Tension of the Past

Part 1

Note: Sailor Moon is owned by Naoko Takeuchi, Toei, Bandai, and any others who have rights to the series. I am in no way trying to get any profit out of this, and have no intention of doing anything illegal… so there. >P

So, onto the story. Enjoy! ~~Sarah-chan >^..^<

*~*~*~*

All my life, I have yearned for you, Princess… quietly, and gently protecting you… and what now? What now? You are with my dearest friend, while I will continue to quietly and gently protect you. You will ever know what is in my heart… what I have wanted for so long to tell you. I lingered for the right oment… and it had been given to me countless times… until it was too late.

The room was all silence and darkness, save for the beams of starlight that fell across her pale face. She sat at the table, staring out the window at the stars, and realized she had long ago forgotten which one was Sol. They were all the same now… points of stabbing memories and opportunities lost. Each star was a future that could never be.

Slowly, Yaten placed her head on the table, her silver hair streaming across her shoulders, her forehead resting on the open paper back novel she had stopped reading. The pages resembled cloth now more than the crisp sheets when she had first held it in her hands. Yaten had forgotten how many times she had read the words, had pressed the book to her heart after reading the inscription. A gift. A gift from Earth. From a girl so annoying, it made her want to scream. And yet from a girl that cared for her enough to always have a place in Yaten’s heart.

The thing I will never forget is your kindness to us, even when you didn’t understand. Your friends’ kindness. You were always there, even when I treated you terribly. I’m sorry I could never say that I returned your affection.

“Yaten…” She lifted her head to see a tall figure leaning against the open door. The figure walked in, and closed it quietly.

With swift fingers, Yaten closed the book and tucked it in her lap. Taiki rose her eyebrows, but said nothing. I see you hurt, and there’s nothing I can do to get you out of it. You like the pain Yaten… you’ve always been addicted to sorrow.

“It’s been too quiet,” Taiki said finally. “I’ve known that it can never be the same here… but now the silence is starting to get unbearable.”

Yaten sniffed indignantly.

“I know you love her… Seiya knows as well. But the fact is, Kakyuu-hime is in love with Seiya… and the affection is returned. They aren’t doing this to spite you. Why should they destroy their happiness to make you less miserable?”

Yaten turned her head away from the truth speaker. Her hands trembled in anger as she clutched the book, and closing her eyes, she deeply inhaled, and exhaled… and inhaled and exhaled, waiting for the red to fade from her eyes.

“I won’t support you in this self-pity. That isn’t what friends are for.”

“And what could you possibly do to help me?” Yaten murmured sharply, and looked deeply into the eyes of Taiki. “You’ve never attempted to help anyone in your life before. Always Taiki, reaching for the higher ground, all to herself.”

A wave of painful hurt swept through the tiny woman’s body as those words reached her friend’s heart, and immediately, Yaten regretted what she said. Not that she would ever admit it, or that Taiki would show it.

Taiki scowled and turned away. “I don’t need to take this abuse anymore. I’ve let you go on your tantrums before… but I realize now, that was a mistake. You are spoiled, selfish, angry and self-loathing, and that was partly my doing, to let you get away with it.”

“Then why are you here? Not to be my mother, I hope, and pat me on the back.”

“I’m here to say that you are relieved of your duty to protecting the princess.”

“WHAT?” Yaten bolted upright, the chair overturning, the novel falling to the floor with a thud and she stood in front of Taiki, inches away, dangerously close. The woman was nearly twice her height, but Yaten didn’t care as she stared her companion down.

Taiki stood her ground, though, and continued. “You are a danger to yourself, the princess and any others around you. You are failing in your routine training.”

“You and I both know I’m one of the top three—“

“Were. You were, Yaten. You are now sixth… which makes your office as elite royal guard open to replacement. You are no longer liable to be at the side of Kakyuu-hime. Be glad she trusts you enough so that your replacement will not be permanent.”

Yaten was stunned. “How can you do this to me?”

Taiki’s features softened, and said, “I’m doing this because I love you. And because I love Kakyuu-hime and Seiya. I know you’re taking this hard… but that’s your choice. The princess agrees with me that you need a vacation.”

“A vacation,” repeated Yaten, and scoffed. “Hah. Where is there here that I could possibly want to go? I’ve been everywhere I’ve wanted. Nothing compares to the palace.”

“You have permission to leave the planet.”

Another stab to Yaten’s heart. “They don’t even need me here.”

“It’s a gift,” answered Taiki, and she bent down, picking up the novel, and handed it to Yaten. Yaten gingerly received it, and Taiki put a hand on her shoulder. “If it’s any consolation, I’m going with you.”

“You…?”

“Guess who was in fifth place?”

There was a long silence that tingled the air, and Yaten wanted to scream at her, THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE TO TELL ME THIS?! WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE?! But she made the wise decision of keeping her mouth shut.

“It will be good to see Earth again, won’t it?” Taiki closed her eyes and smiled. “To see our friends.”

The sadness and hope lingered together in the air as memories washed through them, almost a cleansing, the memories of those who could stay pure through anything, while these two women lived their lives marked forever.

The flicker of a moment passed, and Taiki walked to the door and opened it. “So. Come and see me when you want to go. I’ve been ready for years.”

The door closed, and Yaten closed her eyes, her entire body shaking. She didn’t know what to do, she was so angry. So she did the only thing she could think of. She screamed. Screamed as she had never done before. Even when pain had killed her, she had not screamed so loud.

Standing up blindly, she slammed the book against the wall as hard as she could, watched as the crackling binding finally broke, and the pages dropped to the ground like sakura petals, floating and twisting to the floor in a small puddle of paper.

Yaten kneeled down and stared at the corpse of the book she had loved so.

My God, she thought. I’m killing myself.

Sweeping her fingers through the paper, she finally found the first page, and held it in her hands as she read the words that had been lovingly written to her alone.

Dear Yaten, I hope you come to love this book as much as I have. Don’t forget you are always welcome where we are. Good luck in your new life, and may you find the love you have been searching for. Love, Minako.

Yaten folded the page in her palm and calmly stood up, looking around the room one last time, and rushed out the door to catch up with Taiki, who waited at the end of the hall with an outstretched arm.

*~*~*~*

“Michiru…”

“Hai, Haruka. I feel it. Alien souls touching our home…”

“Do you think it could be trouble?”

“They feel so familiar… like a nearly faded memory.” Her eyes widened. “They are fellow senshi… it's them.”

“It’s been so long.”

“Should we alert the others?” asked Michiru.

“If we need their help, they are a moment away. But I doubt they will have the strength to stay conscious.”

The two girls henshined, and looked away from the seemingly twin comets. Facing each other, clasping hands, and closing eyes, they sailed into the air on beams of light to meet the foreigners who deigned to enter their solar system.

*~*~*~*

Light. A breath away from my fingers. She stands radiant, full of purity and love for every living creature that touches her sight. If only I could be her… long ago I was… but now, everything is losing its meaning. I wish… I wish… I was the girl I had been 900 years ago.

Where have I gone?

*~*~*~*

Sailor Star Maker and Star Healer watched as the streaks of light, one yellow, one aqua, headed straight for them. They looked at each other, stopped their speed, and waited as the beams stilled in front of them. Sailor Neptune and Uranus looked at them warily, as if they were a sight that had not been seen for centuries.

“You have entered our solar system,” began Uranus icily. “Without any communication to let us know you were coming. Either you are in desperation and need assistance with your planet, or you do not know the protocol that has been around for quite some time. We ask you now, as the outer gate to this system, your reason for being here after so long, and why you have made no attempt to contact us before.”

Star Maker and Star Healer looked to each other, the tall woman instantly becoming the diplomat. Star Healer knew that disaster would strike if she opened her mouth.

“We have not come for assistance,” answered Star Maker. “We apologize for the lack of communication between Earth and our planet. Sailor Star Maker and I are on leave, and assumed we were welcome here. Did the inner senshi not give us permission 9 years ago?”

“Nine years…” murmured Neptune, her eyes wide. Uranus seemed just as shocked. “You really believe that…?”

“We would have tried to create an alliance between our planets… but it had taken longer than we had thought to build the machinery we needed to sustain life. We have only resided on our planet for a few years, and it has taken all the energy of our queen to get things under control and running again. We meant no disrespect. There was just a lack of time.”

There was a long silence as Uranus and Neptune weighed Star Maker’s words. They looked at Star Healer, who, afraid to speak, opened her arms, palms up, and shrugged. Uranus then looked at Neptune who shook her head. The blonde senshi looked slightly disappointed, so the Starlights knew something good had happened.

Star Healer took a chance saying, “So……?”

“You are free to pass, as this is a planetary issue. You may use the solar system as far as Neptune so long as it causes no harm to inhabitants or planetary structures.” There was an exhale of relief. “But don’t be so confident when you reach the inner gate to Earth. She’s been moody lately. Any wrong move and you’ll be thrown out. And I won’t my pleasure when I see you gone.”

The two outer senshi turned away from them, and left the confused travelers alone.

“It’s been a while since we were that harsh,” murmured Neptune as they sped down to their mansion.

“I can’t help it when these things include our friends.”

“I wonder how Ami-chan will take it.”

“I wonder how Taiki will take it.” A flicker of a grin passed between the two at the thought, and the aura around them relaxed somewhat.

“Well, how about taking up that invitation to the palace finally?”

“Sounds like a good plan. I’ve been missing fireworks.”

*~*~*~*

“Venus.”

“…Hai…”

“Visitors, heading to Crystal Tokyo with Outer gate acceptance.”

“…Thank you…”

“And Minako-chan?”

“…hai?”

“Keep your chin up.”

“…Thank you, Neptune. I will.”

*~*~*~*

“Masaka…” gasped Taiki as they stood on a roof of a transformed Earth. Buildings of incredible design were strewn across the land as far as the eyes could see, the only familiar building being Tokyo Tower, a seemingly ugly metal mass to the huge sparkling crystals surrounding it. The thing most eye catching thing, though, was the palace, a breath-taking splendor, a building seeming to be carved from one crystal. It shown like the sun.

Yaten echoes his friend’s disbelief. “It’s only been… but… how?”

His head turned to see the Crown Arcade, the familiar image warming him slightly, but adding to the chill as he noticed the brick to the building had changed, becoming more translucent, nearly sparkling, and not a deep red, but a pale rose. Without a word, he opened the door and walked in, sighing in relief as he watched children screaming and laughing as they hopped from game to game, and reassured by the face of Sailor V plastered all over the place.

The only difference with the games was the fact that they looked more technologically advanced. MUCH more. Nine years had brought a lot more than a crystallized city, that was for sure. The children and teenagers seemed to be in their own virtual worlds as they kicked and punched at whatever was in their vision behind those goggles, obviously getting the job done with their battle cries of victory.

Yaten snickered. Their form was AWFUL, and yet they acted as if they were masters of the Sailor V Martial Arts. Then again, they could be. Minako was never one for applying herself. His smile widened impishly. He’d have to try that game sometime, where that pressure point suit and goggles. It would be interesting to be Sailor V, that was for sure.

Was Motoki here? He turned around to look at the desk, and saw a young man with purple hair flirting with a young school girl, her giggle fits piercing his ears. Definitely not him. Motoki had better taste than that.

He opened the door and started to go back outside, but froze when he saw HER.

Taiki was still staring in disbelief at the sight around him, when he heard a click of a heel. He swirled around to stare at a sailor senshi suited woman in a stance of cool profession, one hand on her hip, and one holding her long golden chain loosely in her fingers. She did not stare into his eyes, but seemed to, as she surveyed the area with her peripheral vision.

Sailor Venus had subtly changed since he had last seen her. Her legs were more defined, more slender, and her hips had filled out, finishing off that hourglass curve. The feeling around her was that she was used to her body, had adapted to this vehicle of her soul, a comfortability and sleekness to every movement. But the difference that made him most alarmed was that she actually LOOKED like Aino Minako, as if they were truly the same person and not just different aspects of her.

“What are you doing out of your cage?” Her tone was menacing, low, terrifying. “I’m not in the mood for your pointless games, Taiki. Not today. We’re expecting visitors and your wasting my time. You just made the worst mistake of your life, you know that?”

“Eep?”

The woman began to walk towards Taiki, beginning to close the distance between them. Taiki sent a distressed look to Yaten, and he ran out to join his friend. They immediately henshined, causing Venus to stop and stare, gaping, her fury disappearing as shock overcame her.”

“Masaka… it can’t be… But Uranus and Neptune said…”

“S-Sailor Venus?” asked Star Healer. There was a startled look on her face, and finally, Venus looked into her eyes, hesitantly, slowly, and Healer wanted to run as far away as she could possibly go. Those eyes were the eyes of an ancient woman who had lived as a hermit all her life. The pain slammed into Healer as wave upon wave of grief and self-doubt flowed through her veins. A veil of loneliness covered her soul.

What happened to you? You were once this shining star so bright I had to shield my eyes whenever you walked into the room… and now you are barely here.

“Yaten…?” The chain dropped from her hands as she stared at him in disbelief, and for a brief moment, she de-henshined, her eyes became young, sparkling from the thin layer of tears that appeared.

A sharp intake of breath stopped Minako. She recoiled quickly, and was once more Sailor Venus, dropping swiftly to retrieve her fallen weapon. But she was visibly shaking. The two women de-henshined, and Yaten stepped back, and closed himself for fear that he would break.

“You finally came back…” Keep your chin up. Her shoulders rotated back and relaxed. “What took you so long?”

"I-it took longer than expected to get everything ready—“ began Taiki.

“We didn’t have time,” said Yaten, scowling. He didn’t want to have to listen to his cerebral friend’s monologue again. “We had an entire nation, petrified, a queen not nearly ready to run a planet on her own, and a depressed soldier who couldn’t get her ass up and running. Of course it would take time… a few years is not that long. You didn’t expect us to come running back after a couple of weeks, did you? Crying because we need our dear old friends who can only work in a group of TEN to get any damage done? Give me a break.”

Taiki slapped his forehead, and pushed Yaten behind him… “Perfect, Yaten. Thanks for the help. All we need to hear is a very reasonable ‘no’ from an obviously angry ‘gate’, and we’re back home.”

“If your queen takes nine centuries to get a planet under control, then obviously you would have some problems,” answered Venus, who pushed her anger down to a bear minimum.

“Nine…”

“…Centuries?”

“Oh yes… mm-hmm. Like you can’t count. Wonderful you two. Just glorious. Either you got more stupid as years go by or you’ve been living in the biggest denial I’ve ever seen.”

That got Taiki. With a small eyebrow twitch, he began to list all his accomplishments, when Yaten interrupted him.

“Stupid? Oh, who’s the stupid one to actually let her guard down that moment ago, huh? You could have been dead if I had wanted to kill you. And what’s with this ice queen thing all of a sudden, taking lessons from Haruka?”

“Hey now,” said Taiki, his eyes widening as Venus’ hands clutched her chain in a death grip of control. He had no doubt that the metal would be twisted when she released. “Remember the ‘no’.”

“Let’s get out of here. I’ve taken all the lashing I can handle for one day… what with the two love birds who seem to have the same mouth, and now this who looks as old as she really is.”

“NANI?!”

*~*~*~*

“Jupiter! We need backup. NOW.”

“Gotcha!”

*~*~*~*

“I’LL HAVE YOU KNOW I AM THE SUPER IDOL AINO MINAKO, THE SENSHI OF LOVE, SAILOR VENUS, THE LEADER OF THE PROTECTORS OF THIS PLANET… I AM LOVED BY EVERYBODY ON EARTH AND I LOOK DAMN GOOD FOR A NINE-HUNDRED AND………..”

There was a flash of light that only Sailor Star Healer and Sailor Venus could see. There was a burst of energy, raw, hungry and powerful, that only Yaten and Minako could feel.

I am the super idol Aino Minako. I am the senshi of Love and Light, Sailor Venus… I am the leader of the protectors of this planet… I am loved by everybody on Earth… and I am beautiful…

She looked at Yaten slowly, who smiled sweetly and said, “Nice to see you again, Aino-san.”