This story happens around episode 192 - Yume Icchokusen! Idol Minako Tanjou!? [Going for the dream! The Idol Minako is born!?]. Please keep in mind I do not speak enough Japanese to know exactly what people say in this episode so I'm taking bits and pieces of this story from Hitoshi Doi as well as making up parts of what people say. And I'm only going with the story line
for the first part of this story, then I'm going to branch off... Oh, I took some Sailor V info off of a manga translation site. So, arigato [thank you] for that info - it was needed for part of my story! ^_-
Well, anyways, tell me what you think! Oh, there are tons of people I'd like to thank for pushing me to get this done (Miyu-chan, Mearl-chan...), but I couldn't get anything done with out my handy dandy Wal Mart $.50 Special Thesaurus! ^_- Hey! I like my Thesaurus! :-p
' ' These are for words not spoken out loud. It's just what people are thinking. " " And these of course are spoken out loud. It's (duh!) what people are saying, rather than thinking... If I emphasize a word like _this_ it's just to be used like the word is in italics.
Oh yes... silly me! I almost forgot disclaimers! Sailor Moon is copyrighted to Naoko Takeuchi, Kondasha, and all those other big budget companies with thick wallets! I mean absolutely no harm with this fan fic and no infringement is intended... I'm just a high school student trying to get her obsession of Sailor Moon out to the public with her fan fics and whatever
else. So please don't sue me - I constantly have no cash due to the fact that I have an obsession with the Three Lights and Sailor Moon... ^_-
Please visit my Starlight shrine at http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Flats/8556/ and if you're really cool, you'll sign my guestbook Thanks!
Oh, and recently I lost everything (and I mean everything) on my hard drive, so that tragic incident will make it so my story will take longer to get out on the net (like you care).... :)
Sorry for making the notes so long....
Now on with the story!
Past Reflections and Present Emotions
by Sailor StarLight
eternalsailormoon@usa.net
Minako was waiting for the idol audition to start. She was wearing a short neon orange and green dress and was holding a "picnic" basket with Artemis hiding inside. She looked around nervously. There were so many "kawaii" [cute] girls here. Not good for Minako.
Just then a scream rang out. Minako quickly turned around, grabbing her transformation pen. But it was only girls screaming at Moroboshi Takuya, a popular producer who will write a song for the winner of the contest. All the girls except Minako were rushing towards him. His eyes got wide and he frantically waved his hands in a gesture trying to shoo them away. None of
the girls heeded Moroboshi and kept on going after him. Moroboshi finally ran off with the girls trying to trail behind him.
Just then Yaten stepped inside. He sighed as she saw a group of wild girls rushing after Moroboshi, knowing the feeling of what it was like having a wild stampede of girls chasing after him. He then spotted Minako, just as she spotted him.
"Yaten-kun?!" Minako cried out, just as he yelled out her name in surprise. Yaten strode to her, scowled and grabbed onto Minako's arm and dragged her into a separate room. "What are you doing?!" He growled out. "Does everyone know about this?" Minako bowed her head. "Yeah." she murmured. "They know. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Usagi-chan. She told me to
go for it..." Yaten just shook his head then slammed his palm against the wall behind Minako. "Do you know what kind of situation you're in?! Don't you care about your planet?!" Minako looked up slowly. "We know." she said sadly. "Then what are you doing here?!" He hissed out. Minako took a small step back and came up against the wall. Minako was looking down, but then she glanced up and caught Yaten's eye. Her eyes were blazing with fierce determination. "This is my dream!" She said almost savagely. "Is your dream more important than your duty as a senshi?" Yaten asked her seriously, his eyes boring into hers. Minako turned away and sighed.
"When will all the fighting end?" She murmured, mostly to herself. "I've been fighting so long that I don't even remember really having a normal life..." She sadly shook her head, seeming like she was talking to herself. "When I was in Junior High I started catching crooks as Sailor V, then I caught up with the rest of the Senshi when they were fighting Queen Beryl and Metallia. Then came the Dark Moon Family, Fiore, Pharaoh 90, the Dead Moon Circus, Neherenia..." She paused. Then looked back at him. "When Usagi-chan was fighting Beryl and Metallia all she wanted was to be a normal teenager." Minako said as she remembered Luna telling her about the first time that she met Usagi. 'I want to play Sailor V video games, not live them....!' "I never
really understood why Usagi wanted to be a normal teenager.... Well, not until now, anyways." She smiled shakily. "I always thought that being a super heroine would be-" she started, but was cut off as the announcer came in. "Yaten-kun," he said, motioning Yaten out. Yaten glanced back at Minako, who had such wistfulness in her wildflower blue eyes, which were now staring sadly off into the distance, thinking of her past. He stepped outside.
"Aino-san," The announcer called out. "You're next." Minako came up onto the stage, looking calm and collected, not a bit nervous even though she was shaking on the inside. Artemis was watching safely from the inside of the basket.
Minako took a hold of the microphone as the music started. She turned her head to the side and loosely closed her eyes. The music started and Minako started to pour her soul out into the song - "Route Venus". Minako didn't start out that great, but she became better and better as the song went along.
Moroboshi had his eyes closed and was smiling gently as he listened to the song. Yaten listened with a slightly confused expression marring his face. 'She's trying so hard. Why?' he thought as the song finished and Minako stepped off the stage. Moroboshi quickly wrote down something on his clipboard and then the announcer called for the next girl. Yaten stared down at his clipboard. He didn't quite know what to write. Just then the girl started her magician routine and Yaten looked up, disrupted from writing anything about Minako. He glanced down at his sheet and quickly scribbled down something about her routine. But his eyes strayed back to the blank space with the name Aino Minako written next to it. Yaten sighed. He then made a quick decision before the next act came on. He then stifled another sigh and smiled wanly. 'She deserves
this', he thought as his pen touched the clipboard.
Now came the dance portion of the contest. There were a lot of girls dancing. Yaten's eyes strayed to Minako, who was trying very hard. Just then one of the girls tripped Minako and they both came crashing down. Moroboshi quickly turned to that direction, startled. Yaten's eyes
widened with shock. Minako ran over to see if the other girl was ok. "Daijou bu?" She asked, concern showing on her face. The girl nodded and started to get up. Minako got up too and started dancing gracefully and beautifully, even better than before. Yaten was staring at her and Moroboshi murmured to Yaten, "She's great. I bet she's going to make it to the final round."
Yaten's eyes widened even further as he continued to stare at Minako.
Minako put the finishing touches on her bathing suit for the question and answer part of the competition. She then put a tag with the number 5 on it. Minako walked out with four other girls to the stage. Yaten glanced up and the first person he saw was Minako, her hair blowing gently down her back in an invisible wind... Yaten bit his lip. He then shook his head, trying to get that image of her out of his mind and cleared his voice. "Contestant number 5." Minako looked up, smiling. "Hai?" "Why did you enter this competition?" Her smile softened but still shone radiantly. "Singing, dancing, acting, and giving a lot of dreams to everyone, that's what I want to do, just like the Three Lights." Yaten then tried to grill her about duty, but Moroboshi put his hand firmly on Yaten's shoulder. "She's already made it into the next round." he whispered, making sure no one else saw him. Yaten's eyes widened again as he glanced at Minako. His eyes then drooped and he nodded his head. He then went and asked contestant number 2 her question.
Later, Yaten was with Minako. "Why can you try so hard?" Minako glanced at him under thick lashes. She blinked, trying to gather her feeling into words. "Because I want to answer to everyone's feelings." She said simply. "Usagi-chan told me to give it my best." She started to stare out off into space. "My dreams are everyone's dreams. Everyone's dreams are my dreams..."
Yaten turned away abruptly, gazing almost sadly at the tile floor. "Maybe we have lost our composure. The Princess is so close, but she doesn't appear. I don't know what we're missing." Minako tried to look at him, but Yaten was still staring into the ground. "Yaten," she said. He slowly looked up and met her piercing gaze. "You're not missing anything. You're shining brighter than anyone." Yaten smiled, feeling a bit of a blush creep to his cheeks, then hastily changed the subject. "And what about you?" Minako look up. "Nani?" "What about you and your struggles." Minako sighed and shook her head. "I don't know..." She shook her head again. "I mean I've been
fighting for a while now. I am fighting now and I was fighting then, too." Yaten looked up. "Then...?" Minako nodded. "Hai. Back on the moon..." Now Yaten looked really confused. "...back on the moon...?" He said slowly, eyebrows raised trying to comprehend her words.
"Oh, it's a long story - and we don't have time now." She finished up quickly as she heard a scream. Minako quickly transformed. "Venus Crystal Power... Make Up!" She then went and helped Eternal Sailor Moon with the Sailor of the day, Sailor Musician, who was really Moroboshi who had his starseed taken out by Tin Nyanko. Sailor Musician kept hitting his keyboard which produced a blast of light that flashed towards Sailor Venus and Eternal Sailor Moon.
Yaten watched them stumble around. He chuckled quietly. "Can't they do anything right without the Starlights' help?" He then decided to help out, since they weren't getting anywhere just dodging Sailor Musician's attacks. "Healer Star Power... Make Up!" Yaten cried out, transforming himself into herself - Sailor Star Healer. She used her Star Sensitive Inferno on
Sailor Musician. Sailor Venus used her Venus Love and Beauty Shock. Sailor Moon then used her eternal tier and turned Sailor Musician back into Moroboshi with her Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss.
Minako was with Usagi and Chibi Chibi waiting for the competition to end. Chibi Chibi was chasing after Luna and Artemis. Yaten sauntered into the room and walked up to Minako-chan. He told Minako that her was very strict with the judging, but that Minako was the one shining the most brilliantly out of them all. Minako smiled, almost blushing. Yaten then quickly asked her about her past, he didn't want to seem all mushy, especially since the attitude he was infamously known for... Minako looked at Chibi Chibi, who was still chasing the two cats. "I wouldn't be able to tell the whole story." She glanced at Usagi. "Usagi's the one with the most past. She was a Princess you know, back on the moon...." Yaten's eyebrows raised, thinking about ditsy Usagi as a Princess, but he didn't say anything. "Tomorrow." Minako said. "I'll gather around Usagi, Rei, Mako, and Ami-chan - I don't think I should tell Setsuna, Haruka, and Michiru-san about this, even though Setsuna is the one that knows more of our past than we do. She's been alive for a few thousand years, I think... I'm not too sure though. No one really
knows..." Minako snapped out of her trance. "Um... How about we meet at Fruits Crown Parlor around 5:00. Does that sound ok? Yaten? Yaten...?" "A few thousand years...? Setsuna? But she only looks about eighteen..." murmured Yaten. "Yaten!" "Nani [what]?" "Can we meet you, Taiki, and Seiya at Fruits Crown Parlor about 5:00 tomorrow?" Yaten shook his head. "Huh-uh." He said shaking his head. "We have to practice. How about right after school?" Minako nodded and went to where Usagi-chan was standing. She whispered something in her ear. "After school? At Fruits Crown Parlor? Yeah, sure. I can get Mako and Ami and you can get Rei-chan." Minako nodded her agreement.
The next day at Fruits Crown Parlor. "Rei-chan c'mon! We're gonna be late." "Oh, puh-lease! Usagi's the one always late. We'll be there with plenty of time to spare." Rei finished as she walked inside to find everyone waiting for them. "And you were saying..." Minako said. "Oh, hush up!" grumbled Rei as she hurriedly sat down beside Ami-chan. Minako sat on the other side of the booth, next to Yaten.
"So why are we here?" said Taiki. Yaten looked at the girls. "They are going to share their past with us." "So? How is that supposed to help us?" Taiki sniffed. "Taiki!" Seiya said, annoyed. "Just let them talk." Taiki gave Seiya a quick glance, but stayed shut up (Whoa! Seems like Yaten is starting to rub off onto Taiki ^_~). "Ok, who's going to start?" Makoto asked, looking around their circular shaped booth off in the corner of the restaurant. "Usagi? Minako? One of you should start. You two, well actually you Minako, were the first senshi. Am I right?" "Hai [yes]." murmured Minako. "But I think Usagi should start. She can tell them about our past on the
moon..."
Everyone looked at Usagi who was stuffing her face with chocolate ice cream, as was Chibi Chibi right next to Usagi. The Inners sighed, as they were used to this by now, unfortunately the Three Lights weren't (not just yet anyways). They were staring at Usagi like she was some specimen from a lab. Yaten shook his head and managed to tear his eyes away from
specimen Usagi to look at Minako. "You said Usagi was a Princess." Yaten said. "Hai." Minako answered softly. "I guess since Usagi is eating-" "What else is new," intervened Rei. "-I will be the one to start the story. Ok, this happened a long long time ago on the moon. More than a thousand
years, right?" There was a chorus of hai's from the other girls, except Usagi who was still eating at a more then a furious pace. "There was a beautiful palace on the moon called the Moon Kingdom. Everything was peaceful there until outside invaders came - Metallia and Beryl. Beryl wanted to rule the Universe and to do that she first needed to destroy the Moon Kingdom with Metallia's help..." Minako then told them about the Moon Kingdom, with a few thoughtful remarks from Ami and a few suggestions from Luna.
"...With the last of her strength Queen Serenity sent us to Earth at a new time and date hoping it will be peaceful there, but if the Dark Kingdom ever did show up again she sent Luna and Artemis along to be able to activate the Sailor Senshi. We were all born and had peaceful lives until we found out a little of our past and became who we are today. I started out as Sailor V
when I was in England then came to Japan (she did start out in England, right?). That's were Artemis found me." She and Artemis glanced at each other, lost in the memory of their first
meeting.
"Yeah, she fell on me." Artemis finally said. Minako glared at him. "You got in my way! I was doing a somersault with a half twist and you came right under me." "I didn't know you were going to land on me! You were almost as klutzy as Usagi back then!" "Hey! I was in 7th grade at the time!" "Minako-chan please keep to the point," gently chided Ami. "Oh yeah. Anyways I was going to Glory Cram School and that's where Artemis found me." "Yeah, when you got a 27% on your math test." Usagi looked up. "27%? Hey I normally get 30% on my test scores." There were "sweatdrops" on everyone's head. "
I was only in 7th grade!" Minako scowled, then she smiled. "But Higashi helped me study..." She says with a goofy grin on her face. "He was the one that suggested I put my hair back with a red ribbon. I guess I've kinda gotten used to it by now..." "Yeah, but after Higashi left another boy said something a little off color and you had to beat the stuffing's out of him! And then Higashi turned out to be Narcissus, a monster trying to rule Japan." "Hey!" she cried out. "I didn't know that at the time." Minako then laughed. "So, remember the time you started talking to me?" Minako laughed again, remembering herself saying, "I don't believe this! A cat talking and
peeping at me when I was gonna' take a bath. Is this some kinda joke?" She smiled. Artemis blushed. "Minako-chan..." "I know. I know. I'm getting off of the point. Now where was I? Oh yeah? Artemis was trying to convince me of who I was. He gave me a crescent shaped compact and I remember looking at Earth and another planet from space. It was really gorgeous. Artemis said that it was... uh..." Minako looked at Artemis. "That it was your mother star, the fiery planet of the goddess Venus. It is about the same weight and size are about the same as Earth's. It is composed of the same elements. Venus is called Earth's twin planet." Minako nodded. "Then I saw something floating..." "Mazeran." said Artemis. "Mazeran Castle. It floats over the land of Aphrodite. It's your castle." Minako nodded. "Yeah. Artemis had a heck of a time first convincing me of who I was, but we had many fun adventures, didn't we Artemis?" "We sure had some interesting experiences." Minako smiled at Artemis. Artemis smiled back.
Minako then glanced at Usagi, who already finished her ice cream. "Usagi-chan, I think it's your turn to tell the story." Usagi looked up, surprised. "Me? Why me? Why can't Luna tell it." Luna glared at her. "Look, I'll start with when I was looking for you, Usagi, but you have to
continue it." Usagi nodded and ordered another ice cream.
"I started looking for Usagi-chan and all the other senshi ever since I could remember. It took me years to actually find Sailor Moon and when I did, I thought I made a mistake." Luna shook her head, smiling ruefully from the memories that brought on. "I was being tormented by some little kids who were putting a band aid over my forehead, over my crescent moon. Usagi was running late to school that day-" "What else is new," cut in Rei. "-and she shooed the little brats off and took away the band aid. I felt some powerful planetary force emanating from her and that's when I thought she might be Sailor Moon. I followed her around after school, but from looking at her I thought I made a fatal error." Usagi stopped from eating her new bowl of ice
cream just enough so she could stick out her tongue.
"And why was that, Luna?" asked Taiki. Everyone but the Three Light's got sweatdrops. "Um... well, uh... She wasn't exactly a model student..." "You could say that again," muttered Rei. "She was always whining!" "Hey! I was not! You were the one that whined!" said Usagi with a mouth full of food, glaring at Rei. " I was not! You always-" "Rei-chan." Mako said, elbowing
her. Rei rolled her eyes. "I was finally convinced that she was Sailor Moon when I met Usagi at her house. She, unfortunately, thought it was a dream. I convinced her it wasn't when I gave Usagi her brooch." "Yeah, but even then, she whined, and I quote, 'I wanna play Sailor V video games, not live them!'" Rei said sarcastically. "Oooh, Rei!" whined Usagi. "You're so meeeaaaann!" "My point is made." Rei said as she stuck out her tongue. Thuub! Usagi did the same thing. Thuub! Everyone got sweatdrops.
"Rei-chan," Mako murmured. "Hey, what are you getting mad at me for!" Rei said, stopping her fight with Usagi. "You know better." "Me? And what about Usagi? She's supposed to be Queen of Crystal Tokyo someday, and you're getting mad at me?!" "...uh, Queen of Crystal Tokyo?" Seiya asked. The girls looked at each other, all except Usagi, who resumed her ice cream eating.
"Um... Well..." Rei looked at the rest of them for help, but none was forthcoming. "Uh... In the future Usagi used the ginzuishou from her brooch to save the worlds and purify everyone's soul for the land to become Crystal Tokyo and for her to rein as their queen." "Their queen?" said Yaten as he glanced at Usagi as she made a mess eating all that ice cream. The Inners got
sweatdrops again. "Um... heh heh. Well, uh... yeah." Rei said biting her lip. "What do you mean save the world?" asked Seiya. Rei glanced around the table. "Um... I'm not exactly sure. We just know what Setsuna told us about the future. She wouldn't reveal very much about what would happen then, though I can understand why... The future as we know it could change..."
Taiki looked up at that statement. He then remembered - practice! Taiki promptly glanced at his watch. He nudged Seiya. "Hmm?" "Seiya we got to go. We're 13 minutes late for practice already...." Seiya glanced at his watch and sighed. "Gomen nasai minna [I'm sorry everyone], but we have to cut this session short. We're late for practice." All the girls nodded their
understanding, even Usagi who was finally finished with her pig out. "Maybe you can tell us more about your past later, ne Odango?" Seiya then gave a catchy smile, winked at her and was out the door. Minako got up out of her seat so Taiki and Yaten could follow. Yaten made one more quick glance at Minako before leaving. There was something about her, but Yaten couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Yaten then paused mid-stride. He the started walking again and finished his train of thought. 'Something about Minako... Minako... She's - she's so much like... well, me!' Yaten bit his lip at the thought, trying vainly to deny it. But he couldn't. Yaten knew the statement rang true in his ears. 'Minako could be so much like me that it could be scary at times... Scary especially thinking alike.' Yaten smirked at the thought trying to brush it off, but it continued to haunt him all the way throughout their practice session.
Seiya, Yaten, and Taiki came home to their apartment tired. Their practice really took a lot out of them, especially since they gave a lot to make it seem perfect for that special someone.
Seiya went to the bar and sat down on a stool. Yaten flopped on their black leather couch and Taiki was soon to follow. Taiki looked at Seiya then Yaten, who were both staring off into space. Taiki could read what they were thinking from their expressions. He then sighed.
"Yaten, you know you're beginning to be more and more like Seiya...." Yaten glanced at him. "Nani [what]?!" He said, slightly startled. Taiki shook his head. Yaten glared at Taiki, until Taiki spoke again. "You just seem so preoccupied, like your mind isn't on the mission-" Yaten interrupted him, glaring heatedly. "I-" Taiki returned the favor, by cutting Yaten off like he did to Taiki. "-You seem to be thinking about someone else other then the Princess, and I think I know who." Yaten cocked an eyebrow, but his eyes still shot daggers defensively. "Dare (pronounced dah-deh) [who]?" Taiki's mouth formed a faint smile and his lips curved into one word. "Minako."
Yaten's eyes widened in obvious surprise, then his lashes drooped to cover the mad gleam in his eye. His mouth hardened into a straight line. Yaten sucked in a breath then quickly composed himself and snorted. "Right. Sure. Whatever." Taiki now cocked an eyebrow. "You can't even admit to yourself that you like an Earth Senshi." Yaten glared at him. "I do not like
Minako!" He said through clenched teeth. Seiya was the one to snort now. "Suuuure." He said mockingly. Yaten fumed silently, then made a quicksilver mood change. He was now the one to mock. "And what about you and Usagi-chan?" He said a little too sweetly, his voice melting like hot butter. Seiya blushed slightly, but ignored it. "Ahh! So you don't deny it, ne?" Seiya grinned as he saw Yaten scowl. "I don't like-"
"Yaten, it's ok to admit it." Taiki said calmly. Yaten stared
at him, almost shocked. "And what about you and Ami-chan?!" He hissed defensively. "Hmm? What's happening there?!" Seiya started to look interested and joined Yaten. "Yeah, what about you and Ami? Anything going on that we should know about?" Taiki sighed and lowered his gaze. He then raised his eyelashes and looked at Seiya. "I could ask you the same question." Taiki said quietly, almost dangerously. Seiya's eyes widened, but before he said anything, Taiki continued on. "Yes, I admit it. I do like Ami. She has a brilliant mind..." Yaten snorted at this, but couldn't deny it. "-and I know that Seiya likes Usagi, and now it seems that you like Minako. Now, we could trade insults for the rest of the night - which would get us nowhere - or we could do something about it."
Yaten stared at the wooden floor. "Like what? Forget about it? Make the feeling go away?!" He said sarcastically, but almost gently in a way. Taiki quickly glanced at him, then turned away. "We figure out what to do." he said rationally. "We figure out whether these girls will get in the way of our mission." "And if they do?" interrupted Seiya. "Then we must forget about them." Taiki said. "Can you actually do that, Taiki? Can you forget about Ami so easily?" said Seiya. Taiki lowered his eyes to the smooth mahogany coffee table near the couch. And Seiya knew he couldn't. "So, apparently we can't forget about them. So now what?" murmured Seiya, almost to himself.
A voice came from Taiki that Seiya and Yaten never heard before. "I don't know." came the voice from Taiki's lips. It sounded confused and saddened and as unlike Taiki, as Taiki could get, all rolled into one. Seiya and Yaten glanced sharply at Taiki. Taiki always had an answer to
everything. Well, apparently not in the love department. Seiya was still staring at Taiki. He quickly turned away.
"Do you... love... her?" Seiya asked gently. There seemed to be water
forming in Taiki's eyes. He blinked it away quickly. "I..." Taiki looked into Seiya's concerned face. "I do..." He murmured.
Seiya looked at Yaten. His eyes asking the same question. Yaten looked confused and bewildered. "I...." He swallowed thickly. "I ... don't... know...." Yaten answered. He truthfully didn't know, and it was kind of hard admitting it to someone when you haven't even sorted out all your emotions and you were just learning about it yourself. He brushed those thoughts away and looked at Seiya.
"Do you, Seiya? Do you love Usagi?" Seiya glanced down. Yaten could have sworn he saw a tear slowly trace it's way down Seiya's check, past his masculine chin, and splatter soundlessly onto the floor, symbolizing what could never be between him and Usagi. Seiya sighed, almost heart wrenchingly. "I do. I know I do, but.... she... has a boyfriend that she... loves with all
her heart.... and I just can't break them up. It would be wrong. I know she loves him deeply.... and... and what about the Princess?" Seiya finished almost incoherently and sighed wretchedly again. Yaten bit his lip, thinking of Seiya's predicament. Yaten sighed inwardly. "So what are we going to do?" He said almost despairingly. Neither answered Yaten. They were as bewildered as he was about the whole situation.
Yaten's thoughts turned back to Minako. To her thick, luxurious hair. Her shimmering wildflower blue eyes. Her sensuous lips..... 'Yaten stop it! You're going to drive yourself crazy!' His mind then turned to another, more disturbing thought - 'Do I love her?' Yaten didn't have an answer to that as he thought of nothing else throughout the night. Little did he know someone
else was thinking the same thing...
Minako kept getting glances of Yaten through her head. His mane of silky white hair. His gorgeous eyes, not to mention that body... Minako chuckled to herself. She knew she was falling for Yaten, she just didn't know how hard. He was constantly in her mind, haunting her every thought and move. Minako sighed. This was different from when she fell for all those other idols.
They were kawaii [cute] in all, but they could help her become an idol herself. She never really loved any of them. 'Loved? Did I just think loved? Do I... do I love Yaten?!' Minako swallowed hard. Her mind churned with confusion at the pea green eyed Yaten. 'I know I like Yaten, a lot. But does it goes as far as love?! I know he's different that all the other guys I've known. He's smart and funny and soooo kawaii [cute] and....' Minako stopped, mid thought. 'I... I do love him, don't I?' She questioned herself. Minako sighed again. "I just don't know!" She yelled out in obvious frustration.
"Don't know what?" said Artemis as he came into the room. "Oh... uh.... a math problem.... yeah... that's it." She finished incoherently, trying to laugh it off. Artemis gave her a cool look. "Maybe I can help?" Minako's eyes widened. "Uh nuh nuh..." She bumbled out. "No thanks...." Artemis hopped onto her bed. He curled up into her lap. "I don't think math is on your mind, now what is really worrying you Minako-chan? Let me guess you fell for another idol, again, ne [right]? Now you're thinking of some Usagi-like scheme to get close to whatever idol you like now, but that scheme will end up backfiring getting you into more trouble than that idol is worth, right? Right?" Minako scowled and gave him a look almost filled with hatred, but her lip quivered
slightly. She then gazed out her window sadly. Sometimes having a cat like Artemis around wasn't a piece of cake, sometimes it would be nice for Luna to be around - she was much more understanding with problems. Of course she had to with Usagi around...
Artemis sighed. "Gomen nasai [I'm sorry]. I didn't mean to be that rude. So what is really troubling you? I've never seen you so worked up about anything, not even chasing idols...." Minako sighed. "C'mon Mina-chan. We tell each other everything, remember?" Minako looked at him, a smile tugging at her face. Artemis was being sincere. She took a deep breath. "I think I like Yaten." She mumbled. Artemis chuckled and looked at her. "Is that all? Oh, c'mon, practically all of Juuban High School knows that!" Minako sighed again, and shook her head. "No, I mean I like him, Artemis." Artemis looked up and caught Minako's penetrating gaze. "You're serious aren't you? You really like the guy?" Artemis said, a little stunned.
Minako was being serious about a guy for once, but of course it had to be Kou Yaten, didn't it. Yaten who also just happened to be Sailor Star Healer. A girl! A senshi! "Minako," he said softly, trying to break the news gently to the girl, though she probably already knew. "You know it will never work out. You two are so different. Sometimes it's like you two are on a
different wave length, like you're a million miles away! Maybe even like you're on a different plant!" A tear then slid down Minako's cheek. "We're _on_ the same planet, we're just _from_ different planets." She mumbled, her heart breaking with every word. Artemis stared up at her, more shocked than he's ever been in his entire feline life. "Minako, you're really serious about this. I mean really serious." "Hai [yes]." sobbed out Minako. She scooped up Artemis and cried onto his soft, white, fur.
Ami was finishing up her latest book, this one on quantum mechanics, but she couldn't concentrate on the words. They were letters one minute and then fuzzy gray blobs the next. Ami blinked a few times and went to go clean her glasses thinking maybe they were dirty, but then stopped. She had a strong feeling that cleaning her glasses wouldn't help whatever her problem was. 'And what is my problem today?' She thought quietly to herself. 'What could possibly be so important to keep me from my studies? My studies....' She repeated. She looked at the book that was on her desk. It reminded her of something. 'No,' she corrected herself. 'Someone.... But who-' She stopped in mid thought.
"Taiki." Ami whispered quietly to the wind. 'So why am I thinking about Taiki?" An image formed in her mind. An image of her and Taiki having a heated conversation over various topics, and Taiki actually understanding what she said. It surprised Ami, considering she always had to slowly explain what she was talking about to Mako, Minako, Usagi or Rei-chan, but Taiki
understood her. But how well...? 'How well does Taiki understand me...? And... why does it matter if he understands me? Heck, why am I obsessing so much about what Taiki thinks of me? Do I... like him?' Ami shook her head. "I can't like him. It would never work out, him being another senshi and all. Taiki only came to our planet to look for his Princess, not a girlfriend."
Ami rationalized. But then why did it hurt her so much to even think the words let alone say them out loud? Ami sighed inwardly. 'Ami-chan,' she chided to herself, 'you have a crush on the guy and you can't even admit it to yourself.'
Ami got up and put her book away. She couldn't concentrate tonight. Ami didn't know what to do. She wished her mother was here, but she wasn't. She was at another medicine expo - this one in Paris, France. And even if Ami's mother was here, what could she possibly do to help her? 'What could she do? I mean I can't exactly tell Mother that I'm Sailor Mercury and I fell for
another senshi - Sailor Star Maker. And, oh yeah, she just also happens to be a he - Kou Taiki, a famous teen idol for the rock group, the Three Lights. But Taiki is different than other guys. He could actually understand me, if given the chance. He knows what I'm talking about and he gets just as high scores as I do. He could be someone to challenge my mind...' Ami sat up quickly. She bit her lip as a tear formed and quietly slid down her face. Ami then went to her bed and curled under her blankets. She tried to shut her eyes, but images of Taiki danced and swirled through her head. Taiki smiling. Taiki reading. Taiki speaking to the other Lights. Another tear made it's way
down Ami's face. 'What am I going to do?" She whispered. The thought haunted her thoughts until, at last, sleep overcame her tired mind and body.
Usagi was exasperated. Why wasn't Mamo-chan picking up the phone? Where was he? Did he get any of her letters that she sends out daily to him? And if so, why wasn't he responding. Usagi sniffled. "I miss you Mamo-chan." She whispered to the night. Usagi's thoughts basked gently in the glow of Mamo-chan. How strong and tall he was. How caring. How wonderful his kisses tasted. How he was always there for her, giving her strength. How.... Usagi's mind drifted to all the good times they had together. She sniffled again. Usagi went to her bed and stared at her bedspread. At all those little bunnies and those crescent moons. Crescent moons.... the moon.
'The moon where Mamo-chan and I were to get married someday...'
"Chibi chibi," said someone coming into the room. Usagi turned and look at Chibi Chibi already dressed for bed in her kawaii [cute] bunny pajamas. Usagi looked at her and couldn't help but smile. Chibi Chibi was the picture of perfect innocence. She gently picked Chibi Chibi up and set her under the covers. But Chibi Chibi wouldn't let go of Usagi's pink pajama sleeve. 'Chibi
chibi,' She said again. Usagi smiled. "Ok, ok. I'll go to bed too." Usagi turned off her light and climbed into bed with Chibi Chibi. The little girl snuggled up into Usagi's arms, falling asleep immediately, sleeping like a little angel. Unfortunately Usagi wasn't as lucky as Chibi Chibi. Her mind churned with the black clouds of confusion. She finally fell into a restless sleep.
From the start, this dream seemed different from all Usagi's others. It seemed more clearer, more vivid somehow. Like it was symbolizing what had happened or what was to come... Usagi was walking around in a thick, dense fog. "Mamo-chan!" She shivered. "Mamo-chan!" Usagi called out again. She didn't know why she was calling out his name, but it seemed the right thing to do. "Mamo-chan!" Usagi saw a figure forming in the fog. It was as if there was nothing there a minute ago, and now a human figure stood there, waiting for Usagi. Usagi cautiously walked over there. When she recognized who it was, she ran into his open and waiting arms. "Mamo-chan!" She gasped out into his olive colored coat. She felt his warm arms protecting her, heating her up from all that cold fog. "Mamo-chan," she whispered, content in his arms.
"Usako..." he whispered back, hugging her tighter. Usagi sighed. She was in heaven.... Usagi smiled up at Mamo-chan, her face a place of blazing and beautiful, maybe even blind faith and innocence in him. Then her smile started to fade a bit. "Mamo-chan..." He looked down at her and smiled reassuringly. "Where... where were you? Why didn't you answer any of my letters? Why didn't you ever pick up the phone when I called?" His smiled marred into a slight frown. He gazed down at her. "Gomen nasa [I'm sorry]. Gomen nasa U s a k o. . . . " His words spread out and faded with the wind which picked up and started to howl. Little did Usagi know that Mamoru
wasn't apologizing for that, but for something else. Something deeper and closer to Usagi's heart.
Usagi looked up again. "Mamo-chan....?" She was obviously surprised to see Seiya standing where Mamoru once was a moment ago, in her embrace... "Seiya?!" Usagi cried out. "Odango, daijou bu [are you ok]?" Seiya said anxiously. "Nani [what]?" asked Usagi, now utterly confused. "I know it was a hard blow to find out... ...what happened, but if you ever need anyone, I'm here for you, ok?" Usagi nodded, the only thing she could do. Seiya gave her one last, lingering hug before he was gone and Usagi was standing, alone. She shivered again, not having anyone to lean against. Usagi then thought of Mamoru and Seiya, how they were so alike. So caring and gentle and strong and... ...they look so much alike, too. 'And Seiya's embrace feels the same. Like Mamo-chan's. So warm and comfortable. And they both always will protect me, no matter what. Both of them... But where is Mamo-chan? And Seiya... What about Seiya? I know he's a great friend, but could he be more...?' Usagi shook her head. "Iie [no]!" She called out to the wind. "Seiya is Seiya and Mamo-chan is Mamo-chan. Seiya is a friend and Mamo-chan is my boyfriend. But where is my boyfriend....?" Usagi felt tears running down her face. She saw Seiya appear in the distance. He slowly walked towards her, but when Seiya saw her crying he rushed up and pulled Usagi into his warm grasp. 'Shh, Usagi-chan... it's ok." Usagi looked up. That was one of the first time's he called her by her name, and not by Odango. Usagi snuggled up into Seiya
and he responded by hugging her closer.
"Mamo-chan..." she whispered. Seiya seemed so much like Mamo-chan, that suddenly he became Mamoru. Usagi smiled happily and lifted up her lips. Mamoru bent down his. Their lips met in a chaste kiss, a combining of two hearts. But this kiss seemed to be different than all of the others Mamoru has given her. It seemed to radiate more passion and fiery desire than ever before. Not at all like Mamo-chan's usual kisses which were warm and sweet and strangely peaceful. Usagi smiled and snuggled up against Mamoru. "Odango..." Mamoru sighed out softly. Usagi's eyebrows lifted. 'Odango?' She thought. 'Mamo-chan doesn't call me 'odango'. Usagi's eyes flew open and she saw that Mamoru's green coat turned into a red one. She slowly looked up and saw underneath that coat was a black shirt and yellow tie. Usagi swallowed, but nonetheless kept looking up. There was a long black ponytail and gray crescent moon earrings. Usagi locked eyes with a pair of deep blue one's. But they weren't Mamo-chan's - they were Seiya's! Seiya, whose face was gazing into hers with an expression she'd never seen before. His eyes, which were
penetrating into hers, were dark with some hidden emotion. Usagi looked so confused, but not as nearly as confused as she felt. "Seiya..." she whispered. "Where's Mamo-chan?" Usagi said even softer.
She heard a clap of thunder and a brilliant flash of lightning showed Seiya's face, but it wasn't his face. It was twisted with hatred! He glanced evilly at the frightful Usagi and pointed. "Right here." his voice rumbled out harshly. Usagi saw Mamoru and she screamed! Mamoru was in a more than hideous condition. His face was grotesque with little chunks of rotting flesh still hanging onto his scull. His eyes were now just empty sockets. Usagi felt vile forming in her throat. She took a quick step back. Mamoru reached one hand out to her and a piece of his rotted and decaying flesh fell right off his arm. Straight on to her shoe. Usagi screamed the loudest she's ever screamed before (and if you know Usagi, you know that'll be very loud!). She thrashed around in some nonexistent substance that was holding her, letting Mamoru's hand come closer and closer to her face...!
The next thing Usagi knew, she was twisted in the covers of her bed with sweat trickling down her back and her mother trying to wake her up. She breathed heavily, taking in gasps of air at a time. Usagi unwound herself from her sheets. This must have been what was holding me in place when Mamo-chan tried to... to...
Usagi sniffled. "Usagi-chan! Are you ok?" Ikuko-mama asked. Usagi took in another heaving breath and slowly nodded. "Hai [yes].... I just had a bad dream... Iie [no]! A... a nightmare! But.... but I'm fine now...." Ikuko-mama smiled with relief. "You really gave us a scare Usagi-chan. Why don't I change your sticky sheets real quickly and get you back in bed." Usagi nodded gratefully. Ikuko-mama left the room nudging Shingo out. "Usagi-chan. are you really ok?" asked a worried Luna. "I've never heard you scream like that. It was as if the devil was after you himself." Usagi sighed. She gathered up Luna and put her sweaty head against the silky fur, trying to calm herself down. Ikuko-mama came back in with fresh sheets and patiently waited for Usagi to get off the bed before she quickly and efficiently stripped the sheets and put down new ones. Usagi climbed back into bed still holding Luna. Ikuko-mama kissed Usagi on the forehead before going back to her room. "Oyasumi nasai [good night] Usagi-chan! Sleep well. No more nightmares..." Usagi curled up into her sheets but didn't dare to go back to sleep. She didn't know what she would dream up next. No, she knew all too well what she would dream and think about for the next few days and weeks to come...
Yaten slowly and drowsily woke up. He found himself curled up like a cat on the couch. 'I guess I fell asleep here while thinking about Minako... Minako....' Yaten's stomach tightened as he thought about her. He felt butterflies fluttering around his stomach, making him so nervous he almost threw up. Yaten breathed deeply and slowly to try and push away this feeling. It took him awhile, but he finally succeed. All he had to do was not think about Minako, which was really hard since he thought of her every few minutes anyways, so the butterflies came back again. Yaten sighed. This was going to be a long day, luckily it was Saturday, so there was no school. (Or is it that schools in Japan only gets Sunday off as a weekend? Oh well. Too bad. In my fan fic Saturday is no school ^_^). Yaten got up in one graceful, lazy motion. Just like a cat, including a stretch in the middle. He went to go fix himself some breakfast, but was so nervous he could hardly eat. Just then Seiya came into the room. He yawned and grabbed an unopened bottle of water. Yaten was too nervous to be around Seiya, so he decided to take a walk and try to sort out his feelings. "Where ya' going?" muttered the half-awake Seiya. "Just for a walk." replied Yaten, walking out the door. He glanced up and saw ominous black storm clouds on the horizon. "Looks like more rain," he muttered to himself. "Oh well. I needed to get out of the apartment anyways. I guess a little rain doesn't matter." Yaten then started wandering around Tokyo and finally ended up in the park, gazing at the lake and musing at how childish he seemed to be acting.
Minako actually woke up early today, earlier than Artemis, who normally woke up around the same time she did. She stifled a yawn and got out of her orange pajamas. She put on a small white T-shirt and added a pair of dark blue overalls over that. She then undid and brushed her hair before adding the red bow back onto it. Minako went into the kitchen, but paused, and then went back out. She was too nervous to eat. "I'm going out. Be back later!" She yelled to her mom as she stepped out the door. "Bring a jacket! It's going to rain cats and dogs out there today!" her mother cried out to her just as Minako shut the door. She faintly heard Artemis mutter something
about that raining cats and dogs bit, but she wasn't in the mood to really pay attention to his complaining. She started walking without a clear idea of where to. Her feet finally took her to the park. Minako gazed around at the trees which seemed to radiate peacefulness. She immediately began to calm down. Minako then caught a look at the lake. It seemed so beautiful all of a
sudden. With the sun shining down on the calm turquoise lake and the trees being reflected in the water. Minako sighed happily and walked to the lake, staring at this wonder that was in front of her. But all her mind could think of was Yaten. She wondered what to do and tried to figure it out by murmuring to herself.
Yaten noticed that someone was coming up towards the lake. He hoped it wasn't another fan. Then he would have to rush back home and that would just spoil the whole day. But he caught sight of a person he didn't want to see, not because she was a fan, but because she was the person that was on his mind day in and day out. Minako. She seemed to be talking to herself, trying to solve some devastating problem. Yaten stealthily manuvered behind a bush near her, close enough to listen on to what she was saying.
"...and now everything seems so confusing all of a sudden. I mean before I realized this everything was just fine, but now..." She sighed and put a hand to her head. "I just don't know anymore. And what would everyone say? They probably would react like Artemis did last night; disbelief. Thinking that it was just another crush. But..." Minako chuckled quietly. "But it's not. And that's what's so weird about it. I haven't really liked another guy since Alan (no, not Ail aka Alan and Anne, as in Sailor Moon R - Alan as the guy she liked as Sailor V). Well, liked maybe, but not loved..." Minako stopped.
Yaten knew she was talking about a guy, but who? And she loved him?! Yaten's shoulders slumped. 'That means you don't have even a chance with her now,' his brain informed him meanly.
"Did I say loved?" Minako wondered out loud. She chuckled again. "Do I love him? I mean really? I... I just don't know. I think I do, but..." She stopped. "Yeah. I guess I do. But what does he think about me? Does he like me? I wish I could ask him, but he'd just think it was just another of his fans talking. But still, I wonder if Yaten _does_ like me..."
"...wonder if Yaten does like me." It took a moment for those words to register in Yaten's mind. He then coughed, almost choking himself. 'She loves me?!' It seemed too good to be true, like a fairytale. Fairytales are _always_ too good to be true.... but this....
Minako turned around quickly when she heard a rustling in the bushes and someone coughing harshly. Minako bit her lip. Did they hear her talking about Yaten? She cautiously approached the shrubbery. There she saw a glint of white hair trailing down into a ponytail. Her heart started to thud furiously. That hair? What if that was Yaten???!!! Her heart started beating
faster. And what if he heard me? Minako glanced over the bush to confirm one of her worst fears - Yaten was there, in that bush. She gasped. "Y-Yaten?!" She cried out, panicked. He looked up, startled but almost sheepishly. "Um... uh... Konnichiwa [good afternoon]?" Minako met his eyes, piercing them with her hard gaze. "Did you hear me talking?" She asked him stonily. Yaten didn't
answer. "Did you!" It wasn't a question anymore, but more along the lines of an accusation. Yaten lowered his eyes, almost as if he didn't want to witness her humiliation. And then Minako knew. She bit her lip harder as tears formed into her eyes. She felt wretched and mortified. Just as the first of her tears started falling, she put her hand to her face, turned, and starting sprinting away.
Yaten looked up. "Minako!" He cried out just as the first of many drops of rain splattered down and fell onto the Earth. "Minako!" Yaten cried out again, starting to get a little panicked. In her state she wouldn't care what happened to her. For all Minako would care, she'll run into the street and get hit by a car. Yaten's heart thudded with the thought of Minako hurt. "I do love her." He finally realized it as he said it. But that time of contemplation cost him, and now Minako was almost out of sight. Yaten started frantically running after her, but Minako seemed to be a fast
runner so he couldn't catch up to her (she must have gotten lessons from Haruka-san ^_-). Yaten vainly tried to speed up and catch up with her, but she was just too fast and he could only barely get a few feet near her. "Minako!" He cried out as his vision started getting hazy as the rain
thickened and got denser. "Minako!" He desperately cried out again, but his calls went unheeded as the wind picked them up and carried the calls off in the other direction. The wind started to then howl and it pushed against Yaten, forcing his body to lose speed. "MINAKO!!!!!" He cried out again, his voice starting to get hoarse. Yaten listened to himself curse inwardly because physical exertion wasn't his favorite thing to do. But it was for Minako, after all...
Minako finally slowed down. She then turned to him in a daze, biting her lip harder. Her eyes were red with tears and had a wild gleam to them. Her hair was matted down to her head and her clothes were sticking to her form like glue. Yaten kept running to her. And then he saw headlights. Headlights from a truck. What Yaten feared most was going to happen. Apparently Minako realized too late that she stopped in the middle of an intersection. Yaten tried running to her, but he was too far away. Minako was going to get hit right in front of his eyes and he couldn't save her.
The truck honked at Minako frantically. Her mouth gaped open in shock. Headlights shone on her, like on a frightened deer to scared to move, but Minako wasn't too scared. She had enough senshi training to stay calm in disastrous situations. Minako lunged to her left, but she didn't have enough speed due to the wind. She was going to hit the truck. Minako closed her eyes
and whispered gomen [sorry] to all her friends, the Sailor Senshi.
Just then someone one shoved her out of the way, having them both barely miss the truck. Minako felt arms wrap strongly around her, moving her so that they will get the brunt of the impact and not her. She felt them both hit the sidewalk with a thud. Then the person's arms loosened just as the truck swerved back onto the street, deserting Minako.
Minako turned around quickly to see Yaten's face looming in front of hers. "Yaten..." she said, gently brushing away a few stray bits of hair off his cheek, near his closed eyes. "Yaten?" She said again, gently nudging him, and starting to get alarmed. "Yaten!" She cried, panic engulfing her, like one of the great black rain clouds wrecking havoc above her head. Minako then
noticed a stain in Yaten's white hair which was mixing with the rain and flowing languidly through a puddle and slowly into the gutter. She put her hand to it and came up with a thick reddish liquid. "Blood," Minako whispered. Fresh tears formed in her eyes and fell off on to Yaten, then drizzled down the drain with the rest of the water. "Yaten saved me... He took the brunt of the impact and his head hit the curb..." Minako murmured as she felt another sob rise in her throat. "Yaten!" She cried out, heart broken. She lifted his head up gently. "Yaten.... I'm so sorry.... so sorry... Gomen nasai Yaten! But... but... doshite [why]? Why did you do that to me." She let her head fall onto his shoulder. "Gomen nasai...." she whispered, then started whispering doshite over and over softly as her heart continued to break, as if shattered into a million pieces.
Awww... How sad. Well, here's the end of part one. Please please tell me what you think! E-mail me at eternalsailormoon@usa.net
Arigato [thanks] and ja ne [see ya]!
Sailor StarLight
eternalsailormoon@usa.net
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Flats/8556/
If you're really cool, you'll sign my guestbook :)
Oh, and if you wanted Yaten to be Rei - gomen nasai. But I wanted him to be with Minako! Rei can have Yuuichirou or Jadeite or someone.... Or if you want Rei (or Michiru[?] or any other senshi) to be with Yaten, write your own darn fic! Of course you can send it to me 'cuz I love reading anything related to the Three Lights. ^_~
And since you're reading my fic (and my notes) you are cosmically cool and should have a very
spiffy day! ^_~
Ja ne!
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