Tension of the Past

Part 9

*~*~*~*

Just like that, and they died. It felt as if we would live forever, each and every one of us together eternally. How very wrong I was… how could I have ever known that after two millennia of peace… it would all come crashing down again?

I know how to survive, to live on my own now. I’m not afraid to face the future by myself. Eternal Sailor Moon helped me discover that. And somewhere, out there, my friends are alive… as stars? As people? As energy moving throughout the universe? As deities watching over me? I will never know, I am sure.

I’ve forgotten who they were… those people I spent every waking moment loving. I see faces and smiles, and remember their deaths… but I’ve forgotten how they were as just people…Maybe… just maybe if I remembered…

*~*~*~*

Luna and Serenity watched as Artemis circled the royal balcony for the fifth time.

“You could just go and find her,” said Luna after a while.

“It’s not like her to ignore me!” he cried. “Something’s wrong.”

“She has a lot on her mind right now,” said Serenity.

“She could still welcome me back. Is this what nearly 920 years of loyalty brings?”

“Minako’s been this way to all of us. Don’t take it personally, it’s something she needs to change in herself.”

Artemis groaned, and then jumped onto the bench flopping down in between the queen and her cat. Serenity rubbed the discouraged kitty’s ears as Luna snuggled in next to Artemis, and the queen of Earth sighed.

Minako… I hope you find what you’re looking for soon. It’s hurting all of us… I’m missing you.

*~*~*~*

“So how come I’m not seeing any Minako Aino ads?”

“Huh?”

The two women walked through Crystal Tokyo’s busiest square, moving slowly down the sidewalk, looking at shops, and heading back to the palace. The city looked completely different, and yet nothing seemed to change. There were still clothing stores, book stores, flower shops, small restaurants. But there was a sense of peace to it all. No one seemed worried or angry. Laughter and the sounds of happy voices filled Yaten’s ears, and it was a pleasant shock to feel such a low level of negativity.

“Shouldn’t I see your face on magazines and commercials?” Yaten asked. “Being an idol WAS your dream, wasn’t it?”

“Oh. Yes, it was for a long time. It never happened, though.” She didn’t look too sorry about it either.

“But you did say your were an idol.”

“Crystal Tokyo started to appear so quickly. By the time we finished high school we were nearly always in our henshined form, and Usagi-chan couldn’t transform into Sailor Moon. She needed all of our protection. There was no time to think about anything except her and the city… you understand how that is.”

Yaten nodded. Nine years of fear and paranoia. And then there was nothing left to do.

“I don’t feel disappointed anymore,” she continued. “Nobody was able to fulfill their dreams except Usagi… but somehow, we made it through. Makoto-chan planted the Gardens, and she’s the head chef. Ami-chan’s the head of the science department and the royal doctor. Rei-chan has her own shrine in the palace, and before Crystal Tokyo started she voice acted in a couple OAVs, but nothing really big. Serenity’s done all she can to make us happy...”

“How about you, though?”

“Me?” Minako smiled briefly. “I’m nobody special… but Sailor Venus is.”

Minako looked at Yaten. “That’s why I’m a super idol. I’m the one that leaves the palace most often. We’ve usually always been in our henshined form… There have been a few disasters and felonies around. Sailor Venus took care of them all.”

And sure enough, as they rounded a corner, there was a small store with the name of “Venus Dreams”, the window filled with Sailor Venus merchandise. Costumes, chains, dolls, notebooks, cards, pens, patches, manga, clothes and other smaller things were stuffed into that small space. On closer inspection there were even flyers for classes on using Venus’ fighting techniques. Both Yaten and Minako scowled at that. What a way to reveal yourself to the enemy.

“I don’t know how it started. The only reason I had ended those crimes had been a coincidence. I was just there. They think I’m some hero.” She sighed. “It’s ironic to think that Sailor V and Venus could be instant hits… but Aino Minako is always ten steps behind.”

“You can’t say that,” said Yaten. “You’re all the same person.”

“Then why don’t I feel like the same person in each form?”

A group of young men walked passed them, and trying to be polite, they kept their heads straight forward, but Damnit! It was hard not to stare at a silver haired chick that looked that hot.

“Plus, I’m not pretty enough,” she said, her depression deepening as she watched the men ignore her.

“That is not true.”

“Of course it is.”

“It’s not.”

“You don’t have to lie to me. I know the truth.”

“Will you stop beating yourself up?!” shouted Yaten. “You’re gorgeous!”

Minako stopped walking and looked at Yaten. The air intensified, and neither woman could hardly breathe. “Do you really think so, Yaten?”

There was such desperation in her eyes, such a need to be recognized.

“I really do think so,” Yaten murmured. “I always thought nobody could ever look quite like you.”

There was a small silence before they both turned slightly away from each other, each embarrassed by Yaten’s words.

“Say… do you want to go the Crown? Motoki still stops by on weekends sometimes. Maybe we’ll catch him.”

“Motoki?”

“Come on.” Minako grinned. “You’ll love it! I’ve missed video games so much! Nobody can beat me at Sailor V Suckerpunch Love!”

“Was that the virtual game I saw the other day?”

“Heck, yeah! Ami made it for me as a birthday present. It was only right that I should share the entertainment. I’ve had the highest score for fifty years. Nobody can top it.”

“Wanna bet?”

“Okay,” Minako made a sly smile. “If I beat you, you have to sing to me in front of… Venus Dreams. AND you have to be dressed up as… um…” She put a finger to her lips as she searched the sky. “Got it! I still have that costume I wore during that one idol contest that you were a judge in. You’ll wear that.”

“Oh God.”

“Your turn.”

“If I beat you…” Yaten leaned forward and looked straight into her eyes. “You need to tell me what you’ve been hiding. And you have to tell me EVERYTHING. If you don’t, then I will make sure that everybody will know and you’ll have sixteen people on your butt, trying to get the rest of your secret out of you. They love you enough to do that.”

Stunned, Minako breathed, “You can’t do that.”

“You need to tell somebody, Minako. You’re only hurting yourself if you keep it inside.”

“I have to tell Mako-chan first.”

“Then you better win.”

And with that, they walked to the Crown, Minako too devastated to speak, and Yaten too disturbed at her words to say anything. She didn’t know how those words had come out of her mouth… she had meant for them to be light and just as ridiculous as Minako’s…

The severity of the stakes were forgotten, though, when they put on the goggles and screamed insults at the virtual monsters that came to attack them. If anybody knew that Sailor V was actually playing a game of herself AND her high kick wasn’t as good as it used to be… she’d be in trouble.

*~*~*~*

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” asked Haruka as they watched the queen discretely as she sat on the bench on the balcony facing the Crystal Gardens. The princess of Uranus leaned against a pillar, and looked to the woman she was talking to.

“I have to admit, I was surprised how much she had changed,” answered Seiya.

Haruka smirked. “Serenity has become the most brilliant star in the universe, and she grows brighter every day.” Seiya frowned at the trap Uranus was trying to get her into.

It was the strangest thing for Seiya to have to fight the urge to call the women by their planet origins. Haruka was looking more and more like a woman befitting the name “Uranus”, “Michiru” came only second after “Neptune”. But the most obvious one was Serenity.

It was unthinkable now to call her Usagi, unless it was referred to the past. Seiya doubted Serenity would mind being called her birth name… but it didn’t seem right to do it. Just as Mamoru was now Endymion.

The only person she felt comfortable calling by her civilian name was Minako. She had always been two distinguishable egos. Minako and Sailor Venus. The others had turned into a blend, some more so than the others. Serenity and Endymion more than anyone, the outer senshi more than the inner senshi, and Mars and Jupiter more than Ami and Minako. See? She was doing it again.

But right now Haruka was ticking her off.

“Come on, you can’t even say she’s more beautiful than your queen?”

“What about you? Will you say to Michiru her queen is a hundred times more beautiful than her?”

“You admit it then?”

“I don’t need this,” said Seiya and stood up to walk away.

“You haven’t forgotten her, have you?” said Haruka as the alien walked away. “Go on, Seiya, run away. It’s the only thing you can do, anyway, isn’t it?”

Seiya stopped walking and turned on her heels, staring at the woman. “What happened to you? Why are you being like this?”

The two women met face to face, inches from each other, the heat from their bodies bouncing off each other.

“If you ruin my world, I will never forgive you. I see that look in your eyes when you watch her. It hasn’t died away, this ‘love’ you’ve had for my queen, has it?”

“Fine. You want me to say it?” sneered Seiya, her face flushing with anger. “Serenity is the most beautiful woman in the universe. She outshines the brightest star in the universe. No one can compare to her. She blocks out all sight of anything else. Does that make you happy? Does it? That I’ve said it? Has the sky opened up for you, and given you what you’ve always wanted?”

The alien soldier watched coldly as Uranus’ face turned subtly to shame. Haruka opened her mouth to speak, but a whisper of a voice stopped her.

“…Seiya…?”

Both women stopped cold, and Seiya knew her world had ended by the look of horror on Haruka’s face.

No…

“Seiya…” it was a mournful plea now, and the black haired senshi turned and locked eyes with her queen, her lover, her life.

No…

“Kakyuu,” she breathed. The queen leaned against a pillar to support herself, her knuckles white with her grip, her face pale as she tried to take in air, as she tried to look away from Seiya, tried to show some sort of composure… but everything failed her. Seiya had killed her. Had taken a sledge hammer to her heart and gave no mercy. Kakyuu laid a hand on her chest, and closed her eyes.

“Is… is what you said—“

“—Kakyuu, that wasn’t—“

“—Is what you said true?”

“Kakyuu—“

“—Is it? Does she really—?“ She was hysterical now, her body moving away from pillar and then back again, undecided where to place her limbs, and finally she pushed away from the crystal, and staggered back, when Seiya rushed to her. “No. Don’t touch me. Don’t come near me…”

The alien soldier opened her arms, trying to embrace her, but the queen pushed away from her and fled, rushing down the halls, into the interior of the palace.

Seiya stood there, dumb-founded, and watched as her life ran away with her lover.

“Seiya…I—”

“No. Don’t say a word,” murmured Seiya. “Please…” and ran after the queen.

Haruka turned away in the opposite direction and looked at Michiru who only stared at her.

“Haruka…” whispered Michiru. “What have you done?”

Haruka couldn’t meet her gaze.

*~*~*~*

Such pain in her heart. Such indescribable pain. A heart destroyed. Such a beautiful heart destroyed.

Yaten’s knees failed her as they entered the palace.

“YATEN!” Minako dropped down and caught Yaten before the woman completely collapsed. Yaten clutched Minako’s arms tightly, and buried her head in her shoulder, a scream of anguish muffled by her gentle skin. Tears of confusion rushed into Minako’s eyes, as the pain in the woman’s heart matched her own.

“She’s coming…” and Yaten lifted her head and stared at Minako in fear. “My queen…”

“YATEN!” The silver hair slapped against Minako’s face as the woman in her arms stood up and spun around to the voice.

Star Healer rushed to her queen, and would have the first chance to hold her in her arms ever in her life. Each woman’s heart rushed to the same beat, and Yaten led Kakyuu to her room, not even giving Minako a glance as they walked up the steps.

Minako sat there, bewildered, and watched as Seiya slid down the hallway with less grace than she had ever had before, frantic… but stopped when she saw the fallen princess in the middle of the hallway. The blonde woman pointed to the stairs, and Seiya started to go up them.

“KAAAKYUUUUU!!!!!”

“Stay away.”

“Yaten.”

“Stay away. Come near her, and you will pay the consequences.”

“Yaten, you don’t understand! You don’t understand! Yaten? Yaten! YATEN!”

Star Fighter smashed a fist into the wall in frustration, and groaned in agony, but did not make any move to go up the steps. She hung her head, and out of her eye, she caught a glimpse of yellow movement, and saw Minako as she struggled to get up. She had twisted her ankle on the fall, and she grimaced as she realized she had nothing to hold on to. Seiya walked to her and held out a hand.

“We’ve both been left in the dust…” she murmured, and Minako took it, pushed herself, and clung to Seiya, the two women moving in the opposite directions of their hearts.