Notes: Episode 25, "Jupiter, the Brawny Girl in Love". Or, "The one where they find Makoto."

Episode 25

I am Sailor Jupiter.

Did not see that coming.

Felt for a while there it was a dream and I'd wake up. Just regular old Makoto Kino, late for school, trying this time to make it to a one-month anniversary. Lying here, there's no question it's true. I can feel the power. The tingle in my fingers. The NEED to throw lightning around is amazing. Kinda fucking scary too, I gotta admit. But mostly amazing.

I wonder what Mom and Dad would say.

Yeah, but when DON'T I wonder that, right?

"Hey I bought a new bowl, wonder what Mom and Dad would say?"

Probably "Great job, sweetie! Bowls are important!"

Great job, sweetie. Sailor Jupiter is important.

Sailor Moon though. Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars. They'll never know what they've already done for me.

I was in Saitama when I first heard about them. Walking home, I think. Maybe just standing on the corner. Those days all kinda blend. There was this thing on the news. Night before, some guy appeared in the sky over Tokyo. Threatened to kill everyone, burn everything, if the Sailor Senshi didn't meet him. Nobody knew what happened next, but nothing burned and the guy didn't show his big ugly face again, so best guess? Score one for the Sailor Senshi.

Three girls standing up to a big scary guy who wanted to kill everyone? Yeah, that was awesome.

After that I found out as much I could about them. There was a lot more on Sailor V, and she was cool too, but she was in France or something. These guys were local. They were people I could meet.

People who'd understand.

I get up from the bed and head for one of the stacks of boxes in my living room. I still can't bring myself to unpack more than the necessities in case I'm looking for a new place tomorrow. I'm running out of schools though. Where should I go next? I'm thinking west. Dad always said Matsue was beautiful.

There's something I want though, so I open the first box and began to dig through. Looks like maybe I'd be doing a little more unpacking after all.

My whole life people've been scared of me. I'm bigger than they expect. Rougher. My temper's not so great. Everyone's got something to prove, and most seem to think they want to prove it on me. Seemed to get worse after my parents died.

"Keep your head down," people tell me. Counselors, advisors. People way smarter than me. I try, I really do. Tell myself the same thing every time: keep your head down, don't attract attention. Standing with a slouch, walking in the gutter instead of the sidewalk. Little tricks to knock off a few inches. It works, too, kinda. Right up to the point where someone's getting bullied.

Someone's always getting bullied.

What am I supposed to do? Turn away when someone needs help?

I can't do that.

When Tokyo didn't burn, I knew the Sailor Senshi couldn't do that either.

Not in that box. I set it aside and open the next.

I was such a huge fan of theirs. When it was time to move again, they were a big part of the reason why I went further into the city than away from it. I didn't actually think we'd meet. But weird stuff had been happening in Tokyo, and hey, why not? I had to go somewhere.

Ahh, there it is! I pull out the worn magazine page and unfold it. The familiar photograph makes me feel warm, like it always does. Sailor Moon is front and center, with the second most beautiful smile I'd ever seen. On her left, Sailor Mercury, her kind face so content. Clenching her fist in victory on the other side is Sailor Mars, looking as satisfied as I always felt when I help someone.

I pick up the photograph from where I'd tossed it on the bed. It was from that night. I held the two pictures side-by-side, wondering how I hadn't recognized them. Magic, Luna said. Makes as much sense as anything else, I guess.

It's amazing how similar they all look. Usagi with the same smile, Ami just as kind as I thought she'd be, Rei not letting anything stop her.

And me in the middle. Surrounded by these amazing girls.

One of these amazing girls.

I ball up the magazine page and throw it in the trashcan. I don't need it any more.

I am Sailor Jupiter.