Chapter Text

Hino Rei was sitting in a corner of a common but elegant coffee shop, all alone, watching out the window the world constantly turning.

She was simply quiet. Till the light sound of the doorbell, resonating all over the room, pierced her silent intimate aura.
It’s not just the sound that stood out from the silent customer, the newcomer was as blonde as Rei was dark.
Aino Minako was her name, she was Venus, the earthly figure of the goddess of love and beauty, but also Rei's closest friend and partner for a long time.

Those precious moments when planets align

Season 1 - Episode 1

I was the flame, you were the heat

Rei and Minako were part of the guardians of the moon princess a lifetime ago and now they are adults. Just a few sailors were still fighting evil and crime. Rei has been a flammable heroine in her time, another time surely, another life possibly.

At the coffee shop counter, Minako stopped the music she listened to and took her headset back to the black and silver fanny pack that diagonally crossed her body. Then she ordered a tea with an improbable taste. On her side, Rei, stirring her simple coffee, was just and always attracted by the moving picture offered by the window.

Time passed like wind within leaves and people walking the road.

- How are you Rei-chan ?
Minako stood now near the table, “always hugged by a peaceful light”, thought Rei.
She had a bright blue jean, a large white t-shirt with a vintage logo and an orange oversize denim jacket she seems to have since always. And as always she was surrounded by her long blonde hair, a bit chaotic, barely held together by a large red knot.
On the opposite side, Rei with her long straight dark loose hair, was sitting in an elegant and discreet gray blazer, buttoned up to her neck, with simple black dress below and above, two small dazzling red stars earrings.
She didn’t answer, she just kindly looked at her, removing her bag from the other chair to make her a welcomed place that Minako slowly took. The latter pleasantly noticed Rei's usual black handbag with discreet touches of red, where there always was a little gold pins collection of the first five planets, with a bigger silver moon above.

For a minute or two they were just drinking patiently in a serene atmosphere.
- Minako, I didn’t remember if I thanked you for having been here, at my grandpa's funeral.
- Of course I was there. That was fine and enough: The ceremony was nice and simple, all your words were warm and sweet. It was really moving and worthy of him, you did it all well.

Rei looked again out the window as if she wanted to bite into the world, as if she was searching to enjoy it again or as if she was in search of something that would give her the feeling to.

- You always had something mysterious to me, in a way”, continued Rei.
"Maybe because you appeared much later than the others or because we didn’t share the same schools or hobbies. But I…

Rei was at a loss for words, she was so full of different emotions these days that, sometimes, she couldn't express what she thought or felt. But that didn’t seem to bother Minako who kept a little smile that made Rei feel okay.

- I don’t know if I have to be sorry for being “mysterious”, I didn’t do it on purpose. And no matter if I was or am mysterious to you, I always felt that we were complementary. You expressed yourself and yelled when I was silent. You fought when I commanded, or at least when I tried to. You listened when I spoke. Of course there were little snags from time to time, but who hadn’t ? It has to happen sometimes, you know, just to get back on the same wavelength.” Rei comprehensively nodded. “Above all, you were here when I needed it, and I hope that’s also true for you. That’s what matters the most to me in the end.

The waitress moved up the row on the inside, while a bird slid in the air just in front of the window outside, they disappeared as quickly as they came, passing by. Then Rei sincerely expressed:

- I was the flame, you were the heat.

Minako's expression froze for a moment, in a slight moment of surprise. Just before she regained her usual smile.

- That nicely says.
Silence was going to come back, but as Rei thought about her statement, she realized that her words could have been hurtful, so it paused a little.
- Don't misunderstand me, I said "mysterious" nicely, I've always seen that as something nice, in a good way.” Said Rei, correcting herself.
- Someone once said : We like and dislike what we can understand, and we hate and love what we can't… I don't know why I said that, but I found it pretty.

Rei wasn't sure either, but as the sentence came across her mind, without really noticing it, she blushed.

They took a little more of their drinks before it got cold. Outside a few snowflakes started to fall, remembering the background that it was some weeks before the end of a year. Under this little icy rain some people walked calmly in a way and in the other way more and more people started to run.
Behind the window Rei watched the sky falling on the earth into small shiny dots, while Minako stared at the ground and beyond, her memories.

- You have grown so much," She said. "You impress me, sincerely. I remember the first time I saw you, even if I don’t remember every detail. In fact you were four of you and I was just I, alone. When I saw you at first, I directly thought you were the oldest of yours, maybe because of your elegant red shoes when you were transformed", she widened her smile, looking at the ceiling in an overplayed way and then continued." Of course not, it was because you were the calmest in those moments, you seemed serene and confident. Whatever the situation, you always seemed confident, even if we were young teenagers in tiny skirts fighting surreal monsters. I thought at the time you were the most mature of all of us… or maybe that was the opposite. I could doubt it when I saw you arguing with Usagi!

Minako burst into a soft, elegant laugh. Rei wasn’t angry at all for this joke, she just looked at her, but she reacted anyway to save appearances.

- Yeah, whatever. Usagi has always been unbearable…
- So impulsive and wild… and I'm not talking about her." Minako's laugh slowly keeps going till she calms down in serenity. "But not the more fragile." She finished, with a palpable sincerity." Never, not then, not now.
After a brief silence, she completed."Mars or Rei, whoever, you are the strongest woman I’ve ever met. And the bravest soul.

Now it was Minako’s turn to look at Rei, leaning on the table as Rei continued to search for her words, lost in all emotions and scenes she lived recently, culpably lost in her grief. Her mouth slightly moved in sentences but no word came from it. Then she looked at her coffee trying to hide her confusion.
She is touching and beautiful, like she always was in fact, thought Minako.

So Minako placed her hand on Rei’s, for her to raise her head and look into her eyes. And Minako's gaze changed, just with her eyes she said that Rei didn’t have to answer and she added a softly :
- It's okay.

The exchange was gentle and warmly touching, just as Rei needed. And both feed off this atmosphere.

While Time itself firstly wanted these brief moments to last, It suddenly changed its mind.
Outside a police car speeds past the window, flashing, yelling, warning the crowd about the danger.

Minako’s face changed for determination as Rei's attention lost itself in melancholy.
Quickly two then three other cars burst out of the street, swallowing it up and racing toward the threat.

Rei was Rei, but Minako was still Sailor Venus.
Just with reflexes she got up and put her jacket back. All of her attention was on the street, her hand already on the orange stick in her pocket, as always.
She looked at the door and quickly started to walk to it, but not as always, she was stopped by a hand on her arm.
Minako looked at this hand for a few seconds and then her eyes ran down along a vigorous arm, all the way to a shoulder, a neck and finally to Rei's worried face and eyes.

Once again, Time changed its mind. And now It stopped.

In this place, the colors of the floor and walls were nearly white but the ambiance of the shop was warm. There were some plants on the counter and near windows, some wood decorations on tables, slight touches of pink somewhere. Even the furniture was simple and seemed vintage but it elegantly blended into the background. The coffee shop was still calm, there were few people in there, drinking in silence, alone or with a friend, a lover, or both.
And
In the center of the frame, there were two little adult girls, linked by their arms. One was colorful with bright blue and orange clothes while the other was sober. Just before, the first were determined and the second was worried but now in a look, they exchanged.

Rei's thoughts were going faster than she could control them, in one of them there was writing in bold and fire : Minako, you can’t let something happen to you. And another behind, full of cracks, whispered : Please.

Minako was sucked in by Rei’s purple eyes, where she discovered something new. Something that tickled her skin like a febrile electric current. Something that she needs maybe ?

The frame seems to stretch over and over as thoughts and glances were shared in one touch and wordless feelings.

Unfortunately even Time cannot stop itself indefinitely. And Rei and Minako suddenly reappear in a row of a coffee shop, staring at each other.
Moments last, but seconds pass.

Rei said nothing but kept the expression that made Sailor Mars such a strong warrior.

Minako relaxed a bit. Without taking her eyes off hers she simply said :
- Nothing bad will happen to me.
Then she slowly and gently freed herself from Rei' squeeze. And finished with the most sincere :
- I promise.

Rei almost completely folded her arms and joined her hands, like she was secretly asking the red planet for all of its protection.
Minako continued to quickly walk to the door but before going out, she looked one last time behind her, to lay her eyes on Rei, just a few seconds, just a little more, while something new, feeling like a wound, appeared on her heart.
And then she walked outside.

The doorbell rang once again, in a light and vibrant song. But this time, it seemed never wanting to stop.

Chapter Text

Have you ever wanted to do something wildly spontaneous ? Something that doesn't have any meaning for the world except for you ? Something that didn't have any consistency of reality a few seconds before and then became as real as a dream ?

Hino Rei was all alone once more, in the middle of the French capital.
It was a warm and nice spring. She stood there in a black dress, surrounded by a belt made of many large gold rings and wrapped in a slight light green jacket. She always had her red and round dazzling earrings that reminded her who she was and who she wanted to become. That also reminds her of all of her friends, linked together by an unbreakable bond, and she smiles each time that thought comes into her mind, like now.

She thought too they would have laughed so hard if they had seen her in the plane, so tense and nervous, violently holding the armrests of her chair, swearing in a low voice. That was her first flight after all, and the first real trip she made so far away from her nest.
So here she is, walking through Les Champs-Elysées, one of the few spots she knew before coming there. After stopping by her hotel she simply took the subway to the first location that comes to her mind, and now she strolls, with a goal she didn't know yet.

The morning was quiet. Just a few cars and passers-by crossed her way. In addition to her earrings she wears a headset with two red foam tips to let the music envelop her. Her walkman played "What are you afraid of" covered by a little French band called Videoclub. That was the perfect music for the moment, not because lyrics had meaning to her, not yet, but because the melody was calm, enchanting, and also made her feel moving forward like she had a true goal: something that made sense for her and for this world.

She walked for nearly two hours, mainly replaying the same mixtape in a loop, switching the side from time to time. And then she decided to stop at a little tea room that she had just come across.

When she entered she was paradoxically as serene as she was nervous.
She liked the place but she feared the moment when she had to order.
Keeping it simple was the advice that came the most from Minako when Rei helped her with her French.

Ordering a coffee was simple in the first place but she didn't expect that she had to choose from so many varieties and tastes. She decided to trust the owner for that and let him choose after trying her best to tell him what she usually likes.
- Vous pouvez aller vous assoir, on vous apportera votre commande dès qu'elle sera prête.

Rei didn't totally understand the sentence but his movements helped her to know that she had to sit and wait.

Minako would have loved this place thought Rei, quietly sat on a colorful bench at a wooden round and small table. The tea room was full of green plants, on walls, near windows, even along the ceiling. Walls were green too, some furniture was golden color the same as cutlery and some were with pronounced touches of pink. Finally there was a big glass roof, letting a yellow light filter into the room, and the floor was black, white and mesmerising. That was beautiful and matched perfectly with the picture that came to her mind when she thought about France.

Minako... Where are you right now ?

- Voila votre café.
The owner came by with a golden tray on which there was her order, on a delicious white plate.

- Et voici votre croissant, fait maison et fait avec amour.
- Merci monsieur, "said Rei, always with little hesitation in her voice.

And then he returned to his service and to other customers.

So this is it. Rei was on the other side of the world in a cozy little place, barely speaking the language, with a very light heart twinge in continuation. And on her plate, a lightly browned crescent "made with love".

Season 1 - Episode 2

There is so much to live

- Quelle est la station de métro la plus proche ?" Minako said.
Some months ago Rei and Minako were back to the usual coffee shop they went to, because Minako asked Rei to help her learn French.

- Why France ? Don't you want to go back to London ?" Asked Rei.
- I don't know if I'm always eager to go to England again. I think I need little changes more than views on my past.
- And you really want to leave for a couple of months ?
- Yeah, I'm sure about that. That's why I need to learn the language !

Minako was smiling, as Rei externally, but internally she was strangely torn.

So for a few months the two friends saw each other regularly. Sometimes in this coffee shop they like, sometimes at their apartments.
Minako had bought or borrowed many books about the French language or culture and Rei didn't know how to best help her, but she did her best for sure.

Once that was Rei that tried to talk to Minako in French because they wanted to know how much Rei learned the language without knowing, just by helping her friend.
- Bonjour, comment allez vous ?
- Très bien merci et vous ? Tu es contente d'être ici avec moi ?
- Oh.. I… Je… I don't know," answered Rei, letting out a sigh.
- Of course you know ! Tu sais ! You just panic in a hurry. But hey, it's okay. It's not like you were there, all alone, you're just here with me.
Rei looked at Minako who seemed so confident and luminous.
- Okay… Okay ! "She told her, resiliently.
- So… tell me : Est ce que ça va mieux ces dernier temps ?
Minako now has her hand on Rei's shoulder, and Rei, always looking at her expression and eyes knew that it was not just an exercise, she was really asking how she was, just as a friend knowing that she was coming out of a long period of mourning. As someone who knew she lost the only person who took care, raised and loved her as a parent should.
- Ça va bien. Ça va. I can assure you." And she puts her hand on Minako's. " I'm glad you are here, sincerely.
- De rien, you're welcome." Minako answered sincerely and warmly, with her usual smile.
- The fun fact is that you could say almost anything to me I couldn't understand anyway.
- C'est fou à quel point tes yeux sont magnifiques.” She now had a wider smile and mischievous eyes.
- What did you just say ?!!
- Nothing ! But that was incredibly sincere,” was Minako’s answer in an irresistible laugh.

Weeks go by.
Little appointments and lessons went from Minako’s apartment to Rei’s.

- My son fell asleep, we can practice your lessons if you want, one… one last time," said Rei hesitant, her gaze lost in the distance.
- Tell me, do you always let your Power Stick to your son to help him sleep ?
- Yeh. It represents everything one could be in life, every future one could reach, everything I want to transmit to him when he grows up."And then she looked outside. "But it’s also the link between me and everything I loved, everything that made me as I am and will be.

Rei was suddenly attracted by an invisible force outside. She went to her balcony and just above her there was a sharp glowing moon, as a bow hanging on stars.

- I know you're afraid. But you don’t have to. You don't have to doubt who you have become, nor who you will be, even if you won’t dress up as a sailor, you are Mars for eternity.” Minako joined her, leaning on the balcony railing.”I feel your hesitations in your voice and look, your worries, and that’s normal. That’s a good thing, and that’s what makes you a good mother. I can even assure you something: whatever happened…
- No, it's up to me to tell you this. Please… "interrupted Rei confidently. "If at any moment you waver and fall, wherever you are, whatever you do, somehow I’ll reach you and be there.

A sweet silence passed.
- Rei-chan… Have you never done anything wildly spontaneous ? Something that doesn't have any meaning for the world except for you ? Something that didn't have any consistency of reality a few seconds before and then became as real as a dream ? Like …
- Like what ?

And then Minako moved a little forward and she sealed her lips to Rei's in a single, simple, sweet and warm kiss.

Months later Rei is in a tea shop in Paris. She brushes her lips with her fingertips while she thinks again about that night.
Finally she finished her coffee, paid and started to leave. She was going to the door, putting off her walkman from her bag when the owner called out to her.
- Vous savez, une autre jeune japonaise est venue dernièrement, elle avait la même expression que vous. Une petite blonde très souriante... A few days ago, a woman, Japanese tourist, blonde, very smiley, order the same as you, presque." Tell the owner with difficulties when he switched language.
Rei was surprised but not as much as she would.
- I think I know who she is.
- A friend of you, c’est ça ?
- Si vous la voyez encore, dit lui…
“Keep it simple” whispers Minako in her mind.
- Dit lui…
"Je pense à toi."

Chapter Text

A red glowing light illuminated Hino Rei’s living room in the late evening.
That was from her communicator, like a little keyboard and a screen on a pink wireless hand-sized device. When Rei answered it there was a black-purple cat with a moon on her forehead, watching her through the screen.
- If I call you girls, that’s because of bad news.
The cat seems healthy and still young even if we could see by little touches on her, some features that betrayed the passage of time.

Four of the girls answered the call and this number Four took away Rei’s breath for a moment.
- It’s about Minako-Chan.
Rei’s breath was still stopped.
- We didn’t have news for hours. It seems she has disappeared.

An icy breeze went through all their souls. A hurried memory crashes into their mind. But the majority of them stayed silent and apparently calm. Only Ami staggered, as Luna could see, she slowly and sadly went out the screen as Makoto suddenly appeared in her place. Despite everything, they all did their best to clear their minds from fear, and in synchronicity they thought "I'll be there."

Before Rei could react, a young blonde, with two twin tails and full of energy asked what they had to do.
- We are all very afraid of course. But there are no clues that we are facing the same situation again. Let's keep hope. The last transmission we had from her was from a particularly inhospitable place but she didn't seem in danger or injured. She was just investigating a strange signal. Aretmis and I are putting all of our resources into this. If I warn you it’s because I want you to be prepared for rescuing Venus, it could be any moment. We are gathering intel and data, it’s certain we could do something shortly, we just have to work together.

Rei's inattention suddenly broke, just like her silence: with anger.
- Where ?! Luna ! Where was she ?!!

The black-purple cat seemed hesitant to answer but knew her girls and gave in.
- North pole.

All Sailors were in shock, remembering the cold feeling of death, an eternity ago.
- Mars ! I forbid you to go there ! Forbidden is that clear ?!" Said the cat with true authority.
- No. Rei ! That’s me ! Me that forbids you from doing anything ! Anything Rei-chan !!!" The energetic little blonde was even more charged, and determination was marked everywhere on her face.

- Fully understood," calmly said Rei before hanging up.

Seconds later Rei had her things ready and took her child from his bed in her arms, without waking him up.
Minutes later she was in her car driving away from her place.

Much later when she rang at a doorbell just a moment passed before the door opened.
Behind the door there was a pretty young woman, with blue hair.
- How are you Ami ?
She didn't answer, but Rei could see as much tiredness as determination in her eyes, she was stronger than ever, and Rei knew she was well supported. She kindly put her fingers on Ami's cheek like Usagi liked to do. And Ami placed her hand onto it, absorbing her warmth and love.
- I entrust my son to you, as her goddessmother you know how it works, you know what he likes, just do the usual.

Still silent Ami took the sleepy child and his starry blanket in her arms. For the first time in a year, Rei had to keep the Red Power Stick that her son hugged every night, and she quietly apologized for that.
- Rei-chan, you know you can’t do that. Be reasonable and patient, you know we’ll find her soon.
- Ami, whatever you could say I’ll do it ! You know I’ll do it ! I’ll do it for any of you, more than ever ! And if I came here instead of his blondy-goddessmother’s house it’s because you know I’m right ! So just, take care of him while I’m away, that’s all.
- I'll do it Rei-chan, and even if I understand I have to say that you're wrong. Whatever you do, don't act in despair nor in anger. Please.

Rei-chan was deeply thinking and started to doubt the "how" and the "why"... But when she thought about the "who", she cleared her mind from any interrogations.
- Ami-chan, who is it ?" Said a mature and deep woman’s voice coming from the house.

- Take care of him. Take care of both of you." Was Rei’s final words just before disappearing in the night.

Those precious moments when planets align

Season 1 - Episode 3

There is no other place in the whole universe where I would like to be

Rei was now walking through a thick layer of snow. Refraining from acting with strength and impulsivity, she went through this white desert not as a warrior but as the everyday woman she was, entirely covered by clothes keeping her warm. She wears a big red coat with a fur-lined hood, we barely could see her eyes behind a large mask and she was pulling a sled with all her stuff.

For two days now she interrogated people she found, asked about a little blonde and tragically beautiful girl, some were able to give her clues and others simply asked her : Why would a simple girl have come here ? “Because she is a hero” was Rei’s evident answer.

Rei spent her days between asking and searching about anything. Sometimes she even borrowed sled dogs to help her in any way, but most of the time she refrained herself because she didn’t want them to face danger.

A few miles from there, underneath the snow was a dark cave lit by some colored lights coming from strange machines and as well as their reflections on ice. The person who was operating them was a pale creature with wavy fur on his head and arms, blue apparent skin in some places, and a metal breastplate covering his chest. A white and gold X glowed on his hand. He was a tall figure who needed something more, a powerful energy to achieve the goal he gave to himself and his allies. By a twist of fate his energy detector went crazy when he approached a simple and cute woman, a woman who was specifically investigating his presence.
Now, just behind him and his equipment there was this girl, trapped in a giant icicle, from feet to shoulders. When she found him, she was gentle and “interested” in the first place, which made him shiver in a delicious way. Then when he attacked her she transformed into some sort of orange-whatever- warrior-princess, but his determination to find the energy he wanted made him pitiless, not like his prey.

Sailor Venus was unconscious for the moment, her attacker sucked out her energy and left her defenseless in her ice trap, even if she had moments of lucidity she couldn't hold them back.

- That’s good but that’s not enough ! Something is missing ! This girl seemed to have so much energy, she was so close to what I needed !

While the pale figure got mad something pulled Venus to consciousness. There was a little halo close to her chest, a red light: something warm. And in its heart a dancing beautiful flame.
The hostile white and blue form turned over and noticed it.

Rei was still walking in the snow, in the middle of an icy, solid downpour. The wind was powerful and she could only see thanks to her mask. She was deeply focused. She forced herself in a natural way to turn every sensation and thought she could have, on everything that made her friend. She had in mind every detail, every word, everything she liked so much , just as things she disliked: all of the V planet that made her the hero she was searching for.
And Rei let herself be driven by sensations and instincts that were born in her :
Something in her heart, that she imagined as a glowing flame, was more and more concrete and burning when she moved forward, certainly proving to her that she was on the good way.

Till something stopped her pace. Something or someone blurry was in the distance, standing out the blizzard. Rei didn’t have Venus' patience and goodness: On her guard, she directly asked Mars for help and strength. She knew that, whatever was this thing in her path, it was evil, she could feel it.
All the power of Mars suddenly came to transform her into a powerful senshi : Rings of fire surrounded her and burned all her clothes to change into an elegant white and red outfit. Her big boots changed into little sharp red pumps. Her coat and pants were now a practical body embellished by a large red knot upon her chest and a skirt below in the same color.
She now was Sailor Mars, seeking justice.

The person she faced didn’t wait long before attacking. He made icicles stalagmites spring from the earth in violent screams. Mars avoided each of his attacks with agility and drew from her power to attack him in return with a large fireball.
Her enemy hardly escaped it, with rage and frustration he yelled at her :
- Why do you fight that much while the girl you are looking for is now dead !?

For seconds, nothing happened in Rei’s mind. Nothing was everything that filled her for a few long seconds. An eager empty space of nothing.
And the evil figure took the opportunity to violently hit her with a giant icepick, like an uppercut.

Rei-chan…
Rei-chan

When Rei woke up she seemed to have followed an angel voice guided her to earth, and next to her: there she was.
- Minako ?!!
- I’m glad you’re finally awake. We didn’t get out of this mess but that’s a beginning.

Rei was also trapped in a giant icicle, she couldn’t move anything except her head. Her fire and powers didn’t answer because she couldn't act in any way. She looked all over the place : the dark cave Minako was trapped in for days. There seemed to be no way out visible from this place. She sighed.
- I’m not particularly helpful Minako, I’m sorry. Maybe the girls were right after all, with a little more patience I could have saved you." She sadly smiles, gritting teeth.
- Oh ! Who are you ? What did you do to my Rei-chan ?!

Minako was the sun she always was, that made Rei even sadder.

- So tell me, you went to Paris, all alone ! Traveling by plane for the first time on top of it ! Did you go there for days, or one week ?
- Two weeks actually. So you are aware, maybe my little simple french message went through after all.

Minako only smiled to answer.
- There is another thing I can understand now, thanks to my trip to France." Said Rei looking at her trapped friend. “Toi aussi tu as des yeux magnifiques.”

And now they both smiled at each other.
- Mars doesn't seem as desperate, I prefer that. And… I feel like I spend my time thanking you for being here.
- Me too. But that’s the promise I made to you on my balcony, remember ? And perhaps, deep down, since even longer.
- Rei-chan… Not just your eyes are beautiful, your smile too.

Compared to Rei, Minako seemed to sorely lack energy due to the days she had passed here. So to give her strength, she searched deep inside her for anything that could help her friend. What on earth could she tell ? What did Minako want to hear ? But also and egoistically, what did she, herself, want to say in this eventual final situation ? She first thought about her life, about who she became with her red power stick. She thought about the girls…

- Ami told me not to come, she forbade me to act in despair or anger. So I thought and tried to erase those feelings within me, for being able to look beyond… And when I was able to do it, I finally knew that it was not Anger or Sadness which lived in me in your absence. It was a deep pain : I just wanted you to not be alone.
- I don't know if I should be sorry or glad for this. But what about you, Rei-Chan ? Did you discover what really stood behind that pain ?" Asked Minako in her last breath.

Before anything could happen, Rei grabbed something warm and important hidden in a corner of herself.
- I... I don't know ... But I'm sure about one thing clearly : Whatever terrible could happen there is no other place in the whole universe where I would like to be, rather than being anywhere with you.

Rei and Minako now look and smile at each other in a different way. As if, together, they finally agreed to take their soft and naked hands simultaneously.

- Hey Rei-chan, have faith.

Minako seemed serene as Rei started to feel her strength giving away.
And just like that, Minako’s head fell forward, her eyes closed, her breath imperceptible.

- No !" The entirety of Mars was trying to escape from her cold jail." No !!!!

In the other part of the cave, machines glowed and yelled.
- That’s it !" Said the figure with out-of-control eagerness." The energy we are searching for !!!

He finally seemed to have reached what he was looking for, like the two trapped girls in another way, without knowing it yet.
But before he could, even barely, enjoy this victory, a lightning strike violently crashed the ceiling of his secret hiding place and sent him crashing into a wall.
As Sailor Mars looked around she noticed a heavy crystalline fog dispersing all over the place.

How ?!
How dare you !
That’s unforgivable !!!

Rei followed the determined voice to a big hole opening onto the sky right above her, and she saw three magnificent shadows glowing in the starry night.

In the name of the moon, you will be punished !

Chapter Text

A couple of years before Hino Rei’s Grandpa went away.

- I’ll pass this time.

Minako took her stuff back, put on her shoes and said goodbye to her disappointed friends, especially Usagi showing it in a very theatrical way once again.

- Look at this lunatic girl," said Rei with disdain.

And Usagi answered her with a particularly angry look.

- Minako is literally falling asleep, Usagi ! If we make her stay her face will meet rice and salmon and I'm not sure anyone wants to attend that.

And so Minako left, followed by a white and a purple-black cat, leaving her four friends in the company of a table full of fresh and delicious dishes.

All the girls were well enthusiastic as everything was cooked by Makoto.

- Dinner is served !" Shout Usagi leaping to the table, chopsticks ready.

- Usagi !" Reprimanded Rei, restraining the hungry girl by pulling her ear.

Everyone made a little patronizing comment except Ami who discreetly laughs behind her hand.

Those precious moments when planets align

Season 1 - Episode 3.5

Who could know who we are ?

As expected the meal was delicious and Mako-chan was fully thanked. Being satiated, all, Usagi apart, went on to more serious talks.

- What will happen when Minako has to give her powers back ?" Said Ami. "She put so much energy into fighting evil, in fact she is the one who always fought every type of crime, even simply human ones. Not that I'm projecting myself too, not at all !" She finished with a nostalgic and fake smile.

- She'll always be able to save cats from trees." Answered Makoto before taking a full sip of her drink.

- Well… That’s not the answer we expected I guess." And Usagi punctuated her sentence with her inimitable laugh.

Usagi had blushing cheeks because of alcohol and Rei didn’t miss that.

- You drank too much once again ! At least make less noise please, my son is sleeping upstairs, for the goddess !

- Oh, everything is fine !" Said Usagi, pushing her away with one reverse of her hand. "And otherwise, what could you tell Venus-chan about this situation ? Or what would you want to hear yourself ?" Always blissfully smiling and well inebriated.

And silence fell.

Everyone was looking in opposite directions, Usagi enviously gazing at the rest of the food.

- Rei-chan… Did you ever question yourself about that ? Now that you're a mother, your situation as a senshi could be difficult I suppose ." Said Makoto sincerely but softly too.

Everyone was now looking at Rei with attention.

- Oh … Of course I thought about it, I often thought about it, in fact I have thoughts about so many things all the time… I guess that’s what it is to be a mother. Do I want to stop being a senshi ? I’m sure not, I don’t see myself as a perfectly safe and perfect housewife. I’m still Mars, I’ve just evolved.

- Mars now has a little satellite occupying a big part of her thought and life, and that’s well. We’ll support you as much as we can and even more Rei-chan." Said Mercury.

And Moon and Jupiter perfectly and ostensibly agreed with the pure blue hair girl. While Rei gave her a sincere and moved smile, giving her a knowing wink.

- None of us want to hear about that, about stopping what’s … what’s made us. And none of us could imagine what we could tell or wanna hear when it’ll happen." Concluded Makoto with maturity.

A big metallic noise coming from behind surprised them all. When they turned around they discovered Usagi searching in Rei’s fridge, a pan in her hand.

- Usagi ! That’s my place, you …!

But while she was going to get up, Ami’s hand caught up to her softly, letting Makoto stand up to manage the blonde issue.

Ami and Rei were now in quiet, resting calmly.

- Rei-chan, has your son been sleeping better lately ?

- I’d like to, but no. It’s always difficult, for him and for us. I tried so many things, even my grandpa gave me some plants to be burned, harmless he said, but useless, especially.

- Is he still crazy and wet about his grandson ?

- Yeah, more than ever." Rei sighed, tired but relieved.

- You know, I’ve maybe found something in a book to help you. Perhaps you can give him a thing of you, something that has your heat and smell, maybe that would calm him down for the night.

Rei dived into her thoughts.

- Something of me … ?

As she was thinking, Makoto and Usagi, a full glass in her hand, came by. The latter nearly sleepy on her friend's shoulder.

- Well, I don’t want to ruin the mood but what do we do with our princess "? Asked Makoto, sitting Usagi next to them.

- Aren't we taking her back home?" Ami always had this pure innocence in her voice, which will tragically break someday. 

- Of course we could but what if she sang loudly in the middle of the street, or fell or worse: threw up every drink she had…?

And they all looked at her with perplexity and a bit of disgust.

- You know I’m not deaf ?!" Said the referred one, slightly red, slowly leaning till being totally horizontal.

- Okay, okay ! I’ll take care of her, she can stay here tonight. In fact I prefer that she be like this more than that she turn the whole house upside down, waking up my son.

Makoto thanked her with a little teasing caress on her hair, and after she and Ami said goodbye, Rei and Usagi were alone, in a deep calm. Rei cleaned up the living room and then approached Usagi. Her glass was well started not surprisingly, and she smelled it before getting it away.

- Okay Princess, it's time to go to sleep.

She put her arm around her shoulder and helped her go upstairs to the guest room where she laid her down on the bed.

- Thanks," said a sleepy Usagi." Where is Yuichiro ? Am I not bothering? 

- Yuichiro is at a seminar again about learning tutoring. He developed a paternal instinct after all, but with every child on this planet at the same time.

- So, is this you I bother rather ?

While Usagi was falling asleep in an improbable position ,Rei stayed silent and went into the bathroom nearby. She moved and took out some things for her friend before coming back.

- Sincerely Usagi, have you really drunk alcohol ? I smelt your glass, you just took my cherry syrup once again. So you played well but you can stop this now.

- Oh … I don’t like alcohol anyway, it’s so bitter.

Usagi was now sitting on the bed with her legs against his chest.

- Thanks Rei-chan, for being there.

- That’s my house, silly.

- For always having been there.

They didn’t speak for seconds. Rei cleaned up some things in the room and if Usagi's body was there, her mind was lost somewhere.

- You can use the bathroom if you want, I’ve prepared a towel and some stuff for you." Proposed Rei.

And Usagi got up and mechanically went into it.

Rei was now looking outside, as she always liked to do, looking through the night. There were many thoughts in her head about her lovely son, her husband, her powers, about herself. For minutes she just stood, and when she went to prepare a blanket for the bed she noticed the deep silence in the whole guest room. 

- Usagi, are you okay ?" She asked, knocking on the bathroom's door." Usagi ?!

No one and nothing answered.

Rei became worried, as a reflex. For many years now and even more lives, she has to worry about her, in fact that’s her princess and her main purpose was to protect her, at any cost.

- Usagi ?!

And, after a few seconds of painful doubt:

- I come in!

When she entered the bathroom, Usagi was fully naked in front of the mirror, looking at herself with deep sadness in her eyes.

- Usagi ? What’s going on?!" Said Raya still entierly worried.

Usagi’s eyes, lost somewhere between her and her symmetric herself, started to fill with tears

- I’m a child.

Rei perfectly understood what her grief wanted to whisper. That was not just because of her temperament but how she looks too.

Rei thought: Here under an artificial yellow light, even without any makeup and artifice, her body seemed unaltered. She didn’t have any scars or marks. Her pelvis was perfectly hollowed and nor her hips, her belly or her buttocks were overly rounded. Her small breasts pointed up with firmness and youth. The hairs over her body were blonde and thin, nearly invisible, making her whole skin to look as perfect purity. Her face was just Innocence and her hair was a gold waterfall that glowed her body in a pure light. For the world she was the perfect picture of eternal and desirable youth. A welcome permitted fantasy. In their teenage years, Ami was the secretly desirable one: with her blue hair, her voice, her perfect face, her purity. But she grew up. Tiredness, fights, fear and worries mark her body and her soul, as any of us. Any of us but Usagi, who seems stuck in an ideal beauty. And what could Rei do ? She knows and feels how she can be just a fantasy. She sees every look on her, every prejudice. How could she help her friend except by changing every male gaze in a snap or burning every picture and icon which transforms each Usagi into a perfectly desirable angel ? And she knows that anyone who would tempt something about that would be hunted like an old hysterical witch.

- I’m so sorry, Sailor Moon.

Usagi blinked, suddenly realizing Rei's presence behind her, and she covered her more fragile parts with her frail arms.

In turn, Rei took off her clothes, looking at the mirror but trying to merely ignore her other self living in it. Keeping her in a blurry space of her field of view. Then she quietly talked, firstly to herself, the most neutrally she could.

- You as a child, me as an adult, I’m not sure switching anything could heal any of us." Rei's voice was low and clear as they stood both naked behind the other. "Not only did fights deeply mark my body and my carved hands, but the childbirth was particularly harsh. They had to take the baby by force, in an intolerable pain that marked my intimacy for months over my body, but forever in my mind. My belly is full of cracks and awfully uncontinually round, my bust may have grown but now fall in tiredness and both my breasts and my buttocks are hilly by crushed waves like a dying sand desert. It took me so long months to accept somebody’s look on my wherever naked self, even Yuishiro… even myself … It's still so difficult. Each look is another scar into my soul. And I have help of course: All the medics are kind and patient and I’m going to be better. It's just… If the body may heal, the mind is not always so resilient.

Usagi was now fully focused on Rei’s eyes reflection as Rei was perfectly hidden in her back. And when Usagi started to turn around she was stopped simply in one word.

- No! Usa-chan, please, you can’t." Exclaimed Rei, grabbing the soft and naked arm of Usagi in the strength and sweetness of her hand.

And the stop worked for seconds, but didn't stop her enough.

- At least, let me navigate in the so beautiful waves of your eyes.

As an answer, Rei's hand marked its resilience by slowly letting go of Usagi's arm.

Usagi fully turned, reassuring Rei by always being totally focused in her eyes. Showing her that everything that counted, everything happening, was behind the exchange within their blue and purple black iris, and nothing else existed.

- Don’t fear or hate yourself, anywhere, anytime.

They both waited for long moments, each of them swimming in the other’s eyes with a constant changing mood between hope and fears, like a dancing bubble.

Little by little they tamed and accepted their feverishness. They grabbed at their trust they had in her and in the other.

Then Usagi slowly reached out her hand down to Rei's heart and stayed there, brushing against her skin, feeling the loud and cyclic shakes of her organ.

The protective bubble vibrated in pairs between rests, in symbiosis with her beating heart, like ocean waves calmly moving in the wind.

 The world froze for long precious moments. Usagi placed her other hand on the upper body of Rei, between her uncovered shoulder and her equally uncovered chest.

- Wait!" Rei said quietly, putting her hand on Usagi’s.

Usagi now felt the deep Rei’s breath, slowly raising and swelling her chest, that was such a sweet and soothing sensation, as one she had never felt before.

- Whenever you want." Safely answered the little naked blonde." Whenever it will be time.

Seconds were still frozen. The bubble protecting them, charged by all the kindness of their movements, touch and looks, was more magnificent than ever. When Rei completely felt it, she just said : 

- Okay." And her fingers confidently detached from Bunny's, leaving them free.

So without stopping looking at her, Usagi‘s hand started to inventory each inch of Rei. She passed around her hand on sides, behind, in front, up and down. Slid all over her curves. Her hand was like an eraser but more than that, it cleaned her wounds as if they were blending softly in her body and not as if they were just pieces apart.

Rei contemplated Usagi’s eyes. She perceived them like two seas, places of tranquility where nothing bad could happen.

When Usagi finished discovering the upper part of Rei, like she was modeling the most fragile instrument on earth and moon, she calmly went back to her heart.
Then she declared to her, as lightly as sincerely:

- I remember the first time I saw you, you were so beautiful it took me minutes to go back to earth, and days for stopping having you constantly floating in my mind. And you are still so beautiful, more than ever.

- You made such an impression on me too, you seemed to be so free and full of wonderful things. I could see you sparkle every time I laid eyes on you, rediscovering you each time surrounded by a dazzling aura. You were such a cute girl.

Usagi looked away, a little pinch of sadness in her eyes.

-You were cute, but you are so beautiful now.

She discreetly smiled.

- And Usagi… "said Rei deeply, turning Usagi’s face to her by gently holding her chin." You are no child.

Then she abruptly and warmly kissed her, biting her mouth as if it were the whole world.

And they hugged so tightly they melted into one.

In another part of the city, Minako finally went home, always accompanied by the two cats with opposite colors. No monsters this time. Tonight she fought usual crimes on the streets and did several round-trips to the hospital with injured young ladies. Even late at night there was still a crowd in the neighborhood because that was a football game night, and still too many punches thrown.

On her way back she took out her walkman from her bag, the one she had since childhood, an old gift from her parents. She placed the headset with two red foam tips on her head and played the first song of the tape: “What’s up” by 4 No Blondes.

When she finally arrived home she just fell on her bed, still fully dressed. That was a lovely apartment in the center but unfortunately she couldn’t make it feel like home. She hadn’t enough time to get to know it, to try to find stuff that would transform this place into a home.

Once she will, but not now, now she just has to sleep.

 All along the night Usagi and Rei followed their sensitives sensations, seeking for the other as much as herself. Discovering for the first time the adults they had become. They put marks on their own paths, desires and pleasures, forgetting the dark labyrinth they saw in their envelopes and building roads they explored and will again. They had the mildest night in a long time.

- Usagi, sooner you asked me if you bothered me.

- Yes ?" Answered Usagi, nestled against Rei's heart.

- Never.

This night all Senshis deeply and peacefully slept... Till little cries from a baby appeared, looking for the loving mother Rei was.

Chapter Text

“I’m calling the three senshis still in activity: Venus, Jupiter and Moon !” said the cat through the communicators. “Sensors detected a huge evil presence above the Kingdom of D’s embassy. It’s certainly linked to the gala tonight, so meet me there as soon as possible for a briefing !”

Hours later the show was at its peak, most of the guests had arrived and everything seemed to be going perfectly.

From a side street, a dressed in black woman emerged, she was walking toward the embassy and removed a long pin from her long skirt to let it fall into a long dress. She was ready to enter into this glossy world.

At the entrance, and uninvited, she discreetly slipped into the crowd. As well dressed and makeup, she was perfectly hiding in plain sight, but was still noticed by the doorwoman. This one, a perfectly banal woman, was in a conventional suit, a cap covering her eyes. Muttering faintly, she couldn’t even reach or talk to the intruder. And so doors were passed.

Those precious moments when planets align

Season 1 - Episode 4

Finding the key to enter the most heavily guarded place in the universe

On the inside, rooms were full and filled with colors and shining jewels. Full glasses rang, curtsies were made, gossips and laughs flew away.

There was just a brief silence when the stranger came at the top of the stairs. They all looked at her with genuine delight before resuming their task.

The dress of the woman was deeply black but endlessly dotted in shiny glitters like a crystal-clear starry night of countryside.

Her hair was raised in a bun with few locks falling around her face like falling shooting stars. Her earrings were two thin and long silver streams. She wore no red this time, just an elegant black and silver look, highlighting the purple shade of her eyes and hair.

 She slowly went down the stairs, trying not to make a clumsy move. She was fully and theatrically focused on her walk and nobody noticed the effort, by luck.

Once down, at the edge of a human ocean she was caught by a low voice.

- I don’t know about the princess, but I found the queen.

Rei looked back into a well dressed gentleman, in a simple and elegant smoking. The features of his face were fine and pretty. And behind the finesse of this face, behind the white domino mask there was Kino Makoto. With her presence and her hair kept out of sight by a nice hat she was perfectly doing her part.

- Mako…. Sir ! Did you steal the suit of a friend of ours ?

Kino Makoto laughed back and then reached out her hand to Rei.

- Dear Goddess of War and Youth, for a perfectly perfect cover, would you accept this dance ?

- I suppose I can borrow a dance from the Winged Messenger for once." Agreed Rei, teasingly.

And so they danced.

They had fun together, circling around people who were circling around the dance floor. In those circles lots of guests had stopped, briefly watching them in admiration, allowing the fake couple to seek the evil threat.

- Have you felt something ?" asked Makoto, knowing her friend’s ability to dig out any form of evil.

- No, nothing for now.

And they continued to dance for minutes, before reaching the buffet seeking another distraction.

- I noticed the shoes." Makoto was smiling, pointing at the little sharp red pumps Rei was wearing." Still Mars, forever ever.

Without forgetting their mission they started to restore themselves, pecking around different appetizers.

- How is Ami-chan ?" Asked Rei." I’m so very proud she came saving us.

- I’ll tell her ! But the only thing that had possibly stopped her from coming was your son she loves so much. So as soon as she entrusted him to his father, she fully worked with us to find both of you. Now she went back, putting all her focus to her studies, in a good way I can assure. I’m constantly watching her to not let her lose herself in it. Being able to find a new goal, changing her curse into medicine was the better choice she made. Now I’m finding hope again in her eyes.

- I’m so glad you moved in with her. If I’m proud of her, I sincerely have to be proud of you too.

- Thanks Rei-chan. I've made a promise with the universe, but even without it, where else could I be ?

Rei remembered the day she saw Makoto on a roof, arms crossed on her chest, continually whispering to the night sky. And she also saw herself much later, under the moon on her balcony, making another promise to another planet.

- On the other hand, isn't it difficult for you to have your own privacy now ? We all know how much you love boys, I suppose you had to sacrifice some dates because of you sharing an apartment with Ami ?

- You don't have to worry, no man on earth will be able to make me regret moving in with Ami. None of them will have my priority above Ami, never. And, to be honest, we reached an agreement and a whole system with colored ribbons on doors, for me and boys you know.

- Oh. That's well played, I couldn't have thought of something like that.

Makoto beautifully laughed, keeping her smile hidden behind her glove.

- What's the fun part about what I said ?" Asked Rei, circumspect.

- To be honest again, I did not use it even once.

Rei was even more circumspect, looking questioningly at her friend.

- Is this strange to you ?" Said Makoto.

- No. What's just especially strange is that you seem to be enjoying your celibacy.

- Yeah yeah… Maybe that showed me I didn't need any one. Maybe I needed it myself. And this situation is not unpleasant: staying at her side is not as tiring as it seems. It’s Ami-chan, she is Kindness itself. She always preferred to help and sought out for goodness all around rather than act in anger, hurting anyone, even now. Even after everything she has been through.

- That’s where we can hurt ourselves the most.

Makoto knew it, and finished : 

- It's just Amy. It’s pretty down to earth but now she wants to be a gynecologist, and I’m sure she will.

She had now the most perfect smile on earth, the one we couldn’t hide, the one full of pride, as if Ami was from her blood, as if she was the only soul remaining on earth and that was enough.

Rei was a little jealous of this but nothing could stain the happiness that this smile made exist within her.

Makoto then removed her gloves, always searching for another taste to try and Rei couldn’t help to notice :

- You have the same hands as me.

Makoto wavered a little, she took her hand from the table and brought them shyly close to her.

- We can’t say they had an easy-life. It’s like I could remember the source of each scar and mark. No make-up could really hide them and I regret none. But sometimes people’s eyes can hurt. I’m amazed to see you presenting as beautiful as you are now, without any gloves as if it was nothing.

- Well, for a long time I was as ashamed of my body as I was from those hands. But little by little I was cured, like I couldn’t ever have imagined to be.

- So what is the cure ?" Makoto asked, full of curiosity.

And Rei looking at her hands, diving into her memories, said : 

- Usagi love them.

And they both blushed, smiling.

 As the gala continued, it was finally stopped by a huge cloud of smoke and the sound of an explosion.

 The princess and her parents had just arrived, soberly but elegantly dressed. And even if they were sober, all their appearance, from clothes to jewelry, magnificently highlighted all the ebony shades of their skins.

Not far from them, people moved aside from the smoke. There was now a big hole in a wall, and entering it a massive white creature in an outdated suit. His skin was smooth as a mirror, his chest was huge, as his arms and hands, just like a monstrous gorilla. He was wearing some sort of blue and black pirate jacket with gold metallic buttons and underneath, the number XIII was written on his skin.

His mouth was bloody-red just as his legs almost entirely covered by big red boots. He now stood there, imposing, in front of a frightened crowd, furiously screaming : “Give me the crown ! Give me back my kingdom !!!”

As quick as they could, the queen yelled at the crowd to take cover, and the King, protecting their child-princess, moved her to a corridor with all their retinue. Soon enough they were disappearing in another place of the giant building. But the attacker, after violently kicking away some guests, wildly ran to them, quickly swallowed up by the winding structure too.

It didn’t take much longer for Jupiter and Mars, after the latter replaced the pin on her dress to turn it again into a more practical skirt again, to synchronise and go toward the threat, helping and saving people on the way, each of them in a side of the ballroom. And suddenly, another figure passed them, one of the waitresses dressed in black and white, went into the corridors just before the red and the green senshis.

After a few turns, Rei was distanced by her mate. She decided to search around for another potential danger. She took a look at some small rooms and then stopped into a bigger one. That was an office with wide gaping open windows.

 Outside the night sky offered a large and full moon, some bright stars and a particularly shining evening star.

As Rei entered and looked outside, she shivered. Was it the cold grabbing her ?

Behind, someone had followed her, calmly entering the room. That was the mysterious waitress.

- What are you doing here ?" She said.

- Oh… I went after the creature, and when I lost him I started to search for other threats nearby." Rei’s mind was always far outside.

- No Rei-chan. What are you doing here tonight ?! I'm sure you don't even have your power stick ! My goddess ...

The voice of the waitress was firm but without anger. After a few steps, she gave up some of her hair pins revealing a long blonde hairstyle gathered into two long twin tails.

- You should be with your son, far away and safe.

There was such confidence in this voice, she wasn't just Rei’s friend, but Rei’s princess too. Usagi then stopped, writing some words to her communicator and then went closer to her friend to kindly talking to her: 

- Tell me you’re okay.

- You cannot stop yourself taking care of me aren’t you ?

- What about you Rei-chan ? You protect me with all of yourself, in each of your words, looks and gestures.

- I’m made for that, protecting the princess, executing orders that ask for it.

- Well from now on: I order you to protect yourself !" Usagi put her hand on Rei’s back. "At the same time I’m not surprised seeing you running towards any danger, even after all you’ve been through lately.

With the feeling of touch, Rei stopped being mesmerized by the starry sky, she warmly sighed and slowly turned herself. As she turned over, Usagi took a step back and in a colorful show and thanks to her crystal, she transformed in an elegant dance from a waitress to the impetuous pretty guardian she was.

- Let us take care of the white monster.

As always when she was in this form, another kind of light, calm and maturity surrounded her. She went closer and closer to Rei and slipped a kiss on her lips, as she sometimes does when they’re t alone. A short kiss, sincere and warm, as if she were biting into a precious french madeleine. A brief kiss they accepted with heart, eyes closed.

She stepped back then and with her usual virginal smile, simply said : 

- I know what you need.

While Usagi went out of the room. Rei, turned again in front of the windows and silently asked herself : 

- What am I even looking for ?

She was still lost somewhere.

She then took something from her handbag : A talisman. An old walkman with black and red headset. A gift that for now, made her feel a little more empty. Inside it there was a tape she received by mail, a gift once again. There was just an orange candle and a gold heart drawn on the envelope.

Just as a survival instinct, she put on the headset and played the first song, “Obstacles” by Syd Matter.

Usagi was now opening the door, behind which there was the banal doorwoman of the embassy's entrance. She entered as Usagi came out and gave to Sailor Moon a strange little elongated object : a pink pen.

When Rei saw the scene in the window’s reflection, she immediately looked at them, eyes wide open.

While the stranger gave up the Disguise Pen, all the doorwoman she was, turned into a simple adult woman. And so they both exchanged their places in the room, Sailor moon now running into action.

Rei didn’t know how she felt. She barely breathed.

The music continued to be played in her ears, and in front of her eyes stood up, not the Sailor V she expected but simply Haino Minako.

Rei was standing still, and Minako slowly walked to her.

They had barely seen each other since the rescue at the north pole.

Rei had the strange feeling of finally seeing her for the first time. Minako now stood just in front of her. Her look was as distant as Rei’s. They were both elsewhere but finally together. 

Minako's hair surrounded her like a painting frame, in the waves of her blondiness there were the few pretty spikes Rei liked. Her blue and white jacket above an orange shirt let her slender naked arms appear. And that was all she could see because she couldn't get away from her eyes.

In an hesitant move she tried to put off her headset, but Minako stopped her by letting her hand in the side of her headset and her hair.

- Is this the mixtape I offered you ?

Rei nodded.

 Minako’s hand went from her hair and ear to her cheek. Rei saw she had shiny eyes because of incipient tears, even if she was smiling as never.

- Happy birthday." Said Minako. And then she leaned forward and whispered." You're gorgeous.

Rei was feeling so empty, there was an unfulfilled hole within her. Something with a strange heat, something painful, something tearing her apart between hurt and happiness. A feeling as beautiful as fearful. A deep terrifying feeling, but a feeling she didn’t want to let go, so a feeling she grabbed stronger and stronger. She thought she clenched her teeth while in reality her eyes and her mouth were opening as slowly as a poetic rain cloud.

And what was that sound, so heavy, and deep, repeating itself in echoes ?

Rei in her drowning was actually deciphering Minako’s smile: the way each side of her mouth went up, her cheeks going away letting room for the smile. Her thin eyebrows turning into a rounded slight bow of happiness. Her nose moving up slightly, nearly invisibly, while her eyes opened up in plenty of feelings. She also saw a few of her hair falling down from her ears sweeping her face like a breeze. One of her hands picked them up to put them back in place, while the one from Minako was just here, against her face, touching her soul.

A first tear was born from Rei’s eye too, and took its way through her face to Minako’s hand as she asked the latter :

- Where were you ?

There was no answer.

That was the only thing that Rei was able to say, so slowly, because now she was speechless, motionless and feelingless, she naively thought.

Minako enlarge her smile a little and, moving deeper through Rei’s look, finally said :  

- You know, I have been trapped for a certain number of days in that cave.

Rei clenched her teeth for real this time.

- And the machine we were connected to, he didn’t manage to understand its purpose as I did. The energy he was trying to detect and store, that wasn’t anger or rage…

Suddenly Rei broke, while her eyes became at their widest.
All the unknown unbearable feelings she felt now submerged her. 

All she was feeling… It was just an uncontrollable but calm heat. That wasn't fearful at all…

This heavy sound beating in rhythm, causing his entire vision to tremble in fits and starts, was in fact her heart trying to escape and cry out.

All those boiling feelings that she understood little by little. All the words her heart wanted to say…

Then she went deeper in Minako’s Eyes in turn. The purple-blue sea became an ocean and then an entire starry space, where she finally met herself. There was a child Rei near others Herselves. They each had different ages, clothes, looks and sensations, and every one of them were questioning Rei, all of them waited for something from her: The actual one, the living one.

Rei was finally confronting all of herself in these two magnificent azure coloured mirrors she liked so much.

 In the reality of the room, the blonde and the dark, were both so close and so open.

Then, Rei entered Minako's heart, just like Minako entered Rei’s. And after wandering for so long they found what they never searched for.

Finally Rei let herself go, she let all her heat eat her, her blood was like lava and she seemed more powerful than ever. She was drowning in endless flames.

Another tear flowed from her eye, but, just as with Minako, it was born in a sincere smile.

And so, between all of the Reis that there were, are and will be, and between all their souls, she found the answer of all. A simple affirmation. Not the one she wanted but the one she needed, the only one that mattered.

All the reflections of Rei looked at her smiling in return, all their eyes asking her to release the simple and clear obvious, to free it in the universe.

And so Rei, facing herself as much as she faced the most beautiful person and soul of all, confessed in a quiet wave of fire, surrounded by timeless tears floating around her like stars : 

“I’m in love."

Chapter Text

In this sweet early evening, even if there were lots of people in the street, the atmosphere was quiet. Everyone was crossing paths with each other in silence, everyone was just focused on going home: going straight forward to their house or apartment. Everyone except Hino Rei.

 On the contrary she went back and forth near a crossroad, going nowhere, trying to wait.

She was muttering to herself in a low voice : “Rei ! You’re half an hour early. Stop going back and forth like a mule, go sit down somewhere and calm yourself for goddessake.” But nothing she could say could have stopped her from wandering here.

From time to time she stopped, looking at herself and pulling her clothes to remove the creases. “Think about something else in the meantime: your work, your next purchases, anything !”

In the middle of this human tide, there was a small boat, with dark hair, which seemed totally lost in the first place, but which for real, had found herself into a very specific point of earth, and soon enough it will be just there.

 In another specific point on earth, there was a similar agitation. A blonde one.

Minako was circling around her bed for the hundredth time. She was wearing an orange and blue tracksuit and held different types of clothes in front of her, trying to find the perfect match.

- And what about this ?!” She said to the speaking white cat lying on the bed.

- Yeah, that’s perfect ! You wore those so well last time.

- What ?! No ! This means she already saw me with these outfits last week !

- Minako... that’s not a fashion show, no one cares if you already wore those clothes before, especially since it's just Rei.

After long minutes she made up her mind on a beautiful simple green dress she loved so much. Underneath she put an elegant tight-fitting white short sleeve shirt and some fleshed color tights. She was rather satisfied and she pulled on her clothes to relax them just enough.

But when she ran her hand near her chest, she panicked again.

- No ! I didn’t think about my underwear at all ! They are so ordinary ! What if … what if …

The talking cat now jumped out at her head, causing her to fall on her bed.

- Minako calm down ! No one cares, and that’s just a “date” or whatever. Please, for the whole world, just be the Minako which Rei wants : yourself.

And Minako quietly calmed down. She got ready to leave, but inside of her, many intrusive thoughts remained.

Hino Rei succeeded to sit nearby the street where she was waiting before, on the bench of a little green park for a few minutes, before she just continued to walk.

- It’s fine Rei. Ten minutes remain, you can now walk to the restaurant Minako chose for us and even look at the menu to find something you like. And stop searching for anything in that handbag, you know there is nothing in that handbag !

Roads were crossed and she was now back in front of the building, watching inside how it was, and for the first time of the day she smiled. That’s exactly a place she could have picked, a place that reminded her of the coffee shop they both like and also different places she went to in France.

- But what if… what if she doesn't like the restaurant ? The place or the food ? How and why did I choose it anyway ?

Minako was now in a city bus, not quietly sitting and waiting for her stop, but stopping some bad guys who tried to rob passengers. Her perfectly chosen dress had given its place to a white and orange uniform.

- Focus on the fight, Venus !” Answered Artemis, the white cat. “And you perfectly chose, you love that place and it’s been years you want her to discover it.

The last hooded bad guy, who didn’t understand a word of their conversation, was soon enough stopped by the senshi. And soon after she was in a street next to the restaurant, her heart beating strongly on her chest, more stronger than in any fights.

- You’re ten minutes late, as usual.” Said the cat. “So I'll leave you there, I’m going to join the others.” As far as we could see the cat was smiling. “I can see in your face that you're so happy !” And the cat left, happy too.

Rei had resumed her back and forth when, nearby, appeared a pretty blonde and green girl.

Minako could now see the meeting place, and just in front of the building was a beautiful dark and red girl.

In one look all stress and doubt disappeared, on both sides.

Rei wore a light, slightly shiny black jacket and underneath an elegant dark red dress with a large black belt right below her chest closed by a golden square. She had adorned her dress with a silver brooch in the shape of a bow. Below her pair of thick, black tights covered in glittery stars there were darker summer ankle boots. And all above her, she had tied her hair back with a red ribbon, in a long ponytail. The final touch was her long pending bright silver earrings and an as long and bright necklace.

For her part, Rei noticed the unparalleled beauty of her partner, with her blue star earrings matching her eyes.

The two girls politely said hello to each other and walked into the occidental-like restaurant.

Those precious moments when planets align

Season 1 - Episode 5

When we finally met

Inside it was a deliberately cute vintage place. All furniture was reused: tables were ordinary family living room tables, benches and chairs were from closed schools. On walls there were artistic and minimalist music bands posters, there was also an old piano away at the back, and even some not so old video games consoles here and there. Rei was delighted by the place, and Minako caught sight of her, and was delighted in turn.

Both women were seated at a table for two in a corner, and the menu was brought to them.

Each of them ordered the same drink but in a different color: a lassi. A red rose-flavored one for Rei and a mango-flavored one for Minako, and each internally were asking if the other had chosen only by color, without realizing that it was the same for herself.

- So, which witch is looking after your son tonight ?

- It’s Usagi and Mamoru this time. It’s funny how they fight over that task while his own father is simply satisfied with one weekend on two.

- I’ve never fully understood something: I always thought you wanted to be independent and even single.

- As every adult knows there is a universe between what we believed in, what we want and what we live, and don’t talk about what we dreamed of.

- How did you end up with Yuichiro in the first place ?

The waitress came back and took orders.

- I don’t really know, he was cute after all and seemed so alone. He was fond of me and always had a little something to please me, always... That was even too much "always", with hindsight. And then it was like I lost control… Me getting pregnant, the doubts, the apparent certainty, the wedding and so on, all of it in a long, predetermined corridor.

- Rei-chan. I’m glad for you, I always liked what was beyond this corridor, the woman there is, the woman I see now. It’s like you found yourself again after all.

Rei blushed shyly and tried to hide it behind her glass by drinking. And suddenly loudly put the glass back on the table.

- So what if we talk about you instead. For stopping the false impression that I’m here just because you’re wonderfully nice to me, and not because I’m delighted to.

- Oh. And what delights you about being here with me? Tell me.” Minako had an eager smile and all inside of her, she felt the warm feeling that rides within her when she sees Rei.

- Wow... So... there are so many things…” Rei started to stammer, but she clenched her fists on her knees and…“ You are

That’s when the waitress came once again, with their meal. They ordered the same but with different sides.

Caught off guard, Rei stopped in her tracks and looked all around the room. There were few people but so many eyes. Her feelings were now heterogeneous, there was always that soft heat but something, conscious or not, was covering it.

Minako looked at her dish with longing and compared it with Rei’s. When her eyes reached the plate of her friend she just noticed her hands kindly placed on the table. She knew how they were soft and pleasant. At this moment she just wanted to carefully take it and keep them in hers, like a treasure. Leaving a concrete link weaving itself between their bodies and soul.

Rei looked away from the room to Minako’s face. And she saw the insistent gaze of her on her hands, so in an instant she hid it under the table. That’s true she never wore gloves, even with her scars, and she never was ashamed. So why now ?!

Minako saw Rei’s hands disappearing, and she also saw her troubled look on her. Perhaps she had understood, maybe she didn’t want a hand in hers. The thought made its way to her brain, that was the most logical explanation, but she knew her partner and so she doubted. Letting this doubt settle in her she came back to a prior talk.

- That’s odd. You, thinking that you always was and will be a free single woman, and Makoto talking continually about men, so sure she would find Prince Charming, and look at us now. As you said, maybe life went out of control at some point.

As Rei was about to answer, a concrete reminiscence appeared outside: On the other side of the window, a pair of police cars, sirens on, rushed down the street.

Rei looked away. She simply said : 

- Me as a single woman and you seeking justice. Is this really different to what we thought in the beginning ?

  She had prepared herself with calm and resilience to see Minako jumping off her chair and going outside with elegance and determination. She prepared herself to end dinner by herself, but when her attention returned to the table: Minako was still there, quiet, just looking at her with her irresistible expression.

Rei deeply blushed again, without being able to hide this time.

- Okay, maybe that’s different.” Rei corrected.

- I hope so.

Once again, they looked at each other, seeing something else in the other’s look, a thing they both needed and wanted, an unstoppable and pleasant feeling.

Without noticing it, Rei raised her arm and fiddled her hair with her hands, Minako looked at them once more.

- How… What do you think of my hands ? Why are you looking at them like that ?”Asked Rei, intimidated.

- I'm sorry... It’s because… I love them. They are so soft… Each of their gestures is a caress, even when you’re not paying attention. I love their delicacy. I love their shapes and how each touch along me makes me feel as a part of you. When I thought about what hooked me first… That was those hands and the way you hold me back with them, to keep me close to you with strength but kindness. It’s like being in a warm nest, whenever I am. It's just like being hugged by a delightful flame, wherever I am. And every part of you : your big bright eyes, all your curves and form, your feelings and expressions, your words, are burning in this magnificent fire you are.

Rei beautifully hiccuped and took the time to breath slowly, attempting to go back to earth.
And once there she decided to open herself up too :

- For me… On one hand, I deeply admire your boundless energy, your willingness to help and defend what you believe is right. On the other hand, I profoundly love your genuine kindness. Like two seemingly opposing worlds, yet resonating so clearly with one another. And there is this luminous path you have traced between the two. I have always known I could follow it blindly, without hesitation. To let myself be guided by it on the right path, between war and peace. And above all, there is this feeling of fully belonging to this in-between space, with you.

- Thanks." Shyly answered Minako.

Minako and Rei suddenly felt a warmth enveloping their bodies. Their cheeks were burning and their hearts were absorbing in a hungry manner every inch of space between them. Each of them discovering the source of this warmth: an intense sensation, in the gaze of the other.

So they both decided to discuss another subject, without saying it.

- So, how was your unexpected trip in France ? Was it worth it, after the long stressful flight ?

And Rei told her trip, places she saw, foods she ate, nights she spent. Then both of them sharing, comparing their experience, recommended other things for their next trips.

- Thanks for the postcards, actually.

- You received them ?” Minako was spontaneously glad, the same way she often was, and Rei liked that so much. “Did you keep one near your bed, as a bedtime story, just before sleeping ?

Instead of answering, Rei took a large gulp of her drink.

- What ??! “ Asked Minako, curious but kindly.

- I kept all of them like that, and I pretty often fell asleep against them, after rereading them a dozen times.

It was Minako who became speechless this time. And it was her turn to recover her senses by changing the subject.

- You traveled for your job in the first place, didn’t it ?

- That was more of an excuse but I took advantage of this too.

- Really ? Did you see artists or concert halls to help the performance hall you worked for ?

- Yes, many of them. Oh ! Speaking of music, I have to return the walkman I borrowed to you.

Rei put off her bag the grey walkman she had carried throughout her french journey and more, always tied to the red and black headset.

- You can keep it," simply said Minako, who refused the device in a gesture. “I’ve got another one, newer. And above all, I want you to keep it.

- But that was a gift from your parents…

- Yeah "that was". But it’s much more now. It followed me for a large part of my child and teenage years. It traveled with me in Europe and to Japan when I came here. It was with me when I had a broken heart or greater joy. And now I want you to have it… Please.

- Oh…Are you sure ?" Rei pressed this precious object against her.

- It’s also the link between me and everything I loved, everything that made me as I am and will be." She said, paraphrasing her friend."  So yeah I’m sure ! I hope it’ll help you dream, like me.

- I hope it’ll help me dream OF you.

They continued to smile. This little teasing between them was new but so natural, and they both liked that a lot.

- That’s not equivalent but let me give you this.” Rei took out the audiotape from the walkman and put it back in its box. “That’s from a french band I discovered, I hope I didn't wear out the tape by using it on repeat.

Rei gave Minako the bright pink, bright blue audiotape, showing a young couple hugging : Video Club’s “Euphories”.

- Thanks a lot." She examined the box and the setlist on the back. "Do you have a favorite song ?

- “Enfance 80”, that’s my song !” And she laughed just like a teenager, as Minako happily smiled.

- And a song that made you think of me ?” Now it was Rei who shyly smiled and Minako laughed. “No, don’t tell me. I’ll guess !

For anyone in the restaurant, the two women were just two endearing friends, or two close colleagues in an enthusiastic or deep and sincere conversation. They were ordinary and invisible.

But behind this picture, there were two souls warming each other, and under the table they discreetly and softly took each other’s hand, keeping this sensation of touch as close to the heart as they could.

Slowly exiting Rei's eyes, Minako continued : 

- You haven't finished telling me about your job. What did you discover in France ? Did you learn something nice and useful, or maybe a French song ?

- I’d got appointments with french producers, singers and artists, and in fact, sometimes during breaks I learned songs.

- Oh !

- I'll stop you right there. I don’t remember a lot: a song or two, not many, I remember mainly fragments. No … Don’t look at me like that ! Do you really see me singing in front of everyone in this restaurant ?! 

- There’s almost no one left, one couple or two, preparing to leave. And there is a piano ! It’s at the very back of the room, you’re safe !

- It will take much more to change my mind ! So for now, sorry. And I just have to go to the bathroom.” Discreetly said Rei.

As her friend passed close to her, Minako said, louder : 

- I’m going after you. Thanks.

Minako stayed at the table, savoring the mood and the place. She looked at all the details of the set. Even without drinking alcohol she felt dizzy. But mainly, and for the first time in a long time, she felt as peaceful as she was sad at the thought of going home.

Rei was stuck in the vestibule of the tiny bathroom, in front of the mirror. She was refreshing her face with cold water. Her heart had never beaten so hard, she could even see it raising her chest through her dress. The rhythm of the beat, and the soft voice of Minako was mesmerizing her. What a pleasure this was to her, a pleasure that she could barely stand it … So that was it ? “Love” ?

Then, just as she finished regaining her footing on earth and opening the door, Minako was there just behind. She excused herself as if they were strangers and started to go behind her. One of her hands gripped Rei by the hip, while the other hand firmly grasped one of hers. Then she pulled Rei to her, turning her while spinning around at the same time.

In this improvised dance, in this very tight space they switched places in one step of a waltz.

And in a brief moment of eternity, during this dance, Minako went so close to Rei : Their clothes grazed themself, their chests touched, then their noses and finally their mouths. One mouth landed on the other, in a long blink, with love.

At the end of the blink, Minako was inside and Rei was now behind the door, just exiting a dream, with a rest of Minako's saliva on her lips.

Minako, now facing the mirror, wanted to create and share one memory with Rei. Something from that particular night. Something they could carry all their life, like a talisman, like a hidden place only they know, a place they could secretly go when everything will go wrong. And, whereas she always had the delightful taste of Rei on her lips, she knew that she had succeeded.

A few moments later, Minako went out and took back her place. But Rei had disappeared, she wasn’t there anymore.

A few moments ago, when Rei was going out of the bathroom, she didn’t go to her seat. She just passed close to the table, going further and sat on the stool, just in front of the piano.

Minako saw her, her eyes lit off like morning stars after a long night.

They were now all alone in the world.

And then Rei started to touch the white and black keys of the keyboard and play a very personal translation of a beautiful song called “Sublime & Silence” :

"Sublime and silence
Around me you dance
And I forget.

It's you I think of,
Your burning mouth
When you smile.

The void could have been enough
..."

Chapter Text

Back on stage, Usagi was contemplating the autumn trees all around the sanctuary. She had always loved letting her gaze wander among all her trees, whatever the season was, looking at changing shades and moods. This part of the year there were all those leaves with colors that were so close to gold, and so close to fire too.

Outside of the sanctuary, everything was as quiet as empty. All the characters of the play were somewhere, doing something, in one of the many rooms of this sacred place.
But Usagi was just here, doing nothing, nothing useful apparently, and she knows she'll have reprimands for that, and she smiled.

She slowly went to a tree and sat down below, looking deeply at the leaves and the sky, resting here for minutes. Lulled by the sound of all her friends and by the love flying in the air.

Someone else entered the stage after a few moments. That was Rei, with the melancholic look she regained for this particular day.

When Rei saw Usagi just poetically sitting under a whirlpool of falling red and gold leaves, instead of reproaching her anything, she just smiled at this vision and went back to her stuff as Usagi accepted to doze off.

Minutes became quarters and breaks became broken.

- Come on Princess, it's time to go to help.

Near Usagi there now was a girl with blue hair and with an aura as warm as the leaves waving around.

- Oh Ami, I was so fine here.

- You mean : all alone ?

- I mean : close to all of you. But shhh it's a secret.

They both smiled.

- Come on. Rei needs us.” And Ami held out her hand.

- Red or Blue, you know I'll do anything for you.

- So, you're getting into poetry now?

- Poetry perhaps, sincerity certainly…

Then they both joined the sanctuary and all the talks, the laughs and the sadness that was in it.

Those precious moments when planets align

Season 1 - Episode 6

Things we went from & choices we’ll going into

Rei was sorting old cardboard cases, she felt empty whereas she filled them with all kinds of stuff.

- Hey Rei-chan ! How could we help ?!

Ami and Usagi were at the door, bringing as much warmth as they could.

Today Rei decided to sort, clear out and sell her grandfather's stuff, it was almost a year since he was gone. Without asking anything, all the senshis were here to give a hand, in any way they could.

- I need someone to separate his clothes between the ones we throw away and the ones we'll sell tomorrow at the garage sale. I'm not an expert on men's clothes.” She tried to laugh, and that was beautiful and sad.

Usagi was glad to help this way. She understood what was hiding behind the smile: Despite the apparent simplicity of this task, putting old empty clothes in cardboard boxes was the closest concrete task of looking at a ghost and putting him away. " I'll do it Rei, let me take care of that ghost we loved and will always love." thought Usagi.

- I'm on it chief !

And she went to her new occupation.

- And what about me ?" Asked Ami." What can I do ?

Rei was deep through cleaning useless usual things and she knew that asking help from Ami could alleviate this emotional burden, so she did it :

- It's anything and nothing. Each time you find something it could be a bit of joy or a bit of sadness, it depends.

So Ami sat down near Rei and started rummaging into stuff. Ironically she found some matches, old neighborhood newspapers and old documents and schedules about places Rei worked.

Showing her these wouldn't calm down Rei's melancholy, though Amy.

He cared.

Of course he cared. 

- So how are you Rei ?

Ami stopped and watched her friend, she saw her eyes glow, she saw her as much lost in the past as here in the room.

- And how are you, Ami ?” Replied Rei in simplicity and sincerity.

- I don't know if you knew but I used to come here often after my… after what happened. When Mako-chan was somewhere and I wanted to prove myself I still had courage and strength just to go out, I was coming here in secret. It's not too far from my place and I knew I'll be protected here… by so many memories and with your grandpa's kindness. Sometimes we talked and…”She said once in a normal tone.” And… “this time very softly.”

And Ami went back to searching in a cupboard, taking some things out.

Rei didn't say a thing, she continued to take care of some things too, but patiently looked at Ami with one eye.

The latter took a deep breath and calmly said :

- You know, he didn't hold it against you when you left the sanctuary. Nor about your marriage. He was fond of your son, but he confessed to me that he was even more about you, and I'm telling you now. I remember that he was so happy after the divorce, I could see his face lit whenever he talked about it. I believe we could say he was happy. None of your choices had taken him away from you.

Sometimes there are obvious sentences. Statements with no possible concrete contrary. Words that are nothing but truth itself and anyone knows it. But sometimes, that's the things we have to say out loud and other times that’s the thing we need to hear.

Ami looked at her friend who was looking at nothing.

Then she continued to sort diverse sorts of things while Rei remained motionless.

Finally Ami closed the cupboard she cleaned and Rei stood up.

- I'll go take a look at Mamoru looking after my son. Maybe he has things to do, or one of the girls needs his help !

She went out, and just having one foot outside the room, she turned back and said :

- Thanks.” As a single tear discreetly fell into the floor.

In another room Mamoru was sitting on the floor, playing with Rei's son. While there were not many toys in the sanctuary, Mamoru took some wood and unsacred figures to make a little playground for the child. This one took the fire warrior woman figure as the hero and imagined all sorts of battles against all sorts of evils.

When Rei discovered it she was impressed.

- You seem to have put a lot of effort into this, Mamoru !

He openly laughed.

- I wanted to give him a good playground to pass the time and let him enjoy all of his inspirations. But he can't play anything other than the extraordinary red fire girl fighting the evil bad guys !

- You're both unmanageable !” She said gently, entering the room.

Before sitting next to him, Rei put something out of her pocket. That was the red power stick.

- That's the toy you're looking for, I'm sure".

And her son directly took it, like a cuddly toy.

- Have you finally managed to contact your father?

- No. I won't say that I really tried this hard, but anyway, since he's gotten closer to power, I haven't any news on him personally. And… I'm not sure I want to." She finished quietly.

- It's okay. You don't have to hide this from me. Never having known my parents didn't make me jealous or envious. It's good that you had your grandpa. That's what matters.

- I don't know what happened, which made my father's road and mine so different. It's just like I wasn't made of him.” Rei's son sent a little blue and white car near Mamoru, and then he, Rei and her son played with this toy car, passing it from hand to hand. “I don't understand how someone who should be close to my life, can fight against what me and the other people in my heart have always defended.

- Maybe that doesn't matter, maybe it's having those persons in your heart that matters. You know it's strange how we both grew up without what people call parents but Usako-chan having both, seemed so deeply in search of something she can't reach.

- It's like she doesn't fit to the world. She suffered from that. But that's also why I love her.

They played a little more, switching toys from time to time. Rei's look passed a little from her son to Mamoru. She found Time was a funny thing, seeing him here with her, whereas he was one of her first teenage loves, before letting him go with the moon.

Time passes, wind blows, life goes on, whatever happens.

While they played, Rei seemed stuck in a tiny bubble of comfort. But grief, little by little, was reminded of her.

- Mamoru, I can keep an eye on him a little. Perhaps others need your help. Not that I'm thinking about Usagi, drowning or sleeping in an ocean of clothes, but almost.

- Of course. I'm going to take care of my rabbit ! And Rei, take care of you okay ?

 And Mamoru left Rei and her child alone.

She spent minutes just lying and watching her own blood walking. She was peaceful, and interacted with him just a bit, just watching him make his choices : which toy, which word, which step and where ? Each fall and laugh. And each of these choices was a lullaby to her heart. He just used a few words, the same all over, barely pronouncing them, like a broken toy, each one was a candy, until time passes… until…

- Daddy !

A cold breeze made her skin crawl. Because of the warmth she felt in that word and because she didn't want him to be behind her, taking him from her, not this time while she so much needed him. When she turned, there was indeed someone on the door landing… Just here, between her and the horizon, there was Minako, as red as a beet, looking behind her to search for the one he called.

But there was no one else.

After seconds of cute embarrassment, Minako put down the two boxes she carried.

- I've finished clearing and cleaning the main cupboard of the living room. And I was coming for… I don't know actually… because I wanted to see you and check where you were and how you are.” She talked speedily like an embarrassed teenager. “But I can return to my…

Before she could make another step or another sound, Usagi came, rushing, roaring in the corridor.

- Make way !

Minako made a step for dodging her while Usagi entered the room, followed by a cloud of smoke, and the two girls that were there just before didn't know if it was because of dust or because of the frustration they saw on the new arrival's face.

- Mamoru-chan annoyed me ! He just undo everything I was doing! That's unfair, I sorted all the clothes with care !

- And how did you sort them exactly ?” Said Minako gently.

- I  was making one cardboard by color after having classed every piece of clothing by type. Yeah, I know... he already told me that wasn't exactly what I should do, I understand ! I'm not that dumb ! But first he played with my goddessson for an hour and then this !

- Okay Usagi, could you take care of my adorable child from now on ? I really need it, there's so much I must do, please !

Usagi's face switched like she was in front of a giant sweet cake. She jumped on the floor and emptied all the toy boxes, happily helped by the child. Funnily or warmly, nobody understood him as clearly as her.

Minako and Rei discreetly exited, letting the room change to another colorful battlefield.

- Go Mars !

Was the words they heard before going further outside.

Rei was now looking at the horizon or the wind, as often. She had always been the little girl who looked out the window. And so, while Rei was looking something somewhere in the distance, Minako was simply looking at her. Then in a movement of infinite gentleness she took her hand.

The wind blew, leaves moved, sun appeared.

Rei was feeling strangely weird, it was just like happiness and grief living in the same place.

Minako was feeling full of responsibilities but felt fine. She was in a warm welcome place she could call Home, and she knew that was not really a place but a hand and a heart.

Finally she decided to break the fire, as the ice. Some sentences have to be made, and some questions have to be asked :

- How are you Rei-chan ?

This one was still looking elsewhere but did answer.

- How many times will people continue to ask me this ?.. I'm fine, Mina. I'm glad to finally be doing it.

They entered a long room they knew was not still cleaned.

- It’s more peaceful than I thought, and it’s because of all of you. And especially because of you, here.

Rei looked at Minako with a small but full of life smile. Her eyes were wet because of everything, but bright enough to reassure her.

- Oh… Don’t look at me like that, or I'll have to kiss you…

Rei came closer and just whispered : 

- You’d better...

And they lovingly kissed each other.

They were still in this period where each kiss was an event, another talisman they’ll keep so close, in a pocket into their hearts.

- WHAT ?!!!!

Rei and Minako were still stuck mouth to mouth and both suddenly opened their eyes.

At the other side of the room was Makoto, deeply looking at the lovers. Ami just near her,  abandoned her cleaning and asked :

- What happened ?!

- That was... That was the most beautiful kiss of all ! By the goddess !!!

- You mean Minako and Rei ? Really ??

And Makoto turned toward her and yelled : 

- Yes !!! That’s so cute !!!

While she yelled, Usagi quickly arrived, exhausted, with an energetic living package sitting on her shoulders, playing at being an airplane.

- What happened ? What did I miss ?!?!

- Oh... There were just Rei-chan and Mina-chan that were just… kissing each other !" Proudly said Makoto, trying to keep her seriousness despite the rose color on her cheeks.

- So... And that’s all ?

- You don’t seem surprised, Usa-chan ?!

- Of course I'm not. That’s not surprising at all. It’s her type, that’s right !

- Me too, I want to be kissed like that too some day !" Finally said Makoto with cute shiny, hopeful eyes.

- That’s not the good season or the good year Mako-chan, sorry !" Answered Ami teasing her friend.

A soft laugh was heard suddenly. A cute little laugh. Ami had tried to restrain it for seconds but she wasn’t discreet at all as all of the girls were looking at her. And then, she burst out laughing. It had been ages since they had seen her laugh so openly.

Makoto stood up and joined the others at the door, helping Ami to do so, and when she was near the budding couple she whispered : 

- In fact, that's not just because of the little joke, she doesn’t find it that funny, she is just happy for you. And she needed that happiness.

- Thanks Ami-chan," discreetly whispered Minako in a breath.

The moment was captured in a frame that they'll keep within them forever.

- So, which Room still needs cleaning ?" Loudly said Minako for changing the subject.
- The best one: the Rei’s child bedroom! Can we ?

And they all went to the tiny bedroom upstairs, where Rei lived. Compared to all of theirs and their memories Rei has had a more sober bedroom than all of them. Most of the furniture was wooden, all bed linen was white but as always shiny little red touches could be found from here to there.

Each of the girls now deep dived into different types of stuff, floating back into different types of memories : A handwritten book of jokes, for “being cooler at school”, some tapes where it was written different names of songs followed by “Rei’s version”, a full box of old broken toys.

Ami took a specific toy aside and had a closer look at it : A black and orange warrior with a sword in each hand, and a little click on his back opening his chest into a turning tornado as a black and white sticker.

- A super sentai, so cool ! I didn’t have any, I just had all sorts of dolls, and mostly nurses.

- I loved that one. It came for one of my first days at school, a so long time ago. I returned home so empty and sad. For a large part of the day we had to talk about our parents and family. What could I’ve said ? I had just discovered that for the majority of the world having two parents, of two different genres, was what the whole world calls “normal”. I soon enough discovered that not being in this “normality” made me an easy kill. So that day when we went home with my grandpa he saw all the sadness in me and later he brought me this toy, he said that it was my mother's, like a heritage, that she wanted me to keep it, for having her protection and for keeping her in my memory. Years later I understood that it was not from my mother but that it was just something he found somewhere, to calm my heart. I kept it anyway… Sometimes all we need is just a beautiful story. So for all my childhood and a part of my teenage years when someone was asking about my parents I was just mumbling about my father, taking my mother toy a little closer to my heart, and had a deep thought about my grandpa.

Everyone remained motionless and silent for a bit, except Minako who went closer to Rei to warmly take her hand.

And they continued to sort and clean all sorts of memories.

The last piece of furniture to be emptied was her desk, and in the main drawer they found an old photo of them. They were all there, the picture was certainly taken a few months after Minako was added to the group. 

In this glimpse of the past, Ami was seriously studying on a bench, Makoto was looking over her shoulder just trying to copy some answers. Rei was near the camera lens,  trying to come back and pose before the self-timer finished, Minako was in the back watching Rei trying all sorts of pictures with her new camera, and Usagi was just happily eating next to all of them.

They all looked at themself for minutes, as doors into the past, and then looked at each other's in the picture, as windows about the present. They felt themselves so different now, in different ways, but they all thought others just the same as they were now.
As always and forever, the same energy, the same look, the same unbreakable link were running through them.

They spent the rest of the day finishing cleaning and classing things and the day after they will sell them in a garage sale, with few talismans of the sanctuary.

Before going back on separate ways they all went to the courtyard. Mamoru took some broken wooden objects from the storage and put them in the center of the place, helped by Makoto and Minako, and they set fire to this pile. Just before, Rei has added some pretty old and used clothes and some various and sundry flammable things, so the scene looked like an old funeral rite, a peaceful one.

They were now all around. Usagi discreetly came to Rei, softly wiped her cheek with her thumb, letting her hand there for seconds, warmly smiling, and gave her a pretty happy wink. Then she came back to Mamoru’s arms, who was looking at her lovingly.

Rei had her son against her, deeply sleeping, Minako was close to her.

Makoto in the other side of the fire let out : 

- That’s beautiful. We could add some music to this moment. What music did your grandpa like that we could have passed now ?

- That’s not a good idea, he would have answered anything as long as it was me singing...

Minako came as close as her ear as she could and whispered : 

- That’s not a good idea, that's the best of all." And she quietly laughed.

Rei pushed her with her hip in response to his teasing.

After small talks Minako was able to save a sacred orange and black toy and a few pretty interesting audiotapes she kept in a bag behind her, like the most valuable treasure.

In the center of the stage, fire was fire, dancing through the youth of the night. It expressed itself with cracks and sparks, changing from yellow to red and passing through different shades of orange. Behind the extras on stage, leaves were falling, superimposing colors, dressing the fire with a wild coat.

And with all the fire in her eyes, with all beauty in her heart, Minako made a promise to earth, moon and planets: 

“I must not allow the tragedies of the past to be repeated.”

Night was passing, stars lit and fire calmed down in shiny embers and ashes, drawing a big red circle at the center of  the stage.
A red circle as flamboyant as Mars.

Chapter Text

One year before Hino Rei’s Grandpa went away.

The beginning of summer was warmly welcomed by the whole Ami's neighborhood. To celebrate it, like they do each year, they enjoyed a little festival spreading all over the streets.

Like each time, there were various stands along buildings, with foods, jewelries, talismans, healthcare activities and so on. Today, everything was bright and yellow across this part of the city, with long white and blue sheets to decorate roads, lamps and walls.

It was a happily sunny afternoon.

Ami was wandering, trying to enjoy different meals and activities after an exhausting period of exams. That was the first time she enjoyed this event, and it will be the last. The air was hot, so she even asked herself if she could summon some icy fog just to refresh the air and amaze children and families, but that wasn't a serious thought really.

For her first time here, she wanted to test and taste every type of food. This challenge made her think about Usagi and she found it even funnier.

So she came closer to another food stall and decided to enjoy a shrimp treat. After she chose, while she was paying, she was joined by Urawa Ryo, who seemed to be as tired as happy.

- Ami, what a surprise !

- Ryo ?! Are you really surprised ? Aren't you supposed to see the future ? Okay … You definitely look surprised, or very sleepy if I judge how big your eyes are.

- Yeah. I haven't slept well lately.

- Could enjoying a treat with me make you feel better ?

- Certainly ! And moreover coming with you for this day ! Actually, did you know I've got a brand new library at home?

Season 1 - Episode 6.5

Choices we made & things that will make ourselves

- What do you mean "disappeared" ?!!!

Outside, night was at its darkest moment and the weather was loud, some lightning was breaking clouds in pieces of light.

Usagi was standing up, dazed and Makoto was deeply silent. Nearby, at opposite sides Rei and Minako were sitting, waiting patiently. Everyone was listening to the two talking monochrome cats standing on the table.

- We haven't had news since yesterday, when she left her apartment at noon.

Then opinions differed, debates were made, worries were spread like a disease.

At the end they all split in different ways, but with the same dark mood.

- Let me talk to Usagi. Said the black cat to her sibling.

All sailors stayed awake all the night, doing the pretty guardians, keeping an eye on different neighborhoods. Sometimes one went after the other, without noticing, and sometimes they were at a same place without talking.

But they found nothing.

They finally all went home or to their jobs, except Makoto, thinking about a better way to search, endlessly.

The world was blurry and upside down when Ami woke up in an elegant and large bedroom. She heard noises in the next room, and when she tried to stand up she was grabbed by the softness of white sheets, and she then realized her lack of strength.

At this moment Ryo went in with a plate full of pastries.

- Good morning sunshine." He said.

- Ryo ?! What happened ? I can’t… I can’t remember.

- It’s okay, you first need to eat and drink. Just as the day continues you will be better I’m sure. Everything will be fine now.

Ami agreed and all her mind went in this direction of thought. But her skin had a discreet and unwanted shivering.

- I’m going to be better," said a convinced Ami." And so what do we eat ?"
And she smiled, but her skin was always and wildly on the defensive.

Hours passed, meals prepared by Ryo were great and good, but Ami still didn’t feel really fine.

She didn’t stop looking around, watching all over the apartment. The place was tall, spacious and clean. Every furniture, decoration or color was minimalist and pleasant.

While Ami was finishing her dessert, Ryo turned on the tv for some news. As news and talks passed, it took Ami a minute to stop, think and realize.

- What day is it ?

Her face turned whiter as the seconds passed. She remembered arriving here to accompany his friend, and having some nice talks after accepting a drink and then… her waking up in this bed...

- What did you give me to drink ? What was in it ? 

- Ami, let me explain !

Ami violently stood up, her chair falling on the floor in a heavy sound.

- What did you do ?

- I saved you, Ami ! Calm down ! I saved you !

Ami was trying to catch her breath.

- Listen to me ! I had violent visions for days, all showing me the same thing : You ! You were terrifying, running away and I saw your body and mind broken. I saw all this horror happening to you. I’m saving you Ami, you see ?

Ami slowly caught all logical words and sentences to put them into her mind to recover senses and Earth.

- Okay … Okay.

She hadn't yet recovered herself enough to say “thanks”

Hours passed.

Ryo was occupying himself, doing different stuff. Ami was pacing back and forth in the apartment. She still felt a persistent discomfort in her chest.
Sometimes she just stopped walking and she watched outside by the window, forcing herself to breathe deeply.
Sometimes she spoke out loud “Calm down Ami, everything is fine.” But it didn’t work, and worse: her anxiety increased. How could she calm down ?

She mechanically put her hand to her pocket and her anxiety suddenly spiked as her hand grabbed the emptiness in it. Her breathing became frantic.

Ryo runned to her.

- Ryo ?! Where did you put my stuff ? Where ? …where ? My power stick ?!!

Her voice was slower and slower. Ami needed space, she needed air, so she turned toward the door, finding it strongly closed.

All inside, Ami's mind suddenly spun like a tornado, and outside the world was doing the same. The whole world seemed to turn, to fall. She didn’t understand. All the world was an aggression, all her life was an unreachable hope.

She just heard a scream within her : “Save yourself !”

Even without her suit or power stick, the door was suddenly enveloped into a thick fog and quickly all of it was trapped in ice.

Ami launched herself with all her body into this way out, which broke into dozens of shiny pieces.

Soon enough she was in the street, fleeing Ryo, blending into a mass of nighttime passersby.

 She was terrified.

After hundreds of meters of running, she ran into someone and fell.

A hand helped her to get back on feet. The person was comforting and pretty, a man, as young or old as her apparently. She was blinded by his light.

And he smiled in a way that suggested everything was going to be alright.

Another night passed.

When Mamoru woke up in the middle of it, the rest of the bed next to him was empty.

In the next room Usagi was watching the city from the balcony above it, watching for something invisible and away.

When Mamoru found her, he reached her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

- It's going to be okay," he tried to say.

- You don't know… Why does it have to be her, Mamo-chan ?!" And she drowned into tears.

It happened sometimes, that there was no satisfying answer.

Usagi took the hand of Mamoru and put it onto her heart, so they can both embrace under the moonlight.

-  Why did you hide all the maps in our house ?

- Remembering that she could be everywhere is just like being at the bottom of a lightless hole…

And they both grabbed the other stronger.

Those were days when weather became incomprehensible. Big black clouds coming from nowhere invaded the sky, charged with infinite supreme thunder.

Often as they patrolled, Mars, Venus and Jupiter crossed paths, and each time, they silently passed by, like there was a wordless contract that bound their soul. How could we stop before finding her ? That never was even a question.

And they patrolled further and further from the city.

- Rei…

She was in a quiet countryside, apparently alone. When she turned, Minako was there.

- You should go see what Makoto is doing, just for checking. I don't have news from her. Let me handle this zone, I can finish it. Look, it begins to rain…

Rei nodded to agree and after they had both looked at the other a little, they went away under the tears of the stormy sky.

Makoto was on a roof in the center of the city. Rei found her at the very edge of the tallest building, motionless, in her warrior green suit.

She had folded her hands on her chest and was constantly whispering sentences so softly that no one could hear her: a lullaby of promises.

Rei hesitated to disturb her and finally stood nearby behind, waiting for something, anything that could change the course of the present story.

After minutes, Makoto turned to Rei.

- I gave my communicator to Luna. She could maybe reinforce its signal to connect to Ami's.

And they both tried to find comfort in this theory, without really succeeding.

An hour later something was found: the signal of Ami's communicator rang not far from where they were. But when all the sailors arrived they just found Ryo lost in his thoughts.

- Do you know where Ami is ? Tell us ! Tell us everything you know !

Usagi spoke first, in all her confidence. Without noticing that in the darkest moments, she could be the most confident of them. Moments when her crown was indisputable.

But Ryo wasn't really there. He spoke about things nobody could see and acted like he was completely elsewhere, moving perpetually from scene to scene.

Finally all their communicators rang in the same time, and a black talking cat, in a single sentence, saved all their souls :

- We found her.

Some moments that felt like eternities later, the colored senshis were ready, in front of a random shop.

All was terribly quiet.

When they entered inside, the atmosphere was even quieter. Usagi came first, standing like the princess she was, and asked for help. Some could consider the place like a calm and welcoming one, but now the anxiety of the girls transformed the place into something closer to a haunted house.

The owner came to them and showed them a little silhouette in the back, warmed and protected by a large blanket, in front of a steaming but untouched plate.

They all approached slowly, discovering little by little the pale figure of their untransformed friend.

She was finally here but absent.

When the four shadows came into hers and her sight, she recoiled.

Usagi then tried to calm her, she took her quiet and peaceful voice, the maternal voice of Sailor moon:

- Mercury… Ami… it's us. We are here now. We are here. It's okay.

But Ami keep staring her drink, barely listening, without any attention except a visible shivering when anyone tried to approached.

- Let me handle this. Please.

The tallest of them, Sailor Jupiter, broke away from the group. She went in front of them all and asked with all her light and heart some time for taking care of her.

- We will wait outside." Answered Usagi, putting her arms on Makoto's." How many times do you want ?

- Endless if I have to." Makoto's eyes were overflowing with heat and confidence. And while she talked she removed her diadem, keeping it in her hands, deeply looking at it.

So all of them, except Makoto, went out, with plenty and wordless thoughts about the little girl inside they all loved so much.

Makoto started to breathe conscientiously. She slowed the air that went in and out from her. Erased every trace of doubt, fear and sadness, searching for all peace and warmth she had within her. When she found the good rhythm for her breath, she passed her hand and arm in her face to erase the most makeup she could. She removed the round green bun in her hair, letting them fall in waves over her shoulders. And next all her jewelry and her shiny belt.

Then she untied and removed her long gloves, the two big knots behind and in front of her uniform, the v-neck above her chest. And finally she detached the green skirt from the white body.

Her breath was constant. Her eyes didn't leave Ami even an instant, watching all her reaction, hesitation, blinks, feelings …

During all her untransformation, she slowly and instinctively started to sing, just a constant melody, her mouth closed.

The second verse of her lullaby of promises.

She searched for the good frequency, the one which let appear some tiny little traces of slackening anywhere on Ami.

Outside, all the people still awake in the region witnessed the most long and slow thunder since the birth of earth. Lightnings seemed to be an hesitant child trying to do his best drawing in the big grey clouds. And so lightning and clouds embraced in the sky, in the slowest frozen waltz of all.

Every other sailor was looking at it, always in their thoughts, always in an endless hope.

At this very moment, a commonplace man appeared walking in front of the shop, slowing his step while he passed in front of the main windowed door, intensely looking inside.

Sailor Mars intervened.

- What are you even trying to do there?

And he went by, watched by Mars and her strength.

Inside Time continued to endlessly slow.

Makoto started to talk to Ami in a so slow and soft way that it seemed to be for summoning the perfect angel Ami was. With sentences, words and letters who went directly from her heart.

Step by step she moved forward, softly floating in the air, adapting her walk to each of Ami's tiny reactions. Each step was as thin as flying ashes after a hungry fire. 

After constantly slowing down, Time ceased to exist. But Makoto didn't stop her whispers like she was preparing the most difficult witchcraft of all, the purest one.

The little blue girl wasn't moving at all, nor in fear or in hope. Just her hairs waved in the draft of air like waves through an unliving ocean.

The tall green girl was finally close enough so she was able to touch her. But she didn't directly place her hand on her, instead she let her hand fly over her shoulder. She approached till her fingers were so close that she could feel the sensation of touch without any contact between the two of them. Taking the time to let Ami gradually become aware of the innocence of this approaching contact. And it was only after she let her palm , fingers and skin mercurylanded on Ami's shoulder in the most discreet fire she could.

It was the slowest lightning bolt that ever struck.

Ami blinked, her eyes, look and attention seemed to be back in the room. And she started again to shudder with terror.

Makoto stopped a second, to whisper again her lullaby of promises and kindness, always trying to make the most difficult and cautious spell of the universe.

After a few touching words, and the perfect landing of the very beginning of her skin on Ami's, she followed the river of her touch on her back, slowly passing her hand from one Ami's shoulder to the other. After her hand, Makoto's forearm made a soft contact with Ami's back, then the rest of her arm. Their hair touched and finally their forehead.

When Makoto felt she passed all Ami's defenses, when she felt that she didn't fear her at all, she slid her hand through her hair and softly put Ami's head against her shoulder and neck.

And when the time finally returned into their world, she changed her witch spells to the most comforting summoning of the universe :

- It's time to go home.

As a final punctuation of her sentence and after this long approach, she put a kiss on Ami's head, letting her fall asleep under her lips as if the most terrific fairytale just ended.

For all the girls outside, time had also disappeared. Decades seemed to have passed since their arrival here. But they would all have waited an eternity longer if they had to.

Every other sailor was in their own corner, mostly sat huddling, except Rei who was determined to guard the door and everything in it.

When the door opened, all breaths were held. Behind, in dancing shadows, against the light, stood Makoto, just vulnerably dressed with a white body and her green boots. And the most important thing in the universe: in her arms she was holding a sleepy blue figure, warmly cuddled by a soft and warm blanket and even warmer arms.

A couple of months later Usagi rang at Ami's door. And Ami came opening it. She was quiet and pale but here and living.

The first thing Usagi noticed was the chaotic form on the couch: Makoto was there, sleeping in an unnatural position, still clothed as everyday, just her shirt was awkwardly upped and her socks spread on the floor .

Usagi kindly smiled at this vision.

- How long has it been since she hadn't come back to her home ?

For the first time since months, Ami smiled slightly.

Makoto has spent all the night watching over her friend, pulling her blanket back when she moved too much, whispering and singing when Ami fought nightmares, and endlessly comforting her when she woke up suddenly. Finally, even if she tried to resist, she fell asleep in the living room, after Ami safely started her day.

- Usa-chan… I have to tell…

Ami now dragged Usagi by her sleeve. When they stopped just in front of the bathroom, Ami lowered her head while her eyes started to drown in tears.

- It’s not happening !

Usagi looked at her, trying to understand. Does she talk about her assault ?

- It’s not happening ! It’s not happening !

Tears fell on the floor.

Before doing anything, Usagi wanted to correctly understand that sentence, to help and comfort her little blue angel with the best of herself. When she looked around her, searching for any clues, her eyes stopped in the bathroom. Above the sink, there were packs of sanitary pads, unopened.

Usagi couldn’t hold back her surprise.

- By the goddess, Ami…

She took the hand of her friend and then simply said

- We don’t know yet. Let’s find out more and then we’ll see what can be done.

Usagi was as comforting as she could be. Ami wiped her drowned face with her arm. Then Usagi bent over to cross her friend’s gaze who watched desperately on the floor, and when their eyes meet she warmly said : 

- Let’s figure it out. It’s going to be okay.

A few minutes and one Usagi’s round trip later, they were both in the bathroom. Ami was most vulnerable as ever, sitting partially naked above a small piece of white and grey plastic.

- I’ll wait outside, just behind the door.” Said Usagi.

But she was held back by a hand desperately gripping her clothes. So she stayed, looking away but fully at the side of this friend she loved.

When the result appeared she gave her all her heart and energy, holding Ami's head and tears against her chest, sliding her hand into her hair in pure softness.

Years later in Ami's memory, those moments will be split and broken apart. She'll remember it just in flashes, as fragments of fear, despair and sometimes, rarely, always hope.

At first she asked Usagi to tell the news to her friends but at the last moment, while Usagi was about to talk, she closed her fists into two ice blocks and opened up to the closest souls of all to hers.

During this period, all her days and nights were never-ending thinking about what her life will be, all roads before her, all fears and distresses, all abandoned dreams.

All her friends were the most comforting, beyond reasonable. They rarely failed to reassure her and she tried her best to be worthy of them, often forgetting that she was the victim.

Something changed in her mind the day Minako said to her : "You have the choice", something feeling like the start of a healing.

More than two decades later, in a glimpse of the future: Ami will be protesting in the streets among an energetic crowd, proudly showing above her head a blue sign yelling: "my body, my choice !"

But for now she was in front of the clinic, still and silent as a statue.

She didn't tell the others about her coming there, except Makoto who held her hand, fingers intertwined.

She was reassured by Minako a few days ago.

- Remember : you have the choice. Just talk with an open heart and if you feel non-listened or forced to exit or without any choice or alternative to your condition, we'll find another doctor. And if there is no comprehensive doctor in this damned country we'll find it anywhere else, and I'll be with you.

- We will be with you, all of us. We will always be with you, whatever happens, whatever you choose." Said her blonde princess.

And they all hugged her, warmly surrounding her into a cocoon of kindness.

"Thanks Mina-chan," she said to the orange senshi in her memories.

"Thanks Mako-chan," she said to the green senshi at her side.

During the first interview, Ami dove into a deep silence when the she-doctor asked about the father.

Makoto seeing her friend totally stuck, just put some of Ami's hair behind her ear, looked at her face, caress Ami's cheek with the most sincere love she ever felt and, looking again the doctor, said with a low and confident voice :

- I am the father, and her decision is mine. Even if we can help and comfort her with words and facts, the decision will always be hers.

The doctor seemed skeptical at first but Ami felt more confident. In a way: she knew Makoto was the father, who else ? And that reassured her in her strength and choice.

"With Makoto at my side I can do anything."

Finally, the doctor answered Jupiter's improvisation with kindness and comprehension and now Ami knew she could trust her.

When they exited the clinic, Ami, looking at the horizon, said with as humour as melancholia :

- If you really were the father, things could have been different !

And so, Makoto took her hand in hers, raised up her arm and spun her around in a circle, then she put her the closest of her, cuddling her against her chest, holding her in all her tallness. Exaggeratedly she said :

- Well ! We still have years and lives to discover it, darling !

Exaggeratedly but sincerely.

Ami softly laughed as much as she softly cried.

And Makoto, after caressing her tears and hair, put a kiss on both.

Days and stressful moments later,  life felt different to Ami. Her options changed. She felt like she was able to go back to the start of her adult life. She seemed to have got back the control of this life of her own.

When she saw her friends one night at her home, they all saw she seemed lighter. Ami was always dove into her thoughts but not as dark as before. So they all dreamed of hopes and they all hoped for dreams; all together.

One moment when Mercury slipped away briefly in the kitchen, Rei turned to her other friends and solemnly said :

- I'll stop. I'm going to stop being Sailor Mars from now on. It's not because of what could happen to me personally, but because of the deep scares I might suffer. All bad feelings and things that could have repercussions on my son's days and life.

None of her friends argued. At several moments in their lives, past and future, they all thought about that day coming, about what they could say and declare, about what they wanted to hear. But finally facing it, none of them wanted to talk, they just all sincerely agreed in silence.

At the end of the evening, Rei, slowly changing her life, took Usagi and Ami apart.

- I know I’m not used to doing things as anyone or as expected.” She said.” And it seems my whole life will change from now on, but I have one certainty about what I wanted to happen.” Then she took one hand of Usagi and one of Ami’s. “You two, would you accept to be the unofficial but deep true goddessmother to my son ?”

As an answer they both jumped on Rei’s neck, both kissing one of her cheeks, both whispering a sincere “Yes.”

And for the first night of his life, Rei’s son slept perfectly well, holding warmly and tight a power stick showing at the top the flaming symbol of the red planet.

Chapter Text

Those precious moments when planets align

Season 1 - Finale episode

You are the best of me

Hino Rei was in front of her building, the place she lived for years now.

The all white and blue tall building looked like many turtles moving up on the back of each other, with all the little roofs in tiles covering each balcony.

Rei thought about her own balcony and things that happened on it : the air we could breathe there, the light mist we could blow, the space we could take, words we could give, kisses we could receive... 

She remembered one of the last times she saw Minako. They first embraced inside, both looking at Rei's son sleeping, and a single beautiful tear of joy fell from Rei's eye. Minako gently passed her thumb on it, warmly smiling, and she kissed Rei's forehead.

- You said I'm the strongest senshis of us all, but you were so wrong : I'm the crying one." Declared Rei." And for truth the whole universe knows that's Ami.

And then they went out on this balcony.

Silences and moments slid away.

- Have you ever wanted to do something wildly spontaneous ? Like kissing me ?

Rei just looked at her partner without knowing what to say.

- It's me who stole kisses from you, the unexpected ones." Continued Minako."I'm wondering if you liked that, if you wanted it or not, and if sometimes you wanted to do the same to me…

Rei would have liked to do it so much, in some seducing way, by coming so close to Minako, whispering not so far from her lips , like a sexy challenge.  But she didn't have enough trust and courage within her, she wasn't used to being like that, that felt so far from her in the first place. So instead of a little teasing  game, that looked more like a statement.

The heat of the air seemed cold suddenly.

- Oh .. I didn't think you wanted to." Rei answered, caught off guard." You didn't ask… I didn't know how... when ...

"What could I do ?" Rei wondered inwardly, and she kept asking herself that, till morning passed, in a quiet atmosphere.

Till Minako went to the door to leave, picking up her stuff, followed by Rei.

While Minako put on her coat, Rei thought and hesitated to come close behind her. She expected Minako to turn around, letting Rei rushing to her into a slow and sincere kiss.
Unexpected
But when Minako turned to Rei, she no longer had the time. Because without hesitation, without Rei able to keep her breath or act, the bright blonde was already against her lips, certainly hearing the loud and deep pulse of Rei's heart.

Rei closed her eyes to enjoy the pulpy taste of Minako. She had lost the challenge this time.
While the kiss continued, she let her hand ride through Minako’s back to the very lowest of it. When Minako, all of sudden, bit the bottom lip of Rei, the one grabbed the skirt where her hand was and tensed up, lifting the cloth, letting free more skin that she would have wanted.
This time Minako opened her eyes, and in a rush of diverse sensations, she looked at Rei, troubled. She had never found her as attractive as now. And so Minako’s breath went louder, like their two hearts pulsing, vibrating alternatively from one to the other in strong echoes.
There was something too much in Minako’s heart. And when Rei opened her eyes at her turn, seeing Minako so close, loudly short of breath, her eyes wide open, her lips shining because of saliva on them, she felt the same.

The room was the most peaceful but silences, hearts and breaths were in a loud war.

Time passes

Today, and for the first time since she innocently grabbed Minako’s arm in the coffee shop they liked, Rei took much more time to dress. For the first time, looking at all her clothes, she asked herself "What did Minako like ?" while this was just for a simple dinner between them two.
After she dressed up and after her hand ran on her chest and touched her bra, for the first time in a long time she went out to buy some underwear.

She was very early to go to Minako's place, so she decided to walk.

In fact she wanted to walk through places and sets, to fill her mind with the tune of memories.
In fact she needed it.
So now she decided to walk to Minako’s house, walking through the city, wearing her new and unpleasant and maybe unseen underwear.

The first place she logically passed by, was the sanctuary where her grandfather lived.

- Are you okay my child ? Once asked her grandpa.

- Why wouldn't I be okay ?

- You tell me.

- It's okay, there is nothing.

- Nothing hum… And what makes you happy ?

Rei hesitated and thought in silence, and both knew the answer was the same.

- You are an adult now ChibiRei, you don't have to be afraid of me, or of any religion or even of your father. You're free. You are free to be who you want. Free to like what you want and vice versa.

- … Grandpa ?! Why are you telling me that ? You are speaking exactly like the father you are to me.

And they both realized that she never called it "father" before, while it was the most obvious and straightforward thing in the world.

- ChibiRei… the moon is particularly magnificent don't you think ?

And he sincerely smiled looking outside, the blue sky lit by the daylight.

Not far from Rei, on the Sendai hill, there was the bus stop where she first saw Usagi. She remembered their looks meeting the other, the strong impression that was born within her… and a few days later while the strong impression didn't fade away even a second, she became the incarnation of Mars as a red fire senshi.

She was so glad that the Moon met her path. Usagi helped her to shap herself to be better than she could ever have imagined, as a person, a warrior, a student and a lover.

All of her friends helped her to be that person she was, but it all began here in a moon eclipse.

"Thanks Usa-chan" whispered Rei to the wind, sending her a kiss through the air.

At her apartment, Tsukino Usagi was constantly moving like she usually did, but not as usual: she was silent. She was on her own this afternoon and she wanted so badly to be with someone, like Ami, but she didn't know if she could do that to her.

So she was just wandering, with this news on her hand, a news she wanted to share or she needed to share, that mixed so deep fear and hope. The news that she was pregnant.

Wind blows

Rei was continuing her path and passed by Ami's little house.

She was inside with Rei's son and Chiba Mamoru.

It had been two years since all the sailors had decided to never let Ami on her own, especially these days.

Most of the time it was Makoto who took care of her, but when she was away they took turn with each other. This time it was Mamoru who managed to make her feel good, and when Rei saw by the window, the group of three laughing, she knew they all did their part for the best.

They all were particularly worried about Ami, because a few days ago Makoto saw Urawa Ryo  in front of their house, waiting, hiding outside.

When Makoto went talking to him he said that terrible thing : 

- He's back. VI is back. I saw him in my visions, he was violently fighting one of you, and I saw death… Death... And I saw a planet fading into nothingness.

- We'll handle it and we'll take care of her. So now you can go," just answered Makoto in an electric calmness.

- I just wanted to protect her, to save her ! And I still want that ! As always ! She just didn't listen….

- No ! The problem has never been her listening to you, but you talking to her ! Now go away!

And before entering the house she finally said :

- Don't ever come here again.

and Ryo could see a little, short and bright lightning between Makoto's hand and the door, while all her clothes and hairs seemed floating in the air, so he went away.

All the senshis decided to not tell Ami, and nobody could know if that was for her good, hearing that, or their, telling it.

But this time they decided to stick together, to do things in the best way, and to seek and protect themselves as a group.

Some streets further, Makoto was in a restaurant, in front of a charming man. They both laughed and smiled, happy to be here or something like that. Makoto enjoyed the dinner even if it that was Ami who forced her to go. So she came to put all her trust on his friend Mamoru to protect her. She even wore the green dress Ami liked so much, the green one with slight lines of gold, leaving her arm naked but went up to her neck. She put a long gold necklace, two bracelets on both arms and at her ears there were the usual roses earrings. For every passer-by and customer the evening looked perfect and hopeful, especially for this pretty couple. But when Rei came closer to the restaurant, closer to the table where they were, just behind the window she saw in a corner of the table the hand-sized communicator, with Makoto's hand on it.

An empty and familiar feeling went within her, and she didn't know if she had to be sad or glad.

Rei walked away from this date, hoping so much that Makoto reaches herself someday, somewhere, anywhere.

While the mixed feeling inside her didn't seem to pass. As always when she felt like this, she put the headset on her ears to play the mixtape Minako had offered her.

When she arrived in front of the building where Minako lived, the tape began to play the second song : "Fruit bat" by Of Monsters And Men, and she entered.

As she did by reflexes every time she was going to meet again the true feeling of love she felt in her heart and life: Rei tugged on her clothes to look nice and better. But this time she felt the thick underwear she chose, and that stopped her breath for a few seconds.

In the entrance she stopped in front of the mirror, looking deeply into her reflection: herself, her hands and then her body.

"How do I look compared to her ? She is so beautiful within every look, every time…" She thought, losing her mind, then she reminded herself of Usagi each time she laid her eyes on her body and she knew she had nothing to fear... or at least she tried to.

"That's just Mina-chan, let's go," was her final thought before climbing the stairs.

At each step of the stairs she remembered a memory she had of Minako, and each memory led to another for the next step.

She asked herself how Minako will look tonight, she thought too about what she could spontaneously do, to happily surprise her in her intimacy. But she started to feel dizzy and warm by thinking about that.

She remembered again the last time they had seen each other at her place, when Minako had said goodbye and gone toward the elevator, Rei went behind her in small quick steps, took her hand to turn her around in front of her, and after executing that elegant waltz step, when they were face to face she let her mouth jump into Minako's lips and pinned her against the elevator door. The impact produced a floating and loud metallic sound . While they passionately kissed, they slowly closed their eyes simultaneously into dreams, Rei let her hand pass by Minako's back and went to her buttocks that she grabbed and pulled toward her to let their body become one and their hearts, beating wildly, join together. Carried away by his passion Rei then grabbed Minako's thighs and with strength, lifted up her legs to let them tighten around her pelvis. Minako, who was no longer touching the ground placed her hands firmly on Rei's neck and cheek, and let them slide behind her head, taking some hair in the way that she strongly grabbed, to kiss her harder.

Rei stopped a second to let them take back their breath. Next their tongues touched and their lips bit.

They stopped, embarrassed and unkempt, when they heard the sound of the elevator restart. They laughed when they both imagined themselves falling into it if the door had opened while they kissed passionately.

Finally Minako went home, not before Rei slid a kiss on her nose like she liked to.

She now let her mind go in fantasies but quickly stopped herself when her cheeks burned and her heart pulsed too hard.

When she finally arrived at the door, she was returning from so deep thoughts and memories that the journey had felt as long as it had felt short. 

So she rang at Minako's door excited like a teenager, trying to improve her clothes and look, one last time.

But no one answered.

Life goes on, whatever happen

So she knocked, and the unlocked door opened itself into the dark. Just silence was here to welcome her. Silence and a strange cold breeze.

Rei, astonished, lit the apartment and started to search for her dear friend. She didn't have enough strength to make any word, so she just wandered from room to room with extreme determination. "She is certainly here" she thought. "Hiding somewhere, to surprise me… Where else could she be ?"

Finally she arrived in front of a table with a little note on it. Behind there was a glass door opening onto the sky. There was just a gold heart drawn on the note and below it was written : 

"I must not allow the tragedies of the past to be repeated.”

Rei placed her hands on her wetting eyes and fell to her knees, still firmly holding the paper with those goodbye words between her fingers.

She started to cry and this time, it seemed never wanting to stop.

End of season 1

On this night, tears replaced stars to accompany the night, endless sobs replaced birds and wolves while people slept. And somewhere on the higher roof of the city, the shadow of three senshis were there, a dark-blue, a green-blue and a purple one, brightly standing below the sharp moon.

Chapter Text

Months after Aino Minako shed her first blood.

Monday

The two girls were on a public bench, two gold and colored dots in the middle of a green park.

One of the two blonds was sitting, balancing her feet back and forth, the other was standing up on it, looking at the horizon.

- So, what does your lover look like ? Asked the first one.

- Oh. He is pretty tall and very mature. He is an adult you know ? Answered a young Minako with a broken heart.

- And he does love you ???

And so, after being broken, the Heart of Minako fell into hundreds of pieces as she remembered him hugging her Interpol officer friend.

- Yeah, of course Charlie ! We will marry one day !

And Charlie laid down on the back of the bench, watching the skies in a sigh.

- How lucky you are...

Season 1 - Episode Bonus

For the kisses that will be stolen

Tuesday

Minako knocked and stood in front of the door.

- I wanted to see Charlie if it's possible !" She said on tiptoe, her hands shyly behind her back.

- Oh hello Minako ! I spoke to your mom on the phone. You can go with Charlie for the afternoon. It's okay, I understand !

And they went near Buckingham palace, as they liked to do. They were in the park, just far enough away from the tourists, waiting for the slightest movement from the crowd, hoping to see some beautiful horses or a mysterious car or ultimately the Queen.

They liked being together so much, but this time they both felt an awkwardness between them, each for a different reason.

- Finally, you leave England, and so soon…" Said Charlie playing with grass in her hand.

- It's because of my father's job, I'm sorry.

- You don't have to be sorry, you scatterbrain ! It's just… fate. Nothing of this is your fault.

- I just wanted to…

But Charlie interrupted her, knowing what she could say about her love. Something she didn't want to hear for now.

- Yes ! What do you want to do for your last day here ?" And she quickly rephrased her question, suspicious of Minako's answer to be precisely anything about her lover." Where do you want to go ? What place would you like to discover ?

Minako didn't know, she was thinking in such sadness : She was about to discover the other side of the world, an all new land, what more could she want to discover here ? In this place where she began her path to become a woman, where she discovered herself, her body and her heart, as the V planet.

Charlie saw Minako trying to find a correct answer and most of all, the way she couldn't reach that correct answer, so she tried to guess :

- We could go to the botanical garden. I heard it's like visiting the whole world, but for this trip we will be together.

Minako smiled. Charlie always had this particular idea which made her feel better, which made her heart a little warmer.

And they promised to spend every day together till she left.

Wednesday

However, the same way Love broke her heart, other hearts broke the promise.

" Love crescent shower !"

Minako was in the middle of a robbery, or precisely ending it with strength and justice.

After capturing robbers with her gold shining belt, police entered the place and for the first time in weeks she saw her friend again.

When this tall and beautiful woman appeared she couldn't stop her eyes to look at her mouth, the same mouth she saw kissing her love. And this time she had a bright new silver necklace, heart shaped.

- V ! Thank you for your support, again !

Thanks to her friend she didn't think about those two , thanks to her friend…

- Crap !

- What's goin on ?!

- I have to….

And just when she started to run she was stop :

- Mina… Sailor V wait !" And she said :" I've heard that... soon we'll not see you again." And she thought :"Your mom told me you're gonna leave, both of you."

- That's… right.

- It will be strange, you know, to bring justice without your help." She said." I'll miss you" she thought.

When Minako was in her senshi suit, without knowing how it worked, she was always more mature in her body and in her thoughts, so she peacefully answer :

- I wish you so many beautiful memories and a more beautiful life, to both of you.

And, while the policewoman blushed, Sailor V transforming into a simple teenager was running to her friend.

The coffee shop was now empty and closed, even the street was empty. Empty except a little confused girl just standing up against the door. A lifeless girl till…

- Charlie !

The eyes of the girl lit up when the pale blonde figure appeared on the stage.

- Charlie… I'm so sorry ! I did my best but… but…I was… I was… please pardon me.

Minako was exhausted, leaning forward, her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. Then a hand landed on her shoulder.

- Minako… it's okay. Even if I had to wait years I'll never hold it against you. Whatever happens. All I'll be able to do will be worrying.

The blonde girl was slowly able to speak, so she turned her eyes on her friend and this one can't stop to Ask :

- Did you really run all the way here ?!!

- Yep !

And she gently laughed.

Thursday

After arriving at the little train station, Minako and Charlie were hooked by the quietness and the apparent emptiness of the place. As teenagers they spend their last months enjoying the big living city, from shopping centers to arcade game rooms, but today was the day they will walk through earth within the botanical garden.

Now they were in front of a big iron gate, with few wickets waiting for visitors. Even if it was a holiday they were nearly alone, and they became aware of it when they entered the huge park. Both of the girls enjoyed this loneliness for a different reason.

After quickly deciding together to give up the map to wandering blindly into the garden, the two friends began with exploring a forest populated by giant trees, with few strange animals, as they were discovering a new land.

Then they went into several greenhouses in exotic countries, undiscovered lands. They went up some roof, overlooking the world, as if they were on the biggest mountain of all.

A few times they ran full of curiosity and naivety, holding their hand, flying from space to space like two angels pulling each other.

For lunch, they just sat in the park, and picnicked like two ladies from the 18st. That was the perfect old painting of two teenagers, in dresses, near a beautiful pool, enjoying life.

The rest of the day was the same: each second with a different length and taste than the previous one.

At the end of their journey, they felt like they saw an entire planet, maybe an unknown one. For Charlie, if she knew her friend's secret she had known that she had visited a planet a little closer to the sun.

A big orange hanging between stars.

And the evening fell, the journey ended.

The two friends were now on a train station, back to London. 

At that time there were still three days before Minako's departure.

The station was above the road so they went down the stairs and stayed a long moment under, to say goodbye. As if they knew it was the last time they would see each other.

- That was so great ! Wonderful idea Charlie !

- I'm glad you enjoyed it.

A silence went into them. Charlie looked briefly elsewhere.

- What is it ?

- It's just… I begin to feel nostalgic already. That's just… I don't know how to say it.

- Just, try another way to express yourself, I'll understand.

At this moment, Charlie was wandering into her mind. And a terrible thing appeared to her.

She saw a glimpse of the future, a future where she hadn't expressed any words or gestures. For the first time of her life her heart broke. Her eyes started to become lakes endlessly flowing into cascades. She cannot let that happen for herself and mainly for Minako.

Above them a train passed. A mechanical sound waved in the air.

Every second a heavy sound fell on the stage beating at the same tempo as her heart, like an unstoppable clock. Like a broken music box.

One, two, silence.

One, two, silence.

One, two, silence.

The train seemed limitless.

And in the middle of the orchestra Charlie jumped forward, grabbed Minako by her arms and without letting her really decide it, stole her a kiss.

That was their first kiss, to both and that will be their last together.

Minako froze, she felt a cold liquid on her mouth, she stayed eyes open, stoic, without knowing what to do.

The kiss was simple and cute, their mouths were just glued but Charlie put all her heart in it, wanting to inhale Minako's soul to keep it with her.

A locked second after, the two girls, lips wet, moved away from each other.

The train stopped, just as the sound, but not as their hearts.

The two were wordless but one was more red than the other.

Minako, still frozen, unable to think, just said :

- Thank you… I guess…

And they went apart, Charlie as quickly as Minako slowly.

Friday

And so Friday was another day they broke the promise.

Minako just stayed home all day, her grey walkman glued to her ears, letting herself be lulled by songs with a different atmosphere.

None of them talked to each other.

Just like

Saturday

Minako spent all day preparing her luggage. She also spent her day thinking about that kiss, but she didn't know what or how or why ?!

The day passed like lightning, in a blink.

Sunday

There it is. Minako was at the airport, waiting into the giant hall. She felt so heavy, just like a giant orange stone. And she thought she was strong and feelless… but she realized she was wrong when she heard someone yelling her name.

- Minako !

So Minako turned, without knowing what she expected and wanted… She was pleased and strangely disappointed when she saw a plainclothes Interpol officer waving to her.

- Minako ! There you are ! I had to come to say goodbye. You were so precious to me, at any level. And you still will be.

Minako finally made peace with herself, and sincerely answered :

- I'm happy you came. And I wanted to wish you the most happiness, for both of you." And she looked at the necklace which was falling in front of her to explain the "both".

- Thank you so much.. I'm finally able to imagine myself as happy, because of him but because of you too. You have helped me so much.

Minako didn't feel sad or frustrated, in fact she had the maturity of Sailor V without even being transformed into her.

- You do not need me for fighting crime and even less for being happy. Just take care of you please.

And they chatted a little while about certain things, and others when Minako's mom joined them briefly.

They finally had to separate.

So the adult woman went through the crowd, passing in front of people, and behind others, including the little and cute Charlie who stood here, in the middle of the departure hall.

Spontaneously Minako came closer to her, without taking care of her luggage or her flight, she wasn't in the airport anymore but somewhere between war and peace.

- You came anyway…"Simply said Minako.

- Did you expect someone else ?

- Just the ones that matter to me. 

- And that means ?

- You're just the one who was expected." And they smiled to herself and to each other.

And for minutes, a bridge was made between Venus and Earth.

They exchanged nice little things, words and compliments till…

- I thought you'd be angry about the kiss… I'm sorry.

- I don't know, but I'm not angry. I didn't know what to think, and even knew.

- That was… in fact that was my first kiss…

- Me too.

- Oh… You should regret this even more then.

- I'm not sure about that. Strangely… I don't know what that means but… I'm glad you were the first, and I'm glad I kept that in my luggage from here… Do I sound weird ?!

- Don't ask me."Answered Charlie in a melancholic smile."And then she said a so common sentence, but which meant everything to her :"I'll miss you so much.

Minako didn't answer but her heart said "I'm going to miss you too, so much", and Charlie saw it in her whole body from her clenched fists to her wet eyes.

- Hey Minako, please don't forget me.

- If you find a way to do that, tell me. Because I don't.

Charlie was so happy she forgot the scare that Minako's departure was making within her. With the maturity she saw and admire in her unknown idol Sailor V she said :

- All I wish for you is that, one day, you find someone you want to kiss so badly that you'll steal these kisses, like I always wanted to do with you.

Minako didn't know what to answer or wish but she'll keep that sentence forever.

Moments later, after a final kiss, the details of which we'll leave to them, she was flying through clouds, diving into the sky to another piece of the world.