh, crap, I totally forgot! Haruka's race!" Minako set up as Setsuna changed the channel to an international sports program. One of the benefits of being a model (and having satellite) was that Minako's TV could pick up reception from just about everywhere in the world. Haruka had called her weeks ago, asking her to please watch her race, it was very important, it'll make me feel a whole lot better knowing my favorite sexy model is cheering, even if you might be a little busy at the time. Minako wouldn't miss it; chance favored her since it more or less coincided with this break.
"We may have to record it," Setsuna said, glancing at her wristwatch. "The race will go on for hours, and you only have until—"
"Ssh! It's on!" The TV finally picked up the signal, but to Minako's disappointment, the race coverage was being interrupted by a breaking news report. She blew a raspberry until she remembered the last time this happened—when Tokyo suffered from that unusual earthquake. Thinking that this might be related, or worse, Minako turned the volume up and riveted herself to the spot. Her skin prickled as she saw horrifying green reptilian creatures ravaging through her hometown.
And then her world was unmade as she beheld the very last thing she expected to see. Someone was fighting those monsters—someone very familiar.
"Isn't that…?" Minako and Setsuna sat in spellbound awe, not saying a word, scarcely daring to move. The footage was mediocre, and the camera moved so erratically that it was hard getting a solid look, but Minako would have recognized that person blindfolded. There was no mistaking Sailor Moon.
"She's back," she whispered, her voice brimming with unmistakable glee. It overflowed with a yawp: "AWW YEAH! The Senshi are back in business, baby! WHOO! Go kick some ass, Sailor Moon! Oh my gosh!"
It hit her: the world was in danger, so much danger that Sailor Moon had decided to come out of retirement and fight for it once again. And if Sailor Moon was a part of this…
"What is it, Mina?" Setsuna said. Minako bolted out of her loveseat with renewed vigor, balling her fists, eyes blazing.
"She needs me! Setsuna, pack my bags! I'm going to Tokyo!"
"Wh…what? Now? NOW?! Mina, are you sure—"
The intensity of her stare was all the conviction Setsuna needed. Minako Aino knew exactly what she was doing.
"Of course, dear, right away. Just leave everything to me; I'll get it settled."
"Good. I want to be on a plane today! Money is no object." She barged out of her room, forgot that she was still barely half-dressed, returned, hastily put some clothes on, barged back out, returned to pick up a few bare essentials, went out again, marched to her manager's office, and knocked loudly.
"What IS it?!" he bleated, throwing the door open. He recoiled as he saw his prize model, and stepped back even further when he saw her expression. "Eww, you've read the new clause in your contract, I take it? Okay, Mina-honey, I know that it's a little restrictive, and you probably won't like taking an extra cut, but I promise that it's going somewhere—"
"I don't care about that! I want to go to Tokyo right away!"
"Splendid," he sighed, finishing his sentence. A grimace. "Tokyo?"
"Yeah, capitol of Japan, population ten million or so, in south-central Kanto."
"I know what it is, I just… Why do you want to go there?"
He'd never believe her if she told the truth. Heck, he'd probably not even believe a fabricated excuse.
"Because my friends need me! It's where I belong! Look, just put my schedule on hold for a month or two and I'll—"
"A month?! Minako, we're booked solid for seven weeks! We gotta get you to the Caribbean, honey!"
"Just hold it off! I need to go to Tokyo right away!"
"Are you insane?! You may not have read the new clause in your contract, but I'm pretty sure you remember the original agreement! You know, the one you signed, willingly? The one that extends your partnership with our company for the next three years? That one? Ring a bell, Mina-dear?"
"Don't 'Mina-dear' me, Andrei! This is more important than contracts or clothes or sets or designs or paychecks or…or…or anything else! I'm going to Tokyo whether you want me to or not!" She stormed off angrily, her manager chasing her with equal rage.
"What has come over you, sweetie? You've never behaved like this before."
"That's because my friends have never needed me before! Not like this, at least."
"Sweetie, what are you talking about? What's this really about, Mina? Come on, let's talk! No—wait—stop! Just talk with me for a second!" He pulled on her shoulder gently; she whirled around with unshakable certainty.
"Listen, Andrei, I don't expect you to understand. All I'm asking is two months off. There's something I need to resolve in Tokyo and I'm not taking no for an answer." She turned around, heading for a doorway, carrying nothing but what she had thrown in her Prada purse. Her manager called out to her one last time.
"Minako Aino, if you walk out that door, then your contract ends right here and now! You are fired, you stupid, selfish prima donna, and we'll be seeing your blonde bimbo butt in court!"
"Up yours!" she roared, throwing the door open. "I hate this company anyway! I QUIT!" The door slammed, shuddering nearly the entire studio. Setsuna was left inside to sigh, still clutching onto a few bags her lover had forgotten.
…
"Yep, that sounds like something you'd do, all right!"
Makoto Kino couldn't help but laugh a little as her friend finished her story. Minako had already explained her unexpected presence in Japan to Usagi and Rei; once Makoto heard about it, she insisted to be let in on the tale as well. They had met at her restaurant in Sendai, where Minako was given a part-time job as a dishwasher until she could find better employment. She apparently didn't mind the labor, especially when it put her in close contact with a time-tested, sorely missed, cherished friend.
"Yeah, I yelled so much, I was hoarse for hours! I had to whisper my flight plans to the receptionist. It cost me a little more than I thought it would to make such a spontaneous flight over here, but…I made it! I gave up my job and most of my worldly goods, but I'm back." She giggled, splashing Makoto with some water, adding, "Just like a Buddhist monk! Maybe next I'll shave my head and start wearing beads."
"The beads part I can see," Makoto replied. They laughed again, and all was silent for a moment. Makoto had sorely missed Minako as well; merely basking in her presence, whether through silence or noise (usually the latter), made her feel warm and happy all over, like she had not felt since…oh, ages. After awhile, she said, "So what happened to Setsuna?"
"Well, luckily, my manager decided not to take his aggression out on her. She still works for him, and she was kind enough to send most of my things after me. They'll be arriving in about two or three days—she sent them express."
"Must've been expensive." Minako giggled awkwardly.
"Yeah, well…!"
"She must really love you to put up with antics like that."
"I think she likes the excitement I bring," she smiled. "She's also trying to smooth things over with my manager, not that I care if he has a change of heart or anything. Gosh, Makoto, I've been meaning to come back here for a long time, but…"
"I know. We've all gotten bogged down in real life. We're so busy doing things that we never get to do anything."
"Sounds more like something I'd say!" she cackled. They laughed and splashed each other again.
"So where did you say you were staying again?"
"At Usagi's. She and Ami used to live together, so she's used to having a roommate."
"Oh, that sounds nice. Didn't you ask Rei, though?"
"Yeah," she winced, "but she's got this rule, see." Then, in an imitation meant to parody rather than portray, she lowered her voice an octave and adopted a very Rei-like pose: "'If you're going to live in my house, Minako, then you're going to have to work! No work, no food—got that?!'" Minako punctuated the last two words in English; Makoto was impressed.
"Wow, are those your words, or did Rei actually speak in English?"
"What can I say, she's been studying. But then I tripped her up with a few complex sentences. Anyway, it's really great living with Usagi. Sure, she's still a little messy, but I'm really amazed at how much she's grown!—as a person, I mean. I don't think she's gotten much taller since your wedding."
Makoto nodded. "I was surprised, too. Must be all that police training."
"Nah," Minako beamed. "Her potential finally caught up with her. She's every bit the princess…the queen she was meant to be."
A pause.
"Well, okay, so there's still room for improvement…" They laughed again, draining the water. Makoto had helped dry the dishes, so all that work was done, but the restaurant was still a little messy, so Minako kindly put in some overtime. Their chatter turned parabolic, coming and going as they caught up with each others' lives. Minako was still in a "bi-plural" relationship with Setsuna and a male model; Makoto's daughter Naoko was starting to walk and talk; Minako mentioned all the celebrities she had met; Motoki had just taken the family on a camping and fishing trip; Setsuna had a cameo in a Swedish movie; Makoto's childhood friend Shinozaki came by to visit the godson named after him.
"Careful about having two roosters in the henhouse," Minako said. "Boys tend to get jealous when there aren't enough pretty girls to go around."
"It's not like that," Makoto laughed. "Besides, Motoki's old flame Reika stopped over not too long ago, and I wasn't worried. We're pretty secure in our marriage."
"Still, I'm a little surprised it's lasted this long. Back when we were kids, you went through boyfriends like socks."
"And what's that supposed to mean?!" she exclaimed, shoving the broom a little too forcefully. Minako backed off, but Makoto knew her friend didn't mean any harm by it—and frankly… "Actually, I'm surprised we've lasted this long as well. Not a day goes by when I don't remind myself how incredibly lucky I am. I know I've, erm, dabbled in the past, but Motoki's worth keeping. Sometimes it scares me, though."
"Why? You're a prize, honey! Hell, Motoki should count himself lucky!"
"Sorry," she beamed. "I know he loves me and all, it's just that…sometimes, the past has a way of haunting you."
"Don't I know that," she murmured. They paused silently, staring at the floor, then slowly at each other.
"Anyway, I'm sure everyone's jealous of you, unless Usagi finally hooked up with Mamoru again. I seriously doubt Rei's ever getting married!"
"She came close, believe it or not," Makoto said. Minako looked impressed; Rei seemed more comfortable with chastity than any of them, even Ami. "As for Mr. Chiba," Makoto resumed, upending the dustpan over a large trashcan, "nobody's heard much from him, not even Motoki. He and Usagi just drifted apart, I guess."
"Like the rest of us." Minako cast her face down, her expression full of sorrow and regret and fear. Makoto felt a lump form in her throat and she put her arms around her friend before either of them had time to wallow.
"But you're back now," she whispered, "and that's all that matters. We're all together again."
"No we're not," Minako said, hugging Makoto as if she would plummet endlessly into a dark river if she were to let go. "I heard about what was going on in Shibuya, about those unnatural phenomena, and those strange creatures, and all the destruction they've caused… We may be in the same country, Makoto, but the Senshi aren't together on this."
"Minako," she whispered fearfully, "I have a family. For once in my life, I…"
Their eyes met.
"What do you mean, 'for once'? Aren't we your family?" Makoto glanced away from her darkly.
"All my families left me. This one won't."
"Makoto, that's not fair. We did what we were put on this world to do, and then we had to find new meaning in what was left over. We couldn't let the rest of our lives go to waste. We had to find something. And we did."
"Yeah, you're right," she whispered throatily. "We moved on. We moved away. I don't have any regrets about what I chose for my life. Just that I had to lose the most important people in the world to get it."
"You've always had Usagi and Ami and Rei—"
"But it's just like you said, Mina," she said, letting go of her friend. "We were never together. We still aren't. And now that I finally have what I've desired all these years, I don't see us ever getting that again. I can't join you, Mina, I'm sorry. Why don't you ask Ami instead?"
Minako couldn't muster up the courage for an answer. They finished cleaning the restaurant in silence.
Not wanting to leave on a sour note, they embraced as friends once more, kissing cheeks and smiling sadly. Makoto apologized; Minako apologized; they realized that the past was the past, the future was what they made of it, the present was to be enjoyed—lessons perpetually learned and forgotten. Minako prepared herself for the long train ride home; Makoto went back to her family, telling her husband and children how her day went, wishing desperately that things could just go back to the way they were.
And as she had done so many times before, Minako cried herself to sleep. Makoto might not have had any regrets, but that didn't hold true for the rest of them.
…
Ea called council once his servant Usmu returned with his report. Since this concerned the unusually powerful mortal creatures that had demonstrated very similar traits to their own, it was decided that everyone must hear this, and place their verdict for Anu to decide their future actions. Usmu, who helped Ea oversee the gathering, greeted each of his master's kin in turn: Adad, who commanded the thunder and rain; Shamash, ruler of the sun; Inana, the lover; Gula, the healer; Enlil, master of winds, and Ninhursaga, his wife; Ninurta, their chieftain of war; Nanna, who had been studying his apparent acolyte very closely; only two were absent, or rather, outcast from the circle. Anu called the meeting to order and Ea spoke first:
"My brothers, my sisters, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, friends and companions, fellow warriors and lovers—it has been too long since we held congress together. The time of our ascension is close at hand, when once again we shall reclaim total domination over this world. It was our group who won it from the forces of evil, our union which gave it life, light, civility, and servants. We helped make it into what it is, and soon we shall bear its fruit. Lately, though, it has come to my worthy servant's attention that there exist a number of…let us say, unexpected developments.
"We have always perceived our servants to be worthy of their tasks, whether they work the field or keep the peace, and so they mistook our scouts as enemies, and killed them. But lately there have been those who would surpass the mightiest mortal, wielding abilities only known by our circle. At first, my servant and I believed they were Apkallu returned to us, or at the very least, adepts chosen to follow the teachings of respected heads of this circle—particularly Nanna and Ninurta. However, when my good servant spoke with them, he was overcome with the impression that they would impede our progress, even declare war on us. Needless to say, we were very deeply disturbed. Thankfully, there were ways of discerning whether we had enemies or allies on the field: as you know, we sent Geush Urvan, the Bull of Heaven, who was summarily destroyed; and then the Great Anu commanded a number of his own majestic force to test their skills. My dear friends, these would-be Apkallu…these heavenly sailors…they successfully defeated our lord's force. And we all know only one race of creature, aside from our own, that could accomplish this."
As the congress muttered excitedly amongst themselves, a glowing creature riding a chariot came charging into the temple, his beautiful face alive with terror and excitement. The interruption set everyone into a wild uproar, and they demanded to know the meaning of this horrendous offense. The rider leaped out, causing the very ground to shake as he stood directly in the center of the circle, his countenance silencing them into awe.
"Marduk," Ea whispered. Even he inclined his head; this was a figure whom Anu considered equal, if not even superior. Marduk raised his arms, commanding the attention of the circle.
"My friends, forgive this grotesque gesture, but I would never dream of such disastrous action unless need drove me! Hearken my words, for as we have risen from millennia of sloth and silence, so too have our mortal foes, the Drujs! Worse still is that one is among our servants already, plotting their destruction!" The pandemonium the circle felt when Marduk brashly charged into their meeting was nothing compared to the abject, helpless insanity that rippled through their ranks now. Ten-thousand dooms couldn't possibly hope to salve the dread tidings he brought, for the return of the Drujs meant fear and darkness even for the gods. That one had actually made it to the mortal world dashed any hopes they had of containing this spectacular malice.
The only question was, which force of unstoppable malevolence and irrepressible cruelty was it? The circle felt their hearts sink as Marduk uttered its fell name:
Nasu, whom the Hebrews and Philistines called Beelzebub, lord of decay.
Author's notes:
In case it hasn't become clear yet, I'm using the pantheon of Babylonian gods as my antagonists—although many of them are not evil by any stretch of the imagination. I find it very interesting that various gods throughout the ancient world, particularly centered around the Mediterranean (Greco/Roman, Mesopotamian), are very similar to one another, and could cross cultural lines quite smoothly (in fact, the Greeks often yoked gods of two pantheons together, figuring it was just the same god with different names, like Zeus-Ammon). The Drujs were their actual nemeses, and usually consisted of devils, demons, and other evil sorts. So now the Senshi have two opposing forces to worry about.
Also, in case you're wondering why Minako and Ami broke up, most of the Senshi were told already, which is why it hasn't been explained (because it would be old information to them). However, I'll have one or both of them go into detail eventually. For now, I'll just say that it was mutual and peaceful, but still very painful.