Chapter 3-The Awakening

I looked back at that fateful night a lot. Sept 09. If I had known, there would be a million things I would have done differently. I would have said all the things I wanted to say. To my parents, to Alex, I would have told them I loved them.

Alex and I were in a relationship for about two months. She had enjoyed coming over to my house and she would just sit silently in the art studio, watching me paint. I had always wondered, if it was boring for her. She assured me that she was fine, and that it was mesmerizing to watch me create art. The art studio quickly became our date spot. Whenever my parents were out of town, I would invite her over.

One day, my mom got invited to perform on a cruise. They received two tickets and dad was going as mom's arm candy. It was sweet to watch them pick out each others outfits and packing them in their suitcases. Dad picked out a pink dress for mom. He held it up, looked at it, and teasingly said to mom, "Do you think you can still fit in this?" My mom plucked a suit out of the closet and said to dad, "Do you think YOU can still fit in this?" They both laughed, while making gestures around their waists. That was the last time I heard them laugh.

"Michiru, the cruise leaves at six. We are going early so that I can rehearse a couple times with the orchestra. We will be back in three days."

"Okay, mother." I rolled my eyes. I was anxious for them to leave so that I could have three uninterrupted days with Alex. I wished mom good luck on her performance and I gave each of them a kiss and a hug.

As soon as they left, I called Alex. "Coast is clear, come over."

Ding dong.

I opened the door and I gasped. Then I doubled over in laughter. Alex was wearing a hard hat, a white tank top and a pair of ripped jeans. She was also carrying a basket of toy power tools.

"What? Remember your promise? " Alex pulled me toward her and gently kissed my forehead. "You said you would paint me and I could choose my costume."

I wiped away a few tears and I tried to catch my breath. I pointed at the ridiculous "power tools" before I burst into another bouts of uncontrollable laughter.

Alex grabbed my hand and spun me around. "I am a sexy construction worker. If the typhoon hits, I could help you board up the windows." She leaned closer and kissed me softly on my lips. I closed my eyes and I wrapped my arms around her.

I heard the front door open. Before I could react and pull away from Alex, mom entered the house. "Michiru, your dad forgot his medicine. Have you seen…." Mom stopped mid sentence, as she registered what she was witnessing.

"Michiru! What is this?"

"Mom, I am….not straight. This is Alex, she is my girlfriend."

"Stop, Michiru. I don't want to hear this. I….I can't deal with this right now. I am glad your dad is in the taxi right now. He doesn't need to see this. You have shamed this family."

I had always suspected that that would be my mom's reaction. I just didn't expect it to hurt so much, hearing those words from her. I clenched my fists and squeezed my eyes shut.

Bam. I heard the door slammed shut. Mom had left. I watched as she got into the taxi. Dad waved from the taxi but mom pulled his hand down. Puzzled, dad looked at me. He probably couldn't see the tears on my face, but I liked to think that he felt my pain just then.

Alex approached me, delicately. She could see that I was trying to stop crying and having a complete breakdown. "Michiru, is there anything I can do?" She asked. I held out my hands, prevented her from embracing me. I knew I wouldn't be able to stop if she hugged me.

I turned and ran out the front door. It had started to rain. In seconds, I was soaked from top to bottom. I didn't care. I kept running until I couldn't anymore. I could hear Alex running behind me. Usually she was the faster runner, but I knew she held back so that I could have my moments alone. She stayed a few feet behind me after I stopped.

We stood there for a while. The street was eerily quiet, except the thundering roar of the rain and wind. People must have found refuge from the storm. It was just Alex and I.

I didn't turn to stare at Alex. I looked out into the ocean instead. It was stormy and the waves ebbed and flowed. The ocean always soothed me. Just then an idea hit me. If my parents couldn't accept me for who I am, we could simply leave. As long as I have Alex, I would be fine.

"Alex, do you want to run away with me? Let's just go somewhere where no one knows us. I could be a street artist, or a street musician. What do you think?" I said as I turned to look at Alex.

Alex was still standing in the same spot, except she was glowing and levitating. She had her back arched and her face was blank. Her kind eyes were gone. Instead, red glowing eyes were looking back at me. Finally she let out a piercing scream as her body exploded.

"NOOOOOO."

I closed my eyes. This must be a dream, I thought. I wanted to wake up.

It was then I sensed the evil. I forced my eyes open. Instead of seeing Alex's body, I saw a monster.

The monster bared its teeth and extended its hands. Instead of fingers, it had power drills. The monster started charging at me while yelling "Cobra punch! Cobra punch! Cobra punch!"

Oh God. It knew Alex's muay thai moves. If it had retained Alex's fighting skills, my chance of survival would be zero. I started running. My self-preservation instinct kicked in and I was running faster than I had ever run before.

I ran…until there was nowhere to run. The seemingly random cobra punches had successfully herded me into a corner in an alleyway. The monster slowed its pace and walked deliberately toward me. It knew. This would be the end of me. It licked its lips slowly with its blue tongue. It was anticipating the kill and savoring the moment.

"COBRA PUNCH!" The monster leapt into the air and was ready to throw its final blow.

Just then, a blinding light appeared in front of me. The light must have blinded the monster. It stepped backwards while rubbing its eyes, groaning in pain.

There was a blue wand floating midair, blinking with the same blinding light. I reached for it. I wasn't sure why I grabbed it. It felt like it was mine and the moment I grabbed it, memories of my past life flood back. Time stood still as I started to remember. I stood dazed until I heard a low growl from the monster.

It glared at me with its eerie red eyes. Hurt and frustrated by the light, it was ready to try to kill me again.

I raised the wand and yelled "Neptune Planet Power Makeup". A beautiful aqua light flashed and the ocean surged to wrap me in a tight cocoon. I felt power surging through me. I was no longer Michiru. I was Sailor Neptune.