good luck charms
A Sailor Moon oneshot
by mew-tsubaki
Note: The Sailor Moon characters belong to Takeuchi Naoko-sensei, not to me. Am I procrastinating finishing other BSSM fics? You bet! XD Read, review, and enjoy! *Note: Done for an ask prompt meme on tumblr, for galindathegay, with the prompt of a kiss "…for luck."
- ^-^3
Rei exhales, inhales as she lifts she longbow and aims, and exhales with the release of her arrow. The barely there fwshh of the arrow as it zips through the air to pierce the target several yards away is buried under the twang of her bow's string. The dull thun of the arrow's tip hitting its mark—a bullseye—covers both previous sounds.
But, off to the side, covering the sound of her club mates' and coach's applause, hardly stifled squeals leak out from certain onlookers.
She doesn't have to turn her head to know that a certain pair of blondes can't contain themselves (they never can), but Rei internally sighs as she lowers her bow and backs away to make room for the next archer on her team at this practice demo, to help get the first years used to having eyes on them for competitions. And really, Rei doesn't mind her friends coming to watch…but will they ever learn restraint?
A few shots later, Rei's captain claps, signaling the end of their day, and their coach hands out tips on form and on dealing with stage fright. Only after does Rei finally look into the small gathering for her guests.
Her eyes land on the deepest blue pair of eyes first, out of habit, and Minako grins brightly in return. But then Rei glances at Usagi and Makoto and Ami in turn before joining them. "You were supposed to keep these two calm," she says to the bespectacled girl and the brunette.
Ami's shoulders drop, and she offers up an apologetic little smile. "Well, they were quieter than usual, Rei-chan. Compromise?"
…true, although Rei's curious as to how they managed that. She quirks an eyebrow at Makoto.
Makoto chuckles nervously. "I snuck them some daifuku…"
"Mako-chan! No food inside the dojo, dammit," she grumbles.
"It's all right! They didn't make a mess."
Rei tries to hold on to her irritation…but it doesn't last. She settles each of them with a stern look, ignoring that bright grin once again (even if it is a hair sheepish now), and she turns away and heads for the locker room to change, before they can see that, no, she's not really angry.
And really, she muses while she changes back into her school uniform, why would she be? They've been reborn, once again, and they're together, once more—it's more than she could ask for, than she could've hoped for, when she thinks back to months ago…
…months ago, and losing everyone, not one by one but two by two, at the end of the world…
Rei squeezes her eyes shut, shakes her head, and closes her locker door. She tips her head to her senpai and gives the kouhai a little wave, and she's grateful that she can still do this as well as meet her friends outside, like a normal teenage girl.
- ^-^3
She's happy, of course, but mostly Rei's a little stunned.
She still reads her fire regularly, whether Phobos and Deimos stand watch close by the sliding doors or go play by the trees near the shrine gate (she can tell by the trill in their playful cawing). Rei coaxes lively embers into a roaring fire, concentrates on past events and the present good, and questions what awaits them in the future.
And things are strangely calm.
It's not like previous calms, calms that made her antsy, before an enemy's cunning, devastating strike. No, it's a more genuine calm, which is why it strikes her as strange, as odd.
Because the future Rei reads is nothing she and the rest can't handle.
The first time she read the fire, after being reborn, after Usagi's battle with Chaos… Rei squinted into the flames, doubting whether she trusted the flames for once. Her, Mars, Guardian of War and Fire, doubting her own sacred flames!
(Yeah, she scoffed, too.)
But…after years…enemy after enemy after enemy, being granted a respite felt unreal, feels unreal. So she continues to read the fire, but the future doesn't change.
Someday, Usagi and Mamoru will marry, of course, and they will welcome Chibiusa [back] into their lives.
Makoto will run the shops her heart desires.
Ami and Minako will be household names, but in very different fields, much as Michiru and Haruka already are.
And this shrine will be Rei's (as if it weren't already).
They will get to lead normal lives before taking on their guardian mantles solely, before Usagi dons her crown, because the Thirtieth Century is still a long, long time away. Yes, there will be some hiccups here and there on the road to that future, but the big battles are indeed behind them.
It's truly a strange thought, Rei muses as she watches the fire calm for the evening, gets ready to prepare supper for her and Grandpa, the idea that her Flame Sniper might be at rest for good, even as she's picked up her archery club bow to keep those skills sharp. She—She gets to do all the things she wanted to, needed to before, without the added stress of saving the world. She gets to try new things, even, without fear of missing out because she has to go save the world (of keeping her priorities in order).
The squeals from her cheer squad today come to mind, and Minako's smile flashes in her memory for a second.
Rei blinks and tears her eyes away from the fire, even ducks outside to cool her warm cheeks. "That's enough meditation for tonight," she huffs to herself.
Nearby, Phobos and Deimos caw (but it sounds a little like laughter to Rei's ears).
- ^-^3
It's still spring in their second year, and the proof that living normally being something they can do—well, it's right in front of Rei's eyes.
The rest might still go to Juban High while Rei attends T.A. Academy's high school, but they meet up at Crown Game Center like clockwork, managing between club activities and cram classes and Usagi's inevitable make-up homework assignments. Or, well, helping Usagi out and hanging out at Crown…they're rather one in the same, just like always.
"If you still had anything left over, how did the teachers let you leave?" Rei asks with a sigh before digging into a small apricot parfait.
"It's just the one worksheet, Rei-chan," Usagi huffs. "And I swore that I wouldn't ask Ami-chan for help yet again—"
"What? But it's no problem for me to—"
"Ami-chan, all the teachers are focused on you getting into your top choice. We also don't want to distract you too much from that."
"And that's kind, Mako-chan, but my mock exams have all gone well, and I feel confident for the next, and I'm sure the real entrance exam will be fine. It's months away anyhow!"
Minako reaches across Rei for Usagi's worksheet and skims it. "Oh, hey, English! I can help with this!"
Rei and Ami eye her with open doubt. "Minako-chan—" Rei starts.
But she laughs and waves away their skepticism. "Oh, c'mon, guys. Ami-chan's got proverbs down, which, yeah, all right, I mess those up a little bit—"
Ami coughs at "little."
"—but this is just sentence construction and definitions. Basic things you have to know for conversation." She winks at Usagi. "Let's just relax for a bit, the five of us, and I'll help you with this later, Usagi-chan."
"Ahh, V-chan, thank you~!"
Makoto catches Rei's eye across the table and offers her a comforting smile, because Minako will be Minako just as much as Usagi will struggle with her studies (the current princess is such a pale portrait of the future queen…). But their tall friend brightens up as she switches topics. "Ah, that reminds me—isn't Haruka-san due back soon?"
Ami nods beside her. "Her race is finishing up and she'll be back in time for the concert series Michiru-san is holding after your birthday, Rei-chan." She pats her school bag beside her in the booth, between her and Usagi. "She gave me tickets the other night when we were swimming."
A concert? That'd be nice… It's been a while, Rei thinks, and she pushes down memories of when the two Outer senshi briefly were their adversaries; further down, she pushes memories of the Three Lights, friends who've long since come and gone.
"Mm, exactly when is it?" Minako asks, shoveling a spoonful of parfait into her mouth.
"Right at the end of the month," Ami replies.
"Damn." Minako sighs and slumps against Rei's right arm. "I've got training camp during the break…"
Ah. Rei blinks, because, yeah, normally sporty teens do around this time of year, don't they? "The archery club also booked a spot for Golden Week. Sorry, I meant to bring it up."
Ami, surprisingly, smiles and titters at Rei's reaction. "It's funny, isn't it? Us living regular schedules like anyone else our age?"
Makoto heaves a happy, nostalgic sigh; Usagi blows cheerful bubbles into her boba tea; Rei can't help the smile curving her own lips upwards; and Minako nods and takes another bite of parfait—
"Wait a minute," Rei scolds. "Why are you eating mine?!"
"Oh, just share, Rei-chan~ Live the regular life a little…!" she says, scooping up another spoonful just as quickly and sticking it in Rei's mouth this time. She laughs harder the longer Rei glares at her.
(But the parfait tastes sweeter the longer she glares, the more she hears Minako's laugh and sees Minako's ridiculous smile.)
- ^-^3
The days and weeks drag and bleed and run together. Rei's birthday is a blur—Grandpa caved to letting Makoto use their kitchen ahead of time, and letters and small gifts arrive from all three Outer senshi (Michiru's schedule keeps her too busy to drop by Hikawa Shrine, Haruka will arrive when Rei and Minako are away during Golden Week, and Setsuna is studying in the U.S. along with Mamoru but at a different university)—but Rei's happy. If it weren't for Phobos and Deimos waking her every morning, or the rare visit from Luna, Artemis, and Diana together, wishing her a belated happy birthday, one truly might think Hino Rei is simply just the fortuneteller's granddaughter, the schoolgirl miko of Hikawa Shrine.
That notion feels more tangible when her crow guardians nuzzle her the morning before she heads out for her training camp, worried as ever.
But, even though Rei packs her henshin and her communicator…she never needs them, not once during her week away.
The reality, the weight of that doesn't quite sink in until she's home, until Grandpa asks her how camp was. "Mm?" she asks, having zoned out over dinner, a simple meal of sashimi and rice with vegetables.
He chuckles and nods to the screen doors. "I asked how camp went, if everything was all right. Those pet crows of yours made such a racket while you were away, only settling down when you came back. A pair of worried parents, those two."
Rei smiles at the description, because he's not far off. But she shakes her head. "It was good. I'm looking forward to tournament season." She eats more but picks her head up when Grandpa stays quite. "Something else?"
His stare lingers, but he resumes eating. "Just thinking—I can't quite put my finger on it, but, somehow, things feel quieter now. Not that your load has lessened compared to last year, but." He chuckles again, this time at himself. "Ah, maybe I'm finally going senile."
There's a part of her that's always wanted to tell him the truth, to confirm that his sixth sense isn't shabby, to tell him about her past life (lives, if they're counting every last rebirth). But there's also a part of Rei that likes how things are here at Hikawa Shrine, the peace despite the mystery, the knowing without really knowing.
"Anyway. Make sure I have a copy of the schedule once your coach settles on who's doing what event for tournament season." He nods sagely. "I'll rally the whole neighborhood to come cheer you on, Rei."
As if her friends aren't cause for worry enough…! "N-No, Grandpa, that's all right…!"
- ^-^3
Everyone likes to harp on about her archery club, but Rei? Rei actually enjoys going to Minako's volleyball matches, too. Some days, when Rei surprisingly doesn't have club meetings herself (faculty keep odd schedules at times, especially the nuns at T.A. Academy), the dark-haired girl even drops by Juban High to peek at the girls' volleyball practice.
She's done it a handful of times before, but tonight, on a warm evening in mid-May, Minako notices her early on, hanging by the open gym doors. It catches the blond vice-captain off-guard, and yet still she bumps a ball coming her way before excusing herself for the sidelines. When the coach isn't looking, Minako slips outside to join Rei. "R-Rei-chan?!"
Even backlit, Minako's blush is still evident in the rosy glow of her cheeks. Rei softly smirks. "What, you can come watch me, but I can't come watch you?"
She calms for a second, glances behind Rei, then furrows her brow. "Where are the other girls?"
"Just me. Sorry to disappoint."
The rosy glow burns bright again, and she shakes her head; she's got her hair plaited for practice, and the giant rope swings behind her vigorously. "No! No, just. Just surprised." Minako calms again. "And—no youma, nothing else—?"
Well, now Rei's exasperated. She leans forward, narrowing her eyes while in Minako's personal space. "No youma. Nothing evil running around or possessing anyone. Just me, here for you."
Minako blinks. And she blinks again, and a third time, and she smiles and scratches her cheek. "…o-oh. Well, I, ah," she flusters, "I'm glad you haven't, uh, come to exact your revenge o-over the parfait…"
Rei pauses, thrown by the remark. Parfait? Ah. But that was weeks ago. And, when it comes to Minako, Rei knows she has a soft spot or a blind spot (maybe they're the same thing?) for the bubbly ditz in front of her. But the memory does inspire her a little, as well as the adorable fluster before her—so Rei leans further forward and kisses Minako's cheek.
That only makes Minako redder, nearly as red as her hair ribbon. "What was that for?!"
Rei's cheeks warm, as well, but she rushes to explain, "It's—It's just for luck. For your upcoming practice match." There. A valid reason, right?
They lock eyes, blue meeting violet. Minako finds her voice first. "…well…that'll hardly cover the rest of practice tonight, let alone for the upcoming match." She grins, and it's as if she's come up with a ridiculous battle plan or stolen Rei's parfait all over again (because Minako will be Minako, Rei knows). "So—maybe you want to try again?"
Rei rolls her eyes at Minako's cheekiness. But she takes the suggestion under advisement and kisses that grin this time around.
"Live the regular life a little," Minako had said recently—Rei likes to think this is a pretty good start.
- ^-^3
It's graduation season (spring, for Japan), so my mind is just *going places*. XDDD There are plenty of my fandoms where I like to think of the post-series canon or, if there are epilogues or timeskips, to muse about the in-btwn stuff. This would be some of the latter. :3c This…also got away from me a bit, *LOL, simply bc I got a bit lost in Rei's head, bc it's rly interesting musing on these things from her POV, ngl. I do think she would worry a lot after this rebirth, wondering, "Okay, are things well and settled now?" and I like that Phobos and Deimos also carry some of that anxiety (the mental image of them as worrying parents or anxious aunties, forever fretting over Rei, kinda warms my heart). :D The Reinako ended up being more of a subplot/smthg subtle here, but since romance for the guardians is smthg discussed in canon as smthg unattainable for them bc it leads them astray from their duty…well, I mean, there's a good reason why so many of us in the fandom ship the senshi! X'D I do feel as if this fic is for those who've got the manga memorized, in a way; just like…the reference to demonic possession, for one, *lol* (such a fab side story). No mention of Hotaru here bc *shrug* technically not necessary for the story, so focus on just the Inners and the Outer trio. Also, Grandpa Hino! Always loved his bond with Rei, in both the manga and the OG anime, even if he, like Rei, is p different in the manga and the OG anime. Let's see, what else… Well, the title is a ref to her friends being good luck charms, not solely the kiss(es) she and Minako share in the end. XD And! For anyone who isn't familiar with Golden Week (partially copied from my old A/Ns in prev fics, primarily HQ! ones): "In Japan, this week from April 30th to May 5th (or until May 6th if April 30th is a Sunday) is a time of kind of…national vacation? A lot of companies have their employees take off here, so there's a LOT of travel, and it's a popular time of the year for clubs to hold activities and training camps at schools." Basically, while BSSM doesn't have much focus on this time, anyone in sports anime/manga fandom is v familiar with this time of yr. X'D Thx again for asking, Max, and hope you enjoyed this! :3 Meanwhile, I have other fic to procrastinate and art to draw (and also procrastinate), but all my readers are always welcome to hit up my askbox on tumblr or to come join me on pfio, for fic or for art~ (Note: Outside of ask memes, I have a Requests FAQ, so check that out, thx!)
Thanks for reading, and please review! Check out my other fics if you enjoyed this~ And show your support via tumblr and pillowfort with a reblog~
-mew-tsubaki :3c